*****
Six weeks later.
"Alright, Ava." The doctor cuts the cast off my foot. He examines my foot. "By the looks of it, your foot has healed rather nicely. Everything looks good. Take it easy. No more jumping off the bed. I recommend not wearing heels for a couple of weeks. I'm clearing you to go back to work." He gets up. "Good afternoon," he says before he leaves the room.
I get up and walk out the door. Damn, it feels good to walk on both feet. I look at my watch. I have work in half an hour. I should get going.
Usually, I hate my job, but today it feels great to be back. For the past six weeks, I've been thinking about my breakup and Noah. At least, work will take my mind off it. I go to the back of the cafe and put my apron on.
"Ava, it's good to have you back," my boss says. Sheri. She has to be the best boss I've ever had. She doesn't treat me like just an employee. We're actually good friends. She lets me keep my tips and choose my shifts. Not many managers are that lenient.
"The two tables over on the left need to be served. " She points to section B. That will be your area for tonight," she tells me. Near closing, Dayna pops through the door with a guy. No surprise there.
"Ava, nice to see both your legs working again," she jokes.
Ha, ha. You're so funny." She sits in my area.
"What do you want?" I ask her. She's always here, always distracts me from working and never tips. It's a good thing Sherri is so chill. However, when Dayna does come in, rolls her eyes and prepares herself for what Dayna might do.
"The usual," she says "oh and an oatmeal cookie please."
"What about your friend?" I ask her, looking at this guy I've never seen before.
"Do you guys have steak?" He asks
"It's a coffee shop, not a diner," I tell him.
"What do you guys have here then?"
"Coffee."
He doesn't answer me. Dayna gives me a look as if to say I'm being rude. I don't care. I doubt I'm ever going to see him again anyways. This is Dayna's guy of the week. I get it, she's tall with green eyes and has that olive skin that's guys like. It's true that she's attractive, but she doesn't need to sleep with every guy at our university. I know I'm no saint, but I'm not as sexually active as she is. I think she should take dating more seriously and find someone she likes instead of just having sex. I don't shame her though and most of the time it does seem like she's happy. I bring her the coffee and the cookie. Her guy friend doesn't eat anything.
"I'm closing in five minutes, will you wait to drive me home?"
"Yeah, why'd you think I came here so late?" She says. I quickly clean up and stack the chairs on the tables. Sometimes Dayna helps but this time she chose not to. She is instead outside making out with her friend. I lock up and hop in Dayna's car. I should probably get a car so I won't have to always depend on Dayna.
"Where's your friend?" I ask her.
"One of his buddies came and got him. They're going out." She lights a cigarette with one hand while she drives with the other.
"Do you have to do that now? I really don't want to die today. Or end up handicapped again."
"Oh relax drama queen, you're not going to die," She says. "You know how I get when I'm on my period, the smoking helps my cramps."
"I've never heard of that before"
"Because you're not a smoker, duh."
I roll my eyes. I don't bother to dispute her dumb logic. Suddenly her words stick out to me. When was the last time I got my period? I usually get it a week before hers.
"Do you remember the last time I had my period?" I ask her.
"No why?"
I don't answer her. I try to think back. It was definitely before I fractured my foot. I need to look at my calendar. When I get home, I run straight to my room. I flip through the calendar on the wall above my desk. Today's the 8th of April. The last time I had my period was the 15th of February. Damn. How could I not have noticed? I mean with my midterms and depression and the whole handicapped thing, I was a little distracted.
"Dee!" She comes running to my room.
"What's wrong?"
"We need to go to a drugstore right now."
We get in her car and head to the drugstore. We pass three aisles before we find the pregnancy tests. I buy four just in case. I feel so embarrassed going to the cash and paying for the tests. I feel like everyone is judging me.
When we get home, I drink about a litre of water and walk around for a bit. Walking makes you want to pee more, so I've been told. I finally go to the bathroom. Dayna waits near the door.
"Are you sure you know how to use it?" She asks me from the other side of the door.
"Yeah I'm reading the instructions," I call back.
I pee on the first stick and wait three minutes. I sit on the floor, my back leaning on the door. I cross my fingers and pick it up. Pregnant.
I drink more water and walk around again, this time I just do mini laps in the bathroom and I pee on the second one and wait three minutes. Same results. I pee on the third one and at this point, I have no other option than to accept it. I'm pregnant.
I slide down, my back against the door. This explains why my breasts have been so sore and I've been feeling nauseous and more tired than lately. I honestly just thought I was just stressed from school.
"Well?" Dayna asks from the other side of the door. "You've been in there forever."
"I'm..." The words can barely come out.
"What'd you say, Ava, I can't hear you."
I open the doors and put the three tests in her hands.
"Oh shit," She says. "Wait, does this mean I'm going to be a godmother?"
"Dayna, this isn't funny. And like hell I'd leave you with my kids."
"Who's the father?" She asks.
"It has to be Noah," I say. "I got my period after I had sex with Chris."
"Ou, that baby is going to be gorgeous." I get a sudden urge to punch her in the face right now. She never takes anything seriously.
"Can you be serious for one minute?" I ask her.
"Okay okay. I'm sorry," she says. It grows quiet for a second. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know," I admit.
"Well, maybe you should start by telling Noah," she suggests. " I mean, it is his child too."
I think for a second. I don't even know the guy. I'm just supposed to call him and tell him I'm pregnant. On top of that, I almost forgot, he's getting married!
"I can't. I don't even know how to reach him. Plus he's getting married. I can't tell him."
"Ava-"
"Dee I can't have this baby. I'm barely affording university. Hell, I'm barely affording rent."
"But you can't not tell him. He has a right to know."
"It doesn't matter anyways. Do you really think he's going to want to have this baby? He can have one with his wife-to-be."
"Listen, Ava, if you don't tell him, I will. My mom never told my dad about me and I wish she had. She said all these lies about him. He was living wealthy while I had to struggle with her for eighteen years. When I finally turn eighteen and built up the courage to find him, he wanted me. He wanted to get to know me. He was hurt that he couldn't be there for me. Sad he never knew me. I had siblings I never knew about. Is that what you want for your child?"
"I'm sorry Dee, but I don't even know if I'm having this baby."
"Well, can you at least just tell him before you make any decisions? Please?"
"Fine, I'll go to the hotel tomorrow morning."
She hugs me. "I'll come with you."