Meet the Howlters

Everybody Knows

YEAR: 2041

[Delilah's POV]

"Hey, are you gonna be okay?" Winston asked.

We were in the car, heading back to school; we already dropped Stefanie off at Manchester.

"I'll survive," I mumbled.
"Penny's gonna-"
"Let's not talk about her," I sighed.
"Feel free to stay at my house whenever you need,"
"I'll be taking you up on that offer. Tonight, most likely... Hope your roommates don't mind the sound of vomiting at two in the morning,"
"They love you...I'm sure they won't mind,"
"I've only met two of them," I rolled my eyes.
"Come over for dinner tonight. We'll order whatever you're craving and you can get to know everyone,"
"I can't wait," I smiled as we parked.
"Want me to walk you to your dorm?"
"You can, if it'll make you feel better,"
"It will make me feel better. Come on," he said as he helped me out if the car.
"Winnie, I can carry my suitcase,"
"I don't want you to strain yourself,"
"If you do this shit for me, people will find out..."
"Oh, cause you asking to leave class every fifteen minutes to go pee and puke won't be enough?" he teased.
"Shut up," I muttered.
"Come along, child," he chuckled.
"I'm older than you!" I laughed.
"Yeah, by four minutes,"
"Um, four minutes and thirteen seconds. Correct yourself, Winston,"
"Fuck you," he smirked.

We walked into my dorm, only to be greeted by a pissy Penny Lane. She sat in her desk chair, arms folded over her chest, and a scowl plasteredbon her face; it's like she was just awaiting my return.

"Thanks Winnie," I whispered.
"No problem. I'll see y'later," he mumbled as he gave me a one armed hug. "I'll see you tonight. Okay?"
"Okay..."
"Here's a key. Don't hesitate to visit. If you need anything, text or call me. Please,"
"I will, my god. Stop freaking out,"
"I have the right to freak out,"
"No, you don't," I laughed. "Now, get out. I'll be over later,"
"See you later, I guess," he said as he left.
"Hi Penny," I mumbled.
"Oh, now you acknowledge me?"
"Don't be bitter," I said.
"I'm not bitter,"
"Really? Cause you sound bitter,"
"You kept ignoring my calls..."
"Well, I was kinda busy,"
"With what?"
"I got a boyfriend...I was busy with my boyfriend..."
"You got a boyfriend..."
"Yeah, I did. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Y'know what, I-" She was cut off by my phones ringtone.
"May I?" I sighed.
"Yeah," she said.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Hey, you get to school okay?" Joe asked.
"Yeah," I smiled. "You?"
"Yeah, I got here just fine. How are you?"
"Is that him?" Penny cried.
"Yes," I whispered. "I'm..." I trailed off "I'm actually feeling a little sick..."
"Oh? Are you okay? Did you eat something bad?"
"I should've eaten something," I mumbled.
"What was that, dear?"
"Nothing," I lied.
"Spitters are quitters," Penny said, a little too loudly into the phone.
"Go away," I said as I pushed her away.
"I'm sorry?" Joe laughed.
"No, I'm talking to my roommate,"
"Did she say what I think she said?"
"Yes," I groaned. "Hey, are you free this weekend?"
"Yeah, I think so. Why?"
"Cause...I need to tell you something,"
"You can't tell me over the phone?" he chuckled.
"It's face to face news,"
"Okay," he laughed. "I'll see you Saturday then, yeah?"
"Yeah," I smiled. "Bye,"
"Bye love,"
"I'll talk to you later," I whispered as I hung up.
"What do you have to tell him?" she angrily asked.
"Take a good look at me," I said as my voice cracked. "I've gained weight, my boobs are sore, and I've peed four times in the past two hours,"
"No..." she cried.
"Yes..." I whispered.
"You can't be pregnant. No...no! You can't be!"
"If you weren't a bitch, and agreed to come to my house for the holidays, none of this would have happened!"
"Are you blaming me for this?"
"No..." I sighed. I took a seat on my bed, set my glasses on my night stand, and buried my face in my hands.
"What are you gonna do?"
"I don't know," I said as I wiped my tears away.
"Are you scared?"
"Of course I'm scared! I'm eighteen, I'm unemployed, my boyfriend lives an hour and a half away... I just...I'm fucking terrified,"
"You have every right to be..."
"Get off me," I mumbled.
"Why?"
"Cause I'm gonna throw up,"
"Oh god," she panicked. "Here," she handed me the bin.

I held the bin to my face as she pushed my fringe away from my eyes so I could throw up. God, I hate this.

"Did you say you were gonna go over your brothers tonight?"
"Yeah..."
"Okay, why don't we get you cleaned up so you can head on over there,"
"Yeah...that'd be nice..."
"Okay, come on."

***

"Hey," I smiled.
"Hey Dilly, come on. It's cold outside," Winston smiled. "Dil's here!" he yelled.
"Hey," the Geller twins waved.
"Hey guys," I said as I walked into the living room.
"Is this her?" A beautiful blonde girl asked.
"Yeah. Phoebe, this is Delilah. Delilah, this is Phoebe,"
"You're joking right?" I laughed.
"Why is that funny?"
"Cause you look exactly like Phoebe from Friends,"
"That's why they named my Phoebe," she smirked.
"Where are the rest of your roommates?" I asked.
"The guys are out at a party so, it's just me and the girls,"
"So, this is everyone?"
"No, there's one more. Tabitha!"
"What!"
"My sisters here!"
"Coming!"
"Tabs is really nice. You'll love her,"
"Hey," the girl smiled.

She had short brown hair, parted to the left; kinda like bears. Her ears had piercings going all the way up the ear and she even had a few piercings in her face. A nose and eyebrow piercing to be specific.

"I can see the resemblance," she said. "Yeah...same nose, same ears, same mouth... You two are twins all right. Oh, I'm Tabitha, by the way, and you must be Delilah. Sorry for all that...I notice things like that..."
"It's fine," I smiled. "You're the first one who's really noticed," Winston and I looked to each other.
"Yeah...we have a lot in common with our mother..."
"She's not our mother," I whispered.
"Then how am I supposed to address her?"
"You address her as Jess,"
"Fine," he rolled his eyes. "So, Dil, you must be starving. What are you craving?"
"Oh, congrats, by the way," Tabitha smiled.
"Thank you, and I'm craving pizza."

***

I sat at the Starbucks table, tapping my foot anxiously, eating for Joe to show up. Around 1:06, I saw a Starbucks cup and bag land in front of my face.

"Hi love," Joe smiled as he kissed my cheek.
"Hey," I whispered.
"You okay?"
"I still feel a little sick,"
"Wow...it's been a week... You should really go to the doctor,"
"That actually what I wanted to talk to you about..."
"Oh my god, you're not dying, are you?"
"What? No, no!"
"Then what's wrong?"
"Just promise me one thing after I tell you..."
"Yeah, yeah, what is it?"
"Please don't leave me," I whispered.
"You're scaring me, Delilah..." He took ahold of my hand and gave it a tight squeeze, for reassurance.
"I'm pregnant," I cried. The grip on my hand tightened; he intertwined our fingers and pressed his lips to the back of my hand.
"I love you, Delilah," he said. "I love you. I love you. I love you...you don't need to say it back but, I just want you to know that, I love you and I will be here for you and this baby, no matter what happens. Okay? I love you, Delilah Howlter," he said, tears slowly streaming down his face.
"I love you too..."