1He eyed her from across the room. She was with quite a few friends, some male, but none of them seemed to be her boyfriend. Maybe he was in luck tonight.
It was New Year's Eve, and he was at some club with a group of his friends, and somehow he had ended up being the only single one amongst them. This was the first time he went to a NYE party without a date, and it would probably be the last time too. The whole atmosphere was pretty uncomfortable - everyone there was either taken, or hooking up with a stranger.
But who said he wasn't allowed to have a little fun tonight? He walked up behind her, and noticed that her hair was actually pitch-black, not brown. Maybe it's dyed, he thought.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi!" she chirped, turning.
She was surprised when the guy standing in front of her was good looking. She knew from past experiences that single guys at clubs on New Year's were single for a reason – they were usually sleazy. This one, however, was incredibly attractive. Tall and muscled, he also had black hair falling into blue eyes. She knew how rare of a combination that was, as she openly admired his features.
"Who're you?" she asked.
"Does it matter? I think you're attractive, and from what I've been told, I'm not that bad on the eyes either," he said confidently, adding a wink.
She smiled at him slyly, looking up at this hot stranger through her rich brown eyes.
"Are you…here alone?" She asked uncertainly. With looks like his, she was pretty sure he'd have a fan club following him everywhere. But if he was taken, he wouldn't be here in front of her would he?
"I'm here with a few friends," he replied.
"Oh…"
"I'm single tonight though"
"What are we doing still talking then?" she said, smiling.
"Who says we're talking?" he whispered, pulling her into a quick kiss.
They started off slow, talking about hobbies and resolutions, but soon they found themselves stumbling into a hotel room. She gasped as he pushed her against the door and began caressing the side of her neck with his soft lips. "We shouldn't be doing this," she told him in between gasps, gripping his shoulders.
"I know," he groaned, pulling her closer. "But we're here, and I can't help myself."
His hands roamed all over her body, driving her crazy.
"I don't normally do this." She was grasping at straws now, finding every reason, any reason, why she shouldn't give it to this guy tonight.
"I know. But there's a first for everything isn't there?" He asked suggestively.
"Umm..." she started.
"Yes babe?" he whispered back in a husky voice.
"I - I've never..."
"I can help you with that." He smiled against her lips, pulling her closer and twisting the hem of her short dress in his hands.
"Oh god…" She pulled him in for the hundredth time that night, but this time was different. There was an extra element added to this kiss as their hormones raged. He smiled and gently dropped her on the bed, trapping her with his arms, all without breaking their kiss.
Fireworks set off in the distance, signalling the start of a new year. But neither of them heard, nor did they care. They were both too wrapped up in the moment, creating fireworks of their own.
-NYE-
All the crazy shit I tonight, those would be the best memories…
"What's that?" the blonde asked against his lips.
"My phone," he answered, kissing her.
"Aren't you going to pick up?"
"No."
She pulled away from him. "I think you should answer it."
He glared at the offending piece of metal, and sighed. He was all ready for what all that making out was going to end up being, and that stupid phone call murdered the moment.
"Fine." He let it ring for a few more seconds before giving in.
"This better be good," he said harshly into the phone, earning him a glare from the blonde. He cleared his throat and tried again, "Sorry, hi, it's James."
"Am I interrupting something?" a female voice asked awkwardly.
"No, no," he said, showing the blonde to the door. "Who's this?"
"It's Molly."
He paused. Who?
"You know, from New Year's?" she added hesitantly.
"Oh," he said, suddenly remembering. He smiled at the memory – that was one good way to welcome the New Year.
He pushed make-out chick, Erin, towards the door again, hoping she'd get the memo this time. He covered the receiver.
"Get out!" He whispered harshly to her. He ignored her protests about wanting to hear what the phone call was about. She'd get sick of waiting and leave eventually. And then he'd find some way to make it up to her. It was their little routine.
"So," he started. "How are things?" he asked, trying to start small talk.
"Not so good..." she trailed off. "I need to tell you something."
"I was wondering why you're calling me after what? 2 months of silence?" he chuckled. "So, what's up?" He smiled, though he knew she wouldn't be able to see it.
"You remember how we met right?" she started.
"Of course, it was one of the best New Years presents I've ever had,"
"Well uh…" She trailed off, leaving him confused. What was she trying to say?
"Do you remember if we used a...um...protection?"
"You're asking me about something that happened 2 months ago? I can't even remember what I had for breakfast this morning!" he said light-heartedly.
"…because I'm pregnant." She blurted. She mentally kicked herself. Couldn't she have been just a little bit more…smooth about it?
"Whoa, wait what? Oh shit." It took him a while to register what she just said. "Are you sure it's…mine?" Maybe it wasn't his…maybe…
"I'm positive. I was a virgin before…before you..."
"And you haven't had sex since?" he asked.
"No," she answered firmly.
"Fuck."
"Yeah 'cause that so would help the situation right now," she said sarcastically.
"I'm so sorry. I mean – shit man! I…I'll pay for the baby's upbringing, I'll do whatever you want me to. Just, oh my god how did I forget to use a condom?" He rambled.
"No," she choked out. He could almost hear her crying on the other end. How did she go from being sarcastic to crying in less than 3 seconds? "I don't want your money. I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to get an abortion."
The word rang in his mind. Abortion. She was going to fucking kill the child before it even had a chance of living. Who did this whore think she was?
"NO!" He yelled into the phone. "Listen, I already said I would pay for his – her – its – needs. Just...don't abort it. Please?"
She hesitated.
"What, so you're going to just take away a life without even giving it a chance? That's not fair! I'll take care of it after you give birth if you want and you'll never even have to see it again. Just…just don't kill it." he whispered the last bit. How had he gotten himself into a situation like this?
"I can't," she said. "My parents...they'll disown me, I'll be a disgrace..." She breathed in deeply. "If you want to do anything to keep the baby, then you'll have to marry me."
Time froze.
"Are you kidding me?"
Marriage? To a woman he only met for a few hours? No, this was not happening. He couldn't do that. It would throw off his whole life. But he couldn't live with the guilt of knowing he had let her kill a kid – their kid, either.
"Do I sound like I'm joking?" she asked.
"Ok, I'll get back to you about it."
"Fine. But the only way this baby will see the light of day is if you and I get married. I really don't care what happens to it." And the line went dead.
Did she just give him an ultimatum? He groaned and threw the phone onto his bed, only just realising that he had a pregnant psycho bitch on his hands. He was so fucked.
He dialled her number. It had been 3 weeks since that life-changing call, and he had made a decision about this situation. He would marry her to save the baby – their baby.
The number you have called is currently switched off or unavailable. Please try again later. 0402 -Damnit! Why wouldn't she pick up her stupid phone?
A second later his phone blasted the chorus of Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO.
"You called?" her sweet voice said.
"Yeah um...I'll do it."
"What?" she asked. She didn't think he would go through with it just to save a life. Seriously, it was just one kid.
"I'll marry you. Just don't kill our baby." He pleaded. Sure, he was a badass, but he still had a heart. And he wouldn't let a mistake he made stay on his conscience for the rest of his life.
"Ok, well, there's one more thing...we have to date for at least two months before the wedding. Or at least pretend we've been dating for that amount of time. I need to fool my parents into thinking we love each other or something. They can't know that...that I've have sex before marriage."
Is there anything else she needed him to do? This woman was too damn demanding to be his type. What did he see in her on New Year's Eve? Oh yeah, he was plastered. That explained it all.
"Fine. I'll meet you at the cafe on High Street at 2."
"In the arvo, right?" she asked.
"No stupid, in the middle of the night, when the cafe's closed. Seriously, I thought uni kids were supposed to be smart. Now bye." This girl was really starting to get on his nerves. He hung up and buried his face in his hands. What had he gotten himself into?
She heard a click on the other end, which meant he had hung up. She sighed, not knowing what she to do with herself. How could she have been so stupid that night? She had heard all the stories, seen all the movies, and she was brought up to not do things like that. Molly had no idea a little bit of alcohol would do that to her. I'm never touching that stuff again, she told herself.
-NYE-
"Mum, this is James Wilson. We've been dating for a while now, and um...he popped the question last night and I said yes!" she said, trying to sound excited. That was how most people reacted wasn't it? Most people would be ecstatic about getting engaged. But then again, most people also weren't 3 months pregnant when they told their parents the news.
"Hi Mrs..." He trailed off, not knowing Molly's last name.
"Oh sweetie, call me Jessica," her mother said before anyone noticed that he didn't know his fiancé's last name. "Please, sit." When Molly and James sat themselves on the black leather sofa, she asked, "So tell me, where did you two meet?"
Molly's eyes grew big.
"Molly's a friend of a friend of mine, and we met at a party. We sort of just...clicked." he said easily, giving Jessica a warm smile.
I'm doing this for the baby. Think of the baby, he told himself.
"Well that's cute. But you know how I feel about those frat parties, Molly. Someone always ends up pregnant. And it's usually the ones who have never done things like that before. I don't like you mixing with that sort of crowd," she said as if she knew something they didn't. Seeing her daughter's face pleading for her to stop, she smiled. "But I know that James will take good care of you. Isn't that right James?" she said
"Yes Mrs-Jessica." He said, bringing his hand over to cover Molly's.
"Lovely! So when's the big day?"
"We were thinking of having a small wedding, by the beach." He replied.
"Oh, but Molly's always dreamed of having a big white wedding in a church!" Her mother exclaimed. What had made her baby change her mind so suddenly?
"Well, I don't want that anymore, Mum. I think the beach would be more suitable." Molly said, calming her mother.
Jessica sighed, defeated. "If that's what makes you happy sweetie, then you'll have it. I just can't believe my baby girl's getting married! It was only yesterday when..." Her mother blabbed on about embarrassing things Molly did when she was a baby, toddler, she told James about her first day of preschool, high school, everything.
James of course, wasn't interested. Over the last few weeks he had gotten to know the chick he had accidentally impregnated, and his first non-intoxicated impression of her was that she was really annoying. Her mother was fucking annoying too. Like mother like daughter right? But he could tell that they didn't have a wonderful mother-daughter relationship. Why, though? They were so alike…
"...James?" He heard Molly's voice call him back into their living room.
"So sweetie, I must've zoned out. What did you say?" He asked. Zoned out was an understatement – he had completely phased out for at least 5 minutes.
"Mother wants to know if you'd like to stay for dinner tonight."
"No, sorry Mrs- I mean Jessica, I have plans tonight. We really only came here today to announce our engagement. Maybe we could arrange for dinner another night?" He gave his future mother-in-law an award-winning smile.
"Alright then, off you two go." She showed the couple out the door.
After they were out of her sight she muttered to herself, "Something about them doesn't seem right..."
"Well that went well...I think she bought it," Molly said in the car. He shrugged in reply. "So what are we doing tonight?" she asked.
"I already told you, I'm busy."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm meeting some friends for dinner."
"Can I come too? We could tell them about our engagement!" she gushed.
"Do you not get it?" he started. "I'm busy, which is a subtle way of saying 'I don't want to tell you'. Just – just get off my back, please?"
She was silent for a few seconds. "Are you cheating on me?" she whispered in a small voice.
"We're not even in a real relationship. We're only doing this for the baby. I can do whatever the fuck I want." He told her sternly, before muttering, "Man you're fucked in the head..."
She pretended that she didn't hear it and held back her tears until she got out of the car.
-NYE-
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest said loudly. "You may kiss the bride" he said to the new Wilson couple.
The past few months were filled with 'dates', where Molly would pester him about cheating on her and James would get frustrated at her. It really wasn't her fault – he was more frustrated with himself for his stupidity that one night. James tried his best fake smile, as did Molly. This was one huge facade they were pulling off, and it didn't help when Molly was starting to show. Questions would be asked…which would be really awkward and weird for both of them. But he was determined to do this, and from the looks of things, so was she. She said it was something about keeping her family honour, or something like that.
James captured her lips with his, squishing their faces together. He heard cheering and clapping from the people who attended the wedding ceremony, and his eyes raked over the people occupying his half of the seats on the beach. His mother was there, tears in her eyes, ecstatic that her youngest son, and the biggest player in the family, was finally settling down. He inwardly shook his head – the truth would kill her.
A gust of wind flew by, throwing sand everywhere. Maybe a beach wedding in the middle of autumn wasn't that great of an idea…
As everyone moved off to the reception, James and Molly took a 'romantic' walk along the beach.
"So," James started. "We're married..."
"I guess we are…" She whispered.
"How do you feel about it?"
"I don't know…" she sighed. "I sort of regret all of this, but I'm growing pretty attached to the baby. I'm glad you didn't let me get an abortion," she said, smiling.
"As long as you don't get attached to me, then everything's fine," he muttered under his breath, making sure she didn't hear. As soon as that baby was born, he would take it and run for the hills. Or leave it with her and run. The latter might be a better idea…
"Hmm? You say something?" she asked, her eyes lighting up.
"No,, but I think we should get going. We need to be at our reception…it's kind of expected of us to show, you know?"
"Oh, I almost forgot about the reception!" She grabbed her white dress with one hand, so she could walk without tripping on it, and reached for his hand with the other.
He closed his eyes and had a pep talk with himself in his head; only 4 more months. Just four more months and you're free. Hang in there.
-NYE-
The months rolled by, and James soon found himself pacing the hallways of the hospital, listening to his wife's screams. At times like this, he was glad he was born with a Y chromosome.
A while later, the screaming subsided, and a nurse ushered him into the room. A second nurse handed him a bundle. He stared down at the little creature in his arms, tightly wrapped in a pink blanket.
"Hey," she said weakly.
"You ok?"
"Yeah. Thanks for coming…it means a lot to me," she smiled.
"It's alright. Isn't she beautiful?"
"She has your eyes," Molly said,
"And your smile." They looked at each other, and their short conversation was followed by a pregnant pause.
A nurse shuffled in with a clipboard in her hand, and asked Molly a few questions regarding how she felt. The last question caught him off guard. "What will her name be, Mr and Mrs Wilson?"
"Can we get back to you on that?" Molly asked the nurse.
"Of course, take your time. I'll come back in a bit," she smiled, and left.
"So," Molly started. "Do you want to name her?"
He looked up from the baby, and stared. "You want me to name her?"
Molly nodded.
He gazed at his daughter, the cogs in his brain turning furiously. "Selena," he whispered softly.
"I like that. Selena, or Lena for short."
"Do you want to hold her?"
He had underestimated his ability to withstand the child – he tried, but it was useless. He couldn't bring himself to leave this adorable creature. Instead of going through with their agreement, he chose to stay. After all, he didn't want his daughter to grow up the way he had – without a father.
He soon found himself in love with Molly, and he was pretty sure she felt the same way with him. They just had to bend the rules and do everything backwards, but it had all worked out in the end. They were the perfect picture of a loving family.
-THE (almost) END-
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 2012 WILL BE GREAT!
I'll try write more this year as well, so that should be fun :)
This one was actually written ages ago and it was just floating around on my desktop, so I decided to get rid of it on New Year's Day :) There might be a few mistakes here and there so if you find any, let me know.
Happy 2012!
~SpasticLittleGirl