Michael's POV...
I'm dragging Holly to the Antenatal classes this afternoon. I just hope she doesn't get up and walk out like she did at the book club. That was embarrassing.
"So we really have to go?" she asked, making one last ditch attempt before we leave.
"Yes. Especially since you left me alone at the book club."
"I couldn't help it! That guy was droning on and on about book we're supposed to be covering, and I just couldn't stand it. If I didn't get out of there when I did you would have regretted it more."
I'm sure that's true.
"Well we're going to these classes and you're going to stay throughout the whole thing. Ok? No walking out this time! I can't do this alone, Hol, you have to be there as the mother-to-be. It'd look pretty strange if I just went by myself."
"Ok, ok, I guess we'd better get going then."
We left the dorm room and hailed the cab to the community centre, where the classes were being held.
Holly sat there and fidgeted until the instructor entered the room.
Georgia, the instructor, sat everyone down in the circular arranged chairs and made us introduce ourselves.
When it came to our turn, Holly looked and me and left it all up to me to say something. To act like a happy father-to-be and a doting fiancé.
I did my best.
"Er, hi. We're Michael and Holly. We go to Columbia and we're expecting a boy."
"Tell us, are you two married?" Georgia asked, smiling.
"Uh, not yet. We're waiting until after the baby is born."
"Ok, thank you Michael and Holly. Next?"
After introductions were over, Georgia set up the VCR and we watched a documentary on pregnancy and birth. Next lesson, she tells us, we will watch the next part, which is on after-birth.
I think that's what Holly is most scared of; the taking care of the baby once it's born part.
- - -
We left the class and I hesitated to ask Holly how she found it. What do I do if she refuses to go back? Force her to?
"So how was it?"
"You were there."
"Yeah, but how did you find it?"
"Not as bad as I thought it was going to be, I guess."
"That's good, right? So you'll come to the next class?"
"I suppose. But I'm not going back to that dumb book club too."
Beggars can't be choosers. I'll take what I can get.
- - -
A few days later, and we've found our apartment.
"It's perfect," I said.
"It's too small," moaned Holly. She's said this about every apartment we've ever looked at. Usually it's followed by, "It's smells funky," "There's a view of the alley," or "The guy showing us around is trying to hit on me."
So if she doesn't complain about anything else, it's as good as it gets. This is the biggest sized apartment we can afford so the size complaint isn't going to go away.
"But other than that, is there anything else wrong with it?" I asked her.
"... No. I suppose everything else is ok."
"Great. Let's fill out an application form and talk to the owner."
I'm hoping the fact that we're struggling students expecting a baby will help us instead of hinder is. Hopefully the land lord will take pity and give it to us above more suitable candidates.
Luckily, the land lady loved us and we were able to start moving in two days later.
"Now can we start getting baby stuff?" Holly asked me as I manoeuvred what little furniture we have into place.
"Soon," I replied, thinking of how bankrupt we're going to be since we had to pay the bond and first few months rent. "But I should really start looking around for a job," I continued. "My tutoring money isn't going to get us far, and we can't rely on our parents for cash."
Holly looked at me with her 'Why not?' expression. and I just know she's dying to get on the phone to tell her parents that we now have a place to put all the baby things she's going to talk them into buying.
And I'm tempted to let her. I'm tempted to hand her the phone and tell her to go for it, see what we can get. But my pride kicks in and I glare at her instead. "Holly, you know we can't."
"Oh, whatever. But now we're not living on the school grounds I think I'll stop going now. It'll be too much for me to keep it up, I was going to stop soon anyway. I've already spoken to all my professors. I'm going to take a year off and pick up from this semester next year."
A year off. That'd make her in Mia's year when she goes back. It's a good thing they are in completely different classes.
"If that's what you want," I told her. "But they'll be no shopping to fill your days, you know. We just can't afford it."
"I know..." she said, but I can see that that's exactly what she'd been planning to do.
- - -
"So we have a gig booked?" John asked Felix at rehearsals.
"Yep. It's not this Saturday night, but the one after. At the Ferguson Hotel," Felix replied.
I'm impressed. Since he transferred to Columbia he's really taken charge of the band. It used to be me doing everything, but I'm really glad he's taken over, because it's a weight off my shoulders.
But I can't help but hate him just a little bit. He's practically living my life. Only he's doing a better job at it than me.
"So let's run through the set list a couple of times, and then we'll get together before the gig too."
After the practise, I pulled Felix aside to ask him about Mia. I just want to know how she's going. We didn't exactly say much at the library book club on Monday.
"She's doing fine, man. I think she's...I think she's really moved on."
"That's good. I'm glad. So things are happening for you two?"
He hesitated for a second. "I don't know. Things "
Complicated? Things are always complicated. It's funny to hear someone else use the word for once, I was beginning to think it'd become my trademark.
