Ghost and the Writer

Consequences

The heat of the moment passed, leaving Albus and Mandy out of breath and with a sobering realization about what they had done. With still clumsy hands, they both sorted out their clothing, unable to look each other in the eyes.

The party was still going on just a bit deeper into the cave; they had been lucky to slip away just enough not to do it in plain sight.

But there was no way they could go back. Both stood in silence till all warmth from the drink had passed.

Mandy had never expected for Albus to have a-- no, that thing had grown when Albus' chest turned flat. Mandy's eyes traveled towards Albus's chest, yet she could not tell if that chest was still flat or not with clothes over it even less so with Albus's hands reaching up to her mouth.

That's when Mandy looked up to see Albus looking towards her. No, her stomach, with terror in her eyes.

"Albus?" Mandy asked, starting to feel worried.

Albus's hands dropped, and her eyes started filling with tears, soon streaming down her cheeks.

Mandy stepped closer, but before she could reach Albus's cheek with her hand, she heard a whisper.

"Sorry."

Albus's own hands went up to wipe her tears.

"Mandy, I'm sorry."

"Huh-- no, Albus, it's not just your fault," Mandy said. It wasn't. She couldn't blame Albus for it. Wasn't it her who went too far? She didn't know it might come to this, but...

"I made you pregnant," Albus said next.

Mandy's eyes shot open wide.

"With bicorns," Albus added.

Mandy felt like she was sinking. Albus's eyes were serious, determined, and sincerely apologetic, also pained and desperate.

Mandy let out a short breath and grounded herself. "Let's go home," she said. She didn't think about hiding it from August, to begin with, but pregnancy would surely make it completely impossible to hide.

Mandy felt afraid.

Her world felt like it was slowly crumbling.

Albus nodded. "Please wait," she said and ran off towards where the party sounds were.

Mandy nodded, even if Albus would no longer see her nod.

Mandy had thought that one day, another person might come in their relationship. Leum, Veri, and Albus all loved August, and it wasn't the kind of love that was just family-like either. So she had thought that one day-- she might need to share August and Mandy didn't even mind it that much, but she had not considered that she might be the one involving someone or what August might think about it.

Not only that. Mandy was now also pregnant... with Albus's child.

What could she even say about that?

'Sorry, I cheated on you and got pregnant. I hope that's ok?'

Albus soon returned with Leum and Veri, who both snorted, seeing Mandy. Then started laughing.

Eh?

Albus squinted at the two in disbelief, and Mandy didn't think her expression was far off from that.

Were they laughing? Seriously?

"Good going, Albus," Leum patted Albus's shoulder a few times, still laughing.