Chapter Thirty-Eight

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"So where did you say we were going today?" I asked, picking at my sweater. Reece's sweater actually, I'd never given it back to him. Edalyn pulled out of the driveway and turned down the street.
"I'm taking you to work with me." She said. I took notice of her scrubs. "You still have yet to have a check-up for the little one."
"Oh, yeah." I glanced out the window at the ocean. "Are you a pediatrician?"
"Not exactly, I help at a practice for children and pregnant women." Edalyn quickly glanced at my stomach. "Those who are supernatural that is." My heart skipped a beat and I turned to look at her.
"Supernatural? Like werewolves? Those don't exist Edalyn." I lied.
"Don't play it off Vinnie I know you're something. And I know your baby is half you half vamp." She smiled. I didn't.
"How...how do you know?" I asked.
"Well aside from the obvious signs of you hair, eyes, and necklace; one of my ancestors was a witch and I got just a teeny bit of that." Edalyn explained, turning another corner. I sat in a stunned silence. So much for lying through half my life. Without taking her eyes off the road she rubbed my shoulder reassuring me.

"That's why we took you in in the first place. I knew you were a supernatural and pregnant with one so I knew I had to help you." Edalyn withdrew her hand.
"What about Scarlett?" I asked suddenly.
"She doesn't know. I mean, she knows what kind of doctor I am, just not what kind of patients I have. If you get what I mean." She shrugged. Something still bugged me about Scarlett, not her personality just something felt off. We sat in silence for the next hour and a half until we reached the practice.

"Alright, come on." Edalyn said, killing the engine. We both got out of the car. She clipped a badge onto her pocket and headed up to the front doors. I lagged a little behind, my heart pounding with nerves. Edalyn pulled open the door.
"Don't be so nervous, it's gonna be fine." She smiled again. I smiled back but it didn't reach my eyes.

I stepped inside and was surprised to see how crowded it was. Couples and families clustered in the small waiting area, only a few able to fit on the couches.
"Morning Bonnie." Edalyn said to a young woman at the front desk. She looked up with a tired smile. Her black hair was brushed over one shoulder and she had the strangest white tattoos on both arms.
"Just in time. Mayli might need you." She gestured with a pen to a nurse talking with a couple, more like being talked to. I followed Edalyn over.

"Really Miss, everything is healthy and fine." Mayli, the nurse was saying to the woman.
"How is everything fine? It's going to be half shifter half vampire, I don't-" The young woman was saying hurriedly. Her bright gold eyes glowed and her partner was pale with glowing eyes as well. I assumed he was the vampire but I didn't know what she was.
"Alexa, calm down." Her partner said.
"Can't we see the doctor?" Alexa pleaded. The fairy sighed. Edalyn took her chance to step in.
"Ms. Morris, Mr. Metera." She said with a smile. Mayli took an immediate step back, letting her superior step in. I tried not to stare too much at her wings.

"We're just a little...concerned." Her partner said smoothly, taking his worried girlfriend's hand.
"Of course of course. But really Alexa, there's nothing to worry about." Edalyn addressed her softly. "Are you sure, but Tony and I-"
"Positive. Raising a mixed child will be the same as either of your species, just with aspects of both. Get lots of rest and call with any questions. And of course, come back for a check up monthly since you're a special case." Edalyn handled the woman's stress with ease. The couple exchanged a glance. 

"Thank you very much." Tony squeezed his partners hand. His silver eyes flitted to me for a moment and he blinked with surprise. He almost said something to me but his girlfriend tugged on his hand. Regaining his composure he led Alexa out of the practice.

"You have perfect timing Ed." Mayli said, her voice high and musical. I took immediate notice of her white hair, but unlike mine it had pink in it, which may or may not have been natural.

"I'm going to go set up the room, Vinnie. Mayli would you send her in when I'm ready?" Without waiting for an answer Edalyn turned and headed into a room behind the front desk.

"Hiya." She said perkily.

"Hi." I tugged at the sleeves of Reece's sweater. The room was abuzz with noise and activity.

"I'm guessing this is your first appointment huh?" Mayli asked, tilting her head to the side. I nodded, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room.

"Oh don't worry too much. You'll be just fine, everyone who comes in here is in your same situation." She chirped. I really doubt that, I thought bitterly. Mayli glanced at the clock on the wall and I couldn't help but stare at her wings in interest.

"Oh! Silly me, everything should be ready now. Head on into that room." Mayli pointed to the door behind the front desk.

With a nervous smile I headed to the small room. Inside Edalyn was tapping away at a computer, a hospital gown was folded neatly on the dresser. 

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"So?" I asked, trying to get a look at the screen. Edalyn smiled.

"Everything is perfectly fine." She said. "No problems at all." I sighed in relief, all my worrying for nothing. I leaned back, thinking of Reece.

"Would you like to know the gender?" Edalyn swiveled in her chair to face me.

"Oh uh..." Why have more surprises in my life? I thought. "Sure."

"Alright." She turned back to the computer and paused, her face changing.

"What is something wrong?" I asked frantically.

"No no, well silly me, I mean genders." Edalyn laughed lightly. I sat up fast.

"What?!"

"You're having twins!" She grinned widely. My heart skipped a couple beats. So much for no more surprises. Not only was I going to be a single mother, but a single mother to twins?!

"I-I...but-"

"You still want to know the genders?" Edalyn asked gently. 

"I- yes. I do." I dug my nails into my palm to stop my voice from shaking.

"It's looks like you're having a boy and..."

Oh god, twin boys?! I could hardly handle a boyfriend.

"A girl!" She squealed. I sighed in visible relief. But the worry quickly returned to my head. I didn't know the first thing about raising kids, let alone half-vampire kids! 

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"I'm borrred." Josh groaned from his upside-down spot on the couch. Rain fell in heavy sheets outside the window, leaving us stuck inside. At least it was a pretty view.

"Nothin' I can do about it." I shrugged, laying my hands softly on my stomach. Josh righted himself, crossing his legs.

"Have you thought of any names? Cause I know of one." He smiled. "Starts with a J."

"I'm not naming my kid after you, you weirdo." I smacked his head lightly. He chuckled but then quickly turned serious.

"Vinnie, what about him?"

"Who?" I said blankly.

"The father? You said the breakup was nasty." Josh said, his face full of concern. "What if he wants custody or something to do with the baby?"

"Well, he won't know them. He doesn't even know of them." I looked away. He sighed.

"I'll be here though." He was forcing a smile, I could tell.

"I know Josh." 

"Good." He reached for my foot and pulled it into his lap. Shifting to face him, I smiled again.

"So my lady, what are we doing today?" 

"Having depressing conversations." I raised an eyebrow.

"Nope. We are going to have fun. And happy conversations." Josh nodded. "Now, back to names..."
I rolled my eyes and slouched into the sofa.
"I don't know, I haven't thought about it." I pulled my foot away and stared out the window. A short silence dragged on, broken only by the smattering of the rain on the roof. Josh stood up and held out his hand for me. I stood up and took it tentatively.

 "Follow me, I want to show you something." Josh said, leading me over to the back door. The door squealed as he wrenched it open and rain showered the pavement, splashing coldly onto my bare legs.
"Outside?" I glanced down at my feet.
"Afraid of the rain Vinnie?" Josh teased, stepping outside.
"No." I mumbled, reluctantly following him. His grip on my hand was tight but soft. We reached the back of the house, right next to the cliff that dropped off to the road and beyond that the ocean. Fog concealed most of the view.

 "What did you want to show me?" I asked, wincing as the cold raindrops struck my head. Josh let go of my hand and turned to face me more.
"I mean, the view is pretty and all but it's wet and cold." His silence wasn't very reassuring. In fact, he looked nervous. Josh shoved his hands into his pockets, blinking away the water from his eyes.
"I wanted to tell you that..." He trailed off a bit, rocking on his heels.
"Tell me what Josh?" I pressed. My toes were freezing on the wet grass. "I'm very sure hypothermia isn't good for pregnant women."
"I just...this might explain better." He said at last.
"What?" I shivered. Josh leaned down and kissed me before I could say anything else.

 It took me by surprise to say the least. I was too shocked to push him away or kiss back for a few seconds. He pulled away but only by an inch. I could feel his hesitation of whether to kiss me again or apologize and back away.
"Josh-" I started to say, but he put both hands on waist and pulled me close again, kissing me eagerly and I instinctively put my arms around his neck.

 I lost myself in the moment; with my eyes closed I felt like I was back home, kissing someone totally different. Josh jogged me back to reality, his hand sliding up the back of my shirt and kissing my neck. He picked me up and I pulled away for some air.

 In an instant the rain had stopped and a different boy was holding me. My hands were tangled in black hair, not red. And gold eyes gazing hungrily into mine, not blue. I ran my thumbs across the face, relief washing over my body. I wasn't kissing Josh, it was Reece. For all I knew everything had been a dream up to know. Reece's hot breath was on my cheek and I closed my eyes, savoring the moment.
"Vinnie?" Josh's voice appeared and my eyes opened.

 Dream-Reece disappeared and I was being held by Josh. The realization sunk in fast and hard and pushed myself out of his arms. I felt like crying. What am I doing? I thought, horrified. Confusion was plastered across Josh's wet face.
"What? Are you not a neck-kiss kinda girl?" He joked. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I stepped away from him, my stomach twisting.

"I can't do this." I half-whispered.

"Hm?" Josh said.

"I'm sorry Josh. Now...now is not the time." I said. Hurt flashed in his eyes.

"But when? When will be the time?" He stepped forward and I stepped back. "I like you Vinnie. I like you a lot. But you're still hung up on this other guy? Some boyfriend you got knocked up by and then broke up with before he even knew you were pregnant?"

"It's not like that Josh."

"Vinnie I know you're younger than me but I really think there's something between us." Josh pleaded. I sighed and started to head back into the house.

"Maybe there is Josh, But now is not the time to explore it." I said bitterly, retreating quickly to my room.

Chapter Thirty-Six

 I forced myself to be happier and try and forget everything that happened before I moved in with the twins. Part of that was getting closer to Josh. Both Edalyn and Scarlett eagerly agreed that I should have more friends, but I was so scared to leave the house to much. What if someone saw me and ran back to Bridgeport to tell God knows who. And there was another new problem: I was showing. In light of this Scarlett decided it was up to her to give me a "Maternity Makeover", as she called it. 

"So have you thought of any names?" Scarlett asked as we walked the main strip.
"Not really, I also don't know the gender." I failed to mention that part of me was still hoping to find my way back to Reece before the birth.
"That doesn't matter, you gotta have options." She stopped in front of a pricey-looking boutique. I considered a few things on the rack to make it seem like I was interested in shopping.

"Oooh! What's that?" Scarlett leaned forward, gushing over a dress in the window. It didn't seem all that special in my eyes, sure it was cute but a little revealing. A figure in the distance caught my eye and I looked up. I tuned out Scarlett's voice and felt my stomach twist as I recognized the face. Scarlett pressed her face against the glass.

"Hey I'm gonna look down there real quick okay?" I said, sliding my arm out of hers.

"Yeah, yeah go." She waved me off without a second glance and I hurried down the street.

"Vinnie?"

"Hi Abbey." I said. I hadn't seen her in over a year, seeing as I stopped going to school after the 'incident' with Maria and Koran. 

"What are you doing in Los Aniegos? And what happened to you, you just disappeared off the face of the planet!" My ex-best friend squealed. She acted as if nothing had ever happened between us, like she didn't stab Kaya and I in the back for popularity's sake.

"I-" 

"It's so good to see you again!" She threw her arms out as if to hug me.

I pulled back, a defensive hand on my stomach.

"Look Abbey-" I started. Abbey's eyes zeroed in on my hands, or what they were covering at least.

"Oh em gee! Are you pregnant? Who knew it'd be you to get knocked up first, I figured it might've been me. I mean, Kaya maybe but I never expect you to be the one-night-stand pregnancy." She rattled off with a laugh. In her usual way of words in stung more than she thought.

"It wasn't a one night stand. It was my boyfriend and we...wait why am I even telling you this?"

"Boyfriend? Vinnie in all our years you've never once had a boyfriend! Who, who?!" She was jumping up an down with excitement. I sighed and decided to just tell her.

"Reece."

"Reece who? Not Hawkwood, I assume."

"Uh, yes Hawkwood." My mind began to drift back to him and I forced it to the present.

"Holy shit what? Reece Hawkwood? You and Reece Hawkwood screwed?" The disbelief was clear on her face. I wanted to slap it off. Forcing my temper down I spoke again.

"Yes Abbey."

"Oh God, I have to tell Mar-"

"No!" I cried. "Don't tell anyone. Please."

My sudden outburst startled her. I sighed.

"Look I have to go, my friend is waiting for me." I said, turning to leave.

"Wait, I haven't seen you in months!"

"Good, and you won't see me again." I snapped.

"What? When you get back to Bridgeport we can all get together again; you, me, Kaya, Lauri-"
"No. We can't." I clenched my hands into fists at my sides.
"Why not?"
"I'm not going back to Bridgeport, and Lauri is dead." I hissed turning to go back to Scarlett. Abbey stood in a stunned silence as I walked away. Scarlett had two bags in her hands and I grabbed her arm, pulling her back to the car.

The last thing I needed was for my past to catch up with me.

Hellooo

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Chapter Thirty-Five

The day came exactly how I had expected. As soon as I woke up everything that I had been pushing away came rushing back, and on top of that I was having terrible morning sickness. Edalyn and Scarlett both tried to talk to me but I ignored them, just shaking my head and telling them to go away. I clutched my necklace in my hands and listened to the voices outside my door.
"I came to see Vinnie."
"She's sick."
"Then I'll go tell her to feel better."
"She doesn't want to see anyone."
"Please?"
"Ugh, fine."
The door opened quietly and I heard him walk up to my bed.

"Please go away Josh, I really don't want to see anyone." I mumbled. He sighed. 

"You seem like you could use some company." Josh said, his voice closer. The bed dipped as he sat down behind me. Yes company, but not yours! I thought angrily. He thought I was just sick, but he had no idea what I was really going through.
"Will you at least say something?" He poked my leg. I stayed silent.

"Why don't you just tell me what's wrong?" He asked. I glanced up at him from the corner of my eye. Josh shifted to face me more. "I mean, it's obvious that this is more than you not feeling well." 

I bit my lip. I wanted to tell him, I wanted to tell him so badly. But he was one of my only friends now a days and I didn't want to screw that up.

"Please, I just want to help you." Josh said softly. I sat up, drawing my legs under me.

"I know you want to help, but I'm not going to explain something to you that you won't understand." I snapped, harsher than I meant to. It didn't faze him though. Josh slid closer. His blue eyes were soft and so easy to get lost in. I sniffed, wiping my eyes and immediately spilled.

"Please don't say anything, and just listen." I mumbled. He nodded. "I'm not sick, I'm pregnant. I wasn't living with my boyfriend, I ran away when I found out. My aunt didn't know anyone in Pounawea, she's dead." Everything continued to tumble out, although I managed to leave out anything supernatural or dealing with Maria. 

Josh sat in silence the whole time and when I finished he moved closer to me. His face was full of concern. He placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Your boyfriend, did he hurt you?" He asked. My eyes widened.

"No - I mean, not intentionally." I sputtered. He slid over to sit beside me on the edge of the bed.

"Are you still going to be my friend?" I asked tearfully.

Josh leaned over and gently pressed his lips to my cheek. Something flashed across his eyes, a sort of sadness. He rubbed my arm and tucked a lock of white hair behind my ear. It was the same sort of gesture Reece would of done.

"Of course silly." He smiled and stood up. A set of voices drifted into my head.

"Axel, he won't answer. What am I going to do?"

"Have you prepared yourself for...you know."

"Don't even say that. I'd-I'd know. I'd feel it."

I shut my eyes and dropped my necklace from my hand. I stood up and followed him as he headed for the door. Josh reached out and brushed a tear off my cheek with his thumb. 

"You gonna be okay?" He asked.

"Yeah." I said. His cheeks reddened and he quickly pulled his hand away. He smiled and ducked out the door, shutting it gently behind him. I ran my hands through my hair and slumped into the desk chair.

What am I doing? I thought. He thinks I'm leading him on. That made me wonder if I'd ever have a relationship again. I tried to picture I life with someone, Josh even, and it just felt so wrong. Reece was my other half, I loved him. What was I going to do?