Disastrous

Eleven

I hated going to the grocery shops on Sundays, simply because that seemed to be the day all the other procrastinators shopped for their weekly food. I scurried down the aisles as quickly as possible, determined to make it home soon.

My cart came to a screeching halt as I scanned the vegetable area, remembering Arabella's request for green peppers. I yanked on one of the plastic bags attached to the tall wooden stake, huffing as it refused to rip from the rest. My short height proved as a disadvantage, my legs stretching as I expanded myself on the tips of my toes in an attempt to free the bag I needed.

Suddenly, a hand reaches up from behind me. I let myself back down onto the flats of my feet as the person behind me yanks a bag free for me. I smile, taking it from his hands before spinning around.

"Thank y-"

Both of our eyes widened upon realizing who each other was. I gulped, taking the smallest step back. My hip bumped against the vegetable display in my haste attempt to creat distance, a potato rolling down from the top of the stack.

Julien quickly steps forward, catching the brown lump in his hand before it can crash to the floor. His dark brown eyes meet mine in a hesitant glance, as if he was unsure of what to do or say. I didn't know what to say either, my words caught in the pit of my throat as he slowly placed the vegetable back on the display.

"Shay, I didn't realize it was you." He mumbles, his eyes still wide. I slowly nodded, my words and thoughts still all jumbled together. I thought Julien had gone back home to Kentucky, yet here he was; in the exact same store as I was.

"Oh, you're uhm, you're pregnant?" I hadn't even noticed his gaze was now diverted on my stomach through the t-shirt I was wearing.

"I am." I didn't want to have this conversation. Not now, not ever.

"Does your dad know?"

I roll my eyes at his stupid comment, crossing my arms over my chest.

"My family knows yes, now if you'll excuse me." My hands tightly grip the cart, Arabella's peppers forgotten as I rush towards the checkouts.

"Wait!" Julien calls after me, his large hand catching my wrist. I yank free from him immediately and cower back, having no desire for him to touch me.

He moves as close to me as he possibly can, bending his head down to my height. A shiver runs down my spine and I close my eyes as his breath washes over the base of my neck.

"I didn't get you pregnant, did I?" His voice is dark, slight amusement held in his tone.

Both of my hands rise and I bravely push him away from me as best as I can by the shoulders. He knew it wasn't even a possibility for my baby to be his. We hadn't been together for a long time, longer then the time I've been pregnant.

"I need to go." I excuse myself, rushing to the nearest checkout and as far away from Julien Andrews as possible.

*

Wisps of hair fanned out over my face as I desperately attempted to blow them back with my breath. I wiggled around on the computer chair I was seated on, huffing as I attempted to lean down again to finish painting my toes. The task proved to be more difficult than I expected, my stomach getting in my way of bending over. I thought the chair would help, but it really wasn't helping at all.

"Ugh!" I groan, swiping some of the pale green across my skin on accident.

Just as I'm about to chuck the varnish container across my room, the door opens. In steps Niall, wearing yet another backwards SnapBack with a huge grin on his face.