Daisy Dale was huddled against the wall in the last stall of the girl's bathroom on the second floor. Her sobs softly echoed in the room as she held her knees to her body with her signature fuchsia school backpack beside her and sticking out a bit under the door. She was in the clothes she had worn the day before, her hair and makeup a sad mess. She had missed her morning classes and it was now soon to be lunch.
Fiona was walking with Addy from gym after changing and stopped at the bathroom door "Shoot, I need to pee. I should have gone in the gym bathroom...come with me? Not the peeing part..." She jokes as she walks in. Once they're in she can hear the crying. It did sometimes happen in the bathroom but she made a sad face at Addy before going into the first stall to answer nature's call.
Addison giggles. "Yes, you should have gone before we left." she mods the old parental mantra and follows with a. "You never let me have any fun. How will we ever bond if ...." she stops at the sound of the crying and, as Fiona is in her own stall, she bites her lip a minute. She sees the fuchsia backpack and that's enough identification of the crier for her. Daisy probably had a fight with Joey. That would make sense with the rumors of his cheating all over the place. She considers ignoring it but ... Daisy wasn't BAD. So she addresses the backpack. "Daisy .... you OK in there?"
Daisy doesn't answer but just yanks her backpack closer to her, damning it's recognizably. She tries to stop crying but she can't really, whatever it is is just too much for her. She blurts out "I'm fine." in a short slightly higher pitched lie.
Fiona can hear it all from her stall and frowns. She flushes and goes to wash her hands quickly and comes to stand beside Addy looking a bit worried. Joey was the worst male they all knew, even if she and Daisy hadn't always gotten along. It wasn't really Daisy's fault. She cautiously said "Daisy, it's OK...you can talk to us..."
Addison glances at Fiona with a shrug. Daisy was a lot of things at the moment, but 'fine' wasn't one of them. Clearly. "Yea. You really CAN talk to us, Daisy. Come on out. Whatever it is that's upsetting you .. maybe we can cheer you up." there is a bit of ridiculousness in that statement, as neither she or Fiona is exactly known for their cheery personalities.
Daisy gives a short awkward laugh and says bitterly "I doubt it." She reaches her hand up to the lock and slides it open and confesses "My mom kicked me out last night." And then bursts into a new round of tears and chokes out "Because I'm pregnant...."
Fiona had almost laughed at Addy's words and then gasped at Daisy's and then pushes open the door and squats down "Oh shit...Daisy...'
Addison is looking over Fiona's head down at Daisy and gapes. "Holy shit ...." she breathes and takes in a long breath. Her mind races into many areas. "Does ... does Joey know?" she wonders and tries to imagine his reaction.
Daisy cries harder "No.....he and I are.....well maybe he'll want to be with me and just me if there's a baby right?"
Fiona has to work really hard not to give her true reaction to that question and just pats Daisy on the shoulder "Daisy...I dunno....I think this needs to be about you taking care of you. Are you sure you're pregnant? Did you go to the clinic or just do a home test? They can be wrong."
She sniffs and nods "I did one from the drugstore....but awhile ago. I've been throwing up every morning and I'm really tired all the time. I know the test was right....My mom said I should have an abortion. She said...." she starts to cry really hard now "She said having a baby at 15 ruined her life.....she means me...." Her head goes down and she buries her face in her knee and just bawls.
Fiona strokes her hair and looks back at Addy in disbelief that any mother would say that to their child.
Addy's eyes grow large at Daisy's question and her jaw tightens hard in her attempt to not be as honest as she usually is. Then Daisy tells them her mothers response and Addy sighs deeply, shaking her head in disbelief. She pats Fi on the shoulder. "We have to take her to your mom." she announces. "She'll know what to do."
Fiona nods "Daisy, my mom's a nurse. She won't judge you. I promise. But you should see someone....medical. She can help you make informed choices too."
Addy nods. "We'll even go with you, if you want. You aren't alone, Daisy."
Daisy looks up at Fiona and Addy and nods with a hesitant "OK...I'll go..."
Addy nods and turns towards the door. "Come on, Daisy." she heads out of the bathroom and down towards the entrance of the school.
Vincent DiAntoni stands near the entrance of the school. His next class is upstairs and he wonders if they made it that way it was to get the maximum exercise out of students.
Joey Piccolo walks towards Vincent, pausing a minute to watch a couple of the girls moving past them. He sees Vincent and grins. "Spring is going to be GREAT." he announces. "Short skirts and no more leggings." he laughs. "Maybe you can make some progress with your little girlfriend."
Fiona leads the way and sees Vincent as they go out, immediately followed by Joey and purses her lips giving Vincent a look that lets him know this is about to not be a good moment. She looks back worriedly at Daisy.
Daisy still looks a mess and stops short at the sight of Joey looking unsure what to do right now.
Addison comes with and stops at the sighs of Vincent and Joey. She bites her bottom lip, telling herself this is not her fight .. not that Daisy would fight.
Joey sees Daisy in the company of Fiona and Addison. Daisy looked a mess. He comes up to her and places his hand on the back of her neck. "Aw, what's wrong, baby?" he asks in his aren't I the most caring boyfriend in the world voice. "You fail that math exam?"
Vincent sees Fiona's look and looks at Daisy, who looks like she's been crying. He watches Joey approach her and figures they might have had another fight. Maybe even about the girls Joey is rumored to be playing around with.
Daisy starts crying again and says to the others "Can you give us a minute?" She starts moving off to the side hoping Joey will follow nicely.
Fiona nods and moves to Vincent, looking back at Addy and head jutting to the bottom of the stairs. She takes Vincent's hand and whispers "We might need you to cover for us..." she looks hesitant to say it all immediately watching to see what Joey will do.
Addison follows Fiona, keeping her eyes on Daisy and Joey and hoping for the best.
Vincent looks at Fiona, curiously. He holds her hand and looks casual. "Sure. What's up?" he wonders.
Joey moves with Daisy, keeping his hand on her neck. "OK, now that the hell is this all about, Daisy. Stop being dramatic for fucks sake."
Daisy starts to tremble as his tone turns mean and quietly manages to get out "Joey, I'm pregnant. And my mom just threw me out last night." Her whole being is pleading for him to be comforting and somehow make it better.
Fiona keeps looking towards Joey and Daisy and whispers to Vincent "She's pregnant and her mother is a horrible person. She kicked her out. Addy and I are taking her to the clinic. I suspect Joey's about to make it worse...."
Addison just watches. Daisy was having the bad day of all bad days.
Vincent's eyes go wide. "Shit." he whispers, quickly looking over to Joey and Daisy. "Um ... yea ... I'll cover for you guys. No problem."
Joey pulls his head back in shock. "Pregnant? No fucking way." he looks at her and can tell she is telling the truth. If nothing else, she had always proven herself mostly honest. He looks at her. "You're gonna get rid of it, right?" for him, that is a no-brainer. Only logical.
Daisy's eyes narrow and she says "I don't know yet. Aren't you going to ask if I'm ok?" Joey has been more than pushing her loyalty with all his obvious attractions to other girls and it's the end of her rope.
Fiona frowns, watching and gives Vincent's hand a squeeze "Thanks."
Addison watches and bites her lip again, almost chewing on it.
Vincent watches Joey from his angle and squeezes back. "Baby, sometimes I hate it when you're right." he murmurs.
Joey snorts. "Well that's the OBVIOUS thing to do." he tells her. "You can't take care of a kid." he straightens. "I guess your saying it's mine?" he had been unfaithful to her, but until this moment, he thought that she had been completely faithful to HIM ... but ... this could be someone else's problem. After all, Sam Coffee had been screwing Seamus Reinhardt, but also screwed him. But Sam had been smart enough not to get pregnant.
Daisy becomes a little shrill and gets suddenly louder "Of course it's yours! Do you think I'm just another one of you're little sluts?!" She starts backing away from him as she gets to the end.
Fiona exhales into an irritated grunt "Damn...me too....unbelievable.." She glances between Addy and Vincent.
Addison tightens her jaw. She honestly has no idea what to do at this point.
Vincent watches carefully, as do some of the others in the entryway as Daisy gets a little loud.
Joey reaches out to gran Daisy by the neck, not anywhere near as nice as he had. "Don't you walk away from me, Daisy." he snaps. "You get rid of that kid NOW. I'm not paying for YOUR mistake."
Vincent lets go of Fiona's hand and moves over to where Joey and Daisy are standing. "It's your kid. Just deal with it." he says, trying to keep his voice calm. "Man the fuck up."
Joey turns on Vincent like a snake, releasing Daisy. "Mind your fucking business." and he takes a swing at Vincent.
Vincent ducks the punch. "Go, Daisy!" he almost backs as he straightens up and aims a fist into Joey's middle.
Joey doubles over, half his breath knocked out of him. "What? You fucking her, too?" he demands looking up and beginning to straighten. "You pay for that bastard. It's not my ..."
Vincent swings again. A solid uppercut that lands Joey on his back. "Sand up and I'll put your worthless ass down again." he threatens, assuming by now Daisy, Fiona and Addison are long gone, but ready to fight in front of them if Joey makes him.
Daisy gets out of the way fast as the fight starts, unconsciously letting one hand cover her abdomen protectively as she makes for Fiona and Addison.
Fiona watches worried for a minute and then sees Vincent has it well in hand and takes Daisy 's "Don't watch. Come on let's go." She looks at Addy to see where she's at and then briefly at Vincent with brief but absolute devotion. He was literally a super hero at this very moment.
Addison watches the fight begin and, as much as she would love to stay and cheer Vincent on, he was giving them the distraction they needed to get out. She moves past Fi and Daisy and opens the door for them as the unmistakable sounds of a fight begin, attracting everyone on the main floor of the school. They got away. Outside, Addy blows out a breath. "Way to go, Vincent."
Daisy keeps pace with the two other girls feeling the strength of this unexpected alliance "You don't think he'll hurt him too badly do you?" She asks worriedly.
Fiona darts a look at Addy and then curiously asks "Are you worried about Vincent hurting Joey? I don't think he plans to do more than make a bit of a point Daisy...."
Daisy scoffs "No, I hope Vincent knocks all his teeth out to be honest. But I'd feel bad if he got hurt doing it. You got the good man Fiona..."
Addison grins as they walk past Chief Brate's house. "That's more like it." she grins at Daisy. "But ... you know ... they're probably BOTH going to get suspended." she grins. "But this is Joey's second. I just wish ... Vincent didn't get in trouble." part of her wants to take Daisy's hand and try and cheer her up, but doesn't know how this could be put in any positive light.
Fiona stresses a bit about Vincent getting suspended. She knows he's on a scholarship, but she's not going to reveal that in front of Daisy. She sighs at Addy though "Ugh....forgot about that part. Seamus is just getting off being grounded from his round.....Daisy, whatever happens, you choose, not Joey. It's your body and your choice. My mom will tell you that too. There are a lot of resources and support....for every choice."
Daisy nods "I know. We've had the talks at school...and I've seen the help line stickers. I almost called one last night but my phone died and I couldn't plug in until the school opened."
Fiona looks alarmed "Did you sleep outside?"
Daisy nods "Yeah but I wasn't sleeping....it was too scary for me to relax, and cold. I peed at the gas station a few times because it's the only thing open 24 hours..."
Fiona deflates, looking at Addy and then back at Daisy "That's fucked and done. I'll ask my mom if you can stay over tonight."
Addison listens and nods in agreement to all of it and sighs deeply to find out that Daisy had slept on the streets the night before. "The police didn't see you?" she knew they patrolled the city but, thinking about it, it would be easy for them to miss her. Especially if she was hiding from them.
Daisy looks self conscious and shakes her head "I didn't let them. They'd try and take me home and then it would be bad for mom.....child and family again. I know it's messed up that I want to protect her....but she's even more messed up than I am right....just in general...I figured I could handle one night and I did....but thanks Fiona, it wasn't something I want to do all the time."
Fiona can't even imagine any of Daisy's life right now and just nods at her "It's OK. You'll have to bunk in with me because we don't have an extra room. Too many brothers..." she tries to joke in light of the grim situation.
Addy nods and smiles a little. "Well, you'll be safe, at least. As long as Owen isn't cooking." she lifts up a hand. "I know he's been taking classes, but I can't NOT tease about it." she laughs a little.
Daisy half smiles at them both "I know....I'm in Mrs Baldwin's class too. My group is one station over from his...." She giggles for a second and then can see the clinic as it just comes into view and looks panicked "Will your mom call child and family? Will the doctor?"
Fiona looks at Addy, unsure and then helplessly at Daisy "I....I don't think so. I mean you're old enough to go to the doctor by yourself. You could just leave out the part about your mom....and I'll ask my mom later OK? We won't get you in trouble..."
Addy shrugs. I doubt it. Dr McKinney is really cool and so is Mrs Reinhardt. So don't worry about THAT part." she chews on her lip again. Daisy had plenty to worry about without it.
Fiona can see the clinic too and out of the corner of her eye she sees Vincent walking into his building and winces "Vincent got sent home...her just went inside. I'll text him later..." She looks at Daisy "That means Joey's out too. Turn off your phone if he starts bugging you."
Daisy looks sad about Vincent and then narrows her eyes "He better not after what he said. WHO does he think I'm out there screwing? That's HIS game, not mine."
Addy winces. Vincent on suspension. "He might not get in too much trouble. Officer Lynch is pretty cool." she offers and then looks at Darcy, as if her own heart might break. "Daisy ... I'm ... just..." she can't go on. There are no words, and for her, that's rare.
Fiona looks at Addy and nods, understanding how she feels and feeling equally awful about the whole thing. They reach the clinic doors and she just opens one and holds it for the others "OK....here we are."
Daisy looks at Addison with watery eyes and then smiles at her, oddly grateful for the depth of the other girl's emotion. She sniffs and approaches the counter swallowing and straightening up for whatever's coming.
Milo Gregory tidied up the reception area. It was a rather slow day at the clinic and he liked it. This new island town seemed to be very peaceful and that is exactly what he needed. Of course, no sooner did he think that, then the door opened and three young girls walked in. No one was bleeding and, being he had only been on the island since around the first of the year, he wouldn't really name any on sight, but one of the girls looked like Nurse Reinhardt, so she might be a relative. "Hello. How can I help you?" One of the girls looked like they'd been crying.
Colleen and Susan were sequestered in Susan's little office, actually finally catching up on the paperwork in the lull.
Fiona looks at the new receptionist with curiosity and then darts a look at Addison while she waits to see what Daisy's going to say. Of course it had to be a guy when it's a female concern day.
Daisy gets suddenly a little more nervous as she has to say it. In fact she can't bring herself to say what she's here for just "I'd like to see a doctor, a lady doctor if I can please."
Milo looks at them and smiles. "Well, we only have one doctor and she's a woman." he tells her. "I'll get her." he comes out from around the desk. "Oh and I just LOVE that backpack, honey." he smiles and picks up the phone. "You ladies can have a seat. Won't be but a second." he presses a single digit and waits.
Susan hears her inside line and picks it up. "What's up, Milo?"
"There's a young girl out here that would like to see you." he reports.
Looking at Colleen, Susan nods. "We'll be right out." she hangs up the phone. "Young lady in the lobby." she reports. "Want to get her going?"
Colleen nods. "Yes, Doctor." she smiles. At least they got the paperwork done. She stands and heads out to the front, stopping short and looking at the girls ... two of whom she knows very well.
Fiona looks a little amused by new receptionist and then smiles awkwardly at her mom when she sees her. She head juts at Daisy "Mom this is Daisy....we're here WITH her....because she needs some friends for this."
Daisy exhales as the receptionist and smiles, glancing back at her backpack "Thanks." She gulps again when she meets Fiona's mother face to face and her eyes fill with tears again as she knows she has to tell another adult she's pregnant.
Milo is back at his desk, observing without appearing to. He's playing receptionist while he finished up at nursing school. But he doesnt want to work at a huge hospital.
Colleen listens and nods. She is highly trained in reading between lines and she hopes this is not too serious. "Well then, why don't we get you guys in a room and we can talk." she motions down the narrow hallway to the back and holds the door open for the three of them to come in. "Daisy, why don't you sit on the table and tell me what's going on." she tells the girl as she slides the door closed for them.
Fiona nods and quietly follows, and then finds a chair, one of two in the exam room and sits, looking encouraging at Daisy.
Daisy takes off her shoes and sits on the table, sniffing a bit and then says after a big breath "I'm pregnant."
Addison follows and puts herself in the other chair and watches. It had never occurred to her how difficult two words could be to string together until she heard Daisy say them a few times.
Colleen doesn't even flinch, although klaxons go off in her head. This girl can't be much older than her own daughter and Addison. But she turns and reaches for the pee cups. "Well, lets find out for sure." she hands her the cup. "Pee in here and I'll run another test. And while we wait you can fill out our little form, alright? The bathroom is the middle door and you can leave the cup on the shelf over the sink, OK?" she keeps her voice comforting.
Daisy sniffs and nods and takes the cup, heading to the bathroom.
Once she's down the hall Fiona starts defending "I know we're skipping....but we found her crying in the bathroom and her boyfriend, the father, is Joey Piccolo. He's a jerk Mom...and he was horrible to her when she told him. so bad he and Vincent just got in a fist fight about it."
Addison also pipes up because Colleen is not only like a mother to her, but also in close contact with her father. "Her mom isn't any better. She threw her out and she slept on the street last night!" the idea of that still scares her.
Colleen listens, but doesn't look angry, but DOES look very concerned. "Oh boy." she's seen plenty of kids like Daisy in the big city, but in Alexandra? Well, it was bound to be ONE of the girls and she's just glad it wasn't Addison or her Fiona. "Well, first things first. Test results and then we can deal with the rest of it." she tightens her jaw. "Officially, Vincent did the wrong thing. UNofficially .... Go Vincent."
Fiona smiles at her Mom's unofficial response and then takes out her phone "I was meaning to text him....oh he texted.....dammit...he's suspended. Not grounded, but suspended....." She sighs and texts back a sad face and a heart after it, her usual approach when she doesn't have time to type. Pocketing her phone she looks up between Addy and her Mom "I don't want her on the street again. Can she stay with us Mom? I already told her she'd have to share with me......if you say yes....."
Addison winces at hearing Vincent got suspended. She was hoping he could get away for doing a public service to the school.
Colleen sighs. "Well, getting suspended is probably school policy." she nods. "I don't either. SO I am saying yes. I'll clear it with your father ... somehow..."
Daisy walks back into the exam room and climbs back up on the table "I'm pretty sure it's a yes. I did take the drugstore test and I've been sick in the mornings already." She shrugs and then sighs. In an odd way, this was somewhat helpful, getting a formal test and the support.
Fiona nods sadly at Daisy, knowing there's not much to say that's comforting.
Colleen smiles at Daisy. "We'll find out. I'll be right back. You fill out that form while I'm gone, alright?" and she heads out to the bathroom to get the urine sample and administer the test.
Addison sighs when Colleen is gone. "Well ... paperwork time." she offers a smile, not sure how to be supportive.
Daisy takes the paper on a clipboard and pen and reads it over before starting to write. Being a minor she does have to fill in her parents names and she gulps as she fills in her mom "I really hope they done't call my mom...." She gets to the next line and scoffs "And she doesn't know who my Dad was so that's a blank..." She keeps writing down the chart and then flips it over and reclips it.
Fiona glances at Addy and then bites her lip when Daisy says she doesn't know who her Dad was. God this girl's life was just a mess.
Addison is much quieter than she usually is and glances at Fiona as they listen. Suppressing a sigh, she moves a hand to just pat her friend, as if one ,.. or both of them needs the comfort of a touch.
Fiona looks sadly and Addy but does appreciate the connection. She watches Daisy fill out the rest and then look up at them
"You girls are so nice to come with me. Thank you." Daisy sets the clipboard down beside her and looks nervously at the door.
Addison smiles. "I know I wouldn't want to go through this alone. It's no problem." she explains her own reasons for it.
The door opens again and Colleen returns with Susan. "Daisy, this is Dr Susan McKinney." she introduces them.
Susan nods at Addison and Fiona, both of whom she knows and then concentrates on Daisy. "Hello Daisy." she begins. "Well, the results of your test were positive. So now ... we have to talk about where to go from here." she uses the word 'we' so Daisy doesn't feel quite so alone.
Fiona agrees with Addy "Me neither Daisy. We're happy to be here for you." She follows her gaze to the door and then it opens and she nods back at Dr. McKinney and smiles.
Daisy licks her lips nervously and says immediately "I don't want an abortion. I know that's probably what I should choose....but I can't do it. It's not the baby's fault I screwed up and dated a jackass."
Addison watches the doctor and looks at Daisy when she immediately rejects an abortion. She wonders what she would do, and Daisy's point was a valid one.
Susan nods at the sudden and sure rejection of abortion and takes it off the table immediately. "Alright. Then you have two other options. To have the baby and give it up for adoption, or to have the baby and raise it yourself." she pauses and looks a moment at Addison and Fiona. "The father isn't going to be involved at this point?" she always likes to think the father, probably a boy in her school, might step up and be a man, as they would have said where she grew up.
Daisy inhales as her eyes fill with tears again and shakes her head "He wants me to get rid of it. Doesn't even believe it's his. My mom wants me to get rid of it too....had me....well I guess when she was my age. I don't know what to do..." Now her breath comes faster and she's crying again full on.
Fiona looks pained watching Daisy and just stands, crosses the room and hugs her. How can Daisy even choose anything right now. Fiona has no clue what she'd do either, and she has way more loving people in her life than this lost girl.
Addison swallows hard and watches the hug.
Susan sighs deeply. "Well, he can always change his mind and be in his child's life. But for now, I'm not worried about him." she pauses at mention of the girls mother. "Well ... that was her and this is you." she points out. "Having a baby as a teen isn't the end of the world. You can still finish school and go to college and do whatever you want to to.." she watches Fiona hug the girl. But she pauses again and feels the need to ask. "How upset IS your mother?"
Colleen smiles at her daughter. "You have a couple of good friends right here, it looks like." she encourages. "And support is very important." she looks at Susan, not replying that Addison already told her. Keeping the girls privacy in the area. It was for Daisy to say.
Fiona lets go and steps back, realizing there's still important talk to be had.
Daisy pats Fiona's arm as she moves away and then looks braver "I don't want you to call her, or child and family, but she kicked me out, at least for now. I'll try and call her in a few days. Sometimes she just panics.......please don't make it harder for her. My mom has issues but they're not her fault...."
Addison listens and marvels. She would never defend her mother on any subject.
Susan listens. "Well I won't call anyone if you don't want me to, but in good conscience I can't just let you leave without a place to stay..." she begins.
Colleen places an arm on Susan's. "She can stay with us for a little while." she offers. "Give her mom a little while to calm down and think about it." she pauses. "Do you have your phone, so your mom can call you?" she can't imagine throwing her pregnant daughter out on the street, but then again, her daughter had come to her for birth control without even planning on having sex. So she was blessed, the thought.
Daisy looks intensely at Susan and then exhales hugely as Colleen confirms what Fiona offered "Yeah I have a phone and my charger. I have one change of clothes even and I could use my gym clothes if I have to...And thank you."
Fiona holds up a hand "I can lend you clothes Daisy. You're a bit smaller than me but we can work that out."
Addison smiles a little. Things seem to be working out some.
Susan nods at Colleen. "Well then, that settles that." she looks around, and then at Daisy. "I can make an appointment for you to be examined and start a chart. And I do have some things you can read about pregnancy. Lets see where you are when your appointment times comes before we discuss anything else, alright?"
Colleen nods and smiles. "It'll work out, Daisy. Relax." she tells her. "I know it doesn't feel like it, but ... you have plenty of options."
Fiona stays quiet and is very glad they found Daisy today instead of anyone else either finding her or, worse, ignoring her.
Daisy looks gratefully at Fiona and nods and the answers Dr. McKinney "Ok." She smiles a little at Fiona's mom. It was weird that pregnant and messed up, she had more kindness in her life today than she had a month ago, dodging her mother's moods and men she brought home and trying too hard to hold onto Joey Piccolo. Maybe life did have more options.
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