Prologue – Preggers
I am not an irresponsible person. If there is one thing I know about myself, it's that. In fact, for most of my life, I've almost been too responsible. I grew up with glasses and braces, skinny legs, bright red hair and freckles. It was like I was born to play it safe. I brush my teeth and floss three times a day, every day. I always wear my seat belt. I never jay walk. I rarely drink, and I never drink to get drunk. I've never done drugs. I've never been in a car accident. I've never called in sick to work. I don't have unprotected sex, and I don't have sex outside of a committed relationship. Or at least I never used to. I've never had a one night stand. I'm the definition of responsible.
I am the last person in the world anyone would expect to have ended up in this situation. But that doesn't change the fact that I am right now, at this very moment, sitting in my bathroom with four identical pregnancy tests laid out in front of me, all telling me the same thing. I am pregnant.
I am pregnant by a man with whom my relationship is anything but committed. No strings attached. That's what we said. Friends with benefits. Is a baby a benefit? I doubt he'll think so.
I just sit and stare at the results, not sure what to do about it. Should I take another one? That seems like overkill. It can't be wrong four times, can it? Maybe it can. I should take another one.
My phone, which is sitting next to the tests on my bathroom counter, starts ringing and I don't even have to glance at the caller ID to know who it is. It's him. He's called me five times in the last hour, and I've ignored every one. I'm sure he knows I've been avoiding him, he just doesn't know why. At the last second, I decide to answer this time. I take a deep breath and pick up the phone just as it's about to go to voicemail.
“Hey, Justin,” I say in a voice that I hope sounds normal, but I can't say for sure. It's definitely lacking enthusiasm.
“Hey!” He sounds pleasantly surprised that I've answered. “What's up? Are you avoiding me?”
“Uh, no, just been really busy,” I lie. I feel like I should tell him, but I don't know what to say. And I probably shouldn't tell him over the phone. This seems like an in person conversation. I don't really want to tell him.
“Okay.” He doesn't sound entirely convinced. We've been friends since high school, he can usually tell when I'm lying. But he doesn't call me on it. “Do you want to hang out tonight? I have the night off and I'm feeling a little antsy.”
“Hang out?” I repeat skeptically.
“Uh, yeah, you know, that thing that friends do.”
“I know what hanging out is. But do you mean, like, hang out, or...” I don't want to finish the sentence, but I almost don't need to. He knows what I'm asking.
“Hang out,” he repeats. He sounds a little irritated, like he resents the implication that he would only be calling me for sex. Like we never hung out before we started sleeping together.
I pause for a long time before I respond. I don't really feel like seeing him. Not right now. Not yet. Not until I know how I'm going to tell him.
“Lucy?”
“Yeah, I'm here. Anyway, I can't hang out tonight,” I finally decide out loud. “I have plans. But let's talk tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay.” I can hear his confusion in his voice. He almost sounds hurt. “I'll talk to you tomorrow then.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I hang up, and focus my full attention back on the line of white sticks that read, “pregnant.”
Let's talk tomorrow. Why did I say that? I now have 24 hours to figure out what the hell I'm going to do. How I'm going to tell my best friend that our “no strings attached” arrangement has resulted in a baby.
A baby. I'm going to have a baby.
Shit.
Incomplete
Fionnuala is the author of 6 other stories.
This story is a favorite of 2 members. Members who liked No Strings Attached also liked 311 other stories.
This story is a favorite of 2 members. Members who liked No Strings Attached also liked 311 other stories.
Story Tags: pregnant friendswithbenefits
