His father shrugged, and Taylor took it. "Hello?"
"Um, hello. Taylor?" a voice asked.
"Teresa? Is that you?" he asked, stepping out of the room and into the hallway so he could have privacy.
"It's me. Taylor…"
"How are you?"
"I-there's something I need to tell you," she said, her voice quavering.
Taylor's throat constricted. "Teresa, are you okay?"
"I dunno," she said softly. "Taylor, I'm pregnant."
Taylor felt his heart stop beating, and he felt as though he were about to faint. He fell back against the wall, and sank to the floor. "I don't…"
"I've already told my mom," Teresa said.
"What do you want me to do?" Taylor asked.
"I don't know," she said. "I…I've been thinking really hard about something, though, and I just wanted to tell you so you would know. My mom says she's okay with it, but…"
"What? What?" he asked.
"I've got an appointment tomorrow with an abortion clinic," she blurted, feeling tears coming to her eyes.
"WHAT?!" Taylor shrieked.
"I…Taylor, I don't know what else to do. I've got college to think about…I'm only 17!! I'm still in high school. I can't afford a baby," she said, whimpering.
"Teresa, you're not going to, are you?"
"I don't…I don't want this baby," she said. "I just wanted you to know. I had to…"
"Teresa, please, don't. I'll do anything," he said softly, trying to keep himself from crying.
"Come to me. Come to me in Vienna and stay with me, Taylor," she said. "Help me with this baby, because I can't do it alone."
"I can't do that," Taylor told her. "I'm on tour. We can't just cancel…"
"What else am I supposed to do? I'm temporarily cancelling my life! Reschedule!! I can't do this alone…"
"Please," he begged. "If you'll just wait..."
"I need you here to help. I need someone, and you're the only one I've got," she said.
"I can't," he reiterated. "You've got to understand."
"I AM!" she shouted. "Taylor, please…"
"I can't come back," he said. "Can't you wait until after the tour or…"
"It can't wait!!" she said. "In 7 months I'm gonna have a baby whether you are on tour or not. Now just tell me if you're fucking gonna be here!!"
"I won't," he sobbed. "Don't you understand? It's impossible! Please, Teresa…Please…"
"Taylor, I can't do this. I can't do this alone," she cried back.
"Are you gonna have an abortion?"
"Are you still gonna be on tour?" she asked.
"I…"
"That's your answer. I'm going through with it tomorrow, Taylor, if you're not here in this apartment by 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. I'm doing it. Period."
"But I'll be…"
"Taylor, just be here, please," she said. "I've gotta go. This is long distance…"
"I'm…"
"Be here," she said. "I can't do this alone. I've gotta go…"
"Teresa, wai-"
There was silence. Taylor stared at the phone aghast, then dropped it. He buried his face in his legs and began to cry, hoping that there would be some way he could get out of the promotional appearance scheduled for the following afternoon…