All of us were sitting there talking and laughing about various things that could’ve happened when Tommy got older and things we’d have taught. Nick had been unusually quiet though so I was kinda worried but I decided I talk to him about it later. I glanced at my watch and seen it was 4:45 meaning we had 15 minutes to get home. I looked up at the sky and realized it had turned gray with stormy clouds. I didn’t really want to leave for some reason being here always brought me comfort but I knew I had to go.
“Hey guys it’s a quarter till 5 I told Mom I’d be home before 5 so we better head home.” I stated.
“Yea we probably should” Kevin said. We all stood up and stretched.
“Man Hay you made my legs go to sleep.” Josh joked standing.
“I’m am not that heavy.” She playfully slapped him on the shoulder laughing.
“Come on we gotta go it looks like it’s gonna rain.” I laughed at them.
“Yea well see ya guys. Oh if need anything Katie make sure you call.” Josh said.
“I always do.” I smiled. He nodded and they dashed for his car.
“Ok well Mom made us take the mini van so we wouldn’t have to take more than one car so Sarah why don’t you ride with us and Nick you ride with Katie.” Brian said.
“Ok.” Sarah replied happily. Nick nodded silently agreeing with him. We all headed back to the cars and got in. I turned on the car and put the top up just as it started raining.
“Thank you God.” I whispered to my self. I looked over at Nick to see him looking straight ahead not moving with an unreadable look on his face.
“Why aren’t we going Katie?” He asked not moving his eyes from the thin air he was staring at.
“Are you ok Nick?” I asked.
“I’m fine.” He replied shortly.
“Are you sure I mean I…” He cut me off there.
“I’m fine, ok!” He exclaimed somewhat loud startling me.
“Yea ok.” I replied quietly. I was about to shift the car in to reverse when my cell rang. I sighed and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Katie why haven’t you answered I’ve been trying to call for the past 5 minutes.”
“Sorry Mom I left my phone in the car.”
“Oh well that’s ok. Anyway you need to get home. There’s this small little thing IBM is holding for their employees and their family’s I forgot about tonight. Everybody’s going including all the guys and girls so you need to get home and get ready. It’s a semi formal thing.”
“Well thanks Mom for telling me just now.”
“Sorry Sweeetheart.”
“When is it?”
“At 6”
“I’ll be home in about 10 minutes.”
“Ok sweetie Bye.”
“Bye” I replied and hung up. I sighed and tossed the phone back in my purse.
“What’d your Mom want?” Nick asked as I shifted gears and backed out.
“Just tell me there’s this semi formal thing IBM is holding tonight for it’s employees and their family’s and that we have to go.” I replied.
“Oh ok.” He said. The rest of the ride home was pretty quiet except for the radio playing softly. I had time to think now and that wasn’t something I liked. *God I wonder what Nick’s problem is? I hope he’s not mad about this whole thing I mean I couldn’t really have stopped it. Although I don’t think I’d change it cause that means I would’ve never had Tommy and he was the best thing in my life for a week. I love him so much and I wish I had him back. God Katie stop thinking like that you’re gonna upset yourself. Oh well. I hope Nick doesn’t think any different of me now though. I don’t think I could handle that. I love him and he seems mad and upset with me because of all of this. Oh God Nick please don’t cause me anymore pain.* was my last thought before I pulled into the garage. Nick quickly opened the door and went inside before I could even get out of the car. I got out and went inside.
“Hey sweetie.” Dad greeted me when I came in.
“Hey Daddy.” I replied.
“You ok?” He asked carefully.
“Yea Daddy I’m fine. I’m gonna go get ready for this thing.” I stated.
“Ok.” He smiled slightly. I smiled back and walked up the stairs. I was about to enter my room when I heard Nick’s voice coming from Brian’s room but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I decided to just ignore it even though I was really curious as to what he was saying. I walked in and went straight for my closet to find something to wear. I flipped through a couple things till I found something that would work. I quickly pulled the sparkly silver halter top out of the closet along with a pair of leather pants that were kinda tight. I laid them on the bed along with a pair of black chunky 2-inch heeled sandals. I went into my bathroom and showered. I got out and wrapped a towel around me before opening the door to let the steam out. I wiped the mirror of all the steam before pulling out my make-up and hair stuff. I dried off a little more before I slipped on my white robe that had little purple lips and hearts on it. I went through my makeup and finally decided on doing it in silver again. I didn’t normally wear a lot of make up except for special occasions. I quickly put some foundation on, then a little blush, and then some mascara. I grabbed my silver eye shadow and quickly put it on before putting on a lightly tinted pink lip-gloss. I looked at my reflection in the mirror realizing I was gonna have the worst time trying to do my hair. I quickly ran a brush through it then I stood there staring not coming up with anything to do with it. I sighed and looked at my watch.
“Oh shit a quarter till six! I spent more time in the shower than I meant to.” I exclaimed to myself. I quickly ran out of the bathroom to grab the cordless phone that should’ve been sitting on the nightstand but it wasn’t. “Crap!” I quickly pushed the button to page it a quietly listened for it to start beeping. I heard it coming from what seemed to be across the hall. I opened the door just as Brian opened his and we collided. “Owe!” I exclaimed when he stepped on my bare foot.
“Sorry. You ok?” He asked. *Ok that voice is not Brian’s* I looked up to see I had actually ran into Nick.
“Yea fine thanks.” I smiled slightly.
“Is this what you wanted?” He asked holding the phone out to me.
“Yea.” I said taking it from his hand. “Thanks.” He nodded his head and we both turned around walking back into the bedrooms. I shook out of my trance from seeing Nick with no shirt on and quickly dialed Sarah’s number.
“Hello” She answered.
“Oh my gosh Sarah! Tell me something I can do with my hair that’ll look nice but doesn’t take long!” I exclaimed. She quickly told me to pull it all up in butterflies and leave a couple strands down. I thanked her and quickly went back to the bathroom to do that. I finally got that down and I had about 2 minutes left.
“Katie hurry up!” I heard Dad yell up the stairs.
“I’m almost done!” I yelled back. I quickly took the robe of and got dressed.
“Katelene now!” He yelled again just as I finished tying the back of my shirt. I quickly grabbed my ankle length leather jacket and ran down the stairs throwing it on.
“Wow you look nice.” Kevin complemented.
“Thank you.” I said taking a deep breath. “We can go now” I smiled at Dad. He chuckled and shook his head.
“Ok finally. Katie you take Brian, Leigh, Aj, and Nick in your car. The rest of us will go in the minivan.” He said.
“Ok.” I stated. We all went out the garage door getting in the assigned cars. Brian, Leigh, and Aj got in back and Nick crawled in front. I let Mom and Dad pull out first and then I followed them since I didn’t know where this thing was. We had been driving in complete silence before I spoke up.
“Hey Bri do you know where this thing is?” I asked.
“Yea it’s at the country club that’s like 10 minutes outside of town.” He replied.
“Oh ok I know where we’re going now.” I stated. Everything was quiet after that again. I couple minutes later I reached down and turned the radio on only to here ‘Everybody’ come blasting through the speakers again. I groaned and pushed the play button for the cd.
“What don’t like us anymore Katie?” Aj asked chuckling.
“Very funny J.” I giggled. “Actually I listen to you guys all the time but listen to the b-sides, remixes and unreleased stuff you guys send.”
“Oh.” He said. It was once again quiet. *God I hate this. Please let something happen so it’s not so quiet and tense in here* I thought. Suddenly my cell rang. *Thank you god* I picked up the phone and answered.
“Hello.”
“Hey girl tell me your on your way to this thing.”
“Hey Sar. Yea I’m on my way why?”
“Because I am stuck with Josh and Haylie and they’re being all lovey dovey. It’s revolting.”
“So sorry. Don’t worry I’ll be there in a while and, oh crap.”
“What?”
“Stupid car’s beeping…”
“Meaning you’re low on fuel.” I pulled up to a gas station.
“Hey guys unless yall wanna push I gotta get some gas.” I told the four in the car.
“That’s fine.” They replied.
“It’s not like you had a choice.” I laughed shutting the car off and getting out. All of them laughed even Nick.
“Girl don’t forget about me.” Sarah whined.
“Don’t worry I didn’t” I laughed.
“Good, good. Anyway I should go my mom wants to introduce me to some people.”
“Ok c-ya in a couple minutes.”
“Yea bye.” She said and hung up. I hung up and pulled my jacket off. I opened the door and stuck them in their just as I heard the pump stop. I quickly shut the door and finished with the gas. After I was done doing everything I opened the door again to get my purse so I could pay.
“Hey Nick can you hand me my purse please?” I asked opening the door.
“Here you go.” He said handing it to me.
“If you want you can move over and drive. The keys are still in the ignition.” I told him.
“Ok.” He said opening the door and coming over to the driver’s side. I giggled at him a little.
“I’ll be right back.” I said and walked towards the shop. I quickly went up and told the guy what pump.
“Ok it’s $24.50.” He stated. I nodded my head and gave him my credit card. After he was through I went back outside to find Nick had pulled up so I didn’t have to walk all the way back. I smiled a little and got in the passenger seat.
“Ok so where am I going?” He asked as he stopped at the stop sign to get out on the street.
“Turn left. Go about 4 blocks till you get to Washington then you turn right there and then just keep going straight it’ll take you out of town. You can’t miss the Country club cause when Brian said it’s out in the middle of no where, he meant it’s out in the middle of no where. There’s nothing around it for about 4 miles.” I told him.
“Wow that is out in the middle of no where.” Aj and Nick stated in unison.
“Yep, oh and be real careful once you get out a little ways cause people have a tendency to go faster than the speed limit permits and a lot of the time they’re drunk.” I warned.
“Ok thanks.” He replied.
“Hey Katie?” Aj said.
“Yea?”
“How would you know about this road?” He asked slyly. I laughed at him.
“Sarah, Cole, Eric and I were on our way home from last years Last Blast and Josh, Haylie, Cody, and Liz were behind us in Josh’s car. We had a small encounter with an oncoming car. Thank God Josh and I were really alert or It could’ve been a big encounter resulting in a three car pile up.” I explained.
“Oh well thank god for that.” Aj said.
“Yea really because Josh and I were going about 60 and that guy was probably going about 80 so we all probably would’ve been seriously injured.” I replied.
“My god the things I don’t know.” Brian said. He sounded guilty I knew he felt like he wasn’t there for me but it wasn’t his fault I didn’t tell him some things. Brian was sitting behind Nick on the driver’s side so I turned around a little so I could see him.
“Brian it’s not your fault, I could’ve told you but I didn’t. I think the only major thing was Tommy and I should’ve told you but I knew if I called and told you the minute you got off the phone you’d have been making arrangements to come home.” I told him.
“I know that too, but you needed me Katie. I just wanna be there.” He said quietly. I smiled slightly not sure what to say. He suddenly got this really surprised look on his face. The one he got when he remembered things. “Wait wait. I was home for Thanksgiving last year and he was uh… conceived in July right?”
“Yea he was.” I replied.
“God how dumb can I get. You’re lucky it was winter time and I never thought anything of the baggy sweats and my sweatshirts.” He exclaimed.
“I guess I am or you’d have known. Then I’d have gotten some big lecture about safe sex then about how hard it’s gonna be to be a teenage mother and all that crap before I even got the chance to tell you anything.” I told him and he blushed while the other 3 laughed a little.
“Ok so you’re right there.” He said grudgingly. I smiled and nodded my head then turned back around. It wasn’t quiet for very long when Brian spoke up.
“I felt him kick.” Brian said.
“What?” Leigh and Nick asked confused. Aj didn’t say anything, which I don’t think anybody noticed so that was good.
“When?” I said quickly turning around to face him.
“Wait just a minute please explain I’m lost.” Nick said.
“I felt Tommy kick one time.” Brian explained quietly.
“Like I said before when?” I asked.
“Over Thanksgiving, I had come up to ask you if you wanted some dessert but you had fallen asleep. I sat down on the bed beside you and I was watching you sleep. I laid my hand on your stomach, I had started thinking when I suddenly felt him kick. It scared the crap out of me.” He said. Nick interrupted him before he could go any farther.
“So how come you didn’t know she was pregnant then if you felt him kick, did you not know what it was or something?” He asked. The way he asked it almost sounded like he was mad and I was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten I was even in here. I was almost hoping Nick had forgotten I was there that way maybe I could figure out what was wrong with him. It looked like Brian was going to get onto him for the way he had made that sound but I just shook my head telling him not to. He just nodded his head and contiuned.
“I knew what it was Nick I was 6 almost 7 when Katie was born I remember feeling her kick before she was born. I just convinced myself that she wasn’t pregnant and I had thought that I just imagined I’d felt it. She hadn’t told me anything there was no reason for me to think she was pregnant.” He said.
“God how do you convince yourself something like that?” He asked kinda harshly. I just looked out the window hoping this would end soon.
“Nick this is the country club let’s talk about this later ok?” Brian said.
“Yea whatever.” Nick said shutting the car off. I quickly grabbed the keys from the ignition and grabbed my purse. I looked at Nick’s face seeing the shocked and remembrance on his face, he had finally remembered I was there. I ignored him and quickly got out of the car grabbing my jacket and slipping it on before walking inside with Brian walking beside me.
“I’m sorry Katie.” He said stopping me outside the doors while Aj, Leigh, and Nick headed inside.
“Don’t worry about it Brian. I’m just trying to figure out what’s wrong with Nick.” I told him.
“I won’t talk about Tommy any more to Nick if you don’t want me to.” He said.
“Actually I don’t mind you talking with Nick about Tommy. It’s the way Nick words everything. So maybe if you could, when Nick asks you something you could tell him to come to me instead.” I suggested
“Ok I’ll tell him to go to you.” Brian smiled.
“Thanks.” I smiled back. I was about to walk in the doors when he gently grabbed my arm. I turned around giving him a questioning glance.
“I don’t want to pry or anything and you don’t have to but could you maybe tell me everything about Tommy about before he was born and stuff?” He asked. I smiled gently and nodded. He smiled back.
“One thing before we go inside” I stated giggling a little at how long it was taking us to get in the doors. He chuckled to and nodded his head telling me to continue. “Are you mad at me or upset with me cause of what happened?” I asked turning serious. His face turned serious when he heard my question.
“You listen to me Katelene Honesty. I’m not mad at you or upset with you for what happened. I wish I’d have known earlier so I could’ve been there for you but I’m not mad that you didn’t tell me I’m sure you had a good reason. Nick’s just being an ass, don’t let him get to you.” He said seriously. I nodded my head.
“Thanks and don’t worry you’ll know everything as soon as I get enough time to tell you everything.” I told him. He nodded and we walked in the doors.
“Girl what took so long. My god I’ve had to watch them be all lovey dovey…hey what’s wrong?” Sarah asked walking.
“Nothing girl. Nick’s just being an asshole.” I stated as we walked to the table and sat down. She gave me a weird look but nodded her head as some speaker came over the speakers.
Chapter 28
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