The eleventh night away from home at band camp, I slept with someone for the first and only time… Ricky Underwood. He put the idea out there first. Of course, he did. He slept with every girl in school, and I was the band geek virgin. It wasn't all his fault though, I let it happen. And it was over before I enjoyed of hated it. Weeks later, I got home from a late band practice and snuck away into the bathroom. Not only did that one night with Ricky Underwood end with my complete humiliation at school, but now I was pregnant. It's been ten months since I've been home. I'm a mother now, and I'm still scared to death everyday.
"Now, are you sure you're ready to do this?" Mimsy asked as she touched her granddaughter's hand.
"Yeah, I am. It's time I go home." She sighed and looked at her. "Thank you for everything."
"You're welcome." She hugged her. "Bye, Amy."
"Bye." She whispered and kissed her cheek. Mimsy pulled back and kissed the baby's cheek.
"Bye-bye Jordan." She waved at the baby and just smiled.
"We'll call when we get there." Amy promised. "I better go."
Mimsy nodded and helped her carry her bags to be put in the bottom compartment. Giving Mimsy on last kiss on the cheek, she carried the car seat and baby up onto the bus.
Sure being a single, sixteen-year-old mother is hard, but I try my best to make it work. I juggle school, the French horn, and Jordan around, but I' getting better with all of it. But sometimes it's stressing. One of my major road blocks came before I left the hospital after she was born when the official documents woman came to my room and asked me what my baby's name was. Of course I had thought of names. But as I began to announce the name I had finally settled on, I noticed that I was at an impasse. Her last name. Should her last name be Juergens or Underwood? Underwood would be traditional since he is the father, but I doubted he'd ever be in her life. Eventually, I settled on Juergens for now. Jordan Lynn Juergens.
She walked into the kitchen holding Jordan in her arms. Her mother stood at the stove stirring whatever was in the pot. She set down the spoon and hugged her daughter. "Welcome home, Amy."
"Thank you, Mom." She smiled at her as they pulled back.
"Ashley is at school still." Anne told her as she took Jordan from her arms. "Hey there, Miss. Jordan." Jordan just stared at her through her big brown eyes and smiled.
"I better go change her." Amy sighed taking her daughter back. Anne nodded. Amy disappeared into the living room and returned five minutes later. "I have to go get some more diapers."
"You just got here."
"I know, but I just used my last one. It'll only be a few minutes, I promise."
Nodding, Anne handed her the car keys. "I'll watch Jordan for you."
"Thank you." She kissed Jordan's head and walked out.
--
After grabbing a big pack of diapers and some baby formula, she strolled through the aisles thinking if she needed anything else for Jordan. She turned to go back to the check out counters. Staring at her less than ten feet away was Adrian. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she felt her cheeks turn red. Timidly, she hoped she hadn't recognized her. Keeping her head low, she tried to past without her noticing. But of course, as she walked by, Adrian turned and noticed her.
"Amy?" She called.
Silently cursing herself, she turned to look at Adrian with a forced smile. "Hi, Adrian."
She walked over with her arms tightly crossed across her chest. "Hey. I didn't know you were coming to town."
Amy just shrugged as Adrian's eyes floated down to the cart. Nervously looking away, she hoped Adrian wouldn't question her to why she was buying those things. But when she looked back over, she could see a hint of horror in the other girl's eyes.
"I have to go." Amy mumbled and headed towards check out.
"So are you stay?" Shrugging, she put her two items on the counter of the closet open check-out line. "Are you coming back to school?" Once again, Amy shrugged as she dug through her purse and withdrew a twenty.
Adrian searched for a way to casually ask about the baby products as the cashier run her up and got her her change.
"Sorry, Adrian, but I really have to go." She grabbed the bag of formula and diapers and hurried out. Adrian watched still in shock over the whole situation. Not only did the girl get pregnant by Ricky, she had the nerve to show up here after all these months… and she was buying baby products!
--
"You will never guess who I saw at the store when I went during lunch." Adrian said as he shut the door of his locker.
"Who?" He said unenthusiastically. He had an appointment with his shrink, and he was in enough trouble after missing ten minutes of his last session. And beyond that, he was sick of Adrian gossiping about every little think that when in or out of school. He had enough to deal with his foster parents.
"Amy Juergens." She said slowly. His steps faltered as she looked back at her. "I'm telling you first because she was buying baby crap."
"Why would she be doing that? She gave the baby up for adoption."
"Then why would she be buying diapers." She rolled her eyes crossing her arms.
"Maybe she got pregnant again. It's not mine."
"She's only been on a year. She couldn't have had your baby, put it up for adoption, gotten pregnant, and had another baby within a year, dumb-ass."
He stared at her before turning and storing off. He found Ashley Juergens at her locker in the freshman hall. He leaned against the locker and looked at her.
"Is your sister here?" He asked.
"I wouldn't know." She replied indifferently as she slammed her locker shut. Turning, she walked away before Ricky could say anything else.