Chapter 37
Jerome POV
I don't understand why nobody's hiring anymore. Gen seemed to get a job so easily. But now, late January, and everywhere is fully staffed. Then again, I have always been an independent man. I think the universe has always pushed me into a world of self-employment. I guess for now I'll just have to stick to my recycled homework business until my next big idea.
Everything else beside the job search has kinda been on hold. had to call me into his office about my school work.
"Jerome, I've been slightly concerned with your academic performance this semester," he began. "Now, you have plenty of time to catch up, but if your work continues this way I'm afraid your scholarship may be in jeopardy."
"I'm sorry. I've been a little distracted," I admitted.
"Yeah, of course. I was concerned about the consequences of this-"
"No, no, . It's not about that. Well, kind of, but it's totally my fault. I'll fix it."
"You can't just say that, you have got to show it," reminded.
"And I will," I promised.
"Fine, you are excused," dismissed, gesturing to the door.
I slid my bag back into my shoulder and exited the room. Alfie was waiting for me at the door. "What'd he want?"
"Just talking to me about grades," I confessed. "Says I'm doing pretty bad. Might lose my scholarship."
"Oh, shit, mate. That's rubbish. What ya' gonna do?" Alfie questioned.
"Just gonna have to pick up the slack. I've been too focused on my networking with the other underclass men."
"You mean giving out answers for money," Alfie teased.
"It doesn't sound great when you put it like that," I humored.
"That's cause it's bad," Alfie debated.
"Do you want next week's math assignment or not?" I wondered, glaring at Alfie.
"I'll shut up now?" Alfie confirmed.
"It's just that the money actually counts now. It's not just for a comic book or walkie-talkies. I have actual responsibilities now," I revealed.
"I thought you were off the hook for that," Alfie said.
"Well, kinda, but I can't just leave Gen and you know-"
"Yeah."
"Stranded. I don't want to end up like-" What? My dad? But I thought that's why I wanted out. "I just care about them," I answered, honestly.
"About them now. So, both of them. You care about both of them," Alfie pointed out.
"I care about Gen. That's it. I care about Gen," I lied. Lied?
"Oh, sure," Alfie prodded, disbelievingly.
"Let's go," I urged, shoving Alfie to the door.
Ugh! Why do I have to do Geometry. All I should really need to know is what shapes are and how long a meter is and I should be fine. I can't deal with math.
Suddenly, as though from thin air, Gen slid into the dining room couch seat beside me. "Need help?"
"It's geometry. You don't like math," I reminded.
"Yeah, but I'm an artist. Geometry's the one subject we actually need," Gen confessed.
"Okay, help me find the surface area of a pyramid?" I requested.
"Gladly," Gen responded looking down to the textbook at my lap. "Well, the equation to find the lateral surface area is one half times the perimeter of the base times the slant of the height."
"I understood none of those words," I admitted.
"You have been going to geometry class, right?" Gen laughed.
"Can we just focus back here?" I asked, giggling.
"Alright," Gen said. "Oh." Gen's face suddenly lit up as she placed her hand on her stomach.
"What?" I questioned. "What's going on?" Is something wrong? Is it the baby?
"Give me your hand," Gen requested.
"Okay?" I agreed, skeptically, reaching out my hand for Gen to direct.
"Now, I don't know if this is gonna work…" Gen lifted her sweatshirt to reveal her bare stomach and placed my hand on top of her bump.
"What am-" It's amazing. It feels like a bird trying to break through its cage. This is our baby. I helped to create a life, a breathing, moving life. This is my family.
"It's kinda alien, ain't it?" Gen prompted.
"It's incredible," I gasped, tears of awe tracing my eyes.
"You okay?" Gen asked me.
"Yeah, yeah, of course," I answered.
Gen just looked at me with her beautiful, dark eyes. "The scan is on Monday, twenty weeks… Do you want to come?"
I can't believe it! Gen actually wants me to come to her doctor's appointment. "Yeah, totally. I would love to come."
Gen sighed, "Great. That's great."
As Gen was uttering her words, Theo seemed to glide into the living room. Gen quickly pulled down her shirt much to my dismay.
"I'm sorry. This was a mistake. Just forget what I said," Gen muttered, standing up and storming out of the living room.
"What's going on?" Theo wondered, turning to the spot where Gen had just left.
"I have no idea… just, don't worry about it," I dismissed, rushing after Gen.
She was in her bedroom, pacing the room, her eyes red and puffy.
"What's wrong?" I asked her. "Why'd you freak out like that?"
"I'm so stupid! I'm so stupid!" Gen shouted.
"No you're not. What's going on?" I inquired, reaching my hand out to Gen.
"All you want is to not be a part of this big mess and I just seem to find a way to pull you back in. I don't know why it's so hard to let you go and it's all my fault that your future is going to be ruined by this stupid mistake!" Gen sobbed.
"Gen-" Gen's face suddenly clenched. "What's wrong? What's happening?"
"I… don't… know," Gen stammered, clutching her hand to her stomach. "It's just really tight and kinda painful, not super painful, just kinda. Is this what labor feels like? Am I going into labor?"
"No, no, no, it's too early for that. I'm sure it's just Braxton Hicks," I informed her.
"Braxton Hicks? Have you been reading up on preg-"
The door opened quickly and in emerged Amber, Fabian, Nina, and Patricia. Amber's arms were tightly clinging to some sort of black mass. It was fluffy and - Holy shit! Is that a cat?
"Is that a cat?" I asked, bewildered.
"What? No," Nina quickly admitted.
"Meow," moaned the cat.
"Ow," Gen softly whispered.
"Try lying down," I suggested, quietly.
The Scooby gang were too busy with their newly found house pet to notice Gen tense in the corner.
"Why do you have a cat?" she wondered, releasing her strong grip on her belly and seemingly ease into a state of safety and relaxation.
"What cat?" Patricia questioned, disbelievingly. "In the closet," she whispered as the four of them stuffed the feline into Amber's immense clothing space.
"Can you come with me?" I requested quietly to Gen.
She nodded and swung her legs over her mattress. We walked through the corridor into the bathroom.
"Have you been reading up on pregnancy?" Gen questioned once more as soon as I had shut the door.
"I want to make sure you and the baby are safe," I confessed.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Gen asked.
"Why am I doing what to you?" I returned.
"You don't want to be this baby's dad," Gen placed her hands to her stomach, "so, why do you care so much? Act so fatherly?"
"I want to go to that scan, Gen. I want to see our baby-"
"Our baby?"
"Our baby. If you'll let me," I whispered, stepping closer to Gen.
"Are you sure about this? Cause this is ruining my life. It doesn't need to ruin yours too," Gen reminded.
"Not being with you is ruining my life," I admitted. "I said I didn't want to do this because I don't want to be my dad, but leaving would be exactly what he would do. And it might be crazy, but feeling our baby kick made everything so much more real and I didn't mind it. It made me feel like I had a place. I've only felt that with you."
This time Gen was the one to reach up and kiss me on the lips. Passion, honest passion, I missed it so much. It was like a hole that had been ripped through me was being filled with love, sweet and salty. When we both had released, Gen's eyes were sprinkled with tears.
"Did I say something wrong?" I wondered.
"I'm just beyond thrilled for you to be the father of my child," Gen stated.
I placed my left hand on top of Gen's bump.
"I couldn't agree more," I reassured, gently stroking her stomach with my thumb, a strong kick from our baby bouncing against it. "I'm sorry I doubted this."
"I think you needed to, but I'm glad that we're back." Gen turned her head in confusion. "Is there a cat in my bedroom?"
I just broke out into laughter. "I have no fucking idea."