Haunted

"How did this happen?" - UNEDITED

Disclaimer: This chapter has not been edited from the original as posted on JBFF. There will be mistakes, typos, continuity problems and other issues.

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"I'm not going to college," Hannah said.

"You're...what?" Brent asked. He was obviously too shocked to trust his ears.

For Maddox, Hannah's words hung in the air echoing off each surface in the house. He wasn't sure which of the thousands of emotions running through him then to cling to.

"I can't go, I'm sorry," Hannah burst into tears. "I'm so sorry, I-"

The back door slammed open and they all jumped. Maddox cringed. It was Chloe and Maddox knew by the look on her face she hadn't expected to see them all sitting there.

"Oh shit," Chloe said. Then she laughed. "You told them?"

"Wait, you knew about this?" Brent turned to look at her.

"Guess I'm not the only fuckup in the family after all, am I?" Chloe grinned.

"There are no fuckups in this family," Maddox shook his head.

"There is, it's me," Hannah insisted.

"Jesus, you're not everything," Chloe rolled her eyes. She came to sit with them on the couch and almost tripped over nothing.

"Are you drunk?" Brent demanded.

"Yup," Chloe said. "At least I think so. Maybe just high. Not sure."

"Go to bed, Chloe," Maddox sighed. He could handle one crisis at a time. His wasted 16 year old would have to wait.

"Can't. Lazy," Chloe said, sinking further on the couch. "Go on, Hannah. Tell the Dads the whole story."

"It's okay, Hannah," Clay rubbed her arm. He hadn't taken his hand out of hers since they sat down to start talking. That was the whole reason Maddox had a bad feeling about this conversation to begin with.

"It's not okay," Hannah sniffled. "My life is over."

"Hannah, I don't understand," Brent said.

"Come on, Dad, it's not hard," Chloe interrupted. "She turned down Juilliard because she decided to fuck-"

"Chloe!" Hannah shrieked.

"What?" Chloe asked. Neither of them said anything for a few seconds. "Oh, Jesus fuck, you didn't tell them."

"Chloe, if you swear again I'll personally deliver you to Grandpa Phelps," Brent said.

"Hannah, I think maybe you should start this story from the beginning," Maddox suggested. He was trying very hard to stay calm but the longer they sat there the more he could feel his intentions slipping.

"Yawn. Can we skip to the important part?" Chloe interrupted again.

"Chloe Jessica!" Brent snapped. Chloe sat up.

"Sorry, I'm done," Chloe said. "Go on, Hanners."

Maddox tore his glare away from Chloe to focus on Hannah again. She and Clay were looking at each other in a way that made Maddox's heart break. In that second he knew exactly why Chloe was so upset because he suddenly knew what Hannah was about to tell them.

"Daddy, I'm pregnant," Hannah said.

* * * * * * * * * * *

2 weeks earlier........