Wildflowers and Redneck Boyz (ON HOLD)

Chapter 17: For Rylan and Child Hunger

MAY 9, 2014

ABC STUDIOS

GOOD MORNING AMERICA

2 HOURS BEFORE THE ROAD RACE TO END CHILD HUNGER BEGINS

RYLAN'S POV

Phil had gotten me to ABC Studios about two hours before the Road Race began. I knew he had a long trip back to Providence, so I paid back everything to him: the fee, the tolls on the way here and for his ride back, the gas here and back, food he might need, and a really big tip for being so nice to me. I didn't give it to him directly, though. I hid it in his glove box with a note to thank him while he was filling up on gas on the way here.

So now that I'm at ABC Studios, I had to get in. Thank God security recognized me and let me in. I'd probably have to be bored out of my mind on the bus if they didn't. Everyone had such sad faces when I got in there, especially Hunter and Wyatt. Suddenly, Em turns around and her face goes from sad, to confused, to overjoyed in a matter of seconds.

"Guys, she's back!" she exclaimed.

All music from Hunter and the band had ceased. Everyone was crying now. And pretty much everyone but Hunter and Wyatt tackled me in a group hug... which, thanks to Matt, turned into a dog pile.

"Hey, guys, mind getting off me?" I asked, "I can't really breathe." Everyone then mumbled an apology before Hunter crashed into me bawling his eyes out.

"Don't ever do that to us again, you hear me!?!" he asked through the supposed lump in his throat.

"Yes, Hunter. I'll try my best." Then he lets go and it's Wyatt's turn. Oh my God, Wyatt. He looked like a total wreck. Then the smile on his face pushed that all away. He picked me up and spun me around, me giggling in the process. He then puts me down and our lips crash when they find each other once again.

"I missed you so much," he said with a bigger lump in his throat than Hunter's.

"I missed you too," I replied, now with a lump in my throat myself.

"Hey, I'll be right back, guys." They gave me weird looks, but I just brushed them off. I went to the bathroom, but noticed something in my undergarments.

There was a mass of red something in them.

I had miscarried.

Relief washed over me in an instant. I wouldn't have to carry Bradley's child after all. But knowing I couldn't give my potential son or daughter life, I was filled with grief, as well.

I guess I should tell everyone what happened.

I changed underwear before calling Hunter into the room.

"What's up, sis?" he asked.

"Shut the door, will you?" I replied with a question.

"What's going on?" He slowly shuts the door with a weird look on his face.

"Hunter... this is one of the things that happened to me..." I then hand him the test and watch as rage and hatred filled his eyes.

"I'll kill him."

"Hunter, there's a little more to the story."

"Like what!?!" He was yelling now. Hopefully, it didn't cause much of a scene.

"This..." I then showed him the spoiled undergarments, and relief and grief washed over his face, as well.

"You miscarried?" All I could do was nod.

"Even though Bradley would've been the father, I... I couldn't give this little one life..."

"Hey. God's done this for a reason. Maybe this wasn't meant to be."

"You're right, but..."

"You should tell everyone else, Rylan."

"Alright..."

Hunter called everyone else in one by one. But he called Wyatt in last and allowed us to talk alone.

"Are you alright, darlin?"

"Wyatt... Something happened while I was gone..." I then told him everything. I told him how I woke up, how I found the positive pregnancy test, how I got out of there, how a really nice cab driver was allowed to drive me here with no charge for anything, how I secretly handed the driver the money I owed him and more, how I was dreading telling everyone the news, and finally how I found out that I had miscarried. He was silent. He didn't wanna say a word... or at least, that's what it seemed like. He wrapped me up in a hug, which was the last thing I expected. I didn't expect to say what he's about to say, either.

"I'm so sorry..."

"What're you sorry for?"

"I'm supposed to protect you. I didn't do a very good job, did I?"

"Wyatt, it's not your fault. You didn't know-"

"But I should've went with you when you went to the dressing room back in Salt Lake City. If I did, none of this would've happened."

"Wyatt James Barnes. You listen to me and you listen closely. None of this was your fault. It was mine. What's happened has happened. Plus I'm still alive and I'm back here safe and sound. So let's just put this behind us, alright?"

It took a while for him to answer. My vision started to blur, but I could still see the tears forming in his eyes and his beautiful smile.

"Can I still kill him?" I giggled at this response. He would say something like that.

"Only if anyone else wants to help you... Which you could probably achieve since Hunter wants to do the same thing." That got him to laugh as he was wiping the tears from my eyes. And when he was done, I wiped his tears. We hugged once more after that. The smell of his cologne soothed my senses and the rumbling in his chest from still chuckling combined with his steady heartbeat wanted to put me to sleep right there on the spot.

"I love you so much, Wyatt."

"I love you so much more, Rylan."

THE NEXT DAY

"A toast for breaking the record!" Matt cheers.

"Cheers!" we all replied, knocking our wine glasses together. Now, remember, there's Sprite in my glass and everyone else's glass that was underage or didn't wanna drink.

"I knew you could do it, Hunt!" I exclaim, giving him a hug.

"Thanks, Ry," he replied, hugging me back and directing to his attention to the others, "I couldn't have done it without all of you guys... and the road crew. So, anyway, a toast to Rylan, let's thank God she's back here safe with us."

"Cheers!" everyone replies and knocks the glasses together again.

"We honestly don't know if we could've done the road race if you were still... you know," Matt replies, a sad look on his face. Everyone was shocked to say the least when they found out I was pregnant with Bradley's child. And they were even more surprised when they found out I had miscarried.

*Was this a sign?

*Was I infertile?

*I mean, I wanted to have kids with my future husband someday. Sadly, I can't give him what'll rightfully be that man's when we do get married, but I still wanted to share that joy with him.

*If I was infertile, how could I carry that out?

*Sure, there's always adoption, but... we wouldn't have kids of our bloodline. We won't be able to say that the child has one person's eyes, nose, smile, personality, any of that.

*Everyone says that God doesn't want me carrying Bradley's child... But maybe... God doesn't want me carrying any child...

*The world may never know...*

ANOTHER CHAPTER COMPLETE! HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY IT! Now I wonder if this'll make up for jilling all of the unsuspecting victims in the last chapter... hmm... Oh well, I may never know! Show your love however you want! Stay tuned for Chapter 18!! And God bless!!! :)