Tangled Pathways

Chapter one page 6-7

"You aren't happy?" Emily asked and Malyia said nothing. All she could do was stare down at the test in her hands. She had only been with Austin. She held back the sob that caught in her throat as she thought about her being pregnant. "I got false positives all the time with Bryan," she said as she looked over at the other two tests in the box."Okay. Take another, and if it comes back positive, then you go to Austin's house and tell him".

She said, and that's what she did, and the test 10 minutes later came back positive and so she took the last one and it came back positive. "I can't have this baby, I can't have children at all these tests are wrong, she said and now she felt the tears threatening to fall. "I wish I could be there with you Mal, You should talk to Austin regardless of what happened he still is your best friend," she said and Emily was right but it was more complicated than that. if the tests were correct they were parents now. "I'm going to go over now, I'll um call you," she said her voice small and weak as she hung up the phone and

numbly grabbed her keys and a coat and walked outside towards her car.

Normally she would never leave the house during this time at night. With the killer around, she wanted to feel protected in her own home and though he broke into homes, she had been taking new security measures.

Before she could fully process, she was standing on Austin's porch knocking on his door like a madwoman, her hair was wild and frizzled, and the snow began to dampen it.

"Mal-' she cut him off, pushing past him into the house almost as soon as he opened the door..

"What's wrong sugar?'' he asked. His face playing concern as he stared at her hysterical appearance when she tried to speak. Nothing came out and tears had already made their way down her cheeks. Slowly she fished through her pocket handing him the three tests. "What is this?" he asked as he took the tests in his hand he already knew what they were but he still asked almost to confirm what he knew. "I'm pregnant," she said through the sob that racked her body. "I thought you couldn't get pregnant, We used protection... it's mine?" he said and every word he said pierced her heart. "Well me either.. the condom must have broke and I've only slept with you Austin, of course, it would be yours," she said and for a moment he only stared at her then his eyes flicked back to the test and then his face changed it got brighter as if he had run through every possible outcome before settling on one. "I'm happy," he said as he pulled her into a warm embrace wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.

"We're going to get through this, I promise" he whispered, his voice low and soft as he held her

" Austin, what does this make us?" her words seemed muffled as she buried her head into his chest, inhaling his woodsy musk and his aftershave. "parents" he said with a chuckle and Malyia pulled back to look at him before she swatted his chest.

"I'm serious what are we?" she asked again, her tone more stern and her eyes searched his, trying to figure out his answer before he said it.

"Bestfriends'' he said as he met her gaze, but not fully.

" After all of this we're just best friends. Wait are you going to tell your dad?!" she said. She pulled away completely.

Austin frowned, looking at her with pleading eyes. "I'm no good for you Mal as cliche as it sounds, I''ll of course be there for my kid, but we can't be together. I'll just hurt you and we're not telling my dad yet, damn it Mal just give me time," he said as he ran a hand through his hair, seeming almost frustrated at the conversation.

Malyia nodded as she glared at him " Time? you want time all right" she asked and nodded, answering her own question as she smiled. "I'll give you time Austin' she said, moving towards the front door. "You can't spring this on me expect me to be ready to tell my dad, you are my best friend Mal I don't want us to change" he said the words enacted an wave of anger deep within her. "This had already f*****g changed us! We had s*x, Austin we had s*x and now I'm pregnant so yes we will be parents if you can even commit to that" she said opening the front door before turning to face him once more. "we are not friends you've always known that" she said.

"Who were you with before you came here?" his eyes roamed over the clothes she wore.

. "Tristan," she said, looking at him straight in those blue jewels eyes, and she couldn't help but wonder if their baby... would have his eyes well. That was as if there was a baby at all

Austin slammed the door behind her, his massive towering over her. "What did you do with him?" he asked, his eyes seeming to darken in blue.

"None of your damn business Austin!" she yelled as she pressed two hands to his chest and pushed him back.

"You're having my child I think it's definitely my business," he said and she laughed.

"f**k you Austin," she said and before she could turn he slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her into his body He kissed her lips then kissed her neck each kiss burned her skin and she couldn't find the strength to pull away

"Does he make you feel like I do?!" there was a vulnerability to his voice as he spoke staring into her eyes. Something came over her as she pushed him back. "No.." she trembled as she looked at him

" You are not touching me not like this- I'm scheduling a doctor's appointment soon that you are welcome to come to but stay away from me'' a tear slid down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away.

Austin stood defeated and he seemed much smaller than he was. "Okay, I'll be there," he said as she walked out the door. The strength it took to walk away from him was a lot and she didn't know why he could not just accept her. Accept that maybe he cared for a little more than he let on it was as if he was fighting himself and every time he said he didn't want her he contradicted himself again. She didn't know why this baby didn't change anything for him because it changed so much for her.