So, I was watching 16 and Pregnant with one of my nieces when this little story popped into my head. It's my first story so be easy on me but make sure to tell me what you think. :D You'll notice that all the girls are from Washington, I know that's not how it is in the show but I made it that way for a reason. You'll learn why in a couple chapters. :) So, without further ado, Read on.
Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight and whoever made the show 16 and Pregnant owns that.
Alice
July: 28 weeks pregnant
"What did you do when you found out you were pregnant?" Lauren asked as we sat on the swings.
"I called Jasper right away," I said. "And I told him the news."
"How'd he take it?" Jessica asked.
"At first, he was so quiet. I thought he hung up on me." I said. "That really scared me."
"After he recovered from his shock, what'd he say?" Jess asked.
"He kept asking if I was serious. He sounded really happy about it which shocked the hell out of me."
"What a weird reaction for an eighteen year old," Samantha mused.
"I know, right?"
To say I was surprised that Jasper took it so well was an understatement. I wasn't sure what was going to happen when I called him that evening. If worse came to worse, I knew I'd end up raising my baby alone but I was really hoping that things didn't go downhill.
I wanted Jasper to choose to support me and help me raise our child. And he did just that.
Part of that is because Jasper knows how it feels to grow up without a father, just as I did. It's difficult and you're always wondering why they left you. I didn't want my child ever feeling like that and I'm glad that Jasper didn't either.
"Did you tell his mom first or yours? I imagine that telling Claire was much easier than telling yours."
I sighed. Yes, Telling Jasper's mom, Claire, was the easiest and so that's why we told Claire first.
"We told Claire first and then we told my mom. I wanted to wait a while longer but Claire told me that she needed to know right away."
"She's right," Jess said. "Your mom would have been devastated if you waited to tell her. How did Mary take it anyway?"
"My mom was so disappointed in me, and I expected that. What I didn't expect was for her to burst into tears."
"Well, she is your mom. I can kind of see why she did. She's probably think that 'my baby is having a baby'. If your kid came to you and told you they were pregnant, you'd probably cry."
"Probably," I agreed.
My mom was very upset when she found out I was pregnant but that's because when she was just fifteen, she got pregnant with my eldest brother, James.
She struggled and that's why she thinks it would be best if Jasper and I gave our child up for adoption. She thinks we're too young to have a baby and though we are, I believe we can do it.
Surprisingly enough, I didn't always think that way. For a while, after hearing her reasoning, I felt like she was right. I didn't know how I would manage raising a baby while trying to go to school and maintain some aspect of my social life.
But after weeks of thinking, I came to the decision that adoption wasn't for me.
Unfortunately, that didn't stop my mom from pushing the idea on Jasper and I whenever she got the chance. She just couldn't come to terms with my decision and it was starting to piss me off.
"I just think it would be the best, Alice," My mom said as Jasper and I lounged on the couch. "You don't understand how hard it is to raise a child."
"Mom," I groaned.
"Don't Alice," Mom sighed. "You need to listen. You are sixteen years old, Alice. You two need to understand that it isn't going to be easy. You'll have to juggle being a mother and a student and you'll need to find a job to pay for diapers, formula, clothes, and all that stuff that the baby needs. Do you really think you two will be able to do that getting less than two hours of sleep a night?"
"I don't know," I sighed, playing with my hair. "I just...I don't want to give my baby up for adoption. It's not me."
"I don't either," Jasper finally spoke up. "Our kid will wonder why we didn't keep her around, you know? I don't want that. I will be here for my child and for Alice."
"You say that now," Mom said, seriously. "What what happens when things get to rough?"
"I won't leave her," Jasper stated, firmly.
"I just want you to think about it some more," Mom said. "It's not too late."
I didn't like adoption and despite telling my mom that we would think about it some more, I knew my answer wouldn't change. I was keeping my baby.
We were having a girl, by the way, and we were naming her Mia Nicole Whitlock. I wanted Mia to be raised in a household that Jasper and I weren't able to have. Meaning, I wanted her to have both her mother and her father there for her at all times.
"Are you going to be here for us?" I asked as we folded baby clothes on my bed. "I don't want you to say you will and stay for a few months, or years, and then just leave. It really hurts, you know that, and I don't ever want Mia to go through that."
"I'm here," Jasper said, rubbing my stomach. "For good. I don't even want to think about Mia calling another guy dad and filling my role."
I didn't want to think about that either. But realistically, if Jasper ever left us, I knew that I would move on someday and I would find someone who loved and cared for Mia and I unconditionally.
"That'll never happen as long as you stay with us," I said, seriously.
"I'm here," he repeated. "Even if you suddenly decide you want me to leave you alone."
I laughed, "That'll never happen."
"You never know."
I rolled my eyes, "Even if it did, I wouldn't hurt Mia by sending you away."
"That's good to know," he said, kissing my nose.
I giggled and gave him a quick kiss, "I love you."
"I love you too, Ali," he leaned down to kiss my stomach. "And I love you too, Mia."
I was glad that Jasper was on the same page as I was. I hope that it would remain that way even after Mia was born.
After my talk with Jasper, I realized that I needed to sit down with my mom and talk this out. I need her more than ever now and I know this was hard but she needed to know that my decision about keeping Mia hasn't changed one bit.
While my mom wants Jasper and I to choose adoption, Claire, Jasper's mom stood behind us a hundred percent when it came to keeping Mia. She didn't even offer up that alternative when we told her. Sure, she was disappointed and sad at first but she knew we could do this.
Now, I just had to get my mom on board with Claire and things would be good.
"Hey, mom," I called when I heard the front door close.
"Yeah?"
"Can you come here a second?" I asked.
"What's up?" Mom asked as she came to sit on my bed.
"So, I have thought about adoption, mom. I truly have."
"And?" she asked, hopefully.
"And I've decided that I'm keeping my baby," I said, firmly. "I know that isn't what you want to hear but mom, I can do it. I know I can. I'm not saying it's going to be a walk in the park, because it'll be far from it but I'm determined to do this."
"You're so young, Al. I don't want you to miss out on things," Mom said. "I know what that's like. I want you to be able to experience things before you settle down and have a family."
"I understand that," I said. "But I choose to keep Mia which means whatever comes, I'll live with it. Sure, I'll miss hanging with my friends and going out but at the end of the day, I know I'd much rather be home with Mia then out there somewhere getting in trouble."
"What about the money situation? How are you going to buy diapers, formula, wipes, toys, or hell clothes? Claire and I will be responsibly financially and you know that's going to be even harder on me because I don't get much."
"I'll pay you back, I swear," I said. "I don't want to mooch off you, at all, but as of right now that's unavoidable but I will get a job soon and I'll pay you back every dime."
"I don't care about the money, Alice," she said, wiping her tears away. "The biggest thing is that I don't want to watch you struggle. But that's inevitable when you have a child at such a young age."
I know it's not going to be easy but I want to raise my baby. I just hope that my mom will be there to help me when I need her.
August: 30 weeks pregnant
Things are finally starting to fall in place. Since the talk, I had with my mom she has slowly started to accept my decision. I'm so glad that she did because I need her. I haven't been able to talk to her about things that I really want to talk to her about but now that she's more open, I can.
My brother is glad to see my mom and I talking again but is still worried about what the future holds for me. Unlike my mom, he was supportive from day one but he was still worried, as was everyone else, that Jasper might take off when things get to hard.
I knew there was nothing I could say to make them change their minds. Only Jasper's behavior would be able to sway them, eventually.
"How do you feel today?" Victoria, James's wife, asked.
"Pregnant," I laughed. "Very pregnant,"
"It's getting close," James reminded me.
I bit my lip and nodded, "Yep."
In just ten weeks, my daughter would be here and life as I know it will changed drastically. I was excited but I was also very nervous.
"It feels like just yesterday, I found out that you were pregnant," James said.
"It doesn't to me," I said. "It feels like forever ago. I have so much going on in my head that it feels like years have passed."
"What's on your mind?" Victoria asked. "Anything we can help with?"
"Things are slowly starting to get better." I said. "I've mainly been worrying about mom."
"I told you she would come around eventually," James said. "She just needs time to think of every possible outcome there is."
"Yeah, well, she's only been telling me the bad outcomes. So, I'm sure that wasn't the case this time."
"She just wanted something better for you than what she got," James said.
"I know that," I said. "But I made my decision and I'm sticking by it. I'm so happy that she's finally coming around. Did you know we talked all night last night about things, I was worried about? We haven't done that since I told her I was pregnant."
"I'm glad you two are finally getting better," James said. "I hated seeing you both upset."
"Me too," Victoria said.
I nodded. The last couple of months have been hard on me, and my mom. We went from talking about everything to talking only a couple times a week and usually those talks turned into arguments.
"So, since Mia is due in less than ten weeks, what do you plan to do about the job situation?" James asked looking at Jasper.
"I plan to get one," Jasper said, speaking up for the first time since we arrived. "I've already applied at a couple places."
"That's good," Victoria said. "You just have to be determined. You'll find something eventually."
"Yeah, I hope so,"
"Me too," I said. "I don't want to mooch off mom or Claire the rest of my life. Mia is my daughter, our daughter, which means we have to provide for her. Not everyone else."
"That's very mature to say," James said. "And I agree with you."
After the talk with my brother, I realized that Jasper and I don't have much planned other than keeping Mia. We really needed to hash out some kind of plan before she arrived.
"What are we going to do?" I asked as we walked back to my place.
"What do you mean?"
"With Mia," I said.
"We're keeping her," he said as he kept texting.
"Be serious," I said. "We need to think of a plan before she gets home."
"A plan?" he asked "For what? Raising her?"
"Yes," I said. "You're looking for a job, so that's a step in the right direction, but where are we going to live? I can't find a place myself, because I'm not old enough, and I don't have enough money."
"Neither do I," Jasper said.
"Yeah, I know," I sighed. "That means that I'm going to have more responsibilities than you will."
"I'll sleepover whenever Mary lets me," Jasper said. "I want to help as much as I can but with limited resources, it's going to be a little hard, but only for a while."
I really hope he's right.
August: 32 weeks pregnant
The next few weeks passed without incident.
I volunteered to watch my niece and nephews a couple days each week. I had a blast with them and I got some money for it. It wasn't a lot of money but it was something.
Jasper, on the other hand, hasn't received a call back from any of the places he turned in applications, if he turned them in anywhere at all.
I'm starting to doubt what he said to my brother. He has done nothing but sit on his ass these last few weeks and either play videogames or hang out with his friends.
It was really starting to make me wonder if he only said what he said to appease my brother. And if that was true, what else had he said just to appease someone. Namely, me?
"So, how are you doing?" Samantha asked as we lounged around my bedroom with Jessica.
"Okay, I guess," I sighed.
"How are you and Jasper doing?" Jess asked.
"I don't know," I grumbled.
"You don't know?" she asked. "Did something happen?"
"He's just annoying the shit out of me as of late." I said. "I can't tell if he's telling the truth or if he's just saying stuff to make me happy."
"What's he been saying to you?" Jess asked.
"He told me he was looking for a job but whenever I talk to him, he's out with friends or playing a videogame. That doesn't really seem like he's dedicated."
"You can only apply at so many places," Jess said. "Then you have to play the waiting game."
"I know but I just have the feeling that Jasper hasn't been applying anywhere."
"He probably hasn't," Sam said. "Jasper is the laziest person I've ever met."
"Agreed," I sighed.
"He's eighteen, Al," Jess said. "He doesn't want to spend his time working. Especially since his mom pretty much hands him anything he wants."
"Well, in order to give our kid everything she wants, and deserves, we have to get jobs and work. I refuse to have Claire and my mom provide for Mia her whole life."
"And they shouldn't," Sam agreed.
"But I don't know what to do, anymore," I sighed, rubbing my stomach. "Mia will be here soon and no one has a job. I'd get one but who would watch Mia for me?"
"Jasper," Jess said.
"No offence but do you really think Jasper's ready to be a father?" Sam asked, quietly.
I sat quietly as I thought about it. Did I think Jasper was ready to be a father? There were times when I questioned it.
"Sometimes," I said. "Other times, no. It's frustrating, Sam. I grew up when I learned I was pregnant and yet he's still playing games. I honestly don't understand why."
"What do you expect, Ali? He's eighteen," Sam sighed. "Your teen years are party years, not diaper years,"
"I know that," I mumbled. "But I've given up so much already. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret it but come on, Can't he give up a little too?"
"Ali, I told you Jasper wasn't a good guy to be with," Sam said. "Any other guy at our school would have been a better father candidate then he was."
"It's not like I planned to get pregnant, Sam," I said, frustrated.
"She's not saying you did," Jess said. "She's saying that Jasper is one of the worst guys in the school." I opened my mouth to disagree. "Let me finish. He's a partier, a bad boy, and pretty much everything but father material. Now, that description can go for a lot of guys but I guarantee if you ended up pregnant with anyone else's child, they'd step up. But Jasper...no."
"I think he just needs more time," Sam said. "He needs to grow up without being forced to do so."
"We don't have time for that," I said. "I can't put this pregnancy on hold while I wait for Jasper's immature ass to grow up."
"So, what do you plan to do?"
I ran my hand through my hair, "I have no idea, Jess. I have no idea."
September: 33 weeks pregnant
School started back up soon, and I planned to go until after I had Mia, after that I would switch to online schooling. I was dreading going to online school. I had a hard enough time focusing in school and when I have Mia that's just another distraction.
I didn't know how I would finish school but I needed to. I planned to make sure my dreams as an interior designer come true. That meant, I needed a high school education.
I had less than two months until Mia was due and so I've started gathering up everything that I would need. I was lucky that my mom kept my old baby crib because cribs were expensive.
Victoria bought a cute pink bedding set and gave me the changing table that she used for her three kids.
But we still needed other things.
Like clothes, diapers, formula, bottles, etc...The list went on.
"What about this?" Jasper asked, holding up a pink onesie.
"It's cute," I said. "How much is it?"
"Two bucks,"
I nodded and he put it in the cart.
I wasn't planning to buy a lot of baby clothes because Victoria said that she has tons stored up somewhere, she just has to find them for me, but since I needed something to bring Mia home in, I decided to buy something new.
"Do we need a stroller?" Jasper asked.
"Yeah," I said as we stopped in front of a row of strollers.
"This one's nice," Jasper said, looking at a dark blue one.
"We're having a girl," I said.
"So?" he asked.
"Pink," I reminded him.
In the end, we found a stroller that was perfect. It came with a car seat as well and was only a hundred and fifty bucks. It would use up all my money but it was worth it, and needed, so we bought it.
"So, what else do we need?"
"Diapers, wipes, formula...Jobs," I said, looking at him.
"I'm looking."
"Sure you are," I sighed.
"What's that suppose to mean, Alice?"
"I don't think you are," I said.
"You'd know, right? Since you go everywhere I go, right?"
"You never sound serious about it, Jasper." I said.
"I don't want a job but I'm looking anyway," He snapped. "So, I'm sorry, if I don't sound excited about it."
"W..."
"Just drop it, Alice," Jasper said, looking down at his phone. "Let's go. I have somewhere I have to be."
I sighed but got into the car with him.
September: 34 weeks pregnant
"Morning, Alice," Mom said.
"Morning," I yawned.
"Ready for school?" she asked.
"Yeah," I yawned again. "God, I'm tired."
"Didn't get much sleep last night?" she guessed.
"Nope," I grabbed a bowl and filled it up with cereal. "I suppose I better get used to it though, eh?"
"Yep," Mom laughed. "Babies follow their own schedules."
"I wish I could just hibernate until Mia comes," I said as ate my cereal.
Mom laughed, "I wished the same thing when James was born, and then again when you were born."
"You got lucky with us," I teased. "You were blessed with two of the most energetic children in the world."
"I was," Mom agreed. "I got a maximum of two hours of sleep when James came home and even less when you came home."
"I hope Mia is a calm baby," I said.
"With you as her mother, she doesn't stand a chance," Mom laughed, causing me to groan.
"Why did I have to be so energetic?"
"I've always wondered the same thing, Ali-cat." Mom smiled. "I have to get to work but I'll see you after school, alright?"
"Okay," I said. "Have a good day."
"You too." Mom said.
"Thanks," I said, knowing I wouldn't have a good day. I knew as soon as I step foot on campus, I would have the attention of everyone. It's rare to see a pregnant girl walking the halls of Port Angeles high and so it seemed like everyone needed to get their fill of whomever was pregnant and just stare until the girl is no longer in their line of sight.
I sighed.
I so wasn't looking forward to going to school.
Jasper picked me up at exactly seven thirty. I was surprised to see him since we haven't talked since our last argument about jobs.
"Good Morning," Jasper said when I got into his car.
"Morning," I said, quietly.
"How'd you sleep?"
"Bad," I yawned.
"Why?"
"Because I'm worrying about everything," I said.
Jasper sighed and turned the radio on. It was his way of telling me that he didn't want to talk about this right now.
"Any callbacks?" I asked
"Nope."
"That sucks," I said.
"Yeah, it does." He said with a roll of his eyes.
I chose to ignore that, and him once we got to the school.
"Later," Jasper said as he rushed over to his group of friends. It didn't escape my notice that Tiffany, Jasper's ex, was clinging to him like she use to do when they were together.
"What just happened?" Lauren asked. "I thought they hated each other."
"Clearly they don't," I said, sourly. "I didn't even know they were talking to each other again."
"Neither did we," Sam said. "Or we would've said something to you."
"I know," I glanced over my shoulder at Jasper and Tiffany. "I honestly don't even care right now."
"Is there still trouble in paradise?" Jess asked.
"Yep," I admitted. "If you asked Jasper, I'm sure he'd blame it on my nagging."
"What are you nagging about?"
"Jobs," I said. "It's still about Jobs."
"Finding a job takes some time," Sam said. "I mean, he could've really applied at some places."
"Yeah, he could've but I get the feeling that he hasn't," I said. "Jasper likes to appease people with his lies. If it gets you off his back, he'll say whatever."
"True," Sam agreed.
"Let's not think about Jasper," Jess said. "Even though it's not really exciting, this is school. We're juniors now! Woot,"
I laughed, "That is exciting."
"Are you planning to stay in school after Mia is born?" Lauren asked, curiously as we walked to class.
"I want to but no," I said.
"Why not?"
"I don't have a babysitter," I explained. "My mom works, Claire works, and Jasper has school with me so I don't see any other way."
"It'll work out in the end," Jess said, confidently.
"I hope so,"
School wasn't all that bad. The first day went smoothly. I found all my classes easily, I talked and hung out with some new friends, and the best part was that after the first hour, everyone seemed to lose interest in my belly.
A couple people who asked to touch my stomach and some who didn't but I took it all in stride.
Jasper was nowhere to be seen after lunch, neither was Tiffany, so I think it was safe to assume that they ditched together. I didn't want to worry about what they were doing because it would drive me insane.
I just had to trust that Jasper wouldn't do that to me.
After school, my mom picked me up.
We went out for ice cream before heading home. I spent my night doing homework and after that, I cleaned up my room. My mom joked that it was a sight she thought she'd never see.
"Ha, Ha," I laughed. "I need to make room for Mia's crib."
Since we only lived in a two-bedroom house, there wasn't an extra room for Mia to be in so we would share a room, which was completely fine with me. My room was big enough to house a crib plus my queen size bed.
After I finished cleaning up my room, I called Jasper to see if he wanted to help me put Mia's crib together but he told me that I could do it on my own because he was busy.
I tried to swallow down the sadness I felt and put together the crib with my mom.
The way Jasper was acting now, I wasn't so sure he was serious about becoming a father.
Part 2 of Alice's "Episode" will be up soon. Review.
