Chapter 21: Chapter 21

I'm pregnant.

I'm pregnant.

I am pregnant.

The words repeat in my head as I sit in the silence of Nathan's car, staring at the numerous pregnancy tests I took.

All positive.

Oh God.

Where do I start?

What do I do?

Who do I tell?

What do I say to Nathan?

I look down at my stomach now, picturing the little fetus growing there and suddenly I know what to do.

Securing my seat belt, I start the car and drive.

And I drive.

And I drive...for hours.

Until I'm parked in front of a building and I stare at the building...tears clouding my eyes.

I never knew in this kind of situation, this would be the first place I'll go to.

Suddenly I wish Nathan was here.

I wish I had come with him.

He would know what to do. He always said the right words....but it was too late.

I shut the engine and climb out of the car and head for the building.

*****

NATHAN'S P.O.V

Waking up to an empty bed had to be the biggest enigma of the day.

It's weird.

To not find Lunar in bed. She couldn't have gone anywhere this morning.

It's freezing outside.

Yet her coat is missing, and so are my keys...and of course, her.

I sigh as I walk out of the kitchen. The whole house is empty.

Where could she have gone?

I sit on the bed now and dial her number but it goes straight to voicemail.

Again.

Sighing, I lay back in bed and try not to worry. Last night was amazing so I know she isn't upset.

She probably went to get some groceries.

Or get more clothes from her dorm.

But why so early?

And without telling me?

******

LUNAR'S P.O.V

Metropolitan Correctional Facility.

I sit in silence as I wait, the name of the intimidating place ringing in my head.

A loud sound suddenly blares and the metal door opens. On the other side of the glass, I see him being led to where I am and his face lights up at the sight of me.

"Lunar." He says into the telephone as he sits down and I smile.

"Hi, dad."

He places his hand on the glass.

"I've missed you. How have you been?" He asks.

"I've been good. I'm sorry I couldn't come yesterday."

"Seeing you is always good enough...I don't care when. I have such good news." He says and I giggle.

"Really?"

"Yes. I had a parole hearing last week. The whole thing went well and I....I think they might give me a chance." He says joyfully and I laugh with unexpected tears.

"That's...that's amazing! I have so much for us to do." I say, placing my hand on the glass as well and he smiles.

"I missed five years of being with you, but I promise to make it up to you. My little girl." He says and I burst into tears.

"Oh, daddy. I...I have to tell you something." I sob and he looks at me through worried eyes.

"What is it?"

"I didn't know who else to meet, I...I felt so lost."

"Lunar, what's the matter?" He asks and I look up at him.

"I'm pregnant!" I weep and he stays quiet for a second, before a wide smile spreads across his face.

"You're pregnant! I'm a grandfather! Me, a grandfather! This is wonderful." He exclaims and I blink.

"It is?" I sniff.

"Why, of course."

"But what do I do? I don't...I don't..."

He stares at me through understanding eyes.

"You don't know who is responsible?" He asks and I shake my head.

"I do, it's my boyfriend. I just...don't know how to handle it. I wish you were here." I say.

"I am here. Our time is almost up, but listen to me Lu. In a few months hopefully, I'll be out of here. But until then I want you to remember, I missed years of being with you and I regret that. I'll take any opportunity to change it but this parole is the best I've got. This baby is not a mistake. It's your child, and you have to treasure him or her every second of the day."

"But, I'm so scared." I say and he nods.

"I know. I know. But you have to tell your boyfriend first, okay? And then you work this out with him and nurture this baby together."

"Okay." I say and he smiles.

"I love you, my little girl."

"I love you too daddy." I say as he hangs up and they take him away.

******

The drive back to Nathan's place is quick and along the way, I feel more confident.

Dad was right.

I had to tell Nathan. He would know how to handle this together...with school and all.

We just had a year left to graduate...I'm sure it will be fine.

When I walk into his apartment, I bump into Nathan at the door.

"Lunar!" He exclaims with relief and pulls me into a hug.

"You scared the wits out of me, where have you been? It's 12 o clock." He says and my smile wavers.

"I...well..." the pregnancy tests were still in the car.

How do I say this to him?

Nathan observes me.

"Baby, what is it?" He asks and I look up at him.

"Nathan...I....there's something I have to tell you." I say to him and he looks worried.

His voice drops.

"Is everything okay?" He asks, leading me inside the apartment and I sigh.

"Not really."

"Talk to me." Nathan says.

Alright.

Here goes nothing.

"Nathan, I'm---"

Before I can get the words out, the door barges open.

And Lucas is standing there.

Gun in hand.

Pointed at me.

Nathan and I stand up in shock and before Nathan can put me behind him, Lucas cocks the gun.

"Ah, ah, ah." He says in a sing-song tone.

"No silly moves or I swear to God, I'll shoot her before your very eyes." He says and I stand there, staring at the pistol.

This can't be happening.

I haven't told Nathan yet.

This isn't the time.

...I'm carrying a baby.....our baby.

"Lucas--" Nathan starts.

"No, you shut up! Both of you just shut up! This is my turn! This is my time! I have the gun and I'm the one that gets to talk, so you just shut up and listen!" He yells and smiles wickedly at our silence.

I turn to look at Nathan and he has his eyes steady on the gun pointed at me.

God, please don't let me die without telling him.

Please.

"How could you do this to me, Lunar?" Lucas asks.

"How could you go back to this jerk! After all I told you that he did. He killed Logan! He used you and you just crawled back to him?!" He yells and I stay quiet, observing him, a million thoughts on my mind.

This is all happening too fast.

What do I do?

"You had the nerve, the guts to break up with me and go to Nathan?! Did you even bother to think of me?! To give me a fucking second chance?! How long did it take you to get over me?! How long Lunar?!" He yells, walking closer.

I feel my breath cease at how close the gun is.

"You didn't even care about me and you go running into his fucking arms! Even after I told you what he did, you went back to him! Why didn't you come back to me?! Why does Nathan gets such a fucking special treatment?!!" He yells and at this point I'm almost hyperventilating.

Lucas is drunk.

I can smell the alcohol from where I'm standing.

"I tried for you Lunar. I know it didn't look like it but I wanted to be a better person for you and you never gave me a chance!! We were together for five years! Five years! And you just want to leave me?!" He yells then laughs his scary laughter.

"No. No way. At first I wanted to kill myself. I..I was so confused and I had given up. But then....I had a better idea. Why die alone, huh? When I can just kill you and take you with me?!"

The gun is pressed on my forehead now and I whimper.

"Lucas, stop this!" Nathan yells.

"Shut up!" He says and turns back to me.

"You think you can just go live happily with Nathan?! You think he is good enough for you?! No fucking way. You're coming with me." He says and at this point I shut my eyes, waiting.

Then Nathan yells.

"Lucas, let her go!"

"No!"

"Let her go. Shoot me instead!" He yells and I open my eyes wide and stare at him in horror.

What?

I'm already shaking my head.

"No. No, Nathan, no!" I cry but he isn't even looking at me.

His eyes are fixed on Lucas.

"Come on, shoot me! It's me you're angry at."

"No!" I cry.

"I'm the one who took her away from you!"

"Nathan, no!"

"I kissed her even when you guys were dating. Shoot me!" He says and I watch Lucas smile.

"You think if I shoot you, I still won't shoot her? I'll shoot you both and kill myself!" He says and I watch Nathan nod.

"Shoot me, Lucas." He says and Lucas moves the gun to face Nathan.

"With pleasure." Lucas says and I watch in horror as Lucas steadies his hand to shoot.

Instantly Nathan grabs the hand holding the gun and shoves it up, firing the bullet into the roof.

I scream.

"Lunar, duck!" He yells and I do, watching them both struggle with the gun.

Oh, God no.

No.

What do I do?

I look around now and I spot my cell phone on the floor. Instantly I grab it and dial.

911.

Holding it to my ear, I silently say a prayer that that was the only bullet and nothing should happen to Nathan.

The father of my child.

"911, what's your emergency?" A lady's calm voice says and before I can talk, I hear the gunshot.

I want to turn around.

I want to see who it hit.

I want to make sure Nathan is okay.

But the burning pain in my shoulder stops me. And I look down to see blood dripping from my arm to the floor.

"Lunar!" Nathan yells behind me.

"Hello?" Comes the lady's voice through the phone and I can feel myself fading out of consciousness.

"Help." I say weakly into the phone before everything goes black.

****

The familiarity of the bright lights and white room lets me know I'm in a hospital.

For a second I can't remember why, as I blink against the lights.

A sharp pain on my shoulder instantly does the trick and I remember.

Lucas.

The gun.

Nathan.

The gunshot.

My baby.

I sit up in panic and Nathan appears beside me.

"Hey, baby." He says softly as he gently leans me back into bed.

"You need to rest, okay?" He says and I can't describe the joy I feel at seeing him.

He's okay.

He's fine.

But what about my baby?

"Nathan, there's something--" I start but he shakes his head.

"No now, Lu. The doctor says you should rest when you wake up. He'll be here soon."

"No, you don't understand. The gunshot could have--"

"Done nothing serious. They said it was a graze on your shoulder and it's all patched up. You'll be fine, okay?" He says and pecks me on my head.

A slight graze.

A man in white coat walks in, taking my file from the door.

"Miss Kensington. How are you feeling?" He asks, smiling warmly at me and I nod.

"I'm okay." I say and he makes down some notes.

"That's good. With enough rest you'll be out this evening." He says and Nathan turns to me.

"You see? You'll be just fine." He says.

"How did I get here?" I ask. If he drove me here, he was bound to see the pregnancy tests.

"The ambulance. After you called the police, they arrived quickly with an ambulance because of the gunshot. And they took Lucas."

The doctor looks up.

"Luckily the gunshot didn't affect anything serious, given your condition." He says and Nathan looks at him.

"Condition?"

"Why, yes. Her pregnancy. We ran a series of tests and she and the baby are in good health." He says and then leaves.

I stay quiet, observing Nathan as he turns to me.

"Lu?" He says, eyes on me and I bite my lip.

"I tried to tell you." I say, scared of his reaction and his eyes darts to my stomach.

And then back to me.

"Don't worry, Lu. We'll sort it out together, okay?" Nathan says, sounding reassuring but his look plants doubts in his words.

He squeezes my hand gently, but his gaze is fixed on his knees.

I wish there was something I could do....the news was too big for the both of us.

And too much to handle.

But what racked my mind the most was Nathan.

How will we handle this?

How is he handling it?

Authors Note.

How are you guys loving it so far?

Thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.

No, the story isn't over but stick around for a few more chapters and find out how it ends