My hands were trembling, holding on to the white stick for dear life. I shut my eyes and slid down the bathroom wall of the apartment. How had I not noticed that I had missed my period? I suppose I was so focused on helping my parents with rent that I hadn't been paying much attention to myself.

One more minute and I would have my answer. How is Tanner going to react? Could vampires and humans even mate? What would my baby be? No. Stop, Jess. Wait for the test before you drown in a pool of questions. You don't even know it's true yet. Yeah, you threw up for the majority of the morning but that could have been from stress. You sure have had a lot of that lately. 

 It's been a minute. 

 I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. Positive. It was positive. My heart dropped along with the test. It clattered to the ground as tears cascaded down my face. "I'm pregnant," I whispered. The words felt uneven coming out of my mouth. They didn't belong there. 

 What am I going to do? What does one do when they're nineteen and find out they are pregnant with a half-vampire child? God, I' going to be sick again. Luckily, my old pal, Mr. Trash-Can was right next to me as it had been all morning. I glanced at the lock screen with Tanner flexing shirtless on it. It was six o'clock, he should be home any minute if he wasn't already. I've got to tell him, right? Could I afford not to? He could easily pick out when I was lying about wanting to hang out with his friends. I doubt I will be able to keep a baby growing inside me a secret. 

 In the distance, a door was rattling. There he was. I wiped the tear marks from my face and plastered on a scared, half-smile. It'll be okay. Tanner and I will sit down and figure this out together. He loves me and we will get through this. I'm gonna tell him. My still shaking hand grabbed the test and walked out into the adjoining room. 

"Hey Tan, I know you just got home, but there's something we need to talk about. I have some really important news." I turned the corner to come face to face with the complete opposite of my Tanner. The devil incarnate. Jared. 

"What the fuck are you doing in my room? How did you get in my house?" I screamed at him. But he wasn't listening, his eyes had locked onto the tiny but easy-to-recognize object in my hand. I hid it behind my back, but it was no use. Jared knew. 

 His brown contact-covered eyes were wide with shock as he moved his hands through his messy curls. "Holy shit. You're pregnant with Tanner's kid," he uttered under his breath. 

 "You can't tell anyone. I swear I'm going to tell him as soon as he gets home. I didn't want to tell him over text. I found out a couple of minutes ago. Jared, please." He was the last person I wanted to experience this moment with. 

 My eyes searched over his figure. The shock had left his body and it was now filled with something else. Something sinister. In a flash, he was hovering over me. He grabbed onto my forearm and squeezed it until his knuckles went white. "I'm not going to tell Tanner. Neither of us are. Because we're going to fix this mess of yours. We're getting rid of it. Tonight." 

 My heart nearly stopped. "What? No! This isn't your decision. It's mine and Tanners. Fuck off." I stepped back and attempted to wrench my arm out of his grip, but he didn't budge. 

 His free hand flew across my face, landing on my cheek and sending my head flying in the opposite direction. "Don't you ever talk to me like that again you little slut! You may be able to seduce Tanner into thinking you matter, but to me, you're a low-life human who doesn't matter."

Tears of rage were brimming my eyes. He always treated me like crap but this was different. This was much worse. I turned to look at him again but was met with another slap. This time, he had let go of my arm, allowing me to crash to the floor. 

 Jared's figure loomed over me, his fangs pointing down at me. I grabbed onto the dresser behind me and used it to stand. My eyes locked onto him, anticipating his next move. "L-leave me alone," I stammered. 

Jared let out a low growl, "you either come with me and get rid of your fuck up, or I kill you and that thing growing inside you. Decide fast." 

 I couldn't believe this. I knew he hated me. I knew he was a monster. But how could he be this heartless? This was his best friend's baby, his girl. I knew he'd kill me, but Tanner's kid? "T-tanner would be furious," I whispered. 

 He laughed, "For a few days, maybe. Do you really think he cares about you? So you guys fuck and spend time together. He's more than one hundred years old, dumb ass. He's done that with thousands of other girls. You're a plaything to him. Something to pass the infinite time we have. Nothing more." 

"T-that's not true. H-he cares about me." 

 "If you keep stalling, you won't be around long enough to ask him. Decide." Jared's words dripped with rage and his fists clenched and unclenched at his side. 

 I felt dizzy. If he was right, if I was just Tanner's "plaything" then he wouldn't want a kid. Would he make me abort it too? Or worse, would he kill me? "O-okay. I'll go." I sobbed. 

 He smiled, "That'a girl."