don't be a fool [s.m]

chapter 30

amanda

   brian pulls into the driveway and we wait for him to walk in. when he finally does, he sees all of us and smiles wide. "is it my birthday or something? why are you two here?" then he sees we're all serious and settles in next to charli, resting his hand on her waist. "is something wrong? what's going on?"

   char goes stiff. she mouths, "say something."

    shawn whispers to me, "maybe i can tell him. like a bro to bro thing, you know?" i nod. "brian, let's go to the other room. i can tell you in there."

   "why can't you tell me in front of char or amanda? is it that serious?" shawn's eyes go deep and brian scrambles to his feet abruptly. "geez, geez. i'm coming." that earns a small laugh from charli. when they're out of the room she lets out a loud breath.

   "what do you think he'll say?" she asks.

   "if he's mad, he'll get over it. i mean, it takes two to tango. it's not all your fault." she laughs.

   "true."

"WHAT?!" brian rushes out into the room. "you're PREGNANT?!" she winces.
i can't tell whether he's happy or upset. but of course he's not happy, i think. why would he be happy?

"don't yell at her, man," shawn says to him.

"how are we supposed to be parents? we're not even 18 yet!" charli's face flushes with sadness. a certain 'this is all my fault' look.

"listen, brian. it's not all her fault, you know. and she needs you now more than ever. it's not going to be any easier for her," i tell him.

"if you leave me," her eyes fall as she says it, "how am i supposed to care for another human being? our human being!"

i watch as brian's features uncoil onto the couch beside her and i know he's sorry. "i'll never leave you, charli. especially not when we have a baby on the way. but, my parents; they'll never look at me the same way again."

"yes they will. you're their son. nothing can change that. and, i mean, they were obviously expecting you to have babies. maybe just not this soon."

brian lays his hand on charli's stomach, feeling for their baby. though i had never imagined it would become a reality this quick, i always knew they'd raise a family.

   a few hours later, shawn and i are on our way back home. "it'll be okay," shawn told them before we left. he really doesn't want them to stress over it; he knows teenage pregnancy is looked down on. but they are our best friends, and he wants them to know we'll never look down on them.

"how do you think they'll hold up?" he asks me. he's worried.

"they'll be fine." i grab his hand and run my thumb over his smooth skin. "don't worry about them, shawn. they know how to take care of themselves and soon enough, they'll be able to care for that baby. it always works itself out for them." he nods his head discreetly and i have trouble finding satisfaction in his body language.

   as the ride progresses, he cools down and i can feel him waiting for me to say something. so i say "i love you" and he smiles.

   "i love you too," he says. when we pull into our driveway, the sun swallows us whole. shawn turns down the radio, which was busy blasting ayokay by kings of summer.

   "so?"

-

a/n

i'm SO sorry. i know this is long past christmas & i didn't even finish editing all of the chapters. but here's this small little thing, so please enjoy. i PROMISE a new chapter will be up soon!