in your arms

t w o

rileys pov

"james, i'm pregnant."

"james, i'm carrying your baby."

"james, remember that night we had sex? well, yeah. congrats, you're a Dad."

nope. none of them work. none of them break the news easily. i can't just lay it on him casually and hope he takes it okay. come on, riley. you were top of your english class... you can tell him this in an efficient way...

"james, i know this is awkward. but i'm pregnant, and the baby's yours. i hope we can work through this. thank you."

jesus, riley. what are you, a middle aged business woman? your only 19

"yooo, ma boi james, guess who got his ex preggers? you did! congrats, bro!"

nope. doesn't work either.

i let out and exasperated sigh and pull my phone out of my pocket, holding it in front of me. i unlock it and search for james's contact. i'll text him to come meet me in studio a.

he arrives ten minutes later. "hey, riley, are you okay?" he asks worriedly.

"yeah, i'm fine," i say awkwardly. "um, i just need to talk to you."

"okay... about what?"

i hesitate. talking to james has always been so easy for me but since we broke up it's been so awkward. we rarely ever talk now, and when we do, it's merely a few words and they're awkward and stuff, because, i mean, he's my ex. it's just... like that.

he raises an eyebrow. "riley, what's up?" he pushes.

"i... i don't know how to say this," i admit. "i mean, i practiced, but none of it seemed right, and i don't want to hurt you or anything, so i want to take it easy when telling you because i... sorry." i stop my babbling. "shall i just say it?"

"yeah, just lay it on me," he says, confused.

"i'm pregnant," i say. "and you're the Dad." i sigh in relief. "it feels good to say that. well, good luck with your life, i'm off to raise your child—"

before i can walk away he grabs my arm. "wait, riley!" he says. "what... what do you mean it's mine? from... from that night?" his big, brown eyes eyes are opened wide, and he looks part confused part terrified.

i nod.

"and you're seriously pregnant?"

i roll my eyes. "no, james, i'm just kidding," i say sarcastically. "yes, i am."

"you took a test?"

"no, i used my crystal ball," i tell him, the words practically dripping with sarcasm. "yes. yes i used a test."

he rolls his eyes. "god, riley, i'm just asking questions. can you blame me?"

"well they're stupid questions," i tell him, rolling my eyes, annoyed.

"riley, do you even realise how bad this is?" the crack in james voice makes me plummet back down to the real world with a thump. "were not together anymore! imagine how hard that will be for out future daughter, or son. their life will be fucked up."

i swallow hard. "i... never thought of that." well, geez, isn't this very depressing? "but i can't do anything, i'm already pregnant. and there is no way in hell im getting an abortion, so don't even—"

"riley, i would never suggest that!" he says, outraged. "i just... it'll be hard, okay? i don't want that."

i can't help but let a few tears slip down my face. "well i don't either. but we can't do anything!" my voice is slowly raising into a yell the more i talk.

"i know that, riley," james is trying to stay clam but at this point we're both angry.

"then why do you keep going on about it? all you're doing is making this even more depressing for me, as if it isn't already hard—"

"i don't know what you want me to do!" james says. he sounds really mad and at the same time he's upset, i can recognise his on-the-verge-of-tears face that doesn't happen very often. but it's an adorable yet upsetting look.

i feel a twinge in my stomach. why does he have to make everything so hard by being so damn cute.

"first you tell me you're pregnant, and then you yell at me for pointing out the obvious?" he says.

i can't even stand it. i groan in an annoyed fashion, throwing my hands up in the air. "god, james, would you just kiss me already?!" i yell.

"fine!" he yells.

"... fine!"

so we kissed. i don't know how long we did it for or why, exactly, but it was great. i haven't kissed him in so long yet it feels so natural, like we're still dating. i have to remind myself for a second that we're not. definitely not.

when he pulls away his face stays just centimetres away from mine for a while. "did that mean anything?" he whispers.

i slowly shake my head. "i just needed something to stop me from killing you."

he smiles slightly. holy god, that smile. its lopsided but perfect at the same time. "glad to help."

"i'm still mad at you. you're making this all too hard for me," i say.

"says the girl who just kissed me."

"acctually, you kissed me."

"you told me to."

"whatever," i mumble.

"soooo..." james scratches the back of his neck, a small smile on his face. "i guess that's it, then. you're pregnant, i'm the Dad, isn't that all you wanted to tell me?"

"i... i guess. but we still have to work this out, i mean, people are gonna notice and ask questions — oh god, i'm gonna get fat. people are gonna think i'm getting fat! we need to tell everyone immediately while my stomach is still flat and non pregnant—"

"must you be so adorable at a time like this?" james cuts in. "you're killing me here."

"says you, if you would just being so hot," i roll my eyes again.

"hey, you know i can't help that!—"

"why are we even having this argument?"

"seems we're both too good looking for our own good."

i glare at him. "can you be serious? we need to figure this out. and if you promise to not be stupid, we can."

"as long as you promise not to yell at me again," he says, raising his eyebrows at me. "and no sarcasm, okay? it kills me."

i sigh. "you've just taken away all of my strong points," i pout. "but okay. fine."

"fine."