"Uch," Mary Margaret muttered loudly as she tried to fit into her jeans. "This is impossible."
"Well, if you hadn't gotten pregnant, then it wouldn't be a problem." Regina's voice drifted coldly from her office across the hall.
Mary Margaret sighed. She couldn't wait until six months from now, when she would be graduated and wouldn't have to deal with Regina anymore. She and David had plans to rent an apartment near wherever they were going for school. They were applying to all of the same ones, and were going to go together. They were going to apply for shared housing, which also meant that they had to get married. They were planning to do that over the summer, too, with a very small ceremony.
She left the house and waited for David to come pick her up. She looked down at her stomach with a smile. Twelve weeks. She was almost done with her first trimester. It was crazy to think that she was actually going to be a mother. Her eighteenth birthday wasn't for another four months, she was still legally a kid.
When David's car pulled in front of the house, she hopped in the front seat. "Uch. I can't wait for winter break," she said.
"Yeah, I know. Any more math tests and I might go insane."
"I don't mind that so much," she said. "I'm just tired of waking up so early."
"And yet you want to be a teacher."
"Some things are worth it."
They pulled up in front of the school fifteen minutes later, and saw Ruby and Dorothy walking towards the doors. They walked up to them. "Hey," said Mary Margaret.
"Hi," said Ruby. "I have big news."
"What kind of big news?"
"Good news. But I want to wait until the whole group is together."
"Alright. We're meeting tonight, aren't we?"
"I think so. Belle said that Robert might need her help with something."
"They're really serious now."
"Yeah."
"I mean, he did sort out tens of thousands of dollars for us, so I guess we can safely say he's a good guy."
"Fair enough."
"You guys ready for the history test?" Dorothy asked.
"I think so," said Mary Margaret.
"Possibly, we'll see," said David.
They walked to their first period classes.
"Okay, spill!" Aurora said, practically jumping off the booth they were in at Granny's Diner. "What's the big news?!"
"Aurora, calm down," Ariel said with a chuckle.
"Well excuse me if I'm excited."
"I want to wait for Belle," Ruby said.
"She is coming, yeah?" Ella asked.
"She said she would be."
"How long are we going to be here?" Mulan asked. "Because my parents said to be back by eight for some sort of... activity."
"What sort of activity?" Mary Margaret asked.
"No idea. Probably another matchmaking attempt."
"Good luck."
"Yeah, thanks."
The door to Granny's swung open, and Belle rushed in. "Sorry! Robert needed me to watch Neal while he was at a meeting."
"You babysit his kid?" Ella asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"That's pretty serious."
"Oh my god! We're just... we... shut up! Anyway-Ruby, what's your big news?"
She smiled and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. "I got a letter from my mom."
"That's great!" Mary Margaret said with a smile, the others all echoing her.
"How long has it been?" Mulan asked.
"Since she last contacted me? About ten years. Since she last saw me, seventeen years and ten months."
"What did the letter say?" Belle asked.
"It says she's sorry for leaving and she wants me to come meet her over winter break."
"Are you going to do it?" Ariel asked.
"I don't know."
"Do it," Ella said.
"Definitely," Mary Margaret agreed.
"I agree," said Belle.
"Me too," Ariel added.
"I mean, it's just... I hardly know anything about her. Granny barely says a word. What if she's not nice?"
"Then you'll know," said Aurora. "But if she wants to meet you, that's probably a good thing. I was really lucky I got to meet my parents."
"Yeah. I think I'm going to do it."
"Good," said Ella. "Do it while you have the chance."
"That's the same thing Dorothy said."
"Well you're dating her for a reason, aren't you?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Yeah, that I am."
"Have you told your grandmother yet?" Belle asked.
"No... I think I'm going to tell her after you guys all leave."
"Speaking of which, I do have to go," said Mulan.
"Have fun at whatever your parents have planned," said Ella.
"Not likely."
"It is getting sort of late," said Aurora. "I think I'm going to head home too."
They all decided to leave, Mary Margaret being the last one there. "Good luck, Ruby."
She smiled, then said, "Um... Mary Margaret?"
"Yeah?"
"Is there any chance... you could come with me to meet her?"
"What? Why?"
"Well, I don't want to go alone, and I've known you the longest. You're basically a sister to me."
"Yeah, but what about Dorothy? Why don't you have her go with you?"
"Oh... I don't know..."
"Ruby, if this is you being afraid of commitment again, you need to stop. You are not repeating the mistake you made with Peter."
Ruby blinked. "Well, we've only been dating for five months-"
"Only! Only five months! That's pretty serious. My parents only dated for eight months before they were married."
"I just-"
"Ruby. Think about this. It would be proof that you've actually committed to her. And that you will let yourself be happy."
Ruby sighed. "You're right, like always. I'll ask her."
"Good. Goodnight, Ruby."
"Goodnight, Mary Margaret."