Campus Corner (Open)

[CarnivalBarker]

I sigh. "Apparently Sheila showed up before her shift drunk. So she has to ne sent home, but....uh." I stop.

 

[celestialdragon]

"But what?" I ask. I finish putting on my make up and I come and find you.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"She told Scott that Riley thinks she's pregnant."

 

[celestialdragon]

"Really?" I ask. "Has she gotten a test done?" I get a worried look on my face and I bite my lip.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Scott just said what Sheila told him." I sit down and breathe a minute before daring to look at you.

 

[celestialdragon]

I come over and sit down next to you. "If there is a baby, and if the baby's yours, I think you should file for sole custody of it," I tell you softly, seriously. "Riley's not fit to raise herself, much less a child. I'll take care of it with you." I kiss you.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I put my arm around you, without any words, heartened by your amazing grace and wonderful heart. I tear up a bit, trying to hide it, happy that you didn't become angry or run away from me.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Are you crying?" I ask softly. I wipe away a couple of tears and kiss your forehead. "Sweetheart, there's no need to cry." I stroke your hair gently.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Baby, this," I pause and gulp some air. "This scares me," I finish. "I don't want that for you or for us." I run a hand through my hair. "We'd never be rid of her. You'd be around her a lot more." I just shake my head.

 

[celestialdragon]

"We can be rid of her if we have sole custody and she's not granted visitation rights," I explain softly. "Sweetheart, I know this isn't what you had in mind, and sometimes, Fate deals us a shitty hand of cards. I'm going to stick by your side no matter what. Plus, even if she names you the father, you can request a paternity test to make sure you are the father. But let's see if this isn't some ploy to get you back, okay?" I kiss your forehead again. "We'll get through this together, I promise."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I nod and squeeze your hand. "Ok," I say. "Thank you."

 

[celestialdragon]

"Anytime, sweetheart," I say softly, squeezing your hand back. "I'd be a horrible girlfriend if I didn't stick with you through thick and thin."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I pat your thigh, still a little shaken. "I hope it's not true," I say. "Does that make me a bad person? I hate to say that." I sigh. "I can't imagine having her around us that much. Or all the headaches she would be."

 

[celestialdragon]

"No, it doesn't make you a bad person," I assure you softly. "You're hoping for it not to be true because you don't want or need the added stress of your ex and your current girlfriend clashing over the kid- that's not fair to anyone, especially the child." I kiss your forehead. "It's okay, baobei, we'll get through this."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Thank you," I say. I try to change the subject, still clearly shaken. "You look beautiful tonight." I force a smile.

 

[celestialdragon]

I kiss your cheek. "Thank you baby," I say, a small blush in my cheeks.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I squeeze your hand and walk you down to the street and a few blocks away, where we turn in to an old steakhouse filled with deep, shiny mahogany, iron bars around the visible, wooden wine casks, dark candlelight, and our own, large booth on the second floor with a view of the illuminated street below us on one side, and the interior of the restaurant's lower level on the other. "I love this place," I tell you. "Sinatra used to come here back when people your age knew who Sinatra was."

 

[celestialdragon]

"This is absolutely gorgeous," I say, loving the history and the feel of it. It was a very beautiful place and I can't help but smooth out my dress nervously, as if I was on a first date.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I order us glasses of wine. White for you, a deep red for me. I gulp a glass down quickly, and it breaks your heart because you know why. I order a second along with some bacon wrapped, grilled asparagus appetizers.

 

[celestialdragon]

I sip my wine delicately and order some mozzarella sticks as my appetizer. I look at you with happiness, reach across the table and squeeze your hand. "Hey, are you doing okay?" I ask softly, very concerned.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Yeah," I say. "I'm just.....I don't know. Shocked, I think."

 

[celestialdragon]

I nod, understanding. "Please, take it easy on the wine tonight," I tell you, softly. "For me, baby." I don't mention that I'm concerned you might get violent when drunk, like my dad occasionally did. I give you a small smile.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"It calms me down," I tell you. "I'll be okay."

 

[celestialdragon]

I nod and smile again, squeezing your hand. The worry is still on my face a little bit, but not as much now. I trust you, and it took a lot to break my trust.

I kiss your hand and take another sip of my wine, an almost naughty smile on my lips.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I catch your smile. "What are you up to?" I ask.