Smile Like You Mean It (One)

Chapter Fifteen

"Hey, Sunshine." The familiar voice called from the hallway, as Bryony stepped out from her last class of the day.

"H-Hey." She stammered, avoiding his eyes, as she continued to pace down the corridor, with her arms folded tightly over her chest. Sal's eyebrows furrowed, as he chased after her, pulling at Bryony's shoulder.

"What's wrong? You don't seem yourself..." He asked sincerely, as she swallowed her words, her gaze remaining fixated on her shoes. "Bryony?"

"Can we walk to the park? I need to talk to you about something."

"Sure," Sal nodded. "What about?"

"It, er...it doesn't matter." Bryony muttered, as she continued on her walk. Sal followed after her, continually pestering her for some sort of hint as to what needed to be discussed between them.

They reached the pavement outside of the school, as Sal stopped her, his hand remaining clasped around her forearm. Students were barging passed them, as she studied the look of pure fear and hurt across his features.

"Is it something I did? You don't want this to end, do you?" He quizzed, his voice wobbling and weak.

"No, Sal. Just let us get to the park, and I promise I will tell you everything." Bryony answered, as she pushed passed him. Sal turned, watching, as she strolled along the path. He sighed to himself, before running to catch up with her.

By the time the pair of them had reached the park, the sky had turned to an array of orange and red, with the sun slowly setting over the horizon. Bryony reached out for his hand, as she dragged Sal through the small patch of grass, where a bench sat underneath an old oak tree. They took a seat, the both of them staring ahead mindlessly, studying the colours of the sky. Sal had his arm resting along the back of the bench, careful not to be too forward with the girl. A silence was brought between them, as the sounds of birdsongs and the mutters of passers-by filled their ears.

Bryony remained quiet, planning on how exactly she was going to break the news to him. It had to be in a way that didn't scare Sal, or anger him. She let a deep sigh pass her lips, as she shifted on the bench to face the boy. Sal studied her features, admiring how the evening sun shone down on her, darkening the freckles upon her face.

"What's plaguing your mind, Love?" He asked sincerely, witnessing the single tear begin to roll down her cheek. He moved his hand to her face, brushing the side of his forefinger against her cheek, as he caught the tear. "Why so sad?"

"Because..." Bryony started. "I don't know how to tell you this."

Her words made his heart jump, the panic overwhelming his body. Sal sat upright, bringing his full attention onto the girl, as he swallowed hard. He feared the next sentence to leave her lips, as he sat there waiting, the anticipation making it all the more difficult.

"Do you remember our night together a month ago?" She asked, as Sal sat back, a small smile playing on his lips.

"How could I forget?" He replied, scooting himself along the bench, wanting to be closer to her. "That night was magical."

"It was." Bryony smiled at him, before leaning in to place a kiss to his cheek. Her smile soon faded away, as the pressure came back to her. She needed to tell him, and it needed to be now. "And do you remember how we got so caught up in the moment that neither one of us even considered using protection?"

"Yes..." Sal answered slowly, his eyebrows furrowing in perplexity. "What are you trying to say?"

"Sal...I-I'm pregnant."

Bryony watched, as Sal's rosy red cheeks soon transformed into a pale white, an emotionless expression plastered upon his face. The smile that once sat permanently on his lips had disappeared, being replaced with nothing. His stare no longer fixated on her, but rather behind, as though he was staring into the abyss, like the whole world was crumbling before his very eyes.

They sat there for some time, not a word being conveyed between the two, before life finally returned to Sal's face. He cleared his throat, moving his gaze to set onto Bryony's lap, watching how her hands fumbled nervously. She was terrified, terrified of the fact that he could easily run away from this, abandoning her to raise the baby alone.

"How, er..." Sal croaked, shaking himself out of his daze. "How long have you known?"

"Since this morning." Bryony answered sheepishly.

"Does anyone else know?"

"The girls know, but only because they knew something was wrong." She sniffled, soon feeling Sal's arm wrap around her shoulders, bringing her into his embrace. He kissed at her forehead, as a deep sigh escaped him.

"My parents are going to kill me." He admitted, as Bryony met his stare. "They gave me rules...and I disobeyed them."

"Join the club." Bryony commented.

She felt Sal shift beside her, as his hand cautiously moved to hover over her abdomen. He hesitated, as he looked at her.

"May I?" He asked, as she nodded her head.

Sal lowered his hand, softly letting his palm rest along her stomach. Even though there was no physical baby bump, he could sense a part of him inside of her. His heart warmed to the thought that he and the girl that he loved had created a life together. He thought back to when his younger sister was born, and how in eight months' time, he was going to have a baby of his own to hold in his arms.

"Sal?" Bryony voiced, catching his attention.

"Hm?" He responded, looking at her lovingly.

"Are you mad at me?" She whimpered, as Sal's heart broke in two. The thought alone hurting him immensely.

"No, of course not." Sal answered, placing a kiss to her cheek. "I could never be mad at you...especially when this was down to the both of us."

He shifted his eyes to the sky, watching, as the sun crept below the horizon, the evening sky forming to that of darkness. He sat back, letting his mind wonder, as a small voice came from beside him.

"Please don't leave me..." Bryony cried, as Sal looked at her. He moved his finger to her chin, letting their eyes meet under the starlit sky, seeing the glistening of light bounce off of the tears in her eyes.

"I won't. Ever." Sal smiled, as he leant in, kissing her softly. "I can't live without you, Bryony."

He broke away from their kiss, as Bryony's gaze fell to her lap. A tear fell from her face, landing on her hand. She didn't want to cry, but her emotions were being thrown all over the place. Sal rested his forehead against her own, locking their eyes onto one another, as a warming smile played on his lips.

"Hey, none of that now." He spoke, feeling Bryony nod her head against him. "I love you."

Bryony's cheeks flushed at the sounds of those three words, hearing them leave the boy's lips for the first time. Her heart sunk in her chest, as the realisation hit her. She had doubted him, when if anything, he was more prepared than she was.

"I love you too." Bryony responded, seeing the smile pull at his lips, he would never tire of hearing her say that. She leant into him, brushing her lips softly against Sal's, as he started to kiss her back. He ran his hand along her stomach in a circular motion.

"I will do anything and everything for our baby to have a good life."