24 Unexpected News

{P.O.V. Jennifer Ross-Ryans}

Waking up to my head pounding really hard. Peeling my opens slowly; the light made my head hurt worst. Rolling over and trying to open my eyes again. I could see Kendrick sitting out on the balcony playing the guitar. He would play a few notes then he would write it down on a piece of paper. Slowly sitting up in bed, there was some orange juice and some aspirin. Grabbing the glass, it was still slightly cold, taking the aspirin and drinking the juice.

There was more than just that on my nightstand. There were also papers, the kind you get when you check out of the hospital. Grabbing them quickly and reading them, they were mine. There are even multiple cards for an Ob-Gyn doctor. My heartfelt like it dropped right out of my chest. What really made it drop is I don't remember going to the hospital. Getting up quickly, I go straight outside onto the balcony.

"Am I pregnant?" Asking Kendrick worriedly. "I look through all those papers, and I didn't see one about my test results."

Kendrick sat back in his chair, doing what he does best, not showing any emotions. He puts his guitar on its stand, grabs a cigarette out of his pack. He gets up out of his chair away from me and lights it, and takes a long drag. He was really starting to piss me off. I was in no mood right now.

"Kendrick!?" Yelling at him while losing my patience.

"Yes..." He says calmly and very blunt.

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, you're pregnant." Hearing that, I felt really sick to my stomach. I could have hurt my child different thoughts going through my head made me feel worst. This isn't how I wanted to find out; I want to find out on good circumstances. Taking a seat, trying not to puke. "Is the... the... the baby, okay?"

"The baby is fine. The Doctors went to high lengths to absolutely make sure." Relief washed over me, knowing the baby was fine. "Because of what happened last night, you are under restricted orders not to drink. By the doctors and me."

"Alright..." Looking down into my lap, tears were starting to fill my eyes.

I was in shock, and the disappointment I felt towards myself for not knowing I was pregnant was restricting against my heart. I could have seriously hurt this life that's inside of me. I couldn't hold in my emotions anymore; the tears came out. Kendrick knelt in front of me and hugged me tight to him.

"Please don't cry. You're okay, and the baby is okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to either one of you." Kendrick says, trying to get me to calm down.

It was working; my heart was starting to settle a little. Being able to cry into his chest while he holds me was helping too. After crying for a few minutes, I was able to calm down. Looking back towards Kendrick, He gives me a half-smile, and I returned it.

"Feeling better?" He asks. Using one of his hands to move my hair out of my face.

"Yes." My half-smile turned into a full smile upon realizing it. "Were going to be parents."

"Yea, we are." He smiles a full smile back. Lucious brown and sea blue eyes are looking into one another. This is one of the moments I can see through that hard shell of his. Also, the moment I realize Cassidy was right, I am falling in love with Kendrick Ryans. "One hell of a morning, huh?"

"It really is."

"How about I draw you up a bath? And you can do whatever women do to distress themselves. Sound good?" That moment of seeing into that hard shell closes.

"Sounds great." He gets up, placing a kiss on my forehead, and goes inside. I didn't mind that his hard shell closed only because I know that the hard shell that protects his heart will break completely one day.

**Two Weeks Later**

After finding out I was pregnant a couple of weeks ago. I have been doing what pregnant women do. Plenty of exercises, eating the rights foods, prenatal vitamins, and doctor appointments. Well, one appointment I go there once a month for now. When I told Cassidy, she was very excited to find out I was. Not as excited as Kendrick's family, especially his mom. Kendrick has been a little more protective than normal. Even though he doesn't like showing his soft side, I know he's excited because there are these small moments that I can see through that hard shell of his. The media found out to and had it everywhere they could get it out on newspapers, online, etc.

A couple of days is the great charity ball, and Nolan Cassidy has taken me to Mr. Tanklem's clothes store. He is the one that has my dress, and right now, we're trying it on. Nolan and Cassidy were out of the changing room with Mr. Tanklem while a staff member helped me; her name was Harriet.

My dress was absolutely beautiful. It was black, very flowy, sparkly, and sleeveless. It also had beautiful red beads sewed on the bottom of the dress. Making beautiful huge rose designs, the same beading was on top of my dress but smaller. Then to top it off, there is a beautiful red silk sash that goes around my waist. Where I am not that far along in my pregnancy, the dress fitted perfectly. To go along with this dress is a beautiful matching mask with red feathers on one side—also some black high heeled shoes.

The ball is so close to Halloween. It will be a masked balled and from what I heard from Kendrick. Everyone will wear strange hats and, of course, masks. They also will wear ball gowns and suits. Because we get to dress up a little, I am going as an evil queen. The rest of my outfit will be at the jewelers. Going out of the changing room to show them my dress.

"You look absolutely stunning in that dress." Cassidy coos. She gets off the chair she was sitting on and circles me. "Does she look stunning, Nolan?"

"Is this a trick question? I am not going to get slapped if I answer that honestly, will I?" Nolan responds.

"No." Cassidy gives him a weird look.

"Well, in that case, yes, she does." He goes back to looking at his computer. He's probably doing work-related stuff. Kendrick does that a lot too.

"Thanks, guys." Thanking them. Cassidy stands in front of me and holds my hands, stretching my arms out and complements me a little more. Then we both go into the changing room.

"Is Nolan taking you?" Asking her. She gives me a smile and blushes while nodding her head 'yes.'

"I'm really excited," She replies. She takes a seat on one of the dressing room chairs.

"I am too.." Harriet comes in and unties the sash.

"Is Kendrick going to make it back from New York in time?" She asks with concern. Kendrick went on a business trip with Nolan a week and a half ago. Kendrick decided to stay a couple of extra days, and Nolan came home yesterday.

"Kendrick is going to meet me in our hotel room there. His plane won't fly into the airport till a later after we get there." The ball is in California at the Rills Mansion. Harriet zips my dress down and helps me out of the dress. Leaving me in my underwear.

"Do you have everything packed?"

"Yes, besides my dress and jewelry for the occasion." It kind of why we are here. "What about you?"

"Yes, everything is packed. I came here yesterday with Nolan to pick up my dress." Putting my clothes back on, I take a seat next to Cassidy.

"Are you Nolan dating now?"

"Um... I'm not sure a couple of weeks ago when we drank. He and I had ended up having sex. Ever since then, we have been hanging out more and doing that more. But we never actually talked about what we are yet."

"Well, are you ready to date him yet?"

"Yes, I believe I am ready."

"Then I think you should go for it."

"I should, huh?"

"Yes, you definitely should." There was a knock on the changing room door.

"Are you ladies ready?" Nolan asks

"Yes." Cassidy and I both reply. Going out of the changing room, we got my dress from Mr. Tanklem and left to the jewelers.

(P.O.V. Lucia Tanners-Montgomery)

Kendrick was right about Zach. He was furious that I even went near Jennifer. Not because he hates Kendrick but because he regrets hurting his friend and doesn't want to hurt him anymore. Zach warned me to stay away from Jennifer from now on. He even asked why I was bothering her? I told him the truth. I told him that I stilled loved Kendrick, but not as much I loved Zach. But I told him even though I loved him more than a small part of me that loved Kendrick. I didn't want anyone else to have him. That turned into a huge fight, and he told me that I either pick him or he will divorce me.

I told him I choose him, and that's the truth, but I didn't admit. That I am still sticking to my plan to tear Jennifer and Kendrick apart now that she is pregnant with his child, it will be more of a challenge. But that doesn't mean it's impossible because it's not. I met Jennifer's old lover that she told me about this Carson Jackson. He still loves Jennifer and wants her back. I'm going to use him to break them apart. That way, Zach won't know what I did.