"Of course," she replied, "aren't you?"
Joan nodded silently and looked around the classroom, half paranoid to let anyone hear her private conversation. "I read somewhere that young mothers can die while giving birth, and I'm not ready to die"
Maddison smiled slightly, "Joan, you're not going to die, I guarentee you won't even have complications. You're perfectly healthy, and you're baby will be too"
"I hope so" Joan sighed as she turned her attention back to her notes. It wasn't long before she became distracted again. Turning to her new friend she asked "do you know if your having a girl or a boy?"
"A girl" Maddison whispered
"Me too" she smiled, 'a little baby girl' she thought to herself, remembering when Adam had told her. She just knew he was going to be the perfect father. How could he not? He had held on to that little white dress as if it was already owned by their daughter, and to Joan, that said something.
"So you live with your parents, huh?"
"Yeah, I can't say they weren't upset, I mean I'm half sure if my father wasn't a cop he would have kicked me to the curb, but they've had time to get over it as much as they could and they're trying the best they can to help, I guess. If you overlook the constant screaming battles about how I know nothing on raising a child, how I'm just a child myself, and how if I 'dont take my vitamins there will be a problem'" Joan answered.
Again, Maddison smiled.
"Joan" the tall dark man who had been teaching their class for the past two days stood above her table. She found it weird she had not yet known her teachers name, but decided to overlook that for now and replied with a simple and quiet "sorry".
"You'll never get through night school if you keep talking, Joan. Invite her to your house after school. You can get to know eachother then"
It was then that it hit her. The man, the one whom everyone was now watching, whom everyone was fooled into thinking was a qualified teacher, was actually just another form of the annoying god she had come to know and love. Without making it obvious of the connection between the two, Joan turned to Maddison, "he does have a good idea, dinner at my place?"
"I'd like that" Maddison agreed as she flipped open her notebook and began preparing for notes.
It was good to have a friend, Joan thought. Not that she didn't already have great friends, but somehow her fear was eased with knowing she could share with and confide in a young girl going through nearly the exact same thing.
-
When class had been dismissed the two girls made their way carefully down the stairs, laughing at the time and trouble it caused them just to tackle 5 steps. As promised, Adam had been waiting outside.
"Come on" Joan insisted, pulling on Maddisons arm to drag her along. "This is my boyfriend, Adam - Adam, this is my friend, Maddison."
"Nice to meet you" Adam smiled as Maddison smiled and nodded.
"She's pregnant too" Joan stated, matter-of-factly, as if it were not obvious.
"Awesome" was all Adam could think to reply.
"Yeah anyhow, she's coming to my place for dinner, do you mind giving us both a ride?"
"Thats what I'm here for, Jane"
Once pilled into the truck, Maddison couldn't help but ask... "Jane? I thought your name was Joan?" Joan let out a small laugh as she tried to explain to the best of her ability where the name "jane" had come from. "See when Adam and I first met, most people thought he was a stoner, I guess he had some kind of image to uphold to because he messed with everything, including my name. At first it got kind of frusterating, but after our friendship started I kind of found it sweet. See, that's how I can tell whenever Adams upset with me... if he uses my real name, I'd better start worrying" she giggled. Adam slowly put his arm around her "NO!" Joan shouted "HANDS ON THE WHEEL, NO ACCIDENTS WHEN YOU HAVE TWO PREGNANT WOMAN IN YOUR TRUCK"
'Whoah' Adam thought to himself, 'that came out of nowhere'. It wasn't a five minute ride later and he was dropping the two girls infont of the Girardi house. He kissed his girlfriend quickly before backing out of the driveway and heading down the road.
"You'll like my parents, they're okay" Joan assured Maddison as they walked into the side door. "Mom, Dad, I'm home" She called.
"We're in the livingroom, hunny" her mother replied, her voice echoing through the rooms. The two found their way passed the cluttered mess that was lukes bags, boxes, and books, and finally succeeded in finding the living room.
"Mom, Dad, this is my friend, Maddison"...