Review Replies

Boris Yeltsin: Weston getting kicked out is actually a really good idea. And, good idea for the name. I love Jamie; it's probably the cutest unisex name ever invented, along with Jaden and Blaize.

pinkflamingos888: Thanks for the review!

The Red Sox: I'm not sure I'll do very much more about Maddie's pregnancy with Katie, but there's always going to be the other pregnancies. =]

Chapter Nine: Pitching In To Help

Mom and Dad are so mad at me. Not so much about me having sex with Weston—they're still pretty heated about it, though—but because Mom made me take a home pregnancy test a few days ago. It came out positive. I don't think Mom would be talking to me if she didn't have to. I know I made a stupid mistake, but it's not like I got pregnant on purpose. Not like Mom.

I know that sounds harsh and I agree. But, it's true. She got pregnant with me on purpose when she was fourteen years old. At least I'm older. Just by a year, but still. And I have experience with babies. I've helped Mom raise Caleb, Becky, and Lexie. Hell, I'm practically their second mother.

"Katie, come here, please," Mom said from the living room.

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. Walking into the living room, I saw Weston and his parents sitting down on the couch, while Mom and Dad were sitting in one of our oversized chairs together. I was getting nervous already. I knew why they were here. Mom didn't have the guts to tell them herself. Of course, it's not her responsibility to tell them. It's mine. That's why they're here.

"Hi…" I said, quietly.

"You wanna tell them your little news?" Mom asked.

I shook my head. "Not really."

"Katherine."

I sighed and I stared at Weston for a few seconds. "…I'm pregnant…"

No one said anything. I don't think anyone knew what to say. Until Sharon broke the silence, that is.

"What in the world got into you two?" Sharon asked. "You're fifteen years old; you shouldn't be having sex."

"Most kids our age do," I said. "There's ten-year-old prostitutes out there."

"You're not ten and you're not a prostitute; you're fifteen and you're pregnant."

"I'd say that's better than being paid to have sex with strangers off the streets."

"You shouldn't be having sex at all."

"We didn't have sex, Sharon; we made love."

"Katie, you don't know the difference. I know you guys are young and in love and you feel you have to prove it in every way possible, but making a baby is not the right way to do that. You can show each other you love one another by simply saying it. Cuddling when you sleep over. Doing things for each other. Comforting each other. You can prove it in so many ways that doesn't seem like it helps, but it really does. Sex is not going to get you anywhere, Honey; it's just a guilty pleasure."

"I couldn't have said it any better," Mom said.

Sharon did have a point. I mean… We already do all that stuff. We do show it in every way possible. We try to, anyways.

"We weren't planning the baby," I said.

"You still created it," Sharon said. "Whether you meant to or not isn't the issue. The issue is, is that you're getting too serious too fast. If I knew you two were having sex, I wouldn't have allowed you to see each other alone. I think we should make conditions."

"I think that's a good idea," Mom said. "Basic rules."

"What are the basic rules?" I asked.

"You can't be alone together in a room. No single dates, no sleepovers in the same room."

"How are we supposed to prove that you can trust us if you don't give us a chance?"

"Oh, it's really very simple," Sharon said. "You act like the kids we know and not the sex addicted wannabes you're being right now."

"Sex addicted? Sharon, we only had sex the one time. For the record, it hurt like hell and I don't plan on engaging in it again any time soon."

"Well, once you two can prove to us that you're responsible enough, then we'll trust you enough to let you go out. I'd even volunteer to babysit when you have your dates, but only if you can prove it."

"I think that's a good idea," Mom said.

I sighed and looked at Weston for a few seconds, before looking at Mom and Sharon. "Well, can we at least talk alone? Outside. On the porch. In public," I said.

"Make it quick."

I walked out of the living room and made my way out of the house, soon followed by Weston. We both sat on the porch swing and I cuddled into him.

"They're right, you know," Weston said.

"I know… This whole thing is my fault," I said.

"It is not. We both did it. It takes two."

"Yeah, but I prevented you from pulling out."

"To be honest, I'm not sure I would have been able to."

"Yeah… Well, then next time… If there is a next time… We use protection."

"Deal."

I looked at Weston and we exchanged a small kiss, before I felt his hand on my stomach.

"We made that…" Weston whispered.

"Yeah, we did… Y'know, even though it wasn't planned, and we're young… I'm really happy we're having this baby."

"You are?"

"Yeah… I mean, now we can finally feel how our parents feel. They have someone that will love them no matter what and they can claim it as their own. When we have our baby, it'll be ours and no one else's."

"I never thought of it that way… I guess you're right."

"I love you, Wes…"

"I love you, too."

So, Weston and I are doing our best to prove to everyone that we're responsible. It's not as easy as I thought it was going to be. I can prove that I'm mature—no problem. But, being responsible it harder. It means doing things you don't like. For instance, Mom gave me a chore list. I'm in charge of dishes, cleaning my bathroom, keeping my room clean, and doing my own laundry. Every so often, I'm supposed to help Mom with dinner. That's something that sounds like fun, though. Mom said I could accept help, but never ask for it unless it's absolutely necessary. Caleb loves soap bubbles, so he likes helping me with the dishes. Mom says that's okay, because Caleb will be entertained while she's dealing with Becky and Lexie.

"Katie, have you seen my car keys?" Mom asked, walking into the kitchen.

"Not that I remember," I said, turning the sink faucet off. "Why?"

"I have to go pick up Britton. And Chelsea's little girl."

"Chelsea Brimmer?"

"That's the one."

"She's so dumb she can't figure out how to pick her kid up from school?"

Mom looked at me for a few seconds. I know what was running through her mind. 'How did I raise such a rude little girl?' Well, honestly, Dad rubbed off on me. Chelsea's really, really nice. She's just extremely naïve to the simplest things. I always love it when Chelsea's around. She's matured a lot since high school, like Aunt London. They're probably about the same amount of 'smartical'.

"Be nice," Mom said. "You know she gets confused easily."

"No kidding."

"Chelsea isn't dumb, she's just not people smart," Caleb said. "Right, Mommy?"

"Right, Baby," Mom said.

"I saw Becky with your keys."

"Where is she?"

"I dunno."

"You might check in the music room. I heard the piano being banged a few minutes ago," I said.

"Nice choice of words, Hon," Mom said, walking out of the kitchen.

I laughed and turned my attention back to Caleb. "Are we done?"

"Yep," Caleb said.

"Alright. Atta boy, Cay Cay. Let's watch a movie, yeah?"

"Yeah. Which one?"

"You get to pick," I said, putting him down on the floor.

"Fievel Goes West."

"Alright. You go put it in, I'll make some popcorn and then get Lexie and Becky."

"Do they have to come?"

"Yeah, because they can't be in a room alone unless they're taking their nap."

"Make them take a nap, then."

"No, let's let them watch the movie, too. Maybe Mommy will let you sleep in my room tonight and we can watch movies all night long, just you and me, okay?"

"Okay."

I watched Caleb walk out of the room and I smiled a little. I love how attached we are. It's like we were a match made in heaven. I can count on him, he can count on me. Me and the girls don't have the same relationship. I guess that's partly because I'm so much older than them, but still.

I opened up a package of popcorn and put it in the microwave, then went upstairs to the girls' room.

"You wanna watch a movie with me and Caleb?" I asked.

"Movie," Becky said.

"Yeah, we're gonna watch Fievel Goes West."

"Mouse!"

Well, we ended up watching the whole movie. No one fell asleep. Now, Lexie and Becky are asleep and Dad's giving Caleb a bath. I was laying on my bed, just staring at the ceiling, with my hand on my stomach. I looked to it and smiled a little.

"Y'know… You're gonna have a really good life. Even though I'm still a kid myself, I think I'll get through this. I have a lot of people that really love me. My mom—your grandma—was young when she had me, too. She was fourteen. She did it because my Uncle Liam had Leukemia. I was his bone marrow match. He died, though… It's a long story. But, you have a great family. And, everyone's gonna love you, even if they don't like me so much… Your daddy's young, too. We're best friends. I don't know what I'd do without him. I'd probably be a totally different girl without him…"

I let out a sigh and looked to the door, hearing a sneeze. I rolled my eyes and laughed a little.

"Come in, Mom," I said.

Mom opened the door and she closed it behind her, before sitting on my bed. "Sorry… I thought I could hold it back, but it just hurt."

"Yeah, I know; I do it all the time."

Mom raised an eyebrow. "…You eavesdrop on me?"

"Not on purpose… It's just, your bedroom's right next to mine… I can hear things. I don't like to interrupt."

"Things?"

"I hear all the 'oh, Zack', 'oh my gosh', 'faster'… And more. I've gotten used to it."

"…Sorry. I'll make a note to be quiet."

"That's not possible for you."

Mom laughed and she crawled onto the bed and laid next to me. "So. Are you enjoying it yet?"

"Kind of. It feels really weird when it moves."

"Yeah. You get used to it, though… I took a test."

"A pregnancy test?"

"Yep."

"What did it say?"

"Not this time."

"Oh… Sorry…"

"It's alright. Maybe next time. And then, I'm taking a break. A long one. I think my body needs to recuperate."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because, I start to hurt after I…"

"Well, have you thought that maybe it's because you ask him to go harder every ten seconds? Maybe it's too rough."

"Yeah, well… It feels better that way. But, don't you dare try it. Remember our deal."

"I remember it… Mom?"

"Yeah?"

I stayed silent for a few seconds before looking at Mom. "…Are you gonna help me?"

"What do you mean?"

"With the baby… I can't do it alone. I need someone there with experience."

"Honey, I'll always be here for you… I'm not just gonna pawn everything off on you. This baby is your responsibility, but whatever you need help with, I'd be glad to do the job. I'd never say no to you."

"You wouldn't let me have a pony when I was four."

"Yeah, well, we don't live on a farm, so it's still out of the question. Anything else might be open, though."

"What about a dog? The kids would love that."

"We'll see. I'll talk to Dad."

"Preferrably a Marley."

"A what?"

"Marley and Me… A Labrador?"

"I'll ask Dad. If he says no, then we'll go to the pound."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you, too."