13 July 2012
I think the location below proves exactly how I'm feeling right now. I did some power writing on the plane though, instead of sleeping, and some serious thinking. Might post my thought trail in a bit.
-TIFFANY- "Dan?" I said, walking out of the kitchen. Why had Nate overreacted so much? I'd never seen that look of disappointment on his face before though, and I really didn't like it. "Yeah?" he called, from the top of the stairs. "Here" I said, gesturing to my tray of water. "Thanks. Is everything okay?" he said, taking the tray from me and laying it on the stairs. "I'm engaged" I said, not really knowing how else to put it. "Oh." he said, turning his head to the other side of the staircase. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I just don't know what came over me" "It's okay" he said, still not facing me. "What we're you thinking though? That you'd lead me on?" "No no of course not. I just..." "Just what?" he said, turning to look into my eyes. His blue eyes pierced mine and entrapped mine in his trance. "I..." I said, shaking my head. "Come here" he said, wrapping his huge bulky arms around me. "It's okay. I'd feel a bit strange if I was engaged at our age and I met an ex" "Thank you" I said, my voice muffled by his powerful chest. He released me just as the kitchen door slam shut again, sending the whole infrastructure of the house quaking. "Nate!" I called, feeling a pang of hurt run through my heart.
-NATE- As I stepped out, to apologise to Tiffany for overreacting, I saw them. His arms wrapped around her, and her head placed sideways on his chest, in the same place she always rests on my chest. I felt overwhelmed by this scene; my fiancé, the mother of my baby, in another man's arms. I saw red, and knew that I wouldn't be responsible for my actions unless I got out of there. I turned 180 degrees and walked back into the kitchen, slamming the door harder than I'd wanted to. I sat down on one of the high stools, and rested my elbows on the marble surface, so I could hold my head in my hands. I ran my fingers through my hair, thinking of the day's events; about how quickly I'd gone from being the proudest man and father in the world, to being this angry. I didn't even know what I'd done to deserve her being like this. I'd understand if I'd done the same, or if there was a clear trigger but I couldn't get my head round it. I kept my head in my hands as I heard the door open and click shut, knowing it was Tiffany. "Nate?" a low voice said, causing me to turn my head. "Dan" I said plainly, acknowledging his presence. "I promise there's nothing going on with your fiancé and I. I swear on my life" "I know" "Then why are you so angry at me?" "I'm not, I'm just disappointed in Tiffany" I said, turning my head back round. "Why?" her smaller, lighter voice said from the door. I sat up and span the chair so I was looking directly at her. "Because you left after our scan, you went to Times Square without even telling me why, you met your ex and didn't tell him you were engaged or pregnant. You haven't been right since we found out you were pregnant, what's going on?" "I don't know how to say this. I... I love you Nate, don't get me wrong, and I'm over the moon we're engaged, but... Actually, Dan, could you give us a minute?" "Sure" Dan said, backing out of the door and clicking it shut. "But, I'm having doubts. About the baby" "Why didn't you tell me this?" I said, feeling tears surging towards my eyes. "I didn't want to destroy all your hopes and dreams. It's just, I'm going to miss out on so much in life, and I don't know if I'm ready to throw away my youth yet" I stayed silent for a moment, taking in what she'd said. Obviously I'd already contemplated this, but now it was really happening I didn't know how to respond. "I'm sorry" she said, sinking her head down. "No it's fine. What do you want to do then? If you're getting rid of our baby you'll need to do it as soon as possible" I said, forcing the tears not to start flooding down my face. "No! No. I'm keeping it" My whole face lit up again, and the tears ceased their mission towards my cheeks. "I just need to know that you're willing to give up as much as I am. Obviously we'll both have to finish school somehow, but are you happy to get a job straight away?" "Yes. In fact, whilst you'd run away, I was reading about how well my father's company was doing in the Financial Times and I called him and he said he could offer me a job as soon as I finished school. And he's offered me internships for all the school breaks, so I can build up a résumé, he's been really amazing" "Nate, that's great, that really is, but do you remember when we swam to the cave in the Hamptons? You promised me you wouldn't be like my father, and you wouldn't work away from us" "That's fine. The job's on Wall Street, so I'll be half an hour away" "I know, I just don't want you to travel as much as I know you're going to have to. Please discuss it with him?" "I will. I'm keeping that promise you know. I'm never going to leave our children without a father" "Plural?" she said, looking slightly shocked. "Well not yet obviously, but we'll want more right?" I said, taking her hand. As she looked into my eyes, her blinking slowed. "Yes" she whispered, kissing me once. "Good. Now, I'm going to apologise to Dan" I said, stepping out of the kitchen to the barren scene in front of me. "Where have they gone?" Tiffany said from behind me. ""Nate and Tiffany, we guessed you needed some time alone, so we've gone back to Times Square. It was nice to see you guys again, and I really am pleased for you, but as you well know I still have feelings for Tiffany. I'm sorry Nate, that's why I left. Our trip ends in two days, so you won't have to worry about me again. Again, I'm sorry. Dan"" I said, reading his note aloud. Tiffany's face had sunk, and she'd began to bite the inside of her lip. She'd been doing this for a while now, proving how stressed out she was. "We should go away" I said, under the spur of the moment. "We've got a week before school starts, and I've somehow got to break it to the head that her head girl is pregnant in that time. I don't think it's possible" "What?" "I'm pregnant. You knew that!" she replied, missing the point. "You said you were head girl?" I said, not even responding to her earlier comment. "Yeah. Oh god! I didn't tell you! I got the call this morning before the scan and I didn't want to overload you with too much good news" "Baby that's incredible!" I replied, hugging her and then kissing her. "From that kiss I'd say we were back on track?" she said, once the kiss had been broken. "Yes. We are. But I am going to take you on a little vacation" "Nate, I've already told you we can't! Where would we go anyway?" "New York" I said, already forming a plan in my head. "We live here? What do you mean?" "Haven't you always wanted to do all the touristy things? I have. I think we should make a list of all the things we want to go and do and just do them!" "You're kind of crazy" she said, as she wrapped her arms around my waist "But I like what you're thinking" "Good! What day is it?" I said, already preparing the first trip. "Monday, why?" "We're going to Bryant Park" "How come we have to go on a Monday?" "You'll see, come on" I said, grabbing some keys and leading her out of the house.
Love You Too: PART FIFTY • Opuss № I