Maybe things can never return back to normal for us but they can be less chaotic and they have been for the last one week. Benson was kind enough to organize a press conference for the sole purpose of clearing the air about Ingrid.

The public didn't seem content with me addressing her as just a friend, no one even asked about football, they were all hung up on my personal life and there was just so much I could tell them without mentioning that she is pregnant with my child. Ingrid didn't want that and honestly, I don't think I am ready to deal with it going public yet.

Things have been good with Travis, even with Ingrid still in the house. For some reason, Benson has been unable to get a place and I've been too busy with practice and games to look into that. Ingrid, on her part, makes up for it by staying out of the spotlight, both in public and at home and I can hardly talk her out of her room these days but today, we have a doctor's appointment.

"You coming? Levinson". I look up from my phone but I can't figure out which of my teammates had spoken. There are at least five of us in the parking lot.

"Coming where?" I look between them.

"Mark's wifey dropped their third boy? He's getting us all drinks". Hudson explains and he is shirtless. The boy really likes to showoff his tanned toned chest, I wonder how he copes with winter.

"Right, he told me about that".

The captain's wife gave birth to their third baby yesterday and I think he called the entire team last night before remembering we have a group chat. His excitement hadn't worn off even during practice today.

"You coming?"

"Nah, I've got an appointment but let Capt know next month's diapers is on me". They laugh and file into their various vehicles, allowing me to go pick up Ingrid from the cafe.

"You don't have to drop me off". Is the first thing she says as she gets into the car.

"I am not dropping you off, Ingrid. I'm coming with you, deal with it".

"I still think it's a bad idea". She fumble with the seatbelt and I wait patiently for her to get it right.

"Maybe but as long as I don't get any shots, we should be fine". She tsks.

"Then we are definitely going to be having problems if you can't handle a few daddy shots". She finally lean back in her seat.

"Daddy shots". I say as I pull out of the parking space.

"Yeah. They're supposed to help unleash your diaper changing skills".

"Really? Zayn definitely missed those ones". She laugh quietly and talk about her customers for the rest of the ride.

     I pull on a hat before leaving the car at the hospital. If we are going to continue having peace then I cannot be seen entering a hospital with my rumored girlfriend. The nurses find Ingrid's file with ease, it's the antenatal registration that takes up time. When she is asked the name of the father, she glances at me with glassy eyes and I provide my name and for some reason, it makes it feel all the more real.

The rest go by smoothly, personal evaluation and advice. She gets set for her next appointment and we are sent off. Ingrid has a huge smile on as we leave and I think I do too, our baby is okay.
Travis texts just as we get into the car.

Travis❤: Are you guys done?

Me: Yeah, we just walked out the hospital

Travis❤: Are they good?

It's the way he ask about both the baby and Ingrid all the time despite everything. He cares for her and I can tell that he has been bothered by her avoiding him lately.

Me: They are fine. The baby is healthy.

Travis❤: Okay, I tried making that ramen she likes but I think I ruined it so get something on your way.

I chuckle at his hopelessness and Ingrid smiles at me.

"Travis?" She questions.

"Yeah, he wants us to get dinner, he ruined your ramen".

"He made me ramen?" Her surprise makes me smile.

"He tried  to. He doesn't hate you, Ingrid. He is quite fond of you actually".

"It just doesn't feel fair. I am making his life so hard, he should hate me".

"Things don't have to be hard between us. We can't let our situation dictate how we relate with each other. We can try to make it better".

She laughs loudly and flick away a tear.

"God, I'm such a mess. I walked in on the most amazing people on earth and I ruined everything. When you used to tell me about your boyfriend, I thought he was so cool and Travis is amazing. I just wish the circumstances were different".

Initially, I thought their similarities were going to be a barrier for them to have a good relationship but as she wipes her cheek, I can see that Ingrid could really use a friend like Travis who understands her loss.

"I don't know, I kind of like this one". Her chuckle is throaty.

"Let's get pizza".

******************************

     The calm before the storm, if only we had known that is what we had been experiencing. It starts after my practice the next day. Coach wanted to discuss plays for the game tomorrow so by the time I get into the locker room, everyone is out. Well, everyone except Hudson. He is shirtless as usual, sat on the bench in front of his locker, his bag to his side and his eyes glued to his phone, the lights enhancing his blue hair.

"Hey Hud". He looks up at me slowly, causing me to stop in my tracks.

"Are you okay?" I ask when he doesn't say a word.

"I started watching you play since I was a freshman in highschool. My older brother went to your college and he liked to talk about you, their star player who was proudly gay".

I didn't know any of these, I didn't even know he had a brother.

"I admired you a lot and I was envious. I could never be you, my catholic family would never accept a gay son. Papa already has names for my future sons but you gave me hope".

"You_ you are gay?" He smiles sadly.

"Only one person knows".

"Why are you telling me?"

"Because when I heard you were joining the lumbers? I was so excited to play alongside a man like you who is so put together and talented".

This should be an appraisal but the look in his eyes is disappointed.

"They are saying you cheated on him, that it all meant nothing. That it was all a sham, an angle to attain fame".

"What?" He wave his phone around.

"I really did look up to you Jake". But I'm not listening to him anymore, I am scrambling to get my phone from my locker.

Just as before, it is the first thing I see on my feed. This time, it's just two pictures, one of me and Ingrid smiling while leaving the hospital and the second is that damn form. The one that names me as the father of her child. They are saying a lot of things, my dm is filled but all I can think about is getting home to Travis.

      He is home, his car here but he isn't in our bedroom. I rush to the second guest bedroom and as expected, it is locked. I knock repeatedly but get no response. I call out his name and after a couple minutes of persistence all he says is; leave me alone.

"Travis you know it's all bullshit. You know what we have means the world to me. Baby please don't let all these noise get to you".

He still doesn't say anything and I keep knocking until Ingrid shows up, her eyes cloudy and her stance, tired.

"He has been in there for a while now. I tried talking to him but I think he just needs to be alone for a while, it's a lot".

All I can do is nod and slide down with my back against the door.

"I think I should leave".

"And go where? It's not safe out there Ingrid, the press can be brutal, they'll make your life miserable. The only reason you don't see them lurking here is because it's private property".

She sigh and run her hands through her usually sleek hair that now looks like wild grass.

"I'm sorry". I tell her and she smiles sadly.

"For what? Being famous?" She lean down and squeeze my shoulder before disappearing back to her room.

I get my phone out and text Travis, ignoring the texts and calls from everyone else. He doesn't reply but it shows that he is reading them and that gives me hope. I keep at it for at least an hour, sending him strings of words and emojis that's probably make no sense in the end until my fingers tire out.

"I know it's confusing, I know you are struggling to wrap your head around the different headlines and everything is happening so fast but I'm begging you to hold on to what you know is real. That I love you and I need you because without you, nothing makes sense".

I sit quietly after, straining to catch a sound of his breath but the house is dead silent and my mind is whirling so I don't realize when I fall asleep until Ingrid is tapping me awake. Her eyes are heavy and sleepy and my neck is throbbing.

"Are you okay?" I ask and she nod.

"It's midnight, Jake. Go to bed".

"Really?" I reach for my phone and it is past midnight indeed.

The texts and calls have doubled since I silenced the device but I ignore them all as I get off the ground and stare at the door. I want to knock again but he is probably asleep so I walk behind Ingrid to my room and stand under the shower till my legs grow weak.

________________________
So, the next update will be the last one and then we'll have just the epilogue.
Thank you for your time. Please, try to keep an open mind and don't hate my characters especially Ingrid. She is dealing with grief, homelessness and a baby that she didn't plan for. In other words, she is going through a lot, please be kind

See you Tuesday for the final page of UNHINGED🖤🖤