Yes Please || c.g. {complete}

The 1%

47

.Layla.

I stared down at the two lines. Pregnant. I was fucking pregnant. 

I was too shocked to cry. I slid down the wall and put my head between my knees. The test fell out of my hand and clattered onto the tile.

This could not be happening. I had actual plans for my life before kids were supposed to be a part of it. I had completed only one year of college and was mere weeks into the second. How could I possibly finish school with a baby on my arm?

And Carl. He was barely eighteen years old! He was interviewing with the police academy in two weeks. I was supposed to tell him he had a baby on the way? I couldn't put that stress on him. Not when this was all my fault for not reading a goddamn warning on a medicine bottle.

I leaned my head back against the wall and sighed heavily. No. This was not fucking happening. I wasn't having a baby.

I reached for my phone and texted Stella.

Need help. Can you meet up?

What's wrong??
You ok?

I'll explain in person.
Can you meet me?

Yeah...sure...
Geez Lay the suspense is killing me here!

Meet me at Glazed and Confused by Armitage in 30.
You're the best! Love you!

Yeah, ok.
Love you too.

I had to pull myself together. I took the dogs out real quick, and ran back up to fix my hair. I wouldn't bother with makeup, since the conversation topic would no doubt ruin it. I ran back down and hopped in my new car. It was amazing that I could be in Lincoln Park in under a half hour now, but there was no time to appreciate that in that moment.

I was driving past the coffee shop trying to find a parking spot when I saw Stella walking down the sidewalk.

I rolled my window down. "Hey, pretty lady!" I called.

She whipped around in confusion, squinting her eyes at the car. "Layla?" I waved her over, and she ran up to the car. "You have wheels now?"

"Yeah!" I smiled. "Hop in while I find a spot to park."

She jumped in the front seat and I continued down the road. "Nice ride, girl!"

I smiled. "Yeah. My parents surprised me with it the other day. It's for school, so I can go back on Tuesday instead of waiting weeks for a doctor to clear my CTA commute."

Stella nodded, looking impressed. "Hey I'd prefer this to the L any day!"

I half laughed as I kept my eyes peeled for parking. This was definitely not an issue I was used to having.

"So what's going on?" she asked after a minute or two. "You had me a little freaked out! Is everything okay with Carl?"

I sighed. "Well I think he's pissed at me, and he should be, because I've been completely crazy the past twelve hours. Ah! Finally." I found a spot and backed into it.

"Why have you been crazy?" she asked as she and I sat in the car.

I looked down. There was no use in delaying the inevitable. "I'm pregnant." Wow. That was the first time I'd said that out loud.

She stared at me and said nothing, and then she half laughed. "What?"

I looked up at her with a straight face.