Beauty and the Jock

Close call

Jason.

In about five minutes we got to her place.

"We're here." I stated, still ecstatic about the fact that she was in my car, right beside me.

"Yeah...hey, how did you know where I lived?" She asked, curious yet again.

"Oh um, I've seen you walking home before," I shrugged. "It takes me about twenty minutes to get to home from school and I pass your house on the way. My baby is all about speed," I smiled, patting the steering wheel fondly. "I was just wondering...why don't you drive?"

"I don't have my own car. My brother gives me rides from time to time though. He would let me drive his car if I asked, but I can't put the key in the ignition without freaking myself out," she said, sheepishly.

I chuckled. "I see."

"Besides, I prefer walking. It's not that far anyway" She shrugged.

"Hmm...then why did you agree to let me drive you today?"

I guess that caught her off guard, because her eyes grew a little wide before she could answer me.

"I...I... my legs hurt. Couldn't walk straight."

"Oh?" I was unconvinced.

We sat there for a few awkward moments. I could tell there was something off about her since this morning and I was curious to find out what was wrong.

"Yeah okay so...thanks for the ride." She finally said, opening the car door.

"Hey wait up," I said.

"Yeah?" She turned to face me.

"Why were you so nervous when I asked you for a ride? Are you afraid of me or something?" I teased, hoping to get some answers out of her.

I saw a wave of panic on her face and my smile faded.

But she just shook her head. "N-no of course not! It's just...nothing. It was nothing. I was just...t-tired. I was tired. Yeah."

I could tell that she was hiding something. But I didn't feel like pushing it.

Maybe she wasn't ready for me to know yet. I mean, why would she be? We hardly even know each other! Although I'm working on fixing that...

"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked with a hopeful smile.

"Yeah bye," she whispered, before gently shutting the door of my car.

Jennifer.

I entered my house and sighed. Chris wouldn't be home for hours, let alone my mother – who usually worked until late.

I collapsed onto the couch, leaving my bag on the floor.

"Jason...what would I have done if you weren't there on time?" I said out loud in despair. He was...unreal. Didn't he have enough girls falling at his feet every single day? How come he paid absolutely no attention to them and gave me a ride home instead? Maybe he was just being nice...

Talking of nice, I can safely say that nice guys are few in number. And nice guys who are also smoking hot are very, very hard to find.

I tried not to think about Dylan. He was the reason why I had trust issues in the first place.

I'd been so happy when he said he loved me. He lied.

It hurt like a bitch when he broke up with me. But he also made me realize that love meant very little to most guys. They were just four letters put together and they meant nothing.

I didn't believe in happy endings anymore.

The chances of someone like Jason liking me are close to zero. Not that there's anything wrong with me! I just...I know his type. Guys like him are genetically programmed to be with the queen bees of high school. Those gorgeous girls who dazzle the pants off of every guy they meet. When he finds his girl, he'll ask her out, she'll say yes, they'll fall in love and have many pretty babies together.

I closed my eyes and rested my head on the couch. Jason's face flashed in my mind.

He'd made me laugh, I realized...

I felt like he really cared. Was I wrong to judge him without getting to know him?

I went into the kitchen and distracted myself by making a sandwich. When I was done, I went back into the living room, sat down on the couch, switched on the TV and started to nibble at the bread. I realized I didn't have much of an appetite as I flipped through the channels mindlessly. Nothing interesting was on. My eyes wandered around the room, falling on the calendar that hung on the wall. My brow furrowed, my eyes narrowed. And then I gasped in realization.

My period was late.

No.

This isn't possible. It can't be!

I'd taken the pill for Christ's sake! Aren't those things supposed to WORK?

I was about to have a mini heart-attack right there in my living room.

I needed to be sure. So I shoved the plate of half-eaten food out of my lap and ran to a nearby chemist store to buy myself a pregnancy kit. I paid and rushed out of the store, escaping the disapproving and pitiful looks that the lady behind the counter gave me.

I darted up the stairs, holding the kit firmly in my hands. I got to my room and locked the door.

My palms were clammy and my mind was in a muddle. I was so afraid to take the test. I wasn't ready to have a baby! And what about my mom? What would she think of her seventeen-year-old daughter getting pregnant?

This is not good. This is not good at all.

I went into the bathroom and followed the instructions written on the kit. After completing the pee on a stick routine, I waited. My body was shaking slightly and I tried to calm myself down by breathing deeply. After minutes that seemed like ages, the result showed.

It was negative.

My eyes began to sting and a lump grew in my throat.

Was I supposed to feel relieved? W-w-what if I have some unknown STDs? I can't rely on this stupid pregnancy test! What if it's wrong?

I didn't know what to do. I felt defeated, as if everything was beyond my control and I couldn't do a thing about it...