"What about this shirt Hales?" Quinn said pulling a pink sleeveless top from the rack.
"Too frilly for me."
"The only excuse to wear frilly things is when your pregnant." Vivian said taking the top from Quinn.
"Well, I think I'd rather just go up a couple of sizes than wear this..." I ran my hand along some more frills. "Crap." I raised an eyebrow. "You seriously like wearing this stuff? I mean...don't they have anything...plain...simple? You know, T-Shirt and Expandable Jeans?" I asked with a frown, looking through the brightly colored store.
"But that's you" Quinn said.
"You always were just a t-shirt and jeans type of girl Hales" Vivian said taking no offence to my statement "I liked frilly girly things for as long as I can remember. I also think it's because mom wanted everything pink for her first baby girl. I was the oldest. When you were a kid you were playing in the mud with the boys rather than barbies"
"I guess" I shrugged.
"But you know, you might be able to wear some of your old clothes, I mean it's your first so you might not get that big. But I would pick up some things like loose dresses, they go right over your bump like it's nothing"
We looked through the rails a little more, and as I saw more, I liked more. There were actually some cool shirts, that said things on them. Like "Roast on slow cook" and "Baby on Board." I picked up a few things, but not many. I would have imagined Quinn was even more bored than me, but she wasn't. She seemed to love the idea of shopping for maternity clothes.
"Hey, Quinn. You're enjoying yourself too much." I laughed, as the thought came to me. "Got anything to share?" I winked, as she playfully rubbed her tummy.
"Oooh 3 pregnant James'." Vivianne winked, as we all laughed.
"Maybe I just like spending this time with my sisters." Quinn smiled. "And." She snapped a photograph. "Documenting all the moments for future reference." She winked at the pair of us, who just laughed.
"So...I was thinking." I bit my lip and looked to the pair. "I want to do before and after shots, of the baby. You know, 'this is me, 9 months pregnant. This is you, 2 days old.' sort of thing, but I want professional pictures. I mean, I haven't discussed it-"
"Haley bop, of course I'll do it." Quinn smiled at me, as she shot another picture.
"I was actually hoping you'd ask one of your famous friends." I joked, as she playfully hit my arm.
"Hey what are you up to tonight?" Nathan asked into the phone as he laid in his bed.
"Loving you isnt really something I should do, shouldn't wanna spend my time with you, I should try to be strong. But baby your the right kinda wrong." She said in the same position in her room.
"Ughh, again?" He sighed.
"It's my favorite movie okay, don't judge me.
"It's a good movie for the first two times."
"Nope it only gets better."
"I don't even get the title"
"Did you ever wake up sober after a one night stand, and the person you're next to is layin' on your arm, and they're so ugly, you'd rather chew off your arm then risk waking 'em?"
"Nearly every morning"
"Really? Shut it" She said "That's coyote ugly."
"Why would she name her bar that?"
"Because cheers was taken" Haley said matter of factly.
"That's a quote isn't it?"
"Maybe...wanna come over and watch to see with me?" She bargained.
"I wish I could, I wish I could."
"But my brothers would kill you."
"Yeah, but I will see you tomorrow...where is everyone that you have the free time to chat?"
"Vivian went to sleep, Taylor's guy called, and Quinn is in the bathroom. After shopping today we all kinda just hung out around the house playing games, and now Quinn and I are watching Cotoye Ugly, so overall its a good day."
"Good"
"Put the phone away Haley Bob." Quinn said walking back in.
"I was just saying goodnight" I groaned. "I didn't see him at all today."
"When was the last time you spent the day apart?"
"I don't remember it's been that long." I readjusted the phone under my ear. "Anyway, I will see you tomorrow, love you"
"I love you too, sweet dreams angel."
"Goodnight" I said hanging up.
"At least you didn't do that disgusting 'no you hang up first' thing couples do...you really love him."
"I really do, he's the one Quinnie."
"Well I am glad you found him so early." She smiled "Now put the movie back on, this is the good part.
"Remember what I told you, square your shoulders to the net, and lower your hips." He said stepping behind me to help me.
"I always forget that part." I sighed,
"You forget or you do this on purpose to get me to help you."
"Ha, you caught me" I said turning around and wrapping my arms around his neck.
"Have I told you lately how sexy you are." He said kissing me.
"Not really." I said before quickly pulling away at the sound of a car.
Dan stepped out of the drivers seat and slammed his door.
"Dad, what are you guys doing home?"
"The executive member I was supposed to meet and his wife was there, and then his mistress showed up, it was all downhill from there." Dan filled in as Deb stepped around the car. "I'm glad to know that you use my house to be with this slut when I'm gone."
"How many times do I have to tell her not to talk to or about her like that. You don't have that right and you never will since she is better than you. Let's go Haley"
"I can't" I said trying to move but suddenly feeling dizzy
"What?" Nathan asked turning to look at me.
"I...I can't" I shook my head "Oh no" I turned and put my head in the bushes as I threw up. Nathan moved quickly to my side and held my hair back.
"Oh Haley" Deb said "I will go get you some aspirin"
I shook my head quickly. "No I can't its not good for the baby. I will be fine in a few minutes."
"Maybe we should call the doctor, I mean how many times have you thrown up today?"
"It's normal, I'm fine."
"You're going to get dehydrated since you can't keep anything down." Nathan worried as I put my hand to my head. "Are you light headed again?" I nodded "Here sit down." He helped me moved to the steps as I sat down.
"My head hurts" I whispered putting my hand to my head.
"That's it we're going to the doctors, mom do you have a plastic bag incase she gets sick in the car."
Deb nodded and ran into the house. She came back out not a minute later and handed Nathan the bag along with a wet rag. "It might help if she puts this on her head."
"Thanks mom"
"Mr. Scott, you aren't scheduled for today?" The woman at the front desk said when they walked in.
"Haley is sick, it's bad."
"Alright, Dr. Grahame was in her office doing paperwork all day, let me get her."
"How are you doing baby?" Nathan asked looking down at me.
"A little bit better but I'm still really lightheaded and nauseous."
"Here you two can follow me as we wait for doctor Grahame," The other woman said, she lead us to an examination room. "I'm sure she will be in soon so just get settled."
"Thank you" Nathan said
"The good news is you're not dehydrated" Doctor Grahame said after doing an examination. "But you haven't eaten lately right? When you were eating were you moving around?"
"Yeah I was trying to clean as I ate."
"If this ever happens again I would simply lay down, rest, then eat, the movement is what is upsetting you. While you're here we can prescribe something for you that should help with that. Have you been stressed out lately?"
"Yeah" I sighed.
"That is what brings on the head problems. So you need to try and take a step back from it all along with reducing your salt intake and getting more fresh air. Now Haley if you keep getting yourself like this I am going to have to put you on bedrest so try to relax and rest more."
"Okay" I said nodding knowing that I had cooperate for the health of our baby. Nathan squeezed my hand in his.
"Now you two were supposed to have an appointment in just a few days right?"
"Yeah it was on Wednesday"
"Well how about I just go through all of that stuff now so you don't have to come back." She said flipping through my chart "Now all your blood results came back fine, and none of this should have affected the baby so I go ahead and put on a gown" She said pulling one out from under the desk. I moved behind the curtain and changed before she weighed me, took a blood sample and checked my vitals.
"Well everything is looking good so far. You're progressing well and so it the baby. Now lets see if we can hear a heartbeat today"
I looked at Nathan and breathed in sharply. The doctor prepared what was needed to, and my heart began racing. What if something wasn't right? If it was too fast, or slow...or...and there it is. I could hear it. The loud thumping sound filled the room "That's so fast, is it supposed to be that fast?" I asked
I heard the doctor chuckle lightly. "Yes." She smiled. "Actually, your baby sounds like he or she is very healthy. You're doing a great job right now."
"Just relax baby" Nathan said "You're both fine."
"Listen closely" Doctor Grahame said "Hear how nice and steady it is. And don't worry, most mothers are generally concerned with the speed."
"See Nathan, I'm not crazy." I said as he laughed.
"That's our baby." He then whispered.
I felt myself welling up, as I heard his voice crack a little. I felt a wetness on my cheek and swiped it quickly. "All ours." I whispered.
"You two are going to be fine with this baby. You just have to be careful. Don't get stressed, don't point the blame at each other, whenever something gets you down. You can't resent one another for this, and I know you say you don't...but I would hate for you both do try too much to make everything right, and see something go wrong because of it. Having a baby changes your lives, but it doesn't mean you have to stop living. Remember you're both still kids. Enjoy yourselves too." Doctor Grahame said softly, and I saw Nathan smile gently.
"Thank you." He said quietly. "That means a lot."
"It's the best advice I can give you." The doctor stood up and disconnected the heartbeat monitor.
"Now let's see if we could get a look." She said but I was much too preoccupied looking at Nathan. He loved this baby. I could see his eyes were glossy, and it hit me like a truck. He loved this baby with every fiber of his being. He loved me to pluto and back. This baby was made from our love. It was a part of him and a part of me. I will never forget, and I knew just from looking at Nathan that our baby would know how much we love it.
"Look Hales" Nathan said slowly snapping me out of my daze. On the small monitor was our baby.
"Oh my God" I whispered slowly taking in the small image.
"It is about the size of a mango right now, see there is the head, and the arms" Doctor Grahame pointed out
I smiled lightly, and clutched Nathan's hand. I nodded along, with Nathan grinning beside me, as Doctor Grahame pointed everything out about our baby. "Would you like pictures?" She asked us. I couldn't help but nod. I wanted lots...I wanted to show all of our friends. I wanted to show our baby off to the world..but I couldn't. Not yet.
"It looks like you're just about twelve weeks which means you are now out of the first trimester"
"So that means we can start telling people"
"Yes, most of the risk of miscarriage is over now. You are safe to share."
"That's great" I said. "Can we get a few copies of those, one for the fridge...each of our wallets, for the baby book."
"I will print a few extra for you guys," She chuckled. "now do you have any questions?"
I became serious then, asking a question I had been thinking about "What if I poop in labor?"
"Well if you do we will simply clean it up and wont tell you. It's very common."
I looked over at Nathan and pointed at him "You are staying up with me. No looking down their. You understand?" He gulped and nodded.
"Yes Ma'am." Nathan laughed, and I jabbed his side.
"I'm serious, Nate." I started, looking right at him.
"I believe you." He said. "I promise, I will stay by your head the whole time."
"Yeah well we can discuss it later." I insisted, knowing he didn't think I would stick to this. "Now are you sure that our baby doesn't have like two heads or something?"
Nathan shook his head and laughed "Hales...she was reading a bunch of stuff online...sorry about that."
"Did you know that the longest pregnancy lasted over a year, and that a man can have sympathy pregnancy?"
"Haley, she is a doctor of course she knows."
"Don't worry, after being two weeks late we will induce you."
"Good" I said.
"So your next appointment should be in about four weeks which brings us to the week of August 27th."
"That's right before school starts."
"You two are seniors right?" She asked.
"Yeah, Haley's valedictorian"
"Really, congratulations"
"Look I know you're probably judging us right? Everyone does. You probably think we should have an abortion right? Like most of our families do." I sighed.
"No, I would never"
"Yes, our pregnancy wasn't planned but we love our baby so much. And we're not idiot teenagers who think this is going to be easy cause we know its not, but we do know that we love each other and want to spend the rest of our lives together. We wanted kids eventually but then this little one came along and we will never regret that."
"I will admit, I think you two are young to have a baby. But I can't judge you, I don't know you. I admire the two of you stepping up to raise this baby. You seem like you love each other and can make it work. I would love to see the two of you do this and make it work."
"Wow, thank you" I said looking up at her.
"Trust me, I've seen a lot of teen parents working here, and I think you two are the ones who actually are being realistic." She flipped off the screen that had the ultrasound up as I said goodbye to our baby until the next visit "And traditionally like our routine, fill this up before you leave" She said handing me a cup for me to pee in "Now go have some fun while you can"
"So we're supposed to go have fun" I said after we walked out of the office.
"Well what do you want to do?"
"I have no clue...we are such an old married couple." I said taking his hand in mine. "Let's look it up, give me your phone" Nathan handed me his cell phone and I looked up 'things to do for fun'
"What has our relationship come to?" Nathan joked.
"Shut up okay" I said clicking on the first link
"Some of these are so not fun...study for the SATs, get a job...go to the library."
"But some of them are, like look have a cartoon marathon, go to the beach. Take dancing lessons that's a good one."
"Oh NO way Hales, I will not take dancing lessons."
"You will take them before we get married." I said strictly
"Seriously?"
"Nathan you have two left feet, you will not step on me during our first dance."
"Fine" he sighed "What do you want to do first?"
"Do you still have that blanket in the back of your car?"
"Yeah"
"Let's pick up food from Karen's and go lay in the park."