Chapter Eleven: Take Full Responsibility

Warning, some subject material may be offensive to some.

 

 

After Rosamund woke up I took her home and told her I’d call her later in the day.  I needed time to think and I couldn’t do that with her around. I drove back home and had just got out of my car when I heard Star behind me.

 

 

“Did you sleep in your tux?” She asked me in a humored tone.

My heart stopped. I knew what was about to happen and I wanted so badly to go back in time and change everything that had happened after I left Star’s last night. I had left her place feeling hopeful about the future. What happened afterwards turned everything upside down and I felt like such a jerk about almost kissing Star one minute and then sleeping with Rosamund the next.  But what was just as heartbreaking was I was about to tell her something that might forever change how Star saw me and I didn’t know if I could deal with that on top of everything else.

I turned around and looked at her.

 

 

 

“You look like crap, Jeff. What have you been doing? Did you even go to sleep.”

 

 

 

“No, yes. . .barely.”

“Jeff, something’s wrong. I can tell. It’s because we almost kissed last night, isn’t it?”

 

 

 

It felt like someone squeezed my heart even tighter. “No. . .Yes. God, Star I don’t even know how to tell you this.” I looked at her and she looked so hopeful and hurt at the same time. “I’m the biggest jerk in the world and I probably just ruined my life.”

 

 

 

“By almost kissing me?!” She fumed.

 

 

 

“No! God no! It’s what happened after that that’s going to make you hate me forever.”

 

 

 

“Jeff, you’re acting pretty dramatic and we both know that’s not like you. Why don’t you tell me what happened and let me be the judge of whether I’m going to hate you forever. Not that I think you could do anything that would.”

 

 

 

I let out a big sigh and looked down at the ground, being too big a coward to look her in the eyes. “After I left your place last night, I came home and Rosamund was standing outside my house crying. Her prom date dumped her at prom and I felt bad for her. I let her in the gate and we went up to the barn apartment to talk. She kept crying and I kept trying to tell myself to get away from her, to take her home.  I don’t know how, I don’t know exactly why but before I knew it, we slept together.” As I uttered the last words I looked up at her.

 

 

 

She looked angry. I had never seen Star this angry; but what bothered me more were the tears that she was trying so hard to keep from falling from her eyes. She stood there for several minutes looking at me like that before she spoke.  “I. . .I don’t even know what to say to you right now Jefferson Hobble.” She put her hands in her pockets and turned away from me. She took some steps away from me before quickly turning back around.  “You’re right, you are a jerk.  How could you lead one girl on and then the same night sleep with another? YOU! JEFFERSON FRIGGIN’ HOBBLE! Who never does anything wrong! Who’s always trying to protect his image and his reputation! Is that what you meant by your life might be ruined? Poor Jefferson’s political career might be over!”

 

 

 

“I know. I’m sorry Star. I honestly hadn’t thought about my future career.”

 

“Then what could have been ruined?” She asked with a hateful look.

 

 

 

“I slept with her, Star. . .”

“Yes, you made that perfectly clear, Jefferson. . .Oh . . .my . . .God.  Don’t tell me on top of everything you were stupid enough to sleep with her without using protection!?”

 

 

 

As she said the words I closed my eyes and wished that I was having a nightmare. How could this be my life. I finally opened my eyes and looked at her. Her eyes were pleading me to correct her. “I was that stupid.”  I felt like I was about to get sick. I was so sickened by myself and what I had just done. Before I could entertain any thoughts of getting sick Star was talking to me again.

 

 

 

“Jefferson Allen Hobble, I never thought I would see the day that I would see you do anything stupid, but you’ve proven me wrong. I am so angry at you right now I can’t even think straight! After last night, I thought that you might have had feelings for me, but that wouldn’t be possible if you immediately went and slept with someone else! And not only was it someone else, it was her; who I’ve warned you about all year long! I was wrong, you have done something that could make me hate you forever!” She finished yelling at me and ran out the gate back to her house. 

 

 

 

It was over. I knew that my friendship with Star had just ended. I didn’t deserve her friendship or anyone else’s for that matter. How could I even think of being anyone’s friend when I was the biggest jerk in the world.  I walked into the house and I ran into my room.  I flung myself on my bed and cried. When no more tears would fall I sat up on my bed and started praying; “Please God, don’t let her be pregnant.”

 

 

 

 

The next month passed by and it was graduation day.  Ever since the day after prom, Star had stopped coming over to our house and had stopped talking to me and Peter. She hung out more with her friends that she had cheered with a couple of years before.  Peter asked me if I knew what was up with her and all I could muster to tell him was that she and I had big argument and I didn’t think it was something that she would ever forgive me for. I wasn’t surprised by the fact that Star kept everything to herself. She never told anyone about what happened.

I was as confused as ever about my feelings for Rosamund. She assured me that she didn’t think it was possible to get pregnant the first time, or at least it was very rare, so we probably had nothing to worry about. She seemed unaffected by it which made me feel a little more optimistic. 

As the graduation ceremony unfolded, I watched as Rosamund, Peter, and Star walked across the stage to get their diplomas.  I had never thought I would be this sad at graduation. Not because I was leaving high school, but just because how things seemed to end between me and Star. I was constantly reminded about what I had done a month ago. Every time I looked out my window and saw her house, saw her at school with her friends, ate breakfast and she wasn’t there, it all reminded me of what I had done and the friendship I had lost because I was such a jerk.

The ceremony ended and I walked outside with my family.

“Congratulations Jeff!” Mom said while hugging me.

 

 

 

“So proud of you son!” Dad told me.

 

 

 

“Way to go Mr. Cool!” Charlie said.

I tried my best to be grateful and upbeat but underneath it all I was miserable.

“Well, let’s get back to the house so we can celebrate with Star and her family.”

“Wait, WHAT!?” I asked.

 

 

 

“Honey and I have been planning this for months and wanted to surprise you and Star on graduation day. We’re having a little party at our house to celebrate. We’ve invited all your friends too!”

I was afraid ask who these friends were. “Just who did you invite, Mom?”

“Oh just Peter, Rosamund, and Star. We figured you wouldn’t want a huge fuss.”

 

 

 

I could have sworn that for a few seconds that everything around me started spinning.  Mom and Ms. Honey had no idea what they had done.

 

We arrived back at the house and soon Rosamund and Peter were there.  After talking for a few minutes we heard Star and her family arrive. Star walked into the family room and we all stood there looking at each other.  It seemed stupid to stand there not saying anything so I tried to start a conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

“I’m sorry Star, if I had known that our moms were planning this, I would have found some way to discourage them.”

“It’s fine” she said flatly. “Let’s just try to get through this and hope it’s over soon.”

 

 

We pretended to all get along for the rest of the party. If our parents had been paying closer attention they would have noticed the tension; but they were so excited about us graduating that they didn’t notice.  As night fell, people started to leave and soon only Rosamund was left at our house.

“Do you want a ride home?” I offered.

 

 

 

“Sure. That can give us some time to talk.”

 

 

 

I walked into the kitchen where I found Mom and Dad and told them I was taking Rosamund home.  I met up with her in the hallway and we walked out to my car. As I pulled out of the driveway Rosamund started talking.

“Jefferson, there’s something I need to tell you.” She said in a quiet voice

 

 

 

“Go ahead.”

She sat there with her hands in her lap and was looking down at them. “I was supposed to get my period a week ago. I didn’t think much of it, hoping it was stress, but this morning I finally broke down and took a pregnancy test.” She paused and I was thankful that I had pulled up to a stop light so I could turn and look at her. “It was positive.”

I couldn’t breathe, a huge weight fell on my chest and I could have sworn my heart stopped beating.  I heard a car honk behind me and I looked up to see that the light had turned green.

 

 

 

 

I got to the street where I should have turned to go toward Rosamund’s house but instead I went straight and turned down a different street.

“Where are we going?”

 

 

 

“We need to go somewhere to talk about this besides the car or your house.” As I pulled down the dirt road I kept thinking how I must have heard her wrong. I was going to get to the end of the road and she was going to tell me that I heard her wrong; but as we neared the waterfall, my confidence in my denial started to falter.

We got to the water fall and we both got out of the car. We walked over to a spot near the water and I stood there staring at the waterfall. “Jefferson, you did hear me, didn’t you.”

 

 

 

I closed my eyes and wanted to say no but I knew I had “Yes, I’m thinking.”

“Would you mind telling me what you’re thinking?” She asked in a hushed voice.

“You’re sure? You’re absolutely sure?” I asked her while turning to look at her.

 

 

 

“Yes. I took three tests.” She said with tears in her eyes.

 

 

 

I walked over to her and hugged her.  She started crying harder and I held her tighter. Here I was, on the verge of being eighteen years old and I was going to be a father. It seemed like a horrible joke. How in the world could I be a father, I wasn’t even old enough to vote, get married, drink and I was supposed to be responsible for another human being?

She stopped crying and looked up at me. “What are you thinking about, Jefferson?”

 

 

 

“I’m thinking about what to do.”

“You mean whether I should get rid of it.”

 

 

 

“Good God no, Rosamund! I would never think about that. I mean if your health was in danger than maybe. . .”

 

 

 

“Okay, what about adoption? I could give the baby up for adoption?” She suggested.

 

 

 

I sighed “I guess that might be an option.” I started pacing. I rubbed my forehead as if rubbing it would magically give me the answers I was looking for. It wasn’t helping “What do you think?” I asked her.

 

 

 

She looked up at the sky, sighed and closed her eyes. “I know I’m young. I know that neither of us planned for this to happen. I know that our parents are going to want to kill us when they find out. But I also know that once my parents find out, they won’t want me to put the baby up for adoption. They’ll offer to support me and the baby. I don’t expect anything from you Jefferson. I can take care of the baby with my parents help. You don’t. . .”

 

 

 

“Have to be a part of his or her life? Rosamund, you know me well enough to know that isn’t going to happen.” She got a relieved look on her face.

 

 

 

“So when do we tell our parents?” She asked.

“Let’s let this sit for a couple of days. We’ll talk more about it and figure out what we’re going to do and we’ll let them be happy about the graduation for a little bit. Then we’ll approach them together. Okay?”

 

 

 

She walked over and grabbed my hand “Okay.”

We walked back over to the car and I drove her home. At her house I walked her to her door, hugged her and told her I’d call her later that night.

I drove home but had no memory of driving. Everything I did felt like I was in someone else’s body looking out. When I got home Mom and Dad came out from the family room and asked if I had a good time at the party. I mumbled something about it being fun and thanked them. They seemed concerned so I told them I had a headache and wanted to lie down. That thankfully gave me the excuse to escape. I walked upstairs and went to my room.

 

 

 

I sat down on my bed and tried to absorb what Rosamund and I had just talked about. She had mentioned how her parents would support her and I knew she was right, they would. I also knew that my parents would support me too. They all may be really mad at what we had done but they would never allow us to give up the baby, even if it meant that our parents raised him or her.  The last thing I wanted to do was to have my parents be responsible for something I did. I knew I was only 17 years old, but I also knew that this was a time that I needed to take responsibility for my own actions.

 

 

I called Rosamund and asked her if she wanted to talk tomorrow morning. She agreed and I tried to get some sleep. I may have gotten two hours of sleep that night. I laid in my bed most of the night thinking about Rosamund and how our son or daughter was growing inside her.

The sun started to rise and I got out of bed to take a quick shower. Rosamund and I had agreed to talk early in the morning.  I got dressed and headed downstairs.

“You’re up early!” Mom exclaimed.

“I’m meeting Rosamund this morning.”

“Oh? Are you two back together again?” She asked with a smile.

“Something like that, Mom. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay! Have a good time!”

I drove to Rosamund’s house and before I could even get out of the car she was walking out her front door. She got in the car “I didn’t want to take the chance of seeing Mom and Dad so I ran out the door.” I couldn’t think of any other private spot to talk so I drove back to the waterfall.  We rode in silence the whole way and continued our silence for several minutes as we watched the falls, while holding hands.

 

 

 

I finally broke the silence and turned towards her. “I did a lot of thinking last night. You said yesterday that you’re sure that your parents will support you. I don’t doubt that. I also believe that mine would do the same.” She nodded in agreement. “There’s only one problem with that. This was something we did and I know my parents, in their effort to help, they will probably end up partially raising our child. Yours will probably do the same.” She nodded again. “I don’t want that.” She looked confused. “If we’re going to raise this baby, then WE need to raise him or her.  The only way that is going to happen is if we convince our parents that we can.”

 

 

 

“How do we do that?”

 

 

 

“There was only one thing that I could think of. . .we take full responsibility and get married.”

 

 

 

Her jaw hit the ground. “Wha. . .But Jefferson, we aren’t even dating anymore.”

 

 

 

“We may not be dating but obviously I’m crazy about you or we wouldn’t be in this situation.” She blushed. “I have never felt for anyone the way I feel about you. Even after we broke up I was miserable and missed you. Maybe this was supposed to happen.”

 

 

 

“Are you. . .are you proposing?” She looked skeptic.

 

 

 

“I, guess I am.” I got down on one knee and held her hand. “Rosamund Regina Carter, will you marry me?”

 

 

 

She pulled me to my feet and looked up at me. “Yes!” she shouted. Before I could respond she kissed me.  I tried to talk between kisses. “Ros. . .a. . .mund. . .we. . .have. . .to. . .talk. . .about. . .our. . . parents.”

 

 

 

She pulled away. “Oh! I guess you’re right. What are we going to tell them.”

“I’m starting to wonder if telling the four of them together would be the best. That way we don’t have to repeat everything to each set. Even though they’ll eventually be supportive, I know they’re going to be mad at us and they’ll probably try to talk us out of getting married, but if we put up a united front, they’ll give in.”

 

 

 

“I think you’re right. What are we going to tell them?” We stood there talking about how we were going to approach our parents and what we were going to do. We decided that we would sit them down at my parent’s house the next weekend and tell them.  Part of me was excited and part of me was dreading what my parents were going to do and say.

 

 

During the next week I convinced my parents to invite Rosamund’s parents over for dinner. It was all set, we were eating dinner on Saturday evening and after dinner Rosamund and I would tell our parents our situation and plan.

Rosamund and I saw each other every day in between.  We mostly went to the falls to talk so no one could over hear what we were talking about. Our situation was causing us to grow closer and by Friday night we were convinced that we were doing the right thing.

It was five minutes till 4:00 and Rosamund and her parents were supposed to arrive soon. I started pacing in the family room and was deep in thought when Dad interrupted me. “Son, what in the world. I’ve never seen you pace like this before. You must really like this girl.” He smiled and joked.

 

I stopped pacing and tried to gain my composure. Right at 4:00 the doorbell rang and Mom, Dad and I answered the door. Our parents exchanged introductions and Rosamund and I held hands while watching them.

Mom suggested we go into the dining room and start dinner.  The conversation was pleasant and ranged in topic to Mom’s career to college for Rosamund and I. I gave Rosamund’s hand a squeeze under the table when our future came up. 

Mom and Regina bonded over cooking and were discussing recipes when we all walked into the living room.  This was the moment Rosamund and I had been waiting for.

“Mom and Dad, Regina and Robert; Rosamund and I have something we’d like talk about with you.” I motioned for them to sit on the couches and Rosamund and I stood in the front of the room. I looked over at her and she grabbed my hand.

 

“What I’m about to say is going to shock you and upset you so I’m not going to beat around the bush.  Rosamund is pregnant and I am the father.” I looked around at all of them and their smiles slowly turned to looks of disbelief.

 

“I’m sorry Jeff, did I hear you correctly?” Mom asked.

 

“Yes, Rosamund is pregnant and I’m the father.”

I looked over at Rosamund’s parents and I could tell her dad was about to lose it. “This can’t be. He obviously forced himself on her. There’s no way my daughter. . .” Robert exclaimed

 

“What do you mean our son must have forced himself on her. Obviously she led him on. . .” Dad defended.

 

“Our baby girl would never. . .” Her mom alleged.

 

“Neither would our son. . .” Mom countered.

 

“We both did!” Rosamund shouted. Our parents looked at us with their mouths hanging open. “Neither one of us took advantage of the other and we both consented to it so stop accusing and please listen to us”

 

Our parents looked at both of us and then at each other.

“Is this why you asked us to invite Rosamund and her family over for dinner, so you could tell us that Rosamund is pregnant?” Mom inquired.

“Yes. We thought it was better to tell all of you at once.”

“I just don’t get it Jeff. How?! Of all people you?! I would think you would know better, especially after what happened with Charlie and Kate.” Dad pleaded.

 

“Oh, so this has happened before in your family, has it?” Regina accused.

“Different circumstances, they were engaged before she got pregnant. But we’re not talking about them, we’re talking about Jeff and Rosamund.” Mom looked at Dad to let him know to stay away from the Charlie and Kate situation.

“Good God people! Can you please stop accusing each other and us and listen to what we have to say.” I pleaded.

 

“By all means. I myself am DYING to hear what you two have to say for yourselves.” Robert huffed.

 

I took a deep breath and unloaded everything. “Rosamund and I have been talking for a little while now about our situation. . .”

“Situation.” Robert huffed again.

“As I was saying, we’ve been discussing and I think you’ll all be relieved to know that Rosamund and I both agree that it wouldn’t be right to abolish the pregnancy.” They all let out a sigh of relief. “We also are very much aware that this child is our responsibility. We know you’re very angry with us right now and probably will be for a long time. We also realize that as our parents, who are very supportive, even when we do some not so smart things, that you will not turn your backs on us and will do anything to support us.” They all nodded. “While we would appreciate your support, we also want to take responsibility for our own actions. Therefore, we have decided that we are going to get married and keep the baby and raise it on our own.”

 

Immediately there was an uproar.

“What do you mean you’re going to get married?! You’re not old enough!

 

“Jefferson Allen Hobble! As your mother I forbid you to do this!”

 

“No way my daughter is going to get married this young!”

 

“How did this happen Robert? Married?!”

 

Rosamund and I expected them to react this way and we stood there for several minutes listening to them protest. When they started to calm down I continued.

 

“Are you finished, because I’ll stand here and wait till you are before we continue.” Our parents were floored. They quietly sat down and this time Rosamund spoke up.

 

“I know you are upset with us, and you have every right to be. But can you please listen to us and hear us out?” She begged. There was silence and Rosamund continued. “Did we plan this? No. Did we do something that you should be upset about? I suppose, although I wonder if any of you did the same thing when you were teenagers and just didn’t have this happen.  Is the outcome unfortunate? I don’t think so and neither does Jefferson.” Her father started to protest and she held up her hand. “No Daddy, I’m not finished. I know I’m just eighteen and Jefferson is a month from turning eighteen, but we’ve thought about this and have talked a lot about it. You can voice your objections to us getting married, but once Jefferson turns eighteen, we don’t have to have your permission. What we’d like to have is your blessing.” Our parents looked at us and then each other. There was a scary quiet in the room. All of a sudden they jumped up off the couches.

“Jefferson Allen Hobble you get your butt upstairs! You are grounded!” I kind of chuckled at Mom’s reaction. I couldn’t help it. I got a girl pregnant and was almost eighteen years old and she was sending me to my room.

 

“Rosamund Regina Carter, get to the car NOW!” Her mom commanded. Rosamund and I looked at each other and I squeezed her hand. “I’ll call you later.” I whispered to her.

 

All the way upstairs I listened to Mom and Dad yelling at me and I could hear Rosamund’s parents yelling at her the whole way to their car. I went to my room and shut and locked the door. I stood at the window and watched as Rosamund and her parents drove away.  I noticed a person walking on the sidewalk and recognized that it was Star. She was looking at me and then I saw her reach in her pocket and get her phone out. A few seconds later my cell was ringing.

 

“Hey” She said.

“Hey”

“Look Jeff I’m still really angry over what happened but Mom wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

 

“Why?”

“Why am I still mad?”

“No, I get why you’re mad Star and you should be. Why did your mom want to make sure everything was okay?”

 

“Because we could hear yelling all the way at my house. Was that your parents? And was that Rosamund and her parents that I just saw leaving?”

 

“Yes to both. Both mine and Rosamund’s parents were yelling and yes, they were just leaving.”

 

“What in the world could make them yell like that?”

“Rosamund’s pregnant, Star.”

 

She stood there looking up at me not saying anything. “Star, either say something or hang up.”

“Is she sure?”

“She took three tests.”

“Were you standing there when she took them?” What kind of a question was she asking? What did it matter if I was there or not.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Did you actually see a positive test result?”

“No.”

“Then how can you be sure?”

“What are you getting at Star? It’s not something most people go around lying about?”

 

“Rosamund isn’t most people, Jeff.”

 

“Really?! We’re going to have this discussion again? I’m tired of having this conversation with you Star.”

 

She sighed and relented. “Fine. So you’re parents are really upset about it.”

 

“Well, that and the fact that Rosamund and I are going to get married.”

“What the. . .Are you really that stupid?! What is going through your mind?! Marry her?! You’re not even eighteen yet! Jeff, I know we haven’t seen eye to eye about anything having to do with Rosamund, but what I’m saying to you now I say as your friend, please, I’m begging you, do not marry her. You don’t have to Jeff! You can still have a baby with her and not marry her. Please!”

 

I stood there looking at her and didn’t respond for several minutes. “Star, you know me well enough to know that I can’t do that. I need to do the right thing, the honorable thing and make this right.  I care about Rosamund very much and in the future I would appreciate if you’re going to talk to me you wouldn’t voice your displeasure about my future wife.”

 

“Jeff, wait!”

 

“Goodbye Star.” I hung up and walked away from the window. I had planned for my parents’ response but I hadn’t even thought about what Star’s response would be.  I laid on my bed and realized that it was just me and Rosamund now. We were in this together and we would help each other get through this.

Credits:
Poses:
Cloudwalker Sims' - Family Photos Poses
Dream Angel's - Lifestyle
Spladroum's - Hole Me Couple's Poses
IMHO's - Don't Be Sad Baby
Mypalsim's - Argue Pose Pack
Zhippidy's - Adult Anger Fight
Eternila - Demento 2
IMHO Don't Be Sad