Where Do We Go From Here?

I was proper panicking within the confinements of my skull as I stared at my brother with a scowl.

Goddamn traitor, turncoat, Benedict Arnold, Judas! I cursed in my head as I tossed daggers at him with my eyes.

“What was I supposed to think?” Jason asked defensively.

“You were supposed to trust what I told you.” I hissed. “Now mom probably thinks me and Tony had sex and will grill him with her southern drawl and saccharine smile!” I quietly snapped at him.

“Mom invited them over?” Jason asked incredulously.

I rolled my eyes in frustration. “Yes, and it’s all your fault!” I was still whispering as I chastised my brother.

“V, I’m so sorry.” He pleaded.

I tensed. “Just shut up and know that I’m annoyed. I now have to find a way to tell mom that I didn’t have sex with him.”

Walking away from Jason with the morning after pill in hand, I quickly motioned Callie to come over to me from the kitchen’s doorway. Callie smiled and bounded towards me.

I quickly pressed the brown bag into Callie’s hands before saying “You can go up into my room to take it.”

Callie’s smile slightly slipped before she nodded.

“Call me if anything.” I whispered to her before she ran up the staircase to my bedroom.

I approached the living area with caution. I could hear Mrs. Perry’s voice accompanied with Rosie’s small voice. Then there was an unfamiliar man’s voice that spoke. It was only then I realized I hadn’t met Mr. Perry—Tony’s step father. Taking in a breath of encouragement, I walked into the living room with a forced smile.

“Verity!” Rosie exclaimed as she rushed to me and gave me a hug.

I smiled down at her, returning the favor and hugging her back. “Hey Rosie.”

Tony looked up at me and smiled.

“Verity, it’s been a while since my son brought you around. Rosie has been dying to have another face paint session with you.” Gabby commented.

I offered an apologetic smile, wondering if Tony had ever mentioned our brief split to his family. “I’ve just been busy with work and school.” I replied.

“Where are my manners, Verity this is my husband Manuel, Manuel this is Tony’s girlfriend Verity.” Gabby introduced.

I blushed at the sound of ‘girlfriend’, I don’t think I’ll ever come to full terms with that word.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I began while holding out my hand to him.

Manuel, just like most of Tony’s family, ignored that gesture and pulled me in for a hug. I hugged him back before stepping away. Manuel didn’t look like Tony—mostly because he was Tony’s step father, but as I recall to meeting Maria I could see that Manuel and Maria shared the same eyes and nose.

“Antonio has told me great things about you.” Manuel commented with traces of a thick Spanish accent to his voice.

I bit back my smile at the sound of Tony’s full first name being used. “I’m sure he’s exaggerating about it all.” I replied.

Tony blushed. “You’re perfect.” He mumbled out while wrapping an arm around my waist.

My eyes cut to my mother who looked like her stare hardened. I gulped as I shied away from Tony’s touch.

“Mom, I need to talk to you privately.” I piped up.

My mother’s eyebrow cocked at me as Ronnie and Jason took over as playing host. My mother followed me into the hallway that and near the staircase.

“I think I should explain something because you have the wrong idea completely.” I began.

My mother let out a small laugh, and it wasn’t an amused tone. “You have a lot of explaining to do.” She remarked.

I sighed because Jason really screwed me on this one. “I didn’t have sex.” I said bluntly.

My mother remained quiet while staring at me with skepticism.

“I asked Jason for a favor this morning, but it wasn’t for me.” I started to explain.

“Don’t lie Verity Amelia Abraham. Did you and Tony have unprotected sex?” My mother pressed with her southern accent dripping with accusation and anger.

I rolled my eyes. “Mom, I’m not that kind of girl.” I remarked.

She sighed in frustration. “Verity, tell me the truth.” She began before slowing down the speed of her voice and saying a clear yet low tone “Did you and Tony have unprotected sex?”

Following suit, I uttered in a purposely slow and clear tone “No, because we didn’t have sex.”

“Then why did your brother have to pick up the morning after pill in lieu of your request?” She remarked.

I huffed out an agitated puff of air, wondering if I should tell my mother the truth. However, I didn’t want to inflict what Jason did to me, on to Callie. I wasn’t about to throw her under the bus like that.

“I can assure you that it’s not for me. It’s something that I told Jason to get as a precaution. I don’t need it.” I replied vaguely.

My mother’s eyes narrowed at me. “Verity, my patience is running thin right now. So, please don’t bullshit me.” She remarked in a snipped tone.

Groaning in frustration, I said “Can’t you just take my word that I am not the one having a pregnancy scare?”

“Not when it’s something as serious as this.” She answered.

“Mom, I can’t say who it’s for but I promise it’s not for me.” I pleaded.

My mother shook her head before walking away from me. I followed her because I was worried about what she’d do next. My mother walked up to Tony with a forced smile.

“Tony, would you mind helping Verity and me with something. I need a little muscle to grab something from the hall closet.” She said, but her tone was a little strained, something that only Jason, Ronnie, and I would pick up on.

Tony nodded willingly while I was standing off to the side with a sheepish grin on my face. We both followed my mother down the hall again, but this time I was tensing up because I had just dragged Tony into an argument he clearly wasn’t aware of. The three of us stopped once we were out of earshot from everyone else who seemed to carry on with their conversation easily.

“Explain, both of you.” My mother demanded.

Tony blinked in surprise, resembling a deer caught in headlights. “W—what?” He stuttered out in confusion.

“Mom, we didn’t have sex.” I exclaimed in embarrassment.

Tony’s eyes grew wide again. “What’s going on?” He asked with uncertainty.

“My mom thinks we had sex and that I asked my brother to pick up the morning after pill for me.” I answered blandly.

“Don’t try to play coy.” My mother warned.

“For the last time, we didn’t have sex.” I commented in exasperation.

Tony was silent with wide eyes. “Why does your mom think we had sex?” Tony asked.

“Because Verity asked her brother to buy the morning after pill.” My mother answered for me.

Tony’s eyes went wide again, as if they could go any wider than what they already were. “Why would you need that?” He asked with hints of hurt and jealousy lingering in his voice.

“Antonio, please tell me you didn’t do something stupid.” Gabby chimed in. I felt another wave of embarrassment flood my features as I realized that Gabby was here.

Uggggghhhh!

Apparently, somehow within the bubble of frustration that encompassed this conversation, Gabby showed up and evidently overheard the entire conversation.

“No, no one did anything stupid.” I sighed. “This is a huge misunderstanding that I am not at liberty to explain.”

“Verity!” My mother’s southern drawl snapped. “Just fess up.”

It was then that I saw Callie enter the hallway with an uncomfortable look on her face. “It was for me.” She chimed in.

Notes

I haven't been entirely happy with these past few chapters.

Anyway, let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading!! :D

Enjoy <3