Candy Apple Red-Book Two

Chapter 15 - Movin On

SEVEN MONTHS LATER...

I pick up my phone as I notice I have one missed voicemail as I exit the shower. I put the phone up to my ear to listen to the message as I hit play,

Brie, it's Momma. I was calling to let you know that Mariah's water broke early this morning. Baby girl is coming soon. Hopefully, you can make it in time. I love you. Call me when you are on your way.

Shit! I wrap a towel around my hair and body and run down the hallway to my room. I bust through the front door, startling Stacy as I barge in, "s**t, Brie! You scared me!" she cries out in an exasperated tone. 

"I'm so sorry, Stac, Mariah is having the baby. I gotta go!" I tell her. 

"Oh my gosh! Do you think you will make it?" she asks. 

I nod my head, "I hope so! I will call you once I get there. I will probably stay overnight to get some rest, but I'll be back in time for class."

She nods her head and swallows hard as I quickly get dressed in front of her, "Sorry, I'm running around here, butt ass naked, Stac. I didn't intend to make you uncomfortable," I tell her apologetically. 

She chuckles, "No worries. I'm not uncomfortable. Are you?"

I roll my eyes, "Shoot, no!" 

I slip on a pair of jeans and a college sweatshirt and quickly run a brush through my damp hair.  I rush to pull my tennis shoes on before grabbing my purse and keys and opening the front door. I spin back around to face her, "Bye, Stac, love you." I tell her before I dart out the door.

"Love you too, roomie!" she calls out as I run down the hall and out the front entrance of the dorm. I dash for my car in the parking lot and pull out like a bat out of hell en route for Laurel. 

So, you are probably wondering where the hell my car came from? Well, my pops came down to visit with me from Indianapolis after Christmas last year. As a reward for getting straight A's my first semester, he purchased a 1992 mustang convertible that I've had my eye set on for a while at the used car lot in town. As a bonus, Momma decided to pitch in and have a custom paint job done on it in my favorite color. The car was ugly emerald green color before, but Momma knew that I would be much happier if it were painted candy apple red since that is my color of choice. Of course, I didn't object, and after I had it done, I was in love with my car; the paint sparkled in the direct sunlight. It fit me perfectly!

I pull out my CDs and insert Faith Hill as I speed down the road with my windows rolled down. It's a bit chilly tonight but not super frigid. My stomach is in knots as I anticipate my arrival home. I hadn't talked to Seth since the night before I left Laurel. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. He called a few times, and I never called him back. I picked up the phone several times to call him back, but I chickened out every time. I'm sure I'm going to have to explain to him why I never returned his call if he's there. I know now I can't just be friends with him; I love him way too much. 

It will be excruciating to see him right now; I know this with every fiber of my being. I haven't quite gotten over what happened between us. I eat, sleep, and dream about Seth non-stop despite having school as a distraction; he's never far from my thoughts. 

 After six and a half hours, I arrive in Laurel at Legions Hospital, stopping only once to pee and fill up my tank. I hop out and scan the parking lot of the hospital as I dash towards the front entrance.  Oh, f**k me! I see Seth's car parked in the parking lot. My entire body trembles and I begin to feel my cheeks flush as I dart inside and make a beeline for the waiting room. 

As soon as I turn the corner, Momma is standing with Nova and Maggie as I rush inside, "Momma!" I call out. 

She spins around, her eyes wide, "Baby, you made it! She's already eight centimeters dilated; let's hurry up and go into the delivery room. She's asking for us." 

I rush over and wrap my arms around Maggie's neck, "Hey bestie, I missed you. Let's catch up afterward," I whisper in her ear. 

She nods her head and matches my embrace, "Yes, we will." she says, her eyes wet with tears. 

I turn around as I notice two sets of eyes boring a hole through me. Once set is Seth's beautiful brown eyes. I swallow hard as I stand there, frozen in place. He laces his fingers behind his neck and shakes his head from side to side, "Brie?" he chokes out. 

"Hey, Seth," I mumble quietly. 

I glance at the person sitting down a few seats over, glaring at me. I cross my arms in front of my chest once I realize who it is...Fucking Rachel! 

I shake my head and snort. He didn't waste any f*****g time. Unbelievable! "Hey, Rachel," I say through clenched teeth. 

She flashes a half-hearted smile and twists the diamond stud earring in her ear just before I feel a warm hand on my shoulder, "Come on, doll, let's go." Momma suggests. 

I spin around and follow Momma and Nova as she leads me back to Mariah's room. I turn around to glare intently at Seth before turning the corner out of sight. 

I attempt to rid my mind of all negative thoughts and focus on Mariah right now, although I'm seething with rage. I know that I don't even have the right to be. What did I expect? He's a man with needs, and she just wore him down. I was the one that didn't call him back, after all. 

Once we arrive in Mariah's room, she is lying on the bed relaxing. The huge basketball shaped tummy is peeking out from under the sheet.  Aside from the huge belly, I can't tell she's pregnant; she's stunning! "Aww... Colie! You are the cutest pregnant girl ever! You are all belly!" I say as I dart towards her, wrapping my arms around her neck. 

"I am so glad you made it." She says with tears streaming down her cheeks. 

I brush the hair from her eyes, "I wouldn't miss it." I tell her. 

I feel a hand on my shoulder, "Hey, Little B, you behaving?" 

I turn and look up as Dylan stands over me, smiling, "Not on your life, knucklehead." I respond as I reach up and playfully punch his stomach. 

He snickers and pats my head before strutting to the other side of Mariah. 

We chit chat and catch up for a couple more hours before the nurse comes in to check Mariah's cervix. She finally reaches ten centimeters, and she's ready to push. The nurse pages the doctor, and soon, Georgia May Hudson arrives. She was the most beautiful baby girl I had ever laid eyes on. I was so happy for them. 

After some time, they move Mariah to a recovery room, and we all gather around to see the new baby. Dylan is already wrapped around her little finger; I can tell the way he looks at her. Seth strolled into the room alone without Rachel to see the baby. He probably thinks that it would cause too much drama. I blatantly ignore his gaze and focus solely on Mariah and the baby only. 

Once the baby is ready to feed, Dylan kindly kicks us out so Mariah can nurse her and get some rest. I try to avoid Seth at all cost and walk briskly out of the room, making a beeline for the entrance of the hospital, "Momma, I have to get back, I have a finance exam to study for, and I forgot my finance book." I tell her as I pass by her in the hallway on a mission to get the f**k out of here. 

"Aww... you can't stay?" she asks. 

"I'm sorry, I forgot all about it," I tell her.  

She appears disappointed but nods her head as she looks down at the ground. I think she knows what's really eating me, but she doesn't bring it up. I pass by the waiting room on the way out to find that Rachel is sitting in the same chair, glaring at me as I walk by. Don't worry, hoe. He's all yours. I begin to dash out the front entrance towards my car in the parking lot. 

I hear footsteps behind me as I approach my car, "Wait a damn minute, Brie!" Seth calls out. 

I turn around and glare at him, "What is your problem, Brie? Why are you acting like this? Why have you not returned my calls?" he demands. 

I yank open my door and exhale audibly, "Yeah, I can see you are all torn up about it!" I yell without making eye contact with him. 

"Don't leave like this, please. Let's talk. It's not what you think..." 

I quickly climb in my car and look up at him as he stands next to my car with his hands firmly pressed against the car door, "Please, don't go." he pleads with me.

 His voice is muffled since my window is rolled up. I reach down and roll my window down before responding, "Go back to Rachel and leave me the f**k alone!" I yell as I turn the key to start the ignition. 

He puts his head down and crosses his arms in front of him, "You are ripping my heart out," He mumbles.

"I'm sure it doesn't compare to what you just did to mine, Seth," I tell him as I put the car in reverse and squeal my tires as I drive off like a bat out of hell out of the parking lot and down the road. I look back in my rearview mirror to find him standing in the middle of the street with his fingers laced behind his neck. He falls to the ground on his knees as I drive off.  Well, that was dramatic as f**k!

I crank up the volume to my stereo as You Outta Know by Alanis Morrissette coincidently plays. How convenient! I belt out the words to the song as my mind races. I love how he plays the heartbroken one here. Poor, pitiful Seth! Well, I have news for you, buddy! I'm not the one who brought my ex in there while the girl whose cherry I popped visits her cousin while she has her baby. Did he even consider my feelings when he brought her there? Was he trying to hurt me? I can't help but wonder what his intentions were. f**k it! I don't care. He's all hers now!

I open up a pack of Marlboro's in my purse and smoke a quick cigarette while speeding down the road. This will make me feel better as I hash out what just occurred back there. I know Momma would kill me if she knew that I smoked. I think she would kill me over a lot of s**t that I've done while I've been away at college. I guess what she won't know won't hurt her. 

I flick my cigarette out the window and watch as sparks fly in the wind. f**k! I realize I forgot to tell Maggie goodbye; I will need to call her tomorrow. That jack ass got me all distracted. Thanks for popping my cherry, Seth. I got my closure tonight, so it's time for me to move on now. When I arrived back in Knoxville, that's exactly what I did; move on...