I Do / S.M/ ( sequel to Strings) *On Hold*

Chapter 13 Rumors

"Zoë l-"

"I don't fucking care about language! My darkest secrets are in this magazine for people to read while they check out of the grocery store."

"Well, maybe the fans will stop hating you because your relatable." She says making me groan. "My mental illness should not make me relatable or popular mom, and my postpartum sure as hell shouldn't be brought up again, I don't want the kids at school to say something mean to Skye after seeing this article. I don't want her to feel like..."I take a deep breath and drop my voice to a whisper ... like she wasn't wanted." I rest my hands on the open pages and feel myself tearing up. "Oh, sweetie I didn't mean it like that I just.."

"Now I have to explain this magazine article because everyone on my Instagram is commenting about it, and heck their probably asking Shawn too." I run my fingers through my hair when my phone rings.

"H- hello."

"Babe are you okay?"  I cry harder hearing his voice. "This stupid article,  a mom at Skye's school brought it up while we were waiting for the kids to get out and she brought up the magazine and my pregnancy and I was freaked out. I sniffle loudly. "So I said you know how those magazines are... turns out my mom told a journalist all of this in an interview." I lift up my head to glare at her.

"Zo I'm really sorry I-"

"Mom." I say through gritted teeth. I get up and go in the backyard and cry to Shawn about all of this and wonder what to do."

"Just... do you want to talk about it?"

"I just want to say that some rumors have been going around about my pregnancy and my mental health and that their true but I don't want to talk about it further than that."

"Perfect, just go live on Insta tonight and do that, things will calm down."

"Ok." I sniffle.

"I'll call you later okay." Shawn says. I nod wiping my tears.

"Okay thank you for letting me rant."

"Of course it's frustrating when stuff  like this happens." I hang up and jump when I see Skye behind me looking confused. "Why are you crying?"

"It's nothing." I lie.

"Grandma's making dinner," She says. "Oh okay." I watch her go back in without another word.  Dinner is awkward, to say the least as I'm super upset about my mom doing that interview but I have to stay calm for Skye's sake.

"I can try to contact the-"

"It's useless mom," I say as I lean against the car door. "I'm truly sorry I didn't know that you..."

"It's okay I'll clear this whole thing up," I reply even if I feel unsure about it.

     ----------------------------------

"Uh hey, guys it's Zoë I know theirs some rumors going around about me stemming from a certain magazine and I just wanted to clear things up. I take a deep breath and look at all the comments at the bottom of my screen. The rumors are true, but I don't want to talk about the matter any further, I was never interviewed for this magazine and my privacy was compromised and... I read the comments and take a deep breath.

"I was very depressed during my pregnancy y-yes" I read the next question. "I said I didn't want to talk more about this. I'm not used to having to go live on Instagram to talk about an about myself that I had no part in, I'm not used to being mobbed at the airport or when going to the store, I know you all know this but, I'm not famous and don't like being treated like I am.  But I love Shawn with everything I have and will support him through whatever and that's why I put up with this. I'm just trying to get through school and raising our daughter, I have no ill intentions in being with him and I hope you realize this." I  look at the screen and see a comment from Shawn and smile a little. "I should go but I hope this clears everything up and if you see me on the street please don't bring up that article or ask for an autograph because it makes me sort of uncomfortable, and if you have I'm not shaming you for it, I'm just saying for future reference. Alright bye guys."

I flop down on the bed when my phone rings.

"Hey."

"That was so well said, and I'm very proud of you," Shawn says making me smile. "Thanks, I just spoke honestly about things, and hopefully it won't pop back up, I have bigger things to do than worry about a magazine."

"I know, well I'll be home soon and how about we go on a date?"

"Sounds perfect," I say as Skye runs in the room and jumps on top of me. "Ow sorry, Skye just  jumped on me." She rolls over and begins giggling as I hand over the phone.  I listen to her excitedly chatter and smile to myself as I think back to when I first had her versus now. I've changed too much as a person and for the better. "Mom here." I take the phone from her as she curls up behind me. "I love you, see you soon alright."

"Alright." I blow a kiss through the phone and hang up. "Can I sleep in here?" Skye asks.

"Sure."