Chapter 6: Droplets like ash

Lace’s POV

Hayley, Kira and I had been friends since kindergarten and I remember the day as if it was yesterday. Kira in her white dress and not having a speck of dirt on it, me wearing a flowery dress with just dirt on it, and Hayley, Hayley being the new girl. She had been standing by the fence, a bunny teddy bear in her arms and starring at the crowd of little kids. Kira had been reading not far off from there and I was in the sandbox.

I was busy making this really lame sandcastle when that bunny teddy appeared. Strange how all friendships seem to develop in the sandbox.

“Can… can we play?” this little girl with pig tails had asked and when I had nodded, she flopped down. We were halfway with this really weird structure when I had decided we needed someone else. Someone to “clean the sand-house and keep it motherly” for the bunny and his family. That’s how we had gotten Kira to be our friend.

Kira had been hesitant at first but after a while and one flopped (and then fixed) part of the sand castle, we became best friends.

That’s why, when she came into the kitchen, Hayley and I immediately knew something was up.

“Killer” she looked up at us, her eyes glassy and then we all left the breakfast bar, moving to her.

“Who do I need to punch?”

“I want to go home” she whimpered and Hayley and my arms surrounded her.

“Come on” Hayley whispered and we led her upstairs to our rooms. We went into mine, Hayley’s still smelling like the morning sickness.

“I miss Dave and I want to go home! I’m writing tomorrow and I’m going to miss my test and I just… I want to be home” she said, placing her head on Hayley’s shoulder.

“Whose Dave?” our heads turned to where Liam stood by the doorway.

“Her boyfriend” I responded, glaring at the guy.

Liam nodded, and surprisingly took out his phone, throwing it at Kira.

“Message him and tell him you’re fine. Nothing about being kidnapped okay? Or I will take him as well. You don’t call the police or anyone else”

“Thank – thank you…”

______________________________________________________________________

TO: [e-mail]

FROM: [e-mail]

SUBJECT: Missing you

_______________________________________________________________________

Hey baby

I miss you tons and I wish you were here with me. I love you so, so, so much. We decided to stay a bit longer and take the week off. But we’re perfectly safe and I can’t wait to see you. I’ll make it up to, I promise.

Hayley is doing better and don’t worry, we know about the night. Love you to the moon and back

Your love bug

Kira

_______________________________________________________________________

RESPONSE TO <Missing you> FROM: [e-mail]

Baby, it’s that a bit silly of you? What about the test tomorrow? I’ll go speak to the lecturer if you need? Think you guys need the break. Just stay safe and I miss you too baby. When you coming back? Maybe that evening we’ll have that date?

I love you tons and wish I could be there with you too

_________________________________________________________________________

RESPONSE TO [e-mail] of <Missing you>

Thanks for understanding babe. Will you please go speak to him for me? He knows me and tell him I promise to come to the makeup exam? I love you so, so, so much

________________________________________________________________________

Hailstorm’s POV

The next morning I welcomed the familiar roads of Tomlinson University. Yet, I knew we weren’t going anywhere near there. We were going to the doctor. I was going to the doctor because I was pregnant.

And the dad was next to me.

The one who kidnapped me…

I looked out of the window, wishing that the radio was on or something. The whole ride there hasn’t been any mention of talking and it was getting way too awkward. All morning actually. Everything except this morning when he had woken me up. He had literally just come in, shook me away and then, after me getting the fright of my life, handed me a glass of water. I am not a morning person and that was evident with the amount of sighs he gave throughout the a.m. I think I counted thirty two.

And now, now we were sitting in the car and I was the one sighing.

“So um… what year you in?” he asked as we drove past the building I used to call my second home. Dorms. I actually missed my dorm.

“Second” I responded, “How old are you?”

“Twenty three”

“And you’re in charge of a base camp?”

“I’m good at what I do” he shrugged and then drove into the doctor’s parking spots.

We got out of the car, me following Liam into the place. He at least held the door open for me, pointing to one of the seats.

“Go sit, I’ll go to the receptionist”

“It’s my appointment, I can go”

“Hayley, stop being difficult” he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. With it, he spun me around and lightly pushed me towards the chairs. I gave him a glare around my shoulder yet, still went to sit on one of the chairs. I felt a bit nauseous, and if I continued to walk and be busy I was going to puke on the doctor’s clean floor.

On the coffee table in front of me were a bunch of pregnancy magazines, making me feel guilty. Not one – I haven’t even read one.

“They’re not going to just land up in your hands” I heard Liam said as he came to sit next to me.

“Shut up” I grumbled, leaning down and grabbing the one with the blonde baby with blue eyes. He was laughing, looking as happy as a baby could be. I hoped my own would just smile half as wide one day.

I flipped through it, taking in the things I couldn’t eat anymore and feeling a bit down over the lack of coffee I was going to be able to drink. That and cancelling out all deli meat and fish products. They had given a whole list of fish not to eat but it basically came down to – DON’T EAT ANYTHING FROM THE SEA.

“Miss Anderson, the doctor can see you now” the receptionist smiled. It was definitely fake, her eyes filled with mostly worry. I looked pretty young for my age and she probably thought I was still in High School. Adjoined with the way I knew almost nothing – I might as well be. We headed into the doctor’s office, Liam’s hand planted on the small of my back.

“I’m not going to try and run away you know” I grumbled as we came in. I heard him sigh but the hand stayed planted where it was. Our doctor was a middle aged woman, her hair a rich curly red which she had tied into a pony tail and with thick rimmed glasses. She seemed nice enough as we entered, a smile edged on her slightly freckled face.

“You must be Hayley Anderson” she smiled, coming over to give me a handshake. After that she looked up at Liam, the smile slightly disappearing, “And you must be the dad”

He nodded, nervousness now controlling his features. He had taken his hand off my back and was now playing with his fingers, trying to control his nerves.

“Well, let’s get this started, shall we?” she smiled, walking to her desk. She gestured for us to sit down, getting out a pen and a notepad.

“Okay so, I firstly want to ask you a few questions and then we can go check on the baby, okay?”

I nodded and kind of wish I hadn’t. A list of questions were asked, some of them making me downright blush. All through it, Liam stayed quiet thought his ears tinged red a few times. Good, I wasn’t the only one beyond awkwardness here.

“Right okay – let’s go check your tummy shall we?”

I nodded, thankful to be out of the seat of interrogation. She led me to the doctor’s seat, and I immediately regretted it when she mentioned the word Pap smear.

“Maybe the dad would like to step out for this one?” she asked, giving a quick glance at Liam. I swear, that boy has never moved so quickly in his life.

A few minutes later, he was brought back inside and was met with a reddened me. I was not ready for this. Definitely not ready to be pregnant and to go through this.

“Okay, so let’s get to the fun part now” the doctor smiled, starting up the ultrasound machine. Liam moved towards me, wanting to see the baby he had caused. The gel was set on my tummy, it cool and then a little machine that looked like a card machine was placed on my tummy and moved around.

“Okay, let me see” the doctor said, peering into the little screen and then, then I saw it. A little speck but it was there. It was my little speck.

“Whoa” Liam said and leaned across me, trying to see better and blocking my view. Asshole…

“You seem to be eight weeks along hun, and everything seems to be good. You’ve got a healthy baby there” A sudden noise echoed through the room, bringing slight tears to my eyes.

“And that would be the heartbeat” the doctor grinned. My smile widened and I closed my eyes, listening to the melody of safe and healthy baby. When I opened my eyes, I caught a glimpse of Liam, he still gaping at the image.

“So, everything is fine in there?” he asked and pointed to my stomach which made me frown. If anything was wrong it would be your fault, ass hole.

“Everything is fine” the doctor smiled, “Do you guys want a picture?”

I nodded, excited to show my friends later.

XXX

Liam’s POV

You know that moment you instantly regret getting in the car with someone. That was what it was like with Hayley.

“But we have to stop!” she moaned, lightly slapping my arm.

“I am NOT stopping by your dorm, get over it” I snapped, glaring at her.

“Look I just want to get some clothes. We have like nothing at the house. And some other things”

I groaned, looking over at her. Her eyes were on fire again, determination flooding them.

“You’re not going to stop irritating me are you?”

“Nope” she grinned, folding her arms.

“Fine but then I have some conditions” I sighed.

She nodded, the smile slightly disappearing from her lips.

“Firstly, you will not run off or do anything that might attract attention. If you do I will throw you over my shoulder and drag you back to the car. Along with the people you wanted to ask for help. Secondly, from now on – No more sassiness got that? You don’t argue with me. No questioning, no trying to escape, nothing of that. You behave. Do we have a deal?”

She slowly nodded, the wheels turning a bit.

“Good” I said, turning into the street where all the dorms are. She pointed to where hers and I quickly parked, following her to her room.

For one thing – it was a mess. Unmade bed, papers littering the floor by her desk, her overflowed desk.

“And you questioned why I wasn’t going to have my child live here” I said, picking up a sweater that was thrown loosely on a chair.

She shot me a glare, getting out a suitcase and dragging it to the closet. She was also the most unorganised packer in the world, rolling up clothing to make space and causing them all to be ironed.

“How much clothes do you own?” I grumbled, going to sit on her bed.

“I have to take for Lace and Killer as well” she responded and headed to the bathroom, getting some stuff there.

It took another half hour and another bag to finally get the girl to leave. She was very irritating in that sense and I swear she took longer on purpose. I took her bags, she wanting to protest until I brought up our deal. Swear she regretted it at that instant.

We headed to the car, her head in what looked like a pregnancy book.

“What does it say?” I asked as we drove. She put the book down, looking over at me, “Don’t get kidnapped by the dad”

“I told you not to be lippy” I sighed, speeding the car up.

“Sorry” she grumbled.