Chapter Ten
River and Sera reached Huntsville in the evening. They were too exhausted to do anything else. River went to her maternal grandparent's house with whom she lived. Sera went home to face her parents.
The moment she entered the house with her luggage, her mom came out from the kitchen and looked at her with angry eyes.
"You've learnt to lie to us now?" She demanded, angrily.
"Mom, I," Sera started defensively.
"Quiet girl. How could you go to a place like Vegas without informing us? Anything could have happened to you," yelled her mom.
"It won't happen again mom, I'll live here forever and not go anywhere ever. Please stop yelling," she said calmly.
Her mom stared at her with concern. "What happened to you? Are you sick?" She asked.
"I'm just tired. Can I go to my room?" She said, dragging her luggage to her room.
"Why did you have to pounce on her just now?" Her dad asked her mom and they started arguing amongst themselves. Sera was tired of them already. She reached her room and closed her door. She just wanted to lay down and sleep. She quickly took a shower and curled up and went to sleep.
The next morning, an exhausted Sera went to the kitchen to have some cereal and milk. She hated the smell of coffee and didn't have any wish for it. Although it was strange as she always had coffee the first thing in the morning, she didn't give it much thought. She felt too tired to go to college and went to bed again.
It was lunchtime when she woke up with tired dark circles under her eyes. She didn't realise where she was at first. Then reality struck that Zachary was no more there in her life and she had to live alone with her unrequited love all her life. Tears gathered in her eyes at the thought of him.
"Why did you play with my feelings Zach, I loved you so much," she sobbed into her pillow. "I gave my whole self to you, my body, my soul, why did you play with me? What will I do now?" She mumbled incoherently.
Hours later she woke up and freshened up. She went outside and saw her mom struggling with the baking orders.
"Why can't you come and help instead of sleeping all day?" She spoke pointedly at Sera.
"Yes mom, " she said softly and helped her with the baking. After two hours of struggle they had completed the orders.
"Here are the addresses. Take the truck and go deliver them, " ordered her mom as she busied herself with other household chores.
Sera picked up the keys and loaded the baked goods and drove off to deliver them. After the last item had been delivered, she dropped by the library to ask for her job back. She was however disappointed as the librarian had already replaced her.
The next ten days, Sera went to her college, helped at home as well as searched for a nice paying job. She didn't find any which would suit her hours. She didn't wish to drop out of college for a job although her mom kept forcing her to. Her mom and dad had started bickering too much over money since it was short after Sera stopped contributing. Sera therefore was under too much pressure to find a job fast.
River met her everyday at college. She hadn't been taking Zachary's calls as she was too disappointed with him. Her mental condition was no better. She was just dragging herself everyday just like Sera. The two friends became each other's pillars as no one else knew what they both were going through.
Sera's health deteriorated as she didn't have much appetite to eat anything. Her eyes had dark circles now which even River noticed. She was more tired and couldn't even climb up the stairs to the classes. After classes, she dragged herself to her bike, to go home.
"Are you sick?" Asked River in concern.
"No, nothing much, just a stomach bug. I'm throwing up anything I eat. Will buy medicine today," she answered casually.
"Are you sure it's a stomach bug?" Asked River.
"Yeah, what else could it be," said Sera.
"You could be pregnant you know. You and Zachary did it after all. Did he use protection?" asked River.
"No, he didn't. Do you think I'm pregnant?" Asked Sera, shocked at what River said.
"Could be. Go for an OTC pregnancy test," suggested River.
"Help me please. I can't do this alone, Riv," Sera mumbled. She was too scared thinking what would be in store for her if she indeed was pregnant.
"Let's go and buy the strips," said River and pulled her to the shopping mart nearby.
"Let's go to the washroom and check," River suggested and she nodded. River waited outside the washroom for Sera.
Sera read the instructions and did as specified. She came out of the washroom and they waited near the vanity, impatiently.
"Mom and dad are after me for getting a job and contributing at home. They'd kill me if I get pregnant, Riv," she said with panic on her face.
"Do you want to keep the baby or abort it?" Asked Riv.
"I will keep my baby. I will atleast have someone to call my own. I've already loved, Riv. I can't love another. I'll spend my whole life with my baby," said Sera as her voice choked with pain.
"Don't worry Sera. Whatever happens I'll always be with you," promised River.
"Thanks. It means a lot to me," said Sera. They waited some more time and then checked cautiously.
Yes, it was positive. She was indeed pregnant. Sera's face paled. How would she inform her parents now? What would she do now?
"You could take a few more tests at home tomorrow to be 100% sure," suggested River, handing her more strips. Sera kept them in her bag. She went home dreading when her parents would find out.
"There you are. You're late today. Did you get a job?" Asked her mom impatiently.
"No mom," she answered. It was all she asked about these days.
"Then quit that college of yours. It's no good if it doesn't get you work," she said bitterly. "Look at Steven, he's giving private tuitions to help us." She said, proudly. Steven was her younger brother who was in his final year of high school.
She trudged to her room. Why did her mom always try to prove how worthless she was? Since the age of 16, she had worked and contributed at home every month, without a break. And now just one month she couldn't give at home and they've started hounding her.
She kept her things and felt a bout of nausea hit her. Going to the washroom she threw up again and again till she was totally exhausted. Cleaning herself, she drank water and curled up in her bed.
