Chapter 18 EIGHTEEN
Brienne cleaned her table and picked up her bag. She submitted the remaining reports, along with Janice's, to the manager and left, heading towards her friend's table.
"Are you done, Nice?" Brienne asked.
"Yes, I'm just saving this file...and it's done," Janice said and turned the computer off. She grabbed her bag, and Janice clasped her hand around Brienne's arm. "Let's go. Where are we going?" she added.
"In the cafe across the street, is that okay with you?" Brienne asked.
"Of course," Janice said, and they both went out of the department, but Brienne couldn't help but notice a few people staring at Janice with disdain. Brienne and Janice went out of the building and crossed the road. They went inside the café and sat on the corner table.
"Let's order?" Brienne asked.
"Sure," Janice said.
While waiting for their order, Brienne couldn't help but ask. "Why are they looking at you like that?
"Like what?" Janice asked.
"Like a look of contempt," Brienne replied.
"Don't mind them," Janice said.
"Nice..." Janice looked at her and heaved a sigh.
"They were like that because they saw me hanging out with you all the time. They thought I was leeching off of you," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"What?! That's absurd!" Brienne exclaimed.
"Right?! So don't mind then. They were just talking bullshit," Janice said. "Now, what is it that you want to say to me?" she added that just in time, their orders arrived.
"Nice... I agreed to live with Raven," she said. "And I'm p-pregnant," she added. Janice almost spat her coffee at Brienne. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Hold on!" Janice exclaimed. "Repeat it from the very beginning, and be very slow at it. I don't think I heard it right," she added and chuckled.
"I'm going to live with Raven, and I'm pregnant," Brienne said as slowly as possible, looking around for any signs of their co-workers.
"Bree?!" Janice yelled, causing the other customers to look at them. Janice bowed and looked at Brienne.
"What the hell, Brienne?" she said. "When did this happen? Does he know? Oh gosh! That's a stupid question," she added while shaking her head.
"Brienne, you have to explain, but first, thank you for telling me about your situation," Janice said. Brienne took a sip of her fruit juice.
"I'm sorry, it took too long to say it to you. I discovered I was pregnant the day I fainted in the office, remember that?" she said, and Janice nodded her head. "A-About the living together, Raven has asked me, but I haven't decided it yet, but after thinking about it and looking at my situation in my current place, I gave him my answer yesterday," she added, stuttering.
"To answer your last question, no, he doesn't know about the baby. I haven't told him yet," Brienne whispered as she was done telling Janice everything.
"Oh, Bree," Janice said. "Why? He has the right to know about it," she added. Brienne bowed her head.
"I'm afraid," she uttered. "I'm beginning to develop feelings for him, Nice. I'm afraid if I tell him about this, he'll treat me differently," she added.
"But you can't hide that forever, Bree, and if he doesn't want to accept his responsibility, he's a fcking jerk with no balls," Janice said. "You didn't magically create that baby; remember that," she added fiercely.
"I will; I'll find a right time to tell him," Brienne said.
"Good, I'll kick him in the shin if he doesn't want to accept the child," Janice said, making Brienne chuckle.
"Nice... I actually wanted you to become my child's godmother. Is it okay with you?" Brienne asked while fiddling with her fingers anxiously.
"What?! Of course I'm fine with it! I would love to be the godmother of your child," Janice said and squealed. She stood up and went to Brienne's side to embrace her.
"Thank you, Bree," Janice said.
"No, Nice. It's me who should thank you. Thank you for being friends with the awkward me," Brienne said as she embraced her friend back. She sniffled, sobbed, and closed her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Janice asked and looked at her friend. She wiped Brienne's tears and returned to her seat.
"I'm sorry, just my hormones, I guess," Brienne said, and they both laughed.
"Oh god, Bree. I can't believe you are going to become a mommy in a few months," Janice said. "We can't go to the club together anymore," she added and sniffed, but Janice was happy.
"Oh, come on, Nice. The last time I went to the club, I met a man and had a one-night stand, resulting in this," Brienne said and pointed at her belly. "I don't think I'll ever go to the club again," she added and chuckled. The two continued talking when Brienne's phone rang. She excused herself and took the phone out, only to see Raven's name on the screen. She quickly answered his call and put the phone near her ear.
"Hello?" Brienne said.
"Hi, baby. Where are you? I'm at the lobby waiting," Raven said. Brienne glanced at Janice and saw her teasing look.
"I'm at the café across the street with Janice," Brienne said. "You can come in here," she added.
"Alright, baby. I'll come," Raven said and ended the call. Brienne sipped her fruit juice and ate her burger. A few minutes later, the café door opened, and Brienne saw Raven enter. The familiar beating of her heart when he's around quickens, like a silent confession of everything she feels but cannot say.
"Hi, ladies," Raven greeted.
"Hi," Brienne said, and Raven sat next to her. "I want you to meet Janice, Raven. She's both my friend and my coworker. Nice...this is Raven," Brienne added.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Raven," Janice said and offered her hand for a shake. Raven took.
"Nice to meet you too, Janice," Raven said and shook her hand. "Anyway, ladies, do you mind if I stay here?" he added.
"Not at all; we're almost done too," Janice said.
"Nice, you should come with us. Raven can take you home. Is it okay?" Brienne asked with pleading eyes. Raven smiled at her and patted her head.
"Yes, it's alright. You should come with us, Janice," Raven said.
"Alright, lovebirds, I'm coming," Janice said. They finished their snacks and went out of the café. Raven opened the car for them and sat in the driver's seat. He left Brienne in the back of the car with Janice so they could continue talking. Seeing Brienne pleased while talking to her friend made Raven pleased too. He glanced at Brienne and drove off.