Sixth Month
The migraine Red woke up with was as severe as any he experienced during the early stages of his pregnancy. With all the crying he did the night before to help him sleep...it was no surprise when he spotted the noticeable puffiness his eyes were undergoing. And it was also no surprise that Blue had left 35 missed calls, 122 text messages, and 11 voice mails. He even found some text messages from Green or Shadow, probably ordered by Blue to see if Red would answer them instead. He might've...but all this happened while he was asleep.
And suddenly it was Friday. The first day of February.
Red's heart felt like exploding from all the stress he was going to. He felt a sharp but quick pain in his stomach, but ignored it and grudgingly got dressed for school. There was no use of fighting his mom on it.
The only thing racing through Red's mind on the car ride to school was "How am I going to deal with Blue?" or something similar to that. He'll just avoid him...he knows Blue's schedule by heart, and he knows what times he'll be at his locker, or pass by him...and he won't look at him in class. That was an order from his mother.
He tighten the scarf around his neck and bowed his head. He let his belly poke out from his jacket as he shuffled down the main hallway.
"Hey, Red!"
Red's stressed eyes gazed up at the caller. It was a girl he recognized from two of his classes.
"I'm so sorry to hear the bad news!" She hollered with her hand cupping her mouth, in an attempt not to smile.
They couldn't be serious?
How could it already SPREAD?
Red sped up his pace and rounded the corner, his head bowed down low. He pretty much ignored everything around him. 'Just keep walking'.
He needed to go to his locker.
His locker was also Blue's locker.
Okay scratch that, he didn't care if he went to art without his sketch pad.
'Please stop looking at me.'
It's best if he goes see Green, Shadow or Vio.
Oh wait, they'll just drag him to Blue.
'They're snickering.'
Red took a sudden turn and ended up in the cafeteria. Empty. A few lunch ladies were already preparing the lunches with the breakfast snacks sitting out, barely touched.
He might as well, he did skip breakfast to avoid as little time with his mother as possible. "I'll, uhh...take that...and this...oh, and may I please get a Snapple? Peach?"
The woman simply rolled her eyes and quickly gathered his orders, carelessly tossing them in front of Red, occasionally glancing at his mid section. Red fumbled for the last of his money in his wallet before he was caught.
"What the hell, Red?"
Starting to shake, Red nervously peeked over his shoulder and sighed lightly. but not completely. Shadow gripped his shoulder and shoved him in order for the boy to face him. "You DO realize how far up my ass your boyfriend-excuse me-your EX (he almost spat) boyfriend is getting? Calling me every 5 minutes asking me if I've seen you." He gave a fake, over enthusiastic grin. "Well, NOW that I found you."
Red limply took his food and gathered them in his arms after dropping the right amount in the lady's hand. "Please don't yell, Shadow..."
"Why not? You're torturing him right now. He won't leave me, Green OR Vio alone! He even started to pester the football team, but of course they push him away. That's how desperate he is."
Taking one look at the fuming boy, Red took a small nibble of his blueberry muffin...blue berries reminded him too much of Blue. "Stop stealing your mom's mascara, Shadow."
Taken back by the sudden comment, Shadow stormed after the smaller boy. "Fuck you! This isn't about me!" Red juggled the food in his arms and tried to unwrap his bagel. "...Red, look at me."
Red sighed but held back a groan. He shuffled around to fully face Shadow, his usual mischievous eyes now hard and strict, boring through Red's head. "You need to talk to him."
"...I can't."
"And why the hell not?"
"I'm...not allowed to." He took a huge bite out of his bagel, finding it difficult to swallow it down a constrained throat.
"WHY are you not allowed?"
Red shifted his arm to take a bite out of his muffin. "My mom says I can't."
"Ugh," Shadow scowled and rolls his eyes, "tell Karen to fuck off then. I'm serious Red, I hardly see Blue act like this. He's more annoying as usual. You're the only one who can stop it, please..."
He tried to frown and look tough, but it felt too forced, and it probably turned out to be a sour look of defeat. "I can't see him now, I hu-hurt him so much..." Red's appetite vanished when his gorge began to rise. "I can't, I...here." Shoving the remaining food he had left in Shadow's arms, Red barreled out of the cafeteria doors and raced to the nearest bathroom.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
His lower back was killing him, he never felt so heavy, and his feet were pulsating. All Red wanted to do was cry, despite his barely successful day.
It was last period, and Red was nodding off in History class. His nights of tossing and turning were finally catching up on his school time, and was paying less attention in every class. Red had managed to avoid Blue for the entire day, except from a few glances at the end of some hallways. The second hand on the clock was ticking at a grueling pace as Red's foot began to tap unconsciously. Instead of learning of how the Russian Revolution was sparked, Red was planning out his weekend ahead. It was the first weekend in February...maybe he'll have ramen everyday for lunch...or breakfast...or both? He should buy new movies to watch, he's pretty sure he has watched everything he owned. Maybe, just maybe, he'll invite a friend over...maybe his baby cousin is old enough to watch PG-13 mov-
Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!
The other students bolted from their seats to the classroom door, not bothering to write down the last bit of notes the teacher put up on the board at the last minute. Red had nothing else to do. Maybe his mother will be pleased he stayed after to finish his lesson.
His extra few minutes after school and his slow waddling through the hallways made him slow enough to miss his bus. Red opened up the door, sighed, forcefully zippered up his jacket, threw his scarf around his face and began to trudge through the fallen snow. Down the highway Red pulled himself through, but just barely. Tears were blurring his vision, and the only visible thing he could make out were the rear lights of the cars zooming back him. He couldn't even remember why he was crying, there was no reason to me sad, right? He's having a nice, quiet weekend by himself, yet again...hopefully his mother won't bother him. Neither will Blue...that just triggered the tears to fall along with the snow.
The blare of a truck horn had Red jumping out of his skin as he quickly turned his head to see the large all too familiar pick up truck cruising down the road and slowing down as it pulled over to where Red was standing, baffled. Oh no.
The driver's window rolled down and it was Blue. While Red notice he wasn't dressed properly for the frigid weather, the feature on his face were hard to distinguish through the thick mix of snow and gas. It was as if Blue wanted to be angry, but he didn't want to scare Red off.
"Get in." It sounded force. But Red didn't care, he couldn't get in. His mother would kill him. "No." Red mumbled into his scarf, but forgot Blue wouldn't hear it.
"Red, get in!" Blue sounded more demanding now and he pressed on the pedal and steered the car further up the road to match Red's slow pace. "It's freezing. You'll get sick. And I NEED to talk to you."
Red was ready to burst into tears, but was too exhausted to even yell over the motors of the dozens of cars zooming past them. "I CAN'T talk to you!"
"Why the fuck not?!" Blue shouted back and finally pulled the pick up truck over to a complete stop, opening his door. "Red I'm not shitting with you right now, you better get in the god damn car!"
That tone scared Red. It made him stop in his path and stare at his boots, standing in the layers of snow. "Okay" he whispered and shuffled over to the passenger side of the car and scooted himself in. Once the door closed he curled himself up against it so he could stay as far away from Blue as possible.
They took off on the highway and said nothing. The silence was awkward. Red really wanted to cry, but biting his trembling lip and holding back his sobs were unbearable and was wearing him out too much.
The first red light they hit, Blue broke that scilence. "Why didn't you talk to me today?"
Red faulted his response but managed to choke out "I'm not allowed to."
"Says who? Your bitch of a mom?"
"...Don't call her that."
"Listen Red," Blue held up his hand to get Red's attention, which it did, and stared him dead on. "I get your mother hates me, but she does she really hate me that much that she doesn't want me to see you? My kid? She thinks I won't do she for you guys?"
"I don't know!" Red cried out, burrowing his face further into his scarf. He just wanted Blue's voice to lower down.
"Bullshit!" Blue angrily slammed his fist on the steering wheel, accidentally triggering the truck's horn to blare out, but easily ignored it. "You know damn well what's going on. Why doesn't she want me to see you?"
Red didn't respond right away. He just stared out the window as the light turned green and Blue had to keep his mouth shut for now or else he'll drive them into a pole. It was so quiet, Red could only hear the rumble of the car motor and the heat rising up through the vents. So peaceful. Red shut his droopy eyes for a few seconds but was jolted awake by a sudden turn. Looking back, he notice the sign they just passed. That's the exit to his house.
"B-Blue, you missed the exit." Red croaked, not sure if he should be panicked or not.
Blue's face was hard and unamused. "No I didn't."
Red hardly frowned as he sat back in a regular position. "Yes...my house is back there."
Blue checked the sign that was approaching and took a turn there. "We're not going to your house."
"W-what?!" Red started to breath rather heavily. Suddenly the heat of the car became too stuffy and his winter clothes were too heavy. "No...no, please, Blue, my mom is expecting me home...she'll kill me if she know I'm with you, please take me home." It all came out as a frantic, trembling plea he didn't think twice about. "Blue!"
His former boyfriend didn't pay attention to Red's cries. Only on the road. A couple of more turns and blocking out Red's desperate begging and he pulled him in front of his shabby house. Blue got out of the car casually and walked around and up to the front door. Red was conflicted on whether he should stay in the gradually freezing car or argue with Blue when he didn't want to. But he needed to go home.
Red stumbled out of the car, wincing at the pain in his lower back, and following after Blue as he went downstairs in his and his father's apartment. The family upstairs were cooking-Red smelled sauce and just briefly sighed to enjoy the aroma but didn't want to lose Blue. Not that Blue would go anywhere in this one room apartment but Red felt half asleep. He almost collapsed on the rickety old couch before Blue started bombarding him with questions.
"So? Are you going to tell me now?" He snapped as he appeared towering over Red with his hands on his hips.
"Oh, please, Blue," Red moaned and rubbed his aching face. "I don't want to fight, or yell..please just take me home."
Red gasped and Blue took him by the shoulders and shook him gently. "But I need a fucking answer here! Don't you love me anymore? Is that it?"
The thought frightened Red and his wide eyes gave it away before he could quickly shake his head. "N-no! No no!" He tried grabbing Blue's cheeks to kiss him but Blue shoved him away too forcefully. "Egh, I still...love you, Blue-"
"Then why can't you see me? Tell your mom to fuck off! We don't need her!"
"No, but I still need her!" Red cried and was starting to get aggravated by the same questions. "Without her I have no place to stay, no food to eat, no clothes to wear-!"
"So?" Blue threw his hands up in the air, getting just as fed up as Red. "I can give you all of that! It'll be hard with the little money I have, but I would do it for you and the kid!"
His answers were making Red feel guiltier by the minute, and the passion in his voice...thinking about how Blue meant that he would do anything to clothe Red and love him and protect him. He couldn't stay here any longer, or else his mother will kill him or Blue.
"Blue, please...I need to go home..."
"No! You're not going anywhere until he promise me you'll never leave me!"
Red groaned leaned forward. He felt like he was going to hurl. "Take me home, Blue!"
"No, look at me!" Blue's hands were back gripping Red's bony shoulders and roughly shaking him to get his attention. "Fuck your mom! Fuck the school! Fuck everyone else! I am not leaving you! I love you too much! I love that fucking kid too much! Promise me!"
'Stop cursing...stop cursing.' Red wanted to die.
There was a sudden pressure in his stomach. Suddenly Blue's shouting was downed out, and all the pain Red could feel was in his stomach. "O-ow..." Placing both hands on his stomach, his heart rate began to speed up. It was happening-
"B-Blue!" Red cried over Blue's ranting, but he was too furious right now. His ears were ringing.
"Red, I'm trying to get you to answer ME!"
"BLUE!"
Red almost screamed and Blue stopped, huffing for a breath, looking angry and confused. "What? What's so important that-"
Red's two hands gripped one of Blue's that were attached to his shoulder, and forced it on his stomach. "Baby...kicking; the b-baby is kicking...!"
The room fell silent, and Blue's stern gaze was lower to Red's tummy. His eyebrows lifted and his eyes went soft. Under his palm, Blue felt the small rising and falling bump under the skin and cloth, and his heart jumped in his throat.
"Whoa," Blue murmured and took a seat in front of Red on the couch, both his hands now on Red's bare stomach, an subconscious smile falling upon his face. Red's own breath was catching up from the adrenaline they just had; this now comfortable silence and the tiny being inside him stirring around made him felt at ease, and that everything will be okay now.
What felt like a half hour has passed since they got home, and Red was now resting on the couch with Blue's head laying on top of Red's now settled stomach. Blue was breathing calmly and soon started and shift around, brushing his nose against the still bare tummy.
"I'm sorry, Red," he mumbled, "I didn't mean to yell...or make you upset..."
"It's fine." Red whispered and stroked Blue's hair as he hummed in approval. There was another moment of silence. Until Blue started to shift again, and hands clawing at couch material. "Red...are we, uh...still?"
Red slowly opened his eyes. "Still together? As a couple?"
He felt Blue sigh. "Yeah."
Red bit his lip and waited. He knew the answer, but he smiled at the thought of Blue getting restless and anxious over Red's delay.
"R-Red? What's wrong?" Blue shot up within seconds and Red began to giggling quietly, his hands lifting up to caress Blue's cheek.
"Of course we are~" Red hummed and Blue smiled gently. He was hesitant at first, but the longing look in Red's bright eyes slowly brought Blue to lean in for a kiss; once that lasted a good and long few seconds, until the baby began to kick again.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. -.-.-
Valentines Day fell on a weekend this year, and Red was secretly grateful. He could imagine the people in school would tease him about "getting his valentines present 6 months earlier" or maybe "being too knocked up to get one". Something dumb and uncreative, but can still hurt. Red was looking forward to having it on the weekend, so he can spend as much time with Blue as possible.
And too bad Blue had to work all day.
Red was bummed out. He was almost devastated because he was actually getting excited for once. It was bad enough that the two of them had to start seeing each other behind Red's mother's back.
Red never got the courage to tell him mom that he was still going to see Blue, even though Blue told him to do it because he hates sneaking around. He didn't understand why he couldn't see his boyfriend whenever he wanted now. Then again, Blue thought, it's "kinky" that we can have forbidden sex behind his mother's back, and then Red hit him. But not too hard.
Ever since that fight, Blue has been much more affectionate and considerate to Red, making sure he walked Red to all his classes like he use to do, and always called him in the mornings and at nights, and maybe before and after work. And even...giving each other special treatment when one is having a bad day or the other is upset. Red seemed to forget everything when he was with Blue. But school would start. And everything would go wrong.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Red was late to gym class, but it wasn't a surprised. His Science teacher held him back for another low grade on a test, and was forced to briefly go over it. Already 7 minutes late and missing half of the warmups, Red shuffled into the locker room and started to strip as fast as he could, but his fragile body would get tangled up in his thick sweater and his body would be too weak to continue on, and he would plop down on the bench and sigh.
He could hear the teacher's whistle through the walls and the sound of hundreds of feet pounding on the wooden floor.
Red sat shirtless in front of a mirror, almost as big as the wall, and stared at him. He looked different from the Red he dressed himself up as on the first day of school. Or the Red who spent the last few days of summer with Blue. He was closing in on another semester, and that meant he was going to start leaving school early to attend those parenting classes with Blue. It was a nice thing to leave behind all those judging eyes at school, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the counselors at the parenting center would judge him and Blue as well. For their age and all...
...He really did look big, and unattractive. He sighed and patted him tummy. Since his baby started kicking, Red wondered if it can hear now as well? No one else was in here. They were all in the gym. It was nice and quiet...
"Hello, um...baby." Red spoke meekly and bit his lip uncertainly. "I...don't know if you can hear me right now, but..."
Another whistle call, and there were shouts coming from outside and what sounded like basketballs starting dribbling their way out onto the court.
"I-I...I just want you to know, that...I love you. So much. And so does your other daddy, a-and," Red sucked in his breath, and stroked the top of his tummy, seeing a slight bump rise to the top from the touch.
"I'll always love you, sweetie," Red mumbled and curled forward, shielding his stomach with his arms and ducking his head in, protecting it. "I will never, ever stop loving you."
