Limits |Noah Sebastian/ Bad Omens|

24: Are you. . .

 "Holy shit, Fae are you pregnant?" Jamie's words broke through the silence that was deafening.

The weight of her words settled on the group as her eyes widened, realizing what she had just said. My heart pounded beneath my ribcage—there was no way?
Nick looking straight at me, his brows lowered as he had a confused or unpleasant look on his face. "Why would she be pregnant?" he questioned, the tone of his voice sounding like a father scolding their daughter.
No one spoke, so Nick said, "Faith? Did you sleep with someone on that weekend away?"

It was an effort not to look at Noah who stood behind Nick, I couldn't make out his facial expression or look at him or else it would be a giveaway on who I slept with that weekend. Mouth drying out, I looked at Nick before straightening myself from where I had just leant over to empty my stomach. "That doesn't concern you" my voice shook, this was my brother I was talking to.

Scoffing Nick crossed his arms as he looked between myself and Jamie. "It does if you are pregnant, Jamie do you know?" he turned his attention to his girlfriend—her face glowed red in embarrassment as she surely didn't mean to blurt it out, Jamie's tanned skin looked almost ashen when Nick's attention turned to her.

"She doesn't know who" I snapped, earning a thankful look from Jamie who surely was almost like a fish out of water, I may be annoyed in the moment, but I wasn't going to let her suffer for a mistake. "I got drunk and messed around with some guy on the getaway. I told Jamie I slept with someone, but don't know who" I could have sworn she sagged with relief.

My brother didn't know what to do, he looked between me and all his friends before shaking his head. "When was your period due?"

"Nick, that's a bit personal, don't you think?" Jolly asked softly from behind me.

"It was due two days ago" my cycle was usually spot on every month. "I am going to get dressed and figure this out" I bit back my annoyance as I turned to head to my room.
Once the door was shut, I could feel the weight of the question settling in on me. Was I pregnant?
Looking in the mirror, I placed my hand on my stomach feeling every inch of nerves wash over me. I couldn't be pregnant, I wasn't ready to be a mom—and Noah, oh god, Noah. . . We never ever spoke about the possibilities in what we wanted in the future, even then, this was still way too soon.
Sliding myself into some leggings, I slid on an oversized sweater in hopes it would help make me feel more comforted, this was a day where comfort was needed for sure.
Going to open my door and step out I nearly yelped when I saw Nick standing there—he had a worried look on his face. "What do you want?" I asked, my tone unpleasant like how he was not even ten minutes ago.

Gulping, he ran a hand through his hair. "I want to go with you. . . To get the test, not because I don't trust you. I just think if you don't know the father, if you are pregnant—it might be better to have someone with you, and I miss hanging out with my baby sister. . . Let's go to the mall, maybe get something in your system you hopefully won't puke back up" his words were spoken softly as his eyes met mine.

Heart breaking at the words, I nodded my head. The guilt churned my stomach, but there was no way he could know Noah could possibly be the father. "Sure, that would be nice" I pointed for him to lead me up the stairs, when we got to the top he began talking to Nicholas as my eyes scanned for Noah—he was nowhere to be seen.

"Ready?" asked Nick.

"Mhm" I said following him out the door and into the car.
The drive was somewhat awkward, you could tell none of us knew what to say, and part of me nearly sobbed with relief seeing the mall and pulling up to it. Climbing out of the car I closed the door behind me, it was a cooler day today with the clouds casting an overcast. "What did you have in mind?" I asked following Nick into the building where people were starting their shopping for the day, some even clocking in for their time at work.

"Walk around, see what there is. . . Let's get you something to least snack on though" I nodded as we weaved through the small crowds of people. Nick had settled on waffle bites and grabbed some for me, passing it to me since I missed out on breakfast, or if you could count being sick from it missing out.
"So, this is the most I think we got to hangout just as the two of us since you moved back in nearly three months ago" he said sipping on his iced coffee he had ordered.

It was true, and the guilt did eat away at me knowing that. "Yeah, guess that is the sad part about being adults now—we don't get to just go into the basement and hangout until mom and dad tell us to do something else, remember when mom literally called Nicholas and Jolly to come hangout with you because you wouldn't stop nagging me? God, I remember that! We are best friends, yet you annoyed the hell out of me" laughing together felt nice with Nick, remembering our times as teenagers together.

We were close when we were younger, he was my best friend—the person I went to about everything I could before going to one of our parents. When I met my ex, that quickly changed and I think looking back I see why my mother was so hesitant on letting me move out, of course freshly graduated and in love with a lie there was nothing she could do as I was legal age, packing up and moved across the country. My parents were sad, but I think that moved crushed Nick more than anyone.
"I didn't bug you nearly as much as you bugged me! Especially during band rehearsals, god you were such a harsh critic!" he beamed.

"I was harsh, but least you guys did take the valid pointers, besides I knew nothing about music—the fact you guys actually listened to a teenager?" shaking my head, I led Nick into a clothing store where I could grab some new jeans or clothing.

Nick browsing the men's area, I looked through a couple racks finding maybe one or two items I liked enough to grab. Paying for my items, Nick stood off to the side, and out of the corner of my eye I could see him looking down at the stomach that was hidden underneath the oversized sweater. "Thank you, I appreciate you" I beamed at the cashier before turning to Nick and following him out of the store.

We looked around for maybe an hour or two before I needed to take a seat on the bench. Of course in the worse spot possible. Nick pulled out his phone as it rang, his face paling as he showed me the number calling—it was our mother. Sitting beside me, Nick put his phone on speaker. "Hi mom" he said through the phone.

"Hi Nick, have you seen your sister lately, she hasn't touched base in a few days" I tried to text my parents as much as I could but working on social media it was hard to find the time to hold my phone longer then it needed to be in my hand.

"Hi mom" I said so she knew it was more then just Nick on this call.

"Oh good! You are alive, how are you two?" I looked at Nick who seemed just as nervous as I was—which clued in my mother, "what's wrong? Usually you two are piping over one another, what did you two do?" she questioned, her tone turning into that stern motherly tone.

Gulping I shook my head to Nick, there was no way I wanted my mother to know about this. "Ugh, nothing mom—we are actually out hanging out right now, can we call you back later?" Nick asked looking around as people passed by, not paying attention to the two of us.

"Nick, what's wrong?"

"We need to go mom, we love you and we will call you later. . . Nothing is wrong, we just need to get some errands finished! Love you, bye!" he said not giving her the chance to reply before he hung up on her, surely we were going to hear about this when she did call back.

Looking at Nick as he rose to his feet, he blew out air he was holding in as he looked at the store in front of us—the baby store, and then at my stomach. Hand sliding over my stomach, glaring at Nick I shook my head. "Stop that!" I said, more bite in my tone then I intended.

"What?"

"Stop looking at me like that! Stop looking at me like I am pregnant, like you will run into that store and buy what ever it is!" I gestured to the store behind him.

Seeing the distress on my face, Nick nodded as he took a seat back beside me. "But you could be pregnant" he added softly.

"I could not be pregnant too, don't get too far ahead of yourself, Nick." I felt bad for snapping at him, but I didn't want him to look at me like that.

"Okay. . . Let's say you are, what are you going to do?" he placed his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward, "what do you want to do if you were" he asked, more like my brother and a friend rather then someone who was overbearing.

Chewing my lip, I couldn't help but glance at the baby clothes in the window, but my heart told me otherwise. "I don't think I would keep it. . . I—I'm not ready to be a mother and I just, it isn't the right time" it was something hard and was never easy to think about no matter what. "Not saying I wouldn't like it one day, I am just. . . I don't want to be a mother right now" there was still so much I needed to work out on myself.

Patting my shoulder, Nick stood himself up before helping me back to my feet. "Then let's go take that test, and we can go from there" he said leading me into the pharmacy inside the mall, it was pretty busy, and someone noticed Nick right away asking how he was, that was when I took my chance and snuck off to grab a test.
Standing in front of the tests, I couldn't help but feel my palms become sweaty. Why were there so many different ones, and different brands? Nick making his way to me, let out a sigh when seeing the same thing I saw. "How many sticks do you need to pee on, does it matter?" he asked lifting one of the boxes that were there.

"I think only one? I don't know, I never personally took a pregnancy test before" even though I had friends who have taken tests, something about it being yourself makes your mind go blank and anything you learnt in middle school fly out the window. "I am not buying that one though, that stick costs thirty dollars!" pointing to the one he had in his hand, Nick's eyes seemed to widen as he put it back on the shelf and I grabbed the cheapest one they had, they all had the same end goal—find out if it was positive or negative.

Paying for the stick, we headed back to the car where Nick was chatting away about drumming stuff—he was trying to keep my mind busy, which I appreciated. Once we got to the house, Nick looked over at me. "No matter what, I am going to support you" he said softly.

Smiling, but the smile not reaching my eyes I nodded my head. "Thanks" I said as we headed inside the house.

Opening the door, we were greeted with Jamie, Nicholas and Jolly all sitting on the sofa in the living room. Nicholas looking up at me, his blue eyes sparkling as if trying to figure it out. "So, how're you feeling? Did you take a test?" he asked earning a glare from Nick.

"Dude, she just walked in the door!" Nick said taking a seat on the sofa beside his friend.

"It's okay, I haven't taken a test yet. . . Jamie can you come with me?" none of them questioned as she got out of her seat, her hair spilling over her shoulders as she followed me down the hall to the bathroom where we both stepped in, and she closed the door. "I. . . I am going to take the test, but I need you to look at it" I blurted wringing my fingers in nervousness.

"Okay, yeah of course. . . Did you want me to step into the hallway while you do that?" I nodded my head, even if she hadn't I wouldn't have cared—I just needed to not be the one to look at that test. Opening the small box, I glanced over the instructions on how to take the test as my heart thundered beneath my ribs. Who knew a small stick could be so scary? Unwrapping the test, I did my business before washing my hands. Opening the door enough so Jamie could slide in, I sat on the edge of the tub hands braced on my knees. "I feel like I am going to throw up" I said out loud feeling my entire body coating in sweat.

Jamie smiled softly at me. "You'll be okay, no matter what—if you need to throw up just let me know so you don't get any in your hair" her humor made me feel a bit better. "So, did Nick hound you more on who the dad could be?" she asked softly, keeping our voices low in case anyone was eavesdropping.

"No, he was actually really supportive, he told me whatever I choice he would stand by me. . . I can't be pregnant, no way—I'm not even remotely stable enough or comfortable enough to be a mother, and especially because Noah and I only just started officially dating" I whispered to her.

She seemed to understand. "You have to do what you have to do, and I am glad—Fae I am so fucking sorry about this morning, I didn't mean to blurt it out like that I just. . ."

Smiling I grabbed her hand squeezing gently. "I know, Jamie. . . I know it was an accident" she seemed relieved at that. "This is the longest wait of my life" I said groaning.
Turning to the counter, Jamie was silent for a moment which had my heart racing more as it was. "Jamie? What does it say?" I asked, her silence was deafening as she grabbed the box to take a look at it, "Jamie you're scaring me" oh god, I was going to puke again from the nerves that roared at me.

Holding the test in her hand, she turned as she double checked the box and then the test. "Relax, you're not pregnant" she said smiling as she turned the test to face me, only one line showed.

Feeling a flood of emotions hit me, I couldn't help but take the test from her hands looking at that one pink line that sat there—tears spilling from my eyes as I smiled at her, wrapping my arms around her as she held me tightly. "Oh thank god, oh my god—I need to tell Noah" I said looking at the test once more.

Her smile faded as she scrunched her face. "He went out. . . Not long after you and Nick left, Jolly asked him where he was going and he just kind of brushed us off" oh no. . . "Breathe, he might just need to think just like you did, come on, let's not let your brother worry anymore" she gestured opening the bathroom door.

Nodding my head in agreement, I followed her down the hall trying to wipe the tears that kept spilling from my eyes thanks to the rush of emotions. Seeing my tears, Nick instantly was on his feet ready to hear whatever I needed to say. "Well?" he asked, you could hear his own nerves on his voice.

Showing him the test, I smiled as more tears slipped down my cheeks. "I am not pregnant; I am not pregnant" I kept repeating it feeling the weight of the words and release of the stress I needed.

Engulfing me in a hug, Nick hugged tightly. "Thank god, cause if you were and we hung up on mom earlier cause of it—we would both be dead, and you know it" he murmured.

He was right, even with the choice of not keeping it—I would still have wanted my mom with me during the process, my mother always taught us that the choice was ours and no matter what her and my father would love and support us. In their words 'it's your body' which I always admired my parents for that. "I'm sorry, I'm a mess but I am so happy I don't need to make a choice" I said looking at everyone.

Jolly being the one to speak, he smiled up from his seat—his long hair tied back in a half bun. "Don't you dare be sorry, Faith—you have had a scary morning, you are allowed to cry, scream, be happy anything you need—we spoke when you were away and we all agreed no matter what happens, whatever that test says, we would support you through it all" more tears spilled from my eyes as I leant over hugging Jolly tightly.

"Thank you" I said before heading down to my room. Jamie hot on my heels with me. "I need to tell Noah when he is home" I said sitting down on my bed, the negative test being placed on my nightstand. "Do you think he is upset?" I asked looking at my phone seeing if he had texted at all—he hadn't.

"I think he might be a little freaked out, like you were. . . I am sure he will be okay" she smiled before turning around to head back up the stairs.

She was right, I was so freaked out this whole morning I never got to see Noah or how he reacted. Texting his number, I watched as the texts went through but never were read.

Fae: Can we talk?
Fae: We need to speak when you're home, are you okay?

But my texts went into the void where they sat for hours, and hours and hours and even as the sun set and I checked my phone, Noah still hadn't seen those texts.
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Authors Note: Holy moly, this is the first authors note at the bottom of the chapter! Do we prefer them at the bottom of the chapter or is the top still okay? I felt the need to put it down here, so it didn't spoil this chapter at all. Please know I did consider this a heavy chapter and the next chapter might still be pretty heavy in topic. And also a huge thank you for helping reach the milestone of 14k reads on this story—I truly cannot thank you enough!