Punked

On my drive home, Ryan called to tell me he got the night off and I asked him to pick me up from my house because I had something big I wanted to tell him. I figured I should run my idea by him too and he should be getting to my house around the same time as me.

As I pull onto the dirt road that leads up to my house, my phone rings again and I roll my eyes while hoping it's not someone from the Historical Society- I have had enough party planning for one day.

I glance down and let out a loud dramatic groan when I see who is on the other end. I pull off the road and park next to the low wooden fence that runs along the pathway. I answer while nearly pulling an eye muscle from rolling them so hard.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I answer sarcastically and LulaBelle quickly says, "I thought I'd see how my new friend was doin'?"

"I'm busy LulaBelle," I reply shortly but she cheerfully replies, "Why, so am I! I am just on my way down to see Detective Connor. He's havin' a quick word with everyone in the Historical Society and I thought I'd see if I had anything juicy I should tell him."

I throw my head back against the seat in annoyance. I can't believe she's actually doing this. I exhale loudly before I say, "Ryan hasn't told me anything. They have no new leads."

I hear her giggle.

"Well, they might after I talk to them then. I'm sure Mason will be interested to hear all about your threat and that you've been violent in the past."

I groan loudly before replying, "I'm serious LulaBelle. I haven't heard anything! The most I've gotten is that they know Poppy was killed by a blow to the head and right now, forensics is saying it was from a golf club. The Penderghasts were in financial trouble so they are thinking she owed someone money and couldn't pay up."

"Hmmm..." she says before going quiet for a moment. I stay slumped against the seat hoping she won't try and ruin my life. Suddenly she says, "I guess that will have to do for now. You won't be needin' to call your lawyer quite yet."

"Oh, thanks for being so generous LulaBelle," I say flatly before she says, "Well, hopefully you'll have more for me the next time I call you. I can always blame my foggy memory on pregnancy brain."

She giggles before the line goes dead. I hit my hand on the steering wheel in frustration before pulling onto the road again. I know I didn't give her anything too juicy so hopefully, Ryan won't know I talked to her.

When I pull into my driveway, I see Ryan's truck parked next to Austin's Audi. I'm hoping Margot isn't attached to Austin's hip and I smirk as I wonder if Austin already had his panic attack. I let out a light laugh as I think about how stupid Annabeth can be.

After I cut the ignition, I spot Austin and Ryan sitting in the wicker chairs on the wrap-around. They glance up to me as I shut the door and then they both pop up from their seats. They look nervous and I wonder if something happened in Poppy's case today. I see Ryan shift his weight nervously as I trot up the deck stairs and Austin's hands are tucked into his zip-up pockets.

"Hey y'all. What's with the doom and gloom faces?" I ask with a laugh but then watch as they exchange glances. Now I'm nervous and afraid they are going to tell me something terrible like Jackson killed Poppy or that I need to call my lawyer immediately. Ryan takes my hand and asks, "Sawyer love, did you want me to come here so you could tell me somethin' important?"

Confused, I look to his concerned expression before quickly looking to Austin's. There's no way he guessed my idea as I just came up with it less than an hour ago. I look back to Ryan's grim expression and reply, "Well yeah, but I wanted to tell my momma at the same time."

Austin quickly shakes his head.

"No Sawyer, I'm thinkin' that is not a good idea."

I then shake my head, "Wait? How do y'all know what I was going to tell you?" I watch as Ryan swallows hard. His face has little color and his hands are cold and clammy. Austin finally snaps, "You weren't as sneaky as you thought. You left behind evidence!"

Now I am extremely confused. Ryan takes my other hand and as I gaze into his worried eyes he says, "It's going to be alright. We are going to figure this out. But I think we should make damn sure before we tell your parents."

"Make sure of what? What are y'all talking about?" I ask, still clearly confused. Ryan, still holding onto my hands, answers, "We found the test baby girl. I know you're pregnant. And I'm telling you right now I will do everything you need me to do. We'll figure this out together, okay?"

I immediately start howling with laughter. I drop my hands from Ryan's grip as I shake my head. After bending over from laughing so hard, I look to Austin and reply, "Man you got me! That was good. We tried to get you but you ended up pranking me! But really you should have scared Annabeth, it was her dumbass idea."

Austin and Ryan glance to each other and then Austin puts his hands on his hips.

"What the hell are you talkin' about?"

"You found the pregnancy test in your bathroom trash, right? Annabeth was just trying to prank you or Margot but man, you guys got me good!" I say with a laugh but both Ryan and Austin still look dumbfounded so I continue, "We wanted you to think Margot took a test. Just give you a little fright. Annabeth feels slighted by you Austin."

Austin shakes his head, confusion still taking over his entire face.

"I knew Margot couldn't have a positive pregnancy test, Sawyer. She has that thing in her that makes you unable to get pregnant for a few years."

Suddenly, I feel my face get hot and I stutter out, "Wait...wait...a positive test? No, Annabeth peed on it just so it would look like it was used."

"Annabeth took the test?" Ryan asks in shock and I nod.

"Yeah, wait. Are you guys pulling my leg? Is this a joke?" I ask as my heart pounds loudly inside my chest. "I know Annabeth went too far, but this...guys this isn't funny."

"Sawyer, I found a positive pregnancy test in my trash can. I knew it wasn't Margot's and Ryan said he found you and Annabeth coming out of my room the other night. We thought the test was yours and then you said you had something big you wanted to tell Ryan at our house...we assumed that's what it was."

I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. I look to both of them again and ask, "You are positive it was positive?"

Ryan and Austin both nod before Ryan says, "It straight up said pregnant in the little window. There's no misinterpretation of that."

Austin exhales loudly and Ryan visibly relaxes as well. They are relieved the test isn't mine but now I am the one freaking out.

Is Annabeth pregnant and doesn't even know it yet? Ryan catches my sudden mental meltdown and grabs my hand again.

"Is it possible that Annabeth is pregnant?"

I suddenly feel like I might throw up. Are Gus and Annabeth going to have a baby? Do I even tell her about this or wait until she figures it out and comes to me? I look back to Ryan and nod.

"She and Gus have slept together."

"Well, you dumbasses ended up giving Ryan a damn heart attack and punking yourself. Maybe no more pranks, Sawyer," Austin says sourly and I glare at him. Now is not the time for Austin to be scolding me. Ryan looks to me again and asks, "So if you weren't telling me you were pregnant, what did you want to tell me?"

I sigh, trying to calm my nerves and I push Annabeth's possible news aside as I say, "I don't want to have to explain and defend myself twice, so let's go inside and find momma before I tell you."

"Lead the way," Austin says and I slide my hands down my face before turning and heading inside.