Chapter Twenty Nine

The end credits to Harry Potter began to roll and woke me from my slumber. It had been five days since I met my dad, meaning that it was Monday of the first week of finals at school. Only two more weeks (minus one day) at school. Only two more weeks of being stared at like some kind of freak show and then it was all over forever. It was kind of scary that in two weeks it would be summer vacation and as the end of that came, I would be having a baby and going to college. So damn scary.

Our school was weird with the summer vacation it gave though. Alex said that it was only enforced at the beginning of the first semester at the same time as they enforced the uniform rule. Seniors got the usual school vacations and the regular three months of summer whilst the lower school kids got various short breaks throughout the year and finished for the year at the end of July for six weeks. Apparently the school wanted to enforce some more British school rules and holidays, mainly because our principal's wife was British.

So basically, when Alex and I left school the rest of the lower grades would have a week off and then go back until the end of July. I couldn't help but feel kind of sorry for them and my mom because she would have her shorter summer vacation but didn't get the same breaks as the other kids because she had senior classes to teach throughout those times.

It was weird but it didn't affect us so it didn't really bother me. All it would mean was that Alex and I would have more time to ourselves with my mom out the house all day.

"Hey, you're awake," She whispered through a smile that was evident in her words. I grinned at the sound of my girlfriend's voice and lifted my head from her chest to peck her lips softly.

"Why'd you let me fall asleep? You know this is my favorite movie." I wasn't mad at her or anything but I was kindabummed that I'd missed it.

"You need your sleep; the baby needs you to rest. We can watch this any time." She was so considerate about the baby and I loved it. Just as I was about to respond I was pulled from my thoughts by my phone vibrating loudly on my desk across the room. "It was ringing earlier but you were asleep on me so I couldn't move to get it for you. I'm surprised it didn't wake you."

I guess I really was trashed if I didn't wake up from the sound of my phone vibrating at that volume. I was curious about who was ringing me but I assumed it was only Beth or maybe my mom to tell us that dinner was ready so I didn't rush to the phone.

Once I got to it I noticed that the number was unsaved and I didn't recognise it from anywhere before.

"Hello?" I asked unsurely.

"Hey, Mitchie, it's, uh, your dad." My dad's voice rang through the speakers awkwardly, like he wasn't sure what he should call himself.

"Oh, hey, Dad!" I made my tone more upbeat when I realised that it was him and smiled at the look Alex was giving me. I knew that she was glad I was giving him a chance, she knew that the baby would probably need a male figure aside from Max in her life. "What's up?"

"Everything's great. I was wondering whether you've eaten yet or made dinner plans?"

"Nope, not yet, I was just going to grab something from the freezer or have Alex grab me something from the store, I've been craving chicken from the moment I woke up today." I chuckled slightly at Alex's facial expression as I patted my belly.

"Hey! What makes you think I want to go and get you chicken?!" She exclaimed with a smirk. I heard my dad laugh from the other end of the phone and assumed he'd heard her. I shot her a look and she sat back against the headboard of the bed. "I'm kidding; of course I'll get you chicken. Sorry, dear." I never used my hold on her against her, I knew that she was whipped and I could get her to do anything but I didn't like to make her do anything unless absolutely necessary. Our relationship wasn't based on all the shit she would do for me.

"Do you want to go for dinner with me? I'll take you for chicken if that's what you want and Alex is more than welcome to come with us." I knew that Alex could hear what he was saying since I'd taken a seat next to her on the bed and my phone speaker wasn't exactly the quietest. I looked to her for approval but she shook her head, right before her own phone started to ring.

She looked at it with a confused expression before showing me that the screen read 'mom calling.' She hadn't spoken to her mother since she got kicked out over a month ago. "Go take it outside," I instructed her, knowing that she probably wanted some privacy to speak to her mom. "Sorry, Dad, uh, I don't think Alex will come but I will." I agreed as I looked at my wall clock and saw that it was six. No wonder I was starving, I hadn't eaten since lunch.

"That's great; I'll pick you up in an hour?" He offered with a smile. I nodded in agreement, thinking that all I needed to do was touch up my makeup and change my clothes from the sweats I'd put on to watch the movie. My hair needed at least brushing too but it didn't need washing.

"Yeah, great. Is Miley coming?" I asked hopefully. I like Miley, she seemed nice and I wanted to have some kind of a relationship with her too. It couldn't have been easy for her to accept a daughter into her relationship.

"She's working until seven thirty but I'll get her to come after if you want her there?" He offered.

"Sure, I like her." I told him honestly. "I'll see you in an hour."

"See you then." And with that he hung up just as Alex walked back into my room.

"Hey, everything okay?" I asked her. She had a vacant look in her eye as she sat back in her previous position on my bed. "Alex?" I asked to snap her out of her daze. She snapped her head up and half-smiled at me. "What did your mom want?" I tried again as I took my seat next to her and lay on my side so my stomach was brushing her hip.

"She wants to meet up for coffee later. Do you mind if I go? I asked if you could come but she didn't seem too please about the idea, I think she wants it to be just u-" I had to stop her ranting by kissing her because otherwise she would have continued until she was blue in the face.

"You don't have to explain, baby. I'm going out with my dad tonight anyway." I told her as I tried to fight a smile at my own words. I never thought that I would honestly tell someone I was going out with my father.

"Do you want me to come with you? I know I said no earlier but if you want me to come all you have to do is ask." She seemed adamant that she would be there if I needed her and for a second I thought that it would be nice to have her there. But then I remembered that she was going out with her mom and there was no way I was going to stop her from building bridges with her family.

"No, I'll be fine, he's taking me for the chicken I've been craving all day and Miley's going to stop by after work." I explained to her as I began to brush my fingers through my hair. It was then that I remembered I only had an hour to get ready and stood up quickly.

"Mitchie, your dad's outside!" My mom called as I was applying more mascara. I'd changed from my sweats into a red sundress and a denim waistcoat which stopped at the top of my bump.

"Shit, do I look okay?" I asked Alex who was watching me. She had some sort of fascination with watching me put makeup on.

"Gorgeous as ever." She complimented me with a smile before standing up and pecking my lips softly.

My dad took me to a chicken restaurant not too far from my house and got us a table that was kinda out of the way, that way it wasn't too loud for us to actually talk.

"Are you hungry?" He asked as we scanned the menus.

"I'm twenty two weeks pregnant, Dad, I'm always hungry." I told him in a 'duh' tone. He mumbled something but I didn't quite catch it and I decided that I probably wasn't supposed to hear him. "Everything's so expensive here!" I exclaimed to him as I scanned the price list.

"Don't worry about it, I have money."

"What do you do for a living?" I was curious about the man who contributed to making me. Who wouldn't be?

"After I transferred from NYU I changed my major, I'm an accountant. Money isn't exactly an issue for Miley and I." He explained whilst trying to decide what he wanted to eat. He didn't seem to be bragging, just genuinely answering my question. "Anything you need or want you can have it. I'm not trying to buy your affection but I have the money to spend so I'm more than happy to get you anything that you need. Any doctor's appointments or anything for the baby, just tell me and I'll sort it."

"Thank you." I told him with a smile. I wasn't actually sure when my next doctor's appointment should be, I wasn't even sure if I was supposed to have another ultrasound but I was pretty sure that the one where I found out the sex should have been the last one.

"You can have anything you want to eat, Honey. The Jamaican Jerk Chicken is particularly exquisite." He commented as he closed his menu.

"Spicy food is supposed to induce labour, I'm not sure at what point that comes in but I don't want to risk it whilst she's not developed enough to survive outside me." I told him with a soft smile. The southern fried chicken sounded really good.

"I've heard that… smart move. How's Alex?" He tried to change the subject from my pregnancy. The idea of a rape-induced pregnancy probably made him feel just as uncomfortable and awkward as everyone else that knew.

"She's great; she's at home with my mom. Mom's probably trying to help her study for our English final." I smiled at the thought of my mom and Alex bonding before her own mother picked her up to go out.

"She's at your house and you're not there? Your mom must love her."

"She does. Alex lives with us, her parents weren't supportive of our relationship." Just then a waitress came over to take our order. Her eyes fell to my stomach and I felt guilty again, much like I did every time a stranger noticed my ever-growing bump. I think my dad noticed because he cleared his throat to the waitress.

"Could you please stop staring at my daughter's stomach?" He asked her politely. The waitress looked horrified that she'd been caught staring and quickly apologised before taking our orders. My dad slipped her a twenty to make the food come as quickly as possible. "So, I have someone I'd like you to meet." He told me nervously. He had the same habit as my mom when he was nervous; he knotted his fingers together and placed his joined hands on the table.

"What?" I asked, looking around the room. He held up his finger to signal that he'd only be a minute and left the table without another word.

A few moments later he returned with Miley next to him. She occupied one of the extra seats at the table and a little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes took the seat next to me. "Mitchie, this is my other daughter Blake, she's your half-sister." He told me slowly, probably being cautious to my reaction. I looked at the little girl sitting next to me in shock. She was grinning at me and playing with the fabric of her pink t-shirt. I hadn't considered the possibility of a sibling or anything even close to one. She was innocent looking and seemed really happy to meet me.

"Hi," She said shyly. At first I wasn't really sure of how to react but when the little girl wrapped her short arms around my neck I couldn't help but hug her back.

"Hey, aren't you cute." This was so weird. I'd never even thought of having a sister, my mom being the way she was never really left the option of having one open. I was being nice to her face but honestly, I wasn't sure about my opinion on her.

"Yeah, I am," She was cocky, that was cute. "Is that my nice or nefu?" She asked as she pointed to my belly. I fought a laugh at her noun confusion and nodded to tell her yes. The curious little girl didn't think twice about putting her small hand on my stomach. It was weird; people at school were always grabbing my belly and hoping to feel something despite the fact that the baby hadn't started kicking yet. I wasn't used to hands so small touching it.

"Yes, this is your niece. She's a girl." I told her with an adoring smile. Unexpected little sister or not, she was undeniably adorable. I felt a small twinge at my heart and realised that I was feeling a type of sibling love to the little girl that was holding my belly.

"Why can't I feel her?" She asked innocently.

"I haven't felt her yet either but when she does start moving I'll let you know." I offered kindly.

"Where do babies come from, Mommy?" She turned to Miley and pulled her hand back from my stomach and replaced it with her head which she rested on the curve. My hands instinctively went to her hair and started running through it. It was so soft and young feeling, unlike my own which felt slightly better than usual since I couldn't dye it whilst pregnant. The black was beginning to fade and I was glad that my natural color wasn't too far from the midnight black that it was. I had recently been considering dying it blonde after the baby was born.

"I, uh… I'll tell you when you're a little older." Miley was shocked by the question from her daughter and I chuckled slightly at the thought of how that conversation might go. Then I realised that one day I would have to tell my daughter the same thing. "Do you want to go and play in the park whilst you wait for your dinner?" Miley offered in an attempt to swerve the subject away from where babies originated. Blake nodded excitedly and stood from the table. I suddenly felt downhearted about the thought of her going away and didn't even think about the words that fell from my mouth.

"Can I take her? I know I'm supposed to be bonding with you, Dad, and I really want to but I want to get to know my little sister too."

"Be my guest, Mitchie. Blakey, come here." My dad ordered his daughter with a smile. Blake grinned and pulled at the zipper on her jacket, probably assuming that was what she was going to do for her. "Now, you be good for Mitchie and do as she says, okay? When she tells you it's time to come in, it's time to come in. Don't play her up." He warned her whilst pointing a finger at her with a smile. Blake nodded eagerly and began to run through the restaurant.

"Come on, Mitchie!" She yelled from the door leading to the back yard of the restaurant. I smiled at my dad and Miley before following behind Blake. Once I reached her she took my hand in her own and linked our fingers together. "Are you a grown up, Mitchie? Like mommy and daddy?" She asked in a sweet voice as I pushed the heavy doors open to let her through. It took all but five minutes for me to love having a little sister that I didn't even know existed before we entered the restaurant.

"I'm eighteen, so yeah, I guess so. How old are you?"

"Erm… I'm five. I'm in Kindygarten but I'm in the first grade soon." She explained with a proud grin. I could remember my first day at Kindergarten as clear as if it were yesterday. A boy in my class called me fat and I spent the rest of the day hiding in the toilets until my teacher found me.

"Are you… Blake, are you happy to have a sister?" I asked her unsurely as she tried to climb into one of the swings that were intended for children.

"Yeah! I always wanted a sister." She told me excitedly before putting her arms up for me to lift her into the swing. "Can you push me?" I contemplated it for a moment and worked out how likely it would be for the swing to hit my stomach if I did. It didn't seem very likely, the swing was too high up which was sad considering that it was a swing intended for toddlers and small children and I was eighteen.

"Of course." I told her as I lifted her. She was incredibly light, something I was jealous of. When I was young I was overweight and it took years of crazy dieting and going for weeks on a few slices of bread to get me to a comfortable weight. "You comfy?" I asked after placing her in the swing. Blake nodded eagerly and before I knew it, she was soaring through the air and screaming happily.

"Higher, Mitchie!" She yelled through her loud laughter. I grinned and pushed her a little harder, still being careful not to hurt her and making sure that there was no way the swing was going to collide with my stomach.

I didn't know how long I was pushing her for but her laughter was becoming infectious and I felt at peace whilst I was pushing my little sister and making her so happy. My arms were beginning to ache but I didn't care and it wasn't until her laughter and shouts ceased that I pulled the swing to a stop. "You okay?" I asked her with an eyebrow raised. She grinned at me and nodded once I'd walked around the swing to face her. She put her arms up for me and I pulled her carefully from the swing, resting her on my hip for a few seconds as her arms wrapped around my neck and she hugged me. "Wannago on the slide?" I asked her with a grin. Blake jumped down and ran over to the slide on the other side of the restaurant's play park.

"Race ya!" She shouted when she was nearly there. I rolled my eyes at her and began to jog slowly and carefully over to her. "You run slow." She laughed as she climbed the steps to the slide.

"I have to be careful, I don't want to fall and hurt the baby." I explained simplistically to her. She was only five, after all. Simplistic language was probably the best kind to use around her.

"How long until I can meet her?" She'd reached the top of the steps by now and was just talking to me from the top of the slide. I stood over the piece of metal and made a tunnel for her with my legs. She grinned and pushed herself down the slide, yelling as she descended it.

"After summer vacation she'll be here." I told her with a soft smile as she yawned. "Are you tired?" I asked her as I tickled her stomach. She was standing next to me as I hovered over the side and as soon as my hand made contact with her stomach she began to shriek. She was a very loud child when she was happy, which was a good indication of how she was feeling.

"No!" She shouted stubbornly after I stopped tickling her. I raised an eyebrow at her and she blushed a little. "Maybe… don't tell mommy, she'll send me to bed when we're home." She asked desperately. I nodded and put my little finger out for her to shake it with her own finger.

"Pinky swear." I agreed. "Want to sit on my lap and try to nap? I promise not to tell mommy." I offered.

Blake nodded and tugged my hand to guide me to a bench that was part of the outdoor seating area. Only two of the benches were occupied by old men that were smoking pipes and drinking beer in the early June sun. I guided Blake away from them because I didn't want her inhaling the smoke. Seeing the men smoke was making me crave a cigarette but I refused to break having not smoked since I first discovered my pregnancy.

I sat down on the bench and put my feet up with my knees at an angle. Then I picked Blake up and placed her diagonally across my lap. She curled into my bump and rested her head on my tender and probably comfortable breasts. "Tickle my hair?" She asked through a yawn to which I complied.

It took all but five minutes for the little girl in my arms, my little sister, to fall asleep on my lap. I grinned at the sight of her sleeping peacefully and gave her five more minutes to get into a deeper slumber. Once I was certain that she was fast asleep I manoeuvred myself to stand up and carefully carried her into the restaurant, despite the cries of protest from my aching back. It did not appreciate all of the sudden extra weight of being pregnant and carrying a five year old.

"Oh my God, Mitchie; put her down!" My dad exclaimed as soon as he spotted me from the opposite side of the restaurant. I was kind of startled by his outburst and blushed profusely as I felt everyone's eyes on my. Miley nudged my dad as he stood up and he realised how his statement could have sounded. As he was making his was over to me he apologised. "Sorry, honey, but you're very pregnant right now. You should be taking on any extra weight." His tone was quiet so as not to wake her but loud enough to ensure that the people in the restaurant that thought I'd done something bad could hear that I hadn't.

Gently I handed my little sister over to my dad, watching as she instantly readjusted her position in his arms for make herself comfortable. "Honey, would you mind if she lies next to you whilst she's sleeping? We've been struggling to get her to sleep lately so I really don't want to wake her." He asked me softly as I sat down on the plush, comfortable bench-chair. I nodded in agreement and watched in fascination as my dad carefully laid her down and took off his suit jacket to cover her with it.

"I can't believe you managed to get her to sleep, what did you do?" Miley asked once my dad had retaken his seat next to her. Just as I was planning to answer her our food arrived. I eventually answered her question but after consuming the plate full of heaven in front of me. Chicken was always one of my favorite foods so I was basically guaranteed to start craving it. Alongside pickles.

"Oh my God, I could really eat some pickles right now." I voiced my thoughts as I finished the last piece of chicken on my plate. I glared at my dad and Miley as they laughed at me, probably for still thinking about food after such a huge portion. "Hey, don't judge me! I'm pregnant; I don't normally eat like a pig." I was quick to defend myself. I didn't want their first opinion of me to be that I was a greedy bitch. "In fact, between the actual process of getting pregnant and discovering it I barely ate anything. I was so depressed and traumatised that I literally ate around two weeks of meals across the period of twelve weeks. Then I found out that I was fourteen weeks pregnant and bam I'm forced to eat again." I told them somewhat bitterly.

"You don't have an eating disorder, do you? If you do then that's okay, we can get you help." Miley seemed genuinely concerned about my health but I simply shook my head.

"No, I don't. I guess I technically had a brief one back then and when I was growing up I had a terrible relationship with food but being pregnant has kind of made me realise that if I can eat properly for my daughter then I can eat properly for myself. Obviously I'll diet once I've had her to lose my baby weight but when I'm back to my normal size I'll be fine with food." I admitted, avoiding eye contact with the both of them.

"If you decide you want help, if you go back to how you were… You just let us know, okay? We won't even questionit, we'll just get you whatever help you need." My dad piped up as he put his eating utensils together to signal that he was finished. "Oh, and if it's pickles you want then it's pickles you shall have. I'll pick you some up when we leave, okay?" He offered with a smile. I nodded eagerly, suddenly excited about the concept of pickles. I was seriously like a bottomless pit.

My dad dropped me home after we had sat and bonded for an extra hour in the restaurant. I was anxious to find out how Alex got on with her mom and Blake needed to go to bed since she'd slept for an hour and a half in the restaurant. As I moved from the back seat of the car I felt Blake take a light grasp on my hand.

"Don't go," She whispered to me as she rubbed her eyes. I'd already said goodbye to my dad and Miley but I didn't want to wake my little sister so I didn't bother to. I squeezed her hand a little and grinned at her. Her bright blue eyes were open again but she was clearly still sleepy.

"Go back to sleep, Blake," I whispered to her as I drew small circles on the palm of her hand.

"Please don't go, I like having a big sister." She yawned after her words. "I don't want you to go away." She told me tiredly. I couldn't help but smile at how adorable she was. She wanted me to stay.

"I promise I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Love you, Mitchie," She mumbled as her eyes gradually closed again. I smiled and kissed the top of her head affectionately.

"Love you too." I replied quietly into her ear. I looked up at my dad and Miley to find them watching the exchange between me and my sleepy baby sister with content smiles residing on their faces. "Bye, guys!" I whisper-yelled to them as I got out of the car.

I couldn't believe that at first I was unsure of how to feel about my little sister. She was just too perfect and I already loved and missed her.

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