How it Began

53

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Fred questions as they sit outside of the clinic.

"It's the only choice I have."

"Well, it's not."

"It's the only one that makes sense."

"Do you want me to come in with you. For moral support?"

She smiles at him and gives his hand a squeeze. "Thanks but it's okay. Just, wait for me?"

"Yeah for sure." He watches as she gets out of the car, looking like she could pass out at any moment as she walks up to the front door.

She looks so tiny in front of the doors, so young to be dealing with such heavy stuff. He had tried to convince her to let him come in, he wanted to check up on her the second it was over, but she refused again and again.

He waits impatiently in the car, drumming his fingertips along the steering wheel. It feels like it's taking forever. And then the doors open and an extremely pale Alice comes walking out.

"That was fast." He comments as she gets in. "You feel alright?"

"I couldn't do it."

"What?"

"I... I couldn't do it. They called my name and I freaked." She turns to him with tear filled eyes. "I don't know what I'm going to do." The second he wraps his arms around her she's done for, bursting into tears as she clings onto him like he's life support.

"You're going to stay with me tonight, I don't want you to be alone."

___

She doesn't really remember much after that, just knows that she's at his house now and that she had fallen asleep curled up in his bed.

The door opens slowly and Fred peeks his head in, coming in fully when he sees she's awake. "Mom's home now, I told her you weren't feeling well so just warning you she might make you soup or something."

Alice laughs fondly. "She's the best."

"I didn't tell her about the... well you know. You can if you want to, she'd help you."

"I don't think I want anyone to know."

"Not even the possible fathers?"

"Gosh, that makes me sound like a slut." She falls back against the pillows and Fred follows.

"You're not a slut, you're confused. There's two men that you love and you're torn, that's normal. Your situation is just a little more complicated."

"Understatement of the year."

"Do you think you know which one is the father?"

"There's no way of knowing really, it could be either one. Depending on how far along I am... I think it may be FP's."

"Why do you think that?"

"Well Hal and I haven't... you know, had sex in a few weeks. His parents have been home constantly and he's been busy with extra curricular's any other time. We had sex a couple days ago but that was the same day I threw up and even thought about the fact that I could be pregnant." She sighs. "FP and I have been together almost every night for the past month, I'd honestly be more surprised if it wasn't his."

"He'd be there for you, ya know?"

"I can't tell him, Fred."

"Alice-"

"No! I've already hurt him, I can't completely ruin his life like this. That's not fair to him."

"He loves you, Alice. That man wanted to marry you once high school was done and over with, I really do think he would be okay with it."

"The key word there was "wanted". I can't do that to him, Fred. Even if he does still love me and even if I still love him, isn't it just easier if he doesn't know?"

"That's worse." She raises an eyebrow at him, urging him on. "Say you don't tell him or Hal, they're still going to notice that your stomach is rounder, they're not stupid, Al. They'll know that you're pregnant and do you really think they won't have questions? Even if you don't tell them they'll figure it out and they'll both think that baby in there is yours."

She sighs heavily. "Fuck you for always being right."

He smiles. "I'm going to be a great Godfather." She narrows her eyes at him. "What? I'm the only person you genuinely like, how could I not be the Godfather?"

"You're an idiot." She stands up from his bed and waves her hand to have him follow her. "I'm hungry, do you think your mom will care if I raid your cupboards?"

"She'd probably bake you muffins if you brought it up."

"Geez, I'm going to be here every day for the next nine months if it means I get your mom's cooking every day."