G O L D E N | why don't we |

│F O R T Y - S I X│

"i just need a little time, to prove to you that i'm on something different. i know you've been hurt before, but you don't have to run from me i'm on your side" - why don't we

Emilia was past scared. Her body had been disagreeing with everything she ate, she was feeling sick to her stomach constantly, and distancing herself from Daniel more and more. Every time he touched her she pulled away, she could barely even keep eye contact anymore. Emilia loved him deeply but she didn't want him around her when she wasn't her best.

That is why Emilia sat curled up in the back of the van and Daniel driving, glancing between the directions to Pennsylvania and Emilia in his review mirror who wasn't making eye contact.

Daniel knew something was wrong but he was biting his tongue. He didn't want to admit to what he was already thinking.

Emilia was wearing baggy clothing, not making eye contact, her arms always in defense of her body. Daniel wasn't stupid but he wanted her to tell him in confidence, he wasn't going to push her on the issue and end up pushing away the girl he loved.

Emilia had her head leaning against the window, headphones on and the world muted, Zach was fast asleep on her shoulder and their bodies were too close for comfort but she didn't even have the energy to push him away. But the turning of her stomach, constant nausea, the chills and discomfort in her body, Emilia was praying it was just stomach flu.

She swore the times Daniel and her had sex, they were protected, at least as far as she could remember. But as the sickness ran its course, the more she was doubting it. It was driving her mad and the more she could feel his gaze on her, the crazier she was getting.

This is what led to Emilia asking abruptly for them to do a rest stop, speed walking into the gas station, buying a pregnancy test and locking herself in the bathroom.

She followed the instructions with shaking hands, her heart hammering against her chest and then came the time to wait. She placed the stick on the sink counter as she paced the length of the semi-well maintained bathroom. She had picked at her nails roughly since they left Georgia which proved the anxiety she had been feeling and now that they were shortened to nubs, she had nothing to distract her thoughts anymore.

Emilia could feel the woozy, sick feeling overtake her again and found herself huddled over the toilet, puking so much that she was left heaving, her abdomen raw from all the throwing up she'd been doing. Emilia had laid her head on the toilet seat as she flushed it, the sick feeling never passing but her body had no more to give up.

A knock at the door made her lift her head and weakly, she stood from her position on the floor.

"Lia? Are you alright?" Jonah's voice soothed the fear that had begun to rise in her chest that it was Daniel. She wasn't sure what she would say to him. Slowly, she moved towards the sink and turned on the water rising her mouth.

"I'm fine, I'll be out in a few minutes," Emilia responded, her voice strained and she had no idea Daniel was standing right beside Jonah, his heart aching at the sound of her voice.

"Emilia, let me in," Daniel said suddenly, his hand jiggling the locked doorknob. There were two minutes left to wait for the stick and she wasn't sure she could stall Daniel for that long.

"D-Daniel I don't want you to see me like this." Emilia wiped her mouth on her sleeve and grabbed a few paper towels to dry her hands.

"Don't act like I can't handle a little sickness, just let me in, please."