Post by Lizzie Nguyen on Oct 14, 2020 20:50:22 GMT -5
LIZZIE:
The flush of the toilet near her face blew cold air against her sweat-covered forehead, a disgusting relief as she leaned against the wall of the bathroom stall. This was becoming a habit, it seemed--she knew now when she would make it to the bathroom and when she wouldn’t, how to line her tiny trash can bags with crumpled newspaper so that clean up was easier. She’d thought she was just sick, that first week, or having a reaction to the wild-carrot seeds, but it had returned weeks later. Nausea had returned...and her period had not. She was supposed to have had it right after that ‘camping’ trip, and it would have been due again just this last week, but nothing. The thought of it made her stomach heave again, but there was nothing left to expel. She’d bought the test last night, but she’d been too afraid to use it. It had been bad enough having to pay for it at the checkout line, with the older woman behind the counter giving her the stink eye. Carrying it home in her backpack had made her feel like she was carrying a bomb onto the bus. A bomb and a neon sign all in one, pointing to her with flashing letters that told everyone she was a slut, that she was pregnant, that she was soiled and unwanted. She knew that was ridiculous; no one on that bus gave even an ounce of attention to one frazzled college student in a town filled with them. But she couldn’t help feeling eyes on her. She hadn’t been sure how to get it to the bathroom without drawing attention, so she’d brought her whole shower caddy with her that morning and brought into the stall with her as she went to the bathroom. As soon as she’d seen the little plus sign, her stomach had revolted. She sighed heavily and wiped her forehead on the sleeve of her t-shirt. Now that there was nothing left in her stomach and a whole new kind of weight resting there, the cold tile floors were beginning to make her knees ache. She couldn’t hide in here forever. She’d known before she ever removed that little plastic stick from its packaging, and she could have called Jack before...but she’d wanted to be sure. Wanted to make sure that she wasn’t just jumping to terrible conclusions the way her mind always liked to do. Now that she had her answer, she didn’t have any more excuses. A shower would have to wait. She pushed herself to her feet and left the stall, shoving the cardboard packaging deep into the trashcan beneath several layers of paper towel. She nearly walked out without her shower caddy until its bright green caught her eye on her way out the door. She hurried back in to snatch it and stared avidly at the floor as she returned to her room. Sitting on her bed she looked at her phone as if it were a snake coiled to strike. She wouldn’t tell him over the phone...she just needed to get him here, so she could show him. That would be the best thing...right? To let him see for himself, and to make sure she wasn’t just shattering his entire life over the phone. She couldn’t even imagine how he would react. Her mind let her see him coming into the room, distressed, panicked, imagined holding out the test, and then...nothing. How could she care so deeply for someone and not have the slightest idea of what they would think about something this important? Sure, after that night, after the way he’d smiled at her, the way he’d held her, she’d imagined what it might be like if things really went how they wanted. He’d be a kindergarten teacher, and she’d be a social worker. They’d have a tiny, old house that they worked on together, turning it into a home. Someday they’d have children with red curls, and his beautiful eyes. They’d only ever argue over things that were really worth it, and they’d always make up. He’d hug her from behind while she was making dinner. But then she’d remember it was all just a daydream, and that the reality was that Jack had other plans. His mom had put off coming to talk to him about whatever was happening to him. She’d made some excuse about his Nana being sick, but it had been weeks, and she was starting to think that there was more to it. Like maybe his family had already decided that she wasn’t good enough for him. She was no Karen. Maybe this was some Southern way of freezing her out and reminding her where she belonged. Jack would forget about her soon enough. Things were busy enough at school, anyway, and Karen was already vying for his attention again. It was probably for the best if he went back to the old normal. Tears pricked at her eyes and she swallowed hard, forcing them back. She wasn’t going to cry; she didn’t need his pity. She would wait until he was gone, and then she could let it out. Right now, she owed him the truth, even if it hurt like hell. Whatever he decided, she’d respect it, but she wasn’t going to give up this baby. It was their child, and even if it turned everything she’d planned to dust, she’d do whatever it took to protect her child. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone. “Ello?” Jack’s voice on the other end was smothered in sleep--she’d woken him. She didn’t have the energy to apologize. “Jack, I need you to come to my room. Right...right now. It's important.” She winced at the panic in her voice. She’d tried to sound calm, but it was obvious something was the matter. “Liz? What what’s wrong? Everything okay?” "I don't know. I really don't know” Her voice broke. “I...I can't talk about it over the phone. Please, can you come over right away?" “Yeah, I’m coming Darlin, hold tight.” Darlin. As much as her rational mind rushed to tell her it was just a vocal tic, she couldn’t help the way her heart squeezed. “Thanks, Jack.” She hung up in a hurry before she could say anything else. If she lingered too long, she’d give it away...or she’d hang her heart out to dry. She looked down at the pregnancy test in her hands. All that was left to do now was wait. JACK: Jack had been sleeping when Lizzie’s call woke him. He hadn’t bothered to see who it was, had just answered. Hearing Lizzie’s voice had kick-started his heart and hearing her voice break as she asked him to come over just kick-started it even more. He had already been up and out of bed, slipping into a pair of shorts and grabbing a shirt by the time they hung up. He didn’t like being woken up to something being wrong. He especially didn’t like waking up to something possibly being wrong with Lizzie. Pulling the shirt over his head, he shoved his feet into a pair of shoes and grabbed his keys and wallet. Shoving them in his pocket while he pulled the shirt over his head as he left his dorm room, closing the door behind him. He walked quickly, and as he reached outside, he broke into a jog as he ran towards the girls’ dorm. Jack wouldn’t say he was avoiding Lizzie the last two weeks, but he knew it probably looked like that. Between trying to get his Ma to answer his damn questions and her defecting by saying Nana was ill and needed help and Karen, Jack was in a ripe foul mood. He hadn’t wanted Lizzie anywhere near that foulness, afraid it would taint her sunshiness. He was going to deal with it all. So they could be together. Sure Karen came from a well-known witch family with money, but Lizzie was also a witch. And if his family wanted him with a witch, well they could take Lizzie or nah. He was done with Karen. The witch bitch had finally done the last straw with Brian. No more. He deserved better. Lizzie deserved better, and he was going to try his damndest to make her feel like a queen and give her the world on a silver platter. There might just be a bit of family drama along the way. That is….if she still wanted him. He rushed up the stairs, going a bit faster now that he’d reached the building as he came to her door, he pounded on it as light, but as firmly as he could. He caught his breath, looking around, and his own anxiety began to chew at him. Had something happened? Was she hurt? That thought nearly sent his blood boiling, and he pounded a little harder. “Liz? It’s Jack.” He called gently through the door. LIZZIE: Lizzie nearly jumped out of her skin when he knocked on the door. Gods, it’s like I’m just waiting for the guillotine to drop on my neck. The thought made her shudder as she rose to her feet. She tucked the hand with the test behind her back as she opened the door to let him in. She gestured at her desk chair, and it pulled itself out for him as the door swung shut and locked with an ominous click. He wasn’t locked in, of course, she’d let him leave when he needed to, but she didn’t want anyone walking in on this. She bit her lip as she waited for him to take a seat. He would want to be sitting down for this. Once he did, she held out the test for him to take. She didn’t say anything; the very fact that she was handing him a pregnancy test was sure to speak for itself. Although, if he couldn’t hear her heart pounding, he was sure to see the way it was making her small frame shake. Her whole chest was tight as if her ribcage was constricting around her organs, making it difficult to breathe. With each inhale, it seemed to get worse until she began to feel like she wasn’t getting any oxygen at all. She stumbled backward slightly as she slid down to sit with her back against the bed. It had been a while since her last panic attack, but she recognized it as it set in. It was no surprise, really, the only thing that did surprise her was that she hadn’t had it sooner. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, then leaned her forehead down onto her knees. This was better, she couldn’t see the stunned look on his face--or whatever might come after it. She forced herself to breathe deliberately through her nose, trying to push back the panic that was pressing down on her with heavy fingers. “I’m sorry…” she whispered, although she wasn’t sure he would be able to hear. JACK: When the door opened, Jack’s blue eyes looked her up and down. No cuts, no bruises, no broken bones. Good. He thought. He sighed a bit in relief, and then shuffled in. His anxiety didn’t let up though as he went and sat at the chair she motioned for him to sit in. Something was definitely wrong. He could sense it in the air, and he looked at Lizzie nervously. She wanted him here and here he was. She held something out to him, and his hand reached up automatically for it, his eyes not leaving hers until he pulled what she handed to him closer and looked down. A pregnancy test. His heart was suddenly in his throat and for a moment time stopped. His hand began to shake as he stared at the little blue plus mark. Positive. Oh Jack...oh Jackie boy, what did you do?! His mind asked him. He had no clue, no idea how any of this could have happened. That was a lie of course. He knew exactly how it happened. He knew what he did, and he just ruined sweet Lizzie’s life. Him. His fault. It was his doing because he couldn’t keep it in his pants and hadn’t even thought about protection. He’d been in too much of a hurry to deal with whatever had possessed him that night to think about the one important thing. His mind was a jumbled mess of shock, and hearing Lizzie’s voice was what brought him back to the present. He slowly pried his eyes Away to look at her. She was on the floor, turned in on herself, telling him sorry? Oh hell no. Slowly, Jack rose from his seat and came to move in front of her. He plopped down on his butt, placing his long legs on either side of her before he was pulling her gently into his arms. Resting his head on top of hers. “I’m the one that gets to say sorry Liz, not you.” He whispered to her quietly. “If I had been thinkin’ a bit ‘betta I woulda remembered protection. It’s not yer fault, it’s all on me.” He sighed into her hair and rubbed her back. “It’s my responsibility.” LIZZIE: Lizzie flinched slightly as he brushed against her, although she didn’t realize what he was doing until he’d already pulled her into his arms. Just like before. A brief flash of river water and the sunset washed over her, and she managed to take one big breath before she couldn’t restrain herself anymore. She unfolded herself to wrap her arms tightly around his waist and buried her face in his chest. She wished she could be stronger, do this on her own, but she couldn’t resist any comfort he was willing to give her, even if it was only temporary. “It takes two to tango,” she mumbled into his chest with a half-hearted laugh. “I definitely didn’t stop you.” Her cheeks flared with heat at that memory, and she swallowed hard. Curse him for being perfect and beautiful. This was definitely not the time. “I did try, afterward, to be practical, but… Apparently it didn’t work.” Good gods, what were they even going to do? They were barely even adults, how were they going to teach someone how to be a person? Would he even want to help? What if he just vanished? He didn’t even know what he was yet, he didn’t need this. Oh, Hera, help me be brave. “I… I’m not giving it up. I need you to know that,” she told him, her voice firm in spite of the trembling breath that followed her words and shook her shoulders. “I won’t.” In spite of her worries, she reluctantly pulled back so she could see his face, and so he could see the determination in her blue-grey eyes. “I’ll finish out the semester, and then I’ll take a medical leave for Spring term. I...I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but…” She shook her head as she trailed off helplessly. She really didn’t know. She’d hardly known what she wanted from the rest of her life when all she had to worry about was finishing her degree--this was a whole new world of worries. Even so, she couldn’t imagine giving up the child. She just didn’t have it in her. “I’ll figure it out. I won’t ask...that is, you don’t have to…” she bit her lip and looked away, not able to look at his face for this. Whatever his answer was, good or bad, she was sure it would make her cry. And, if she was honest, she wasn’t even sure what she wanted to hear. “I can do it on my own if I need to.” JACK: Jack began to mindlessly rub her back as he hugged her. His arms tightening around her when she hugged him. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and he quite honestly felt nothing but pure raw terror at the idea of being a dad. A little life. That was half him and half Lizzie. Something he had created. It was...Boy was it a lot. Lizzie seemed to help ground him though, and he listened as she talked. He liked her voice. Had he ever told her he like her voice? Because he liked her voice. It was soothing and sweet as sugar. The words that came out of her mouth sent a cold chill down his spine. The reality was setting in and he looked at Lizzie. It was her body, but he also...Jack’s own biological dad came rearing his ugly head at him. An abortion would have been the smart choice. They were still kids. In college, figuring their own shit out. Hell, Jack was trying to figure out what he even was. But Jack was an ijit. Abortion wasn’t going to be an option. Not for him. Not when he could be the dad he never got. Never had. Wanting this baby was as simple as breathing, and he needed Lizzie to know that. “I’d respect any choice you made sweet pea, but I’m glad ta hear that.” He whispered as he looked at her. While she pulled back to look at him, Jack looked down at her, as she began to ramble off her plans. Shit, he’d have to take time off too. Maybe he’d finally get the balls to tell his family what he really wanted to do and to change his major. Maybe this was the goddess finally telling good ole Jack what she had in store for him. Lizzie’s words finally hit in his brain while he was wondering where he could find a cheap apartment for them all to cram into, and whether or not he should already be making plans on how to build a crib. “Wait what?” He blurted. His brows furrowed as he looked at her. “Yer not doing this alone. Hell no,” He began to tell her. He saw she wasn’t looking at him, and he reached down with a finger to turn her chin so she’d look at him. “Lizzie, my real dad left my Ma when she was our age pregnant wi’ me. I grew up not knowin’ him, and Ma don’ talk abou’ him either. I’ll be damned If I make a girl like you raise my baby alone. It’s not right. I won’t be that person. I’m gonna be here for you mini sweet pea in wha’ever way you’ll let me.” He told her. “You ain’t doin it alone.” He whispered softly, taking her face with one hand and rubbing his thumb against her cheek. LIZZIE: Lizzie had scrunched up her whole face while she waited for him to realize what she had said, and even when he did catch up with the ‘wait what?’ she didn’t let herself relax. Once he said she wasn’t doing it alone, the tension was for an entirely different reason--she was trying her damndest not to cry. When he hooked her chin with one finger to turn her face to his, she cautiously opened one eye, then the other as he promised that he wouldn’t let her do this alone, that he was going to be better than the man who had abandoned him. The corners of her mouth twitched upward at ‘mini sweetpea,’ but she kept it pressed into a thin line, still trying not to weep. His gentle hand against her cheek was the final straw, however, and there went the waterworks--a fat tear rolling down her cheek and into his palm, followed by more soon after. Despite the tears, however, a brilliant smile bloomed. He might look like a demon, but the boy was an angel. There was no two ways about it, he was just that good. “Jackson Burnette, you’re the sweetest man alive,” she declared before kissing his cheek. She pursed her lips afterward, though, and looked at him as if she were trying to read hieroglyphics on his face. “But what do you mean, ‘whatever way’ I’ll let you? You have to know by now--I mean--I thought it was obvious I--” Oh no. Her eyes widened, mouth snapped shut, and cheeks flared crimson beneath her freckles as she dropped her head to his shoulder with a thud. Oh, good goddess, does he not realize I...I’m going to die. I’m not even going to make it to have the baby I’m going to die of embarrassment. How could he not know? She’d told him before, hadn’t she? As if actions weren’t loud enough, not to mention some very lewd noises, she was sure she’d told him outright. Her mind trailed over that night in the tent, trying to ignore the steamy bits and focus on when he’d first changed. His eyes had been different, and he...yes, he’d made her tell. “I want you to care about me like that forever. I want to believe what you said. And I don't want to give you back to Karen, I want you to stay with me,” she’d said. “Don’t you remember what I said before?” she mumbled into his neck, still not willing to show her face. “I told you what I wanted.” JACK: Jack wiped away the tears from her cheeks, concerned that she was crying, but she gave him the bright smile of hers and it made his heart skip a beat. He couldn’t help but smile down at her calling him sweet. “It’s from all da sweet tea.” He told her with a chuckle. He wasn’t kidding either. The southerners loaded their sweet tea with enough sweetness to turn anyone into a diabetic. His grin only widened as she kissed his cheek, and his eyes flickered down to her as she pursed her lips. He gave her a slightly confused look at what she was saying before she appeared to grow embarrassed, thudding her head against his shoulder. He instinctively placed a hand gently on the back of her head, as he tried to look down at her. What was going on? Why was she embarrassed? Had he forgotten something? He took her legs, pulling her a bit closer to him so he could have legs around his hips and he could wrap his arms around her better, as he pulled her up more into his lap. It hit him then what she meant and it was his turn to turn red as he remembered. The two weeks. The two weeks he was trying to get in order all for her. “I got cribs on mah mind right now.” He admitted with a small chuckle, resting his head on top of hers. “I didn’ know if you would wan’ me anymore Liz, I’ve been tryin’ to figure out this shit just so I can be the man you wan’.” He admitted with a sigh. “My Ma, keeps avoidin’ my question’s and Karen-” He practically growled her name just thinking about the bitch. “Hasn’ been helpin matters.” Jack pulled back so he could take her face between his hands. “I wanted that clusterfuck dealt wi’ before I asked you ta be my girl.” He said gently. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, before resting his own against hers. “I’m tellin’ ya I want ya Liz, you and mini sweetpea. But I don’ want ta force ya into it either. I know I can be asshole, but I promise you,” He pulled back so he could look in her eyes. “I’m gonna be there for you and our baby.” He said softly. LIZZIE: Lizzie was perfectly content to let him move her around, pulling her closer into his arms. She was still nervous--it was just in her nature to be nervous--but being wrapped in his warmth, with her face buried in his shoulder, took the edge off of it. She wished she could just soak this feeling up like a sponge and carry it with her. Or better yet, she wished she could just stick to his side, right where she felt safe, for the rest of her days. When he pulled away to hold her face in his hands, she watched him with wide eyes, brows furrowed in concern and confusion. How on earth could he believe for a second that she wouldn’t want him? How could she do anything else? She was about to protest, but ‘my girl’ shut her up quickly as her blush returned full force and a smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. His girl? She liked the sound of that, and she liked the benediction of his kiss to her forehead even more. It was a bit distracting to have his face so close to hers, but she didn’t mind. She’d waited long enough to be here; she couldn’t bear to push him away. “I know I can be asshole, but I promise you, I’m gonna be there for you and our baby.” Wait, WHAT? Jack? An asshole? Lizzie gave him a stern look. “Don’t be ridiculous. You might be a bit oblivious, but you’re not an asshole. Nothing you’ve ever done to me has been with the intent to do me harm.” She stuck out her tongue at him for a moment before she relaxed and nuzzled slightly into his hands that still rested against her neck and jaw. “Besides, I’m pretty sure I’ve been half in love with you since you pulled up in that truck and smiled at me like that.” She laughed softly. “This whole time, all I wanted was for you to make up your mind and choose me...selfish as that might be.” She confessed with a guilty smile. “I don’t want you to hide from me anymore, trying to face things on your own. Whatever this is, what’s happening to you, and what’s happening to me...I think we can make it if we face it together.” She took one of his hands in hers, drawing it to the front of her face so she could delicately kiss the pulse point on his wrist. “What do you think? Do we have a deal?” Jack: Jack pursed his lips and his eyes went wide slightly as if he’d just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar with how Lizzie gave him that stern look. What’d he say? He had to admit she looked pretty cute with that look and refrained from leaning forward and kissing her on the nose. Instead he was too busy looking to those blue gray eyes of hers. He looked at her surprised then as she scolded him. He wasn’t an asshole? Then why did he feel like one? He pretty much ignored her and the rest of the mystery gang outside of the club room. Too afraid for people to find out how big of a nerd he actually was, and what the rest of the team would feel about it. He couldn’t stop the small smile though as she stuck her tongue out at him. He watched her as she lightly nuzzled against his hands. His face softened as he looked at her. Jack’s breath caught then, not believing her almost. Half in love with him? Oooooooh baby. He wasn’t breathing. First telling him she was having his baby and now she was telling him she had those types of feelings? It was a lot for him to take in. He was already processing so much. He let a shuddered breath out, watching her as he kissed then inside of his wrist. Causing a fire to burn up his arm. He was fucking terrified. Scared out his wits, and yet- She wanted to be there for him. Not let him face it alone, and it made Jack suddenly very grateful for her. “I think,” He sighed, turning his hand in hers to bring her wrist up to his lips. “I’m fuckin’ scareder then a turkey at thanks givin’” He smirked as kissed soft skin. “But...I think yer righ’ We have each other.” He whispered. He rubbed her cheek with his thumb before his hand moved to cup her chin. “Way I see it, wha’ other kind of trouble can we git into?” He smirked. They’d already done the worse they could right? Ma had to have the answers. She’d been in their shoes, and she turned out just right. Jack had turned out just right. They’d be okay. “Aand,” He leaned forward lightly brushing his lips against hers. “We’ll have mini sweet pea.” He whispered before pressing his lips more firmly against hers. He drew back then, resting his forehead against hers. “If ya can put up with my ass Darlin...it’s a deal.” He drawled quietly. LIZZIE: She couldn’t help giggling at his southern-ism about the turkey. Good thing she only did veggie-based “chikn” patty sandwiches at Thanksgiving. And mashed potatoes. So much potato. The kiss to the inside of her wrist was a whole other story, though, and she could practically feel the temperature in the room going up. She melted into him, letting her eyes fall closed as he kissed her. Ah...hadn’t she been terrified, not too long ago? That fear seemed awfully distant, now. She was so warm and happy. This might actually work out. It was going to be a mess, sure, and she didn’t imagine any of it was going to be easy. But if she was with Jack...did that matter? “Put up with you? You’d have to pry me off with a crowbar. I’m not going anywhere.” She teased, wiggling her nose against his in a little bunny kiss. She meant every word, too. How many hours had she spent since that night, dreaming that he might actually want this? A baby hadn’t factored into her imaginings until a few years down the road, but that was nothing compared to the rest. She felt like she was glowing, and if she didn’t know better, she’d think she felt something other than butterflies fluttering in her stomach. “It’s a deal.” She kissed him, this time, sealing the deal. A spark of magic danced between their lips and moved through her body all the way to her toes, making her involuntarily curl them. She hadn’t meant to bind the vow with magic, but some things were just naturally magical when she was involved. That was the nature of being a witch, she supposed. Jack Burnette
last edited Oct 14, 2020 21:02:56 GMT -5 by Lizzie Nguyen
|
|
Xander's Cross, Oregon: a small town ringed with forbidding mountains and misty forest. The sky may be gray, but the townspeople are welcoming to people of all kinds...and things that are not quite human as well. Here the native shifters, aliens, werewolves, and witches live in peace. They have yet to find out the new business owners encroaching on the land are also vampires.
The peace has been broken by murder, however, and things in Xander's Cross are about to become quite a bit darker.
Welcome to your new home.