'I just think that everything is happening too quickly.' Jackie said, and i shook my head.
'I agree, everything is happening too fast.. I don't even know him. How am I supposed to just start living with him and faking a happy relationship.'
'You can't. I trust you respect yourself more than that.' Jackie rolled her eyes, and I looked up at her, feeling confused. 'Look, I'm sorry, I just care about you, and this man is not what's best for you.'
I smiled slightly as she came up to hug me.
'I love you Hannah,' Jackie said as she held me. 'You're gonna be okay.'
'I'm gonna be okay.' I declared, following her voice. 'Even if i have to try and make this deal work with him, I'm gonna be okay.'
Jackie had agreed with me on almost everything I said, until now.
'But don't you think that a man like him is a horrible influence on your child?' She crossed, looking at me with judgy eyes.
' The child is also his. And besides, what other options do I have, Jacky?' I grunted, feeling frustrated. 'My life came to a stop the minute I realized I was pregnant. I went to him seeking help and he turned me away. Lots of things happened within that time frame. My parents disowned me and kicked me out, I got fired from work for poor performance and showing up late because of this pregnancy. I have been behind on my classes over the last three weeks. Everything will work out for the better when I take this deal.'
'Well, I still think that you're making a big mistake. You're going to regret it. that man is not good for you. He's not good for anyone. Have you seen everything they say about him? He would ruin your life Hannah.' I looked up at her reading into her words but still feeling confused.
' I don't understand why you are so against this. You're the one who was pushing me to go tell him about the pregnancy the first time we discovered it. I was. but that was only because it was the right thing to do. He needed to know that he was a father. To be honest I actually thought you would…'
I got up from the carpet as I looked at her. I tried to read into her expression but I couldn't really tell what she wanted to say.
'What?' I asked, ' Tell me Jackie. you're acting rather strange and it's confusing me.'
'Well I thought you would take care of it. she answered and a Shrugged my shoulders. Of course I'm going to take care of it. It's my baby Jackie. I will do my best to give this child the best life that I can. but you also have to understand that my best is not the best. Jackson can give us better. I would be a villain if I decided to raise my child on my own while the father wants to be involved.'
' That's not what I meant.' she quipped, squinting her eyes. I shake my head as I look at her, waiting for her to speak up.
'I just…' she looked at me nervously, afraid to talk.
' Girl come on. What's so horrible that you're so afraid to say.'
' I just think you should get rid of it.' the room fell silent a minute those words left her mouth. my mind was blanketed with an overwhelming sense of shock and Betrayal as I looked at her.
' What?' I asked, feeling confused.
' Isn't it obvious? This child is going to ruin your life Hannah. For crying out loud, you're half a year from graduating from law school. You have your whole life plan ahead of you. You're going to be a successful lawyer.'
' Jackson has promised to take care of that.' I interjected.
' But how can you trust him? Why would you put your life on hold for a man?'
' What? I'm not putting my life on hold for him. I'm just not being selfish about this. The minute I got pregnant I had to think not only for myself but for this baby. and the best decision for me right now is to take the deal. I don't have to worry about law school anymore or my siblings' education. Jackson will help me pay for that. and he will facilitate my Law School education as well so my dream of becoming a lawyer hasn't disappeared, as you say it. Why would you even suggest something like that?'
' Because it's the Logical thing to do.' She shouted at the top of her lungs as she met my eyes. 'You're being stupid here. And you're holding on to the hope that a handsome billionaire man like Jackson can actually fall for a cheapskate like you.'
We stared at each other. I tried to find the words but I couldn't. I was taken aback.
' Jackie, Is that what you think?'
Suddenly a knock sounded from the door, pulling the attention away from this heated argument. Hannah walked towards the door, leaving me standing there, shocked and insulted.
A moment passed before Jackie turned back to look at me.
Well, Hannah, this one's for you.' she said, almost with a satisfactory smirk on her face. I walked towards the door and found the young man dressed in an expensive suit standing right outside.
' Hannah Cooper?' He asked, and I shook my head.
' What is this about?'
'Well I'm only making a delivery.' He handed me a pair of keys. I took them and tried inspecting them.
' I'm sorry, what is this about? who do these belong to?'
' They are yours. Mr Jackson purchased it as your present.' he said and breath caught in my lungs as I stepped outside. He pointed down the stairs of our small motel and I followed his eyes. In the compound was a black Porsche Packed right outside. There was a big card paper written on the car in big bold letters : FOR MY GIRLFRIEND, HANNAH COOPER!
Jackie stepped outside with me as she stared at it with a wide open mouth.
What the heck was Jackson thinking?