INTERTWINED

fourteen

Pregnant.

Pregnant, 

Pregnant, 

Pregnant.

Pregnant!

The words that came from the doctor's wrinkled lips, echoed over and over in Lydia's head. 

It was impossible, this wasn't happening, it had to be something else that was making her so sick....it just had to be.

"Are you still with me Miss Lachance?" The doctor kindly placed a hand on Lydia's arm and she slightly jumped.

"T-Theres no way..." Lydia whispered, "I can't be.."

"Have you been having unprotected sex?" The doctor asked,

"Only once..." Lydia said, finally letting a few tears leak from her eyes and roll down her cheeks. She cursed herself for getting so drunk with Eyeball that night at Connie's party and not using any sort of protection when she slept with him.

"That one time...is all it takes. The early symptoms of pregnancy you're experiencing also explains why you've been so nauseated and unable to eat" The doctor said, "Now, I have many resources for you...to help you through this major life adjustment."

Lydia shook her head in disbelief, wiping tears from her face with the back of her hand. 

"Are your parents someone you could talk to?" The doctor asked,

"No." Lydia responded sharply, "They can't know about this, not now." 

"Well, ultimately it is your choice to notify them or not." The doctor said, "But that means the this hospital visit and any other future medical bills will have to be paid out of your pocket and in your name, unless you want your parents to cover it with their insurance, but they'll indeed be involved that way.

Lydia ran a hand through her hair. 

This wasn't happening, it wasn't real.

--

Lydia was discharged around eleven that night, she had convinced Eyeball to go home and paid her own medical bill with savings she had from a job she worked in Seattle the summer before. She thought about taking the bus home, but it would almost be a two hour journey. She decided to call up Connie on the payphone.

"Hey we heard what happened, we're so sorry we weren't there." Connie's eyes were wide and sympathetic as Lydia eased herself into the passengers seat. 

"Are you okay?" Melanie asked from the back seat.

Lydia couldn't take one more person asking if she was alright, she couldn't handle the news she had just received, and she couldn't handle the way she felt right now in this car.

Lydia burst into tears.

Connie and Melanie looked at each other with concerned expressions, immediately holding and comforting their best friend.

"Lydia what is going on with you?" Connie whispered, "Everyone is so worried."

She wanted to tell them, desperately, but something stopped her. What if they stopped being her friend? What if they couldn't keep it a secret? What if?

"I'm just--" Lydia spoke between sobs, "Really tired."

--