Just. Grab. It. Standing in the first store she found near her apartment, Elodie was looking at something she thought she wouldn’t be needing for a few more years. To make the situation worse, she was alone. Alone in the store and alone in her apartment she used to share with her boyfriend… Used to. It’s not what it sounds like! They were still together and happier than ever but there has been a tiny change. As Jordan finished his album, recorded it, and released it to the public - there were tours, meaning Riker had to be away. Well, that wasn’t really a tiny change… it was difficult for Elodie. She got used to having him around whenever she’d get home, she got used to falling asleep next to him and sometimes waking up to him playing the guitar in the middle of the night. Small things she got used to quickly. But they were face-timing every day, and he’d visit her whenever he got a chance… One of those days leading to this very moment.
”Elodie?” Hearing a familiar voice behind her, Elodie immediately looked away from the item she needed and grabbed the first thing that was next to her, not looking at it. It was a moment of sheer panic so don’t judge, she didn’t want anyone to know why she wasn’t there because even she couldn’t believe in it. Didn’t want to believe in it. ”Heeeey…” Elodie nervously greeted her college friend the moment she turned to face her. To make it worse it was Ally, her good college friend. Or was that a bad thing? She could use a little support from someone close to her… no. ”I’m just buying… toothpaste.” Her gaze falling down to what she was holding, there was a forced smile on her face just hoping her friend wouldn’t think she was acting weird. But she did… luckily not in the way Elodie thought she would. ”You too need a break from studying?” A sigh leaving Ally’s lips made Elodie calm down, her smile faltering as she simply nodded at Ally’s question. She wasn’t lying… she did need a break from it but that wasn’t why she was here. ”I came here to spend some money as a really effective form of therapy but now that you’re here… let’s get out of here and grab a drink! I could really use it. Please!” Her fingers intertwining with Elodie’s, there was a pleading look on her face making Elo smile sweetly. ”Pasta and wine! Come on!” And that’s when Elodie remembered why she was there and how she couldn’t drink. Or she thought she couldn’t… ”I have to go back home-” ”No! Not the correct answer! Come here.” Cutting her off, Ally started dragging Elodie to pay for her toothpaste, not giving her another chance to protest. And that’s how her first trip to the store went. A miserable fail that ended with her buying something she didn’t need but at least she ended up eating pasta. Without wine.
* * *
The next day after her second attempt to buy a pregnancy test, she was in her bed, staring at the sky out of the window. It was just her fear stopping her from getting it but waiting only made her more nervous. Terrified. It didn’t matter when she would do it because she couldn’t change the fact that she might actually be pregnant. Taking a deep breath in, she forced herself to get up and once again leave her apartment, this time not coming back with empty hands.
* * *
”28, 27, 26…” Three minutes. That’s how long you have to wait for results, and that’s exactly what she’s been doing. Sitting on the floor of the bathroom with the test and her phone on the other side of it, far away from her, Elodie’s been counting down three minutes just to distract herself from thinking. Unsuccessfully. She couldn’t block her chaotic thoughts and worry slowly filling her body. ”14, 13, 12…” So close to finding out what the future was hold for her and she was not ready for it. Not at all. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t be happy, she was just scared other people in her life wouldn’t support it, would think she was still too young… She was scared Riker might not be happy. He was the only person on her mind at this very moment and she wished he could be there with her. She wished they could find out together. Or maybe she didn’t… hey shh, she was confused and overwhelmed. ”2, 1-” Hearing the alarm made her quickly look up, feeling her eyes already starting to water but for a few more seconds she was still on the floor, hugging her knees.
Her heart beating faster than ever, Elodie slowly got up and walked across the bathroom to check the test, expecting to see it was positive. And that’s exactly what she saw. ”Oh my…” her hand covering her mouth, she sat back down now holding the test in her hand and feeling hot tears rolling down her cheeks. ”Oh my God…” This is not what she was planning or hoped for. Not now. So she was allowed to be confused and not know how to feel about it. How to feel about knowing she was actually pregnant… She was pregnant. Dropping the test, her other hand found it’s way to her lips in an attempt to stop her from sobbing. Yes, she was freaking out… She wasn’t unhappy, she was just freaking out and didn’t know what to do.
That’s how she felt for an hour as she was just sitting there, her mind going over every possible ending to this situation. Good and bad - her parents being happy or completely disappointed, having to drop college or find a way to still go to classes, Riker being happy or… There couldn’t be or. Grabbing her phone all she wanted to do was call him but she was lost for words. She can’t tell him like that, over a call while he was on the other side of the world possibly. But when she almost called her mother she stopped herself and ended up dialing her boyfriends number. Waiting for him to pick up, Elodie wiped away the tears from her cheeks, thinking of what to say once she hears his voice but when she finally did her mind froze and the only thing she managed to say was, ”Heey… Riker, I… Can you, please- I need you to come back now… we need to talk.”
* * *
Riker was supposed to be home today and wanting to tell him the news in a special way, Elodie found herself in a shop with baby clothes. It wasn’t like this was her first time here, she bought a lot of clothes for babies and kids but never… for her future kid. And she wasn’t going to do that now, she was just looking for one simple item.
* * *
”Babe!” Elodie exclaimed, running towards the door when she heard it opening, jumping into Riker’s arms the moment she saw him. Yes, jumping and wrapping her legs around his waist, she brought her lips to his hoping that would give her time to calm down now that he was actually there. She would greet him this was every time but now she was giving him no space to speak up or do anything other than return her kisses. In a way she was buying more time to prepare for what was about to happen. ”Oh! I found the best ice cream, you have to try it. Come here,” probably sounding and looking weird, which she didn’t care about, she jumped down and intertwined their fingers, dragging him toward the kitchen. ”I was out with Ally yesterday and had to buy it because it’s new and you don’t know how gooood it is… Can you please grab two spoons?” If he was paying attention, he could hear her voice was shaky and the smile she had on was nothing but forced. Because Elodie has never been as scared as she was in this moment. Standing there confused, he started saying something to her, but Elodie turned to face him with pleading eyes as her hand was on the fridge. ”Please?” cutting him off, she stayed like that because… well, there was an ice cream in the freezer but that’s not what she wanted to show him. That was not what was important. Important thing was in the drawer where all their utensils used to be before she moved them and placed a positive test and a little white baby onesie with words I love dad written on it. It seemed easier showing him she was pregnant than saying it out loud.
The moment he opened the drawer and looked down, Elodie took a deep breath in, not noticing she was holding it in for a while before he finally brought his gaze up to meet hers. That’s when she whispered, ”I’m pregnant.” What happened next was honestly a blur to Elodie. It felt like everything around her froze and if he was saying something, she didn’t hear it. That was until she saw a big smile on his face and soon found herself in his arms as he lifted her up and spun her around. Every bad thought she had soon disappeared and once again she felt tears on her cheeks but this time she was smiling.