"Why can't you just get a real tree? A big real tree!" Jack said as we walked up and down the aisles of Wal-Mart.

We were going shopping for Christmas decorations and Jack was not pleased with my selection of the fake and small plastic tree or my plain red and green ornaments but they were both cheap and I couldn't afford much right now. I continued pushing my cart down the aisle until Jack grabbed the cart, stopping it directly in the middle of the aisle.

"Josie! Why don't you get a real tree? And more fun ornaments?" he questioned while picking up a box of the red ornaments and looking at it with disdain.

I sighed and bit my lip. "I can't afford it Jack, unlike you I'm not some famous guitar player and I don't live with my parents, I have bills to pay." I said before trying to push the cart again.

"Then let me pay for it, please?" he begged and I shook my head.

"No, I don't need your help."

Jack groaned and planted himself directly in front of the carriage. He had a determined look on his face and I wanted to really just run him over but I didn't move.

"Jack. Get out of the way."

He scowled at me and shook his head before crossing his arms over his chest. "Make me."

"God damn it Jack, you're not a child. Just move!"

"No."

I crossed my arms over my chest and leveled him with the scariest glare I could muster. "I'm gonna count to three, one…..two….three…that's it!" I went around the cart and Jack quickly went around to the other side.

"Just let me buy it and I promise I'll be more good!"

"No!"

"Jo-osie!"

"Ja-ack!" I mimicked dragging out the vowel.

"That wasn't funny."

"I don't care, come on. My back hurts! I just wanna go home and sit down!"

"Then let me buy it and we'll get out of here quickly."

"Fine, go crazy! I don't even care anymore!" I said and a wide smile came across Jack's face.

He started pulling things of the carriage and then once it was empty he turned around. Jack pushed the carriage quickly down the aisle and I had to take large steps to keep up with him.

Two hours later Jack and I were fighting over the tree that he was attempting to get up the narrow staircase to my apartment. I had insisted that the tree would be too big but Jack hadn't listened and got it anyways. Now it was currently stuck and I was getting annoyed.

"Jack! I told you it wouldn't fit!" I barked.

"It'll fit Josie!"

"No Jack, it won't that's why-" I started but stopped when Jack managed to push the tree through.

"Told ya so."

"Jack I hate you."

"No you don't."

"I do."

"Don't."

"You're so childish." I said before slipping past him so I could unlock the door.

We both walked into the house, Jack dragging the tree in behind him. I quickly pulled the tree base out of the bag and placed it in the corner. It took a couple minutes and a lot of swearing but eventually we got the tree into the base and the base tightened so it wouldn't fall over. Jack went over to the bags and started pulling out the decorations while I got up from the ground.

"I'm gonna go take a shower, can I trust you not to destroy my place?" I questioned.

"Uhh….no promises." he said looking up from where he was already tangled in the Christmas lights.

"Oh dear lord help this child." I said before turning on my heel and walking down the hallway to my room.

I was gathering what I hoped what would be a nice outfit for dinner tonight with Jack's family when I heard a bang come from the living room. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. Relaxing shower first, then deal with whatever Jack did to my living room later I told myself before going back to gathering clothes. When I finished I went into the bathroom and attempted to ignore the various bumps and bangs I heard come from the living room.

"Jack! I swear if you killed my living room you're fixing it." I said while walking into the living room after I finished getting ready.

Jack was sitting on the floor in front of the tree, a smile on his face while he stared up at it. "I didn't break anything."

"Good. Proud of you," I said sarcastically, "now what time do we have to be at your parents?" I questioned nervously.

"Uh, one hour ago." he answered while lying on his back and staring up at his phone.

"Wha-what? Jack! Get up! We're late!" I said running to go slip on my shoes.

When I got back into the living room Jack already had his jacket on and was waiting for me by the door. We quickly slipped out of the house and walked down the stairs.

"Why didn't you tell me we had to be there an hour ago?" I snapped when we got into the car.

"Well you looked tired so I wanted you to take your time getting ready."

"Ugh, great first impression!"

"They'll love you Josie, don't worry."

"No! I'm gonna worry!"

Jack didn't say anything back; he just sighed and started the car. The entire thirty minute ride was a silent one and once we pulled up to Jack's house I started to panic. My hands were sweaty and were shaking slightly as I followed behind Jack into the house.

"Mum! I'm home and I brought a guest!" Jack barked before walking away.

I followed closely behind him and when he stopped short I went straight into him. "Back up a bit." he said and I took a step back.

"You're just in time for dinner!" I heard a voice with a slight accent coming from a different room.

Jack led the way into a bright kitchen and I smiled at the woman at the counter until a strong smell of onions hit me.

"Jack, bathroom." I said feeling queasy and his eyes got wide.

"Uh, uh, uh." he stuttered.

"Up the stairs, first door on the left!" the woman shouted and I quickly sprinted out of the room, up the stairs and into the first door on the left.

I made it just in time to throw up into the toilet. I sat down on the floor as my head spun and I heaved again just as I heard the door open. I lifted my head when I stopped throwing up to see Jack filling a Dixie cup with water.

"Drink this." he said bending over and handing me the cup.

My hands shook a little as I took the cup from his hand and brought it to my lips. I sipped on it for a moment before bringing it down and bursting into tears. That woman was Jack's mother and I had already made myself look stupid.

"Hey, hey don't cry." Jack said coming down onto the ground.

"I can't help it."

"Shh, there's nothing to cry about Josie." Jack said soothingly while pulling me to his chest.

He rubbed my back as I sobbed and a couple minutes later I pulled away from him. I went to wipe my tears away with the back of my hand but Jack caught my hand with his left hand and with his right cupped my face and wiped away the tears with his thumb. He brought his face closer as if to kiss me and I panicked, backing away. Jack's face fell and my stomach knotted with guilt.

"I'm sorry, just; this isn't the right time Jack." I said softly.

Jack climbed to his feet and nodded, "I understand, I'll, uh, be in the kitchen." he said awkwardly before leaving.

I chewed on my lip as I slowly rose to my feet and began washing my face. I felt like a jerk but it just didn't seem like the right time for Jack to kiss me. I wasn't even sure if I liked him yet, a lot of the time I wanted to strangle him because he was so immature. I didn't know what do about Jack and me….us. Being with him would be good for the baby but what about me?

"Is she okay?" my mother inquired as I walked down the stairs and found my family in the living room.

"Yeah, she's been having…uh, what is it called again?" I said unsurely

"Morning sickness?" May offered.

"Yeah! That! Except hers is like all day sickness."

"Oh poor thing, is she okay?" my mom asked worriedly.

"Yeah." I said softly.

"Are you okay?" Joe, my older brother asked.

"M'fine."

"You're lying." May said in a sing song voice but I just shrugged before nudging her over so there was room for me to sit down on the couch beside her.

"Baby brother, tell me what's wrong." May crooned while trying to pull me into her lap but I just pushed away.

"I'm fine May."

May gave me a look but didn't say anything. I heard feet coming down the stairs and turned to see Josie. I pushed May a bit and she moved over so Josie could settle herself in between me and her.

"I'm sorry." Josie mumbled and I raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"I feel like I messed up dinner." she said pitifully and I just wanted to tilt her face upwards so I could place a sweet kiss on her lips but I shook the feeling away.

"You didn't mess anything up dear. It's been a long time since I was pregnant, onions did the same thing to me so don't feel bad. I ordered some pizza instead." my mom said sweetly giving Josie a large smile.

Josie gave her a tiny one back and then looked down at her hands. Joe looked like he was about to open his mouth and I shot him a look hoping he would just stay quiet. Joe didn't say anything but for some reason I had forgotten about May.

"So, how old are you Josie?" May asked.

"Nineteen."

"Oh, you go to college right?" May questioned. I tried to shoot her a look over Josie's head but either she didn't see it or she was just ignoring me.

"Yeah."

"What's your major?"

"Education."

"Oh, you want to be a teacher? What kind?"

"A high school history teacher."

"That's cool, so Jack never told me how you two met?"

"Alright May enough of the interrogation! Joe! How's work?" I asked quickly. I didn't want my parents to know that Josie was supposed to be some one night stand.

Joe started talking and I reminded myself to thank him later because as soon as he finished talking about work, he started up on something else. He was in the middle of telling us about something that happened when he was hanging out with his friends when the doorbell rang and my mom got up quickly to get it.

"Josie, you like cheese pizza right?" my mother called from the kitchen as we all stood up to go get a slice.

"Yes." Josie said.

"Hey, don't be so shy." Joe said while putting a slice of pizza on a plate and handing it to her.

"Thank you."

"No problem, now tell me what you think of my sweet baby brother." he said as we all sat down at the table.

I looked over at Josie who was munching on the piece of pizza slowly, her face screwed up with thought. I could think of a million things she might want to say, "He's annoying", "He's a pain in the ass", or "I can't stand him". I watched her as she swallowed the pizza and then looked up at Joe.

"He's really sweet and caring, he can be a bit….uh…crazy sometimes but I think it's funny. He's different from any other person I have ever met and I think it's really cool how he's not afraid to be himself." she said and my jaw dropped.

I wasn't expecting that at all and I watched her feeling amazed. Here I was thinking Josie hated me or just put up with me because she didn't want the sea monkey in her belly to not have a dad but after what she just said I was rethinking it. The fact that she may be lying crossed my mind but I pushed it away, she looked like she was telling the truth.

"Yeah, he's a good kid. I'm proud of him." May said sweetly.

The rest of the night went like that. Every once in a while someone would ask Josie a question and she would answer it. It was getting pretty late when she began to loosen up a bit and talking without having to be talked to first. It was halfway through the movie May put on and Josie was dozing against my arm when I lightly shook her.

"Come on, I'm gonna bring you home." I said.

Josie climbed to her feet slowly and rubbed at her eyes as I pushed off of the couch.

"I'll be right back, just gonna bring Josie home." I told Joe and May before grabbing Josie's hand and leading her to the door.

I helped her into her jacket before slipping on mine and then stuffing my feet into my sneakers. We walked out of the house and I grinned at the snow that was beginning to fall. I loved winter, it was beautiful.

"You're family is really nice Jack." Josie said softly as we were driving back to her place.

"Mhm." I hummed and I looked over at Josie quickly. Her red hair fell into her pale face and her pink lips were curled into a small smile that was adorable. "You're beautiful, you know?" I said softly.

My words took her by surprise and she turned the same shade as her hair. "Thank you Jack."

"Mhm." I said before turning back to the road.

When we got to her place I walked her up the stairs and to her door. After she unlocked the door she turned around and stared at me.

"Thank you for taking me to meet your family."

"No problem, you can just return the favor." I said and she seemed to get paler.

"No, I don't think so but thank you. Good night." she said and before I could even react she had leaned up on her tippy toes to press a kiss to my cheek and then she slipped into her apartment, shutting the door softly behind her.

I stood there in shock for a moment, my hand pressed to my cheek where her lips had been seconds before. It seemed like Josie was just full of surprises tonight and I grinned widely before turning and walking down the stairs. Maybe we would be more than just friends who are having a kid together one day…..