Picture Perfect

Nine

Two weeks had passed and I still hadn't heard from Alexis or Joss. One made me extremely happy and the other depressed me more than I ever thought I could be. Joss being gone was a great thing, but it wasn't even close enough to even lighten my spirits. I loved Alexis and I had lost him. It was my fault, too.

I had thought about calling Alexis, but I didn't know what to say. I wasn't exactly sorry for yelling at him, but I did feel bad. What was a person to say in such a situation?

There just wasn't anything I could do. I wanted him back, but I wasn't going to put myself in such a situation. I wanted Alexis, but his parents wouldn't allow it and I wasn't going to ruin his life. It was making me miserable.

It was at this point that I wondered what his parents would do if I was pregnant. Would they accept me if I was carrying their grandchild? What would Alexis do if I was carrying his child?

I shook my head as I realized that I wouldn't want that. I didn't want a child. I didn't like children. I never wanted to have any children.

I stepped over to my paint table and picked up my brush. I didn't know what I was going to paint, but I knew Alexis was going to be the main subject. I missed that man so much.

~It was Halloween. I hadn't seen Alexis in nearly a month and a half. Clover had invited me to a Halloween party, but I really wasn't too up for the idea. I had felt horrible for the past couple days, but I needed to get out of the house. I was becoming extremely depressed and I thought getting out of the house would make me feel better.

I was dressed as a snow fairy. My face was covered with glitter and I was wearing a black and ice blue halter dress. I had on a pair of blue and black striped tights. I had black arm warmers that stopped just above my elbows and I had ice blue streaks in my hair. If I wasn't feeling so horrible I would have thought that it was a perfect costume.

I was lacing up my boots when there was a knock on the door. Expecting it to be Clover I stepped across the room to open the door. As the door swung open I got a good look at my companion.

The tears started as I dropped to my knees. The last person I expected to see was standing right there. I began sobbing as his long slender arms wrapped around me. I was pulled against his warm chest as his hands ran through my hair.

"Jo, krasivyĭ, what is wrong?"

I looked up into his beautiful amber eyes, "I've missed you so much," I shook my head, "and I think I'm pregnant."

His amber eyes grew wide, "Schto? After only once?"

I nodded as I wiped my eyes and knew that I had smeared my eyeliner and mascara, "It's the only thing that explains it."

"What? What does it explain, Jo?"

I sighed as I pushed myself to my feet, "I just haven't been me the past few days," I wiped my eyes again, not caring that I was ruining my make-up, "I've felt like crap the past couple days. I can't keep anything down. I hurt everywhere. All I want to do is sleep."

He stood up and pulled me close to him, "Clover told me that you've been a little depressed recently."

I shook my head, "That's because I haven't talked to you in over a month," I sighed, "I think I love you, Alexis."

He smiled at me, "I've already professed my love to you, Jo, but I'll do it again. I know I love you."

I sighed, "I'm sorry," I laid my head against his chest, "I should have called you," I stopped when I realized what he had said, "You know Clover?" I pulled back so I could look up at his face, "How do you know that I know Clover?"

He gave me a confused look, "I thought she told you. We go to the same prep school. I started talking about you and how much I missed you. She told me that you were perfectly okay with going to the Halloween party with me."

I sighed. I should have known better. Clover was way too hip on the idea of me going to this Halloween party with her, "She never said anything," I stepped away from Alexis and looked him over for the first time that night. He was wearing a long ankle length coat which he probably had to have specially made for him, a pair of loose black leather pants and a fitting black shirt. His hair was done in the lion-like fashion like the day we met, and he had a bold line of black eyeliner on, "What are you supposed to be?"

He glanced down at himself, "Do you really think we should go to this party after what you just told me?"

Of course, I had found myself the sensible one. Any other guy would want to go to something normal to avoid the conversation, but Alexis wanted to avoid the party and talk.

I sighed and wiped the remaining glitter and make-up off my face, "Can we at least leave my house? I would rather not chance my parents walking in and finding out."

Alexis nodded, "Da," he took a step back to let me outside, "Where to, Jo?"

~"So you think you really think you're pregnant?" I nodded as I wrapped my cold hands around my cup of hot chocolate, "When did this thought cross your mind?"

I looked down into my frothing drink, "To be honest, the thought didn't really come to mind until I saw you earlier," I sighed, "I had been trying to avoid the thought."

Alexis sighed as he wrapped his hands around my hands, "Set up a doctor's appointment. We need to know."

I looked up at him and nodded, "I'm sorry about this. I was trying to break our ties. I didn't want to ruin your life."

His amber eyes became hard and I knew that I had irritated him, but I wasn't sure why, "How could you ruin my life? Since I met you I've been happy. I love you, Jo, why would I want you gone?"

I looked away from him, "What will your parents do if they find out about me? What will they do if I'm really pregnant?"

"Jo," he let out an irritated sigh, "I don't care. Eto moya zhiznʹ. I love you."

I looked up into his amber eyes, "What if they disown you? You'll have nothing."

"Stop it, Jo," he shook his head, "I don't care what my parents want me to do. I don't want anything they can give me."

I smiled at him as I was hit with a wave of nausea. I pulled my hands away from him and placed them on my stomach.

Alexis stood up and stepped around the table so that he could kneel in front of me. He pulled my hands away from my stomach so he could kiss my stomach, "Pustʹ vasha mama rasslabitʹsya , dorogoĭ," he sighed as my stomach calmed down.

"That was eerie," I looked down at his beautiful face, "I feel better. What did you just say?"

"Nothing," he smiled at me as he stood up, "Now let's go get you something to eat," he pulled me out of my chair and smiled, "Then maybe after that if you're up to it we can make an appearance at Clover's party."