THE GENIUS'S SECRET

Chapter Nine: Hard Choices

"Bryce," Larissa said, once they were alone. "I and I know you're having a hard time right now. I know it hurts."

"Do you, really?" Bryce snapped. "I had dreams of raising this baby. Dreams of watching him or her grow up."

"Dreams of Edison finding out and confessing his love for you?" Larissa asked. "Be honest, Bryce. Isn't that one of the main reasons you decided to grow this child?"

Bryce looked away, thoughtfully.

"Bryce, real life isn't like they show us on television. It's much more complicated. You can't just toss a baby into the works and expect that to make somebody love you."

"I've made him resent me, haven't I?"

"No," Larissa reassured her friend. Edison will always be a best friend to you. But you have made things awkward between the two of you."

"Maybe he'll love me in the future?" Bryce asked hopefully.

Larissa shook her head. "It's not going to happen, Bryce. I'm sorry. It's time you faced facts. You have to give up and get past it. Edison sees you as a best friend and the little brother he never had. Just like he told you. He's not going to feel romantic toward you. Ever."

"Maybe if he…"

"He's not going to raise the baby and fall in love with you as a result," Bryce. "I and I know the networks have shown soap operas where things like that happen. But that's not reality. That's not how life works. In real life, when a teen becomes a mom the other parent usually walks away."

"Edison's not like that," Bryce pointed out.

"He's the one who suggested adoption," Larissa reminded Bryce. "And I think it's a good idea."

"Why's everyone against me?" Bryce asked, tears beginning to fall.

"Nobody's against you, Bryce," Larissa said, putting an arm around him as she sat beside him. "we're just against the idea of you having a baby when you're not ready. Wait a few years, then maybe some day we'll have a child."

"We?" Bryce asked, looking at her curiously.

Larissa smiled. "I wouldn't be against having a family with you some day. Now that our friendship from school has been renewed, who knows what it might grow into some day. But right now, neither of us is ready to be a parent. Right now it's time for you to do what's best for your child and let go."

Bryce simply cried into her shoulder. He couldn't think of a thing to say.

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