Midway through February, Jade West sat in the health room, wondering why it was required to take such a stupid class.
The teacher approached the podium. "Today, class, we're beginning a new topic: pregnancy."
Jade stiffened, placing a hand on her belly and praising the fact it was still flat enough to hide under dark, loose-hanging clothing. It was starting to show, though: just enough to make her feel fat.
"I hope none of you are sexually active, but whether or not you are you need to be aware of the possibility of pregnancy so you can avoid it at all costs."
Jade leaned forward and laid her head on the desk. She already had something growing inside her. She really didn't want to sit in a class where they talk about it like it's a bad thing.
The class began a powerpoint on baby growth by week. By the time the bell rang, they had hit week 5, almost two months before where Jade was.
As soon as that life-saving bell rang, Jade flew from her seat out the door and almost literally crashed into Tori.
"Hello, Vega," Jade half-sang.
"Hey, Jade," Tori greeted. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I'm hungry," Jade lied. "And I have to wazz." The second part was the truth. She went to the bathroom far more often now.
Tori didn't know what to say, so she ended up making a dumb face and waving her head around before finally responding with an "ok."
Jade took her leave and half-sprinted to the bathroom, where she emptied her bladder for the fourth time that day. After pulling up her jeans, she took a minute to fix her bra, which was feeling way tighter than usual.
She'd just have to take Beck bra shopping that weekend.
On Friday, Beck and Jade went back to his RV after school. He watched as she stripped off her bra before sitting down on the bed.
Beck picked it up from the floor and walked over. "Why did you take your bra off?"
Jade chuckled. "My boobs don't fit."
Beck placed his hands on her definitely-larger-than-before breasts and kneaded them softly. "Well then I guess you just won't be wearing a bra around the RV then," he chuckled.
Jade winced slightly at her boyfriend's touch. "Ow," she whispered.
"What?" Beck pulled his hands away.
"Just a little sore," Jade chuckled. "Nothing too bad."
Beck leaned down and placed a soft kiss on each swollen breast. "Okay," he whispered. "Sorry for getting you into this mess."
"Just stop apologizing," she groaned. "We're having a baby and I'm forced to carry the little bugger around for the nine months between your condom breaking and the kid breathing air for the first time. It's how life works."
Beck chuckled.
"What?" Jade snapped.
The boy hugged his girlfriend close. "It's just like the way parents tell their kids about sex. 'When a Mommy and a Daddy love each other very much, they decide to have a baby'."
Jade clamped a hand over his mouth. "I know how babies are made, Beckett. You don't have to remind me."
"My point was that we fit, Jade," he smiled. "I love you."
A smile grew across the blue-eyed girl's face. "I love you too."
On Sunday, Jade went bra shopping at the mall with Beck in tow. She made a straight shot for the only store she planned to visit: Aerie.
She grabbed several bras, tried them on, and settled on buying four. All the while, Beck sat on a bench outside the store and constantly had to shoo away girls who tried to hit on him.
After a good half an hour, Jade reemerged carrying a bag. "Let's go," she stated and began walking toward the exit.
Beck stood up and jogged to catch up with his girlfriend. "Are we heading back to my RV?"
Jade shrugged. "I guess. We have a couple things we need to talk about that I was realizing while trying on bras."
Beck felt a sinking feeling in his gut, but he beat it away in hopes that it wasn't bad news.
The car ride passed fairly quietly with the only sound being the crinkling of the wrapper on Jade's granola bar.
Once inside the tiny metal dwelling, the couple sat down on the couch.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Beck asked, looking over at his girlfriend.
"Beck, I'm starting to show," Jade eventually replied. "Firstly, I'm going to order a Bella Band because I'm not ready to go buy maternity clothes. Secondly, we need to tell our parents and our friends somehow. I'm scared, Beck."
The boy wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "What are you afraid of?"
Jade sniffled. "I'm afraid of being disowned. I'm afraid of our friends leaving. I'm afraid I won't make a good mom. I'm afraid you'll leave me."
Beck placed a soft kiss on his girlfriend's forehead. "Even if you're disowned, I still love you. Our friends are great and they're not going anywhere. You'll be an amazing mom. And I will never ever leave your side. I love you, Jadelyn West."
"I love you too," she whispered. "That still doesn't solve when and how we're going to break it to everyone. I'm starting to look pregnant, Beck. Look!" She stood and pulled up her shirt to show the tiny bump in her abdomen.
Smiling, Beck leaned forward and kissed the bump. "Hey, baby," he chuckled and ran his thumb over the skin, "you're scaring your mommy. You're making her feel things she doesn't normally show. Your mommy is beautiful, baby. Remember that."
Jade smiled. "You're stalling, Beck," she pulled her shirt down and sat on his lap.
"So I am," he admitted. "I think we should wait to break it to them until we figure out whether it's a boy or a girl."
Nodding in thought, Jade agreed. "All I know is I hope it has your hair."
"Only if it has your curls," Beck laughed and kissed his girlfriend, carrying her to the bed and laying beside her. He stopped kissing her long enough to pull up her shirt and rub her belly. "I hope you look like mommy, baby. Mommy is so pretty."
Jade giggled. "So is Daddy."