Brian refused to let Giselle go. She was going to be his and they were going to raise their baby together. He frantically rose up from the bed and ran after her.
"Giselle!" his voice boomed and ricocheted off the walls of his hallway.
His voice caught her off guard and she spun around and saw him standing there angry and naked. She didn't know whether to laugh or to be afraid. She was sidetracked by the swing of his dick as he walked toward her. She stood wide-eyed once he reached her.
"Stop running away from me."
Once she snapped out of her stupor she got angry.
"Me running from you?!"
"Yes! What you're doing right now! Gigi I don't know what you want from me. I fucked up, okay? I admitted it. I'm here now, though. I'm telling you I'm going to be there for you and our baby. What else do you want me to say?"
"Nothing. Don't say anything. Actions speak louder than words, so prove it. Prove to me that you deserve to be there."
"I will. I promise," he said as he grabbed her hand and covered it with his larger one. "Now come back to bed with me."
He placed a kiss on her forehead and walked back toward his bedroom as Giselle stood there and watched him. He turned around and looked at her, waiting. She smiled and slowly walked toward him.
"Sorry. I was staring at your ass," she said.
* * * * *
Giselle and Brian had been having a good couple weeks. They went the entire time without arguing or fighting. It seemed that their relationship was returning back to the way it used to be before they became both friends and lovers. Sex complicated their "friendship", which often times it does. But they could still talk to each other like best buds. They could still be silly with one another like they used to.
They had both decided to take a day off from classes, so they relaxed at Brian's house. She still had time before Ashley came home from school. The two lied carelessly in his comfy king sized bed. Giselle was clothed in a t-shirt and oversized sweatpants. Brian wore the latter.
"When I was younger, I used to entertain the idea of being with you. Ashley would always make these faces and noises. I thought it was because she was your sister and thought it was gross. But I don't think that's the case. I think it's because she feels I don't deserve to be with someone like you."
"What? Why would you say that? Ash is your best friend. She loves you."
"I know. It's just... I just feel like she looks down on me sometimes. She doesn't think I'm good enough for you."
"That's not true. Ash is crazy over you. It's like some obsessive lesbian shit or something," he joked.
"I'm serious," she laughed.
"So am I," Brian said. "If anything, she was just weirded out by the thought of her best friend being with her brother. She wants to protect me from a man-eater like yourself."
"Oh whatever!" Giselle yelled as she playfully swatted at him. "I'm not a man-eater. I'm not even all that cute. If anything she wanted to protect ME from YOU, Casanova."
"First off, oww," he said as he winced, rubbing his bare pec. "Secondly, you're beautiful," he said placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Whatever. You're just saying that because you have to."
"No, I don't have to. And I wouldn't say it if it weren't true. I'm a lot if things, but a liar I am not."
"You're right. You're a jerk sometimes. A little dickish. Selfish at times. A bit promiscuous..."
"Hey, hey, hey now! That's a lot of negative stuff. I'm offended," he said with mock hurt.
"I'm sorry," Giselle smiled. "At least you're cute."
"Gigi let's get something straight," he said seriously. "You're the only girl I've been with-"
"Lies!" she interrupted.
"Let me finish, Kanye!" He laughed. "What I was trying to say is you're the only girl I've been with since we started...you know."
"Really?"
Giselle was shocked by that statement. She knew girls were always throwing themselves at him, and he was a man. Men tend to fall for things like that. But Brian didn't lie.
"That's... surprising," she said.
"Why?"
"I don't know," she said shyly. "I guess it's because you have girls fawning over you all the time. You have fans."
"Yea, but I don't want them. I want you."
Now was Giselle's time to question him. "Why," she asked quietly. "Out of all the girls, why me?"
"Why not you?" Brian repositioned himself on the bed so that he could look her in her eyes. "You're perfect. You're smart, beautiful, funny, and hard-working. Who wouldn't want to be with you?"
Giselle smiled and looked away before speaking. His gaze was too intense for her. "I don't exactly have guys lined up at the door to be with me, Brian."'
"Good! Cause I'd have to fuck them up. Kill them. Rip 'em to smithereens!"
"Okay, I get it. Sheesh. You don't have to worry about that though. Don't nobody want my ass."
"I know a guy who does," she said, raising his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Just then, Giselle's phone buzzed. She sighed and reached for it.
"It's Ash." Brian sighed and Giselle smiled. "Hey Ash. What's up?"
"Umm... not much. Just lying around."
"Are you feeling okay? Why aren't you in class? Is it the baby? Is something wrong with the baby?" Ashley began to get frantic.
"I'm fine, Ashley. The baby's fine I guess."
"You guess? What do you mean you guess? Elle, you're about to be the mother of my little niece or nephew and..."
"Ash, I said I'm okay. The baby's fine. I just wanted a day off from school. No big deal."
Giselle appreciated Ashley's concerned, but her comment meant more than she intended it to. Ashley and Giselle were like sisters, so Ashley saw herself as Auntie Ash. The thought of telling Ashley that this baby would be her actual niece or nephew wasn't a happy one.
"You're right. I'm sorry, Elle. I love you. I just want you to be okay."
"And I am. I'm fine. Imma lay down, I'm starting to get a headache. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, girly. I'm sorry and feel better."
"Thanks. Bye."
Giselle pressed the end button on her phone and placed it on his end table. She closed her eyes and breathed. Brian looked on, confused.
"What happened?" he asked slowly.
"Nothing." Giselle was ill.
"So..." Brian started. He made sure to speak softly, so that he wouldn't offend her. "How is this baby thing going to work?"
"I don't know. I haven't really thought much about it," she lied.
"Have you been to the doctor?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I haven't had time to go between school and work," she said. "And even if I did find the time, I don't have the money to pay for it. This pregnancy thing is expensive."
"Gigi, you know that money isn't a problem. I would've given you..." he started.
"Really Brian? Really? You've been in denial about this whole thing. How could I go to you and ask you for money?"
Brian felt like an ass as soon as the words had rolled off his tongue. She was right.
"You're right. I'm sorry. But I'm here now for you and the baby. Look, just schedule an appointment and we'll go. I'll pay for everything."
Giselle knew that he was being sweet but something about what he said rubbed her the wrong way.
"Brian, I swear that you and Ashley think I'm some bum or something. Always offering to pay for things."
"Giselle, I don't think you're a bum at all," he stated, confused. "You're one of the hardest working people I know. I was just saying that you need to go to the doctor. We have to get you and the baby checked out. There's no telling how far along you are. Don't you care?"
"Excuse me?" she said. She wasn't sure if her hormones had anything to do with the way she felt at the moment, but she was becoming furious. "Do I care?"
"Gigi I just don't understand," he started before Giselle interrupted him.
"Of course not. You wipe your ass with money because it doesn't matter to you. I actually work for mine. I don't want your handouts. I've gotten by this far without them."
"What do you mean? You haven't even been to the fucking doctor, Giselle. What have you done for the baby? It's as if you don't even care. Look how long it took for you to tell me!" Brian was starting to get upset.
"What are you saying? You're calling me an unfit mother before I even have the baby? You know what? I don't care what you think. Fuck you. I don't need you."
If Giselle wasn't so upset, she would've laughed at how they went from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds. Their relationship had never been like this. She gathered her things and prepared to leave.
Brian shook his head in frustration as he followed behind her as she stormed out.
"Stop following me Brian!" she yelled behind her as she continued walking swiftly to her car.
"Then stop running away all the goddamn time! Grow up, Giselle!"
She quickly spun around and charged towards him.
"I can't run away from this," she spat angrily, pointing towards her belly. "You can, but I can't."
"I'm not trying to run away! I'm trying to be there for you! For our baby! But you won't let me. Your pride is way too fucking high. Learn to admit when you need help, Giselle."
"Why do you always want to play hero, Brian?"
"Giselle, listen to the ridiculous shit you're saying. Me wanting to help with MY baby's health is me wanting to be a hero? I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for the baby. I know what it feels like to have a dad who doesn't give a damn. And so do you! So stop."
He was out of breath from arguing with her. Pregnancy was not agreeing with her because of all the years they'd been friends, she'd never been so hard to get along with.
"Go home Giselle. Lay down, cool off. Call me when you're ready to talk about our baby and actually act like it exists."
Giselle watched as he walked back in the house and slammed the door. She took a few steps toward the house but stopped. She spun around slowly and got into her car, leaving.
* * * * *
"I know you Elle. I know what kinda girl you are. You know who's child that is and I'm not gonna stop until you tell me. Do I know him?"
Giselle nodded.
"Did we go to high school with him?"
Giselle nodded again.
"Just tell me Elle. I'm your best friend. I'm gonna be here for you no matter what."
"I don't wanna talk about it Ash. Really."
"Giselle, talk to me," Ashley pleaded. "Why are you keeping this from me?"
"I don't want you to think less of me Ashley," she finally said.
