Chapter 9

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*two months later*

Friday March 29th. I have been officially living in the apartment building for a month and two weeks. The AC has only crashed once and the hot water is finally working.

On the idea team I've moved up a position to Action Idea Manager. Which basically means I put multiple ideas into action to see which one is the best decision.

I got the promotion after I opened my mouth and actually had a good idea. It wasn't big, but it raised the company's status 3%. They said something about beginners luck and wanting to take it to the next step.

At the moment I'm getting paid $25.50 an hour and that will go up if this idea I'm working on goes well.
I plan to save up and buy a decently large house. A house to be filled. Either by friends who are struggling (thanks Cole for offering that idea) or with a family.

I'm at my table with my laptop open. It's 2:15 in the morning. I'm finishing my first copy of three. Since tomorrow is Saturday, I plan to wake up around ten to finish copy two. Then after dinner I will work on three.

This is my usual weekend schedule/ everyday schedule. I have weekends off so I can rest and be ready for late nights during the week.

Monday's start with a manager meeting (Michael and the lead managers talk most of the time). Then the idea team meets in the conference room, along with the rest of the week, to discuss, obviously, ideas.

Tuesday through Thursday there are meetings to lay down choices and assign responsibilities for the Action Manager (me). Fridays are to work on what we came up with during the week.

Wednesday's and Thursday's I work from 10 to 10 and pick up any early or late hours that I can just in those days.

The rest of the week I work 7 to 3:30. Sometimes that ends up going to 5 and then dinner with colleagues.

Michael is more of a friend the a boss these days. He says I'm like a little brother. After mentioning that to a member on the idea team they told me he did have an actual little brother. He passed away from a tumor on the right side of his brain at the age of 2.

After hearing that, I try a little harder to be a good "brother" to Michael. We get breakfast every Sunday together after he goes to mass and talk about anything but work. 

I told him about the quote I saw on the back of Lauren's car and he ended up buying me a book with saint quotes. Then he invited me to mass.

I said no the first three times then I decided I should because that's what a good brother would do. I went and I learned that Catholics have this thing DOWN! They knew every word. They knew when everything was coming.

Don't know when to sit? I don't know, ask a Catholic.

Then "communion" came around and I swear I was about to have a panic attack. Everyone is in lines going up to the front. They receive a white circle of unleavened bread then make the sign of the cross.

Here, Michael leaned over and told me to cross my arms over my chest and to not receive the "host". I did as he said and followed the person in front of me to the pew.

When we knelt again Michael bows his head and copying him I now mine as well. "You don't have to, but here we usually say a silent prayer thanking God for the things in this world. We thank Him for being with us." Michael whispers. I close my eyes and, even though I don't believe in a higher power, I give is a shot.

Thank you... God... for Michael... for Cole and Lauren, for my job and colleagues. And thank you for being with me.....

.... amen.

————

I'm riding my bike home after breakfast when my phone starts ringing. I pull off to the grass and reach and grab my phone. It's an unknown number. I decline the call and head home.

It's 8:30 p.m. and the unknown number has called me exactly 11 times. Actually make that 12.

The phone rings a couple times before I answer the call.

"Who is this?" I say slightly loud.

"This is Jase." A male voice says through the phone. "You Ry?" I pause for a second. Kylee is the only one who has ever called me Ry.

"It's Ryan. What do you want?" I ask.

"My girl says you knocked her up."

Um.... what? "E-excuse me?"

Then he talks about how "his girl" has been sick for the past three weeks and that she finally went to the doctor.

She was tested and the doctor said that she was pregnant. She was told that she was a little over two months pregnant. She also had a panic attack and almost served another two weeks in prison for 'destruction of property' at the hospital.

Jase says that they have slept together, but that started this month so it couldn't be him. This whole time talking to him I've been holding my chest.

My chest is clenching and unclenching. My head is swirling and aching. I fall into a chair at my table in the kitchen listening to my life going down the drain.

"Can- can I speak with Kylee?" I ask.

"Uh, sure." Jase says. He's seems like a nice guy but his voice suggests that he's not very intelligent.

"What do you want-" She starts but I interrupt.

"Have you done a test?"

"Yes idiot. I'm pregnant." She says matter-of-fact like.

"No. Not that. Have you done a DNA test?" I say.

"I was going to, but.." she hesitates. "But that means you'd have to come in with me. And I am not in the mood to see you... at all." Ugh she's such a child. I thought the men matured slower then women.

"Let's go get a test." No response. "Please?" I sound desperate and she gives in. We schedule going tomorrow at 4 and I say that I'll call in and pay for it since she didn't want to go in the first place.

————

Monday is slow at work. The meeting was rough and we couldn't decide on next month's theme. I had an argument with Michael over pricing. Which ended with a bad mood and a guilty gut feeling. By 3 my stomach is lurching and I can't stand it.

I march into Michael's office and wait for him to finish a call.

"Yes?" He's using his 'boss' voice which means he isn't in a good mood either. He gives me a look that sends a shiver down my spine and I know I messed up and was over dramatic.

"Look. I think you're right. We should go with the lower price and then go from there."

He nods and stares at me as if he's waiting for something. His eyebrow raises. "That isn't what you came in here to say. Is it?" I'm not surprised. Michael can see right through me.

"No." I sigh and sit in the seat in-front of his desk. "I need... some prayers." My head is down and I look at my feet.

"Is that something to be ashamed of?" Michael asks and I look up at him. He smiles and gives a small sigh finally letting go of his boss side.

"Prayer is a blessing. Don't feel bad about asking for prayers. It shows that you are my friend and that my friend needs help." He says.

I sit up a bit more and basically spill everything to him just like my first interview with him. I tell him about Jase and Kylee and about the pregnancy... and I tell him how scared I am.

"I don't think the scared your thinking of is the right scared." I look at him questioningly. "You aren't scared for yourself. I think you are scared for the baby." He says.

Suddenly I know he's right. That baby isn't going to stand a chance with Kylee and Jace. Especially since Kylee is still having trouble taking medication... wait a second.

"What if she aborts the baby?!" I ask and I feel tears sting my eyes. I shoot up out of my seat and pull at my hair with both my hands. My chest feels like it's crushing in on my lungs. I've been raised pro-life and after watching the movie Unplanned I have stuck to it a lot stronger.

"How far along is she?" He asks.

"A little over two months."

He shakes his head. "If she's smart she won't abort. If the doctor showed her the sonogram picture she would've seen a little person and that would change anyone's mind." Relief flows over me. But there is still something pulling at my heart.

————

Walking out of the hospital Kylee is as mad as a bull. It's not like any of the news we just received was surprising. We only came here to make sure.

The baby is mine. Well... ours.

I walk her to her car and she turns to me. "You know birth hurts. IT HURTS!" She screams. I see fear in her eyes. She paces back and forth with a hand on her stomach and the other running through her tangled hair.

"I know." I say quietly. Then I reach out and grab onto her elbow so she stops and looks at me. She looks annoyed at first, but then the look in her eyes almost look pleading. "You're not going to abort the baby are you?"

Her breath hitches and her arm goes stiff in my arm. I see tears in her eyes and I realize Michael was right. The doctor must have shown her the baby while she was in there. I pull her into a hug even though she lightly pushes agains my chest. We stand there for a bit.

"I have been thinking of adoption." We pull away and my heart sinks a little at the thought of it.

"A-adoption?" I stutter back looking at her in the eyes. She tries to avoid the eye contact and stares at her feet. She turns to her car and fumbles with her keys.

That means the baby could be put with anyone. It could be with a horrible family and have a horrible life.

What? You think the baby would be better with you? You think the baby would enjoy living in an apartment? You think you'd be a good single father?

Actually... I think I could.

"Don't." I say and Kylee stops opening her door.

"What?"

"Don't put the baby up for adoption. I'll..." What do I say? I'll adopt it? I'll take it? I'll be it's parent?

"You want the baby?" She looks at me like I'm crazy. "What are you? A professional parent? You can't care for a baby. You don't even have a job." She says.

"I do actually. I may be living in an apartment, but it's a start." I say sheepishly. I look away from her and my voice mumbles off into a whisper.

She shakes her head and sighs. I see the old Kylee I used to know. The soft and independent woman I thought I loved. "Give me time to think."

I know it's the right thing to do. She should be able to think about the decision since this baby was a surprise and she will be the one delivering it.

"Okay. Thank you Kylee."

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