Chapter Twenty Four; Back to New York

"Caroline is that you?" Alan asked his eldest daughter who walked into their New York home

"Hey dad." Caroline greeted him with her usual boring tone "Where's Lottie?" she asked

Her father shrugged bringing a bottle to his lips "I'm not sure, she went out with some boy last night."

"And she hasn't returned?" she asked angrily

"Nope, I don't think she has." He carelessly said

Her blue eyes sent glares at him "Nice parenting, real nice."

Alan threw his bottle away grabbing a new one from the fridge "Where's that boyfriend of yours?" he asked his words slurred

"In LA." she replied before taking her suitcases into her old bedroom

The front door opened and closed making Caroline wonder if Dalton left or if maybe someone showed up.

"You're back I see." Lottie's voice said from behind Caroline

Spinning around Caroline nodded "Yup I'm back." she grinned hugging her sister

"You cut your hair." she noted "It looks nice Care, very mature."

"Well thank you." the blonde said then her face turned serious "We need to talk Lottie. Privately so grab your coat."

Caroline drove down the busy streets of New York to Starbucks. They got their usual orders and sat near the back corner.

"What is there to talk about?" Charlotte asked sipping on her hot chocolate

"How are you pregnant?" Caroline asked

Her brunette sister giggled "Caroline you should know." Caroline shot her a glare which stopped the giggles "It happened after my date with this guy."

"Named?" she pressed

"Henry."

Caroline ran a hand through her blonde hair "Wait, Dalton's friend Henry?"

Charlotte nodded "That'd be the one. Don't think as soon as he found out he bailed." She picked at her fingernails "We're still together."

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this." she admitted to her younger sister "Well what's your decision?"

"We're keeping it."

Caroline was a little surprised at first "If that's what you want, then I'll support your decision. But you know this is a huge responsibility."

"I know Care I've seen all the sixteen and pregnant episodes and Teen mom." she shrugged

"It's not going to be that easy Char, most of those girls don't really take care of their kids. Don't get me wrong I love teen mom but, lets be real here." she paused looking out the window "It makes everything seem easy but it's difficult to take care of a child when you're practically a child yourself."

"How would you know?" Charlotte asked

Raising a brow Caroline shook her head "I took care of you and Dalton when I was just sixteen. I had to sacrifice hanging out with friends to take care of you two. Not that I'm complaining. I'm just making sure this is what you want."

"I'm willing to give that all up." She shrugged looking at her watch "Henry's meeting me at the park. I'll see you at home Care."

Caroline set her head in her hands breathing in deeply after her sister left. Someone sat their hand on her shoulder making her jump

"Sorry Care." The person said

"Ashton?" Caroline asked blinking her blue eyes at the man in front of her "Ashton Thomson is that you?"

The man nodded his head "Yup it's me." he grinned cheekily like he used to back in middle school "You're hair is different now, I like it."

"Thanks, I kind of grew out of my curly hair. Sit down" she smiled wondering if she was imagining him here as he sat down in front of her "What are you doing in New York? Last I heard from your mother you were in Florida engaged to some actress."

"Just visiting, hoping I'd see you. As for the fiancé things just didn't work out." his voice came out as if it wasn't anything big of a deal "How about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

Caroline nodded her head "Yeah, I am actually."

Ashton's face dropped but perked up again "Really who?" he asked

"His name is James." she answered

"James huh?" He asked

She nodded "Yup, he's a great guy you'd like him." her fingernails picked at the cup "I should be getting home, got to unpack and stuff."

"Oh yeah, I'll see you later probably." he nodded at her

Caroline smiled at him politely picking up her cup "Yup, well bye Ashton."

"Bye Care." Ashton replied watching her walk out of Starbucks

Once home, Caroline came to the scene she'd grown up seeing. Her father sitting at the table drinking.

"Why are you home Care?" Alan asked his daughter

"What do you mean?" Caroline asked confused

Her father rolled his eyes "Wait, let me guess you and that boyfriend of yours broke up? Knew that was coming."

"James and I are still together dad." she said annoyed, grabbing the bottle in his hand she dumped it down the sink "I can't believe you, you're drinking while your daughter is pregnant."

"Sorry run that by me again. It sounded like you said my daughter is pregnant." Alan said shaking his head

Caroline furrowed her brow "Charlotte, she's pregnant. Isn't she?" she asked

Her dad began to laughed "She's not pregnant."

The blonde girls blood began to boil at the fact her sister would lie to her. Walking into Charlottes room she found her sister on her iPad "You have a lot of explaining to do young lady." She said angrily

"What are you talking about?" Lottie asked managing as much innocents as possible

"Explain to me how you aren't actually pregnant."

The younger girls cheeks burned red "Alright I'm not actually pregnant I just missed you Care. I mean you're all the way in LA while I'm here. I need my older sister."

"Char anytime you wanted to talk to me, or wanted to see me I would've came out here." she explained sitting next to her sister on the bed

"Thanks Caroline, sorry I took you away from James." Charlotte smiled shyly

"It's fine, now I'm going to change into that cute purple dress you designed for me, because we are going out to dinner." Caroline smiled brightly standing up but, got dizzy quickly, grabbing her head she sat down

Charlotte looked at her sister with concern "You alright Care?"she asked

"Yeah, I'm fine probably stood up too fast." she shrugged getting up slowly then walking to her bedroom

After a shower, make up and a brush through her hair, Caroline put on her purple dress.

"How's it fit?" Charlotte asked walking into the room

"It's a little tight, I don't get it. Last time it fit perfectly." Caroline shook her head slipping the dress off then a simple black one on

The younger sister studied the older one "You look like you've put on some weight Care."

"Gee thanks." The blonde replied with sarcasm

"Maybe it's just stress." Char suggested

Caroline shrugged looking herself over in the mirror "Yeah, maybe."

(Craziness and drama soon too come! Comment and vote!)