Chapter 1: Positive

I sat on my couch and stared at the test which lay in my pale, green hand. For once in my mediocre life, it was not a test a student had taken. I had taken it, and I was waiting for the outcome. I guess I should tell you that it was a pregnancy test. An obscure, white test with a picture of a stereotypical seahorse on the end of it.

'I didn't even know they made one specifically for seahorses...' I thought when I bought it. I don't even know WHY I'd gone and done this. On a whim, I supposed. I just thought I'd get the stupid thought out of my head that I even might've been pregnant. I was positive I wasn't, but then again...

"Knock knock! Yo Dan, open up!" My friend Cora called from my front door, pounding on the wood. I sighed and swam over to the frame. I yanked the chain off my door and threw it open. There was Cora L. Rief, floating in the doorway. Despite her being one of my closest-and only-friends, she was probably the last person I wanted to see.

"You ready for tonight? Marc's coming over soon and we's gonna' gets you out of your apartment! You are not spending this Friday night alone!" She laughed, inviting herself into my living area. It occurred to me that she had not even noticed my anxious disposition.

"Please come in..." I mumbled sarcastically to myself. I closed the door as she swam in and sank down on my couch. I noticed suddenly I still held the undefined pregnancy test in my hand. Not wanting her to see it, I quickly stuffed it into my shirt pocket.

"So, Baldwin, how ya' been?" Cora asked, now lying back and filling her fin.

"Well actually, I needed to tell you some-" I started. I suddenly heard a strange noise.

"Hold that thought," she interrupted, "it's probably Marc."

Cora yanked out her vibrating shell phone, pushed her black hair back, and held it to the side of her face.

"Hey Marc! Yeah, it's me. You're WHAT? Still? But, FinEx can't make you work overtime again! Well, actually yes they can, but that's not the...oh. Okay then, get back to work. Love ya'. Bye." Cora snapped her phone shut.

"What now?" I sighed, trying to avoid telling her about the test.

"Well, now we wait for Marc. He's running a little late cause' he's being overworked. Ay-gain!" Cora sighed.

"That's too bad..." I mumbled.

"Hey Dan, you okay?" She asked, tilting her head with concern. At least, I think it was concern. Either that or confusion. Cora's body language is hard to comprehend.

"No, no. I'm fine." I quickly stuttered. I'd changed my mind; now, I REALLY didn't want her to know.

"Um, Dan, I've known you since you were MY teacher. I know when something's wrong. You can NOT lie to save your life."

"It's nothing. I'm just..."

"Ooh, what's this?" She interrupted again. Before I could say anything, Cora's fin was in my pocket and she had yanked out the pregnancy test.

"Give that back!" I cried out, snatching for the stick she grasped in her hand. Cora merely cackled at me and held it at arm's length. It made it even more difficult that she was a few fish-inches taller than me.

"What is this thing anyway?" She asked, trying to examine it while fighting me away.

"It's none of your business, that's what it is!" I continued.

After wrestling her for another 5 minutes, I gave up. I knew if I'd let it go on any longer, she'd pin me to the ground.

"Fine," I sighed, "go ahead and look. I don't give a..."

"The heck? Dan, why did you have...a pregnancy test?" She snorted, trying not to laugh.

"Well, you see..." My voice trailed off as I wondered how exactly to explain the predicament.

"And a positive one, no less." Cora giggled. I froze; I couldn't breathe.

"P-p-positive...?" I asked, feeling faint. It MUST have been a mistake, right?

"Yeah. I mean I THINK that's what the pink plus sign mean-Dan? Dan, you okay?" Cora asked with concern. I had sunk down to my couch, feeling quite nauseous. My head spun with questions; each more nauseating than the next.

'It's not right! I'm sure of it! It's...a faulty test, that's what it is! But, what if it really IS positive? I can't have a baby right now! I barely have enough money to support myself, let alone a baby seahorse! But, what if it's more than one? Wait, what are baby seahorses called? Spawn, right? No, that's not it. Hold on, how can I be pregnant in the first place? Do other male seahorses get pregnant? Am I...even MALE?'

"Dan! Snap out of it!" Cora cried, shaking my arms and bringing me back to reality.

"S-sorry. I'm a little...disoriented." I muttered, not feeling quite myself.

"So...who is it?" Cora asked, tossing the positive stick onto my lap.

"Huh?" I asked.

"I was wondering who took the test." She repeated. Now came the ugly truth...

"Cora...um, well..."

"Oh...my...GOD!" Cora gasped. This was it. She knew.

"Look, I had no earthly idea I could..."

"You knocked someone up?" She cried out with glee. I was shocked at how utterly oblivious she was.

"Huh? No! You don't understand-"

"I just can't believe it, Dan! You're gonna' be a daddy! So, who's the mother? Is it someone I know? I she here now?"

I couldn't take it anymore.

"Cora," I cried, grabbing her shoulders, "I took it! I'm the one who's pregnant!"

She stared at me for a minute, then she burst out laughing.

"Oh my gosh! You're so effin' funny! Is there a hidden camera somewhere? Okay, okay you got me!" She laughed, much to my irritation. But my stern expression didn't change, and her smile slowly faded.

"Oh...oh my God. Y-you weren't kidding? You're really...?" She breathed.

I nodded solemnly. Cora's calm face quickly turned into a shocked and disgusted one.

"Holy SHELL!" She cried out in horror.

"Yeah, I know." I sighed, squeezing the bridge of my nose.

"But...but...you're a...male, right?" Cora stuttered.

"That's what I thought!" I agreed, chuckling nervously.

"Jeez...so...so what are you gonna' do?" She asked, staring out the clear wall of the tank.

"I honestly don't know..." I sighed, my head resting on my hand. I felt sick to my stomach. It could have been due to the fact that I had been vomiting constantly the whole week, but I knew it had an emotional cause.

I had NO clue how to raise a baby fish. I had never even wanted to be a parent, but the issue was now staring me right in the face. I really didn't even like kids, especially teen fish. I often questioned why I was a teacher.

I guess I enjoyed my job at first, but eventually I realized I had to compete with shell phones and texting for the student's attention. I guess that's when I just sort of gave up. I can't tell you how many phones and mp3 players are currently trapped in the drawer of "stuff that is now mine". And I can't even attempt to use these devices, for I have a horrible time trying to use technology. In fact, I can barely use the computer I have at home. I don't understand the concept of FishBook or flipper* and I feel like I might be one of the only people left who still reads newspapers. How was I supposed to raise a kid if I didn't even know how to use something as simple as a computer? Those 2 things aren't too related, but they seemed it at the time.

"Dan?" Cora was shaking me again.

"Hmm?" I asked, feeling quite numb at the moment. She gave me a thoughtful grin.

"I have an idea."

*Fish versions of FaceBook and twitter