Page 85 of Believe In Us

“Sebastian picked it out,” I mumble, still in shock, “I actually hadn’t seen it until just now.” I hold the delicate silk against my body, turning to face the large mirror in front of me.

“Well what are you waiting for,” Scar squeals, “Put it on babe, it’s going to look fucking amazing.”

I nod excitedly, slipping into the dress with Scar zipping me into the corset top. It fits me like a glove, extenuating my curves and molding to the exact shape of my body. Every part. I turn to my side, admiring the way the fabric wraps tightly around my assbut also notice the small bump beginning to protrude over my stomach. I cradle my bump, placing a hand against it, a wave of emotions rushing over me.

They’re going to see. Everyone is going to be able to see the bump protruding from my usually flat stomach.

“Jade,” Scar whispers, placing a hand on my shoulder, noticing my unease. “You okay?” I try to nod my head, assuring her I’m fine, but I can’t. I’m frozen in place staring at my daunting reflection. An unrecognizable girl with wide green eyes outlined in dark liner and gray shimmery shadow, pink plump lips, and a body that looks like she’s undergone a breast augmentation and consumes at least three thousand calories a day. My blonde hair is straightened and parted down the center, falling down my back like a blanket of gold. Gone is the reckless girl who always wore the tightest jeans and the smallest shirts known to mankind, in her place is a woman, a pregnant woman, terrified of what the future will bring. I close my eyes, tears streaming down my face as I picture the little girl who used to dream of having a mother, of what her life would be like if she hadn’t lost hers.

I’m caught in a web of lies, spun by my own mistakes, and weaved by my reckless decisions. A hell of a sticky situation.

Sobs erupt from deep within me as I crouch forward cradling my stomach and weeping continuously. Scar grabs me by my shoulders, while Stella rushes to my side,

“Oh god, Jade, are you okay?” Stella cries out, kneeling before me as Scar helps me sit back on my bed.

“Oh God, what am I doing? What the hell am I doing?”

“Jade baby, come on talk to me,” Scar pleads, gently caressing my hair. “Whatever it is Sis, we can help you, we’re here for you.”

“Scar, how do you do it?”

“What do you mean?”

“How can you just seem so at ease with the fact that you are pregnant?”

“I’m not at all at ease Jade, I’m terrified. So is Ace, we don’tknow the first thing about being parents, you forget we were given the shitiest role models. What we do know is that we love each other, and that trumps every obstacle that comes at us.”

My sobs turn into hysterical laughter at her response. Love. Sebastian may have told me he loves me and I may have even said it back, but how do we know we really mean it, if the only reason we’re together is because of our situation.

“I’m pregnant, Sebastian and I are together because I’m pregnant. Our situation is in no way similar to yours. I’ve trapped him, have him wrapped around my little finger because he feels like he has some duty to us.”

“Is that what he thinks or is that some story you’ve concocted in your head. Jade the mind is a dangerous thing, especially for us. Any semblance of happiness and we force ourselves to self-sabotage, to question everything because nothing in our lives has led us to believe we deserve to be happy. But we do, you do.”

“Scarlett’s right Jade,” Stella whispers, still kneeling before me, holding my hand in hers. “Sebastian isn’t the type of guy that can be so easily persuaded. My uncle has been able to manipulate him his whole life with his ideals of pride and family that are more bogus than anything, but he’s not a good man. Bass sees that now, you helped him see that.”

“How do you know he’s not just with me because I’m the one pulling the strings now?”

“Jade, Bass loves you, he’s willing to go against his father in order to be with you. He’s standing up to the monster he used to fear more than anything in the world. Whether he ever accepts it or not Bass, both of us, are terrified of Stephan Silver.

“That doesn’t mean he’s with me because he wants to be. Maybe it’s just a big fuck you to his father. Did I tell you he did it on purpose, he knew I’d probably get pregnant and he hoped it would happen. Maybe he did it just to get back at dear old dad for thinking he could control his future.”

“Jade, why are you trying to find reasons this isn’t real? You’redoing it again, self-sabotaging. He loves you Jade, he wants this baby just as much as he wants you, and I am one hundred percent certain if you weren’t pregnant, he’d still be here.”

“He shouldn’t be Scar, that’s what I’m trying to get you guys to see. I’m not the one. Not the girl he’s supposed to be going to these things with. Prom? In what world would I have ever gone to prom. I don’t fit into this mold of perfection he expects, the one he deserves. This life, I mean look at these clothes,” I tug on the expensive material of my dress, “the money, I look like a fucking imposter. Who the fuck am I kidding here Scar?” I cradle my face in my palms sobbing silently into my hands. “I’m not Kinsley fucking Carlyle!” I cry out, my screams muffled by my cries.

I feel Scarlett wrap her arms around my shoulders tucking me against her body, “He doesn’t want her Jade,” she assures me, but I don’t want to fucking hear it.

“I got lucky, secured a ticket on the baby daddy train, but one day the train will come to a stop, turn on a fucking detour and get lost, just like everything else in my life.” I shake my head, abruptly standing and turning to face them. “He should be going with Clingy Kinsley, not me, I’m not...”

The door of my bedroom is suddenly pushed open, forcing our attention to the figures standing before us. Sebastian stands under the doorway, looking like he’s just seen a ghost, with Ace equally puzzled right behind him. His eyes look furious but quickly glow with adoration when he catches a glimpse of me in the stunning dress he picked out, his eyes fixating on my baby bump visible with the way I’m standing. “Why in the world would I fucking do that?’ he says, shocking me as he steps into the room and advances toward me.

My heart skips a beat as I watch him walk toward me, his hands wrapping around my waist, and not directly reaching for my stomach like I thought they would. He is absolutely perfect, impeccably dressed in an all-black tuxedo, his hair slicked backand virtually glowing because of how dark it is. He heard me. He sees me. He’s looking directly at me.

He tilts my face upward to meet his gaze head on, his fingers gently gripping my chin. “Why would I ever want to be anywhere without you. Jade, you are my everything. We don’t have to go anywhere, we can stay here, go back to the house, anywhere you want to go. I don’t give a fuck about any of this if you are not by my side.” Without another word he lowers his lips to mine, kissing me softly in front of everyone in the room. His hand comes around my waist, resting above my bump, “The baby is just an added bonus Jade, not the only prize.”

Tears continue to fall upon my cheeks, staining them with black mascara, although this time they’re not caused by anger nor fear, but happiness. Genuine happiness, overwhelming and all consuming. It’s a strange sensation, something I don’t ever remember feeling, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Sebastian makes me happy, and I’ve decided, I’m never letting him go. Kinsley be fucking damned.

Speed.Power. Classic sophistication. I am so turned on by the velocity at which Sebastian is driving right now. Windows rolled down, wind in my hair, the sound of the engine roaring into the beautiful sunset, the sky turning purple and orange lighting up the way. I’m in love with this car. Oh and the man driving it isn’t so bad, driving with one hand on the wheel the other resting on my thigh.

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