Hey guys! This is my first fic on II so please be kind with me. lol!!! Make sure not to forget to leave me a review when you’ve read this. hehe. Love always Em xxoo

CHAPTER 1

For the second morning in a row I woke up feeling really sick and nauseous. At least the morning before I’d had a chance to wake up properly before I had to leap out of bed and run to the toilet. When the throwing up had subsided, I brushed my teeth before getting into the shower; the warm water ran down over my body, the tranquility refreshing. I thought it might have helped wash away the awful feeling I had but sadly it had no affect. After getting out of the shower I threw on some tracksuit pants and a hooded jumper and pulled my long brown hair back into a low ponytail. I headed out to the kitchen where I was greeted by Karen and Paul.

"Are you okay, hun?" Karen asked. "Have you still got that bug?"

"Um, yeah." I said only half paying attention. “I’m just going to go for a walk, maybe go to the chemist and get something for it.”

I picked up my purse, keys and phone and left.

“Bye,” Karen called after me.

“Did she seem a bit, I don’t know, distant?” Karen asked Paul.

“I dunno, I guess." He replied unfazed. He stood behind her and started kissing her neck.

"I'll have to ask her what's going on later."

I stood in the chemist staring at the product sitting on the shelf in front of me at eyelevel. The product entitled pregnancy tests. Finally I picked up a box and headed for the counter. Nervously I paid for the test kit wondering what the girl at the register must think of me.

As I dawdled home I received a text from Ben that said-

hey babe. do u want 2 go out 2nite? i'll call u l8er. luv ben xxx

I couldn't be bothered replying so I shoved my phone back into my pocket.

I pushed open the front door of the flat Karen and I owned. I hid the test away in my room before I went back out to the lounge where I found Karen.

"Is Paul still here?" I asked.

"No, he just left."

"Oh, okay."

"Emma, can I talk to you?"

"Yeah, I guess."

I sat down on the couch.

"Are you okay?" Karen asked.

"Me? Yeah, I'm fine." I lied.

"Emma," Karen said, clearly not believing me.

I didn't say anything. I couldn’t. It was like I’d forgotten how to speak. I tried to open my mouth but nothing came out.

"You can tell me."

"I think I'm pregnant." I said, not realizing what I’d blurted out until it had been said.

Karen sat shocked. "Um, it's Ben's?"

"Yeah, of course. Who’s else would it be?”

"Sorry. I just… Is that what you went to the chemist for, to get a test kit?"

"Yeah. Now I've just got to find the courage to do it."

"Have you said anything to Ben?"

"No." I said. “I thought I’d better wait until I know. That way he won’t get all worked up then find out it ‘s nothing or whatever.”

“So, you think you could be wrong then?”

“I don’t know. I’m hoping I am but I have a strong feeling I’m not.”

“You don’t want it then?”

Not really.” I stated. “Oh my god! I sound so horrible!”

“No you don’t Em. That’s understandable.”

“It’s just, I’m not ready for this yet. Then there’s Ben and his job and… oh, I just don’t know.” I let my head fall into my hands.

“Em, it’ll be okay.”

“Can we talk about something else please?

“What about the test? Don’t you want to know?”

“It can wait.”

“Em,”

“What’s on tv?” I asked, deliberately changing the subject as I picked up the remote.

An hour and two cups of tea later, I had finally psyched myself up enough to do the test.

I left the stick on the sink and went back out to the lounge room to wait for the five minutes to pass.

“Can you come with me?” I asked Karen when the five minutes were up.

Karen nodded and followed me to the bathroom.

I picked up the stick that was sitting on the sink and slowly turned it over.

It revealed a positive result.

I stared at it disbelievingly.

"Em," Karen said in an attempt to comfort me.

"These things can be wrong, can't they?" I said, more stating than asking.

"Uh, yeah, I guess, but,"

"So it's wrong, right? I'll try it again."

"Emma,"

"It'll be wrong." I said, ignoring Karen as I was in a world of my own. "I'll try it again."

"Okay then." Karen said, leaving the room.

I came out a minute later and sat anxiously in the lounge room once more.

Soon enough the time had passed and I felt Karen’s eyes on me as she was waiting for me to get up. I didn’t feel like moving. To be honest, I didn’t want to know what the test said. While I didn’t know I could still pretend that there was nothing going on or that it wasn’t really happening, it will all go away. If I saw that I was pregnant there would be no more pretending, no going back. I wasn’t sure I could deal with that. But this is me right? I can’t be pregnant. Why am I so worried? It’s not like that test is going to be positive again. The other one was probably faulty. Right?

"Do you want me to come with you?" Karen asked.

I nodded and rose slowly before making my way to the bathroom again. I eyed the white stick lying on the bathroom sink. The item that held the power to decide my destiny, the same item could possibly destroy my relationship with Ben and crush my dreams. My hands shaking, I gingerly picked up the item of power and slowly turned it over. This time I couldn't deny it. It was staring me in the face. I was pregnant. I was pregnant with Ben's baby.