N O

S U C H    T H I N G

____________________

I'm sitting on the couch when I hear a knock on the door.

After James and I left the ER, we took Lena home and then James dropped me off at my house. I told my mom how well Ian is doing, and she said that when she got home from work, we would celebrate.

It's late in the evening and it's Monday, so I'm not sure who is at my door.

What I don't expect to find, is Abby standing at my door with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Abby? What's wrong?" My eyes widen as I pull her inside and shut the door. I walk her over to the couch and we both sit down.

She begins shaking her head. "I just don't understand why this had to happen... we used a condom."

It takes me a while to think about what she said, but when I see a small white stick in her clenched hand, my eyes practically bulge from their sockets.

"Are you..." I trail off, motioning toward her closed hand.

She simply nods.

"And with..." I trail off again, not even wanting to say his name.

Abby nods once more.

"Holy shi-" I'm cut short when Abby sends me a warning glare.

"I mean wow, that's... great?" I say more as a question.

"You can stop the act. I know what you're thinking." She sighs while leaning back against the couch. "What the fuck am I going to do?"

"Well, first, have you told Percy?" I ask.

"Of course I did." She mumbles.

"Well, what did he say? Wait, let me guess, he wants you to abort the baby?" I find myself glaring.

"Actually it's quite the opposite. He wants us to keep it." She says quietly.

"What? Keep it? You're both only seventeen! You're both still in high school! How are you supposed to birth and take care of an infant?" I begin interrogating. I don't mean to, but the questions just roll out of my mouth before I have the time to stop it.

"Technically Percy already turned eighteen last month." Abby shrugs.

"Regardless, you're both way too young for this!" I exclaim.

"Don't you think I know that Skylar? Why do you think I'm freaking the fuck out without Percy present? He wants us to be together and keep the baby, how is that going to work? You, Lena, James and Ian all hate Percy with a passion, and let's not forget that he's related to Satan herself." Abby rants while standing up and pacing the living room floor, the stick still enclosed in her firm grasp.

"I can't be with him, even if I did sort of like him. Besides, I'm not good with relationships, never have been. We are kind of the same in that way." She says to me.

I nod, but argue. "Yeah, that's true, but I'm in a relationship now and it's honestly the best decision I've ever made. I've never felt this way before. I'm actually in love Abby. I know it seems cliché and too fast, but I genuinely love James. I think I have for a while. I was just scared because of my own insecurities and because of my past with my father."

Abby stands still and listens intently.

"I gave up on myself, but James forced me to open back up again. I never would have thought in a million years that I would be with someone, let alone with James. I was willing to stay single all through high school, and college." I try to explain.

"I know you're scared, but you don't have to be alone because of it. You can be scared and still be happy at the same time. I am." I shrug. "It just comes down to what you truly want. Despite your fears."

Abby shakes her head. "Even if I agreed to be with him, and to try to have a relationship, I still don't think I'm ready for this." She holds the stick out with her hand open.

"Again, that's something only you can decide." I sadly smile. "This is strictly your decision, nobody else's, not even Percy's."

As soon as I finish speaking, the front door opens and my mom walks through.

"Hey sweetie, I got some ice cream and-" but seeing Abby with her hand open, holding a pregnancy stick, instantly cuts her off.

"Oh great..." Abby sighs while closing her hand and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Skylar..." My mom begins in a warning tone.

"Don't worry, it's not mine." I hold my hands up with a smile.

"Oh thank God!" My mom sighs in relief. She turns and notices Abby's glare, then she frowns.

"I mean, oh, okay. Well, it's okay if you are Abby. Are you?" My mom asks carefully.

"Yes." Abby nods as a tear falls from her eye.

"Oh sweetie, come here." My mom places the bags of groceries down onto the floor as Abby walks over and into her arms. "I promise you, it's not the end of the world."

"Sure feels that way." Abby mumbles into my mother's shoulder.

"I know it does, believe me. I got pregnant with this one over here fairly young, and sometimes I wished we would have waited." My mom says, which causes my eyes to widen.

"Hey!" I glare.

"Love you sweetie!" My mom winks at me.

She pulls apart from Abby and walks over to sit on the couch with us.

"The point is, while I wasn't ready in the slightest to be a mother, I wouldn't trade Skylar here for anything in this entire world."

I smile wide at my mom, who smiles back at me.

"But I'm seventeen. I haven't even graduated high school yet." Abby frowns.

"I understand that. However, you can still graduate. The baby won't be here for nine months, you'll have graduated by then, and once you have the baby you can take online college courses to earn your degree. There are so many options available to you that weren't available to us back in the day." My mom says.

"Great, I'll have a full blown pregnant belly while I walk the stage to get my diploma. I'll be near eight months pregnant by then!" Abby's eyes widen.

"So what? At least you can say you didn't give up. At least you can walk across that stage with pride in yourself, knowing you have achieved your goals, despite your minor setbacks. Anyone who has anything to say about that can kiss it!" My mom smirks, which causes Abby and I to laugh.

"Thank you Theresa. It really means a lot to have your support." Abby sadly smiles. "I just have no idea how I'm going to tell my mom."

"Sorry kiddo, that's a conversation only you can have." My mom says. "She'll be angry at first, but eventually, she will recover."

"I'll go with you, if you want." I turn to Abby who nods aggressively.

"Yes, please! I'm still not completely sure yet what I want to do, but this helps." She smiles to both my mom and me.

"Now! Let's have some of this ice cream I bought! And before you ask Abby, yes I did get mint chocolate chip." Mom smirks as she rushes over to grab the groceries she left on the floor.

"You girls find a movie." Mom shouts from the kitchen.

Abby and I nestle on the couch as I scroll through Netflix.

"Can we talk to my mom tomorrow? I don't want to wait." Abby turns to me.

"Of course." I smile. "I'm there for you all the way."

Abby smiles in return, and we end our night with a movie and ice cream.

_______

"Okay I lied, I can't do this." Abby shakes her head as she turns to walk away from her front door. She spent the night last night, and I asked mom if I could stay home from school one more day to help Abby talk to her mom about her newfound pregnancy.

We still haven't told Lena. We haven't told Ian or James either.

"Yes you can Abby. We rehearsed this last night. Just go in there and sit her down and explain everything the same way that you did to me." I reassure as I pull her further towards her front door. "Come on, she leaves for work in only an hour."

Abby pulls her key from her bag and unlocks the front door. We both walk inside, and immediately hear Abby's mom in the kitchen.

"Hey mom." Abby greets as we both walk into the kitchen.

Abby's mom turns around with a confused expression. "Shouldn't you be at school by now?" She glances to the clock on the microwave and then back at us.

"I skipped today. We need to talk about something." Abby says.

"I don't have much time, can it wait?" Her mother sighs.

"No, Ms. Stone, it can't." I say, and urge her to listen to her daughter.

"Alright, let's hear it."

Abby's mom walks and sits down at the island in the middle of the kitchen, so Abby and I follow her lead.

"Well, it's hard to say..." Abby begins.

"Then can this wait until after school and work?" Her mother raises an eyebrow, so I cast her a heavy glance while slightly shaking my head.

"What is it Abby? You're starting to scare me."

"Mom... I'm so deeply, incredibly sorry, but-" Abby's mom is quick to cut her off.

"Oh no, you're in trouble aren't you? What happened?" She sighs.

"No mom, listen!" Abby glares. "I'm pregnant!"

There's about ten seconds of complete silence, before Abby's mom brings her hand to her mouth in complete shock.

"You're what?" She asks.

"Pregnant." Abby repeats.

"What the hell is a matter with you? I bought you condoms! I thought you went and got the pill? This can't be happening. I'm too damn young to be a grandma!"

"Mom, this isn't about you! I'm scared!" Abby begins to cry. "I didn't want this to happen either!"

Ms. Stone takes a second to collect herself. She gets up and pours herself a cup of coffee, adding far too much sugar into it.

"Who's the father?" She asks.

"Percy Stiles." Abby mumbles.

"Stiles? As in the Stiles?" Ms. Stone's eyes are the size of the moon right about now. "They own million dollar companies! They're big named people in this town!"

"Yes mom, those Stiles." Abby rolls her eyes.

I know what Ms. Stone is thinking. All she sees are money signs.

"Mom, Percy wants me to keep the baby, but I don't know if I want to or not."

"Of course you are! Sharing a child, means sharing his money!" Ms. Stone exclaims.

"That's not what I care about!" Abby shouts. "You honestly say that me being a teen mom is okay, just so long as I get money out of it from Percy?"

"I mean, a little extra money never hurt anyone." Her mother shrugs in reply. "Besides, we don't believe in abortions."

"You don't mom, but I think I should have all my options available to me." Abby says simply. "It's my body, so it's my choice."

"Well, what is your choice then?" Her mom glares.

"I don't know yet. That's why I wanted to talk to my mom, you know, someone who's supposed to help me and not judge or use me as an easy paycheck!" Abby throws her hands up in anger, before standing up and storming out of the kitchen.

I look at Ms. Stone who sends me an apologetic stare. "Look, I know I sound like a money-hungry monster of a mom, but this could work out in everyone's favor."

"That's not the point. Your daughter is scared to death right now, and all she wanted was a little bit of support and comfort. Being that you had Abby while you were nineteen, I would've thought that you would understand." I accuse.

"Listen young lady, you don't know everything about my past." She begins to lecture.

"Believe me, I know that. But I do know everything about Abby, and she's really struggling with this. Can't you just be there for her, as her supportive mom?" I beg. "She needs you."

"That child has never needed me before. She's done pretty well at taking care of herself." Ms. Stone says. "Besides, she's never tried to listen to any of my advice before."

"This is different. This is the one thing that you both have in common. You are the only one who can help her through this. I wish I could, but I can't." I frown. "Please, don't take this lightly."

"You've always been a smart girl, Skylar. I'm glad Abby has a friend as good as you." She smiles to me, and I smile back.

"She has you too, despite what you may think." I add.

"I'll go talk to her, don't worry."

I nod and get up to go say goodbye to Abby. I give her a hug and tell her to call me.

We decided that we would tell Lena and James tomorrow at school, and then stop by the hospital to tell Ian after. It may not be the best time to share the news, but Abby doesn't want to hide anything from her friends.

As I'm driving home, my phone rings.

"Hello?"

"You need to tell that bitch to abort that fetus!" I hear the familiar voice of Avery snap on the other end of the call.

"Excuse me?" I glare while pulling over on the side of the street to continue the conversation.

"Our parents are under a lot of stress and we are always in the public eye. We can't announce that the eldest of the Stiles children is expecting! It would ruin our reputation. Besides, Percy is expected to take over the company soon after we graduate. He can't do that with a baby and baby momma to worry about." Avery rants into the phone.

"First of all, how the hell did you get my number? Second, who do you think you are to tell my best friend what she needs to do with her own body? If Abby wants to keep the baby, Abby is going to keep the baby. She doesn't care what you or your snobby parents think." I shout back.

"Fine, but she's been warned." Avery sneers before ending the call.

I stare at the phone bewildered. How dare her.

As I pull away from the curb and begin driving home again, I dial Percy's number. 

I am not going to let Avery fucking Stiles, hurt my best friend or her baby.