Page 33 of Meant to Be

“I promise.” She nods.

Opening the bag, I pull out a long rectangular box and place it down on the kitchen table. Her eyes widen in shock.

“Are you kidding me?” My shoulder lifts in a shrug while I bite on my lip nervously. “Shit Shelby, if you think your mum is bad now what do you think will happen if you’re pregnant?”

Hiding my face in my hands, I whine, “This is all so messed up Ad. What if I am?”

“How about you do the test first and find out?”

She lifts the box to read the instructions. “Okies, you need to pee on the stick and wait three minutes…”

“That’s it?”

“That’s what it says…” She unwraps the cellophane from the box and pulls out two tests. “Why is there two? Do you have to do both?”

“How do I know? I’ve never done one before.”

She looks back at the instructions, “Ah, it’s just a double pack. I suppose we could always do the two to make sure?” Addison asks with an air of uncertainty.

“I suppose so.” I shrug again.

“Shelby, you need to be sure.” Addison takes control of the situation and me. “Right, drink the rest of the water, do you need a pee yet?”

“How does this work?”

I take the stick and pull off the lid to see an absorbent stick and the long window on the front. I had one of those that say the word - I thought that would be better…

“Okay, when you start to pee put the end into the stream for a few seconds and put the lid on. That’s it.” She reads from the instructions.

“What if I pee on my hand? Eww.”

“Don’t be a pussy. You can wash your hand. Just go do it.” She shoves me towards the stairs and gives me the look of death if I don’t oblige.

Putting the test in my hand, I go to the bathroom and sit on the toilet. I wait patiently and, as soon as I feel it starting, I do what it says on the instructions. I place the lid back on and wash my hands then set the timer on my phone.

I go back down to Addy and put it down on the table face down until the timer goes off.

“This is going to be the longest three minutes of my life.”

“I can’t believe this Shelb. Your mum will kill you.”

“Tell me about it, she’s smothering me. Jax came back yesterday, and we fell asleep on my bed..”

“Just sleeping huh?”

“Actually yes, just sleeping. I was sick as soon as I walked in the house. We watched a movie and fell asleep. I woke up to banging on the door and in Jax’s arms. I had to sneak him out.”

“Oh my god,” she laughs, “What did you do?”

“He jumped from the bedroom window.”

Covering a gasp with her hands, I smile. “Was he okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine. He got onto the porch and jumped from there.”

Addy sniggers. “When is she going to let you out again?”

“Who knows? We had another argument earlier. She’s pissing me off.”

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