Fifty-Two Weeks

twenty four

"These words will never

Replace the feeling

Of a hug

Or kiss

From you"

-M.J.

---

"So he just left you keys and a lease to an apartment?" Jess repeated what Scarlett had told her with skepticism. The pair had been sharing a pint of ice cream while watching Netflix when Scarlett decided to tell her the news, even if it was a week late.

"Yup." She said, popping the 'p' sound and licking the ice cream from her lip.

"He's so in love with you." Jess gushed, "But with a face like this who wouldn't!" She teased and squished Scarlett's cheeks together.

"If he's so in love with me, why won't he be a good father and step up to the task? Why did he choose to run away and hide behind his fame?" Scarlett groaned and shoved another spoonful of the creamy goodness in.

"He's scared." Jess shrugged like it was no big deal.

"I'm scared! I have the constant reminder of my future every time I look down, he doesn't." Scarlett yelled. It wasn't fair, she missed and loved Ashton with all her heart. Why couldn't he do the same?

"Talk to him, work things out. It's for the best." Jess used a soothing tone and handed an already ringing phone to Scarlett.

Scarlett took the phone mouthing a quick 'I hate you' to Jess, before leaving the living room and entering her bedroom.

"Hello?" Ashton's deep voice questioned over the phone.

"Uh, hey." Scarlett replied. Her heartbeat sped up and she could hear it echo in her ear; Ashton always had this effect on her.

"It's so good to hear your voice, I miss you so much baby girl." Ash yawned down the line as it was early morning for him.

"Please don't call me that." Scarlett whispered, scrunching up her face.

"Why not?" Ashton asked confused.

"Because I'm not your baby girl."

"You're not?"

"I can't be."

"Why?"

"You won't be a dad to our actual baby." She cried, the truth finally coming out.

"I am it's dad, nothing will change that! This is just the way it has to be." He defended.

"I'm so sick of hearing that, Ashton. It doesn't have to be like anything, you're making this harder than it really is." Scarlett accused.

"What do you want from me?" He argued back.

"Come home." She whispered and broke down in sobs.

"I can't, baby you know I would." He attempted to comfort her but his kind words were no match for his warm hugs.

"I can't keep putting myself through this heartache, Ash. This has to change." She let out a shaky breath and cuddled a pillow on her bed.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we make a complete decision. Either we stay together and raise this baby together when you come home, or we're done completely."

---

It had been just over a month since Scarlett and Ashton decided to finally call it quits when she moved out. The apartment was already in her name and the fact that Ashton got it for her didn't matter, at least that's what she told herself.

Jess spent most of her nights at Scarlett's new home even though hers was just down the hall. She didn't trust Scarlett to be alone, not when her heart was hurting so. The phone call she instigated lead to the former lovebirds making a clean break. No texts, calls, tweets, or skype calls. Nothing. They assumed the less contact, the less attached they'd be. However, one should never assume.

"Why don't you try going on a date? Tyler seems nice!" Jess suggested as she helped Scarlett fold clean laundry.

"Tyler? As in coffee shop Tyler?" Scarlett asked.

"That's the one." Jess nodded.

During their time at university, Jessica and Scarlett spent many hours studying at the campus's coffee shop. This is also where they met Tyler, a tall brunette with warm brown eyes. He always put hearts on their cups and gave them a size larger than the one they ordered for free.

"I'm sure that'll go so well," Scarlett scoffed. "Hey Tyler! I'm seven months pregnant with another guy's kid but would you like to go out sometime?"

"I'm serious! You need to do something to get your mind off Ashton." Jessica attempted to persuade her but Scarlett was unmoving on the subject.

"No, besides I have more important things to worry about!" Scarlett sighed thinking of her endless list of responsibilities.

"Like what?" Jess smirked.

"For starters, the baby's room! It currently resembles a storage closet." She laughed and glanced down the hall at the open room. The white walls reflected incoming sunlight from the window and made it look way too bright.

"Then let's do that."

"Decorate the baby's room?"

"Hey, anything to get me out of folding clothes."

---

Two hours and several paint stores later, Scarlett found the perfect colour for her baby's room. She was never one to believe in having a yellow coloured nursery, she thought it was tacky and ugly. So she picked out a stoney grey colour that was the perfect shade to compliment the dark hardwood floor. Grey could be neutral too, without the putrid colour of yellow.

"Paint today, add furniture tomorrow?" Scarlett asked Jessica, who simply nodded and opened the can of paint.

"We could ask Tyler to come over and move some furniture." Jessica winked and Scarlett laughed.

"Why are you so hung up on me getting with Tyler?"

"I just think he'd be good for you."

"I think this is good for you." Scarlett smirked, dipping her finger in paint and smearing it on Jessica's cheek.

"How dare you!" Jess screamed and launched herself at Scarlett.

"Watch the baby! Watch the baby!" Scarlett yelled and ran out of the room but not fast enough. Jessica managed to splatter paint all over her back and shoulders.

"Okay truce! We can't waste so much paint!" Scarlett giggled and cautiously entered the room again.

"C'mon baby mama let's get to work!"

---

really hate this chapter and I'm starting to hate this book

but i have a new one on the way!! it's a calum fic, called suitcase. any guesses what it's about???