Gold - The Outsiders Fanfiction

Walgreens

Charlotte's P.O.V.

I woke up, worried again. I hadn't had a call from Pony. He promised he would be fine and I trusted him, but in the back of my mind, I felt like something was wrong. I felt more than worried though this morning. I felt extremely sick and nauseous. I felt the familiar feeling of fluid coming up through my throat, jumped out of bed and ran barefoot along the tiles to the bathroom. I chucked into the toilet, shut the lid and sat down on it.

"You okay?" Dallas asked, walking shirtless into the bathroom and splashing his face with water.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?" I asked, looking at the clock and noticing it was early.

"Nah, don't worry about it," Dallas said. "You're alright though?"

I nodded, gesturing for him to leave and shut the door.

I opened my drawer to get my Pepto out and noticed the box of tampons. I was late.

Doesn't mean anything, I thought. It's only natural to skip a period or two. Then I remembered the morning sickness.

I couldn't be? Could I?

I was possible, but we did use protection. I always assumed the pill was a hundred percent effective.

I cleaned up, washed my face and teeth, skipped breakfast because eating was the last thing I felt like doing, got dressed, grabbed my bag and left. Dally had already gone to work.

I started walking to the main street, I needed to go to Walgreens and get a pregnancy test. I felt scared, and I missed Ponyboy. I knew I shouldn't worry, I just needed to take the test, I still might not even be pregnant at all. I knew myself well, I tended to overthink things.

I saw a young woman walk past with a little baby boy in a stroller and thought, maybe it wouldn't be that bad. Maybe it would be, and I could never fulfill my dream of going to college and becoming a nurse.

And what would Pony say? He wouldn't leave me, I know that. But I still worry about his reaction. I know he wants to go to college more than anything.

Maybe Andrea could look after the baby? She's a stay at home Mum. But we couldn't really put that on her, even though I know she'd love to.

I needed to stop. I was getting myself into a bad headspace. I took a few deep breaths. I went into McDonald's.

"Hi, can I have a strawberry thickshake and a big mac, please? I asked.

"Sure," said the cashier.

I handed over the money, collected my receipt and waited for my order. They called my number, I took my order and sat down alone in a booth, putting my bag on my lap.

"Hey, Charlie," said the guy wiping down the table, Curly.

"Oh, hey Curly," I said. "Good to see you, I haven't seen you in ages."

"Yeah, it's good to see you too," Curly said. "I'm fresh outta juvie, my parole officer got me a temporary job here."

"Temporary?" I asked.

"Yeah, just till my three-month parole's over," Curly told me.

"I could get you a job down at the Dingo?" I offered. "Jerry, the boss, is a really good guy. Minimum wage, but the tips a really good."

"That sounds great, thanks," said Curly. "Well, I gotta go, but we should catch up soon."

"Yeah," I said, giving him my number.

"See you soon," he said, walking off.

I finished my big mac, picked up my thick shake and went next door to Walgreens. The automatic door slid open and the cashier greeted me good morning.

I headed straight for the feminine health section and picked out three pregnancy tests. I noticed all the prenatal vitamins, fertility pills, and all the other pregnancy stuff, and my head exploded with thoughts. I shook out of it, walked away, took a coke out of the fridge and paid for my shit.

"Hey, Charlie," said Steve.

Steve and Two-Bit were standing in front of me and I thanked my lucky stars I'd shoved everything into my bag.

"Hey, guys, what're you doing here?" I said.

"Just bored and thought we'd get some tabs," Two-Bit said. "What about you, what are you doing here?"

"Just buying some tampons," I lied.

"Cool," said Two-Bit.

"Going for tabs, huh?" I asked.

"We wanted to try something else, I guess," Steve said.

"You thinking pain relief, maybe?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's it," Two-Bit confirmed.

"I have an old Vicodin prescription if you want it," I told them.

"That would be great," said Steve.

I dug around in my bag, pulled out the piece of paper and gave it to Two-Bit.

"Thanks, Char," said Two-Bit.

"See ya, kid," said Steve, patting me on my head.

I walked out of the shop and down the street. I got the nauseous feeling in my stomach yet again, but it wasn't from morning sickness, no. I'd been getting this feeling all my life. That anxious feeling. My anxiety had been bad all my life but it had been being a bitch lately. I drank some of my coke, took a look in some shops and then took a long way home.

Ponyboy's P.O.V.

I unlocked the hotel room, and by no surprise it was great. The rest of the hotel was pretty swanky, and it was only a street away from Times Square. I think Sargent Gallagher had connections with the manager. It was time to call Charlie and Soda, so I sat down next to the phone.

Charlotte's P.O.V.

I unlocked the front door, grateful I had the house to myself. I went straight to the bathroom and did what I had to do, three times for all three tests.

Positive, all three of them.

I sat down on the toilet, petrified. Should I tell people? Should I go get an abortion?

The answer to both questions was no, but what would Ponyboy want? I decided to not tell Pony until he got back, and I wouldn't tell anyone else before that, not even Andrea. I had to start saving some money and decide how I was going to live my life from now on.