A month had passed since that day in training where Hunter bonded with the Triple Stryke known as Strykeout now. Hunter could claim up and down he didn't bond with the dragon, it was just a close friendship of loyalty and understanding but the two moved perfectly in the sky together. Hunter designed a saddle for him, it was simple but Hunter was one of the only trainees who could fly bareback on a dragon. No one had any idea how he did it on Strykeout either since the dragon barely had anything to hold on to but Hunter managed fine. But Hunter used a saddle still because he said its uncomfortable for the dragons to have riders without something for their backs. No one argued with him of course. Word got around the school about Hunter's bonding with the new species and everyone wanted to meet his dragon but he kept Strykeout hidden at home or in the stables.
Everyone still wanted to know what Heather and Hunter were hiding. It wasn't hard to miss that they were since Heather was the only one in the group who seemed unphased by Hunter's constant disappearances from class. It seemed like Heather knew what was going on but acting like she didn't know and didn't care. Astrid still hadn't told Hunter how she felt and knew that there was now 6 months left of school, after that apparently he was going to college and she didn't know if she'd get another chance as Heather had explained this was her second chance and if she blew it then that was it. It was nearly Winter vacation now, it was a week away and all this week they'd been in their new class, Home Ec and been doing research on high school and teen pregnancies.
The bell rang and they all made their way to the home ec room. They were all excited for today since the teacher said they would be starting a new project that would last the remainder of the year and count as half of their final grade. No pressure or nothing. Reaching the room, they walked in and took their seats at the tables that sat 4 people at once and the class was about 20 people. 8 of them were Hunter's group of friends, including Hunter. Everyone relaxed as the bell rang again and the teacher hustled in. "Good morning students!" She beamed happily.
"Morning, Mrs. Ostborg." The class replied. This class was right before lunch, then the rest of the day after lunch was dragon training. Pretty simple day, it worked on a colored schedule. Blue and white days. Blue days meant Algebra, History, Home Ec, Lunch, Dragon Training. White days were Science, Language Art/Reading, Gym/Health, Lunch, Dragon Training. Today was a blue day.
"Now I'm sure all of you are excited to hear about your project that counts for half of your final grade." Mrs. Ostborg stated putting her things down at her desk and then facing everyone. "I won't bother handing out the syllabus since none of you will read it so I'll just give you the project verbally, are we all listening?" She asked, the group nodded to her. "Excellent then. Congratulations! You all just became parents." She announced, the room went silent. "Not the reaction I was expecting. Its school required so you aren't getting out of it. Its tied to all the research we've been doing the last month."
"What, does the school think all of us are going to just go out and start having kids right away?" Someone asked.
"Some do. In the last three years there has been a rise in high schoolers having sex and ending up pregnant in high school or they drop out. So the schools feel that this will raise awareness, in hopes that if you see first hand what its like to have to take care of a baby then you will refrain from giving into your hormones." Mrs. Ostborg stated leaning on her desk now.
"Isn't that what condoms and birth control are for?" Eric asked.
"Yes to prevent pregnancy and the spread of STD's. However, condoms and birth control can fail resulting in accidents that teens as young as 14 aren't prepared to handle. Can any of you imagine raising a child that young when you're still a child yourself?" Mrs. Ostborg asked. The room was quiet, "Lets see who wants to be truthful here. How many students in here have had sex since coming to high school?" Rylee, Eric, Shaun raised their hands along with 9 others. "Now what would happen if one of those times a baby is brought into the mix? Can any of you say you would be able to handle a child, school, job to support that child and all it needs?"
The group of students shook their heads to her, "No ma'am."
"But there are...other options if a girl gets pregnant." Travis stated.
"That is true too. There is always abortion, or adoption." Mrs. Ostborg agrees. "But in that also, can you imagine taking a life you and your partner created? Can you and your partner give up your child, the one you made with your choice knowing the risks. Can you be happy knowing there is someone else raising your child? What if that child wants to find its real parents one day, can you face them?" Mrs. Ostborg asks, the room was quiet again. "None of this is to scare you into not having sex, students. Its to make you aware that having sex before you're ready can result in things you aren't prepared to handle. Every action, has a reaction. Having sex can cause pregnancy, pregnancy leads to dropping out, death, making a hard choice you will have to live with the rest of your lives."
"You feel strongly about it. Did this happen to another student, Mrs. Ostborg?" Astrid asked.
"I can't give names but yes. I had two students last year who fell pregnant. One dropped out, and the other gave her child up then regretted it ever since. And I'll give you a story while we're on the subject. I was given up as a newborn. When I was 15, my parents told me I was adopted and when I turned 18, I found my birth parents and asked why they did it. They told me that they didn't want to have a child, they didn't want to give up their lives to raise me. And to this day, though I haven't seen them...It still hurts to know they made a choice, knew the risks, but didn't accept the responsibility of their actions. They thought it wouldn't hurt anyone, and it hurts me." Mrs. Ostborg said softly.
The room looked down sadly, like a group apology almost. "We're so sorry..."
"Its alright, its been many years since then. But I wanted you kids to know that while you think its innocent and no harm will come of it...There is a great deal more involved than just having sex. Now, lets get back to the project at hand. If you haven't figured it out, you will be paired up boy/girl and given a child to care for. These babies are robotic dolls that record everything. They can move, cry, whine, whimper, feed, and go to the bathroom." Mrs. Ostborg stated.
"How can a doll do all that?" Rylee asked curiously.
"Programming. Now pay attention. The eyes see, the ears hear. All on a tape too. When the child wets or soils itself, it will cry. There is a sensor that will record if the child in not cared for. There is a sensor bottle to feed the child with and the connection will record that the child is being given the bottle. You are required to give your child a name, and work out a schedule to care for it. The work must be even. The child can only be turned off with a key I have so don't get any bright ideas. I will be choosing your child's gender and the pairs for this project. Everyone following so far?" Mrs. Ostborg asked.
"Yes ma'am." The room replied.
"Now for pairs there are 20 of you and thankfully even for boys and girls. When I pair you, come up to the front to get your child and diaper bag. It has the bottles, clothes, and washable diapers. 10 of them so you will be doing laundry, and you can face-cloth wash these babies too. They feel life like and are incredibly expensive. You break it, you replace it." Mrs. Ostborg stated firmly. Heather looked to Hunter now who had his eyes closed, she sighed heavily. People began to get paired up, as Mrs. Ostborg called them she would turn the child on and name it boy or girl. By end of class everyone was supposed to give their child's full name.
20 minutes later it was reaching the end of pairings. So far from their group of friends, Heather was paired with Shaun and they had a boy. Eric with Rylee having a girl, Travis with Jasmine Togasten having a boy Fredrick with Bella Wheeler having a boy. A few others were selected and Hunter was ready to rip his hair out with the crying in the room since no one had any idea what they were doing. He was getting ready to walk out and say screw it but then... "Astrid Hofferson, you will be paired with Hunter Haddock." Mrs. Ostborg said, their eyes both widened. "Come on up and meet your daughter." She added.
'Oh just kill me now!' Hunter thought as he got up, walking beside Astrid towards the front desk where the teacher flipped the doll over and turned it on. The child instantly began crying as the teacher handed the 'daughter' to Astrid now who sort of panicked on what to do. She tried to rock it but nothing. Hunter sighed as he put his hands out and Astrid blinked but she handed the baby over carefully. Hunter cradled the child in his arms and rocked her in his arms while using his hand to pat her bottom. He did something that took everyone by surprise, he started humming. "The sky is dark and the hills are white, as the Storm King speeds from the North tonight. And this is the song...The Storm King sings, as over the world his cloak he flings."Hunter began singing.
Slowly the child in his arms began to whimper softly and coo quietly. Other babies in the room began to calm down too. Heather only smiled at her brother's actions, "Sleep, sleep, Little one, sleep. He rustles his wings and gruffly sings. Sleep, Little one, sleep." Hunter finished as the child's eyes closed and slept calmly now. Everyone had eyes on him now. How...had he known exactly what to do? He didn't just calm down his and Astrid's child, he calmed down everyone's. And no one knew how.
"Very well done, Hunter." Mrs. Ostborg whispered calmly, Hunter only nodded as he walked back to the table slowly. Astrid took the diaper bag from Mrs. Ostborg and sat with him. "Alright since the room is quiet now thanks to Mr. Haddock's singing...Start thinking about names. I want them by the end of class. For now, go through the things in the bag and talk about a care schedule for over vacation. I've done you all a favor and set timers on the babies so they won't be as fussy during school hours. The rest of your teachers are aware and you all have permission to take them out of the room to change or feed them in necessary. For those of you in dragon training...The timers will ensure that your children don't wake up for the hour and a half you're in training but leave the children in the shade and a quiet place. To much noise will override the timers." Mrs. Ostborg said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ostborg." The group replied quietly not wanting to wake up the babies. She nodded and took her seat at the desk to start writing things down.
"What color eyes does your baby have, Hunter?" Rylee asked. "Ours has blue/grayish..."
"She has forest green eyes from what I saw before they closed." Astrid replied. "And looks caramel colored hair, maybe a little darker."
"Ours has blue eyes." Heather stated.
"Brown eyes, blond hair." Fredrick beamed, clearly he was excited about this already.
"Black hair and honey eyes for Travis and I." Jasmine, Travis's partner said softly.
"You guys pick names yet?" Astrid questioned.
"We have. Heather and I are naming our son Liam Jorgenson." Shaun smiled.
"Our son's name is Dylan Thorston." Travis admitted.
"We named our daughter, Stella Solberg." Rylee giggled.
"We just named our son. Asher Ingerman." Bella, Fredrick's partner replied.
"How about you two?" Eric asked looking at Hunter and Astrid now, all eyes from their group were on them curiously.
"Undecided still..." Hunter answered.
"What about Hope?" Heather offered, Hunter glared at her and she moved back quickly. "Sorry...All you had to say was no..." Heather squeaked in fear.
"Awe, that's actually a really cute name for a girl though. You should do it." Rylee pressed on.
"I said no." Hunter repeated firmly, "Astrid, we need to figure out a schedule for break and afterwards." Hunter said now, Astrid saw the irritation on his eyes though she didn't quite understand it. Nevertheless she got out her notebook with a pen and set it on the table since he was holding the baby.
"Okay um...Well I don't have a job, or after school activities so if I'm not...here at school I'm home or in the stables with Stormfly." Astrid told him.
"I work after school 3 days a week, sometimes weekends if its a holiday. I'm usually home by 8pm..." Hunter replied.
"What days do you work? I can take the baby those days..." Astrid offered.
"Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. I'll let you know about weekends when they come up..." Hunter said.
Astrid nodded, "Okay. Um...so you want to take her on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays?" Astrid asked.
"Yeah, that's fine. What about Saturdays?" Hunter asked, Astrid shrugged to him unsure. "Alright how about this...We'll switch off and do half days. Meaning I'll come get her from you Friday after work, keep her about 6 hours, then you can take her the rest of the night. And I'll get her Sunday morning. The following week, you take her Friday to Saturday afternoon and I'll take her the rest of Saturday, Sunday...We'll switch off at school on Monday..." Hunter offered.
"That could work...Maybe on Saturdays we could also...Watch her together? A baby...should have both parents, right?" Astrid asked.
"Yeah, lets just...get the hang of this first before we go making joint plans..." Hunter mumbled.
"Sure...No problem." Astrid looked down a bit. The rest of class they figured out holiday breaks, it generally followed the same schedule. For Christmas they would split off halfway through the day, same with New Years, and Easter. Any other little holidays they would work out when they came along. For now, things were set so each of them would get equal time with the baby. Astrid was a little hurt by Hunter insisting he would pick up or drop off the baby to her, basically saying that he didn't want her at his house which was odd. They had 5 minutes left and the teacher looked to them.
"You two are the only ones who haven't given me a name yet." Mrs. Ostborg said. Astrid bit her lip, they hadn't discussed it yet.
"Uh..." Astrid began.
"Melody." Astrid heard Hunter say, she looked at him seeing him stare down at the doll in his arms. He had a soft smile on his lips stroking the fake dark caramel hair. "Melody Haddock." Hunter said. The teacher nodded with a smile and wrote it down as she walked off.
"Remember students, you have to act like new parents so do your research on newborns and how to care for them." Mrs. Ostborg called before the bell rang.
"Its Thursday, I'll take her home with me tonight and see you tomorrow...Then you take her home after school." Hunter said getting up slowly and putting his backpack on his shoulder. Astrid nodded to him as he left the classroom holding Melody, Heather followed after him as the group only stared.
"Is it just me or does it seem like...Hunter doesn't want any part of this project?" Shaun asked.
"I was beginning to think I was the only one who noticed..." Astrid sighed. "Anyone else see how...I don't know...fatherly he was holding that baby when he gave her name? And when he sang to her...Its like he knew exactly what to do."
"Well Hunter does read a lot, I'm sure he's come across some parenting articles or whatever." Fredrick shrugged.
"True. Oh well, at least we'll get a good grade." Astrid smiled but she would admit how absolutely adorable it was to see Hunter acting the way he was with the robotic daughter they now shared. Their little Melody Haddock, it gave Astrid butterflies at the thought alone of them sharing a child together. Even if it was just for 6 months and it was robotic. She honestly was loving this project now and she couldn't wait to get Hunter alone so she could tell him how she felt about him.
