Come Back Here

"Ree, calm down, what's wrong?" I asked her, as soothing as I could while I frantically rose from the swing I had been on.

She fell into my arms, sobbing. This isn't like her, and it's starting to scare me. Renae always goes to Gerard when she's in this state. Sure, she'll still talk to me when she's this upset, but never has she broke down in my arms.

I give Andy a look to as best I can say leave us alone for a while. I guess he understands it, because as soon as I turn back to Renae, he heads inside.

Caressing her short, black hair, I ask again, "What's wrong, Ree?" This time it sounds more like a coo than a sentence. I guess she needs that, though.

Through chocked up words, she stutters, "G-Gerard broke u-up with me."

"HE WHAT?!"

She cries harder.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled, but he did what?"

She broke from my arms and wiped her eyes, "He said he needed some time to think. Oh God. Cel, that's not even the worst part."

"Ree, what else happened?"

She had stopped crying, but now she was full out bawling again. This couldn't be happening. Gerard loved Renae with everything he had, and she loved him more than anything. They couldn't break up; this isn't supposed to be happening. They were going to be the ones that defied the odds and ended up in a sappy love story of childhood best friends that ended up being together forever, happily.

Renae walked over to the swings and took a seat, wiping the tears that continued to fall.

I took the swing next to her, grabbed her hand and asked, "Why did he do it? Did he at least say why?"

She sniffled a little and stated, "I told him something..."

"What did you tell him, Ree?"

"I-I just found out myself and I thought I could trust him, b-but..."

"Ree, what is it?"

She sighed, "That I'm pregnant."

To say I was shocked was an understatement. The pregnancy took me by surprise, but the fact that Gerard would leave her because of it sent rage pumping through my veins. How could he do that? Just how? How could he leave her in a time of need? How could he up and abandon her at a time like this? It's his responsibility, too, just how Gerard?

I bit back the string of foul words I wanted to yell at Gerard and instead asked Renae, "What exactly happened?"

She wiped her eyes once more before speaking, "Right after school, we were driving here, and I said I needed to tell him something. I had just found out this morning before I left and I thought I should tell him, so I did. And he just sat there, his face blank and he clutched the wheel, and he said to me, 'You're sure?' And I told him I was pretty fucking sure. I had gone to the doctor on Friday and she called me this morning, telling me the results. Then he said he 'needed time to think' and before I could protest, we were already here and I didn't know what to say, so I ran into the house a-and how could he, Celeste?"

I pulled her into a hug, "Shhh, it's okay. We'll figure this out, Ree. I'll talk to him right now. I'll have Andy stay with you until I get back."

She nodded. I stood up and went into the house to grab Andy. I pulled him aside and said I needed to talk to Gerard ASAP and that he needed to sit outside with Renae for a while. I told him I'd explain later. I grabbed my keys off of the counter and charged out to my car.

As soon as I shut the door and started up my vehicle, I dialed Gerard's number. Although, he didn't answer. I gripped the wheel tight and started speeding in the direction of his house. I didn't care if I was going to get a ticket, getting to Gerard's was way more important.

I dialed his number again. No answer. Fuck.

I kept driving and when I was a couple blocks from his house, I called him again. This time he picked up.

"Hey, Celeste..." He said halfheartedly. I could tell he was nervous, which he should be. I was livid.

"What the fuck, Gerard?!"

"Cel, you don't understand!"

"How do I not understand?! I'm pulling up to your house now and you are going to explain to me every little detail on why you think this situation is okay."

"Cel, it's not okay and I know that, just please, let me think."

I hung up. I was already at his place. In seconds, I was at his door. Mikey answered.

"Hey, Celeste! I'll get Gerard." He pushed his glasses up as he turned around.

"No need, Mikes. He's expecting me."

"Oh, okay. Come in then." He pulled the door open wide enough for me to slip by. I thanked him and bolted straight for the basement.

I ran as fast as I could down the staircase, hearing it squeak with each footstep. When I stepped onto the cold, cement floor of the basement, I shuddered, both from the chill and from my anger. I swung around the corner and saw Gerard sitting on the couch, his hands clutched around his head, staring at the floor.

Taking a deep breath, I gradually stepped forward onto the rug that that lined the majority of the floor. I took a seat in my normal spot. For a minute, neither of us spoke. I was trying to cool myself down so I would be able to have an actual conversation with him.

"She didn't tell you the full story, did she?"

I cocked an eyebrow, but he didn't look at me, so instead I asked, "What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath. "I never said it was over, Cel, I just said I needed to think. But she took it as I left her." He looked up, "I would never leave her, especially over something like this. She needs me, and I know that, I just needed some time to gather my thoughts."

"Gerard, saying you 'need time to think'" I made air quotes around his phrase before continuing, "sounds and awful lot like a breakup."

"I know it does, Cel, but I didn't mean it like that."

"Then what did you mean it by!?"

"I meant it by 'what the fuck are we going to do?' What the fuck am I going to do?"

"Not leave her, it's simple enough." I retorted. I'd hate to see that they only stay together because of a child, but at the same time, what ever happened to chivalry?

"I didn't! She just took it that way! Celeste, how are Renae and I supposed to be parents when day in and day out we're tormented and barely can take care of ourselves? I'm depressed and suicidal, and Ree's not far behind. I drink almost every night before I go to bed. How can we justify bringing a child into that?"

I calmly, but audibly stated, "Are you saying you want her to get rid of it?"

His eyes welled with fear and shock, "What? No! No I didn't say I did! I mean...maybe." He shook his head, "No. Not even a little. We have to take responsibility."

I grabbed Gerard's shoulder and said, "This sounds like a conversation you should be having with Renae."

"I've tried! I've been calling her since I got home! I tried to in the car before she bolted!" He took a deep breath and clutched his head in his hands again, resuming the position he had been in when I arrived. "I'm want to ask her to marry me, but she won't even talk to me."

I sat back, stunned. Maybe chivalry isn't dead.

I collected myself and said, "I'm sure if you go over to her house right now and ask her, she'd say yes." Although, I wasn't 100% sure, I was damn near close to it. Renae loves Gerard, and it's clear he loves her. If he apologizes and asks her, I have little doubt she's turn away on him.

"I hope so. I don't want to lose her."

"You really love her, don't you?"

"More than anything."

"Then show her that."

Notes