Eli's POV
A list of swear words streamed through my head as I tried to write current event articles with one hand. I liked current events instead of reviews. For reviews, I actually had to go and see the thing I was going to review. I would spend two hours watching a movie or going to a concert for a review that took twenty minutes to write. Current events took less time, and I was usually very up-to-date. I tried typing with one hand, but it was difficult. In the recent events, Governor Scott Walker stripped teachers of their right, granted to them by the Constitution of the United States… Try typing that one handed. Anyway, I liked current events better. More time that I could spend with Clare. I looked back at my girlfriend to see her struggling to pull herself out of bed. She was so huge from her pregnancy; she had to rock herself out of bed. I walked over and helped her up with my good hand.
She smiled up at me sheepishly, her pale cheeks blooming red. I hope this baby got Clare's blush, I liked it a lot. My grin was replaced with frustration when I looked at the clock. 7:23. My interview was at 8:00, and if I wanted to beat traffic I had to leave now. "I'm sorry baby; I have to leave for the interview." I said, hunting for my tie. Which box was it in? "That's okay. Eli, would you mind dropping me off at work before you go? Fitz said that he would take my shift in the afternoon so I could go to the appointment if I came in an hour earlier." Clare said. I briefly remembered her telling me this yesterday, it must have slipped my mind. It would take ten minutes out of my time, but Clare was so worth it. "Of course, baby girl." I said, struggling to adjust my tie with one hand. Clare waddled over, balancing her stomach, and fixed my tie for me. I grinned at the cliché moment. The wife helping the husband fix his tie before he went to work. Wait, wife? I pondered this for a minute. Should Clare and I get married? It had always been a dream of mind, but I hadn't even thought about it in the last few weeks, with everything that had been happening.
But, maybe it was a good idea to get married. Bring the baby into the world the right way. I looked at Clare in her waitress uniform, the small smile on her rose colored lips. I loved her. I had known this since the second I saw her, and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Why wouldn't I ask her to marry me? I would have to look at rings, though. And that cost money, lots of it. "We have to hurry, Clare." I said, the clock snapping me out of my daydream. I combed my hair in the emo style I liked it. No time to straighten it today. I carried Clare bridal style down the steps, at her protest, and out to Morty. I roughly shoved in my seat belt with my good hand, twisted the key into the ignition, and backed Morty out of the drive way. We were at the Dot in five minutes. Clare kissed me on the cheek and I told her to have a good day at work. After I watched her walk in to make sure she would be okay (Yes, I know, I'm overprotective) I turned back to the steering wheel. On to the job interview.
Clare's POV
I walked into the Dot right before opening time, and smiled at Fitz. I was so proud of him. He left behind his juvenile lifestyle and finally embraced God. I briefly touched the cross necklace sitting on my pale collarbones and then set down my purse behind the counter. "Good morning, Fitz." I said, setting up menus around the room on the tables. "Good morning, Clare. How's the baby?" Fitz asked, smiling down at my belly. Fitz knew how excited I was about the baby. I could see myself now, taking the baby girl-or boy- to a movie, Eli right beside me. Thank God for Eli, my knight in shining armor. Whenever I needed him, he was there. "
I beamed at Fitz, "The baby's great we get to see whether it's a boy-"
"Or a girl today. I know Clare, you've told me a thousand times about this appointment." Fitz smiled back at me and I felt my blush in my cheeks. I had told Fitz about this appointment, probably more than a thousand times. Besides Eli, Alli and Fiona, Fitz was the only one that I had to talk to. And we had some good conversation's that filled in the busy hours at work. Once Spinner officially retired, Fitz started running the Dot. He did a great job, too. Fitz walked over to flip around the Closed sign in the window just a familiar face opened the door. Oh my God. I mean, Gosh. KC Guthrie. "Clare, can we talk?" KC asked me. I nodded stiffly, sitting down in a nearby chair as Fitz watched me cautiously, one eyebrow raised. I knew if anything happened he would jump in. "What do you want, KC?" I said, looking at my boyfriend from what seemed like a lifetime ago. He sat down across from me, looking like a nervous wreck. His hair was a mess, he had bags under his eyes. "Clare, I wanted to apologize. I know what I did wasn't right, and that you're the only one that will really suffer the consequences here. Eli is a great guy for doing this. I practically raped you Clare, and to be honest, I'm not ready to be a dad." He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "I haven't been getting any sleep from Lucas, and I just can't take on another kid. I came here to sign the papers, and to discuss child support." KC said, roughly shoving the words out.
After the papers were signed, KC promised he would never contact me again, or ever contact the baby. I refused child support from KC, he had another baby to provide for. I was looking down at the papers in awe, staring at the signature I needed to get on with my life. KC Guthrie. I know it sounds stupid, but I had been carrying those papers around in my purse for weeks. Not really in hopes that KC would randomly sign them, it was more of an emotional thing. Like, what if? Fitz gently tilted my chin up and I noticed that the Dot was packed. How had I not noticed before? I stood up to get to work but Fitz shook his head. "Eli should be done with his interview by now, call him, go to your appointment. Me and the rest of the staff can handle it." Fitz said gently. Of course, I told Fitz everything, so he would know about the appointment. "Thank you, Fitz!" I said happily, giving him a quick hug as I punched Eli's phone number into my phone. We had a lot to talk about.
Eli's POV
I walked into the office of my hopefully almost boss and took a seat. He was flipping through my short, pitiful resume and took a seat across the desk. He was short, with a small mustache and was wearing a very professional looking suit. "So, you're nineteen and just got out of high school?" he asked me. "Yes, sir." I replied. "Why do you think that you would be able to qualify for a job here?" he asked skeptically. Suddenly, I didn't like how he was looking at me. Like I was something he stepped in on accident, like I never even had a dream of a chance for this job the second I walked into the building. He was practically sneering at me. I was garbage to him. I looked around the professional office, the row of degrees from fancy universities that I could never afford decorating the walls. I looked at the leather couches and then looked back at this man. "It's a difficult job, ah, Elijah." He said, briefly checking my records. "What makes you think that you can keep up with it?" he said, that same sneer on his face.
The anger that had been bubbling up ruptured. "Because, I have a difficult life. I have a girlfriend at home that was practically raped by her ex boyfriend and is now pregnant. I have to provide for her and this upcoming baby. I have to write six three-page articles every night just to make ends meet, and I have to do it with a broken hand! I have to put food on the table; I have to worry about whether or not the baby is okay when it's not even mine. I chose to support my future wife because I love her, I decided to take in an unborn child and support it because they had nowhere else to go. I decided to get two jobs to bring in enough money to support them, with a broken hand, when I'm just nineteen years old! So yes, I think I can handle a difficult job!" I said, my face blushing. I was upset, and it had been wrong to take it out on him. The man looked calculating, and then he sighed, a small smile on his face. "Well, Eli, we'll get back to you by the end of this week."
My face fell as I walked out of the office and out to the parking lot. I got into Morty and smacked my head against the steering wheel. I blew it. I blew my only chance at a decent, steady income. Nice going, Eli. My phone rang with Clare's ringtone and I flipped it open. We still had to go to the appointment to, I remembered. "Hey baby girl, what's up?" I asked.
"Hey babe, you won't believe what happened today!" A thrilled Clare exclaimed.
I sighed. "Yeah, neither will you."
A/N Doctor's appointment next chapter! Five reviews to update! C'mon guys, just five more! Boy or girl? Have a vote! Check out the poll on my profile to, by the way. Rate your fave story!