Maybe One Day

18: See You Around

After our incident with Skylar, Maddie and I awkwardly talked a little and I walked back to the school to get my car and drive home, thinking all the while about what Skylar said.

Maddie having feelings for me? I didn't know how to handle this. She was Maddie, too tough bad ass to have feelings. But she admitted it was true! I can't let this ruin our friendship, but how can I feel the same about her? When me, Maddie and Skylar had sleepovers, I would change in front of her and we would sleep in the same bed - how can I do any of that now?

I groan as I drive home. Just when I finally fixed things with her, this happens. My life is really screwed up.

When I get home around eight o'clock, it's almost dark. When I walk in, my parents are sitting at the kitchen table. "Hi sweetie. Can you sit down for a while?" my dad asks.

"Um, okay?" I watch them closely, trying to read their blank expressions.

They sit quietly for a few seconds, glancing at each other before my mother reaches over and grabs my hand. "We...have something we'd like to tell you." She glances at my dad again nervously. He nods at her encouragingly.

By this point I'm starting to get worried. "Are Noah and Kendall okay?" I ask quickly.

"Oh yes, of course." My father jumps in. "Actually, they should probably be here for this." He jumps up and calls up to them from the bottom of the stairs. "Noah, Kendall? Could you come down here please?"

They come running down the steps a minute later and follow my dad into the kitchen. Noah immediately hops onto my lap and Kendall sits in the chair next to me.

"Your father and I have something to tell you guys," my mother starts cautiously. We all stare at her, waiting for an answer.

"What you mother is trying to say is..." my dad tries to help.

"Oh my god, what is it?!" I yell, exasperated.

"I'm...pregnant," my mom says quietly with a smile.

My jaw drops open as Kendall yells, "What?" and Noah shrieks in delight.

"You're pregnant!" I clarify, shocked.

"Yes," my mother glows with joy.

"You're having another baby!" Noah grins from ear to ear.

"Yes, baby, I am," she holds her arms out to him, and he hops off my lap, runs around the table, and leaps into her arms.

I look at Kendall in confusion. She returns the expression and she starts, "How? You're so-"

I glare at her and cut her off with a nervous laugh. "That is amazing, mom," I tell her.

"There's gonna be almost an 18 year difference between you guys," she informs me as if I didn't know.

"I know," I say, shutting her up. "I'm so happy for you, Mom."

Kendall turns to her and smiles. "We're all here for you Mom."

"Thank you girls," she beams. "Come here." She holds her arms out and all five of us end up in a giant group hug.

After some talking, we all go back up to our rooms. Still smiling, I close my door and flop onto my bed, exhausted. I quickly change into pajama bottoms and just as I take my shirt off to change, I hear a thump come from my closet.

I whip around, startled. Something probably just fell, I reassure myself. Just to be safe, I make my way towards my closet door. I cautiously slide it open and peek inside. Squinting against the darkness, I look towards the back of the closet.