Anger Issues

forty two

Jessica

Austin came to my house not long after the call. As he walked in, he started explaining the conversation with Caleb.

"You need to tell someone," he softly said. I put my hand against the table, completely zoning out, but quickly bringing myself back in.

Shaking my head, I looked at him again. "Can.. can it be Lily? She's my cousin, we're related," I spoke fast.

He slowly shook his head. "Caleb said it has to be immediate family," he said.

It made sense, it did.

My medical history.. I wouldn't know all of it. My parents, even Noah knew me better than I knew me.

"What if we try?" I asked. "Do you want to call and see? Ask?" He questioned. "Y-yeah," I nodded, reaching for my phone. I wanted to find any possible loophole that would allow me to get past my family.

I called up my doctor, waiting for minutes on hold. Finally, a receptionist answered.

"Hi," I began. "Is there any chance that I'd be able to come see you alone, without a guardian?" I asked. "How old are you?" She questioned. "16," I said. "Have you been here alone before?" She asked.

I stopped. Maybe if I said yes, it would increase my chances. But then again, maybe they'd have that on record.

"N-no," I stammered. "I'm sorry, we usually have to have parental or a guardians consent to allow minors to come alone, just for precaution," she explained. "Okay," I said. "Thank you, bye."

I ended the call, to see an eager Austin ready to question. "No," I said, before he even spoke.

He closed his mouth, resting his elbows on the table.

I put my phone down, waiting for him to speak. I had nothing to say.

"Who are you gonna tell?" He asked.

Ironically enough, just as he finished that sentence, Noah walked through the front door.

"You two are ditching, again?" Noah chuckled, walking towards the kitchen where we were.

Neither of us answered, or even reacted to him. Austin and I exchanged looks, and I gave him a soft nod.

"What's up with you two?" He asked, grabbing water from the fridge.

I slowly began, already feeling the waterworks.

"Noah.." I began. He put the bottle down, already sensing my tone.

"I need to tell you something.. but you have to promise me you won't freak out," I said. He looked at Austin, then back at me.

"What happened?" He asked. "Promise me you won't-" "I'm not promising anything," he cut me off. "What's going on?" He asked.

I sighed, glancing at Austin. A tear had already strolled down my cheek.

"I need you to take us to the doctor," I said. He grew concerned. I could see it on his face. "Why?" He asked.

I took a deep breath. This could go so many ways.

"I.." I gently began. "Jess," Noah spoke, growing uneasy.

"I might be pregnant.."

Noah

I froze at her words, not believing her. I didn't want to believe her. But she was crying, and Austin had a guilty look plastered all over his face.

I couldn't think to do anything else than what I did.

Not even able to control myself, I charged at Austin, grabbing his shoulders and slamming him against the wall.

"Noah!" I heard Jess yell. I immediately felt her trying to pry me off of Austin.

"She's my little sister," I angrily said to Austin, who had his hands up to show that he wouldn't fight back.

"I know," he said, clearly angry as well. "Best the fuck out of me if you want. I know I fucked up, okay, I know what I did. You won't change that," he said.

I stopped, processing what he said. I couldn't hurt him. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't.

"Noah, please," Jess said. I breathed out, letting him go, before walking back to the island.

"Are you serious?" I asked. "Are you fucking serious?" I asked again, louder this time.

"Just yes or no!" Jess yelled. "How the fuck did you.. when did you.. are you guys insane? Why wouldn't you-"

"Will you help us, or not? Because if you're not, then what's the point of explaining everything to you?" Jess asked.

I sighed, punching the bottle of water off the table. I took a few seconds to calm myself down, rubbing my forehead.

"Yeah, yeah," I finally said.

I was about to speak again, but Jess clutches her stomach, holding on to the table for support.

"Jess," Austin immediately went by her side. "What's happening?" I asked. "Nothing, it's just a cramp," she said.

It seemed like "just a cramp." She made it sound like "just a cramp."

But when she nearly collapsed, we knew it wasn't "just a cramp."

A/N: working so hard..