Hope For Us Yet

Chapter Four: Jerry

"Looks like a girl!", The doctor exclaims.

Taylor brushes away a tear while Jerry records the whole thing. "Mum's gonna be in tears!". The public knew by now. And we were causing a whirlwind of "celeb updates" and gossip reviews.

I was seven months now. My stomach had bulged to a large extent. A fuzzy figure blurs on the monitor to my right.

"Oh Ell", Taylor whispers. "This is amazing"

There's a sniff from Jerry. "Praise Jesus, it's not twins!", she laughs. "I was getting worried"

"Just wait till I tell Clara and Greg what you just said", I giggle.

"There's a hand, Ella!", Taylor squeals. And she's right. Tiny fingers can clearly be seen on the monitor.

"It's waving!", I smile.

Austin peeps his head in the door. "Guys, we just got a paparazzi warning from Alison. They're heading this way. Brace yourselves"

"There's barely any paps around here..", Taylor says.

"Some have flown, Taylor. All the way from the US", he informs us. "It's crazy!"

"Creepy", Jerry huffs.

"Oh god. Why?!", I moan.

"I brought the car up closer so you don't have to walk as far. And we'll all shield you as best we can. Don't answer any questions, just pretend their not there"

I had an intense fear of the paparazzi. And the last thing I wanted right now was for stress to take over. I begin to shift around uncomfortably.

"She's getting antsy, let's wrap this up", Jerry whispers to the doctor. I don't know why she felt the need to try and keep her words a secret. I knew that she was aware of my anxiety problems.

We stand at the doorstep of the hospital, Taylor standing in front of me and holding my hands. The public were about to see a whole new set of Lorde pictures by the end of today.

Cameras flash. And it begins.

"Lorde! There she is! Turn this way real quick"

"Taylor, that's a nice haircut! When did ya get that done, babe?"

"Can we get a few words from the sister? Over the shoulder, sweetheart!"

"Austin! Welcome to NZ. Any news? Any new love interests for Taylor? Or is she staying loyal?"

Stupid stupid questions. I had learned a long time ago not to answer them if I could. You turn your head even a little bit and they will eat that up. It'll be uploaded to everywhere. Whatever thrill it gave them, it was nightmarish for me. For all of us.

We push past the sea of needy camera holders and people with mics and clipboards, and eventually

Make it to the car.

"We're safe!", Taylor sighs as she kisses my cheek and buckles my seat belt. Jerry flips off the noisy crowd and curses angrily. Thank god for tinted windows. Austin carefully pulls out of our parking space by the hospital steps and we slowly drive out of the place.

"They're like sheep!", Jerry grumbles. "Every single one of them. Not once have I met a paparazzi that was respectful towards any of us!"

"Do you think they got anything?", Austin asks as we drive down the road.

"Probably!", Jerr says. "Forget it and just get out of here. The kids will be driving Logan crazy back home"

Taylor soothingly strokes at my bump. "Poor little thing"