Six Feet Under

by Paula O'Hara

  To: Willow: Feeling heartbroken?x

  I watched as a smile tugged at the sides of her lips as the message caught her eye.

  She glanced up a bit and met my gaze from a little down the hall, so I sent her a small wink.

  From: Willow: just really awkward... where's Alex??x

  To: Willow: With Candy. You wanna go find an empty bathroom?x

  From: Willow: how about i come to urs after school? I really wanna hear the rest of the whole clubhouse stuff today...(;

  That meant we'd be fucking again which I was excited for, but I was more excited to ask her to go out with me again after we've had sex and she's complete putty in the palm of my hand.

  She would definitely agree, giving me yet another chance to win her over and get her sex-addicted self to settle down for my desperate ass.

  Before I could reply to Willow, a new message popped up that made my blood run cold.

  It couldn't be true. There was no way.

  From: Cindy: I'm pregnant, Hunter.

  ---

  I felt so fucking good right now I almost forgot about the huge bomb Cindy had dropped on me earlier today.

  Willow was on top of me, straddling me as we made out.

  I should tell her about Cindy being pregnant. It wasn't fair not to tell her.

  But for now, I just wanted to forget everything and get lost in her and her body.

  My hands were everywhere, feeling her up, and I was seriously enjoying the fuck out of this.

  Yet then the thought came back to me. There was a chance I was going to be a father. Fuck.

  "Willow," I cleared my throat when she began trailing kisses down my jaw and neck.

  My hands now rested on her hips, keeping her firmly against me.

  She hummed, hands on my chest while she sucked lightly on my skin. I really wanted to fuck right now, but I needed to be honest with her.

  "Willow," I spoke, making her pull back to look down at me.

  Her lips were swollen and eyes curious... God fucking damn.

  "Uh..." I let out an awkward chuckle, running a hand over my face before lifting myself up to lean against the headboard.

  She was still straddling me, her hands now looping around my neck to twirl her fingers in my hair.

  "I need to tell you something."

  Discomfort and awkwardness flashed in her eyes and I was positive she thought I was going to ask her to be my girlfriend or tell her that I liked her. I wasn't. Not so soon, at least.

  "Cindy told me she's pregnant," I spoke, and watched as her eyes widened and lips parted in shock.

  "Are you serious?" She then asked, bringing her hands back down to her lap, "you're not- the..."

  "She said I was the only person she's had sex within the last month," I told her slowly, not having accepted it yet myself.

  Willow was the first person I was trusting with this information.

  Willow's brows furrowed, "and you trust her?"

  Well, to be honest I didn't. Cindy... she got around a lot, but I did kind of trust the fact when she'd sworn to me I was the only one she was fucking without a condom. She even said she forgot to take the pill...

  I shrugged, feeling extremely calm even though I should probably be ripping my hair out and cursing at life.

  "I'll trust her more after I've gone to the doctors with her tomorrow. If they say the baby's mine, then it is for sure."

  "What will you do if it's yours?" She asked quietly, clearly worried for me.

  To be fair I was 19 and graduating high school in less than two months. I had so many plans for the future that didn't involve babies until I was in my late twenties.

  I shook my head, letting out another awkward chuckle.

  "I honestly don't fucking know. I can't just leave them, you know? I just need to put off everything else for a while to do my part."

  She frowned, "I think you're too young."

  I gave her a smile, now resting my hands on her thighs.

  "Moral of the story is, always make sure the guy you're fucking is wearing a condom."

  This got the smallest smile to form on her lips.

  "Are we going to stop, you know, doing what we do?" She then asked gently, making my brows furrow slightly.

  This was the first time I had got any type of evidence that I might not be the only one catching feelings.

  "I don't want to. It's not like I'm married to Cindy, or anything. Her and I aren't together, remember?" I couldn't help but let a small grin form onto my lips, making the stunning girl smile.

  "Good."

  I don't think we'd be having sex after what I'd just told her.

  I doubt any girl wanted to hear that the guy they were fucking might be a father in 9 months.

  "Sorry for completely ruining the mood."

  Willow smiled, shaking her head, "no, it's fine. I was wondering if I could stay the night, maybe?" Yes. Yes. Yes.

  "Sure," I leaned closer to press my lips against hers, "we have the whole night then, don't we?"

  Her smile widened and she kissed back, humming in agreement.

  When loud footsteps suddenly started ascending the stairs, I completely pushed her off me. My parents weren't supposed to be home until later tonight.

  "Hunter!" I heard none other than Alex call, and stared at a very shocked Willow.

  "Closet. Now," I hissed, shooing her to quickly make her way to my closet. And she did.

  As soon as she had closed the closet doors after her, my room door opened and Alex rushed in.

  My heart was beating a million miles a minute, terrified of getting caught by her older brother.

  "Why the hell couldn't you ring the fucking doorbell?" I asked, completely breathless.

  Alex just shook his head and sat down on the foot of the bed, staring at me sceptically.

  "What's the point of knowing where your spare key is, then? Besides, I heard some shit from Candy," he began and I let out a breath.

  At least he wasn't here searching for his kid sister.

  "Yeah?" I waited impatiently for him to go on.

  "Why the hell is Cindy telling all the girls that you've knocked her up?"

  Wait, what? She- why would she be going around with that, Jesus...

  "Why is she spreading it?" I spoke more to myself, than anyone.

  Alex's eyes narrowed, "so it's true?"

  I shrugged, "she says so. We're going to the doctors tomorrow—"

  "Why the fuck did I have to hear about this from Candy?" He then ranted, "I thought I'd be the first to know if you were gonna be a dad?"

  I let out an uncomfortable laugh, "you were too busy fucking Candy when I found out. Sorry, man."

  He grinned, "touché. You'll be the first to know if I've knocked her up, though."

  I shook my head with a small chuckle, "what an honour."

  "You wanna get high and play video games? Lighten up your mood?" Alex offered, knowing it was rather shit hearing you might be becoming a father with so much you needed to do in life before you would have been ready.

  I wanted to go to college and concentrate on my studies, not on a damn baby.

  I shook my head, wanting to get him to leave as soon as possible so I could continue with Willow.

  "I just need to be alone and process shit, you know?" I gave him a small smile and he nodded, understanding.

  "Oh, and next time you come over, please ring the doorbell or knock or something. I could've been jerking off, Alex."

  He laughed while I grinned.

  Before he could say anything though, there was a small thud from my closet.

  I cursed at myself in my head as Alex's head turned to look over at the closed door, confused.

  The room Willow was in was dark, so she must have hit or kicked something.

  "What was that?" Alex turned back to me with furrowed brows.

  I seemed as casual as ever when replying, "that's just Beans."

  Beans was our six year old German Shepherd.

  "He'
s horny all the time so I had to lock him away for a while."

  "Damn," he chuckled, "he's probably humping your shoes now, but whatever."

  I was relieved when my best friend got up from my bed and ran a hand through his hair.

  I chuckled, still feeling a bit nervous since Alex would kill me if he found out Willow was here right now.

  "I'll see you around, yeah?" He then shot me a smile as he walked towards the door, "text me after the doctors tomorrow."

  "Of course," I returned his smile with a small grin and with that, Alex had left as quickly as he had arrived.

  Only when we heard the front door open and close did Willow open the closet door and step out.

  She was smirking as she began to walk towards me.

  "Always horny, huh?" She then asked, making me laugh.

  "To be fair, you are basically a sex addict," I grinned widely when she slowly got back onto my bed and made her way towards me.

  "I am. But why on Earth would you lock me away for it?" And then she kissed me.

  26

  I felt Cindy's hand rest on top of mine before her fingers interlocked with mine. I didn't look at her but, with my eyes still on the doctor, I squeezed her hand a bit. I was fucking shitting myself and didn't mind her trying to comfort me.

  This had to be the most nerve wracking situation I've ever been in. Just watching the doctor go over ultrasound images and all sorts of other documents was torture.

  "The baby seems to be fine," the doctor spoke up, making my ears perk up, "have you already had morning sickness, Cindy?"

  "I-"

  "I'm sorry, but am I the father?" I felt like a complete idiot asking and to be fair I was, but I needed to know for sure.

  The doctor looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

  "Well we can run a few blood tests for absolute certainty, but right now it seems like that."

  I gave her a small nod, looking away as the two women continued to talk about morning sickness and whatever.

  I completely zoned-out, definitely not liking the situation I was in right now.

  I needed those blood tests to be ran because even if the timing and everything else seemed to match up, I needed to be absolutely sure about it.

  Cindy was really a good person, and her family doctor - whom we were now visiting - seemed pretty fucking legit.

  I knew Cindy and I would manage to take care of a baby very well financially, even though it would most likely ruin the chance of our higher stages of education.

  "Hunter?" I heard Cindy ask gently, squeezing my hand.

  I looked up and over at her, to see her with a worried expression.

  "Sorry," I cleared my throat, "zoned-out."

  She gave me a small smile, nodding, "she wants to know if we'd like a copy of the ultrasound image?"

  I turned to the doctor who also gave me a smile.

  Why was everybody so fucking happy today?

  "We'll take two, if that's possible," Cindy told her.

  "Of course!" She began going over some papers again while Cindy stood up.

  She motioned for me to stand up as well, so I did.

  "Cindy, would you stay behind for some uh- details that might not interest your boyfriend so much?"

  Boyfriend? Hell no.

  I got the message though and, after saying bye to her family doctor and asking her if we could take care of the blood tests soon, I left the office.

  I pulled out my phone after staring at a man with a baby. He was feeding him on one of the waiting room chairs, looking as happy as a kid on Christmas.

  Would that be me in a little less than 9 months? Fucking scary to think about. I was not ready to be a father.

  I decided to text the only person I wanted to be around right now.

  To: Willow: Where are you?x

  From: Willow: dinner with Tessa x

  To: Willow: When are you home?

  From: Willow: in like an hour... why?

  To: Willow: I'll see you then.

  I definitely wasn't horny, because look where it's led me, but I did need her company.

  And with just about nothing to lose anymore, I sure as hell didn't mind admitting the fact that I liked Willow more than I should.

  The door to the doctor's office opened and Cindy walked out.

  She gave me a wide smile and a kiss on the cheek before handing me a printed black and white photo.

  I looked down at it and saw the ultrasound image of the little creature growing inside of Cindy.

  My hands shook a little at the thought of it being my baby. I sure as hell didn't know where the head was or where the toes were, but I found myself smiling.

  "Are you okay?" She asked gently, taking my hand in hers as we made our way out of the building.

  "Yeah... I'm okay. Are you?"

  "I'm so happy," she hummed, leaning in to kiss my cheek again.

  I gave her a small smile, "you're positive it's mine?"

  "I am. But she said that you can come in tomorrow for the blood tests, and everything," she told me as we walked towards my car.

  "How do you feel about it being yours?"

  Before, the thought had made me want to shit my pants and throw up at the same time. Now, after seeing this black and white ball of something inside of her, I felt alright. I felt love for whatever it was and it calmed me.

  "I'm good with it."

  An hour and a half later, after I had dropped Cindy off at her house and had dropped in for a quick hi with her parents, I was knocking on Willow's window.

  I could see her sitting on her bed scrolling down her phone before her head had snapped up to look over at me.

  I gave her a grin since I had managed to scare her again.

  With a shake of her head and a playful smile, she got up and walked over to open up the window.

  Willow was wearing black yoga leggings and a white tee shirt, and I felt like drooling over her.

  "Hey," she smiled as the window opened and I was able to jump inside.

  "Hey," I took off my shoes and turned to her after she'd closed the window behind me.

  Before anything else could be said, Willow pushed me up against the wall and kissed me, her hands coming up to cup my face.

  Without thinking twice about it, my hands landed on her hips and I kissed her back. I sure as fuck didn't mind her body pressing against mine like this.

  "Is Alex home?" I then asked, needing to know what the possibilities of us getting caught were.

  She grinned against my lips, pecking them gently, "yes, but he's pretty beat up about some argument him and Candy had."

  I raised my brows at her, pulling back a little, "I bet you're happy about it."

  Her grin told me I was right, which made me smile.

  "I'm ecstatic," she told me, her soft thumbs running along my cheekbones, "and the door's locked, so we can do everythin-"

  "I want to show you something, Willow."

  Was I really turning down sex to show her a picture of my possible child? I guess I was.

  Her brows furrowed a little but she nodded, taking a small step away from me.

  I cleared my throat and pulled the small piece of paper out of my pocket which had the ultrasound image of the child inside Cindy.

  I unfolded it between us and watched as her eyes settled down on it.

  "Is that...?" Her voice was softer than I'd expected.

  "I'm doing blood tests tomorrow to find out for sure, but yeah," I told her as she took the paper into her hands to examine it better.

  I leaned back against the wall behind me while letting out a small breath. I was going to be a fucking father.

  For the next few minutes she just kept on scanning it, neither of us saying a word. Even being quiet with her just felt so comforting in this situation.