What They Don't Know

Chapter Nine

"It's pushing on my bladder and I want it OUT!" Mom yells, flipping off her protruding stomach. Danny rolls his eyes in exhaustion from her complaining and leaves the living room. "You did this to me! Don't you walk away!"

"It's not like you can catch me." Danny laughs as mom tries to get off the couch.

I help her up and follow her into the kitchen where she continues to harass Danny. "I am uncomfortable and you think you can get out of this?"

"Mom, leave daddy alone. It takes two to tango." Stella defends Danny, immediately shrinking behind him as she sees the flare mom was giving her.

Mom just scuffs and waddles back to the living room, looking like she would tip over with a single gust of wind. It's been three days since her due date and no baby yet.

Danny lays his head in his hand on the counter and shakes his head. "When is Luca getting her to tame the beast?"

"A few minutes." I reply, Taking out my phone to get an ETA from Luc. It had been a month since we started dating and he's been over here everyday. Thankfully since last week, he became the pregnancy whisperer with mom. She's only nice to him.

We all jump at the sound of the front door opening and hold our breath. "You look absolutely effervescent today, Mrs. H." Lucy's voice sounds from the living room. Mom's chuckle fills the room and Danny lets out a huge sigh of relief. These past few days are the only time in my life I've seen Danny happy that Luc was here.

"Luca, always one to charm. Do you think you could get me some lemonade, sweetie?"

"Anything for you," Luc sweet talks her. As soon as he comes into the kitchen, Danny hugs him. Luc was taken back by the gesture and looked at me for an explanation.

"Thank you," Danny says, "She's a monster but you calm her down. You're a godsend."

Luc pats him on the back and smiles sheepishly. "Are you coming on to me, Mr. H?"

Danny immediately let's go of him and scowls in disgust. There's the old Danny we love. "I hate you."

Walking away, Luc, Stella and I are left in the kitchen. "Luc, who gets it up the butt? You or Ash?"

"Okay, time for you to go." I escort Stella to the stairs.

"It's Ash, isn't it? He always seemed like a bottom!" She yells to Luc, making him chuckle. I push her up a few steps and she goes to her room.

Luc embraces me in a bear hug and I melt right into his arms. He was wearing that cologne that I loved, making me bury my face into his neck. He smelled so good, I wish I could stay like this forever. "I love you." He whispers into my ear.

His dad kicked him out of the house when Luc publicly came out at the school spirit assembly a month ago. Since Luc was 18, there wasn't anything that could be done about it, legally. He was staying at Mark's with Uncle Mitch and Henry for the time being until he went to college where he'd love in the dorms. It was almost prom and graduation, so it wasn't long.

Luc"s dad kicked him off the team at first but after we all quit unless Luc came back, he was forced to let him back in. That was the ticket to Luca's free ride to UAlbany. He had always dreamed of getting into college but his grades weren't the best, so sports were the only way out.

"I'm so excited for this weekend." His voice warms up, so low and smooth. We were going to freshmen orientation at UA.

"I am too, but I'm nervous." My voice was wary, the butterflies in my stomach roaring. We were bunked in the same room, alone. I've never been alone for a night with Luca since we started going out.

"Don't be," He smiles, "I'm not going to e-"

"It's coming!" Mom calmly interrupts Luc, standing in the kitchen over a big wet spot.

"Mom, what's going on?" I ask as Danny and Stella come downstairs. Mom just rubs her belly and grins, cloudy water trickling down her leg. Was she peeing?

"The baby!" Danny screams, running up the stairs. We all start to panic and try to help her into a chair. She was dazed and in la la land.

Danny comes down with the hospital bag and his car keys, looking around like a scared meerkat. "I need to shower." Mom days, getting off the chair and walking to the bathroom. Danny keeps looking around, he's lost it.

"What's going on? Am I in the twilight zone?!" Stel yells, looking to me for help. I open my mouth to answer her but nothing comes out. Our parents are just weird.

"Gotta go to the hospital!" Danny chants, getting his jacket and hat and running outside. We go over to the front door and watch him take off in the car.

"Where's he going?" Luc asks.

I reply, "To the hospital, apparently."

"Hi mom." I say quietly. I take a seat on her bed and rub her back. "I'm taking off to orientation. Did you want to drive Luc and I there?"

"No." She whispers, her voice breaking. I nod and leave her be.

Danny stood hunched over the kitchen counter eating a bowl of cereal. "How is she?"

"Not well, but the doctor said it would take a while, right?" I raise my eyebrow and grab my right arm with my left hand.

"Yeah. I'm gonna get Colton dressed then I'll drive you guys to the campus." He runs up the stairs to Colt's room.

"How's your mom doing?" Luc asks me as I make my way into the living room. A duffle bag laid at his feet while he munches on an apple.

Sighing, I flip on the couch and turn towards him. "She's torn up. She won't eat and all she does is sleep. Losing the baby is one of the worst things to happen to her."

"I understand man," The crunch of the apple plays in between his words. "My mom had a still birth, too. She laid in bed for five weeks straight. To women, it's like being bad at the one thing you're made to do. Pretty devastating shit."

"Ready, guys?" Danny questions, holding Colt's hand in his.

We load up into the car and start the ten minute drive to UA. My stomach was doing flips at the thought of Luca and I in a room, alone, for the night. We finally arrive and get out.

"No hanky panky, got it." Danny chuckles, giving me a hug. I hadn't spent a night away from home since I was in 1st grade. "Your mom and I love you, just don't get kicked out before you start college."

"Don't worry, Mr. H. It's only two days. Not like there's that much trouble to get into." Luc jokes, a frown instantly playing on Danny's face. The hate was so strong.

"Bye, Danny. Bye Colt." I wave, Luc leading me towards the campus center.

"Wait till tonight. I can't wait to eat you up." Luc mutters, pulling me towards the doors. I gulp hard, a punch to my gut makes me stand still for a moment. What did he mean by that?