Disclaimer: I don't own the clique (I wish I could own their wardrobe though)

Note: you may recognize some sentences form the book, but they are necessary for what's happening, right???

Note #2: this chapter makes a reference to lesbian girls. No offense intended, I actually have a friend who's bio. Lesbians rock!

BOCD

Health class

September 8th, Tuesday

1:35 P.M.

In health class, Claire was in major pain. Not just any pain, like I-hit-my-knee-with-the-desk pain, but heart pain.
Heart ache.

It was Olivia Ryan's turn to pick a guy name and a baby gender from the bottle their shakirarized teacher name Gina was waving under her nose. The blond airhead reached inside the bottle as Claire just wished she had enough luck for Layne to pick Cam Fisher, the love of her life, and *sigh* current ex-boyfriend. Then she would know that Cam would not fall in love with his project partner (taking care of a simulator baby for the whole semester). If Layne picked him, there wouldn't be any problem, but if Claire picked him, there would be serious heart ache in the way, when there was enough already.

"Yes!" Olivia blurted. "Wassup, my baby daddy?" the unmistakable slap of a high five forced Claire to turn around (which she had been trying hard not to) and almost made her vom.
Cam and Olivia were palm to palm, gushing like perfect valentines. They strolled to the front of the class and hovered over the playpen, in search of the perfect baby girl.

Thankfully, Layne slapped her arm before she tears rolled down her eyes. "Don't stare" her best friend commanded and Claire nodded, wishing she could obey.
"Next", Gina waved the bottle in front of Layne, who reached inside.

Claire stood, desperate to get out of there fast and find a bathroom and some waterproof mascara. "I have to get out of here."
"Not now!" Layne whisper-begged. "Don't you want to find out who I get?"
Claire wiped her stinging eyes and sat while Layne pulled out a slip of paper.

"Pete Ehrlich?" She looked around the classroom until she spotted the only guy left. His dirty blonde hair parted down the middle, framing his face like soiled motel curtains. Layne pantomimed barfing and then flipped the piece of paper. "T? What does T mean?"
"Twins." Gina snickered. "Good luck with that."
"But-" Layne tried to protest, but Gina had already gone to Claire.
Claire peeked at the bottle and then back at her teacher. "Um, Gina, It's empty."
"huh?" the teacher's gaze remained fixed on Cam and Olivia, who seemed to absorbed in themselves than to pay attention to the baby they had together, who was wailing loudly.
"There aren't any names left."
"I know!" Layne called from the other side of the room, holding two crying babies while Pete struggled with the milk on the bottles. "She can help us. We need it."
"I rather you join those two in the back." Gina tilted her chin towards Cam and Olivia, who were jamming the crying baby in Olivia's yellow Kate Spade tote. "They need help staying focused. Go be the stepmom."
"But-"
"that's not fair!" Layne shouted. "We have twins!"
"Don't you ever use the F-word in my class!" Gina snapped. "As I'm concerned, there's no such thing."

Claire was about to beg being a single mother when the door bolted open. There, standing tall and proud was Riley Applebaum, in all her rebel-ballerina glory.

"Hello, sorry I'm late, yes Gina, I'll serve detention tomorrow with such people known as Cam and Olivia, and if it appeases you, I'll serve it the day after that too. Now, where were we? Picking babies? Ah! Well it seems that Claire doesn't have a partner, what about pairing us together? I know that you say 'The Upple Couple' needs helps concentrating, well yeah, I thinks so too, but that really is a bit unfair, yes I know that we are not allowed to use the F-word in this class but it is, now, its an assignment, and they don't need another person to help them raise their grade, if they don't do what's supposed to, they flunk, and its their fault, for not staying focused. Now, you can't say no to me and Claire being a family, because clearly, that's racism, and I'm pretty sure this school –not mentioning this country- is anti-racism, so you can even lose your job if you don't let us pair. Who cares if we are lesbian mothers? Some families are like that, and just so you know, you can't really do anything about it," Riley clapped her hands and rubbed then together to create warmth. "Well! I guess we should go pick our baby girl" she stated and linked arms with Claire (who was mystified), dragging her towards the playpen. Gina just stood there, completely shocked and confused, and was only able to nod absentmindedly as the speech the girl had given really fast without stopping at all, going from one subject to the next.

Claire watched how Riley picked out one robo-baby and checked it out. Her tongue was dry, and she was still trying to assume what had just happened.

When she got her speech back, they were walking towards a pair of desks in a corner, proud lesbian mothers of a baby girl.

"Thanks for saving me… back there" Claire mumbled as they sat down and Riley placed the baby on top of the desk.
"Don't mind it" she responded, looking straight at her with her bright violet eyes. "I don't think being baby Kate's stepmom is actually everything of what's cracked up to be." She tilted her chin towards the happy couple, who were too busy marveling at how cute their baby looked with her bald head poking out of the bag.

"Hey, I know!" Olivia beamed. "Why don't we call her Kate? After my tote."
"Hmmmmm." Cam closed his mismatched eyes. "Kate, clean up your room. Kate, time for bed. Kate, turn off the video games," he ordered with a playful smile, and then opened his eyes. "Works for me."

Claire's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know the baby's name? They hadn't even names her yet!"

Riley just smiled, not giving any explanations.
"Wanna see something cool?" Riley asked and stood up without expecting and answer. She walked over to Olivia, who was swinging her bag back and forth like a wrecking ball, attempting to soothe her crying baby.
"Here, is this way." Riley picked up the baby and paced back and forth with the baby on her chest, facing her shoulder. Kate stopped crying and Cam and Olivia watched the new girl in awe.
"How'd you do that?" Olivia asked in a hushed tone.
"Easy" Riley shrugged. "This way…" she gave Kate back to her mother and placed her in the exact spot where she had her before. "Now just pace back and forth, and that will calm her."

Olivia did as said and once again, the baby resumed her crying.
"It works! It works!" she marveled, pacing up and down.
And then baby Kate threw up a cottage cheese-like substance all over Olivia's back to school shirt, tote, and face.

Cam, Riley, Layne, Krista and the headbands, and Claire cracked up as Olivia let up am scream then bolted out the door to the bathroom.

Claire looked over at Riley, amusement and surprised written all over her face.

And saw Riley winked, making Claire know that she had done it all for her.

Did you like it? Did you love it? Or did you luh-v it?

Review!!!!!

Marla g