Chapter 14 Found

Skylar stood outside Gabriel's apartment building, clutching her phone tightly in her hand. The weight of her news pressed down on her heart, mixing with the anxiety of how Gabriel might react. She hadn't planned this encounter. Fate seemed to have pushed her toward Gabriel's doorstep on the eve of her departure from university for summer vacation.

Taking a deep breath, Skylar hesitated before pressing the buzzer. The familiar buzz of the intercom echoed in her ear, followed by Gabriel's voice. "Hello?"

"Gabe, it's Skylar," she managed to say, her voice trembling slightly.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then the door buzzed, signaling for her to come up. She entered the building and climbed the stairs to his apartment, her thoughts racing. What would she say? How would he react? Gabriel had been Rachel's cousin and her friend, a familiar face around campus. They had known each other casually, but everything had changed after that night.

Skylar knocked on his door tentatively. It swung open, revealing Gabriel standing there, looking surprised and guarded. His dark eyes bore into hers, searching for answers she wasn't sure she could give.

"Skylar," he said, his tone cautious.

"Can I come in?" she asked softly, trying to read his expression.

He hesitated for a moment before stepping back, allowing her to enter. The apartment was sparsely decorated, a reflection of Gabriel's practical nature. Skylar glanced around nervously, her fingers twisting together in front of her.

"What brings you here?" Gabriel asked finally, his arms crossed defensively over his chest.

Skylar took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I... I need to talk to you about something important."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Okay..."

She looked down at her hands, unsure of how to begin. "Gabriel, remember that night... at Rachel's party?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. "Yeah, I remember."

Skylar took a step closer to him, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm pregnant, Gabriel."

Silence filled the room, heavy and suffocating. Skylar dared a glance at Gabriel, searching for any hint of his reaction. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she feared he might yell or ask her to leave. Instead, he took a step back, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"You're... pregnant?" he repeated, disbelief coloring his voice.

Skylar nodded, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "Yes. And... I wanted to tell you before I left."

Gabriel sank down onto the couch, his face buried in his hands. Skylar remained standing, her heart racing with uncertainty. She hadn't expected this to be easy, but she had hoped he might understand.

After what felt like an eternity, Gabriel looked up at her, his expression a mix of anger and confusion. "How do you know it's mine?"

Skylar felt a pang in her chest at his words. She had anticipated his skepticism, but it still hurt to hear it voiced so bluntly. "Gabriel, you were the only one..."

He cut her off, his voice harsh. "And how do I know you're not trying to scam me? You took my virginity, Skylar."

Her eyes widened in shock at his accusation. "Gabriel, I'm not trying to scam you. I didn't plan for this to happen either."

He stood abruptly, pacing the small living room. "I don't know what to think right now."

Skylar took a step closer to him, her voice pleading. "Please, Gabe. I wouldn't lie about something like this. I came here because you deserve to know."

He stopped pacing, his gaze finally meeting hers. "What are you going to do?"

Skylar took a deep breath, her voice steady despite her nerves. "I'm going to have the baby."

Gabriel looked away, his jaw clenched. "And what do you expect from me?"

Skylar shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks now. "I don't expect anything from you, Gabriel. But... I thought you should know."

He ran a hand through his hair again, his expression conflicted. "This changes everything."

Skylar nodded, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. "I know. I'm sorry."

There was another long moment of silence between them, the air thick with unresolved tension. Skylar knew she couldn't force Gabriel to accept the situation, but she had hoped he might offer some support.

Finally, he sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I need some time to process this."

Skylar nodded, her heart breaking a little more with each passing second. "Okay."

Gabriel glanced at her, his eyes softening slightly. "I'll... be in touch."

She nodded again, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you, Gabriel."

He didn't respond, simply watching her as she turned and walked out of his apartment. The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving her alone in the hallway with her thoughts.

Skylar leaned against the wall, closing her eyes as she tried to steady her breathing. She had done it. She had told Gabriel about the baby. Now, all she could do was wait to see what would happen next.

As she walked away from Gabriel's apartment building, Skylar couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the pit of her stomach. She had hoped for understanding, maybe even support, but she had been met with suspicion and doubt instead.

Summer vacation stretched out before her, a daunting landscape of unknowns. But through it all, Skylar knew one thing for certain: no matter what happened next, she would face it with courage and determination.