Rule # 6

Chapter 30

Jo's pov

Going back to school after winter break sucks. Especially since this year we are back the day after new year. I'm still freaking hung over. I quickly take two aspirins and down a bottle of water. After taking a hot shower I feel better and get my uniform on and then blow dry my hair and add some make up to my face. "You ready baby" Hero says popping his head in Mercy's bathroom. "Uggh yes don't talk so loud though" I say grabbing my bag and running downstairs to see Mercy wide awake and full of energy. "Geeze sis I thought it would take forever to get you up" she says teasingly. "Oh shut it" I say playfully. "Mom made breakfast they already left for work" she says to us. We all eat and then Felix shows up in his white camaro as he honks his horn and we all head outside. "Next time come inside to get her" Hero says irritably. "Bruv this isn't the 50's she says it waste time anyways" Felix shrugs as he opens the door for Mercy. "It does waste time" she says giggling as she hops in. "Bike or Car?" Hero asks me. "Car I'm too hung over for the bike babe" I tell him walking towards his car. "Ok my lady" he says opening my door. "Your such a dork" I tease him giggling as I jump in the car. "You love me anyways" he says as he gets in the driver's seat. "That I do" I say as he gives me a chaste kiss smiling as he starts the car and grabs my hand and we listen to the radio as we drive to school. "So ready to get back to school" he asks me as we pull in the lot. "Not really I'm still annoyed that people are betting on us" I sigh exasperated. "Yeah about that love I'm going to find out and put an end to it" he says his jaw clenching as we get out of his car. "No Hero don't even bother" I tell him not wanting to draw any more attention to it. "They made you cry I won't have that shit" he says irritably. God I love that he's so protective of me. "Babe we just have to prove them wrong" I say grabbing his hand as he sighs and rolls his eyes dropping the subject as we walk towards Mercy and Felix. "Let's get this shit show over with" she says giggling as she grabs my arm pulling me away from Hero as he groans and shakes his head. "Sorry bro I need her for a minute" she says smirking at him. "Fine I'll see you later baby" he says grabbing my face and giving me a passionate kiss. "I love you" he says as he pulls away from our kiss. "I love you Hero" I say smiling at him as I head to my locker with Mercy. "What's up sis?" I ask her as I grab my books. "Felix just asked me if I for sure am going to Boston for College" she says nervously. "So we are right?" I ask her anxiously. "I mean yeah I want to go there. I just don't know if me and Felix will even still be together by then" she says anxiously biting her nails. "What do you mean of course you'll still be together" I say rolling my eyes as she walks me to my class. "You don't know that Jo it's not like you and my brother" she whispers. "He loves you" I whisper back as she rolls her eyes and says "I love him too but who knows what can happen they are going over there for a year without us. I mean sure we can visit but they will meet new girls and make new friends" she says sadly. "I thought this was about you and Felix why say they will meet new girls" I say irritably. "Sorry you know what I meant no way would my brother stray from you" she says anxiously as I hear the bell ring. "Shit I got to go we'll talk later" I say as she gives me a small smile and nods her head walking towards her class. After my English class I find Hero waiting for me in the hallway. "Hey baby girl" he says smiling as he grabs my hand. "Hey babe" I say smiling back. "Did Mercy say anything to you about Boston?" He asks me. "Um no why?" I ask him nervously. "Seriously Jo your gonna lie to me" he says his brows furrowed. "I can't tell you certain things that me and your sister talk about" I tell him. "Jo please if she's going to dump Felix you have to tell me" he says frantically. "She never said anything about dumping him in fact she said she loved him" I tell him. "Seriously thank fuck my bruv was worried" he says anxiously running his fingers through his hair. What? I didn't lie she did say she loved him I just left out the part that she doesn't know how long they will last and doesn't trust Felix to last a year away from her. "I'll see you at lunch babe" I say to him as I grab my stuff for gym and give him a quick kiss. "I'll grab you before yeah" he says smiling at me. "K later" I say smiling at him as I walk away and he smacks my ass yelling "Love you Langford." Making me blush as I turn around and everyone is looking at Hero whose just smirking at me. "Love you too now go to class" I scold him. "Baby I'm already accepted to Harvard I only come here for you" he says grinning as he walks away. I head in to gym and quickly find Mercy. "Your brother just asked me if I knew if you were going to dump Felix" I whisper to her. "Seriously I just told him that I wasn't sure if I could get in to Boston so I applied to Berkeley too" she says exasperated. "You did?" I ask her. "Yeah didn't you? I mean we have always wanted to go there. The cute little squirrel" she says giggling as she makes a squirrel face making me laugh. "I mean yeah but you know I'd want to go to Boston now over Berkeley right" I say nervously. "Of course just apply with me for shits and giggles I want to see if we would of both got in" she says excitedly. "Fine I'll grab an application from the counselor tomorrow" I say to her as she jumps up and down giggling. As we get on to the gym floor I notice that the other gym teacher's class has joined ours and the snarky brunette from the new year's party is in it. I still have no clue what her name is I mean this school is pretty big. "Hey Josephine how was your time in London" Inanna asks me. "It was great" I say smiling leaving out the details of Hero's former fling. "Mercy you look great both of you do" she says to us as we walk over to her. "Thanks love you too" I say smiling. "Love seriously you are even starting to talk like my brother" Mercy says giggling. "Excuse me I like the term" I say smacking her arm playfully. After we play a game of dodge ball we head out and I see the boys waiting for us. "Hey love" Hero says smiling as he grabs my bag. "Ready to go" Felix asks Mercy. "Yup" she says as we all walk to the cafeteria. "Merc is something going on with you?" Felix asks her as we grab our food. "It's nothing just drop it ok" she says irritably as she rolls her eyes. "Come on guys let's eat" Hero says to them as we go sit at our table. "Yo FT, Kent don't forget we need you to come too  practice later" Valand says. "Dude it's the first day back can't you give us a break" Hero asks him. "You had one it's called winter break" he says chuckling. "What ever mate" Felix says shaking his head. "Yo mandems what's up my peoples" Morgz says walking over to us. "Same shit different day mate" Felix tells him. "So I'm shit then?" Mercy says glaring at him. "No why are you trying to twist everything I say today huh" Felix asks her. I glance at Hero whose eyes are darting back and forth between them as they start to argue. "I hope me and Jo get into Berkeley then maybe we can have some options too" Mercy yells as she storms off. I try to run after her but Hero pulls me back as he looks down at me sadly. "Jo what's she talking about you said you were coming to be with me in Boston please don't do this to me" he says nervously. "I told her we'd apply just to see if we could get in I never said I was going there" I tell him exasperated. "But it's good for you's to have options though right" he says sarcastically. "Don't start this shit with me this is about her and Felix not us Hero" I say angrily glaring at him. "If she doesn't want to be with me anymore then she just needs to tell me fuck" Felix yells storming away. "This is so fucked up" Hero says running his fingers through his hair. "Hey I love you I'm still going to Boston ok" I tell him as he caresses my cheek. "I'm sorry for snapping at you just the thought of losing you makes me go crazy" he says giving me a chaste kiss. "I need to make sure Mercy is ok. I'll meet you after school" I tell him as he nods his head and says "yeah love ok." I quickly find Mercy in the bathroom stalls crying her eyes out. "Merc let me in" I say pounding on the stall as she opens it a crack and I slip in. "What the hell is going on with you? Are you ok?" I nervously ask her. "Jo--oo" she cries out I wrap my arms around her trying to soothe her as I say "hey I'm right here everything is going to be ok." "No it's not Jo I'm late" she stutters out. "Wh--aat?" I nervously stutter. "You got your period right now yeah" she asks me. "Yes we always get it together you know that" I say anxiously. "That's the problem sis mine hasn't come" she says tears pouring down her face. Holy shit what the hell are we going to do? Hero is going to flip the fuck out. God I am not being the one who tells him this. "Sshh it's ok we'll leave school now and get some test. Don't panic yet" I tell her. "Felix is going to hate me" she says crying into my shoulder. "No he's not this is just as much his fault as it is yours ok" I say smoothing her hair down. "Jo I'm only 16 what the hell am I going to do with a baby?" she cries out. "We'll figure it out no matter what you decide i'll be by your side" I say grabbing her hand as we head out of the bathrooms. "Not if your in Boston" she says sniffling. I send a quick text to Hero letting him know Mercy wasn't feeling well and I brought her home. He texted back quickly saying he was heading home too then. Fuck how are we going to hide this from him? Can I hide this from him? I leave Mercy outside while I quickly run inside the drugstore and grab two tests paying as fast as I can as the lady behind the register gives me a dirty look making me glare at her as I rip the bag out of her hand and run outside. "Let's go to my house Hero might already be at yours" I say anxiously. We get to my house and thankfully my parents are both still at work. "Do you want me to stay with you?" I ask her as she nods her head and I follow her into the bathroom and she pees on the stick. "I'm scared Jo" she says nervously as we wait for the timer to go off. My phone buzzes and its a text from Hero asking me where the hell I am. All of a sudden the timer goes off making me and Mercy both jump. "I can't look I'm gonna be sick" Mercy says jumping up as she starts to throw up in the toilet while I hold her hair back. "Do you want me to check?" I say stroking her back. "Please" she says timidly sliding back against the wall. My hand shakes as I reach for the stick my best friends entire future could be altered by this one little stick. I gulp as I read the words on the clear blue pregnancy test clear as day it says pregnant on it. "Your pregnant" I say nervously as I crouch down beside her and she starts to sob and shake uncontrollably as I try to hold her in my arms soothing her and telling her everything is going to be fine. But who am I kidding I'm just as much as a wreck as she is I'm just holding it together for her. "Jo, Mercy you up there?" I hear Hero yell from downstairs. "Jo you can't tell him not yet please" Mercy begs me. "You need to tell Felix" I whisper to her. "I will I just need time to process all this but promise me you won't say a word to Hero" she says grabbing my arm. "I promise ok" I say standing up just as Hero comes crashing through the door I quickly toss the test in the trash. "God why weren't you two answering me you had me worried sick" he says grabbing me into a hug as he looks down at his sister. "You ok little sister?" he says anxiously. "Yeah must be a stomach bug I'm gonna go home and rest ok" she says standing up shakily. "Hey Felix is gutted right now maybe you can call him" Hero asks her. "I'm sorry I can't right now" she says crying as she storms past us and runs out my house. "Fuck is everything going to shit since we got back from London" he says groaning as he runs his hands through his hair. I can't help but to cry as I fully realize all the emotions my best friend is going through and she's all alone. "Hey love are you ok what's wrong" Hero says caressing my cheek. "Im sorry Hero I need to be with Mercy right now" I say grabbing my bag. "What? Why? Is everything ok between us" he says anxiously as he follows me outside. "Yes we're fine I love you but she needs me right now" I say pleadingly begging for him not to ask me why. "Fine get in I'll take you there and then I got to get to practice love" he says kissing me passionately. "If something bad is happening with my sister you'd tell me right?" he says timidly. "Of course" I say mustering all my strength as I smile at him and pull him in for a kiss as he smiles at me and I jump out the car. Running upstairs and straight into Mercy's room I see her curled up into a ball crying I climb into her bed and pull her closer to me as she wraps her arms around me both of us crying together until we fall asleep.

Authors note
so ok I know this part kind of sucks but I've had it in my drafts since the end of September and a lot of you have been asking for an update.Writing both povs in the same chapter has been giving me anxiety so someone suggested smaller chapters alternating their povs so I'm gonna try that. Don't forget to hit that 🌠please and thank you. Til Next Time Much Love Tina😝