Listen to Your Heart

“I don’t get it, how does she manage to be late!?!” Rachel said aggravatingly.

“Calm down Rach, I’m sure she has some good reason for being—30mins late.” I said grabbing onto her hand.

“Speaking of the devil” Kelsey said. We all looked up seeing Raquel strut in, fashionably late.

“What the hell took you so long!?!” Rachel snapped.

“You know it doesn’t just come that easy looking like this.” She said removing her sunglasses.
I couldn’t help but scoff at her statement, nor shall I saw understatement.

“Who knew it took that long to look like a tramp.” I mumbled, but clear enough for her to hear.

“Now let’s go get something to eat since I’m pretty sure baby Nicko’s hungry.” I said patting Rachel’s belly.

We all took a seat in the food court trying to decide where to eat when Raquel decided to make a snotty comment.

“Hah funny, you got knocked up by a base player; and how old are you 18, 19 years old, real classy.” We all looked at her in shock; did she really just say that? “What are you all looking at me like I’m crazy;I’m just stating the truth!”

“Hey Kels can you take Rach and go get some food.” Kelsey nodded and took Rachel by the hand which was balled into a fist.

I turned my attention to the Devil. “What the hell was that for?”

“What I was just making small talk, sorry if I was trying to break the tension.”

“Breaking the tension? Do you know how fragile Rachel is right now? And why would you say
such hateful things towards her? You’re making her sound like such a whore!” I spat at her.

“I don’t know, maybe it’s because she is one? She’s pregnant for God’s sake!”

“Have you ever thought she’s maybe happy? That just maybe it’s not a bad thing that she is pregnant? They’re happy together; maybe they’re ready to start a family together; even if it is at such a young age!”

She just stared at me like I’d stepped on a puppy. “God Raquel I don’t get why you’re such a bitch towards us! We’ve done nothing to you!”

“You want to know why I hate you guys. Well here’s the truth, I’m jealous that’s why! You’re all so close to you families and friends. You’re all in such a tight knit group. Nothing can get in between you guys. And you don’t even know how jealous I am of you Annie.” She said wiping the tears off her face.

“And why is that, why are you so jealous of me?”

“Because, everyone loves you so much; Kennedy he’s do anything to protect you! You have all these friends that love you to death. A wonderful job and a fantastic boyfriend! Your life is perfect!”

“N-No my life is far from perfect.” I stated bluntly.

“Yes-yes it is! It’s not just that you make everyone around you so happy. You should have seen John when he found out you came back. It was the first time I really saw him smile since you left! The way he looks at you, he looks at you in a completely different way. In a way he doesn’t even look at me. He loves you Annie, I can just tell; he loves you more than he loves me!”

I scooted my chair over to her. “Don’t say that, he loves you. Isn’t that why you two are engaged?”

“I don’t even know at this point, if he even wants to marry me anymore! We’ve been so distant, I can’t help but feel like at any second he’s just going to back out of this. I can never compare to you Annie.” She said weakly shoving her face into her hands.

“You don’t need to be compared to me. You are your own person. People should like you for who you are.”

“That’s the thing, no one likes me!” She cried out.

“I’m sure they will once they get to know the real you, obviously John saw it before everyone else.” I placed my hand on her back trying to comfort her.

“I-I don’t get it, how can you be so nice to me when all I’ve been is a bitch to you.” I held back a laugh.

“Because I actually know how to forgive and forget—sometimes, and this is one of those times.”
She looked up at me with makeup all smeared but smiled on her face.

“Thank you” She whispered.
Not saying anything else I pulled her into a hug which caught her off guard but she hugged back.

“Whoa what’s going on here?” Raquel and I looked up seeing Kelsey and Rachel confused as ever.

“You guys, I think we have a new friend.”

“A-Are you being serious right now?” Kelsey asked.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” I asked taking a sip of soda. “We had a little talk and worked things though, we’re going to forget the past and work our ways forwards.”

“Y-Yeah, and Rachel?” Rachel looked up from her sandwich. “I’m sorry for earlier, I’m really happy for you and Garrett. You guys are going to make a beautiful baby.”

“Um thanks, and sorry also for being a bitch too; these hormones are getting the best of me.” She said hesitantly.

“Yeah me too, I’m sorry for—I don’t know what I’m sorry about but I’m sorry!” Kelsey said cheerfully reminded me of Pat.

We shared our laughs and continued eating.

“So what’s next?” I asked, throwing at the last of my burger.

“Well I think we should do a little shopping since we are at the mall. And I need some maternity clothing; I’m getting fatter by the sec.” Rachel said patting her stomach.

I couldn’t help but grin at her bipolar mood swings.

“Okay ladies shopping we go!” I said enthusiastically.

Grabbing each other’s hands, we skipped through the mall like little kids in a candy shop. It didn’t last long till a stopped in mid tracks.

Raquel seemed a little startled by my actions. “What’s wrong, why are we stopping?”
I was speechless; Rachel caught my gaze and followed it.

“Oh my god left—left!” Rachel instructed.

“Wait wha--“ Rachel grabbed Raquel and my arm into Pacsun.

“Would anyone like to explain to me what just happened?” Raquel asked.

“See that?” Rachel said pointing to the red headed guy. “That’s Annie’s high school sweet heart. He cheated on her and knocked up some girl.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off him; it’s been a long time since I’d seen him. As much as want to admit it, I don’t hate him. He did the right thing of raising the baby. As long as he’s happy—I’m fine with it.

“I-I’m so sorry Annie.” Raquel tried to comfort me.

“It’s okay the past is the past right?” She nodded her head. “Now let’s go shopping, but head—the opposite way.”
--

“I’ll see you guys later!” I yelled slamming the door shut.

Slipping of my shoes I ran upstairs to my room, not expecting anyone to be home I pulled of my shirt leaving me in my bra.

“Hey” I heard a guy’s voice.

“Ahhhhhhh!” I screamed.

“Whoa calm down it’s just me, and nice outfit.” I realized it was John who was in my house.

“What are you doing here!?!” I screamed not caring if he saw me shirtless or not.

“I was wondering how your day went with the girls.” He said taking a seat on my bed.

“I would tell you but what’s the fun in that?” I smirked and threw on a shirt.

“Hey you know; you look better without that on.” I smacked his chest.

“John go home, it’s late and I’m tired.” I said slipping into the bed.

“No, not until you tell me how the day went.”

"What do you think John, none of us called from the hospital? So I think it’s your hint that nothing bad happened.”

“Oh don’t be a smartass.” He said getting in next to me.

“And shouldn’t you be getting home to your fiancé?” I turned off the lamp.

“Nope, I’m staying here tonight.” He said snuggling into my back.

“And why is that?” I asked turned my head him.

He didn’t respond, he just snuggled up deeper into my back.

“John are you going to talk to me?”

“Uh uh”

“Fine than, so I won’t tell you Raquel and I are friends now.”

I could feel him smile against my skin; he sat up and kissed my forehead. Whispering “Thank you”

And with that we drifted off to sleep.