"My name's Ava. What are yours?" the woman asked them.

"Ricky."

"Amy."

"Nice to meet you Amy and Ricky." She took off her light jacket and put it into one of her shopping bags. "We all might as well get comfortable." Amy and Ricky settled themselves more comfortably on the floor and put their backs to one wall of the elevator, facing Ava, and prepared to wait for help to arrive.

"So how far along are you?" Ava asked.

"Um….34 weeks," Amy told her nervously. She'd gotten used to people starring at her with disgusted looks for being a pregnant teenager and she wasn't in the mood to be stuck in an elevator with another judgmental stranger. Ava reached into her purse and pulled out a water bottle. She rolled it to Amy. Amy stopped it with her hand and gave her a confused look; Ava chuckled.

I'm a nurse," she explained. "I don't know how long we're gonna be in here and you'll need to stay hydrated." Amy's confusion was quickly replaced with surprise and gratitude.

"Thanks," she said before looking down to stare at her lap. Ricky watched Amy's demeanor change from surprised to withdrawn. He recognized this because he'd seen it in his mother. There were times when his father would snap at her and she'd reply and withdraw into herself to block out the pain. Ricky got the feeling he'd just missed something important in the exchange.

"You okay, Amy?" Ricky asked her worriedly. She turned to look at him with confusion. Why is he worried about me? She nodded but her confused look kept him from feeling believing that she was okay. "You sure?" She nodded again.

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Ava gave you a water bottle and then you got all…" he searched for the right word. "Distant." Amy wasn't sure what he was talking about and he wanted to make her understand without telling a complete stranger about his past. He glanced at Ava before looking back at Amy. "When I was younger sometimes my dad would snap at my mom and she'd respond and then do what you just did. It was her way of dealing with my dad's anger." He watched as Amy connected the dots and understood what he was trying to tell her. She also glanced at Ava quickly but then looked back down at her lap.

"I'm okay, Ricky, really." Ava watched their conversation quietly, picking up on the fact she was an outsider to a rather personal conversation. She also knew exactly why Amy's demeanor had changed after she told Amy her occupation.

"Amy," Ava said gently, causing Amy and Ricky to both look at her. Ricky took Amy's hand, instinctively knowing Amy needed some kind of comfort in order to face this woman. "I was a teen mom myself so I've got no plans, or right, to judge you." She gave Amy a knowing look and watched Amy's posture relax. Ricky knew he'd just missed something again. He looked at Amy and nonverbally asked for an explanation. Amy saw his expression and laughed.

"What's so funny?" he asked her.

"You've never been a pregnant teenage girl." Ricky looked at her like she'd lost her mind. "Ricky, just about everywhere I go people look at me, see that I'm a teenager and pregnant and then judge me for it. I get judgmental, disgusted, and pitying looks and people whisper about how I'm obviously an irresponsible tramp with bad parents because no decent teenage girl has sex let alone gets herself knocked up." Ricky blanched at her words. He knew people talked about her but he had no idea how bad it was for her. "Since Ava's a nurse I know she's probably seen her share of teen moms and I just felt uncomfortable with the thought of being stuck in an elevator for who knows how long with another judgmental stranger."

"I'm sorry, Amy. I knew kids at school talked about you but I didn't realize adults gave you such a hard time too." Amy just shrugged.

"It is what it is, Ricky," she said with a sigh as she leaned her head back against the wall of the elevator and shifted her posture slightly.

"Anyone hungry?" Ava asked, pulling packs of dried apple chips out of her purse and holding them out for Amy and Ricky to take. Amy quickly tore hers open and started eating while Ricky just set his next to him. He wasn't hungry yet but he might be later, depending on when they got out of there. "So how do you two know each other," she asked conversationally. Ricky looked at Amy not really sure what to say but Amy was again staring at her lap, her face bright red. Ricky decided just telling Ava the basics would answer the question without embarrassing Amy too much.

"We met at band camp, had sex one night, and I got her pregnant." They were both anxiously waiting for Ava's response.

"So what instruments do the two of you play?" They both visibly relaxed, having found a topic they were both comfortable talking about openly.

"Drums."

"French horn."

"Impressive. I don't play any instruments but I love to sing," Ava informed them. They began talking about their favorite songs and music styles and before they knew it half an hour had passed. Amy began shifting more frequently as they were talking and Ava's nursing training kicked in. "Are you feeling alright Amy?"

"My back's hurting a little and.." her voice froze and her eyes widened in shock and fear as she felt wetness between her legs. Ricky looked at her with alarm when he noticed her expression and it became full blown panic when he noticed a small puddle forming beneath Amy.

"What the…!" Ricky cried.

"No, no, no, it's too soon!" Amy wailed. She quickly pulled out her phone and speed dialed her mother. Anne picked up on the first ring.

"Amy, I don't…" Amy cut her off.

"My water just broke!" Amy half screeched half sobbed into the phone.

"Relax, Amy," Ava told her calmly, coming over to Amy's side.

"That woman's right, sweetie. If your water just broke you're still quite a ways away from giving birth," Anne tried to reassure her daughter. Even though Anne was panicking inside that her baby could be in labor while stuck in an elevator, she knew she needed to hide it in order to keep Amy calm.

"But what if we're in here so long the baby comes!?" Amy asked tearfully.

"Then I guess you'll have an interesting story to tell your baby about the day they were born," Ava told her with a smile. "Amy, may I speak to your mother for a moment?" Amy nodded and handed Ava the phone. "Hello, Amy's mother. My name's Ava."

"Hi, Ava. I'm Anne."

"Well, Anne, I just wanted to tell you that you don't need to worry should Amy go into active labor because I'm a registered nurse, I've given birth myself, and I've delivered a few babies." Anne sighed with relief.

"Thank you, Ava. Knowing that my baby's in good hands helps. Take care of her?"

"Of course. Did you wanna speak to Amy again?"

"Sure."

"Mom?"

"You're in good hands, honey. And I'm gonna do everything I can from this side to make sure they get you out quickly. Hang in there."

"I'll try mom."

"That's my girl. I love you."

"I love you too." Amy hung up the phone and put it back in her purse. Ava stood and offered Amy her hands.

"Let's get you up out of that puddle." Ricky helped Amy stand and they walked her to the other side of the elevator and then helped her sit down.

"So," Ricky said, addressing his question to Ava, "What now?" Ava chuckled.

"Now we wait." Ricky and Ava sat down on either side of Amy with their backs against the wall of the elevator and they all continued to wait for help to arrive.