Close As Strangers

0.5

"Wait what." I looked at her with a disgusted look on my face. "Did you say pregnant? No that can't be my blood test, you've got it wrong." Tears began to stream down my face. I looked over at my mom, she was in pure shock. I sat on the table crying. What the hell was I going to tell Luke. I can't tell him this now, I don't want him distracted.

"No, these are yours Arden." She laughed. "It's okay, relax. You're only three months pregnant, don't stress out."

I looked up at her, my hands were shaking. My mind was racing, how am I going to finish school? How am I going to graduate? Go to college? My future isn't ruined but it's for sure altered. My mom began talking to my doctor, reassuring this was all true. I stopped crying, holding my stomach, scared of the human growing inside of me. My mom and I walked out of the doctors office, the look of disappointment on her face. I apologized my heart out once we got in the car, but she didn't say a word. When we got back to the house she told me to sit in the kitchen. So I did what she asked, and I watched her walk to her bedroom. She came back with a book.

"Arden." She said quietly. "I haven't told you this because I didn't want to distract you." I looked up at her. What the hell was she hiding? "I gave birth to you at the age of 17, correct?" I shook my head yes. "Well. Do you remember how you met Ashton?"

I thought. Honestly, no. Ashton was just always in my life, ever since I was little.

"School?" I guessed.

"No." She laughed. "Ashton is 2 years older, there's no way from school."

"Then?" I asked.

She sighed, putting her hand over mine.

"Ash is your brother." I took my eyes off of our hands and looked into her eyes.

"What?"

She turned the book so it would face me and opened up the page. There was only one photo of me and Ash. He and I were in bathing suits in our front yard.

"Yup. I had Ashton when I was only 15. I'm a teen mom, you already know, but I want your teen mom experience to be different, to actually be good. As your mom, even though Luke isn't my favorite person, I will support you two. I won't leave, you will go to college, and Luke will still continue his career."

Tears formed in my eyes again, I've never felt so close to my mom.

"This baby won't change anything unless you let it."

"Have you told Ash?" I asked, completely ignoring her speech. She shook her head no. "Can you?"

"Of course, I'll call him now."

"Wait!" I yelled as she picked up her phone. "Don't tell anyone about the baby." I stuttered.

"Alright sweetheart."

She walked out of the room for a good 5 minutes, and when she came back tears were coming down her face.

"What happened?" I asked instantly.

"Ashton he-he." She was choking on her spit. "He got upset with me because, your guy's father, when he took Ashton, he just left Ashton. He dropped him off with his sister, which is why Ash never thought I was his mom. He thought your Aunt Julie and Uncle Matt were his parents. And now that I've recently been in his life again, because of you and Luke, and you and him are now brother and sister instead of just best friends, he's mad I didn't say anything."

"I'm sorry mom." I whispered. "Wait. Who answered Ashton's phone?"

"Ashton?" My mom was probably thinking, what the hell is wrong with you Arden?

"I'll be right back."

I grabbed my phone and ran to my room, instantly dialing Ashton. It took a couple of rings, but he eventually answered. He was the first to speak.

"Arden?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you know?"

"No. I just found out, don't worry."

"Oh, okay. Well, hi sister."

"Sister?" I heard in the background. "Ash, you're an only child we all know that."

"Luke?" I yelled. "Ash, is that Luke? Put him on the phone!"

What the hell was I saying, I didn't want to tell him.

"Hello? Arden?" Luke said franticly.

I was silent for a while, my lips quivering, my hands were shaking.

"Arden. I miss you." His voice dropped.

"I-I miss you too." I stuttered. My mom was standing in my door frame now, mouthing the words tell him. I knew I had to. This wouldn't be right if I didn't.

"Is everything alright?" He asked. "Hey, babe, don't be sad."

"It's just, so much is changing." I mumbled.

"Babe don't say that, it's only been six weeks since I've been away, now you're saying everything has changed?"

My heart dropped when he said this. I dropped to my knees, hot tears were streaming down my face. My mom ran over to me, cuddling my head into her neck.

"Tell him." She whispered.

"Luke." I began, resteadying my voice. "You're in the U.K right?"

"Yeah." He said quietly. "We'll be in the US in two months, but in New York."

"Okay." I took in a deep breath. "I have to tell you something."

"Yeah you can tell me anythi-"

"Luke Hemmings. What did we tell you about speaking on the phone? We took your phone for a reason, and blocked her. Give us the phone."

His management caught him, why though, why did they take his phone?

"Can you guys just wait? One minute, that's all I ask."

"Fine." They said back sternly.

"Babe, what'd you want to tell me?"

"Luke, I-I'm."

"Thirty seconds Mr.Hemmings." I heard over the phone.

They began counting down. "5,4,3,2"

"Luke I'm pregnant." I rushed out of my mouth before the phone call was ended.