"Like. Oh. My. God. He was soooo cute," I squealed for probably the millionth time as I lunged into the clear blue water, expecting to be caught. Splash. "What the hell was that for?" I sputter to Maksim, my supposed oh-so-loyal confidante. It takes me a while to catch my breath.
"We're supposed to be practicing lifts for the new dance. You aren't listening to the beat. Instead, it's OMG! He's so cute! The Summer Ball was awesome! Some bitch stole Eve's dress!" Maksim replied, imitating me. I so don't sound like that…right?
"Sorry sorry. Okay one last thing. So like we got home and he kissed me! Even though my mom was like ten feet away on the couch!" I squealed again and got out of the pool, preparing myself for another lift.
"Don't worry, I closed my eyes for the kissing part!" my mom yelled from her chaise in the shade.
"Yeah, I did too," I said starkly. And a jump! Whoosh. I feel the air rush past the drops of water on my back then Maksim's hands on my abdomen, lifting my above the pool. My mom starts to clap.
"Yes! Thank god. Good job Bell. We're done. See you next week!" Maksim says hurriedly. What's the rush dude? But before I can even mutter a goodbye, he's already dashed out my front door in swim trunks and all.
"Well that was rude," I say as I pull myself out of the pool towards my mother.
"No matter Bell! You can join daddy and me at the 6 month appointment for baby here," my mom says enthusiastically. My mom and dad are a-okay now, but I still would never spend more than 5 minutes in a room for babies with them. It's pink this, blue that, no screw that let's go with duckies!
"Yippee!" I sing, continuing with my favorite Jack in the Box commercial. I love old commercials. I YouTube them. Yeah yeah, I'm a loser.
"Anyways, it's time to go, so hop in the car and I'll be right out," my mom calls out. I shimmy into a skirt to wear over my one-piece and jump into the backseat of my dad's car, where I am soon joined by my parents.
"Hmm" my mom sighs. It's not a "I hate skanks named Dana Dana" sigh, it's more of a exasperated sigh.
"What is it, Caitlyn? The baby?" my dad asks alertly as he makes a full on stop at a 4 way stop. Loser. My dad is so anal about these little OCD things. Jeez.
"Yes. I just don't think the name I originally picked out is good enough anymore. It seems to bland, compared to Bell. There's not really a meaning," my mom sighs.
"Uhm, I had an idea," I squeak, apprehensive for my suggestion. My parent's eyes light up.
"Let's hear it Bell! I'm sure it'll be great," my dad encourages.
"So it's just a name for a girl and the chances are higher for a boy, so you guys will probably not even use it. I mean, if it was a girl, I doubt you'd use it anyway.." I ramble.
"Oh spit it out!" my mom snaps, just dying of anticipation.
"Aria. It's a song with both vocals and instruments. And since dad likes singing and you like producing, it's kinda a good mix for you guys," I suggest. All I hear is silence. Shit?
"Oh Bell, it's perfect!" my mom sighs with yet another kind of sigh. My dad as usual, agrees with my mom.
We pull up to the neonatal wing of the hospital and we hop out of the car, and down the hall into the room, where a perky nurse greets us.
"Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Black! I see that you've brought your daughter. I'm Nurse Debbie and I'll be checking on your baby today. If we're lucky, we'll be able to determine the sex," she says all in one breath. Wow, that was….perky!
"Yes, let's hope we are that fortunate," my mom replies as she gets onto the platform thing. I hear her let out a gush of breath as the cold gel is applied to her abdomen.
"All righty, now here's your baby's head and a hand," Debbie says as she points to the screen. I just see a dark blob, but whatever floats your boat.
"Our baby has a hand!" my dad says excitedly. No shit Sherlock…
"Ooh! It just turned around. Here's another hand!" Debbie says perkily, as always.
"It has TWO hands?" my dad asks astonishingly. Wow. I sure hope he wasn't this way with me. I probably would have died of embarrassment inside the womb.
"Uhm yes, Mr. Black. All babies tend to have two hands. Anyhoo, everything looks healthy. Good," Debbie answers slightly perturbed. Well, at least she stopped being perky. Suddenly, a loud thumping rings throughout the room. It scares the shit out of me.
"Oops! Didn't mean to startle you there, Miss Black! That's just your new sister's heartbeat!" Debbie squeals. Nope, perky's back. My parents however, look extremely happy.
"Uhoh I let the cat out the bag! So sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Black," she apologizes profusely.
"No no, no matter. We're just so excited for little Aria here," my mom says dreamily and she grazes her stomach.
"Now I just need a parent to come with me outside and sign some paperwork," Debbie says and she turns off the screen, to my parent's dismay.
"I'll go darling, you don't need to get up," my dad asks and follows Debbie outside. After they leave, my mother acknolwdges me for the first time since we got here.
"Bell! Grab the damn stick thing!" she says urgently.
"What?" I ask startled. What the hell is my mom planning?
"Come on, don't you wanna see your sister again? Let's have another go!" my mom blandishes. Well, I suppose another look couldn't hurt. I mean, how hard can it be?
"Okay, I think we do this then this," I mumble as I fix some cords as my mom applies the stick thing to her abdomen.
"Oh look! It's her head!" my mom squeals and points to the screen. All I see is a black mass. Then again, I didn't see anything before. Just as she's about to say something again, Debbie bursts into the room, my dad hot on her heels.
"What do you think you're doing?" Debbie reprimands. Uh-oh. Attack of the perky nurses gone bad.
"Oh I just wanted another look. Nate, darling, come here! It's her foot!" my mom yells.
"Oh, where?" my dad replies delighted. They ooh and ahh over the black screen.
"Mrs. Black?" Debbie addresses.
"Yes?" my mom answers.
"You're looking at your bladder," Debbie replies smugly.