Chapter four: Ex-friends
Monday morning before school, Paige is looking at pictures that are tape onto the insides of her locker door and she is currently looking at a picture of Terri, Hazel, Ellie, Ashley and her sitting on the front steps of Degrassi a few days after the battle of the bands. In the picture Paige is wearing a jean skirt and purple sleeveless shirt that has stars around each of the arm holes, which is the same outfit that she wearing today. Paige is also thinking I look happy in this picture, I wonder how much longer this outfit is going to fit me? Paige then starts thinking Hazel is going to be mad at her for misses the cheerleading meet and making Manny acting head of the spirit squad instead of her. At ths same time Hazel comes running up to Paige.

"Paige, I do not believe what Manny said at practice on Friday afternoon and where were you on Saturday, because you miss the cheerleader meet and that has never happened before? Also, what with Manny being the acting head of Spirit Squad for the rest of the year?"

"I could not take part in the cheerleading meet and I can't cheer for the rest of the year for the reason that Manny told you on Friday afternoon!"

"There has to be another reason for you missing the meet and sat out for the rest of the year because the reasons Manny told the squad can't be it Paige! Because you would not let a bad stomach virus stop you from cheer in a cheerleading meet. In addition a bruised bone, tendon, muscles, and ligament in an ankle do not take a whole school year to heal!"
"I can't cheer for the next seven months and one week is all Hazel so just drop it."

"No, I will not drop it! Dean's got you knock up didn't he?"

"Yes, but I do not want to talk about it right now."

"No, we need to talk about this! You are not going to keep the baby of the guy that rape you or are you Paige?"

"Yes, I can't give the baby up after carrying him or her for nine months."

"Then have an abortion Paige!"

"I can't my mom or dad will not sign for me to have an abortion, plus I do not want to have an abortion, because I would be killing the baby, Hazel, the fetus has a heart beat already!"

"You are throwing you live away for a baby of the teenage boy that rape you!"

"It is my choice and I made the choice to keep the baby, so just leave me alone Hazel."

Paige slums her locker door shut, then runs across the hall and into the girl's restroom. She then runs into the second stall on the left (if facing the stalls). Paige closes the stall door behind her and start cry. Paige is crying so hard that she does not hear Emma Nelson come into the restroom and walk up to the close stall door.

"Paige is everything ok?"

"Yeah, I am having a bad day is all nothing you need to worry about Emma."

"Ok Paige, but the bell is going to ring at any minute."

"Ok and thanks for letting me know Emma."

Paige waits to Emma has left the restroom and then she opens the stall door. Paige walks out of the stall and over to the restroom door. Paige then opens the door and walks into the hallway and at the same time Hazel's walk up to Paige with Ashley, Ellie and Terri.

"Paige Hazel told us that you are pregnant with Dean Baby and she also filled Ellie and Terri in about Dean rape you. How can you even think about keeping the baby of the guy that rape you?"

"I give it a lot of thought Ashley and made the choice to keep the baby."

"I would have an abortion if I was you Paige."

"Me to."

Ellie and Terri I can't have an abortion my parents won't sign for me to get one. And Hazel, Ashley, Terri and Ellie it is not you choice, but my choice. And as I already say I can't have an abortion and I can't give up a baby that I carry for nine months. So I am keeping the baby. Can you all just stay off my back about my choice, I need friends that will support me and not give me a hard time about keeping the baby?"

"(Terri, Ellie and Ashley) Sure, Paige we will be there for you."

"Thanks Terri, Ellie and Ashley. But what about you Hazel?"

"I can't be your friend if you keep the baby."

"Fine then we are not friends any more Hazel!"

Hazels turn away from Ashley, Terri and Paige and she heads to class. Ellie, Paige and Terri slower walk to class talking. When Hazel walks into the M.I. lab, Paige, Ellie and Ashley are right behind her. Hazel walks over to the fourth row and take a sat in the first chair. Paige, Ashley, Ellie and Terri each take a sat in the first row. Paige takes a sat in the first chair, Terri takes a sat in the second chair, Ellie takes a sat in the third chair. And Ashley takes a sat in the fourth chair. During class Hazel keeps giving Paige an evil looks and Paige ignores Hazel. Paige set with Ashley, Ellie and Terri during second and third hour classes and Hazel sat by herself. It is now lunch time and Hazel goes outside to eat her lunch. At the same time Paige takes a sat with Terri, Ashley and Ellie, but does not get her lunch out right away. Paige looks across the lunch room and sees Manny, Emma, Sean, Toby, JT and Liberty. Paige then remembers what Ashley told her during home room that Emma's mom was a teenage mom and she had Emma when she was in the eighth grade. She also remembers that Ashley told her that Mrs. Nelson help girls that go to Degrassi and that is teen mom or are pregnant. Paige stands up and starts to walk away from Ashley, Terri and Ellie.

"Paige where are you going?"

"I will be back in a few minutes Terri's I need to talk to Emma for a few minutes."

"Ok, I will see you when you get back Paige."

Paige walks over to the table by the door, which is the table that Manny, Emma, Sean, Toby, JT and Liberty are sitting at. Paige takes a sat across from Emma and at the same time Manny, Emma, Sean, Toby, JT and Liberty look at Paige with a shock look on they faces, Paige just smile at the six of them.

"Paige, what do you want? You never sat next to Sean, Manny Toby, JT , Liberty or me?"

"Emma, your Mom had you at the end of her eight-grade year of Jr. High school, right?"

Yes, when she was fourteen years old, but whys are you ask me about this Paige?"

"Emma, Do you think your mom would talk with me about what it like to be pregnant at fourteen and what it like to be a teenage mom?"

"Why do you want to know about that Paige? Beside you are fifteen-year-old and you, do not have a boyfriend?"

"Because I am pregnant and I want to talk to someone that was a teenage mom."

"Sure Paige, my mom will talk to you. Come over to my house after school today."

"Thank Emma's and can I walk with you, because I have never been to your house before?"

"Sure Paige."

"Ok then I will see you after school gets out Emma. Also Toby, JT, Manny, Sean, Liberty and Emma the only other people that know that I am pregnant are my mom, dad, brother, Terri, Ashley, Ellie, Hazel, Mr. Armstrong and Ms. Sauve can you please not tell anyone that I am pregnant, because I am not ready for the whole school to know yet."

(Toby, JT, Manny, Sean, Liberty and Emma) If that what you want we won't say anything Paige."

"Thanks."

"I will see you after school gets out Paige, I will wait outside the school for you."

"That fine Emma, see you after school."

Paige stands up and walks over to the table that Terri, Ashley and Ellie are sitting at and that her purse and backpack are, at the same time Emma, Manny, Sean, Toby, JT and Liberty watch Paige walk over to the table that her friends are sitting at. When Paige get to the table that she and her friends are sitting at she takes a sat next to Ellie. Paige then takes her lunch out of her backpack. Paige then gets her vegetable sandwich, a bottle of water and a bag of chips out of her lunch bag. She then open the bag of chips and takes the sandwich out of the bag. She eats a chip first and then open up the bottle of water.

"What did Emma say?"

"Terri, Emma said that her mom would talk to me and that I can come over after school gets out today."

"I told you Emma mom would talk to you Paige. Mrs. Nelson is really nice and she will help any girl that goes to Degrassi, if they're Pregnant and needs someone to talk to."

"Yes, you were right Ashley."

Lunch goes by fast for Paige, when the bell for fourth-hour to ends rings, Paige, Ashley and Terri head to science class. Terri, Ashley, Ellie and Paige have only been in class a few minutes when Paige start feeling nausea, because of the morning sickness. She try to ignore the feeling, because Mrs. Hatzliakas's has just started the lecture on growth and functions of plants. But she is having a hard time pay attention, Paige starts gagging and puts her right hair into the air. Mrs. Hatzliakas sees Paige raise her right hand into the air and stop write notes on growth and functions of plants on the chalkboard and turns around so she is facing class.

"What do you need Paige?"

"I need to use the restroom."

"You can go."

"Thanks."

Paige stands up and then runs out of the classroom and at the same time puts her right hand over her mouth. Paige then runs down the hallway to the girl's restroom and run through the restroom door, but the feeling that she is going to get sick to her stomach is getting too strong. She does not think she can make into a stall, so she runs over to the trash can and start throwing up into the trash can. Two minutes later Paige walks back into the science classroom and walks to the back row and take a sat next to Ashley. Ashley looks over at Paige and notice that she looks pale.

"Are you all right Paige?"

"Yeah."

Paige goes back to taking the science note, despite her stomach still being upset. The rest of the school day goes by slow. When the bell for seventh-hour class to end rings Paige's meets Emma's outsides of the school building and then the two of them walk to Emma's 's moms' house together. Four minutes later Emma and Paige are walking up the step of a two-story brick Victorian row house, which has a flat roof and that has brick exterior that has been painting green, with red trim around the windows and door and a blue door (with two side panels). Paige notices the downstair bay window on the left -hand side of the house (if you are facing the house) and Paige is thinking to herself that must be the living room window, she also notice that there is two windows on the front of the second floor and each of the windows has a pointed window overhang above the windows. At the same time Emma unlocks the front door, Emma then walks into the house and Paige follows Emma into the house shut the door behind her. As Paige is taking off her shoe, she notices the entry hall, most of the living room and upstairs hallway walls are painting orange, beside for the wall across from the staircase in the living room which is yellow. Paige then looks down the hallway and sees that the kitchen walls are painting green, with yellow trim around the windows and back door.

"Emma can I use the bathroom?"

"Yes."

"Where is the bathroom?"

"Upstair and the bathroom the first door on the right."

"Thanks."

Paige heads upstairs and when she reaches the top of the stairs, she steps into the upstairs hallway. Paige then walks into the bathroom and sees that the bathroom walls are a dark shade of orange. She notices that as you walk into the bathroom, the sink is on the right-hand wall (if your back to the bathroom door) with a round mirror that has blue around the mirror and the mirror is hanging on the wall above the sink. Paige also notices a gold hand towel ring is on the wall on the left side of the sink. She also notices that the bathtub shower combo is on the left-hand side as you walk into the bathroom. Paige close the bathroom door and then walks past the sink and bathroom and over to the toilet which is on the same wall as the sink. The towel holder and the trash can are between the toilet and the sink. A few minutes later Paige walks out of the bathroom and walks across the hallway and up to the open bedroom door, to see Mrs. Nelson's bedroom, has light green walls, with orange and yellow curtain on the windows. Paige then walks down the hallway and pass the staircase. Paige then walks up to Emma's bedroom door that is to the left-hand side of the stair (if your back is to the stairs) and looks into the bedroom. Paige sees that the top half of the walls is a blueish green and the bottom half of the wall across from the door are paint yellow. She also notices that the walls around the windows are orange and there is yellow trim around the windows. Paige then sees the curtain on the window are made from blue and green patching. Paige then takes in the posters on Emma bedroom walls and the wooden shelves on the wall beside Emma iron bed frame, headboard and footboard that are paint white and the nightstand next to the bed. Paige is so obsess in taken in the details of Emma's bedroom that she does not hear Emma's walk up beside her or see Emma tosses her backpack into her bedroom.

"I thought you had to use the bathroom."

"I already did, I was just looking around, you and your mom have a beautiful house Emma. I hope I can have a house this nice by the time by son or daughter is in the eighth grade. Did your mom go to college and what does your mom do for a living Emma?"

"She went to college, but drop out and switch to beauty school. My mom got her cosmetologists license and she started working as a hair stylist at the salon that her mom owned. When my grandma was ready to retired, my mom bought her salon and relocated the salon location to the mall."

"Does you mom like doing other people hair?"

"Yes, it not what she wanted to do when she was in Jr. High or High school, but when she starts college my mom realizes that trying to balance going to a four-year college, homework, job and raise me was too hard. She also found herself hanging at her moms' solan wanting to learn about style hair, so she switches to beauty school and love it. How about we head downstairs."

"Ok."

Paige and Emma walk over to the staircase and heads downstairs. Then the two of them walk into the living room. Paige walks over to the couch, which is against the wall across from the staircase and takes a seat on the couch. Paige looks to her right (if sat on the couch) and sees there is a barrel armchair in front of the bay window. Emma walks over to the doorway that leads into the kitchen.

"I am going to get a pop to drink, do you want anything to drink Paige?"

"Do you have bottle water?"

"Yes."

"I will take a bottle of water then."

Paige looks into the kitchen (which is at the back of the house) and sees the stove/oven is on the left wall if looking into the kitchen, she then notices the counter top with the kitchen sink is on the wall across from the front of the house. Paige also notices that the refrigerator is at the end of the counter on the right (if look into the kitchen) and the back door is next to the refrigerator. Paige then notices that the table is in the center in front of the counter, but there enough space to move around between them and that there is a china cabinet on the right-hand wall if looking into the kitchen. At the same time Emma walks into the kitchen and walks up to the refrigerator. Emma opens the refrigerator door and she grabs a can of pop and a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. Emma then close the door of the refrigerator and walks into the living room. Emma then hands Paige the bottle of water and Paige opens the water as Emma takes a sat on the couch, Emma then opens up her can of pop.

"My mom will be home in a few minutes."

"Ok."

"The father of the baby is the guy that never calls you back after that party at the end of September right?"

"Yes, Dean's the guy that raped me at party I went to at the end of September and if I would have gone to the ER after it happened and report the rape, I would not have to worry about be pregnant right now!"

"I am so, sorry."

At the same time Paige and Emma here the back door open and the two girls look into the kitchen to see Mr. Simpson and Mrs. Nelson coming into the house. Paige and Emma also notice that Mrs. Nelson and Mr. Simpson are carrying a box in their hands. Mrs. Nelson and Mr. Simpson set the boxes onto the kitchen table and then walk into the living room.

"Paige why are you here and not at Spirit squad practice?"

"I need to talk to Mrs. Nelson about become a teenage mom. Also what it like to be pregnant as a teenage and how being pregnant changes your life, Mr. Simpson."

"Paige you are Pregnant?"

"Yes Mr. Simpson but what are you doing at Mrs. Nelson's house?"

"I am started to move my stuff over here because the wedding coming up soon and my apartment lease is also up soon."

"That right you are getting marry to Mrs. Nelson on Saturday, November twenty-third."

"And that is next weekend."

"Yes it is, Emma's and the three of you are lucking it has been a warm fall this year seeing that the wedding party is on the beach."

(Mrs. Nelson and Mr. Simpson) yes we are luck, it has been warm so far this fall and let hope next weekend is warm too."

Mrs. Nelson and Mr. Simpson kiss each other on the lips and Paige take a drink of water, at the same time Emma roll her eyes. Mrs. Nelson walks over to the couch past Emma, who is sitting at the end of the couch that is closes to the kitchen and then walk past Paige. Mrs. Nelson then takes a sat on the couch next to Paige.

"Emma comes help me bring my stuff in so Paige and you mom can talk."

"Ok, Mr. Simpson."

Emma and Mrs. Simpson walk out of the living room and into the kitchen. Then walk over to the back door and head outside. Then the two of them go over to Mr. Simpson car to get more boxes out and bring the boxes into the house. Meanwhile, inside the house Paige has set the bottle of water onto the coffee table and then turns so she is looking at Mrs. Nelson.

"Ok Paige, when is your due date?"

"I think my due date is the three weeks of July, Mrs. Nelson, I find out for sure on Thursday, when I go see obgyn after school."

"Is the father going to part of the baby life at all?"

"No, he has not even talk to me since the night he made me have sex with him."

"Are you sure you want to keep the baby?"

"Yes, I could not give the baby up after carrying it the whole nine months."

"Ok then what the first thing you want to know about?"

"What was it like for you going to school pregnant Mrs. Nelson?"

"It was not easy, being pregnant and a teenage in the eighties, The other student parents do not want me in school and they went to the PTA . And the other student parents got me kick out of the school, once I start showing. I had to finish my eight-grade year from home. But lucking for you times have change, today parents are more understanding and know that teenage are not always going to stay virgin until they get merry. You will be able to stay in school and finish your school year."

"Ok, the next thing I want to know is how hard was it for you after Emma was born?"

"My lives become difficulty, Emma was born six weeks early and was only 3lb 11oz, so Emma had to spend several weeks in the NICU because she needed help maintain her body temperature and was on oxygen to help her breathing. I was final able to take Emma home from the hospital on her original due date, but she caught a lot of cold when she was a infant. Also, I did not get a good night sleep to Emma start sleep through the night at six months. Then at seven months she starts teething and I did not get a full night sleep again to she was 12 months old. In addition I had to get an after school job to help pay for baby stuff and I only saw my friends at school, or if they come over to my mom house to help me study. And it feels like you never got to sit down for the first twelve years of the child's life. But all the child first are so cute and sweat, when Emma called me mom for the first time it melted my heart and when she take her first steps I could not stop smile for days, I would not take having Emma back for anything, because she is the best thing that every happened in my life!"

"Was Emma Father every in the picture?"

"No, his parents would not let Shane be part of her live, he did give me child support for a short time, but then the child support stop and Shane parents made him switch school, so he would not be able to talk to me or see Emma."

"Did your mom help you out at all Mrs. Nelson?"

"Yes, she was a big help Paige. Are your mom and Dad going to help you out?"

"Yes."

"Then I am sure you will be able to handle being a teenage mom. Is there anything else you want to know?"

"No you answer everything that I want to know and thanks Mrs. Nelson, I need to get going now."

"Ok, but I am here if you need to talk some more."

"Ok, I will remember that and thanks again Mrs. Nelson."

Paige leaves the Nelson house and walks home, she gets home just in time to have dinner with her family. She then goes upstairs to her bedroom and does her homework. Once Paige has finished her homework she takes a shower and then she goes to bed.