2 weeks later (14 weeks)

"Hey sweetie. What are you doing?" My mom asks me.

"Nothing much. Just looking at everything I am going to need to buy for the baby. Why does everything have to be so expensive?" I say.

"Baby girl, you know Shawn and I are going to help you out with all this."

"But you guys shouldn't have to help me. It was my decision to keep this baby and I am going to have to responsible for everything." I try to explain as I put my laptop next to me on the couch and sit up to talk to my mom.

"Shawn is the baby's father though. He is going to want to help out."

"What are we supposed to do in this situation? Am I just supposed to stay with you guys forever so that the kids can grow up together?" I say. Everything has just been too much lately.

"Of course not but Shawn is-" My mom begins to say but is cut off when Shawn enters the room.

"Are you ladies talking about me?" Shawn says as he places cups of herbal tea in front of my mom and me.

"Maya, here, is worried about how we are supposed to handle the parenting situation of the children." My mom explains.

"Oh. I figured we would have to have this conversation eventually. Well, Maya, I am going to let you take the lead on this one. To be honest, I am not sure what to do in this situation either. I do know that I am lucky to be able to have 2 kids of my own, even if this is a weird situation. I am going to let you decide how involved I am with your child." He tells me.

"That is unfair though because if I say you can't be involved, then I am basically taking your child away from you but if we raise the child together, it is going to be too weird because it will look like we are together or something. I know we shouldn't care what people think but I just don't know what to do and-"
"Maya, relax. I only said that because I thought it would be easier for you. We can work this out together."

"How?"

"I don't know." Shawn says and plops down on the couch next to me. He now looks as perplexed as I am.

"What if we…" I begin to say but stop because I really don't have an idea.

"How about…" He doesn't have anything either.

"Oh, I know! Nope, I got nothing." I finally admit.

"Okay, this is ridiculous. There are basically two choices you have." He says which surprises me.

"Me? Wouldn't we have to make the choice together?" I ask.

"Not this time. This decision is all you."

"I'm listening."

"You can either raise the baby on your own and you can bring them over to visit when you don't live here anymore…" Shawn begins to say but my mom interrupts him.

"Shawn aren't you going to want to help raise your child?" My mom asks.

"Hold on. Or you can give full custody to me and you can live your life like you would have before the mix up." Shawn finishes.

"These are my choices? Raise a baby on my own or give my child up?" I ask and it is apparent in my voice that I am frustrated.

"Maya, these choices aren't supposed to make you angry with me but these are the only reasonable things that could happen. If you raised the baby, you still wouldn't have to do it alone. We are always here to help you. If you would ever need anything, you can always come to us kiddo."

"So you aren't just trying to make me give up the baby to you?" I ask warily.

"Of course not! That is why I gave you two choices. I am not trying to trick you. Why would you even think I would do something like that?"
"Its these stupid pregnancy hormones. I think I am going to go with option 1 if that is okay with you." I tell them.

"Okay then, I guess its all settled." Shawn says with a smile."
"So about what you said, I think it might be time for me to move out." I tell them.

"Shawn!" My mom yells.

"What did I do?" Shawn asks defensively.

"You made her think that she has to move out."

"No, mom, I have actually been thinking about this for a few days now. I just wasn't sure how this would work out since Shawn is the father but now that we figured everything out, I guess I can start finding a place to live." I try to explain.

"Maya, you don't have to move out. I only said that because I figured you might move out once you are done high school not in your sophomore year." Shawn says.

"I know but it will be better if I do it sooner. If I am really going to do this and become a mother, I am going to have to get used to this new normal." I tell my shocked parent.

"Sweetie, I am just not sure if I am okay with this decision." My mom says.

"You are going to have to be. I am going to move out eventually. I want to do this. You just need to trust me. Don't you think I can do it?" I ask her with a slight tone of annoyance.

"Of course, Maya. I know you can do it. I am just not sure if I am ready to let my baby go. How about this, when you can come up with a plan that includes where you are going to move, how you are going to afford to take care of you and the baby, and what is going to happen when you go back to school. Once you do this, then I will happily sign a lease in my name for you since you will not be able to if you move out at 16." My mom explained to me.

"Deal." I say and stick out my hand for my mom to shake.

"Well, all this talking has made me hungry. I am going to go make us some lunch." Shawn says and leaves my mom and I alone together.

"How are you doing with all of this?" My mom asks me.

"Okay, I guess. I mean, it is a little weird and I am starting to get stressed out about everything but im sure I will figure it out."

"I know you will baby girl. There was one more thing I wanted to talk about with you. You are about 14 weeks along now and pretty soon you aren't going to be able to hide your bump anymore. You are going to have to start telling people."

"I already told my friends. Can't everyone else just find out on their own?"
"You know that it is better if they hear it from you. If you don't say something, then people are going to make things up and I guarantee it will be worse than the situation you are actually in."

"I get it. I will, thanks mom."

I think about what my mom says for a little while and I know she is right but once everyone finds out, school is never going to be the same. The best way to do it is to just put a picture of my sonogram on social media. That's how everyone else announces things, right?

After a full minute of hesitation, I finally bring myself to press the post button and just like that, everyone is able to find out. Within seconds I get my first like and many more within the next few minutes. I told myself not to read the comments but I break and am pleasantly surprised that everyone is being supportive. People who I don't think I have ever talked to are telling me that they are happy for me. I guess this wasn't so bad after all.

Decision Journal:

Decided to keep the baby

Decided to tell my friends about the baby

Decided to tell everyone about the baby


I haven't done this for a while but I have been meaning to. So, THANK YOU to my wonderful reviewers from Chapter 7 up to Chapter 10:

WHITE ANGELS WINGS, Jrules19, Guest, Guest, Cayla, TexanRebel199, Blondie103, Heyo, Guest, Heyo, Jrules19

I also just wanted to say, the reason it takes me longer to upload sometimes is because I do A LOT of research for this story. I am constantly looking up things to make sure everything I say is accurate and not too far out there. I tend to get side track and read about things for future chapters instead of just focusing on the one I am writing now, which I guess can be good because I have most of the story already outlined and I just need to sit down and write each chapter. I hope you guys still like the story and please continue to review. Your reviews help me to write the next chapter because it gives me motivation AND some of you give me really good ideas.