Thunder [open]

[Shelby Crescent]

"Alright. Where did that lighter go..." Shelby says with a heavy sigh, as she was looking around with a flashlight. Shell fumbles through another kitchen drawer as the thunder continues roaring through the air. The power had gone out due to a violent thunder and lighting storm that night. It was pitch black in the Crescent house and she was looking for a lighter to light the candles around in the living room where she was going to sit and listen to the storm. She personally loved how the rain hit the windows, the crack of the thunder, even the bright lights given off by the lighting.

"There you are." she grins half asleep taking the lighter out of the last drawer she searched through as she walks back into the dark living room in just her pale blue silk robe. Her hair was all messy, her curls intertwined together but she didn't care at the moment.

She first lights the ones on the coffeetable carefully, next the ones around on the stands by the staircase and random spots, making the room luminated just enough to see the entire room. As she yawns, Shelby takes a large blanket and wraps it around herself. She shuffles her feet over to the couch and sits down just listening to the rain fall onto the roof and windows, causing her to smile instantly when the thunder once again booms through the night sky.

[Zoe Henderson]

Shuffling on her feet Zoe walks back and forth in the upstairs hallway. She was about three months pregnant now and it was getting harder to hide, and Zoe knew that it wa sonly going to get harder. Sighing with a heavy heart, she knew that she was going to have to tell her mother now.
"Just won't tell her who's it is..." Zoe muttered.
She could hear her mother walking around lighting candels. CLoseing her eyes jsut as lightning struck, Zoe started down the stairs.
Gotta tell her...
That was all that was going through her mind with each step. Zoe finally got down to the end and she where her mum was sitting. Wraping her arms around her now slightly plump waist Zoe le out another long breath. She had on a very large baggy tee shirt and some short shorts.
"Hey mum..." She mumbled looking over at her.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell glances up slightly and smiles. "Hey sweetie, what are you doing up this late, it's almost three. The storm wake you?" she asks patting the cushion next to her and extending her hand out to her for Zoe to take, letting the blanket open some for Zoe could sit with her under its warmth with Shell like she always did during storms. Shell noticed that something was wrong in the sound of her voice but she wasn't going to ask right away at least. "So how are things with school?"

[Zoe Henderson]

Zoe shrugs her shoulders slightly as she goes over and sits down next to her mum, pulling her knees up to her chest and setting her chin on the top of her knees. "School's fine." She said simply. Zoe had no idea how she was going to spill this to her. It was honestly the hardest thing she was ever going to do have to do. Zoe leans her head on Shelby's shoulder and stiffles a yawn. "Is it really 3?" Zoe questioned.

[Shelby Crescent]

"That's good, just what I like to hear. Next year is gonna be tough with your N.E.W.T.S. and choosing what you want to do for a career. Actually that's this summer. We can start looking up class requirements and all that." she nods, wrapping her arm around her lightly and rests her head on top of Zoe's. "Yup, it's three. James came in my room around 1:30, just got him to sleep."

[Zoe Henderson]

Zoe groans softly. "Don't want to think about that." She mumbles voice a little dark. She honestly didn't want to think about anything in the future because she knows that she won't have much of one because of...well everything.
Zoe nods her head a little. She's seen her mother raise and take care of child after child. Closeing her eyes for a moment or two. "I don't think I'llbe able to go to school next year though," She finally says. Better soon er than later because Zoe knows if she makes herself wait for later, she won't be able to do it

[Shelby Crescent]

That made Shell raise an eyebrow and moves slightly back from her so she could see past her daughter's blonde curls. "What do you mean you won't be able to? I already said you're not going to do that road trip idea with that boy." she says sternly with a frown. It seemed no matter what boyfriend Zoe would bring home he definately was beneath her. "Well, explain why you can't go to school Zoe."

[Zoe Henderson]

"Mum that guy broke up with me in January.." Zoe mumbled, not being able to hold it back. Zoe wasn't really that angry. She had no right to be with everything that was happening with the family and with Jay being dead. CLoseing her eyes again Zoe let out a long breath. "Mum-...I just can't go, okay? I just can't." She said still trying to to avoid the subject.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell rolls her eyes and sighs. "Zoe Morgan, you're going to school whether you like it or not. Especially if you have no good reason." she says standing up and dropping the blanket on Zoe lightly. "You know how important is to me for you to have a full education, and you should care as well." Shell turns around to face her with the stern look on her face still. "Now tell me hun. You never hide anything from me."

[Zoe Henderson]

Zoe sighs through her nose turn her head looking in the other direction detirmed to not look at her mother. She shook her head for a few moments. She wasn't about to say it ut loud, thinking that it might make the blow less harder. She decided to just let her legs go loose and down onto the ground so that her stomach was out in the open. You couldn't tell anything because the tee shirt was so big though. Closeing her eyes again, she lifts up her shirt so that it stopped just under her chest.
Glanceing down for just a second, Zoe knew that it would be obvious.

[Shelby Crescent]

Right at that moment, Shell's heart drops into the pit of her stomach and slowly walks back to the couch. She wanted to feel her stomach, see if it was actually real. "Zoe. I..." she stops feeling the tears falling from her eyes already continuing to stare at the little round belly that she had carried herself so many times. Finally looking up at her daughter she frowns deeply. "Why? Why did this happen? You're more responsible than this, you're not supposed..."
You're not supposed to follow in my footsteps. I promised myself this wouldn't happen, that you would live a better life than I did...

[Zoe Henderson]

Closeing her eyes and letting her shirt drop over her belly again, Zoe croses her arms over her chest and still looks away from Shelby. "You think I wanted this to happen?" She mutters letting her hair fall into her face.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell sighs lightly, putting a hand through her hair. "I know you didn't. Neither do I. Zoe who is the father and how far are you? I just can't believe out of everything that I've taught you and everything else you come here pregnant, acting as if it's my fault that you are. You're still going to school Zoe. Pregnant or not. I went through it and so will you. I not letting you drop out of school."

[Zoe Henderson]

Zoe looked over at her mother with an almost angry look. "I am not acting like it's your fault!" She exclaimed. "And you can't make me go to school like this. I won't." She shakes her head. Taking a deep breath she calms herself down, "I'm three months along and who the father is doesn't matter."

[Shelby Crescent]

"Zoe Morgan Henderson, you will go to school. I can and I will. You have these three months, almost four of vacation so then you'll be six to seven months. You can deal with school and being pregnant for two months. This is your mistake, your risk and now we have to solve it. You're going to school. Now tell me who this boy is. I want to talk to him as soon as I can." she says raising her voice a bit as she crossed her arms over her chest with a huff.

[Zoe Henderson]

"I'm not going to lug this-...this-..this thing around at school!" Zoe said almost her voice rising also. "And I'm not telling you!" Zoe knew that she wasn't about to tell her mother who it was. There was going to be no way in hell that she wasever going to tell anybody.

[Shelby Crescent]

"It's not a thing! It's your baby! And yes you will! Obviously you didn't take into consideration the consequences of what could have happened. So, you will deal with your child taking on the full responsibility of taking on motherhood the right way. Hopefully you can set a good example for him or her." she says still in the same tone. "You better tell me who it is Zoe or else you will also be on your own in this. You're turning seventeen soon, I can kick you out. So spill it, who's the father?"

[Zoe Henderson]

Zoe clentched her teeth and just glared up at her mother. "Fine! Kick me out for all I care! Show's what kind of mother you are."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell sighs lightly, putting her hands to her head. "I didn't mean, Zoe. I just don't know how to react to my sixteen year old daughter telling me that she's pregnant and it seems she doesn't even know the father." she says throwing her hands in the air. "Later down the road you will wish that you finish your schooling. I went through school with you and your brother, graduated with Ashlyn on the way." she sighs again.

"Sweetie, you have to understand both stand points in this." she says walking over to her so she was standing infront of her. "You can stay, I overreacted and lost my temper as usual, I'm sorry. We can talk more about school and maybe the father later, but right now just come here." she softly whispers, hugging her tight but Zoe could break away if she wanted. "I want the best for you that's all hun. On the bright side you don't have to worry about shopping for things and the nursery is still there?" she says leaning back and looking at her still with tears on her cheeks, forcing a very weak smile.