Anger Issues

forty one

Jessica

Austin came over again, and explained everything with Caleb. I freaked out, arguing with him on why he told anyone, but quickly calmed myself down.

We had to go to the pharmacy to buy more tests, and then came back home.

I couldn't even cry at this point. By now, for both of us, it was mere anticipation and stress.

After the timer for the first test went off, I let Austin look at it first. Waiting to see his response, he looked at me, shaking his head.

"Negative," he said.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn't know how to feel. First, I was, then I wasn't, then again.. I wasn't.

I admit that the stress lowered, but only raised again when I realized that.. there might be a problem. With me.

I took the other test, getting the same response.

"This doesn't make sense," I shook my head, subtly clutching my stomach in pain.

"It doesn't," he agreed. "I've had too many symptoms," I said. "I know," he nodded.

I looked up at him. "What do we do?" I asked.

He sat beside me, putting his arm around me. He didn't know either.

I read online that tests can be taken at night, too. So when Austin left, I waited until midnight almost, when my family was asleep. I took another test, called Austin, and waited for the results.

The timer went off and I looked at Austin through the screen of my phone, before grabbing the test.

"Positive.."

Austin and I both had no reaction. What reaction could we have?

3 our of the 5 tests said negative, but the 2 that said positive matched how I felt.

The sickness, pain, mood swings.

"What the fuck do we do?" I whispered, ready to break down. Whatever was happening to me.. wasn't good.

"We need to see a doctor, Jess," he softly said. "How? We're still minors, we can't go alone," I explained.

"I'll ask Caleb to take us," he said.

I wanted to argue and protest, but I couldn't. I didn't. We had no other choice.

Mom noticed that I was acting weird. She came to talk to me about it, but I just said I wasn't feeling well. She bought it. I knew she did.

"I'll call you tomorrow," I sniffed. I watched as he gently nodded his head. "I love you," he said. I waited a second to respond. "I love you, too."

I woke up in the morning to more nausea. Luckily, I wasn't throwing up anymore.

"Are you feeling any better?" Mom came into my room. "A little," I weakly said.

We had the usual call me if you need anything conversation, before she left for work.

I felt a huge cramp in my abdomen, forcing me to stay still for a little while longer. When it finally started fading, I was able to go to the bathroom.

That's when shit got worse.

Austin

"Wait, what do you mean you're bleeding?" I asked through the phone. "It's like I'm on my period, Austin," she explained. I could hear the fear in her voice.

"That's not supposed to happen.. it shouldn't," she said. "We need to get you to a doctor, babe," I said.

"But-" "We have no choice, Jess," I cut her off angrily. "Something could be wrong. Please, just let me help you," I argued.

She stayed silent for a few seconds. "How?" She asked. I sighed.

I was at school. She was home again for the day, but now I needed to leave.

"Just wait. I'm on my way," I told her.

I hung up, getting back to class. Anxiously waiting until the bell rang, I tossed my thing into my backpack, and left the building cautiously.

Once I got into my car, I considered myself safe. I drove to my house first, hoping Caleb was home. I didn't even know if he was, but I was hoping for the best.

"Caleb!" I shouted, walking through the door. "Austin?" He questioned, walking down the stairs.

"Can you take us to the doctor?" I asked. I didn't even hesitate. I was too worried to think of any other way to phrase the question.

"What happened..?" He asked. "She took like, five tests, bro. Three were negative and two were positive. She just told me that she.. something happened," I stammered. "What's that something?" He asked.

I sighed, knowing there was no simple way to say it. "She's bleeding," I said.

His eyes went slightly wider. I could tell he was easily more concerned.

He was about to go upstairs to grab his wallet (i assumed), but then stopped himself.

"Aus, I can't take you guys," he said. My expression changed. "What?" I asked. "Why?"

"You, I can take," he began. "But I'm not related to Jessica," he said.

That's when I paused, taking a step back. "What the fuck do we do, then?" I asked. He looked at me sympathetically.

"I'll go with you," he said.

"But she needs to tell someone."