Chapter 43, enjoy! Tried a new writing style this time!

March 3rd

(Julie is 32 weeks pregnant)

Something about the spring semester and this time of year just feels different. Football is over, it's starting to warm up, and the countdown to spring break and eventually summer is on. All the fun things happen this semester: prom, spring break, and some wild parties.

The spring semester is like the peak of the mountain, it's all downhill from Christmas break. Everyone gets excited this time of year because with every day that passes by, it inches closer to summer and football. Julie had something else to be excited about this spring semester. Much like the school year, Julie had reached the peak of her pregnancy mountain. In just a few months her and Tim would welcome their daughter into the world. From this point on, it was all excitement and preparation. The first half of her pregnancy was filled with fear and anxiety, but now she had pretty well warmed up to the idea of being a mom.

Julie was broken from her thoughts and unconscious doodling on her math paper when someone came over the intercom.

"There will be a Junior class meeting during 5th hour in the cafeteria, don't forget!" One of the teachers announced.

"Oh my gosh, we finally get to pick our prom theme!" One of the girls behind Julie squealed. Just great, I've heard horror stories from Lyla and Tyra about picking a prom theme. Julie tuned the girls who were now giddy with excitement about prom out and returned to her doodling. Prom really isn't that great... Julie thought to herself. She had gone as Tim's date last year, and in her opinion, the after-prom was the best part. Julie wouldn't be able to go this year, for it was the week after she was due to have her baby. That didn't both her though, she had gotten to go last year and would still be able to go next year as a Senior. Besides, she was more excited about meeting her and Tim's daughter than she could ever imagine being about a dance.

5th hour rolled around and Julie reported to the cafeteria like she was supposed to. She searched in the crowded cafeteria for Landry, her only friend who was a Junior, and sat in the empty seat next to him. Julie could tell by the expression on his face that he would love to be anywhere but there.

"You look about as happy to be here as I am," Julie playfully teased him.

"Yeah, I'm so excited," He responded without a hint of enthusiasm.

"So are you taking Tyra?" Julie curiously asked.

"Yeah," He answered. "Are you going with Tim?" He asked without thinking. "Oh, wait, sorry I wasn't thinking," He quickly apologized.

"It's fine," She reassured with a smile. "I will be spending my prom night with Tim and my baby girl," She added, her voice laced with excitement.

"Can I have everyone's attention please!" The Junior class sponsor shouted, causing a wave of silence to fall over the crowd of giddy teenage girls and rowdy teenage boys that were all gathered in the cafeteria. "We are going to do this in an orderly fashion. Please raise your hand if you have something to say and not shout things out," The teacher instructed.

"That's gonna last a whole five minutes," Landry whispered to Julie who was trying really hard not to let her internal laughter escape.

"Ok, does anyone have any theme ideas?" The teacher asked. "They must be school appropriate," The teach clarified, you never what what bizarre idea will come out of a teenager's head. Several people raised their hands and gave their ideas. Themes like Under the Sea, Paris, Night Under the Stars, and Enchanted Forest were listed off. Landry and Julie tuned them out and found themselves playing Tic-Tack-Toe on a gum wrapper from Landry's pocket.

"This is so boring," She whispered to him.

"That ain't no lie," He replied in a hushed voice. "I wouldn't be against ditching right about now," He added, causing Julie to have to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

"Are we still down for that like triple date thing we planned last week?" Julie whispered back to him.

"I have no idea, that was all Lyla," He responded. Sometime last week, Lyla has suggested that Tim, Julie, Tyra, Landry, her and her boyfriend should all have a triple date after school. They were skeptical of the idea at first, but then Lyla threw in a mention of food which changed Tim and Landry's minds. The key factor for getting Julie and Tyra on board was making a stop at the movie theater and watching a new romance movie that had just been released. "And I still don't know how I feel about it," He added. A short while, that seemed like an eternity, later they were dismissed from their meeting and were instructed to return to their respective classes.

After school, the couples met at the Alamo Freeze where they grabbed an after school snack of ice cream before heading to the movie.

"So what's the prom theme gonna be?" Lyla asked the two Juniors of the group. Landry and Julie exchanged looks and giggled.

"We didn't pay the least bit of attention," Julie laughed.

"So we have no idea what the theme is," Landry added.

"Ugh I still have to pick out a dress," Tyra groaned.

"Me too..." Lyla said.

"Ya'll have fun with that," Julie said with a big smirk on her face.

"What?" Lyla asked confused. "Oh, I forgot your not going," She realized.

"Why aren't you going?" Lyla's boyfriend, Chris, who was from out of town asked.

"Sorry Julie, he doesn't know..." Lyla apologized.

"It's no big deal," Julie assured. "I'm uh pregnant and I'm due the week before prom," Julie explained. The more she had to explain her situation to people, the easier it got.

"Oh sorry, I had no idea," Chris apologized. "I didn't even notice," He added.

"Yeah, it's pretty easy to hide when your boyfriend's clothes are baggy on you," She chuckled, motioning to Tim's oversized Texas Tech shirt she happened to be wearing. "But honestly, I'm not that bummed out about having to miss prom," Julie admitted.

"I feel like prom is a little overrated," Tyra stated, twirling her drink straw around in her mouth.

"What? Prom is so much fun!" Lyla exclaimed.

"For you maybe," Tyra replied.

"So Tim, are you going with someone else or staying home with Julie?" Tyra asked.

"Probably staying home with Julie and the baby," He answered, speaking some of his first words all afternoon. He had to agree with Tyra, prom was overrated. He would defintely much rather spend the evening with his girlfriend and daughter.

"Do ya'll have a name picked out?" Lyla curiously asked.

"That's an ongoing debate..." Tim chuckled looking to Julie.

"Yeah we should probably get with deciding that," Julie giggled.

"You two are going to make great parents," Lyla genuinely commented. "Your little girl is so lucky to have parents that love her, and each other, so much."

Hope ya'll enjoyed!