Page 110 of Habits

“Come on.” Brook loops one of her hands through mine, the other one gripping the brown bag as if her life depends on it.

“What? What are you doing?”

“We’re doing it. And we’re doing it now.”

“We?” I pull my hand out of hers, stopping in my tracks. “Brook, are you feeling …”

“We’re going to take it together. God knows you bought enough for the whole senior class of Greyford High.”

I roll my eyes at her. “I didn’t buy that many!”

“Mhmm… let’s go.”

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” I ask, skeptical.

“How hard can it be? You pull your pants down, unclasp the stick, squat over the toilet and pee on it. It’s not quantum science.”

“When you put it like that … But you go first.”

Brook lifts her finger in warning. “You’re going to pee on that stick today whether you do it on your own or I have to force you to do it. Clear?”

“Crystal.”

Brook nods and then stomps into the bathroom like a woman on a mission. The door closes behind her and I turn around, sighing in relief.

“You two really have a strange relationship,” Lia mutters, shaking her head disbelievingly.

She’s so quiet, I almost forgot she was in the room.

“You want to take one, too?” I gesture over my shoulder in the direction of the closed door of the bathroom. “Apparently we have plenty.”

Lia pales, her freckles standing out even more before she bursts into laughter. She’s laughing so hard that tears pool in her eyes, and I can’t help but laugh, too.

It’s intense and slightly panicky, but I welcome the outburst. It feels good to laugh, forget my worries and insecurities if only for a moment. Liberating.

Once my breathing returns to normal and I wipe the tears from my eyes, I feel better. Relaxed.

Lia straightens from her bent position, wiping her own tears. “Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll need them anytime soon.”

“Nothing like a pregnancy scare to emphasize the importance of birth control.” I turn around to find Brook standing at the doorway. Green eyes meet mine. “Your turn.”

For a second, I let my eyes fall closed. This is it. I have to do it. I have toknow.

Inhaling deeply, I open my eyes and nod decisively before I enter the bathroom.

My heart is fluttering in my chest. A steadythump, thump, thump.

Brook left the bag open on the counter. From the corner of my eye, I can see the white stick sitting neatly on the left side of the sink. Her test.

I dig into the bag, pulling out a new one. Carefully, I open the box and read the instructions, which tell me basically the same thing Brook told me before. Open the test, squat, pee, close, wait.

It takes some time for me to relax enough to actually do the deed, but once I’m done, I close the stick and put it on the right side of the counter and wash my hands.

“Are you done already?” Brook’s brown head pops into the bathroom, not caring in the slightest for my modesty.

“Thank you for knocking,” I say dully, but she ignores me and opens the door wider so the both of them can enter.

I close the toilet seat and sit down, looking at the counter and tests like they’re a ticking bomb about to explode.

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