Where Do We Go From Here?

We landed back in California on the 30th, just before New Year’s Eve. I was exhausted from the long flight and decided to hold off on calling Tony, even though I told him I would call once we got back home. Callie and I lugged our luggage back to my room before the two of us collapsed on the bed. We didn’t even unpack when the both of us drifted off into slumber. It was the light knocking on my door that snapped me from dreamland and back into reality. Waking up with a groggy jolt and blurry vision, I stretched while becoming suddenly aware that Callie was still next to me, sound asleep.

“Yeah?” I called out groggily.

“Verity darling, Tony is here.” My mother announced through my closed door.

I stretched out again before slowly standing on my feet. I walked with tired steps to my door and opened it, and there he was, smiling broadly just as I last remembered.

“Hey.” He breathed.

Fearing that I had bad breath, I offered a smile while rubbing my eyes clear of any dreariness. I held up my hand, as if motioning him to wait, and walked back into my room. I rummaged through my travel bag and extracted my hygiene bag before pulling out my toothbrush and toothpaste. Within minutes I had rinsed out the bad taste out of my mouth. Tony was still standing awkwardly under the threshold of my bedroom door since Callie was still fast asleep on my bed. She was now sprawled out on my bed, with four limbs taking a corner of my bed.

Walking back to Tony, I smiled. “Hey.”

“Wanna go for a drive?” He asked, while eying out Callie.

I chuckled because Callie was beginning to snore. She’d kill me if she ever found out that I allowed Tony to see her in such a way. I nodded my head, answering his question, since my words seemed to be lodged in my throat due to the fact I was still tired. Padding downstairs, I looked down the hall to see if my mother and father were around. However, the house was completely quiet which made me believe that they too must be catching up on some well deserved sleep. Tony had is hand placed gently at the small of my back as we walked to his car. It was an innocent gesture that made me feel protected and loved.

“Where are we going?” I managed to ask, unfastening the words from my mouth.

Tony bit his lip before saying “How’s about to that cabin I took you to for our first date.”

I nodded in agreement, wondering what was so important for him to say if it couldn’t be said anywhere near. The ride was filled with old 80’s ballads, ranging from The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, and Motley Crew. I was enjoying myself while tapping my fingers in rhythm with the music as we plaited through the winding roads. It seemed to be mid-day, the sun hanging high with a layer of overcast covering its hot beams. The air also felt wildly muggy, not in a dry way, but rather hinting to the fact that it might just rain soon. California was in dire need of some rain at the moment or else the place would burst into flames.

Unlike the last time, I didn’t have to wear a blindfold upon making our way to the small cabin. The trail that led from the main road to the cabin was a dirt path with a lattice of shrubbery banking on each side of us. Tony would speak occasionally, asking me how I was and how my trip went and saying that I definitely got a tan since my cheeks were freshly red and my shoulders were golden. I gladly indulged him about my family and that I was fine and thanked him for noticing that my pasty skin turned into odd colors due to too much exposure to the sun, but the small talk felt forced. I didn’t feel the ease of conversation that I usually do when I’m around Tony. Something felt…off. We stopped walking as we reached the first step of the cabin. It was then that Tony sat down, waiting for me to follow suit—I did because it felt weird to be standing in silence.

“So who owns this place?” I asked, trying to make small talk.

Tony shrugged. “Mike and I stumbled upon it during our freshmen year, back when we were really into being hooligans.” He answered lightly. He then added “We’d come around this place to see if anyone lived here but it was always empty.”

“Oh.” I replied because I really didn’t know what to say to that.

It got quiet between us that I started drawing invisible patterns into my jeans. Just as I noticed before, something felt…off.

“What’s wrong?” I asked hesitantly.

Tony sighed. “I recently found something out, and I don’t know how you’ll take it.”

Found out news? I couldn’t help but think the worse.

“Is it your family? Are they okay? Is Maria and Rosie okay?” I asked in a quick fashion.

My mind couldn’t help but speculate the idea that his sister’s weren’t okay. Maybe it was because the last person who told me unsavory news was my father, and it was about my sister.

“No, Rosie and Maria are fine.” Tony assured me. “It has nothing to do with them.” He added.

I breathed in relief. “Thank goodness.” I mumbled before waiting on Tony to continue.

The anticipation was weighing thickly in the air, and with every passing second that was filled with silence I couldn’t help but feel more and more on edge. It was like I was currently in a horror movie—slowly wondering where my psycho serial killer would pop out from. You always knew when the scary scene was about to hit because the score would get eerily intense and then suddenly it was silent before the big bang would happen, and as of right now, I was in the silent part of the score, waiting apprehensively for the big bang to hit me.

“Tony, just tell me.” I pressed.

Tony gulped, hands shaking, while continuously jiggling his right leg up and down. His consternation was making my heart palpitate with unease.

Taking in a long breath of air and exhaling slowly, Tony said “Carmen’s pregnant.”

Shots were fired, my psycho serial killer had popped out, the big bang had finally hit, and yet I was a statue.

Notes

*Gasps!* Well, most of you guessed right. Sorry to those who didn't want this to happen...but it did :3

And the reason for my absence is mostly due to the fact that I am moving from one house to another. Just packing up the last of my shit and am currently on a cleaning spree. I should be settled into the new house by next week. Hopefully, that's when my updates will be more regularly.

Thank you all for your comments/predictions! I literally blush when I see the feedback I get after a chapter :)

Enjoy <3