Coexist // Dave Franco

chapter 46

Song: Read All About It - Emeli Sande

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Aria's POV

After a whole night of crying my eyes out I realized I haven't cried this much since dad passed away. Luckily I managed to drag myself out of bed and head downstairs with Emma and mom.

Immediately I smell pancakes, but then I figure this is just another way to make me feel better.

Using food to make me happy? I'm not mad.

But in this case I can't even think about eating when I have so much on my mind.

I sit down on the stool next to Emma. "Your eyes look swollen." She points out.

I sigh. "Yeah, it's what happens when you can't sleep."

Emma tilts her head and nods. "Ooh." She slurs.

"Cool."

"It's not cool Em. Sleep is very important." My mom eyes me.

I shrug.

"And Aria, we still need to talk about school." She adds.

I groan.

"I don't think I'm ready yet, mom." I beg her.

She continues to flip pancakes steadily while trying to focus on me. "Take all the time you need sweetheart." She tells me.

"But since you have more time on your hands I suggest that-"

"More-More time on my hands?" I repeat. "Are you saying that my baby was-was blocking my path to my future?!" My voice rises.

Maybe it's the lack of sleep or the idea of pressure weighing me down but it got me cranky.

"That baby was my future mom!"

When she sets down the last pancake on the plate, she grabs the pan and slams it in the sink.

Me and Em jumped.

"Emma, would you please set the pancakes and bacon on the dining table please?" My mom orders.

Emma giggles as she takes the plates.

"You're in trouble." Emma teases as she walks past me.

I stick my tongue out at her and she does it back before running to the dining room. She probably thought I would chase her.

When Emma is out of sight, my mom leans on the kitchen counter.

"Listen Aria, I know that you may think that this teenage romance means everything to you; and I know your baby meant everything to you. But Aria lets recap on your junior year of high school-where you weren't coming home late, responsible, and not pregnant.

"Senior year was supposed to be a breeze for you Aria all you had to do was just show up to school and half of the time you weren't! You've changed so much. It's not that I don't love you, it's that you have to think about the future. You need to plan things ahead Aria. And obviously you didn't plan things ahead otherwise you wouldn't be crying over your miscarriage because you wouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place.-"

"MOM!" I yell. "It was a mistake and it was stupid, I know and I'm sorry! But there's nothing you could do to change any of it anymore, okay?! You got your wish alright? You won't have to worry about taking care of a baby because I don't have one anymore.

"And do you think I want to set foot in school? With all that has happened? I can already hear what they're saying about me!"

I step off the stool and into the dining room grabbing a handful of bacon and running upstairs.