"Pink or blue?"

I held up the small outfits, one in each hand. He just looked at them, his fingers rubbing his chin. He was just as confused as I was.

The sounds of the mall echoed into the store, as the distant chatter filled the air like a buzz. The department itself was rather empty, silent—but the glances still did not disappear. With each aisle I passed, eyes seemed to lock onto me, mouths drooped down with disappointment, and many faces seemed to turn away.

I didn't belong in this section—frankly I wasn't supposed to be here for probably another 10 years, but no. Here I was, standing in the midst of racks and tables, holding up two different outfits—blue or pink.

"Well...I don't think you want our little boy wearing pink, so I'd say blue..."

"Ben, if it's a girl I don't want it wearing blue...pink would be so cute..."

"But, a boy can't wear pink. It's against our code," he said, as he put himself in a pose that mimicked Superman.

"What code? Boys can wear pink!"

"So, you wouldn't mind me being in a pink shirt?"

"Why would I be against it?"

"So you're letting me wear an all pink outfit to school?"

"Go, right ahead."

"Amy, just put the blue one in the cart." He smiled, taking the pink one from my hands and tossing it aside.

"But Ben, I liked the pink..."

"Well, that's a pink dress!"

"Okay, okay I see your point. Gosh this is taking forever...". Slowly, I wheeled it down the aisles looking at all the other clothes. As I slowly moved along, I stared at a small box that lay misplaced on the floor. Mommy and me.

Ohmygosh. I was going to be a mom. I needed my mom, how was I supposed to be a mom to someone else, if I myself hadn't grown up? A weird feeling started to bubble in my stomach, and I could feel butterflies fluttering around. Three more months and now longer would I be, Amy Jeurgens. No longer would I be a fifteen year old kid. No longer would I be a high school student. I'd be all that, but I would officially be Amy Jeurgens—a mom.

I felt queasy, and I felt like I was giving off a nervous aura for I could suddenly feel hands wiggle around my waist. Ben rested his head on my shoulder, and started to whisper in my ears.

"I could really get used to this." His breath tickled my ears, sending shivers down my spine.

I gently placed my hand on top of his, stroking his fingers slowly. "Ben, please don't squeeze too tight. The baby..."

"Oh, right. Sorry." He quickly released me, but then switched to sandwiching me in between him and the cart – his hands holding the handle outside of mine.

"You know, I really can see us in the future like this...together...Mr. and Mrs. Boykovich" I closed my eyes, still walking forward, hoping he wouldn't ask me again. Marriage just was too far away from me. I already rushed what half of my life was supposed to be, I didn't want to dive into adulthood again.

"Mhmm..." I mumbled, hoping not to sound scared or unaffected. Suddenly, I felt something cold touch my neck. Staring down, I could see a diamond ring dangling from a thin golden chain.

"Amy," he continued, "I really...lov...adore you. I want to be with you. I'm still waiting. I'm here and always will be. Of course I'm still scared that Ricky..."

"Ben, I've told you so many times that Ricky means nothing to me. He's just...a friend..."

With the word 'friend' I could feel Ben tensing up. His muscles seemed to twitch, and as his grip on the cart tightened, his knuckles turned white.

"A...friend..." I heard him release a breath, "Well...at least I'm your boyfriend. I feel that title is worth more than anything."

I smiled. Yeah, Ben definitely deserved the title.

The conversation soon died and we continued weaving through the aisles, picking up clothes, food, diapers, and toys. It took us two hours, before I could escape the smells of baby power and shampoos, finally walking out into the busy mall. As I could see the sun set beneath the horizon, the mall seemed to thin out as well. Many people started leaving, going to where they had to go—but once reaching the food court, I could see that most bodies had moved to this area.

It was dinnertime. As if on cue, my stomach grumbled. Upon hearing it, Ben looked at me, and squeezed my hand. "I'll get us something to eat. I'm thinking fries."

I stopped in my tracks. Fries. Fries were good right? Fries were tasty and hot. Fries were...fries were...fries were...

"Actually, Ben, I'm thinking more on the lines of Chinese."

"Hmmm...oriental, sounds nice."

Turning around to the familiar voice, we came face to face with Henry and Alice—Ben's best friends. It shocked me to see them together, but all the nervousness that seemed to fill me two seconds ago, disappeared.

"I could definitely go for some Chinese, I'm thinking Chow Mein." Henry said, rubbing his stomach as he walked towards us.

"No, I'm thinking fried rice." Ben chimed in, "What do you want, babe?"

I cringed. "Anything's good...you guys just go line up I guess..."

"Yeah, Henry go get me some shrimp and a hotdog." Alice said, as she politely reached out to carry one of my shopping bags.

"Who eats hot dogs with shrimp Alice?" Henry asked, quirking his eyebrows.

"Do you really want to..."

Ben interrupted her before things got way too personal, "Hotdogs, shrimp. Check. I'll make sure he gets them."

And with that the two boys walked away, leaving me and Alice table hunting. We didn't talk. The more I thought about it, I hardly ever talked to Alice. I hardly knew her. She was just Ben's friend...now that I thought about it. Me and Ben hardly knew each other. I was his girlfriend, he was my boyfriend—and yet, I didn't really know what his favourite colour was, let alone what his favourite food was. Was that normal?

"So...Amy, how's the baby?"

I was jolted from my thoughts, and just stared at Alice blankly, letting her words sink in. After a long pause I finally chimed in, "It's fine. It's definitely growing. I've had to go shopping almost every week. It's not fun when you end up broke."

"Hmm...I see...that shirt is definitely new. Did Ben pick it out?"

I stared down at the red lacy shirt I was wearing. Ben didn't buy it. "Uh...no...actually, a friend gave it to me."

"Ohh...really? So you and Madison and Lauren are all talking now? No more dramatic triangle?"

Suddenly hearing the names of my friends, ex-friends I guess, I realized I hadn't thought of them in a while. "Uh...no...actually we haven't. Grace Bowman bought me it. She went shopping with me a while ago..."

"You talk to her?" Alice's voice seemed to be a mix of shock and intrigue.

"Yeah. She's been really supportive of me lately..." I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"She's after Ricky."

Those three words shocked me, but lately what three words didn't. I felt any sentence with three words only held lies. Lies. Lies. Lies...

"Well, they are friends...and beside why should I care..." I bit my bottom lip, staring at a distant point behind Alice's shoulder.

"Hmm...I thought you and Ricky were alright now. Rumour has it you're letting him 'into your life now'."

"Well, he's there I guess...he helps if I need it..."

"But, you have Ben, so you shouldn't need him?"

"Look...I don't know...it's just..."

"It's okay Amy. I understand. I'm just jealous of you. You have two guys that are nuts over you and you've known them for less than a year. I've known Henry since the third grade, and ... we still don't love each other."

"Alice...Ricky doesn't love me..."

"That's what you think. Amy, you're really blind to what goes on. Ever since he and Adrian broke up he's always staring at you...he's infatuated, addicted...he cares for you Amy. In all the years I've known Henry he has never done that for me..." she scoffed, as if remember something in her memories.

"Ben...cares for me. And...I care for him..."

"Do you love him?" She looked up at me, staring straight into my eyes.

"Sometimes, the hardest people to love are those you care for the most." Hearing those words escape my mouth, I couldn't help but remember the phone conversation I had with Grace a while ago. I silently laughed at the thought.

"...maybe. But, still, you're lucky Amy. You're very lucky."

"Yeah, 'cause pregnancy is definitely the icing on the cake."

She laughed. I had hardly ever seen Alice smile before, "You know what I mean Amy, but maybe you have a point there. I should just keep having sex with Henry..."

Hearing that three letter word made me quiver. Memories.

"Alice..."

"I'm kidding..."

"Kidding about what?" Looking up we both saw Ben and Henry with trays perched in their hands.

"Oh nothing. So, Henry did you get my hot dog and shrimp?"

"Of course I did! But seriously, you eat weirder meal combinations than Amy, and she's the pregnant one."

To this I laughed. "Never question women. It's a chick thing." Ben responded. He was already used to my hormonal changes, and he knew the handbook he had to follow.

As we said good bye to Alice and Henry night had already blanketed the sky.

"Hey Amy, you want to go star gazing?"

His question surprised me a bit, but I was more than willing to go. As we carried our bags to the nearest park a few streets away, we dropped them on a bench then rested upon the cool grass.

"It's getting cold huh?" I didn't answer his question, instead I snuggled up closer to him, letting his arm rest underneath my shoulder.

"Hey, look a shooting star!" As I followed the direction Ben's finger was pointing I could suddenly see a flash trail across the sky. I made a wish.

"Must be our lucky day, huh?"

I still remained silent.

"Amy...I really love you."

"Hmm..."

"It's just...the past week when Ricky was gone, I was thrilled. Me and you were finally acting like a...couple...a future family. We went shopping, and we went to that birth thingy majiggy, the one where I helped you do breathing exercises. I even pinned that picture of the ultrasound to my locker. I was so proud. But...Amy don't get me wrong...I'm not blind..."

The tension in his voice, worried me and I sat up, and just looked down on him.

"...I know he loves you. Gosh, the whole school knows. I don't want my woman taken a way, I never want you to be taken away. But..ever since he came back, ever since he showed his face again, things changed between us...again. You hardly answer my questions, you get uncomfortable when I talk about our future, you didn't pick up when I called you two nights ago, and lately you seem tired. I just want to know if you believe we both belong together."

Tears fell from my eyes. I didn't notice they had welled up in the first place. As once tear fell onto his cheek, he quickly sat up and used his thumb to wipe it away.

"Aww babe, I didn't mean to make you cry, tell me where it hurts...I'll umm...kiss it better."

"How...can...youuu...kiss a broken...heart?" The words came out muffled with my sobs.

"Amy, I didn't mean to hurt you, but...I'm so worried that something's gonna go wrong, or the baby will be sick, or you'll...not love me anymore."

I could feel a mood swing coming on.

"Ben. Shut up. How many times...do...I...have to tell you...that Ricky means nothing...to me? How...how...many times...do I have to tell you...to just wait until...I say I lov...love...youuu? Can you just shut...up...for once...and just not...be afraid...of losing me. When...you worry about losing me...I worry about...losing myself."

I leaned into him, waiting for his arms to wrap around me, waiting for the security that I knew. Waiting for that comfort. It never came.

"I'm sorry Amy. But, I'm not the best looking guy, I know I can be annoying, but I...care for you so much. Today meant so much to me, I felt like things in the future could finally work out...maybe I was wrong? I don't know. I have never felt like this for anyone before. Ever. I really really really love you. I lost my mom a while ago, and you know that. The day it happened my world tore apart, and a part of me thought that nothing could ever fill the void that was inside of me—until you came along. I don't want to lose something I care about ever again. That's why I'm so...jealous, or overprotective. But hey, I shouldn't think about Ricky too much, huh?"

"No...you shouldn't...it makes you sound like you like him." I giggled a bit, hoping to stop myself from crying so much.

He laughed a little, finally wrapping his arms around me. "I know I'm probably spoiling the wish, but when I saw that shooting star I automatically thought of you. I wished that soon you'll love me and I can help build the family our baby deserves."

I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck, "Oh Ben..."

The necklace between us seemed to dig into my chest more, and I could feel the diamond making imprints on my skin. For that moment I forgot about his proposal, his declarations of love, and his jealousy. For that one second I just thought of Ben—his smile, his heart, his warmth.

Then...I thought about my wish.