Best Mistake

I pulled up to the curb in front of Alex's house, looking over the exterior of it. He lived in a pretty nice neighborhood and I began to feel a little out of place as I put my car in park.

I'd pretty much decided that Alex wanted me to come over so he could tell me goodbye and maybe wish me luck, if he was nice about it. I wasn't expecting him to agree to help out with the baby. But a microscopic part of me hoped he would.

I climbed out of my light blue Focus and locked the door behind me. It felt like the pathway leading to the front door kept getting longer the closer I got. I caught myself quickly sprint to the patio and took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell.

I could hear the locks turn and soon Alex swung the large door open. He looked a little dazed as his hair was disheveled and all he had on was a pair of dark blue sweatpants. I blushed a little and walked past him when he invited me in. I stood in the corridor as he pushed the door to and he smiled a little. It seemed almost sympathetic.

"This way," he all but whispered as he led me to the large kitchen. He pulled one of the high-top chairs away from the island, offering me a seat. I sat up straight, trying to display my confidence that quickly diminished when I saw the picture of him and Sophia framed above the large sink.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked while opening the fridge.

"Water would be great," I said, not looking back at him. He placed a water bottle in front of me and walked slowly to the other side of the island, sitting across from me.

"So," he started. "You're doing this."

I twisted the cap off the bottle, taking a quick sip and nodded slowly. "I am. But you know you don't have to."

He smiled, but I could see the sadness in his eyes. "Actually, I do. I don't think my conscience would let me get away with not do anything to help."

I just shook my head. "Alex, I know you have Sophia. And I know this could ruin that for you. I don't want that to happen. Unless she's some god given Saint to the world, I know she won't understand or be ok with this. You don't have to do it. We'll be ok," I said and tried to control my quivering lips.

Alex's eyebrows furrowed inward like he was conflicted. "But you didn't get into this situation by yourself. I had a major part in it."

For some reason unbeknownst to me, I chuckled a little. Alex looked at me a little offended. "I feel like I owe it to you to help," he continued.

I took in a deep breath to quiet the giggles and nodded slowly. "I get that. But you don't. I'm assuming you had the rest of your life planned out with this woman?" I asked, and he looked down at his hands and shrugged. "I don't want to be the bump in the road that comes along and throws you off course."

I watched as he fidgeted with his fingers before he slowly lifted his eyes up to mine. I felt a sharp pain in my chest when I saw the anguish in them. "Do you want me in the picture?" he asked quietly.

Looking away, I took a moment to think about my answer. I didn't want to say anything to make him feel even more guilty or upset, but I didn't want to lie to him either.

"I don't know, kind of," I shrugged, unable to look him in the eyes. "I want it to know who it's father is. But only if you want to be there. Again, I completely understand if you don't. I won't hold it against you."

He looked so unsettled, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. I couldn't help but think there was more to this for him than I realized. "Are you ok?" I asked

Alex stood from his chair and walked back to the fridge, pulling out a beer and popping the top off before taking a long gulp. He looked at me uneasily and sighed.

"I guess..." he trailed off, and I rose my eyebrows at him as I waited for him to continue.

"It's just, I know you're a fan of my band. I don't know how plugged in you are to the All Time Low community..."

He continues talking, but I tuned him out as a small rage began to fill my being. He had a knack for making assumptions about me.

"So, you're worried that if you don't stay, I'm going to run to social media and tell everyone that you knocked me up and left me hanging," I said, a sense of bitterness tainting my tone.

Alex shrugged, his mouth slanted.

"For fuck's sake, Alex," I mumbled, running a hand through my hair. "I would never do that. I'm giving you this option because I want you to have it. Not so I can flip it around on you and paint you as a horrible person."

His expression softened a little and he looked down at the marble countertop. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

I nodded once. I took another gulp of my water, fighting the urge to reach for his beer and down the rest. I knew that was a big no-no.

Alex cleared his throat, standing up straighter. "Okay. I'm going to help." My eyes darted towards him, my expression surely a little surprised. "But please, don't expect too much from me right away. I'm going to do as much as I can, but I don't want Sophia knowing just yet. Obviously she'll have to know eventually, but only when it's necessary."

I nodded slowly, feeling a little bit of the weight lift off of my shoulders. "Thank you, Alex."

He smiled a little before his face contorted uncomfortably. "I hate to ask this, but don't tell anyone. Sure, they'll find out you're pregnant when you start showing more, but if you could just-"

"Leave out the part about it being yours?" I interrupted and he nodded. "Got it," I shrugged. Yeah, that part was gonna suck, but it was more than I was expecting.

I could see him sigh with relief and he walked over to me slowly, his arms outstretched for a hug. I awkwardly moved into his embrace and wrapped my arms loosely around his waist.

"So how far along are you?" he asked, his chin resting on the top of my head.

My mouth opened to answer him but was cut off by a loud "Alex!" booming from the corridor. Alex all push pushed me away from him when Jack Barakat waltzed into the kitchen, freezing at the site of me.

"Hello," Jack said slowly, looking from me to Alex with his arms folded over his chest.

Alex lifted his hands innocently. "Jack, I can explain," he said slowly.

Jack glanced at me again before sitting in my seat. He slumped over, his chin resting in his hand and looked at Alex. "Please do."

I stood still, feeling extremely uncomfortable as Alex told Jack everything. During the story, Jack would look at Alex, then me, then my stomach. I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"And so here we are," Alex motioned to me, his expression blank. He looked like he was trying to read Jack's thoughts, since he was doing a great job at masking them. Jack suddenly turned to me and I flinched.

"So you're having Alex's kid?" he asked me.

I nodded slowly.

He laughed a little, shaking his head. "I don't know whether to apologize or congratulate you."

Alex smiled and it seemed genuine, like he was at ease. He shoved Jack and glanced at me quickly. "But no one is to know about this," he said, pointing a finger at Jack. "Seriously. I don't even want Rian and Zack knowing yet. The less people that know, the less of a chance there is for it to get back to Sophia."

Jack nodded, motioning his hands like he was zipping up his lips. "My lips are sealed."

Notes

SN: totally had a dream last night that I saw Vic Fuentes walking around a supermarket holding a baby and he asked if I could hold it while he went to the bathroom. He never came back for it XD