Awkward

Chapter 7

"It doesn't even look like anything."

"It will!" I laugh.

Carter and I are currently sitting on a bench together at a park just out of town. We agreed we probably shouldn't be seen together in town too much so we both drove here in our own cars.

It's been a week since my doctor's appointment and Carter's been anxious to see the ultrasound.

"When will it look like a baby?" he asks, turning the picture upside down and looking at it extremely perplexed.

"Soon!" I promise, taking the picture away from him.

He stares at the rusty old swing set across from us.

"What are you thinking?" I ask.

"This...this whole thing..." he gestures to my stomach, "Is so weird.....but so exciting and we can't even share it with our family. My parents don't even know they're becoming grandparents."

"I'm sorry," I say.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," he says, "This is my fault. I put you in this situation."

"Yeah...but still," I say.

"But nothing," Carter says, "It's happening now. We're in this situation. Don't apologize. I think everything will be okay in the long run."

"I hope so," I say.

"I'll be with you every step of the way though Avery," Carter says, "I promise."

"Thanks Carter," I smile at him.

He smiles back and before I know it his lips are on mine. I jump back, startled.

"Carter what the hell!" I yell.

"Avery, I'm sorry," he puts his hands up in a defensive motion.

"This....us...we can't happen! Don't you see that?" I continue to yell.

"I know Avery," he says, "I don't know what came over me."

"Clearly!" I scoff at him and run to my car, quickly getting in and pulling off.

The whole ride home I'm sure I'm speeding but I don't care. How dare he! He can't just kiss me! He's not my boyfriend. He'll never be my boyfriend. I continue to allow my racing thoughts to consume me.

I'm so consumed that I don't even notice that I'm running a red light. An SUV slams on it's breaks and honks it's horn at me, narrowly missing me, as I speed through the light.

I quickly pull over and turn off my car. I feel my whole body shaking. What the hell man...

I pull my phone out and attempt to call Aidan. It's a bit difficult because my hands are shaking so bad. He answers on the first ring.

"Hello?"

"Aidan," I gasp.

"Avery? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

I hadn't even realized I was crying but now I feel the tears streaming down my cheeks.

"I almost died Aidan! I almost died! I just almost killed my baby! I'm so stupid!" I'm hysterical at this point.

"Avery, calm down," Aidan says, trying to keep his panic out of his voice, "I'll come get you. Where are you?"

I tell him what street I'm on.

"Okay," he says, "Stay put. I'll be there in 5 minutes baby sis."

I hang up and stare out the windshield, trembling.