How it Began

52

Buying a pregnancy test is scary. Like really scary. Especially when you're seventeen and still a child yourself.

There's so many different brands too, she grabs the most familiar sounding one and heads to the cash line. The woman behind her stares at her, judging her. She feels like the words "I had sex" are tattooed on her forehead.

The cashier offers her a sad, forced smile.

She drives home, clutching the wheel so tight her knuckles are white. She sends a silent prayer that FP isn't home, he knows her well enough to realize something is wrong just by one look at her.

___

There's a knock on the front door as Alice sits curled up in a heap of tears in the corner of the bathroom. Whoever it is knocks repeatedly before just opening the door. "Alice?" Fred's voice calls. Her heart leaps. "Are you here or did you just forget to lock your door? I wanted to know if you wanted to come see a movie."

She stands up and practically bursts out of the bathroom, running over to him. She barrels into his arms and he holds her tight to him. "Woah, you alright?" She shakes her head, clinging onto him even tighter. "What happened?"

"I took the whole box, Fred! I took the whole fucking box." She cries.

"The whole box of what? Alice, what are you talking about?"

"My life is over."

"Why? What happened, Alice? You can tell me, you know I won't judge you. You're my best friend."

She sighs. "I'm pregnant." It comes out barely audible but the weight of the statement hits them both like a ton of bricks.

"You are?" She nods into his shoulder and he wraps his arms around her more securely as her body shakes. "Oh, Alice."

"I'm fucked."

"You're not fucked."

She pushes away from him. "Don't lie to me, Fred, I'm completely and utterly fucked. My life is over. I'm going to turn out just like my mother."

"Hey, you listen to me." He cups her face in his hands when she turns away from him. "You are nothing like your mom, you are nothing like either of your parents, Alice. You never will be anything like your parents."

"But-"

"But nothing. You're a good person, I know you are. You may not show it all the time but you do have a good heart, that's something your parents lack. You're mature, and responsible-" she scoffs. "Okay, you're sort of responsible. So what if you got pregnant? So what if it was an accident. All that matters is you and how you want to move forward. I'm with you every step of the way. Whatever you need."

"Thank you." She wraps her arms around him and he presses a kiss to her head. "Not a word of this to anyone, okay? Especially FP."

"Yeah, for sure. I'm serious though, Alice. Whatever you need, even if it's just someone to hold your hair back while you're getting sick, I'll be there. I may throw up myself afterward but I'll be there for you."

She smiles. "Thank you."

"Of course."

"There is one thing I need you for."

"Name it."

"I need a ride."