How He Broke My Heart

Chapter 28

I wake up in the morning feeling heavy and tired as if I didn't sleep at all. My mind was running through thoughts of Brandon, my Dad, my Mom, and Kaden, so much so that I'm not sure what time I managed to fall asleep. The clock on my bedside table says it's nearly noon, and just as my eyes take in the digits, my phone lights up. I grab it and read a text from Lauren:

I'm in trouble and I need your help!!!

There's also a message from Brandon saying that he hopes to see me today. He's sweet, but I first reply to Lauren, worried by her text. I ask what's happened before sitting up and rubbing my eyes. My phone vibrates while everything is still blurry—I struggle to read her message asking to meet up. With shaky fingers, I tap back asking where and when then move on to Brandon's message. After sending him an explanation as to why I may be busy with Lauren, I receive details from her. She simply says My house. Now.

Jumping into clothes, speeding in the bathroom, and skipping breakfast—or now lunch—I slip past my Aunt and Mom who are talking in the kitchen. I'm worried. What if some guy tried to hurt her? What if she drank too much? Or took something weird? I find myself nearly running down the street, breathing hard and desperate to get to her. What if Kaden is trying to hurt her? What if someone broke into her house? What if she's been drugged?

My throat dries out but my eyes stay fixated on her house as it grows in front of me. The front door isn't open—that's a good sign. There aren't any cars parked in front—also a good sign. I jog up the path and knock repeatedly on the door. "Lauren?"

I hear footsteps hurrying over and soon she's in front of me, motioning for me to come in. Uneasy due to her silence, I ask, "Are you hurt? Is someone here?"

She shakes her head.

"You said you're in trouble?"

Her phone is gripped in her hands, held close to her chest. "I-I am. Something bad has happened. I don't know what to do. God, what am I going to do?"

"What's going on?"

Lauren shakes her head, sitting down on the couch, staring at the glass coffee table. My eyes follow hers. Leaning closer, I see a pregnancy test laying flat. I swallow and examine the two lines. There are so many things to ask, to say, but nothing comes out of me.

"I think I'm pregnant," Lauren breathes out. She watches the test as if it will suddenly move or vanish or change. "M-My period didn't come, so I was worried. I waited a few more days and decided I should make sure I'm not... But I am. It says I am."

I step closer but step back, completely caught off guard. When? Who? How? One of my closest friends seems to be pregnant, and even though I've seen this happen on T.V. shows and in movies, everything about this feels foreign.

"Please say something."

"How?"

Lauren falls back against the couch. "How? How do you think! I slept with someone. I slept with someone and now I'm pregnant. I can't be pregnant. I don't want to be pregnant."

"With who?"

"With Preston. With Austin. Jesus," she mutters. "I don't even know who did this to me! I'm a mess! This is just sad, isn't it? I'm a pregnant whore."

Tears stream down her flushed cheeks. "No, no, Lauren, you're not. It was an accident. Everything will be okay." Deep breath. "Just calm down. We're going to figure this out, okay?"

"I can't be pregnant, Emma. My parents are going to kill me. I-I'm only eighteen."

"Let's just figure out the next step we need to take to fix this, okay? Do you want to talk to Preston or Austin?"