Colossal Jump

Chapter Thirty-One

Once she's strapped in and amused by a toy, I close the door and walk around to the other side of the car. I get into the car and look at Blake worriedly. Blake half-smiles as he grabs my hand and brings it to his face. He kisses the back of my hand, then squeezes it tightly.

"Are you okay?"

"Am I ever okay?" I nervously ask.

"You know what I mean." Blake half-grins.

"I'm alright for now. When we get to my parents' house, though, that's another story."

"Everything will be okay." He smiles.

"If you says so."

Blake reverses the car out of the driveway and heads off. I rest my head against the window and look at the changing scenery. I take a calming breath and try to avoid playing out all the horrible ways tonight can go.

I think the hardest part is that I don't know what to expect. I used to have a good grip on what to expect. Logan was always pushing on boundaries and finding new consequences. But after Logan passed away, they lost their predictability. It felt like we were all strangers walking in the dark, unknowing of what's ahead or how to proceed.

They buckled down on me, that wasn't surprising. I didn't mind it . . . I wasn't planning on escaping to a party to get drunk and forget about the world. I wanted to feel the pain of the world, it was the only thing that showed me it was real, that I wasn't dreaming or making this stuff up.

My parents weren't impressed that I was flunking my classes. They were so disappointed when they would receive calls from my all of my teachers. Another missed assignment . . . another failed test about something irrelevant. I didn't care about what they were teaching me. None of this was worth knowing because none of it was going to bring me or him back.

The day Logan died was the day we all died too.

I just thought that if I kept doing stupid shit, that maybe they'd notice me for a second. That when they looked at me, it wasn't straight through me, but rather at me. I didn't care if it was with disappointment, I just wanted them to see me, Ava Greyson.

My parents saw me, but not in the way I wanted to be seen. I'm afraid that's how tonight will pan out. I'm afraid they'll see a girl who is fragile and scared, a small girl who has ruined her life by falling pregnant with a baby, and to a boy who already has a child himself.

I don't want to be seen like that because it isn't the truth or even remotely close to how I view myself. I finally understood Blake on that level. I want them to see me as this young woman who's grown up. The same young woman who is going to be an amazing mother, and an extraordinary role model for two wonderful young children in her care.

There's nothing I can do to change how people see me, just to try and open their eyes to show them that their view isn't always the average sight, but rather just one side to see things.

My parents are unpredictable, just like life. I have to face them both the same . . . head on and with determination. Just because they see me as one person, it doesn't mean I am that person.

Our car pulls into my parent's driveway. My heart begins to beat frantically with anticipation. Part of me wants to run inside the house and scream the news, while the other part of me is thinking it might be a nice jog back to our house.

I'm not into sport, but jogging sounds great.

Before I have the chance to run off, Blake grabs my hand and grounds me to the car. He leans over the consul to press his forehead against mine. I look into his green eyes and see the swirl of determination and excitement there.

Just from his excitement and determination, it influences me to adapt the same vibe as well. I want this to be a great moment with my family. I want to put that tragic past behind us and to move forwards. This baby isn't going to make us forget about Logan, but rather bring new life to our family. Logan is going to be watching over the baby and I, which is comforting.

"It's going to be okay, Ava," he says. "Just take a deep breath."

"It's going to be okay," I whisper back.

Blake presses his lips against mine and it seems to calm me down, oddly enough.

"At the end of the day, all we need is each other. I love you, Ava Greyson."

"We need oxygen too, and food, but I love you, Blake Rivers," I reply.

"Come on, let's do this." Blake abruptly leans back and gets out the car. Since London is on his side of the car, he opens the back door and unbuckles her. I grab her travel bag from the car and join Blake around the other side.

As we walk up to the front door, I take deep breathe and avoid looking behind me. I need to keep moving forwards and tackle this head first. I can't do that if I keep looking behind me.

I ring the doorbell and wait. There's some shuffling noises, then suddenly the door opens wide and I see someone standing before us. My heart leaps through my chest and splatters against the floor.

No, it can't be . . . not on the day we're announcing our baby. For once, I don't need him here, I just need Blake.

"Hi guys, come inside," says Kyle.

Blake is the first one to step inside and great Kyle with an awkward half hug. I follow in behind and hug Kyle as well. It's a brief hug that leaves me unsettled.

We walk towards the kitchen to find my parents, each step harder than the one before. I can't believe Kyle is here, especially when I told him this is the night we're telling my parents. For once, I don't need Kyle with me for this. I just need Blake because it's our announcement to share.

Now I don't know what to do. I'm afraid having Kyle here will either make things better or worse. I'm hoping for the first option because I want my parents to be excited for us. But with my luck, it's like a mixed lolly bag, you don't know what you'll get, but you hope for the best . . . I guess that's all I could do, hope for the best.

Thoughts on Kyle's appearance? Do you think it'll make this better or worse?