Chapter 1
Laney Michaels
It was a warm sensation between my thighs that woke me up. I blinked a few times, looked at the alarm clock right across from me, it read a quarter after two in the morning. I had fallen asleep before Noel’s plane landed, I guess I’ll just talk to her tomorrow.
My phone buzzed and it lit up with Ace’s face and number. I pressed the mute button on my phone. I did not want to talk to Ace right now, he was in LA with his new girlfriend, and I was just his knocked up hook up that happened seven months ago. If he was calling me at this time it was because he was drunk or something.
I was in a sweat because of the end of May heat that was signaling the summer to come. My mouth felt dry and I pushed myself up on the bed to get up and get some water. That’s when I remember what woke me up. There was a wetness between my legs.
Had my water broke? No. It was too early, I was barely thirty two weeks, it just wasn’t possible. This didn’t feel like water, there was a heaviness to it, something felt wrong.
I pressed my left hand on the wetness, and immediately my hand felt sticky. I turned on the lamp beside me to get a better look at what it was and screamed when I saw the blood on my hand and on the mattress.
I was sitting in a pool of my own blood. I grabbed my phone and dialed my sister Addie who was a few minutes away from me.
I moved my legs to the side of the bed, and that’s when I feel the first contraction, and I start to feel really light headed. I couldn’t move, it hurt so much, then it slowly faded out. I could breathe again.
“Hello?” I hear Addie’s voice.
“Addie.” My voice cracks and I fight back tears. I press my hand on my stomach, I feel no movement. The baby. Pudge needs to be okay. My baby needs to be okay and grow inside me for a few more weeks, it was too early for the baby to come out.
“Laney, what’s wrong? It’s two in the morning.” I felt bad because I had woken her up and she’s pregnant, too, its probably not good for her.
“I’m bleeding, and I think I’m having contractions.” Another one hits me, it’s a big one. I can’t help but cry out in pain.
“What? I’m on my way right now, try not to move. I will help you once I get there. I’ll take you to the ER.” She was using her high voice, the one she used when she was stressed and about to freak out.
“I’m scared.” I cry. “I’m not ready to be a mom.” Tears were streaming down my face.
“Call Ace.”
“No. He’ll blame me.” I actually knew he wouldn’t. I just really did not want to call him.
“If he blames you, I will punch him so hard in the throat he won’t be able to sing ever again.” That gets a small laugh out of me, and then another contraction. I groan in pain.
“Get here soon, Addie.”
“I will.” She ends the call.
I find myself dialing Ace. I manage to stand up, I needed to get the hospital bag, which was in the closet. The light headedness doesn’t go away, and I’m seeing black spots in my vision, which I’m sure isn’t a good sign. It takes over my sight, almost completely.
“Hello? Laney?” His raspy voice is the last thing I hear before I go down and everything goes dark.
