The Night Before

Chapter 5: Where's Aspen?

-Two months later-

It was the first day of everyone's student teaching year to begin. They were all suppose to be at their old high school to start shadowing teachers. They agreed to all meet in the parking lot Bucky and Natalie rode together. They walked over he said "Where's Aspen." 

Wanda looked down then looked up at him with tears. "She um she stayed in North Carolina.." she said 

"What.." he said 

Valerie said "Yeah.. she said that she doesn't want to come back to Georgia. Georgia isn't home anymore with Mason gone and um she won't be coming in this weekend for mine and Sam's wedding." 

"What has happened to Aspen? She was quiet all day at the wedding then she left before we could do pictures at ours." Natalie said 

"I don't know but we just need to give her some time and space to deal with what ever it is. That's what she told us last night when we talked to her." Hope said

Meanwhile back in North Carolina Aspen was at community college close to her mom's house where she was enrolling her self into a LPN program. After she did that she went by the diner that her aunt owns and she gave her a job. 

Aspen found out two days ago that she was pregnant after peeing on a stick.  She did what she had to do to protect not only Bucky's marriage but her friendship with Natalie. Natalie had been part of their group since they were in preschool just like Mason. 

During lunch period Bucky tried to call her but when he did he got "This number is no longer in service." message. 

Sam seen him crying at his truck as he punched his truck. He found the guys then went over to him "What's wrong Buck." Steve said 

"She's changed her phone number and if the girls know about her life then that means she's avoiding me." he said 

"Buck.." Steve said

Bucky wiped his tears "I don't know how I ended up in bed with her but I think I know why we were. " he said 

"What do you mean you think you know why?" Sam said 

"When we were 14 we pinky promised each other that if we weren't having sex by the time we were out of college and we weren't married that we could be each other's first. I had a promise to keep." Bucky said in a low tone.

After their first day was over Bucky went home and stood in the shower letting the hot water rush over him. Natalie joined and wrapped her arms around hiim and laid her head on his back.

'hey baby" he said 

"She'll come back around James she always does. I think she misses Mason baby she kept saying that all morning long. She even told me that Tommy was the wrong grommsmen. Mason and her were together a long time and he wanted to give her the world all the way down to a dream Christmas wedding." she said 

"I know.. I know how much Mason adored my best friend but it hurts that she feels like she can't come to me." he said 

"I know baby." she said 

That night Natasha got a text from Aspen to ask her if she thought she could come up and go with her to her doctor's appointments the other girls could come to except  Natalie. Natasha let them read the text and they all agreed to help her and keep her secret. 

Two weeks later the girls were loading up Wanda's car for the weekend when the boys showed up and Bucky pulled up on his bike with Natalie.

"Where are you all going?' Bucky said

"A girls' trip to see Aspen.." Hope said

"I want to come I miss her" Natalie siad

"No..she um she just wants us to come her ballet girls." Wanda said 

"Oh.." Natalie said 

Bucky looked at them "You are hiding something.." he said 

"Nope but we do have to get on the road." Natasha said then they got in Wanda's car.

"Now she's mad at me what did I do.." Natalie said 

"Who knows anymore.." Bucky said then took off to go back home. 

Natasha and the girls went back with her when they called her name at the doctor's office. She had her yearly exam done and she examined her breasts. "Okay Ms Miller let's see what we have going on shall we." she said

She started up the ultrasound then put the gel on her stomach rubbed it in with the wand. "There's the heartbeat .. and there's baby." the doctor said 

Aspen looked up on the screen and smiled. "You look to be due February 26th." she said 

"Thanks." she said 

After the appointment the girls went to Mongolian Grill for dinner where they took some selfies with Natasha's phone. She posted them with the caption "Nothing like a mini girl's trip with some of the best!!" 

Bucky seen them and smiled but he's known her since they were 2. He could tell behind her smile and her blue eyes that she was hurting. He commented on it "You girls look beautiful." then he went to the football game with the guys and Natalie.