Chapter Two: The Unthinkable

Chapter Two: The Unthinkable

A wave of nausea washed over me, a sickening lurch that threatened to empty my stomach, and I gripped the edge of the couch, my knuckles turning white, a desperate attempt to anchor myself in the midst of the swirling unease. "Baby, are you feeling sick?" Frederick asked, his voice laced with concern, his eyes mirroring my distress. He sat beside me, his warm hands enveloping mine, his touch a comforting anchor in the swirling chaos of my emotions, a tangible reminder of his unwavering support.

"I don't know," I whispered, my voice trembling, a fragile thread of sound against the silence of the room. "Sometimes I feel fine, but other times, I feel awful. I keep throwing up, I get dizzy, and I'm always exhausted. And I suddenly dislike foods I used to love, things I used to crave. What's happening to me, Frederick?" Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision, turning the familiar surroundings into a hazy, indistinct blur. I felt lost, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, tossed about by a tide of inexplicable symptoms. I had no idea what was wrong, but a deep-seated fear, a primal instinct, told me it couldn't be good, that something was fundamentally wrong.

"Should we go see a doctor? Sammy’s aunt is a doctor," Frederick suggested, his brow furrowed with worry, his voice laced with a gentle persuasion.

I shook my head immediately, a wave of panic washing over me, a suffocating fear that gripped me like a vise. I was terrified of finding out something might be seriously wrong with me, of facing the unknown. What if I was dying? What if it was something incurable, a terminal illness that would steal my future? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, a chilling premonition of mortality.

"No. I'm fine," I insisted, my voice barely above a whisper, a desperate attempt to convince myself as much as Frederick. Frederick sighed, his concern evident, but he didn’t push me, respecting my fear. He knew how much I hated hospitals, the sterile environment a stark reminder of vulnerability.

"Alright. I won’t force you. But if you ever decide to see a doctor, just tell me, okay?" He squeezed my hands, his eyes filled with unwavering support, a silent promise of his presence.

I bit my lip and nodded, unable to speak, the fear a lump in my throat.

He smiled, a gentle, reassuring smile, pulling me close to him, his arms wrapping around me in a comforting embrace, a safe haven in the storm. "I love you, Rhys."

"I love you too, Frederick," I whispered, burying my face in his chest, seeking solace in his warmth.

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"What if you're pregnant?" Orion's voice echoed through the room, his tone a mix of seriousness and absurdity, a bizarre suggestion that hung in the air like a surreal joke.

Lucas smacked him on the head, a loud thwack reverberating through the air, a sound that punctuated the absurdity of the moment. "Men can’t get pregnant! Where would he even give birth? His ass? Are you insane, Orion!?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with exasperation.

I had called Orion, Lucas, and Tyler to come with me to the doctor, a desperate attempt to find some semblance of support in the face of my growing anxiety, but Orion’s ridiculous comment caught me off guard, momentarily distracting me from the swirling anxiety within, a brief moment of levity in the face of fear.

"But look at him, Lucas! He has morning sickness, weird cravings, and he’s always sleepy. Sounds like pregnancy to me," Orion argued, crossing his arms defiantly, his expression a picture of stubborn conviction.

Me? Pregnant? Impossible. I was a man, after all, a biological impossibility. Still... the thought lingered in my mind, a strange mix of disbelief and a faint, almost forbidden hope, a whisper of a dream that defied logic. What if? What if there was a way? If it were possible, I wouldn’t mind having a child with Frederick. Someone we could truly call our own, a tangible symbol of our love.

"Actually, Orion might have a point. I've read somewhere that male pregnancy is possible. The chances are extremely low, only about 1%, but still... it's something. Who knows? Maybe you really are pregnant." All eyes turned to Tyler, who spoke calmly, flipping through a thick medical textbook, his voice a voice of reason amidst the chaos.

"W-what?" I suddenly felt weak, my legs giving way as I dropped onto the chair behind me, the world tilting on its axis. My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic drumbeat against my ribs, a chaotic rhythm that echoed my inner turmoil.

"I’m just saying, Rhys. You should try using a pregnancy test," Tyler suggested, his voice devoid of judgment, his eyes filled with a quiet understanding.

My eyes widened, a wave of disbelief washing over me. Part of me wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it, to dismiss the suggestion as a ludicrous joke, but another part of me—the part that feared the unknown, that clung to the faintest glimmer of hope—hesitated, a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach.

"Tyler Greene, what the hell are you saying!?" Orion shrieked, storming toward Tyler and giving him another resounding smack, his frustration boiling over.

"Ouch! What the hell, Orion? Do you want me to punch you? I was just suggesting something!" Tyler pouted, rubbing the back of his head, his expression a mixture of pain and indignation. I sighed heavily, the absurdity of the situation momentarily overpowering my fear, a brief respite from the anxiety.

"Stop fighting. Maybe I’m just sick. I’ll just take some medicine." I avoided their gazes, unable to meet their eyes, the fear a tangible presence in the room. "I just want to rest. Can you guys leave for now?"

"Are you sure you’ll be okay alone? Should we call Frederick?" Lucas asked, his voice laced with concern, his eyes filled with a silent question.

"No! Don’t call him. I can handle this. It's probably just the flu," I insisted, my voice wavering slightly, a fragile attempt to maintain a facade of control.

Lucas hesitated before nodding, his expression a mixture of doubt and reluctant acceptance. He grabbed Orion and Tyler, dragging them toward the door, his grip firm. Orion struggled, protesting loudly, but Lucas silenced him with another smack, making him finally shut up as they left, the sound echoing through the apartment.

I lay down, staring at the ceiling, Tyler’s words echoing in my head, a haunting refrain. Pregnant? Impossible. But he did say there was a 1% chance...

What if it was true?

What would Frederick say? Would he be happy? Or would he be angry, confused, overwhelmed? Would he even believe me? The questions swirled in my mind, a tempest of uncertainty.

"Rhys Maddox!"

I bolted upright as Orion suddenly barged into my room, a plastic bag in hand, his presence a jarring interruption to my thoughts. "Orion? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, startled, my heart pounding in my chest.

He rolled his eyes and stepped closer, his expression a mixture of exasperation and concern. "I live here, remember? Ugh, Lucas dragged me out earlier. My hand still hurts from all that smacking. I swear, I’m gonna rip his hair out one day. Anyway, here." He tossed the plastic bag onto my lap, a gesture that held a strange mix of defiance and support.

"What’s this?"

"Pregnancy tests. Take one. I’m not saying I believe what that panda-faced bookworm said, but, you know, 'there’s no harm in trying.'"

When I didn’t move, paralyzed by a mixture of fear and disbelief, Orion grabbed my arm, pulled me up, and dragged me toward the bathroom, his grip firm. He shoved me inside and slammed the door shut, his determination unwavering.

"Take the test, Rhys. I’ll be waiting in your room."

"But—"

"Just do it."

I heard his footsteps retreating, the sound fading into the silence of the apartment. I sighed, staring down at the multiple boxes in my hands, a collection that seemed to mock my disbelief. He really bought a lot... How the hell do I even use one of these?

Minutes later...

"This isn't real. This isn't real." I kept repeating those words to myself, a mantra against the impossible, as I stared at yet another pregnancy test. Out of the ten tests I took, eight came back positive, a stark, undeniable result that defied logic. "Oh my god." I rushed out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, where I found Orion and Sammy deep in conversation, their voices a low murmur. Wait—why was Sammy here?

"Rhys!" Orion exclaimed in surprise, quickly moving away from Sammy before standing up and approaching me, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "What happened? You look pale," he observed, his voice laced with worry.

Without a word, I handed him the pregnancy tests, the plastic sticks a tangible representation of the impossible. He examined each one carefully, and after a few moments, his expression turned to shock, his eyes widening, his mouth agape. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Positive, positive! Oh my gosh!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch, a mixture of disbelief and excitement.

Sammy, now curious, took the tests from Orion’s hands, his brow furrowed, and his eyes widened in disbelief as he scanned the results. "Wh-who took these?" he asked hesitantly, looking between Orion and me, his voice laced with a cautious inquiry.

"Are you an idiot? Of course, it's Rhys! He’s the one who gave them to us!" Orion snapped, his voice laced with exasperation, his patience wearing thin.

Sammy, who had been watching the scene unfold, looked at me as if he wanted to say something, a question hovering on his lips, but before he could, Orion smacked his shoulder, a playful but firm warning.

"Just don’t say anything, you giant! Rhys is pregnant! Oh my gosh! You and Fredrick Ainsworth are having a baby!" Orion hugged me tightly, practically bouncing with excitement, his energy infectious despite the gravity of the situation. "Congrats, Rhys! Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for you!"

"He’s a guy. This isn’t—how—why—holy shit. You’re really pregnant. Shit, shit, shit! Why didn’t you and Fredrick use protection?!" Sammy was clearly flustered, his composure unraveling, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief.

"Oh, please. They were too caught up in the moment to care about protection! Skin to skin, so they could feel everything. And so what if he’s a guy? Tsk," Orion retorted, rolling his eyes, his tone dismissive.

Sammy gave Orion a pointed look, his expression a mixture of exasperation and concern. "What I’m saying is—how is this possible? We all know he’s a man. Where’s he supposed to give birth, his ass?" he repeated, his voice laced with a bewildered frustration.

Orion held onto my hand protectively, his grip firm. "Hey, what’s with you and my hand-holding? Just hold mine instead!" he declared, his voice a playful challenge.

With that, Sammy yanked Orion’s hand away from mine and pulled him to his side, his movements swift and decisive. Orion was about to protest, but Sammy silenced him with a sharp glare before turning back to me with a small smile, his expression now composed. "So, what’s the plan? You’re pregnant, Fredrick’s the, uh, daddy? Wait—you’re a guy, which technically makes you the daddy too. Oh well, let’s get you checked by an OB-GYN to confirm these test results," he suggested, his voice now calm and reassuring, a steady presence amidst the chaos.

I couldn’t find the words to respond, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, so I let them take the lead, their presence a comforting anchor. We left my apartment and got into Sammy’s car, heading straight to his aunt’s clinic, a sense of urgency driving us forward. She was an OB-GYN, so we were able to get in without an appointment, a stroke of luck in the midst of the unexpected.

Sammy’s aunt was a woman in her mid-40s, elegant and kind-looking, her presence radiating a sense of calm and professionalism. She greeted us with a warm smile, her eyes filled with a quiet understanding. She listened patiently as we explained the situation, her expression never wavering, her composure a reassuring presence. She asked a series of questions, her voice gentle and probing, and then, she performed a thorough examination, her movements precise and efficient.