So the last chapter kind of blows and I'm sorry about that, but this is one of my favorite chapters. Enjoy!
(a good amount of rights!)
One month later
"Just like a dream, just like a dream," Carn sings under her breath, bouncing her knee to her music.
"Carnation! Carnation!" Beth, driving her car back to Derry, shouts.
Removing her Walkman's headphones, she looks over at her. "Yes?"
"I have some cookies in the backseat for you. I always craved cookies when I was pregnant with Paul."
"Oh, great! Thank you!" she reaches for the box of fresh chocolate chip cookies, breaking it open.
"You know, I'm really proud of you."
It's one of those awkward moments for Carn where she doesn't know how to respond. Her face turns pink. "Thanks..."
"I can't believe you spent a month at this retreat, which was practically impossible to get into, and gained so much from it. And it's amazing how strong your faith is, despite your mistake."
"My baby isn't a mistake," Carn replies instantly, mouth full of cookie.
"Hm?"
She gulps it down. "I'm sorry. I said my baby isn't a mistake."
"Oh," she looks embarrassed. "Of course not."
The air is tense, so Carn puts her headphones back on. She fidgets by going back and forth between playing with the crucifix on her neck and rubbing her growing belly. Not hungry anymore, she puts the box of cookies in the back again.
"Thanks, Beth. Thanks for everything!" Carn beams when the youth leader pulls up to her house, unaware that she doesn't stay there anymore. Carn is hasty to get her suitcase out of the trunk and wave until the Volkswagen pulled away.
Sighing, she begins the journey to Mike's house. Thunder booms.
"You're kidding," she laughs to herself. Usually this would have really upset her, but Carn is on a self proclaimed Jesus-high. She had just spent the last month meeting wonderful new people (most of them not looking a second time at her pregnancy), going to daily mass, and learning about different directions and paths she can take in her life.
As much as she loved every minute it, she often got homesick. One time, near the end of the month, she ran up to a ginger boy at the Dallas Museum of Art, tapping his shoulder and asking what he was going there. Carn almost died of embarrassment when she realized it wasn't Bill. But now she's back, in the same town as her friends. She's home.
It begins to drizzle, leaving droplets in her flaxen hair, but she giggles. The rain is warm, anyway.
"So this is what bliss feels like."
Carn is radiant. Not a single thing could get her down. What makes her most ecstatic, though, is finally seeing Bill's used Mustang, broken and beaten down. He had just bought it at the end of the summer, and it's heavenly to Carn. It was just another car before, but now, it's the most perfect car she had ever laid eyes on.
Even though the Mustang is distant, at least two hundred feet away, Carn shouts to him.
"BILL!!" she breaks into a run, dropping her suitcase on the sidewalk. "BILL!!"
The only person in the world she wants to see right now is Bill. Bill, her tender and compassionate boyfriend. Bill, the loving father of her unborn child. Bill, sarcastic and almost always in the mood.
He looks up from the short story that he's writing to see a feminine figure coming towards him, fishtail braids thumping against her chest.
Throwing open his car door, he runs to her. "CARN!!!"
All he wanted for the past month was to hold her in his arms, forever and ever. He wanted to kiss her until their lips fell off and the world ended. And now he can.
The stars align as they collide. It's fully storming; they're both soaking wet by now. But they couldn't care less.
Bill kisses her, tongue and all, right there in the deserted street. He cups her face, then holds her braids, then cups her face again. He needs to feel every inch of her. He needs to know it's his Carnation.
The couple hugs for ages, overflowing with euphoria.
What felt like a punch to the gut makes Bill leap back in shock. "W-wha-?"
Carn giggles. "That wasn't me!"
Bill's face is priceless, as if he was seeing sunlight for the first time in years. "I-it stuh-started kicking?!"
She bobs her head vigorously, making Bill tear up, just a bit. He places his hands over her stomach, waiting for another kick. After about a minute or so, it comes.
"Isn't that amazing??" Carn asks, beaming brightly.
Speechless, Bill leaned down and pecked her stomach over and over and over. She runs her fingers through his damp red locks.
"Wuh-wait!" he jumps back up. "I h-have an early C-C-Christmas guh-gift for y-y-you."
"Okay! I'm going to grab my suitcase!"
Carn runs to get it, then drags it behind her all the way to Bill's car, which he drives closer to her. He reaches over to open her door from the inside.
"H-hop in."
She hops in the passenger seat, throwing her suitcase carelessly in he back. Bill hands her a cute little box, wrapped in yellow paper.
"My favorite color," she says, ripping it open.
When Carn opens the box, a small gasp escapes her lips. On top of tissue paper is a pacifier decorated with bumblebees.
"I p-p-painted it."
"It's perfect."
"Thuh-thanks," Bill grins.
"No, thank you. I love you, Bill."
"I l-l-love you, too."
They kiss once more before they're warmed up enough to go inside. Carn knocks on Mike's door, but he doesn't answer right away.
"Mike?" she calls, raising her hand to knock again.
But Mike opens it before she could bang on it again. This time, his eyes are red and his cheeks are tear stained.
"Hey, Carn. Glad you're back."
He does not look glad.
"Mike?"
"What's wrong?"
He hesitates, but decides to tell them the truth.
"Camila's getting deported."
YOU ARE READING
Yellow Dress//Bill Denbrough
Fanfiction"Shut up and love me." As if Bill hasn't already had to grow up too fast, Carnation has some news that will forever alter their lives and test their relationship. Sequel to Catholic Girl//Bill Denbrough
