My dad came home from his trip and spent most of my time standing outside my bedroom door with his head on the wall. I can't imagine what this is doing to him. Worst of all, I bed he can't imagine what this is doing to me. I haven't left my room in six days except to use the bathroom. TJ's been over a few times to check up on me, but I would have Mom send him away. I also had to turn my cell phone off because it seemed like every five seconds, I would get a new text message or voicemail. I just can't handle talking to people yet.

Today, day seven of my isolation, I'm sprawled out on my bed, Iron Maiden pumping through my speakers, with pamphlets laid out in front of me. The doctor said I had many options, and because I'm legally an adult, I can make any decision I feel is safest for me. I organized the information into categories; closed adoption, open adoption, abortion, and keeping the baby. I've been weighing my options for the past week and it gets harder and harder each time I think about it. I pulled out my organized list of pro's and con's for each situation and I started to cry. Deciding is so hard and frustrating. But it all came down to one thing and one thing only; I don't think I would have the balls to give up something that is apart of me. I volunteered for a teen outreach program in early high school, promoting safe sex and healthy relationships. I've helped a lot of people and educated myself as well. Medically speaking, my baby is pretty much a parasite feeding off of me until the third trimester when the brain and heart develop (which then would be illegal to perform an abortion).

There's only one thing I can do. I need to keep this baby, this... parasite.

I grabbed my phone off of the night stand and turned it on. I needed TJ. Now.

We sat on the floor, hand in hand. TJ looked like he hadn't slept in days. His eyes were dark and sunken in and his hair was dirty and matted. He probably hasn't showered in a few days either.

"So, what are we doing?" His voice was cracked and horse, like he had been crying.

"I-I've decided to keep it." I looked down at my lap, ready for him to freak out on me. Instead, he tackled me in a hug.

"Thank God!" He whispered into my hair. "I was so worried you'd decide to get rid of it. I mean, I would support you in anything, but, I mean, I couldn't stand what it would do to you."

And keeping it is better than getting rid of it? This shouldn't have happened in the first place.

"Ya," was all I could say.

TJ kissed my cheek and pulled away.

"So... Now what?" He asked.

"I need to schedule doctor appointments, figure out how far along I am and I guess look for a job."

I didn't want to ask the one question nagging at the back of my head. Will TJ stay with me when the baby is born?

"We'll both get jobs. My uncle works in construction. With my shop experience at school, I should do just fine. It's fifteen an hour, so if I save up, we could get a place together."

A thought came to mind.

"Will we... get married?" The word sounded foreign on my tongue like it didn't belong. But I didn't know if it was something he ever wanted. I honestly don't care.

"If that's what you want, I mean, we don't have to."

"I mean, it's not important to me, but I personally don't want my baby growing up without their parents being married."

"Then it's settled," TJ stood up, grabbing my hands and pulling me up too. He walked to my old 90's style TV and pulled some foil off the antenna. When he turned back around, he had a big smile on his face. He bent down on one knee and held my left hand. "Ashley Spinelli, I love you with all of my heart and I hope you do as well. I want us to be a beautiful family, together. Will you marry me?" He presented the foil in the shape of a ring.

"Yes." I smiled, getting teary eyed. TJ put the ring on my finger and kissed it.

"A baby and a wedding?! You two are going to be so busy!" My mom burst through my door, latched onto our arms and pulled us into a hug. "I'm so proud of the both of you, taking on this kind of responsibility."

It seemed like an entire life time just happened in a matter of a week. I'm pregnant, engaged, and looking for a job. When people said that you grow up too fast, I never realized how fast they meant. Now I do, and I don't like it.