Boy Window Chapter 21: I'm Surrounded By Idiots

Last time in Boy Window...the boys were sneaking around and Amber was too stupid to realize something was up. She finds out DBD is beating Johnny and his mom, and she is pissed that Johnny didn't tell her. She passed out.

Chapter 21

“I was vaguely aware of an annoying beeping noise...”

The sound of your own voice?

“I finally opened my eyes to see [Liam] leaning over me, looking gorgeous as always...”

I'm glad that, with her head hurting and in a strange environment, she still has the ability to say “damn my boyfriend is fine”. That is super important.

We find out that Amber is in an ambulance because she hit her head when she randomly passed out. They arrive at the hospital and the ambulance wants to take her in on a gurney. Amber protests but the EMT says

“'Sorry, sweetie, it's standard practice. You arrive with lights, you go in a bed,' she countered, winking at me.”

Why is the EMT winking at her? What is this wink supposed to symbolize or communicate? Why can't these characters do anything that makes sense?

Liam tells her not to do that again, and for some reason, this makes Amber laugh. Amber says she had no control over it. They smooch and the doctor walks in.

“'Oops, sorry. Shall I come back later?' the doctor asked, grinning.”

Ew. Just ew. I doubt a doctor would be so casual about someone who was brought in by ambulance because she spontaneously passed out.

The doctor asks the usual questions but Amber takes offense to him asking about drugs.

“Do I look like a freaking drug addict?”

And what do drug addicts look like Amber?

The doctor asked what she has eaten. She realizes she only had toast that morning. The doctor says that's probably it. Personally, I doubt this but I frequently forget to eat, and when I was especially poor, would go without eating for a day and a half before feeling like I might pass out. But maybe Amber is more delicate or hypoglycemic. Not like we would've learned about this earlier or something.

The doctor asks her about stress. She says she is stressed and in her head lists the reasons why. Funny, if she didn't list them I wouldn't have known that she is stressed. Everything still has a calm tone to it.

“'I'm going to run some bloods to make sure...'”

Is this a thing that doctors say? Cause when you say “some bloods” I don't think of tests.

Just no...

The doctor takes Amber's blood for the tests but, oh noes, she hates needles. So how to they handle this? Liam makes out with her while the blood is being drawn. HOW WOULD THAT WORK OUT? But I guess I'm supposed to accept that Liam can kiss Amber and that not be in the way of the doctor drawing her blood.

We find out that Amber's entourage is in the waiting room. Liam gives them the update and brings back a sandwich. The nurse comes in to do Amber's stitches. She must had hit her head pretty hard because she needs 6.

Page break and the doctor comes back with the test results.

“'You're pregnant'”

I think it is tonally appropriate that pandora started playing Alex Parks cover of Mad World when I entered this section. Just saying.

“I burst out laughing. Damn, that was funny, he almost had me there.”

Amber is the dumbest person I've ever read that an author has insisted is smart. Doctors don't joke about things like this.

We find out that Amber didn't read any of the material about the birth control she was given, so while she was taking it as prescribed she didn't start it as prescribed so she is actually about a month into her first trimester.

“'Liam?' I whispered. He was honestly scare me a little, I'd never seen anyone be so still in my life – it wasn't natural.”

How sad is it that I hope he will be an asshole and jump out the nearest window? You know, so they would have consequences for their actions. He doesn't.

The doctor does an ultrasound. I don't know if he can considering how early into the pregnancy she is, but I've never been pregnant so I would not know.

“I didn't want to see because then I wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done.”

Wow, does this mean what I think it means?

“I couldn't have a baby, we were too young. It would ruin everything.”

Valid points. You don't have the means or desire to have a child and I can't believe this book is going in this direction. It's refreshing because I didn't expect it. Usually, these books are aggressive with their pro-life message.

“'An abortion? What? Why?' [Liam] cried, shocked.”

Of course we weren't going to have something new and different.

They have a conversation were Amber is surprisingly sane and explains why they can't have a baby. Liam says that he loves her and guilts her into keeping the kid. This actually reminds me of the back story to a character in another book.

The author is sweet and the title is a backstreet boys reference, what more do you need?

The main love interest (Ty) guilts his career driven girlfriend into having their son and she left him for it. I liked that the story painted what Ty did as a douche bag thing to do, because it is. Just like it would be a douche bag thing to do if he tried to talk her into an abortion.

Better books aside...

Amber decides that a baby is a perfect idea, because they will have help from their parents, and even though Liam will be at college on a hockey scholarship (meaning he would have to play) and that will take up all of his time, and Amber has an abusive father that they refuse to put in jail, but hey the kid “wouldn't be short on love” and you know what The Beatles say “All you need is love”

And, of course, make outs happen in the ER because this is a Grey's Anatomy type hospital were people are conveniently not around when sexy times are happening.

They get home. Jake wants to know whats going on. They lie. Guys, I think Jake will notice eventually. Even if Amber never “shows” when she comes home in 8 months with a baby he will guess.

“I just hoped that Jake didn't go too crazy when he found out and that he didn't beat the crap out of Liam for impregnating his little sister.”

The way they built up Jake beating up Liam last time, I'm not falling for it this time.

Liam tells the resident adult that he will be spending the night, which would not fly with any of the adults I know, but whatever. They go to bed. Amber decides to sleep naked. The only reason for this inclusion is so Liam can say that he will still love her when she is heavy with child.

Another pagebreak and some super boring narration before Jake answers his phone.

“'What the hell do you want? […] Are you fucking drunk? […] Yeah, so what? What are you gonna do about it, old man? […] We don't want to see you, so fuck off. No. She doesn't want to see you. I swear, if you come near her again, I'll kill you. […] Actually, you know what, screw it, come over, come over right now. We're home, come on over and let's talk about it.'”

Yeah, Jake. Invite the abusive asshole over to where you are hiding the daughter he raped every week for 8 years and the woman he is beating regularly. That sounds like a great idea. But that's ok, because Jake tells Amber to go next door to Liam's house. DBD will never look for her there.

“'He knows that I helped [Ruby]; a neighbour saw my car in the drive.”

How would DBD know what car you drive? He left before you had a car. Whatever. I just want this to be over.

Amber: “Please don't, you'll get in trouble. Please?”

Jake: “Not if he starts something first”

I don't think that's how it works. Jake is inviting DBD over knowing that a fight will happen and wants to use that as an excuse to beat the shit out of him. Some how “he started it” doesn't seem like a viable defense. The good news is that the chapter is over!