𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The text from Madelyn came in the middle of the afternoon, just as I'm settling onto my couch with a leftover slice of pizza and a plan to do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day.

Scarlett was busy filming some stuff today and then she had meetings for The Outset later so, I knew I wasn't going to see her at all. I'd finished editing my video this morning so, I had the day to relax.

Madelyn Cline:
Can you meet me? Please, it's important.

I stare at the message for a long moment, my stomach twisting.

It's been a couple of days since that cryptic phone call, the one that had left me with more questions than answers. I hadn't pressed her then, hadn't asked for details. I figured if it was really that serious, she'd reach out again.

And now, here we are.

I run my thumb over the screen, debating for a moment before typing back.

Y/n Evans:
Where at?

The reply comes almost instantly.

Madelyn Cline:

I sigh, setting my pizza down and pushing myself off the couch.

With Scarlett busy, I don't have to explain where I'm going. Not that I'm hiding it—but I also know this isn't a conversation I want to have over text.

Not until I know what I'm walking into. I don't want to have her worry about anything unless there is something to worry about.

The drive is short, and by the time I step into the coffee shop, my eyes immediately find Madelyn sitting at a small table near the window, her fingers curled around a cup of something steaming.

She's wearing a hoodie and a baseball cap, her usual effortless look slightly disheveled.

But it's her expression that gets me. She looks... off. Tired. Nervous. It takes me all of two seconds to know something is really wrong.

Her eyes are slightly puffy like she hasn't been sleeping. There's a heaviness in her expression that makes my stomach drop before she even says a word.

I don't even hesitate as I pull out the chair across from her.

"Alright," I say, setting my phone down. "What's going on, Madz?"

Madelyn exhales, looking down at her drink before finally meeting my eyes. "You remember that night we ran into each other a few months ago?" she asks carefully.

She exhales, gripping her cup a little tighter. "You remember that night after the charity gala?"

I blink trying to think back. "At that charity gala?" It was the first time I'd really seen her since we broke up, wasn't really memorable because all we did was say hi to each other before Anna pulled me in a different direction.

She nods. "Yeah."

I tilt my head. "Okay...?"

Madelyn takes a slow breath, her fingers tightening around her cup.

"I think I'm pregnant."

The words hit me like a truck. I sit back, my mouth slightly open as my brain scrambles to process what she just said.

"You—" I exhale, running a hand through my hair. "Jesus, Madelyn. You're just now telling me this?"

She winces. "I wasn't sure at first. I—I still haven't taken a test, but I'm late, Y/n. Really late. And I've been feeling sick, and I just..." She trails off, looking away.

I rub a hand over my jaw, looking at her closely. "Mads... you're saying—"

She nods, cutting me off before I can finish. "I'm saying you're the last person I slept with, Y/n."

My heart kicks up in my chest.

Madelyn swallows. "I didn't know how to bring it up. I still don't even know if it's real. But I need to find out, and I—" She hesitates, glancing at me. "I didn't know who else to ask."

I study her carefully, my stomach still twisted in knots. "Madelyn..."

"I know," she says quickly. "I know this is a lot. And you don't owe me anything. But you're the only person I trust to be there for this. Just for moral support and I mean you are the last person I had sex with."

I sigh, leaning forward. "Have you told anyone else?"

She shakes her head. "No. And I don't plan to until I know for sure."

I nod slowly, running a hand down my face. "Alright. Let's figure this out."

Madelyn blinks. "Wait, really?"

I shrug. "You need support. I'm not gonna leave you to deal with this alone."

Her shoulders drop slightly, like she's been holding her breath. "Thank you."

I give her a small, tired smile. "Don't thank me yet. We're about to go pee on a stick in a gas station bathroom."

Madelyn lets out a soft, breathy laugh, shaking her head. "God, I missed your humor."

I smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go."

.  .  .

The gas station bathroom is about as grimy and depressing as you'd expect—a flickering fluorescent light overhead, faint graffiti scratched into the mirror, and a lingering smell of cheap air freshener that's trying (and failing) to cover up whatever atrocities have taken place here.

Madelyn wrinkles her nose as she eyes the stall. "This feels like rock bottom."

I huff a laugh, handing her the plastic bag with the pregnancy test inside. "Could be worse."

She glares at me. "How?" I shrug. "Could be a public restroom at a Taco Bell."

Madelyn groans, burying her face in her hands for a second before shaking her head. "This is not how I pictured my life going." I lean against the sink, arms crossed. "I don't think anyone pictures peeing on a stick in a gas station bathroom as part of their five-year plan."

She lets out a nervous laugh before exhaling and taking the bag. "Alright. Here goes nothing."She disappears into the stall, and the door clicks shut. I shift my weight, glancing around the bathroom before letting out a breath, rubbing my hands over my face.

This is happening. My stomach twists as I think about what it'll mean if that test comes back positive. What this will mean for my life, for Madelyn's, for Scarlett's—

Scarlett.

I swallow hard, my pulse kicking up. She doesn't know I'm here. Doesn't know what's happening right now. I should tell her. Right?

But what if the test is negative? There'd be no point in stressing her out over something that won't matter in the end.

Madelyn's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. "Y/n?" I look up as the stall door cracks open slightly, just enough for her to stick her head out.

"We have to wait three minutes," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod. "Okay."

She hesitates, then steps out fully, the test in her hand. She sets it on the sink between us like it's a grenade that could go off at any second. Neither of us move.

Madelyn chews on her lip, staring at the test like she can will it into giving her an answer sooner. "This is the longest three minutes of my life."

I check my watch. "It's been thirty seconds." She groans, pressing her palms against the counter. "I'm gonna throw up."

I glance at her. "That could be a symptom." She glares at me. "Not helping."

I hold up my hands in surrender. "Just saying." She groans again, pacing a tight line in the small space. "God, my whole life is about to change. What if it's positive? What the hell am I supposed to do?"

I let out a slow breath, watching her closely. "You won't be alone, Madz."

She stops, looking at me. "Y/n—"

"I mean it." I hold her gaze. "Whatever happens, we figure it out. Together."

Her expression softens slightly, something unspoken passing between us. Then, the alarm on my watch buzzes. Three minutes.

Madelyn freezes. "Oh, God." I nod toward the sink. "Go look."

She doesn't move. I swallow hard. "Madz." I nudge her arm lightly. "You have to look."

She finally lets out a breath, but it's shaky. Like she's trying to summon every ounce of courage she has before stepping forward. Her hand trembles as she reaches for the test.

I hold my breath as she lifts it, tilting it just enough to read the tiny screen. Her entire body goes stiff. And then—her breath catches. A sharp inhale, like the air's been sucked right out of her lungs.

She doesn't speak. Doesn't make a sound. Just stands there, staring.

Then, suddenly— A choked sob escapes her lips. My stomach twists.

"Madz—"

She shakes her head, pressing her palm against her mouth as tears spill over, rolling down her cheeks. Her whole body starts trembling, and for a second, I think she's about to collapse right here in this disgusting gas station bathroom.

Then, just as quickly as the tears come, a nervous, broken laugh bubbles out of her throat. She wipes at her face with a weak, breathy chuckle.

"Oh my God," she mutters, her voice unsteady. "I can't—I can't believe this."

I step forward, hesitating just briefly before reaching for her, my hands settling on her arms. "Madz."

She shakes her head again, laughing wetly between sniffles. "This is—this is insane, right? This isn't real." But it is.

I exhale slowly, then pull her into my chest. She doesn't resist—just melts into me, burying her face in my shoulder as another quiet sob slips out. I press my chin against the top of her head, my grip tightening. "It's okay," I murmur. "I've got you."

She nods against me, her fingers clutching the back of my hoodie like she's afraid to let go. "Y/n... what am I supposed to do?"

I squeeze my eyes shut, exhaling. "I don't know," I admit, my voice low. "But we're gonna figure it out."

A silence settles over us. Her breathing slows. I rub slow, soothing circles against her back, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. What does this mean for her? For me? For Scarlett?

Madelyn sniffles, pulling back just enough to look at me, her eyes red and glassy. "You swear you won't leave me alone in this?"

I hold her gaze. "I swear."

Her shoulders drop slightly, some of the tension easing. But the fear in her eyes lingers. And honestly? I feel it too.

.  .  .

Madelyn called her doctor who got her a spot with an OBGYN almost immediately. I felt like this day was like a rollercoaster, considering how fast everything was happening. The doctor's office is eerily quiet.

The kind of quiet that makes you hyper-aware of every little sound—the hum of the fluorescent lights, the faint murmur of nurses down the hall, the rhythmic tapping of Madelyn's foot against the linoleum floor.

She hasn't spoken much since we got here. She's been picking at the hem of her sweater, biting the inside of her cheek, lost in her own head.

I don't blame her.

I steal a glance at her. She looks pale. Tired. Her knee bounces, her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach. "You okay?" I murmur.

She lets out a breathy chuckle, shaking her head. "Not even a little bit." I nod, drumming my fingers against my thigh. "Fair."

A nurse pokes her head in. "Madelyn?"

Madelyn jumps slightly, her grip tightening on her sweater. "Yeah." The nurse gives her a kind smile. "The doctor's ready for you."

Madelyn exhales, standing on unsteady legs. I don't think—just reach out, offering my hand. She hesitates for half a second before taking it, squeezing tight.

We follow the nurse into a small exam room. Everything is stark white, clean, and clinical—too sterile for the weight of what's happening.

"Dr. Samuel will be in shortly," the nurse says before slipping out, leaving us alone. Madelyn sways slightly. I tighten my grip on her hand.

She lets out a shaky breath. "I feel like I'm gonna throw up." I pull out the rolling stool beside the exam table and pat it. "Sit."

She obeys without argument, resting her hands on her knees, staring down at the tile floor.

"I don't know why I'm so nervous," she murmurs after a moment. I smirk. "Might have something to do with the potential human growing inside you."

She shoots me a look. "Thank you, Y/n, very helpful." I chuckle, leaning against the counter. "That's what I'm here for."

Her smirk fades, and she tugs at her sleeve. "Are you... are you really here for this? Like, all the way?" I blink, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her tone.

"What do you mean?"

She swallows. "I just—I know I put you in a weird spot. And you have Scarlett now, and I don't expect you to, like... drop everything for me. But I don't—I don't know if I can do this by myself."

My chest tightens. I push off the counter, crouching slightly so we're eye level. "Madz."

She hesitates. I take her hand again. "You're not doing this by yourself."

She studies my face like she's trying to find any sign that I might be lying.

I hold her gaze. "I meant what I said. We figure this out together."

Her shoulders relax—just slightly. Before she can respond, the door swings open, and Dr. Patel steps in, a warm, professional smile on her face. "Madelyn, Y/n," she greets. "It's nice to see you again, Madelyn, though I wish it were under less stressful circumstances."

Madelyn lets out a breathy chuckle. "Yeah. Me too."

Dr. Samuel takes a seat, flipping through the file in her hands. "So, from what I understand, you had a positive home pregnancy test?"

Madelyn nods. "And your last period was...?" She swallows. "Almost two months ago."

Dr. Samuel nods, making a note. "Alright. We'll do a urine test first to confirm, and if it's positive, we'll proceed with an ultrasound to determine how far along you are."

Madelyn grips the edge of the table. "Okay." Dr. Samuel glances between us, her expression softening. "Do you have a support system in place?"

Madelyn hesitates.

I squeeze her hand. "She does." She glances at me, something unreadable flickering in her eyes.

Dr. Samuel nods approvingly. "That's good. That's really important." The nurse reenters, handing Madelyn a cup. "Whenever you're ready."

Madelyn inhales sharply, sliding off the table. I watch as she disappears into the bathroom, my mind racing with a hundred different thoughts.

A few minutes later, she reemerges, hands shoved into her sleeves. She doesn't sit back down—just stands near the wall, rocking on her heels.

We wait. One minute. Two. Then—

The nurse steps back in, holding a small slip of paper. She offers it to Dr. Samuel, who scans it briefly before setting it down.

"Well," Dr. Samuel says gently. "It's confirmed." Madelyn exhales sharply.

I feel her go rigid beside me. The doctor's voice softens. "You're pregnant."

For a moment, Madelyn doesn't react. Just stares at the doctor like the words haven't fully processed. Then, slowly—

Her lips part. Her breath stutters. And finally—her eyes fill with tears.

Not the nervous, scattered laughter from earlier. This time, it's real.

I move before I can think, wrapping an arm around her. She presses her face into my shoulder, her whole body trembling.

Dr. Samuel gives her a moment before speaking. "Would you like to proceed with an ultrasound to determine gestation?"

Madelyn sniffles, nodding without lifting her head.

Dr. Samuel smiles kindly. "Take your time. We'll get everything set up." Madelyn clings to me like she's afraid to let go.

I rub slow, steady circles against her back, my mind spinning. This is real. This is happening.

And I have no idea how I'm going to tell Scarlett.

A/N: Thoughts???