Disclamer: I own nothing!
"Beck Oliver, I swear, if you're not down here within thirty seconds we're leaving without you!" I yelled through the house. Andre stood beside me, not really caring if we left on time or not. I was always the one who didn't want to be more late than completely necessary. Especially since we were traveling almost twenty minutes away.
When we graduated from Hollywood Arts, Sikowitz made a huge deal about how we were his favorite students, and how he would never forget the times he shared with us, and after having him for an acting teacher all four years, we grew a little soft spot for the man. I know what you're thinking, and yes. Even I developed a micro-level spot for him on the very edge of my heart. How could you not? He lives alone and does nothing but acting exercises.
Anyway, he said that our parting gift should be that we never part completely. We should have a dinner, every Saturday night at a restaurant down the street from Hollywood Arts to keep close to each other, and not to lose contact.
But when your closest friend lives with you, along with your boyfriend you've had throughout your years at that school, and your best girl friend lives in the same area as you, it's not like I wouldn't see them anyway. Robbie and Vega would be the only ones that I wouldn't constantly see. Honestly, I didn't have much of a problem with that.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Beck said as he bounded down the stairs. I had to admit, the time he spent upstairs was well used. His hair was perfect and out of his face, his jeans hung slightly below his waist line, and it matched his shirt almost perfectly. He looked great, as usual.
"Finally," of course, I'd never let him know it, "we're already going to be late enough."
"Calm down. You'll stress the baby out," Beck said with a small smile, putting his hand on my stomach. I wasn't even showing yet, and Andre was the only one who knew about it. We managed to keep it a secret for the past month, but by the doctor's calculation, I would begin to show in a week or so. That meant that we had to tell them now, or risk being found out.
Personally, I want to tell them instead of them figuring it out all by themselves. I'll be under their guilt for the rest of my life if that happens. Although, this did make me really nervous, I was going to tell them.
"I don't think she could stress the baby out, it's your kid. Remember, Beck?" Andre said with a smirk, heading out the door and grabbing his jacket off the coat rack. He was wearing black slacks and a gray button down. We all attempted to look our best when going to Sikowitz's house. I was wearing a simple black dress that stopped a little above my knees, and had no straps. It complimented nicely with the recent silver streaks I put in my hair. That much of my style hasn't changed.
"That doesn't mean it won't have Jade's impatient behavior," Beck retorted, kissing me on the cheek before walking out the door. I rolled my eyes, not in much of a mood to argue with him right now. I was thinking about the evening I was about to have, trying to brace myself in my head. For Cat's squeaking and freaking, to Rex's perverted comment, to Sikowitz trying to ask me if Lamaze really works.
I sighed as I entered the elevator my boy's were in. Andre pressed the button as I took my place to the left of Beck, his arm slipping around my waist. The sign alerted us that we were on the first floor, and out we walked...
Beck drove us to Sikowitz's house, which was about twenty minutes from our place. I was in the back seat instead of in the front because Andre won our rock-paper-scissors game, so my back was killing me. My fiance just had to get the truck with the tiny back seat. It was not fit for a person back there, unless they were built like a twig. I could hardly move.
"What do you think he's going to poison us with tonight?" Andre asked, messing with the radio to find some decent background noise.
"I thought it was Cat's turn to cook?" Beck asked back, making a left a little too hard. I had to brace myself against the seat.
"Easy, dude," I complained as I readjusted myself.
"Oh yeah, it is. I wonder what she's gonna make. Her weird egg rolls are the best," Andre said, rubbing his stomach and licking his lips. I could only imagine the thoughts going through his head. I sometimes questioned why he didn't end up in the culinary industry with a love of food like this.
"I know. Who would have thought that everything can work in an egg roll," Beck said as he rolled up to the gate and punched in the code. It rang twice before someone answered.
"Sikowitz residence," a man stated. "How can I assist you?"
"So you're his butler now, Robbie?" Andre laughed and I gave a small smile.
"It's a note he left on the phone. You have to answer it like this-"
"So if you had a note telling you to give me a million dollars, you'd give it to me?" Rex stated in the background.
"Not necessarily. I don't even have a million dollars!" Robbie retorted.
They began to fight over the phone, while cars piled up behind us. I was already annoyed, "Let us in, Robbie." When they didn't stop, I took it upon myself to fix the problem. "Robbie, I swear, if you do not open this damn gate right now, I torch that damn puppet."
And magically, the gate began to open, and the annoying sound of Rex and Robbie faded as we drove into the development. I sat back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Look at that... we haven't even pulled into the parking lot and she's already annoyed," Andre joked.
I suppressed a smile and hit the back of his chair with my shoulder. It was different when he pointed out and joked about something I did. It didn't feel like he was making fun of me, or annoyed with what I was doing, which made me deal with his humor more than anyone else.
I could see Cat's car from the back seat. The lime green glowed against Robbie's crappy convertible that hardly ran. I could still recall the incident where the robbers robbed Robbie. I smiled to myself at the tongue twister as we pulled in next to Cat.
Andre let me out of the back seat before he rushed up the stairs to Sikowitz's apartment. Beck waited for me on the sidewalk. I took a deep breath and grabbed his hand. He squeezed lightly, "You'll be fine."
I didn't say anything back to him. His lips landed on my cheek and my face scrunched up, giving him a reason to laugh, "I love that face on you. It's cute."
"Shut up," I said as I nudged him with my shoulder as we began walking. My cheeks were heating up from his compliment, and maybe that was mixed in with some nerves. I needed to tell them what was going on with the pregnancy.
Beck opened the door for me, like the gentleman he always managed to be.
"Hello!" Sikowitz greeted, banging on his bongos from the couch. He wasn't in his normal homeless attire. Today he had on a nice button up black shirt and tan pants with no shoes on. At least that much had stayed the same.
"What's up, Sikowitz?" Beck said, letting go of my hand before giving our former teacher a proper hand shake.
"Nothing much, Mr. Oliver. How are you two?" he asked, setting his bongos on the coffee table before he stood up. He walked over to me and gave me a friendly hug. "You seem to have a certain glow about you. Did you win the lottery?"
"No?" I asked with a confused face.
"Find a puppy?"
"No."
"Win American Idol?"
"No!" I yelled, hopefully he'd get the hint this time.
And he did, "Then what is it?"
"It will have to wait." I said, rolling my eyes.
"Wait for what?" Cat asked as she bounded into the room, Andre's depression following her.
"Big news, apparently!" Sikowitz said for us. "But, what's wrong with Andre?"
"He's upset that we're not staying here and I'm not cooking tonight," Cat answered. She had a very cute, green dress on that had sequent on almost every inch of it. Her hands were absentmindedly pulling at them, picking a few off.
"We're leaving?" I asked.
"Yes. Apparently there's a surprise at some fancy restaurant," Robbie said, popping out from the bathroom with his cell phone in hand. "Tori set it up."
"Tori?" My face turned into an annoyed expression in an instant.
"Yeah. She wanted to treat us to a nice dinner, and didn't want Cat to cook another night." Robbie said.
"I wanted Cat to cook another night..." Andre mumbled, sitting down on the couch.
"It's okay, Andre," Cat said, pushing her way past Beck to place a hand on Andre's shoulder, "I'll come by some time this week and cook for you guys. It's not a big deal. I like cooking. Except when I burn myself... which happens a lot. I think I get that from my brother."
I hit my forehead with my palm and closed my eyes.
Beck started talking, "We should just go. We're going to be late."
I glared at him. Why did he just say that? He's completely okay with this. What the hell? "What the hell?"
"What?" he asked, holding his hand up in his defense.
"Why are you in such a rush to get there?" I noticed my voice getting slightly meaner. My arms crossed over my chest, while my eyes told him to say the right thing.
"Because we're going to be late if we don't leave now?" He said very slowly, trying to pick my expression for a sign he was doing what I wanted.
"Jade, why are you more on edge than normal?" Sikowitz asked, walking up to me and placing his hand on my forehead. I was assuming he was checking my temperature, until he licked his palm and tried to touch me again. I slapped his hand away.
"Oh my gosh," Cat wailed. She rushed up to me and grabbed my hands, jumping up and down, "You're glowing because you're pregnant!"
Then the room went silent.
AN: I'm sorry it's taking me so long to update. I REALLY AM. It's just that I'm about to finish my first summer class on August 2nd, and I haven't had much time for anything else besides that, work and the new boyfriend. I'm trying to focus, but it's hard. Hopefully I'll get back into my old updating habits next week.
If you need a little extra, check out my new One-Shot, Perfection, while you're waiting.
V Don't forget! V