Together or Apart

Chapter 9 - New York

C H A P T E R N I N E : NEW YORK

Scarlett's POV

5 months later

Things have changed since Anne's death. I have learned to deal without a roommate, for the time being. Greg just offered her girlfriend a spot in my room, so I accepted. She was nice, but I didn't really like her as much as I wanted to. Her presence didn't make me happy when I woke up in the morning. She told me she was studying to be a lawyer. Let's just say, if she wins a case - it would be because of the judge liking her, not her "excellent facts".

I've been at Harvard for 6 months now, and everything is just a little different. I'm getting used to the environment. I am currently packing my bags, as I am getting ready to head back to New York for a little spring break. Suzanne delivered her baby in December. I wasn't able to drive down there for Christmas because of my studying for exams.

Going to see all of my high school friends will be good for me, I haven't seen them in forever, and being that I'll get to see Suzanne's baby is a bonus. Jack decided to drive with me to New York so we could spend some quality time together as well. He did get a Christmas break, but he decided to spend it with me at Harvard instead.

I pack the last of my clothing and head out the door to the car parked outside of the Harvard sign. Inside the car is Jack, waiting for me. He already packed the last of his luggage yesterday. As I am putting my suitcase in the back of his car, Holden and Greg come up to me.

"Leaving already?" Asked Greg, smiling. He comes in for a hug, as does Holden. Holden gives a quick peck of a kiss on my forehead and then stands outside of the car as I get in and wave them goodbye. I know what you're thinking, you told Jack about the Holden incident.. No. I still haven't. I regret not telling him, but what am I supposed to do?

As we're driving we talk about our future and the lives God has in store for us. 6 months at Harvard has been a long time. Only 3 more months until summer comes, and then I go back to school again. It seems like just yesterday I was packing my bags to come here.

Jack drives most of the way, as we stop at a gas station to fill up the tank. As he's filling up the truck, I hop out of the car to get a snack for Jack and I. And as I grab a snack and drink, the cashier seems to be checking me out. And not the shopping check out sort of way. The "I want to look at you" way.

As I get back into the car, I am utterly disgusted.

"The cashier tried to hit on me." I said to him, as I handed him his pretzels.

"Did you tell him, you have a super guy as your boyfriend?"

"Ha, yes I did." I say, as we interlocked hands and sang along to the song on the radio.

After 3 hours of Jack driving and me nearly falling to sleep, we finally arrived to New York. As soon as I saw my house, I literally couldn't wait to get out if the car and jump into my moms arms. Jack was patient as he unloaded all of our belongings and brought them into the house. Suzanne was unfortunately not there waiting, but Lucy, Nathan, and Jennifer were.

Lucy encased me with a big hug as well as Jenn did too. Nathan came up from behind me and gave me a pat on the back. As all of my friends and family were there to greet me, Jack's weren't. I finally went into the house and smelled freshly baked pie. If there's anything my mom can cook, it's pie.

Everyone dove right in, as the doorbell rang. I stayed eating my pie as Jack got up to go check the door. As soon as I heard the voice, I knew who it exactly was - Suzanne, and Brent of course.

They all came in and sat beside us. Suzanne was carrying her baby.

"Scarlett! I know you waned to know, and is didn't want to tell you until now. It's a girl." She said as I squealed with excitement and joy for her. Brent looked like he was cooperating well with her and the babies needs.

"Her name is Bella Grace Madison." She said as she let me hold her. I rocked Bella in my hands as Suzanne golfed down some pie. While Brent and Jack started to talk in a corner, so did Suzanne and my pack of girls.

"I am so blessed that you got to see her." She said, she was glowing. Her face was bright. She looked much better than she sounded a few months ago when she was going through the pain.

"Is Brent doing well?"

"Yes, he's better than I thought he'd be. He's taken it better than I thought."

"How is Collin?" Asked Lucy, as she stood beside me.

"Well, I. I stared ignoring him, because my bump got bigger and then I never saw him. But he eventually found out I was pregnant." She said.

"What did he say?" Asked Jenn, right when a glass was rung. Brent was hitting a spoon against a glass and raising everyone's attention.

He gulped, and then cleared his throat as he and Jack started to walk over to us.

"I thought today was the best day to do this, as everyone is here. As everyone knows, I got Suzanne pregnant and didn't mean to. But I think it's an amazing thing that has happened. It's brought me closer to Suzanne and made me want to really be a man and show my little girl that I can be the daddy she wants me to be. I never knew that having a child would change me and my personality, but it did. I think it's the best thing that has happened to me. Because Suzanne and I have a child together now, I think that we should be responsible with our child and set a good example by being parents - together. That said, Suzanne Pritchett, will you marry me?" He got down on one knee and kneeled in front of Suzanne and showed her the ring he had in front of her.

My eyes started to tear up as Brent had brought beautiful words to the people around us. Brent really had changed, he is being the man that I knew as my best friend. He was standing up and being a husband, he wanted to care for his new daughter. That itself, makes me so proud of him - even through all of his mistakes.

Suzanne started crying as she accepted his honor, and he put the ring on her finger. She looked at it, and kissed him. It was probably the perfect moment for him to ask her.

Suzanne came running over to me and showed me the ring as she started to cry some more.

"I am so proud of you." I said to Brent as I walked over to him. He was shaking as he had just thought through all of what he said.

"Thanks." He said. "I just don't want my daughter to have to visit us at separate times. I want to be a good example. You know. Having a daughter has just changed my life." His smile lit up the room and made me smile with him.

"Brent, you're going to be an amazing father."

_______________

As I lay down beside Jack, I thought of everything. Marriage, kids, divorce. Any of the possibilities.

"Jack, do you think we'll get married?" I asked him.

"Yes, when the time is right. Everything will fall into place."