I'm so sorry it took me a few days to write this! School was a bit hectic this week. Junior year is great! But, very very intense. I hope to update at least three times a week! I know how frustrating it can be to wait for an update! And I do not want to subject the readers to such insanity! Hope you like this chapter

I do not own Secret Life of the American Teenager!

Chapter 5

Amy looked down at the forms she had recently received. She went from store to store searching for applications, coming up with several different places. Ranging from the burger joint around the corner to the department store across town. She was excited enough with all the opportunities that she completely forgot of her current handicap. Yes, she had one good arm. But, it was her left arm and she was right handed.

Amy quickly glanced around the apartment. She had planned out enough time for her to fill out the applications while Ricky was still downstairs. She didn't want him to know she was looking for a job, because according to him their money situation was do-able. But, would it remain that way after adding an addition to their family?

Their home was vacant, except for the fast asleep two year old in the bedroom right beside her. How could she write up so many forms with her left hand when she couldn't even brush her teeth well enough with it. Just the other night she had to have Ricky "acccompany" her in the shower to help her wash her hair. She didn't feel too bad about it though, he was more than happy to oblidge.

But, the thing that was gnawing at her mind the most: if he went off to college, how could she manage life on her own? This cast was going to be on for at least two months and freshman orientation started in one. And even after she had both of her arms back, what about the money? They got the apartment because of Ricky's job in the butcher shop. Where would she live without him? She certaintly couldn't go back to her parents. It felt wrong. After managing without them she felt a sort of maturity grow that she didn't want to erase.

A crescendo of sounds heightened her awareness and she caught the glimmer of her cell phone. She quickly picked it up before it would awake John. "Hello," she inquired softly.

"Amy, I have to tell you something," her normally peppy friend said quietly.

Amy's eyes widened with delight. "Grace! Can you do a huge favor for me?" Completely disconnected from the flecks of worry in her friends voice.

There was a long pause and then a sigh. "Of course!" Grace answered back to her contented self. "I'll be over in a bit!" The phone disconnected and Amy smiled in relief, whispering a silent thank you to the heavens. She could do this. She could pull herself together. With some help from her best friend life would get back on track. She looked down to her stomach and rested her hand on it. "We can do this."

Grace breathed out heavily before entering the apartment. "Amy," she called, stepping inside and shutting the door firmly behind her. Amy appeared exiting the bedroom the moment Grace's voice escaped her throat. Grace cleared her throat, she had to convince Amy to tell Ricky already. He needed to know.

"Hey!" she greeted pulling Grace into a cheerful hug.

"You're sure happy," Grace said with a laugh, but deep down inside anxiety was getting to her. She needed to tell Amy about Adrian, but she couldn't put such a damper on Amy's mood.

"Yeah I am! I needed help filling out job applications, but a better solution found me," Amy exclaimed. "If I put more hours in at the nursery and start to teach the kids music, not only will they give me free daycare, but they'll pay me as well!"

"That's great, Amy," Grace responded. But, her mind brought her somewhere else. Grace had finally opened up, just slightly, to Jack. She gave him a generic situation and he brought up a point she had not even thought of. One that put a deep ache in her chest.

But, Amy wouldn't listen unless Grace proved her point perfectly. "Amy, will you come with me?" Grace held out her hand. "I want to show you something."

Amy tilted her head curiously. "I would have to take John with," she answered. Grace agreed and the three of them drove off in Grace's prius.

It was a short drive, but the silence gave it a long drag. Finally, Grace pulled into the golf course. She stopped the car and lifted John out, holding his hand as they all crossed the freshly tarred street. "What are we doing here?" Amy asked, taking John's other hand.

Grace walked them to the eighteenth hole and finally turned to face Amy, her eyes wet with memory. "This is where we released my father's ashes." Grace began. "I am seventeen years old and one year without my dad was enough to screw me up. I have gone through plenty of boyfriends, without once thinking of their feelings. And if my father was still here that wouldn't have happened.

"John is only two and your other kid isn't even born yet. You can't do this to them," Grace shook her head and looked up to the sky. "It's not all about you and Ricky. I had my dad for sixteen years and that still wasn't enough. They need their dad, Amy." She looked over at her best friend.

Amy placed her hand on Grace's shoulder and squeezed gently. "Okay."

Ricky practically jumped with joy the moment the delivery man entered the Butcher shop. He signed for the package and thanked the man gratefully. "I don't know what I would have done if this didn't arrive on time."

The man returned the smile and left Ricky with an empty shop and a full heart. Ricky started laughing uncontrollably and rushed up the rickety stairs. He wanted more than anything to tell Amy what was in the box right this second. But, he stopped himself from ripping open the door and committing himself to her.

He carefully turned the knob and with the box behind his back entered the apartment. He quickly checked to make sure the place was vacant before venturing into John's bedroom. Amy went to run errands with Grace and John and wouldn't be back for a while, he had plenty of time to hide away the package.

He swiftly unwrapped the box and took the smaller object out. He stuffed it under John's mattress. And walked out into the living room just in time to run into Bunny. She was standing in the open doorway, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Get back to work!" she scolded, gesturing to the staircase. "Now."

Ricky nodded, but nothing could wipe the smile from his face, well, except for the person he was about to run into as he plowed down the stairs and into the kitchen.

His body crashed into hers and he quickly backed away, "Sorry," he muttered, the smile barely fading. Unfortunately for him, she thought he was happy to see her. If only he could've wiped the grin from his face.

"Ricky," she said sweetly. Adrian pursed her freshly glossed lips. "How are you?" she asked, gliding her hand down his arm. He shrugged her off, his happiness slowly depleting. He didn't respond and she easily cast aside the awkward silence.

"I'm here to pick up some steaks. Ben and I are barbequeing tonight. You're more than welcome to come," Adrian offered.

"Sorry, but I don't think Amy is really up to going out tonight. I think we are going to just stay in," he replied, turning his back from her and towards his work.

"What a shame," Adrian said, not removing herself from her current spot. "You can always come by yourself. Afterall, I heard you were going to Ulysses S. Grant Community, and since we are going to be fellow classmates again I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to catch up."

"Actually I'm going to Stanford," Ricky blurted. He didn't mean it. He wasn't planning on leaving Amy whatsoever. But, he was not going to get Adrian's hopes up in any way.

And even though it was a lie, it clogged up his blood just speaking it. But, his heart was more than happy to beat the second he realized the door to the butcher shop was open, and Amy was standing in the doorway, teary eyed, holding hands with a very confused John. He kept looking up at his mom and then over at his dad. Utterly lost.

"Good for you," Adrian said cheerfully, excited to know he wasn't just going to be out of her reach. "Well I'm off," she muttered. Exiting the shop without any sort of inquiry on the steak.

"Amy, I-," he began.

She just shook her head with a plastered smile, and lifted John up with her good arm. "Good decision," she offered. "I'm happy for you." Amy made her way to the stairs and was out of sight in seconds.

"Damn," he breathed, rubbing his forehead in frustration.