Chapter 0296

“Go away,” Jerome hisses. “You can see her later!”

“What the fuck, Jerome!” I hear Daniel snap and I gasp, going very still. Because Daniel — Daniel can’t know.

“She needs a minute —“ Jerome protests as Daniel — taller and broader than him — starts to push at the door.

“What's wrong with her?” Daniel asks, suddenly frantic. “Is she all right?”

“She's fine!”

“Then why won't you let me in!?” The final word a shout, Daniel gives a hard shove at the door and Jerome stumbles back.

Jerome spins towards me, shaking his head as I stare at Daniel, who almost falls into the room.

Daniel takes a moment to stare at me, to look between Jerome and I, taking in our ashen faces and shocked expressions.

“What the hell is going on, Fay?” he asks, angry now.

“Nothing,” I gulp, taking a step back towards the bathroom and cursing myself — absolutely cursing myself for not tucking the

pregnancy test and its box away somewhere safe —

Daniel notices my step back and his eyes flash to the bathroom.

“What's in there?” he asks, pressing the bedroom door shut behind him.

“Shit,” Jerome breathes, hanging his head in his hands again.

“Nothing!” I insist, taking another step backwards. But Daniel’s already on to me, and as he starts to take long strides to the

bathroom — desperate to know what we’re hiding — I spin and dash in, reaching for the test still sitting peacefully at its spot by the

sink.

My fingers almost touch it, but Daniel is too fast. His hand suddenly comes into my sight, reaching out for it — snatching it up off

the sink before I can grab it.

“Daniel!” I protest, whirling on him, grabbing for the test, trying to get it back. “It’s mine!”

“Well fucking obviously, Fay!” he shouts, his voice somewhere between rage and horror and worry all at once. “What the — what

the fuck is this!?”

But I fold my arms, glaring at him as he holds it high up above my head.

“I peed on that, you know,” I snap, hoping it will make him drop it.

But it doesn’t work, he just glares at me and then looks up at it before snapping his face back to me.

“Are you...are you pregnant?” he asks, breathless.

“Well, I don’t know, Daniel,” I snarl. “That’s what we were trying to figure out!” And I gesture vehemently towards the test, still

held out of my reach.

And slowly, clearly trying to piece the world back together as Jerome comes to the bathroom door and stares between us, Daniel

brings the test back down and stares at the result.

As Daniel stares at the stick I find that I can’t breathe and my hand goes to my throat as I stare at him, waiting for him to tell me

if...

...if my life is completely over.

Slowly, too slowly, he looks up at me. “It doesn’t say anything,” he says, his face twisting in confusion. “What's it supposed to —

did you do it right?”

“Oh my god,” I snap, taking a

stumbling step fonware and ayping

the test o tof pistiaka, \Daniell It's

Fakeely done yet! And you're

supposed to let it lay flat!” Please

read the original content at

Daniel puts his hands up innocently as I place the test back on the counter.

“How long are you supposed to wait?” he asks, a little breathless, staring at it.

“Three minutes,” I say, crossing my

arms and staring at the little stick as

Jerome comes to stand between.

we reallsilentErs long second,

together staring at the little piece of

plastic, before I groan and flip it over

so that we can't see the result.

Please read the original content at

.

Then I turn away, burying my face in

my hands and ee to jee)

anxious Welk tipitSber

thee antics are done,” I say,

decided. “I! can't...stare at it and just

guess.” Please read the original

content at .