Episode 2: Deal

No. this was too much for me to do alone. But it looked like I would be. Her parents were strict and her father could be abusive. Not scary abusive but she had a few scars and bruises from times when she had disappointed him. Her mom was violent, she was an amazing mom. The idea of her mom finding out how badly she had stuffed her life up was terrible. She needed her mom.

She decided to call Olivia. Olivia had been her friend now for five years. Not long by some standards but she was the best friend that she had. She found the phone in the kitchen and ran back into her room, locked the door and turned on the music so that her parents could‟t listen in if they were walking past. She quickly dialed the number before she chickened out.

All she could hear were the ringing of the phone, once, twice, three times… maybe she wasn't home, and she thought of hang up. "Hello Keller Residence, John talking" came the breathless voice. Amelia froze as she realized that John was there. He was Olivia‟s brother and had not been home in about five years.

When Olivia and John‟s parents had divorced Olivia had stayed with her mom while John and his father had left. While she wondered about why he was there and answering the phone she realized that she had not said a word.

"Hello? Hello? Prank calls are really stupid you know… Who the hell is it? Sandra? If it‟s you would you go the hell away please" He began to get angry as he finished talking and Amelia realized that she should say something?

"Um, no it‟s not Sandra" she replied meekly "Oh, then who are you and why didn't‟t you answer before" he retorted "Sorry I spaced! No need to go all freaky on me", cringing at the cutting tone of my voice. "Um look I am sorry. I am Olivia‟s friend. Amelia. Is she home?"

"Yeah, she is. I‟ll go get her for you…freak" He had muttered the last part so quietly that I was sure that it wasn't meant to be heard. What a complete jerk, I thought angrily. I heard the shuffling of the phone and murmured voices before Olivia answering in her usual perky voice.

"Hey, Olivia‟s it is Amelia" "Oh, hey there buster, what‟s going on? You pissed my brother of real good" she giggled, "what‟s your secret? I have never made him that angry"

"Shit, yeah sorry I didn't mean to do that" I mentally cringed. "Meh, no biggie. So what‟s up?" "Um ok. You know how you are like the best friend in the whole universe, right?"

"Wow, it sounds like you have screwed up if I have been promoted from best friend in the whole world to best friend in the entire universe" she giggled, sounding wary at the same time "Yeah I- I really ha- have this-is time. I am-am, uh, um…" I stammered "Wow Amelia, it can‟t be that bad honey. I am not going to judge I promise" "PREGNANT!" I shouted. "I am pregnant" I repeated more quietly, more calmly.

I was greeted by silence on the other end of the phone. "Well, not expecting that I guess" I tried to laugh it off like it was nothing but Olivia‟s silence was more disconcerting than anything that I thought that she could say.

"Do you want to come over Gee?" she asked using my old nickname. "I can bet you don‟t want your folks hearing this. It‟s only me and John here and he is heading out. I can get him to pick you up" "Yeah," I said relieved.

"That would be awesome. As long as you tell me why he is there in the first place" I laughed "Sure, as long as you tell me about this whole pregnancy thing" she replied, and I could hear her smiling. "Hey, just make sure that you don‟t piss him off again"

"Deal" I groaned as she hung up thinking about the awkward car ride to come. I spent the next few minutes getting my clothes on and detangling my hair. I had just put down the brush when I heard a car beep from outside. I looked out the window and saw probably a mirage.

It had to be the hottest guy I had ever seen. He had blonde hair and his shirt was clinging to his body in the wind... Oh, sweet mother, he had muscles!!!!! I wondered why he was parked outside my house. Maybe he was one of my sister‟s new boyfriends…

I think she was dating about three guys at the moment. Yeah, she was a skank. But I love her. I watched the guy for a few minutes before he threw his hands up in the air and muttered something. He walked to our front door. I heard my sister answer the door and then muted voices, before a knock at my door.

It opened before I had a chance to reply. There stood my sister with a curious look on her face and the blonde Lord. "Amelia? Ah, John‟s here to pick you up", Grace said, still obviously curious as to why the Lord… or John was here for me. I stared at him for a moment before I realized that he was scowling at me, obviously annoyed about something.

"If your Amelia you have two minutes to be down in the car. If you aren't you can walk to Olivia's house". With that, he turned and stalked out of the room, while I stood gawking with my mouth open. One…that was rude. Two… sweet mother of all that is sweet! John sure had changed since I last saw him.