You and I - Eviana

Quit

The next day Mariana woke up to a phone call, she groggily looked at the caller ID. It was the doctors office calling her with the results.
She quickly got out of bed as quiet as she could when she heard Isabella move,
"Boyfriend calling?" She said still half asleep.
Mariana rolled her eyes,
"No" she said as she quickly pulled on her slippers and headed out the door into the lounge. She sat on the seat across the couch Callie was still sleeping on.
"Hello" she answered nervously.
Callie got up and sleepily rubbed her eyes,
"Seriously?" She said looking around, she couldn't at least take the phone call outside?
"Shh" Mariana said listening carefully and nodding.
"Oh my god.." she said and Callie looked at her curiously.
"What did she say?"

~

Mariana arrived at work later that day both sad and confused.
"Can I talk to you?" She said as she saw Evan walking down hall.
"Make an appointment" he said firmly walking to his office.
"Seriously?" She said annoyed as she grabbed his arm.
He gave her a uncertain glance and she glanced back.
"Not right now... not here" he said continuing to walk.
"Well, can you at least let me come in to your office to talk? Like right now? It's important" she said looking around.
"Ok, fine" he said letting her in.
"Thank you" She said sitting down.
"First of all, you didn't answer my phone call last night. Aren't we like, you know, dating?" Mariana said annoyed.
"Yes... I... I'm sorry it was very late and I got back later in the evening I was very tired" he said looking at her sympathetically.
"It's fine.. it's just, you have to start being a better boyfriend" she said and he raised his eyebrows.
"Ohhh uhh" he didn't know what to say as she instantly regretted what she said. She knew he was trying as best as he could.
"Actually, it's fine.. I just have to tell you something" she said nervously looking down.
"Yes? What is it?" He said oblivious.
"I.... I... I quit" she said standing up.
"What? Why?! You can't" he said also standing up.
"I have to.." she started
"No, you don't, you're one of the best workers here and I promise I will let you go back to the green team. Back to team leader for them" he said trying to convince her to stay.
"No Evan I can't.."
"And you can be in full creative control and we can keep us a secret. Anyone who tries to bully you or treat you unfairly will have to deal with me" he said nodding his head.
"I can't.."
"Why?" He said back confused at why she still didn't want to stay.
"Because I'm pregnant" she said quickly.
His eyes got wide and he sat back down then got up again.
"Did you just say you were pregnant?" He said in disbelief.
"Yes Evan. I got a call this morning and the doctor confirmed it" she said sitting back down and putting her head into her hands.
"Is it... mine?" He said moving closer to her.
She nodded her head back. They both waited in silence. She couldn't tell if Evan was mad, upset, or angry. He had a very blank and dull expression.
"Evan?" she said scared of his reaction.
They stood there for a few minutes before Mariana spoke up,
"That's why I can't stay here and be working with you. I guess this job just wasn't meant to be for me" she said looking down sad.
She wondered why she felt sad about losing her job more than she felt happy about her baby coming in 9 months. Was it horrible of her to want this job more?
"Okay.. but I want you to know that there are other options. You can still stay here Mariana" he said calmly.
"W-what do you mean other options? Are you okay about this?" She said now overthinking their entire conversation. She knew he would never want to keep the baby.
"Like, you can still be working here while pregnant we don't have to hide. If anyone has a problem with it they can leave" he said confidently.
"Oh, Evan I need to think about this... you sure you're okay with me being pregnant?" She said scared. She was relieved he was talking about work and not terminating the pregnancy. She had promised herself if she ever got pregnant that she would raise the baby and give it the best life, unlike the raw deal she got.
"Yes I am... excited" he said smiling,
"This is a lot for me to think about so I might take the day off but I am happy for you, congratulations" he said walking to the door. She so badly wanted to hug him but she knew she couldn't at work,
"Thank you" she said smiling back. His formal & awkward conversations used to drive her crazy but now, she loved these exchanges between them.
She walked out and completed her work as best as she could. She left a goodbye note to Raj, Gavin, and Chris. Even though they annoyed her, she was sad to be leaving. She knew this was the best option for everyone.
She packed up her laptop and walked up to Evan's office,
"You just missed him" an assistant said who was walking past.
"Oh, that's okay. Thanks" Mariana said shuffling her bag on her shoulder. It was now heavy with all of her stuff she was taking home with her.
She glanced into the Team Green room to see Casey and Claire focused and preoccupied with whatever was on the computer. Her eyes glistened with tears, she loved this place and was going to miss it more than she thought.
She headed to the elevator and left back to the coterie. It was a long and quiet ride home.
"Woah what's with the Mary Poppins bag?!" Alice said to Mariana as she walked through the door now struggling with the weight on her shoulder.
"I just quit" she said placing the heavy bag down on the dining table.
"No way! Why?" Alice said walking over to her.
"It's just... overwhelming. I used to be so happy there but it has turned into nothing but jealousy and drama and.. I can't deal anymore I can only take so much" she said grabbing her bag and heading to her loft.
Mariana plopped down on the bed and immediately drifted off to sleep.
"What the hell!" Callie said barging into the room and slamming the door. She was still in her work clothes.
"Well, hi to you too. Work was horrible how about you?" Mariana said groaning.
"You quit?" Callie said crossing her arms.
"Yes, I told you I think this is what is best an-"
"You don't even have another job and you're pregnant" Callie whispered.
"Yeah, so? I'll just look for one online today" she said shrugging her shoulders.
"This is like so irresponsible of you. You should have found another job first and then quit. Not to mention you pay like more rent than I do here now and that money you have saved won't last long. Plus you still have some money you owe" she said shaking her head.
"Oh wow.. you're one to talk, you quit your job without warning or a back up plan also" Mariana said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah well I wasn't pregnant" she said through clenched teeth.
"Whatever I already feel bad enough. I'll get a job, don't worry" Mariana said storming out of the loft and into the kitchen. She sat down at the dining table and put her head down.
"Oh, did you want me to make you one?" Davia said as she cut up some strawberries.
"What are you making?" Dennis said looking over at her and quickly looking away.
"Strawberry shortcake. You should try one!" Davia said bubbly. She had been trying to get Dennis to smile or even react to her more but instead he had just continued to ignore her lately.
"Nah I'm good but thanks" he said grabbing an apple and going outside.
She let out a sigh and let her arms fall to her sides.
"I don't get it. It's like he forgot all the good memories we have or something" she said backing away from the cutting board.
"It's okay, he'll come around, just give him more time. You know it takes him longer to open up" Mariana said her head still laying on the table.
"You're right. I just have to stay positive but I'm not gonna stop bothering him" Davia said eating a strawberry.
"But I'll take that strawberry shortcake he didn't want" Mariana said lifting her head and raising an eyebrow.
Davia giggled,
"Of course" she continued to cut the ingredients.

~

"Today has been something else" Gael said sitting next to Dennis outside by the pool.
"Tell me about it" Dennis laughed and took a sip of beer.
"Do you think a baby solidifies a relationship? Like does that mean it's official?" Gael said staring into the pool.
"Woah, what? You didn't get someone pregnant did you.
"No, not me" he said letting out a sigh and a laugh.
"Who did?" Dennis said now intrigued and curious.
"Jamie.. he thinks Callie is pregnant and that's why she's been trying to get back with him and I have noticed her acting different lately" Gael said shaking his head. Saying it out loud was hard for him but he had to tell somebody.
"Oh my god dude. Now that I think about it she has been pretty MIA and seems to be more quiet. She really hasn't drank recently either" he said putting the pieces together.
"I can't believe it still" Gael said rubbing his forehead.
"This is crazy.. I guess to answer your question, yeah, a baby is pretty official" he said lightly trying not to upset Gael again.
"The thing that upset me the most is she wasn't even honest, I would have preferred her to tell me she might be pregnant with Jamie so she can't be with me anymore than say that I am a child who she can't be serious with" he said frowning.
"Ouch, that's harsh. Well, why don't you confront her about it? Or you can always just let it go and give her some time. A baby is serious and it's hard to talk about sometimes... I would know" Dennis said winking at him.
"I guess you're right. We'll figure out sooner or later huh?" He said laughing.
Dennis pat his back and got up and headed back inside with Gael.
"Yeah, tomorrow night sounds good... okay.. just a few hours..." Callie hung up the phone. Jamie had called to reschedule their meet up for a sooner date and it was now set for tomorrow evening.
Gael overheard the conversation and couldn't help wonder what they were talking about. Callie grabbed her book, pens, and highlighters that she had on the dining table and took it outside to a more quiet part of the roof. It was hard to find any time to study.
A few moments later Mariana ran up to her,
"Hey, can you come with me? To my appointment tomorrow? You made it so much better last time and I'm so nervous" she said begging.
"Of course, but what about Evan? I thought he knew about you..." she said as Mariana sat down.
"He does I just.. don't want to overwhelm him already. He's been calling like nonstop and asking me about books and which ones he should read and telling me random baby facts.. like did you know, that babies are born with more bones than adults? And that newborns poop after every time they eat? Every time.. which kinda makes me overwhelmed to be honest and like I just really want this to be just us and then after that I will have him come along" she said stressed and took a long breath.
"Wow.. okay, I can just go in a bit later to work. Speaking of, Jamie said he'd like to see me tomorrow instead of over the weekend" Callie said smiling.
"Good for you" Mariana said walking back inside leaving her to study. Callie looked at her confused as she strut back inside.
"What?" Mariana answered her phone without thinking twice about who it was,
"Uhh Mariana? Sorry am I bothering you? Sorry, but I had to tell you something" Evan said hesitantly on the other line.
"Sorry, I'm just overwhelmed at the moment.. what did you have to say?" She said letting her breath go that she had been holding.
"Umm, patella" Evan said blankly.
"Umm patella?" Mariana said confused.
"Yes, an infant doesn't develop their kneecaps until around preschool age so they essentially do not have one until then" he said and Mariana quickly snapped back,
"Evan, unless it's an emergency or something I'm gonna need you to stop calling me to say random facts. It just stresses me out more"
"It stresses you out that our baby won't have a patella?" Evan said confused.
Mariana froze, hearing him say "our baby" made her emotional and even more frightened.
"I'll call you tomorrow okay? Bye"
"Okay, bye" she hung up the phone and layed down on her bed. There was another living being inside of her but she felt more alone than ever.