The First Week of School: Monday

Cate watched Abby discard several items from her closet before finally finding the perfect outfit to wear on the first day of school. Abby looked great in a denim miniskirt and navy top. The fourteen-year-old carefully applied make-up.

"You look nice," Cate observed.

"Thanks!" Abby grinned. She dug through her dresser drawers and pulled out brand new workout clothes. She ripped the tags off and tossed them in the direction of the wastebasket, but missed.

Cate bent down to retrieve the tags and groaned. Her back ached all the time now.

Cate glanced at the tag and gasped. Abby had spent a ton on the cute workout clothes even though Abby had never been much of an athlete. "Why'd you spend so much on workout clothes?" She wondered.

Abby blushed and looked down. "I just wanted to look cute."

"For who?" Cate pressed curiously.

Abby hesitated. "Promise not to get mad if I tell you?"

As realization dawned on Cate, she frowned. "Please tell me you're not still chasing after Baze."

Abby's cheeks were burning bright red.

"Abby-" Cate began.

"I don't want to hear it!" Abby cut her off. "I know what you think of him. For the record, I don't think Dewey Johnson is that great a catch but I kept my mouth shut because it's none of my business! Just like who I like is none of your business!"

Cate tried not to smile. She knew full well that the school mascot, Dewey Johnson, who she dated on-and-off-again wasn't that great a catch.

But, she also knew Baze way better than Abby could imagine. The thought of her little sister sleeping with her baby's father made her skin crawl.

"OK, can we forget for a minute that you don't like what I have to say?" Cate asked.

Abby crossed her arms in front of her chest defiantly and glared at Cate.

"I know I'm not the most popular girl in my class," Cate said.

Abby snickered.

"But I am in Baze's class. Do you think maybe I know him better than you do?" Cate continued.

"Maybe," Abby admitted.

"OK, and I'm telling you he is really not a good guy. I don't want him to hurt you," Cate said.

"I can take care of myself," Abby retorted.

"That's what I thought and look at me," Cate said, motioning toward her stomach.

Abby rolled her eyes. "I'm not you, Cate! I'm not going to make the same mistakes you did. I have to go to school."

Cate flipped through the TV channels, looking for something to keep her occupied. Daytime TV sucked. During the summer, there were usually movies on. Now that it was fall Cate's only options were soap operas, cartoons and news programs. She sighed and turned the TV off.

She'd already used the gift certificate Abby had given her and read all the books she'd bought. She could always go to the library. She wouldn't see anyone since everyone else was in school.

Cate walked the short mile to the library. Along the way, she saw women walking with baby carriages. She watched them talk to their babies.

A pretty blonde cooed at her little one, who was wearing the cutest little pink jumper. Cate smiled as she passed them.

Cate wandered through the aisles in the library, looking for a good book. She chose several, knowing she would be stuck at home with nothing to do until she gave birth.

"Hi," Cate said pleasantly, as she handed her choices and her library card to the librarian, an old woman.

The old woman stared at Cate, hey eyes narrowing on Cate's belly. She pursed her lips and frowned. The girl looked much too young to be pregnant.

Cate noticed the look and blushed.

"These are due on September 29th," the librarian told Cate, her tone cold.

"Thanks," Cate mumbled, grabbing the books and hurrying out.

It was probably just Cate's imagination but she felt like everyone she passed on her way home was staring at her and judging her. She quickened her pace.

Cate didn't know if it was nerves, the fall heat or the long walk, but she was so hot. She felt like she was having a heat stroke. She could feel beads of sweat rolling down her neck and back.

Even though Cate had always gotten cold easily, she'd been hot all the time that summer. Laverne had told her it was normal to get hot when you were pregnant and moved a fan into Cate's bedroom.

Cate dumped her books down on the kitchen table and hurried upstairs, eager to take a cold shower and cool off. Cate closed her eyes and let the cool, refreshing stream hit her face. It felt so good.

She lathered up, wanting to wash off since she'd gotten sweaty. She felt gross. She looked down and realized she couldn't see her toes. She wondered if she would ever regain her pre-pregnancy figure.

Cate didn't really feel like reading. Every time she picked up one of the books she'd chosen, she remembered the way the librarian had treated her.

She glanced at the clock. She couldn't believe it was only 1:00. Time sure passed slowly when you were bored out of your mind.

Cate decided to take a nap more because she didn't have anything else to do than because she was tired. She moved around in her bed, trying to get comfortable. She didn't like lying on her sides, because she felt like she was squishing the baby. She settled on her back and closed her eyes.

It felt like Cate had been lying there for hours trying to fall asleep with no luck. Her mind kept racing. She wondered how far behind she would be by the time she gave birth. Then, she wondered when she would finally give birth.

She doubted Abby would get her make-up work for her after their argument that morning. Maybe she could ask Alice. She couldn't ask Alice, she realized. Alice hadn't spoken to her since her 17th birthday.

Cate wondered what was going on at school. Were people talking about her? Did they think it was weird that she wasn't there? Was Abby making any progress with Baze?