Something More (Girlfriend Fiction 11) by Mo Johnson

probably be just as disappointed as my parents when they discover Terry’s going to be a mum before she gets to be a check-out chick.’
    As soon as the words were out I felt bad. They weren’t true; Terry has lots of plans for the future. She’s really into science, and Australia has inspired her to consider marine biology.
    â€˜What are you thinking?’ Jack asked.
    â€˜I don’t know why I said that. It wasn’t fair.’
    â€˜Don’t worry. I didn’t believe you. It was just you being you.’ Before I could decide whether that was a compliment or not he added, ‘Sure Terry’s plans might have to be put on hold for a while, but she wouldn’t have to abandon them, would she?’ He had a reassuring knack for being optimistic.
    I ran with it. ‘And I suppose even if she is pregnant, she doesn’t have to keep it.’
    His face clouded over. ‘Abortion?’
    â€˜Termination, or adoption, I guess. There are options.’
    â€˜What about Sean?’
    â€˜What about him? It’s not his body.’
    â€˜It is his baby.’
    Even though he was voicing the same doubts that had been haunting me, I felt compelled to argue with him.
    â€˜It will be her decision in the end, Jack.’
    â€˜Well, that doesn’t seem right to me.’
    â€˜Who cares what you think.’
    â€˜Does anybody care what the baby thinks?’
    Terry and I hadn’t even gone there yet.
    â€˜Fetuses don’t think,’ I insisted.
    â€˜How do you know? What about those documentaries on the human body that say they can hear and feel stuff when they’re in the…there?’
    â€˜I don’t believe you watch documentaries, Jack. You’re a Simpsons -repeats guy for sure.’
    â€˜Can’t we have a serious conversation for once?’
    He scooped up some sand and watched it drain through his fingers. I concentrated on the glinting trickle instead of answering his question. As the silence was allowed to stretch, I had the oddest feeling that he was somehow disappointed in me.
    Although I didn’t want it to, it bothered me.
    â€˜Has Molly told Sam about Terry and Sean?’ I asked.
    â€˜Not sure.’
    â€˜He is “sort of ” her boyfriend, after all.’
    â€˜Yeah, but it’s a pretty huge deal. Imagine if Sam mentioned it to someone before we work out what to do?’
    When he said ‘we’, I wondered if he meant me-and-him, or him-and-Molly. If it was the latter, his defensiveness whenever he mentioned her name was starting to make sense.
    Perhaps Jack was in love with Molly.
    The idea just kind of pounced on me the way Gran McGonnigle’s cat used to. I never saw it coming, and its jagged claws drew blood.
    â€˜I don’t think Molly would risk any rumours getting out,’ he continued, oblivious to my dismay. ‘She only told me because she couldn’t figure how else to get to you. She’s freaking. She’s not calm like you.’
    â€˜I’m not calm! I’ve been a wreck all week,’ I protested, thrashing out at the sand with my heel.
    â€˜Nah…you’re always in control.’ The statement was accompanied by a little dismissive flick of his hand. Such a tiny gesture, but I felt it robbed me of something I couldn’t quite name. A tide of emotions thundered over me: indignation, disbelief and jealousy. It ebbed quickly, leaving only a white foamed sadness behind. I was determined not to step in it.
    Anger swelled then: I resented Jack’s intrusion into my backstage world. Only invited guests were allowed – their opinions were the ones I sought, the only ones to matter. I couldn’t understand how Jack had acquired an Access All Areas pass without my permission. I’d only just allocated one to my sister.
    Some shrieking from the surf reminded me that it was a beautiful morning and people were having fun. I wanted to have fun. I was so