Chapter 27 --> Knocked Up (1/2)

She looked at the four pregnancy tests she had done and sat on the edge of the tub still in disbelief.  They each had two pink lines that indicated she was pregnant. She felt the tears forming in her eyes and closed them causing them to slowly run down her cheek. She got up walked to the bathroom sink and washed her hands, then her face, she dried them with her towel and made her way to the bedroom and crawled into bed. As she pulled the covers over her she heard her phone ringing. She took a deep breath and threw the covers back; she had left her phone in the bathroom. She checked to see who the call was from when she got back in bed but she didn’t recognize the number, the phone began ringing again.

Shanell: hello

She answered

Lauren: hi

Shanell: oh it’s you

Lauren: you sound like you’ve been crying

Shanell: I sound like I’ve been sleeping because I was. What do you want?

She lied

Lauren: don’t take that tone with me and you know why I called you. Did-

Shanell: yes I did the test

She cut her off

Lauren: And?

Shanell: And?

Lauren: stop beating around the bush. Are you pregnant or not?

She was quiet.

Shanell: I haven’t gone back to check yet

Lauren: well go

Shanell: I’ll call you back

Lauren: no just go check and tell me

Shanell: you’re acting like it’s yours. Hold on

She put the phone on hold and ran her hand over her face. She laid there just looking at the ceiling trying to gather the courage to lie to Lauren. She was a nervous wreck when she took the phone off hold.

Shanell: I’m… I’m not pregnant

She said in one breath. But the way she said it, the way she hesitated Lauren knew she wasn’t being honest.

Lauren: you’re not a very good liar

She didn’t say anything

Lauren: have you told him?

Shanell: there’s nothing to tell I just told you I’m-

Lauren: lying and you know it so stop!! I won’t let him hurt twice. He needs to know Shanell.

Shanell: I don’t want to hurt him either Lauren that is exactly why I’m not telling him. It’ll make my decision much easier to deal with.

Lauren: you’re decision? You’re thinking about having an abortion?! Are you fucking crazy right now?! Do you know what that’ll do to him?!

Shanell: That is exactly why he will not find out!! YOU BETTER NOT BREATHE A WORD OF THIS TO ANYONE!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!

Lauren: I’m not gonna just stand aside and let you do this to him!! He has a right to know Shanell!

Shanell: I’m not having this convo with you anymore. Just keep your mouth shut about this!

She said and hung up. She put her hand protectively over her tummy and cried herself to sleep.

**

Jhené: are you going back to the studio after we finish lunch?

Nicki: yeah. I have to meet up with Wayne he wants to talk about doing a show in New York

Jhené: when?

Nicki: he didn’t say yet

She said reaching over and wiping at Jhené’s mouth with her napkin

Jhené: thank you and ok.

Nicki: I’ll let you know as soon as we speak though. So how has your day been going?

Jhené: great so far. Spoke to my mom. She and my dad are planning to come back for month. Daddy misses running his business (they both smiled) and she says they miss having Tay around. Oh and she wants to spend some time getting to know you

Nicki: What’d you tell her about me? *giggles*

Jhené: only good stuff of course *smiles* and apparently Tay keeps bragging about you

They laughed.

Nicki: did she tell them about her and Candi

Jhené: If she did mom would call me freaking out. They still know her to be straight

Nicki: she needs to tell them the truth though

Jhené: I’ve told her that so many times since she told me and now that they’re coming she is going to have to.

Nicki looked at the time and checked her phone. She had put it on silent once she met up with Jhené.

Nicki: mmkay. I have to get back. Wayne was calling me. Where’d the waiter go?

Jhené: It’s ok babe I got it.

Nicki: I did it again... Sorry.

Jhené: It’s ok.

Nicki: Ok

She stood and Jhené stood to hug her.

Jhené: enjoy the rest of your day.

Nicki: you to hun. Yours later right?

Jhené: yeah. What do you want for dinner?

Nicki: just surprise me

Jhené: ok

Nicki: Love you baby.

Jhené: love you more she responded before she left the restaurant. She called the waiter over, paid there bill then went back to work.

**

She woke with a terrible headache and her stomach growled as she sat up in bed. Her eyes were puffy from crying and she felt a bit light headed so she closed her eyes and rested her face in her palm for a bit. She took a couple deep breaths and got up to go pee.  When she walked into the kitchen she had to hold on to the counter to not fall. She really needed to eat. She tried her best to gain her balance and hurried to put a sandwich together. She ate it as she called and ordered some Chinese. She didn’t feel for anything she had to cook so she made herself another sandwich and waited for the food.

After she ate she made some tea and went to lie down. It was after 6 when she checked her phone and she had a few missed from Lauren again and a few from Safaree. She was scared to call him back because she didn’t know whether Lauren had told him about the baby or not. Just as she was about to put the phone down it started ringing. He was calling back but she ignored the call. She fell asleep shortly after.

He decided to go see her. He took his keys up and as he opened the door he was met by Lauren who was just about to knock on the door…

 To be continued...