The Quarterback's Girl

Chapter 11

"Nana, Papaw don't freak out." I said slowly, seated on the couch in my living room.

"Well, that's not very reassuring." My grandma said, putting her hand on my grandpa's leg.

I was just about to break the news to them. I told Nate that it would probably be best if he didn't come. It was something I needed to do alone.

"I'm pregnant." I said, looking both of them dead in the eye. My voice came out stronger than I expected.

"You're what?" My grandpa grunted, holding up a hand to his ear. "You know I'm deaf, Cassie."

A part of me wanted to laugh at that. "I'm pregnant." I said louder. "With Nate's baby."

Both of their faces went slack. "Cassandra, you're 17." Nana said, standing up from her seat.

"I know, I know. I didn't plan for this." I started tearing up, thinking she was going to yell at me.

Instead, she sat next to me on the couch and put her arm around my shoulder gently, like I was going to break. "How far along are you?"

"Dunno." I choked out, my voice thick with tears. "I just found out."

"Does Nate know?" Papaw grunted from his place on the couch.

"Yeah. We talked about it." I sniffed.

"I just can't believe this." Nana said, stunned. "You. Seventeen and pregnant."

"I might just get rid of it." I cringed at my harsh words.

"Can, we're Catholic. You know that," Nana said, looking me in the eye. "We'll support you with whatever you do, but you know we don't believe in that."

"I know, Nana. I do. But I'm so young. I can't have this baby." My face crumpled and I leaned into her arm.

"I'll have to make an appointment with your doctor. We will settle all of this, alright, honey?" My grandma got up from the couch. "We love you."

"I love you guys." I stood up and walked sluggishly to my room. As I stood in front of my mirror, I lifted my shirt up. There was no bump yet, but that wouldn't last very long. Me. Pregnant. I couldn't even imagine myself in nine months with a tiny baby.

I looked over at my desk and saw a picture of Nate and I our junior year. I went with his parents on a beach trip to the Bahamas. That trip was the first time I felt like I was a part of their family.

I brushed my finger over Nate's face and decided to give him a call. 

He picked up on the third ring. "Hey, what's up?"

"Hey. What're you doing right now?" I asked him, toying with a strand of my hair.

"Playing video games with the guys. Why'd ya call?" 

"I just told my grandparents the news."

"No shit. How are they doing? Hey, Ash, shut the hell up, I can't hear," I heard him say distantly. "Ow!"

"They took it well. Nana will probably make me an appointment with a doctor for this afternoon." I said nervously.

"Alright, I'll be over in an hour or two." 

"You don't have to come. I'm probably just going to end up getting rid of it."

"Well, I'm still going." He said stubbornly.

"If you want to. He'll just do a few tests." I said slowly, reluctant for him to come.

"Right, see you then. Love ya." The call ended.