Stray Story - 006

Although it was strange having three people living in that tiny home of mine, we all kind of fell into a regular pattern. As if nothing had changed.

I still went to work every morning, and came back late at night.

Caroline seemed to stay at the house all day, barely stepping outside.

Tayla went to hang out with friends or see her parents during the day, coming back with extra food her parents donated to us. Apparently, just as she'd told me, her parents were fine with her staying over at my place, even for three nights in a row.

The two of us, me and Tayla, were too busy to really find time to talk. Not that I talked much with Caroline either. It felt like I barely got the chance to see either of them. I'm sure the two of them talked a lot when I wasn't there, however.

When Saturday came around, me and Tayla decided to go on a date. I had been hoping to buy a phone, but my money was disappearing faster than ever, with two extra mouths, even with Tayla bringing food from home most nights.

The two of us bussed into town, sitting beside each other hand in hand on the way there.

"So, what do you want to do?"

Tayla cocked her head in reply, "well… there's nothing in particular I want to do. Just stroll around with you, do some window shopping."

"I see."

"In reality, I just want to make sure that I get a good amount of lines in this time around. I feel like since I made my debut, I haven't really been too involved. Especially last time, I wasn't really part of the story at all."

"Tayla, you can't just say stuff like that. We might not be that serious of a story, but we're part of a more serious wider universe."

"So, with that we're going to take an entire week's worth of chapters hostage! And we're just going to talk about silly things, and have stupid conversations, for an entire week!"

"Please stop! You're ruining whatever shred of credibility we had before you started this."

"No, I'm completely serious. Even the author doesn't have a say in the matter, for the next while he'll be doing my absolute bidding and showing complete obedience."

"Who's this author? Your biographer?" I smile. I couldn't keep it up any longer. Somehow Tayla comes up with all of these crazy ideas and just runs with them, however nonsensical they are. What does she even mean by a week's worth of chapters? How do you take a chapter hostage?

"Seriously though, I missed you, Alexander. Even since I got back, it hasn't really felt like we've gotten time to talk."

"I missed you too."

We really haven't had time to talk, since she came back from England.

I haven't really been able to speak with her much even though she's been staying at my place, because I spend most of my waking hours at work. And when we have talked, we've mostly spoken about Caroline.

"To be honest, there's something serious that I have to tell you. I just haven't had the chance to yet."

"Oh, what is it?" I reply, "what is this serious thing that you have to talk about?"

Hmph, I'm not going to fall for that one. Just how long do you think I've known you? This is what she always does: starts off with a joke or a pun, before saying what she really means, then getting embarrassed and covering it up with another joke. It's very cute how she tries to hide how she really feels like that, and I'll play along with her, but I know what she's doing. Tayla does this all the time, after all.

"Well you see, the thing is. I realised while I was on holiday, but… I'm pregnant."

…

…

…

…

"No, no, no, that's too serious a matter to joke about, Tayla."

"How could you be so cruel, Alexander. Even I wouldn't joke about something like this, not when I'm carrying your child."

!

What? I can't tell if Tayla's being serious or not! She sounds upset! She sounds mad!

Was she really serious? Is she actually pregnant?

I mean, it's possible, but… no, it can't be.

There are tears in the corner of Tayla's eyes.

She continued on, "you're going to take responsibility for this, aren't you, Alexander?"

Oh my god, she's completely serious!

What, what, what am I supposed to do?

I can feel my hands shaking, and I'm sweating like crazy.

This can't be happening.

If my life wasn't hard enough, I can't become a father at sixteen! And Tayla's only fifteen too!

"You'll take responsibility, won't you?"

"Yes, of course I will! What… what do we do? What can I do? A-a-are you planning to keep… the baby? I mean it's fine if you are, but given our current circumstances, it would be very difficult for the two of us to raise a child. I mean, we're both still in high school, you know? I would be more than happy to quit if that's what it took but…"

Huh?

I fall into silence. As I was speaking, Tayla's lips have slowly moved into a wide grin, and at this point, she laughed.

She laughed!

As if this wasn't a serious matter!

Tayla was laughing uncontrollably. Everyone else on the bus was looking in our direction, but it was possible they already had been earlier. I mean, I would have to admit I wasn't exactly quiet. I kind of lost control and freaked a bit. A lot.

Eventually Tayla breathed in, still reeling helplessly and said, "I lied."

Everyone onboard the bus let out an audible sigh of relief.

They were all listening! And they were feeling sorry for me!

"What do you mean you were lying?!" I yelled at her, "I could feel my hair going grey, I lost that many years of my life."

Tayla merely laughed in reply. I thought that I knew exactly what was going on, but she got me good. I should've just stuck to my original thought, then I wouldn't have fell for her act.

I guess it's just my nature to act the straight man. Even if I know the pattern, I still have to fall for the joke. Maybe we really are a stand-up comedy act.

"I didn't know you knew how to fake cry," I said, after breathing in a huge sigh of relief.

"Oh, I don't. Those were tears of laughter. I was barely holding it in the entire time."

"What am I to you?! Just entertainment?!"