Blame the Wind 5

A/N: Look how quick this update was! Ok, now…I know it took a LONG time to update, but I only got ONE review last chapter…I'm hoping for…maybe FIVE this time?

July 26, 2010

I'm sitting with Harper in the sub station, listening to her go on and on about how great of an accessory pineapple is. As much as I love Harper, this is not an interesting story. Her fashion stories never are. I'd much rather just eat some pineapple than wear it.

"If you coat the pineapple rings in that spray that keeps stickiness and bugs away, you can make them into really great earrings! You know what else is awesome? Using the outside of the pineapple—with the spikes—to make a belt! It's almost like wearing studs! Except its pineapple! So it's not against school rules. Plus, the fact that its yellow is so much cheerier than the black those studded belts usually are."

I nod, pretending to be interested. "Mhmm, cheerier," I offer. "You know what, Harper, let's go to Central Park!"

"Alex, Central Park is over an hour away walking! It's 4 o'clock. I have to be home for dinner at 7:30. By the time we got to Central Park, we'd practically have to leave!"

I roll my eyes. "How about Time Square? Forty minutes away; that gives us almost two hours there!"

"Fine," Harper relents, grabbing her purse from the chair next to her.

I smile. "Awesome, I'm going to go get my purse from my bedroom! I'll be right back!"

I quickly make my way up to my bedroom and grab my purse, checking that there is adequate money. I grab another twenty dollars from my piggy bank and run back downstairs to Harper.

"Mom, Harper and I are gonna walk to Time Square! We'll be back in a few hours!"

"Have fun, sweetheart," my mom calls.

I smile and begin to walk out with Harper. As we walk along the sidewalks, I can't help but remember when I told Harper I was pregnant. It happened on a day just like this.

August 17, 2009

Harper and I walked along the sidewalk, making our way to a favorite destination of ours: Manhattan Mall.

I was silent as we walked, not even pretending to be interested in Harper's story. My head was up in space. I didn't even know what she was talking about. I hadn't the faintest clue.

"Alex, are you okay? You're really quiet today," Harper pointed out. "Actually, you've been pretty quiet for the last week."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, forcing a bit of a smile.

We were silent for a few moments as we continued to walk. I watched my feet move, trusting I would not run into anything.

"I'm pregnant," I told Harper.

I briefly looked up at Harper, only to see a two hundred pound man slam into her as she stopped dead in her tracks. I slowed, trying to avoid having someone collide with me, and walked back to where Harper had stopped.

I grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the middle of the sidewalk, and stood across from her, watching her shocked expression. She stuttered, looking for a response.

"I think I must have heard you wrong," she finally replied, her voice low. "There's no way you just told me that you're pregnant." I stared into her eyes—my face serious—not saying a thing. "You're really pregnant, aren't you?"

I nodded slowly, on the verge of tears.

Harper wrapped her arms around me without a word and I broke down into sobs.

"Have you told your parents?" she asked. I nodded. "What about the father? Whose baby is it?"

"Parker Adams," I responded softly. "He doesn't know. I don't think I'm going to tell him." I was quiet for a moment, tears rolling down my face non-stop, before I spoke again, my voice weak. "I don't know what to do."

People rushed past us, some staring at me, but I ignored them. I needed to let out all my emotions. I needed the comfort of Harper's arms and words.

"It's going to be alright," Harper told me.

"I'm having a baby—at sixteen! This can't be happening!" I tried to wipe away tears, but more covered my face as quickly as I could get rid of them. "What do I do, Harper? Do you think I can raise a kid when I'm still a kid myself?"

"I don't know," Harper replied. "Maybe you could put the baby up for adoption."

"I could get an abortion," I suggested softly. Harper's eyes widened.

"You...couldn't do that, Alex. I know you. You wouldn't be able to have an abortion."

"It's an option," I replied softly. Harper was silent. She nervously bit her lip. "Forget the mall," I told my best friend, "let's just go home."

Harper nodded. "How 'bout we stop at the grocery store and pick up some ice cream and candy and then grab a movie and have a girls' day in?"

"Yeah," I replied, my voice hoarse from crying, "that sounds good." I smiled at Harper and gave her a huge hug. "Thank you, Harper."

A/N: I hope you liked it! Harper is a HARD character to write! :|