Maybe baby/Ain't That Cute
By:
Ella ( [email protected] )
Chapter
Nine: "Consequences"
“Anyway…who let you in,” Nick asked, frowning at AJ.
“Your sister,” he replied.
“I have lots of sisters,” Nick said sarcastically, “which one?”
“BJ,” he replied. “But that’s not important. Did you know you had a
baby?”
Nick lay back down, covering his face with his hands. “No I didn’t,” he
replied quietly.
They paused for a moment until AJ said, “So what are you going to do about it
then?”
Nick closed his eyes. “I don’t know.”
“Well, I suggest you think about it within the next…ooooh let me think,”
AJ glanced at his watch, “minute or so.” He looked expectantly at Nick.
“I just don’t get it. I mean, how did it happen, AJ?”
“You see, it’s like this,” AJ began. “When a man and a lady get together
they-”
“-Shut up,” Nick cut in testily, “this isn’t a good time for jokes,
okay?”
“Okay, okay fine. I’m just trying to help you. Kevin’s about to explode
back at our place.”
Nick looked warily at AJ, who was stubbing out his cigarette on the can top.
“What’s Kevin got to do with this?”
“We called him, because you abandoned us with a very small child. Brian and
myself thought it risky, so we called an elder person of more child- orientated
intelligence to aid us in our childminding employment duties which were cruelly
given to us by the child’s supposed biological father.” He took a breath.
“Why’d you run out like that, Nick? It’s not going to go away.”
Nick looked away, shrugging. He whispered, “I can’t handle it AJ. I don’t
want a kid. I’m nineteen. What do I know about kids?”
Nick’s distraught face softened AJ a little. He ran his hands through his hair,
sending it sticking up in all directions. “You’re not going to like my
answer,” he admitted, “But I guess you know enough about kids to make one.”
“We didn’t fucking mean to!” yelled Nicked loudly. “It wasn’t like we
planned it…” he stopped and a tear rolled down his cheek. Feeling
embarrassed, he brushed it away quickly, avoiding eye contact with AJ.
He got up and paced around the room, ignoring the soft knocking noise coming
from his door. “Jeez, maybe it’s not even MY baby. Maybe she’s just saying
it’s mine because… because…WHAT DO YOU WANT?!”
He marched over to the door, ripping it open and almost wrenching it off its
hinges. Angel, his youngest sister stood at the door staring timidly up at him.
She was eleven.
(A.N: I know I’ve made everyone younger than they really are.)
The expression on Nick’s face was the epitome of impatience. “This is a
really bad time, Angel,” he said. “What do you want?”
“Uh…mom says please can I borrow your lamp because mine’s broken…well,
not broken, but it hasn’t got a bulb because it blew up. And dad says we
don’t have any in the garage…?” She waited politely.
“What,” said Nick, “I don’t have a lamp.”
Angel pointed at his lamp which was clearly visible from the doorway where she
was standing. “But, I can see it – it’s over there.”
Nick wheeled around and stared at his desk, spotting the lamp. “Oh…yeah sure.
How many do you want?” Laughing, he smacked himself in the head. “Forget
that!”
Angel laughed nervously as Nick yanked the lamp’s plug out of its socket. She
caught sight of AJ.
“Hey AJ.”
He waved at her. “Hey Angel. You okay?”
She nodded.
“How’s school?” AJ inquired.
“It’s okay,” she nodded, “I’m writing a story in English. My teacher
says it’s really good.”
He smiled at her as Nick returned with the lamp. “Good, you’ll have to show
it to me sometime,” he said, smiling.
Angel blushed and nodded as she took the lamp from Nick’s hands and ran all
the way across the landing to her bedroom. She shut the door quietly and so too
did Nick.
He sat back down on his bed. “My Mom and Dad are going to kill me,” he said.
“And I mean in the literal sense.”
“Yeah, well they’re the least of your worries.” He cleared his throat.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” AJ replied, “That yes your parents are indisputably going to
give you hell on earth, but the damage is done. Also, I suspect that it’ll be
India who gives you most trouble.” He looked at Nick.
“India. That’s her name.” Nick slumped onto the bed. “It’s like, by
having a name she’s real. And…and the more I hear her name, the more she’s
a part of my life.”
AJ nodded.
“But I don’t want her,” Nick continued, “because I’m not ready
for this.”
“I don’t think you have a choice,” AJ concluded, “every action has its
consequence and err…yours has certainly made an entrance.”