Lahat ng Kabanata ng Too Young To Want Him: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

The hospital was cold and smelly. Ava was simply sitting in that long plastic chair in the waiting room with her hands placed in her lap. She looked at the white wall, and it was not where her head was. Every single sound, like the quiet footsteps of the nurses, the low beep of the machines, the murmur of other patients, seemed like a million sounds. She had come alone. Patricia desired to come, yet Ava pleaded, but this one thing: one meeting and no questions and no orders and no harsh words. Patricia assented unwillingly and she was instructed in a great and strict things. Don't talk too much. Don't embarrass me. And don't make mistakes. Ava clasped her hands together."Miss Thompson?" a nurse called. Ava looked up quickly. "Yes." "Follow me, please." She got up on her feet and followed the nurse down the small passage. Each step of hers throbbed at her heart. This was not words or arguments but reality. This was her body, her future. The nurse smiled gently. "Firs

Everybody had gone, and the courtyard was very quiet.Most students had already gone home. But Ava sat on a low concrete bench under a tree, her bag beside her, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Her stomach still felt uneasy, but this time it wasn’t sickness. It was fear.She knew Riley would find her.And truthfully, it always has been the case.“Ava.” Her name brought her in a hunched position. She did not immediately look up.Riley was a couple of steps off with a grave expression. No longer that adorable, anxious air of the previous time. Her eyes were sharp now, and hunting.“You left me, Ava, you did,” said Riley.Ava shoved a small shrug. “I had to beat the class.”You were saved by that bell, Riley said. “And you know it.”Ava finally looked up. “Riley, please. I’m exhausted,” she said.Riley stepped closer. “Then stop running,” she said. Ava blushed and turned her head away. “I am not running away from anything,” she said.Riley laughed short. “Don’t lie to me,” she said.

There was no conversation in the house that night.It was too quiet.Most of the lights were turned off, and the hallway seemed to be endless when Marcus walked towards the back door. On the side of the house, the garden was dark with one light on the porch. There was Ava, standing, hugging herself, and looking into the blackness.She'd come when he asked.That already caused him to experience the burden of it all.“Ava,” Marcus said softly.She whipped about, startled, and then fell as she saw him. “You said you wanted to talk.”“Yeah,” Marcus replied. He walked up to her, but at a distance, as though he did not want to scare her. “Thanks for coming.”Ava nodded. “I don’t have much time.”“I will not detain you for long,” he said. There was some silence. The night air was cool. There was the sound of a car somewhere in the distance.Marcus took a slow breath. I have heard of the engagement dinner.Ava’s shoulders stiffened. “My mom moves fast, you know.”“Yeah,” Marcus said quietly.

Bella didn’t sleep that night. She sat bent over the small table in the living room, with crossed arms and a vibrating brain. As Mark re-emerged the next morning out of the bedroom, she was already waiting. “We need to talk,” Bella said. Mark stopped. “About what?” “You are quite aware of what this is all about,” she said. He sighed and walked closer. “Everything I told you last night was all there was to say, Bella.”“You said you are not certain,” Bella had to correct him. “That’s not enough.” Mark rubbed his neck. “What do you want from me?” “I desire proof; I want evidence,” Bella said. Mark frowned. “Proof of what?” “Of the truth,” she said. “Of whether or not that baby really is yours.”Mark shook his head. “I don’t even know how to do that.” Bella leaned forward. “Then we find out.” “How?” Mark asked, his voice tense. Bella stood up. “Dates. Timelines. Messages. Whatever tells us when Ava might have conceived a child. Mark hesitated. “That feels wrong.” Bella look

Elena waited till the house was silent.The guests were gone. Patricia was trapped in her room, and Mark and Ava were nowhere to be found. The noises of the engagement party faded, and there was an oppressive silence that pressed on Elena's chest.Within the backyard, Marcus was gazing at the darkness. He had his tie removed and rolled his sleeves up, yet his shoulders remained tight."Elena?" he inquired, as he felt himself being followed by someone."Yeah," she replied. "We need to talk."Marcus turned slowly. "Can it wait?""No," Elena said firmly. "It can’t."She got nearer and crossed her arms. "I saw you tonight."Marcus frowned a little. "You saw me?"Elena said, "I saw how you stared at Ava. I watched you after her blindly.Marcus sighed. "You’re imagining things.""No I'm not," Elena replied. "I know you."Marcus looked away. "You’re tired. It was a long night."“That is not an answer,” Elena said.” Why were you spying on her like that?” Marcus’s jaw tightened. "She’s family