Chapter 5

                I was walking to the bookstore after school that day when a bright pink Bentley pulled up to the sidewalk that I was walking on. The window rolled down, revealing a blonde figure, as she stared at me with a light smile.

                “Aerial, let me give you a ride.” Clarice’s glossy lips stretched into a smile.

                I didn’t even spare her a glance, as I kept walking. “I don’t need one.”

                From the corner of my eye, I saw Clarice’s smile drop. She sighed, as she followed me, driving up slowly beside me. “Please, Aerial.” She begged with eyes full of desperation. “Can we talk?”

                Clarice’s pupils only grew large when she needed help, badly. I knew that from the time when we were in the seventh grade, and Clarice stared at me while we were taking a test. She barely studied for that one, and I knew by the look in her eye that she needed help from me. I ended up helping her by giving her hand signals while the teacher wasn’t looking. She passed with a ninety- four on that test.

I raised an eyebrow at the stupid pink Bentley that Clarice was driving in. I can’t believe I was going to get into that thing. I approached the car, as I opened the door to the passenger seat. When I got inside, Clarice looked pleasantly surprised, but she gave me a smile. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Clarice’s voice came out with relief.

I rolled my eyes, refusing to meet her eye. I stared out the window, crossing my arms. “Take me to the bookstore on Fairview Avenue.” I mumbled, eyes concentrated on a small pile of dog droppings that were on the edge of the sidewalk.

“I haven’t been to that bookstore since the eighth grade.” Clarice suddenly said, starting up the car. “I remember we went there for a book signing with Lois Duncan.”

I bit back a smile from the memory. “She was our favorite author in middle school.”

Clarice let out a short laugh. “I remember I cried when she signed my book. I have a picture of us outside the signing. My face was all red from crying, and you were laughing next to me. It’s still next to my nightstand.”

I licked my lips, feeling my heart pang with pain at the old memories that Clarice and I used to share, before she left me.

“I didn’t come here to talk about books with you.” I suddenly snapped, cutting to the chase. “What did you want me here for?”

Clarice’s grin fell from her face, as she kept her eyes on the road. “I’m sorry for what Aubrey almost told everyone earlier today.”

I crossed my arms. “Whatever. Is that it?”

I saw Clarice’s hand shaking as she gripped the steering wheel. Her face became white and pale, even under all of that makeup she had caked on. “There’s actually something I need to tell you.”

“What is it then?” I snapped, growing impatient.

Clarice licked her lips, pulling up the parking lot of the bookstore. “Can we go grab a coffee in the bookstore and talk?”

I pursed my lips. I answered hesitantly, “Fine.”

We got out of Clarice’s pink Bentley, as we made our way in the bookstore. Heads turned towards us, but I couldn’t blame anyone that was staring. Any human being could be able to tell the difference between Clarice and I, appearance wise. I was dressed in a simple university sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, while Clarice was wearing a pair of neon yellow stripper stilettos, a bright pink pair of hot pants, and an eye blinding orange top that hugged her chest.

Needless to say, it was like the rainbow puked on a runway model, walking side by side with a no body like me.

“Is the hot chocolate still good here or what?” Clarice asked me with a smile, as she sat down at a stool across from me.

Clarice and I used to get a cup hot chocolate whenever we came by here. It was like a tradition for us, and this was a reunion, except, everything between the two of us is completely different now.

Perry, the waitress that’s been working at the café in the bookstore here since I was a toddler, approached the two of us. “Aerial, it’s good to see you again, sweetheart.” She paused, taking a minute to eye Clarice. “Who’s your friend?”

Clarice smiled brightly at Perry. “Perry! You don’t remember me?” Clarice squealed.

Perry squinted her aged eyes at Clarice, before a smile began to spread across her lips. “Clarice Adams, aren’t you? The little girl who used to come here with Aerial after soccer practices?”

“That’s me!” Clarice giggled.

Perry eyed Clarice’s outfit of choice, forcing a smile. “I must say, you’ve changed quite a bit. I couldn’t even recognize you.”

“I guess I’ve grown up a bit.” Clarice smiled.

Perry raised her eyebrows, nodding. “Or a lot.” She whispered under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear. “So, the usual for you, Aerial?”

I nodded. “Make that two, actually. Clarice wants one, too.”

Perry nodded, as she jotted down our orders down on a notepad. “Do you girls want to try some new fried cake pops? It’s on the house.” Perry winked.

I smiled. “I’ll take one, thanks.”

Perry looked at Clarice. “What about you, darling?”

Clarice shook her head, giving Perry a thankful smile. “That sounds nice, thanks.

Perry returned back to the back of the café, as I stared at Clarice with an impatient expression. I finally realized now that I shouldn’t even be here with Clarice, after everything she did to me, let alone get hot chocolate and cake with her. I only wanted to hear what she had to say, and nothing more.

“Are you planning to tell me anytime soon?” I pressured.

Clarice stared down at the white and black checkered tabletop, licking her lips. “Before anything, Aerial, I wanted to say sorry to you.”

My eyes snapped up to her, giving her an accusing glare. “For what?” I asked bitterly.

“For throwing our friendship out, and for not being there for you when your mother passed away.” She said softly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, biting the insides of my cheeks. “I don’t need your sympathy.”

“It’s not pity, honestly.” Clarice said quickly.

Perry came back with a tray in one hand, settling down our steaming hot drinks and cake pops on a plate in front of us. She left without asking a question as another customer entered the café.

“Can you forgive me?” Clarice asked suddenly, voice so quiet and weak.

I clenched my jaw, as I stirred the marshmallows that were already dissolving in my cup of hot chocolate. “Why do you need my forgiveness? Especially after so long?”

Clarice hands trembled as she pressed the cup of hot chocolate against her lips. As she took a drink, a small smile appeared on the corner of her lips. “Because I need your help.” She said.

I snorted, rolling my eyes. “Of course, Clare Bear,” I referred to the old nickname I gave her when we were friends, “always crawling back to me when you need something. What is it?” I asked coldly, taking a drink from my mug.

“I-I think I’m pregnant.”

I choked on the lukewarm liquid that was caught in my throat, coughing loudly. I leaned over my chair, as I coughed, clutching my stomach.

What did she just say?

“Are you okay? Do you need me to get you some water from Perry?” Clarice asked, frowning.

I coughed one last time, shaking my head. I blinked a few times, before staring back at the blonde. “Did you just say what I thought you said?” I asked, feeling my heart beat against my chest.

Clarice’s face paled, as she stared down at the neon pink painted nails. “Yeah, Aerial.” She paused, sighing. “I haven’t gotten my period this month, and I forgot to take my birth control when I was with Daniel.”

My heart sank to my stomach. This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t be happening.

“D-Did he use a condom?” I asked cautiously, hoping the answer would be yes.

“No. He never does. He just assumes I’m on the pill.” Clarice admitted, feeling ashamed.

I sank back in my seat, trying to process all of the information. Sure, Clarice became a complete different person from what she used to be, but I always thought she was smarter than that. Clarice had always been the responsible one in our friendship when we were little. How could she be knocked up now? Oh God, she was going to be one of those teen moms that are on television.

“Why are you coming to me about this anyways?” I asked. “I mean, there’s always Aubrey, you’re best friend.”

Clarice pressed her lips together. “Aubrey will never get it. She’ll judge me.” She paused, staring at me in the eye. “Aerial, you’re the only real friend I ever had. I regret losing you, but I need your help, now.”

I shouldn’t care that Clarice could possibly be pregnant.

I shouldn’t care that she needs me.

I shouldn’t care about her.

But, I do.

I pushed myself off of the stool, taking my hot chocolate to-go.

Clarice stared at me with a confused and blank face.

“Well, are you coming or not?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“Where?” she frowned.

“To the drugstore. We need to get you a pregnancy test.” I said.

A smile stretched across her face, as she nodded. She took her hot chocolate in one hand, and her Chanel bag in the other. “Coming!” she chirped, following me behind.

*

                We walked in Clarice’s house with a bag from Walgreens, which contained four different pregnancy tests. The cashier stared at us curiously as he scanned our products, but we had to buy a couple extra just to be safe.

                “My parents aren’t home, so we don’t have to worry about them catching us.” Clarice said, as we headed up to the bathroom in her room.

                Clarice’s room was the exact same as it was in the eighth grade. Four red painted walls with a plushy white carpet. She even had a couple of soccer trophies that she won when we joined the soccer team together in middle school. The only thing different about it had to be her wardrobe.

                I took out the four tests that were in the plastic bag, handing them to her.

                “So, do I just pee on these?” she asked, reading the instructions that were imprinted on the bottom of the boxes.

                “Guess so.” I shrugged.

                Clarice took in a deep breath, before making her way to the bathroom. “Alright.” She breathed heavily. “Thanks for helping, again.”

                I bit my lip, nodding. “It’s fine.”

                She gave me a gentle smile, before closing the bathroom.

                She came back out after, with four tests in her hand. “It says you have to wait a few minutes before the results come up.” Clarice muttered, staring at the tests with a white face.

                “You’re okay, right?” I asked.

                Clarice nodded robotically, putting the tests down on her desk. She walked over to her bed, sitting down. She buried her head in her hands. “What if I’m really pregnant, Aerial? My life will be over.” She muffled.

                “We don’t know for sure, yet.” I said, sitting down next to her.

                We sat in silence, until the couple minutes were up. “Oh my God, I can’t look.” Clarice said, her face filled with horror. “Check for me, will you?”

                Nodding, I made my way over to her desk, anxiously. I read each of the four pregnancy tests one by one, feeling myself unable to breath. Positive, positive, positive, positive.

                “Well, what is it?” Clarice suddenly asked, licking her lips.

                “Clarice, you’re fucking pregnant.”