Manage Me
Under a Cheap July Sky
Now that Annie, Lisa, Kara, and Jessie all knew I was pregnant, I felt pressured to tell Alex. But he still hated me, giving me cold silence and occasionally tossing an insult in my direction. The guys had given up restoring any part of mine and Alex’s friendship and they just didn’t want us to fight.
I stopped responding to Alex’s comments with insults and I hope he noticed. I was not fueling the fire, and was also giving him space. Maybe then, he’d think about it. Until one day when I just knew I had to.
I knocked on his bedroom door. He was laying on his stomach on the bed, Sebastian and Peyton on either side of him, watching TV.
“What? Coming to jump my bones again?” he asked scathingly.
“Alex, I know you’re mad and hurt...but I have something serious to tell you.” I said meekly.
“What.” he spat.
“Alex, I-when we had sex-that time a couple weeks ago-you-I-we didn’t use a condom.” I stammered.
“And?” he asked.
“And I’m pregnant.” I whispered.
“Get out.” he snapped.
“What?” I asked weakly.
“Get out, you fucking whore. Don’t talk to me until you’ve had an abortion.”
I ran out of his room, trying not to let him see me cry. He wanted me to get an abortion? I couldn’t believe it.
I suppose it made sense. I couldn’t have Alex’s baby. I couldn’t justify bringing a human being into the world, when half of this child’s being wants nothing to do with him or her. And I was not ready to be a mom.
I burst into Alex’s room several days later.
“I hope you’re fucking happy, I’m getting an abortion, just like you told me to.” I snapped.
“Good.” he shot back, shoving me out into the hallway.
I’d scheduled it last week, for tomorrow. But I was so scared. I ended up calling Zack.
“Hey Brooke.” he said when he answered. I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Hey Zack.” I said weakly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I-I scheduled an abortion for tomorrow, but I...I don’t have anyone to drive me home afterwards.” I choked. He already knew because of Alex.
“Brooke, of course I’ll drive you home. I’ll take you there too.” he told me.
“Thank you so much, Zack. You’re the best.” I smiled slightly.
“So they tell me.” he replied and we hung up.
I stopped responding to Alex’s comments with insults and I hope he noticed. I was not fueling the fire, and was also giving him space. Maybe then, he’d think about it. Until one day when I just knew I had to.
I knocked on his bedroom door. He was laying on his stomach on the bed, Sebastian and Peyton on either side of him, watching TV.
“What? Coming to jump my bones again?” he asked scathingly.
“Alex, I know you’re mad and hurt...but I have something serious to tell you.” I said meekly.
“What.” he spat.
“Alex, I-when we had sex-that time a couple weeks ago-you-I-we didn’t use a condom.” I stammered.
“And?” he asked.
“And I’m pregnant.” I whispered.
“Get out.” he snapped.
“What?” I asked weakly.
“Get out, you fucking whore. Don’t talk to me until you’ve had an abortion.”
I ran out of his room, trying not to let him see me cry. He wanted me to get an abortion? I couldn’t believe it.
I suppose it made sense. I couldn’t have Alex’s baby. I couldn’t justify bringing a human being into the world, when half of this child’s being wants nothing to do with him or her. And I was not ready to be a mom.
I burst into Alex’s room several days later.
“I hope you’re fucking happy, I’m getting an abortion, just like you told me to.” I snapped.
“Good.” he shot back, shoving me out into the hallway.
I’d scheduled it last week, for tomorrow. But I was so scared. I ended up calling Zack.
“Hey Brooke.” he said when he answered. I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Hey Zack.” I said weakly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I-I scheduled an abortion for tomorrow, but I...I don’t have anyone to drive me home afterwards.” I choked. He already knew because of Alex.
“Brooke, of course I’ll drive you home. I’ll take you there too.” he told me.
“Thank you so much, Zack. You’re the best.” I smiled slightly.
“So they tell me.” he replied and we hung up.
Notes
Title: Tell Mary, Meg & DiaY'all should read one of my other stories. It's a collab between me and dear old NewKidOnAnOldBlock. It's here
Thanks to:
SaraBethGaskarth
tragic_ending
mkelly
ToxicxDancefloor
Britt
and of course, SociallyAkwardRocker and NewKidOnAnOldBlock
I've been stumbling across stories I've read, and checking them out again since I seem to forget them after it's been a while. This was one of those cases.
Reading this again, and after reading other stories on here and Mibba, I've realized that with my last comment, I was a bit off. Yes, Brooke and Alex's relationship was cute when they were together/sweet to each other, but reading it again, their relationship was a bit abusive. Neither is completely innocent, but the version of Alex you wrote in this took it to the next level. I realize a lot of it was because of his insecurities, what he dealt with in the past, etc., but Brooke didn't deserve any of that. When she did mess up, she definitely didn't take her anger to the levels he did.
Idk, I'm conflicted because again, when they were together, it was cute, but then it just got sad when they weren't. I'm not sure why she put up with as much as she did.
Your writing is still good, though. Just wish they didn't have so many downs in their relationship. It got really sad at a lot of points, and I just felt Alex didn't need to take it to the degree he did, I mean really.
I doubt you saw my other comment, but just thought I would comment again as an update and to possibly get you to see it.
11/19/17