One Step Closer (Sequel to OSAAT)

Chapter Fifteen.

Briley wrapped her arms around me and began to cry. I hugged her back and closed the door.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked her and we walked over to the couch and sat down. She kept her arms around me. "Ali isn't here right now, but I can call her."

"No! Don't do that." she said and looked at me, she had a determined look in her eyes and I nodded.

"Briley... what's wrong? Are you and Noah okay?" I asked her and she just squeezed her eyelids shut, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Talk to me."

"Mom and Dad... They kicked me out. They told me I could come back when..." she stopped herself and started crying again. My eyes widened.

"They kicked you out?" I asked and she nodded. "What? Why?"

"Noah and I... look, we just had it once and his fucking condom broke. Like what are the odds?" she said and tried to laugh through her tears. I just stared at her, my eyes getting wider and wider. This is Ali's baby sister I'm dealing with.

"Briley... you're not... you're not..."

"Lauren, I'm going to hell." she said and cried into my shoulder.

"Look, things happen, okay? Martin and Jennie are going to understand. They're in shock."

"There's a human being inside of me." she said and cried harder.

"Well, I mean, it's probably microscopic." I said and she just looked at me.

"I forgot how helpful you were." she said and rubbed her eyes.

"Well, I'm a little shocked too. You're sixteen, Briley. You're the angel child."

"Well, not anymore! I'm almost seventeen, anyway." she said and I looked down.

"This means your pregnant?"

"No, Lauren, this means I'm a naturalist." she said and I smacked her arm.

"Smart ass." I said and she smiled a little.

"Oh, God. I remembered why I was here." she said and started crying again.

"Look, finish what you were saying earlier. They won't let you come back until what?"

"They said I could come back when learned what self respect was." she said and I rubbed her back.

"I'll call them."

"No, Lauren, they can't know I came here." she said.

"Briley, it's going to be okay."

"Okay... well, can Noah come up?" she asked me.

"You brought him with you?! I didn't think you'd-"

"Well, I am still with him. His parents think I'm the best thing that's ever happened to him, and that weren't exactly thrilled when they found out. I'm so screwed." She said and I pulled out my cellphone. I called Jennie, Ali's mom. She answered immediately.

"Lauren? Lauren is she with you?" Martin answered the phone, he was crying as hard as Briley had been, and I could hear Jennie in the background, sobbing.

"Uh, yeah... she is." I said and sighed. He let out a big sigh of relief and stopped crying.

"Can you tell her to come home? We just need to talk to her."

"Well, Mr. B... I think she might need to stay here for the night." I said.

"Look, I don't know if she told you, but this is seri-"

"Yes, she told me, and I'm glad she did. Just let her stay until Ali comes back, we'll go from there, okay?"

"Look, sweetheart, can you just tell her that... that," I heard Jennie's voice, but she started crying again.