Teen Mom
Chapter 2 - Moving On
Beth Greene

There's been something I've been wanting to speak to Daryl about for a couple weeks but I'm just not sure how to bring it up. Everyone knows how much I want Daryl and I to be together but I really don't think he wants that so I have met someone who I actually like. His name is David and I know him from school, I know I do online classes now but when he heard that Hunter was in hospital when he was first born he texted me and asked how everything was. David and me started talking on the phone and Maggie watched Hunter whilst me and David went out for ice cream. I wouldn't class it as a date as such but now I have an official date with David and I want to tell Daryl before he hears it from somewhere else, I'm also going to ask Daryl if he could watch Hunter whilst I went out. I know I sound like a piece of shit and I didn't want to go at first because of this but Maggie made me see sense. Daryl doesn't want to be with me, there is no harm in me testing the waters and meeting people. It's not like I'm going to be bringing David around Hunter and making him out to be Hunter's dad.

David and Hunter have never met and I don't really want to introduce a guy into Hunter's life until I'm sure it's going to lead somewhere. I don't want to mess him up. I have a bad feeling about telling Daryl but like I said, I want to tell him myself. I know he won't like it because Daryl doesn't really like anything. Although we're not together he's still protective over me and he does look out for me, I know if I ever get into any trouble then Daryl will be there and he will look after me and help me as much as he can. I'm just worried that me going on this date with David will ruin our relationship and I don't want that. Me and Daryl are really good friends and I trust him with my life, I don't want to argue with him.

The car stopped outside my house and knew I had run out of time and it was time to tell Daryl "Daryl?" I questioned as I got out the car.

"Mmm" He replied.

"Can you come in? I wanna talk to you about something" I said.

"Sure" He answered and got out of the car.

Daryl grabbed Hunter whilst I got the buggy and the three of us went into my house and into the living room. Daryl took Hunter out of his car seat and picked him up, Hunter was relieved to be out of his car seat. He didn't like it very much as he didn't have a lot of space to move around. I busied myself putting the push chair away to buy myself another minute or so but then I eventually ran out of things to do.

I sat down opposite Daryl "I need to talk to you and I want you to not get angry or make any assumptions" I said to him and he slowly nodded unsure of what I was about to tell him "I've met someone and he's asked me out on a date this weekend" I told him. There was no point in beating around the bush.

"You've met someone? Where? Every time I ask you say you ain't been out" He accused as if I had just been caught in a lie.

"I know him from school. When news got out that Hunter was ill and in hospital he text me to ask how I was and Hunter was. We started talking on the phone and to be honest I like him" I said "I went out for ice cream with him a few weeks ago and before you ask no Hunter didn't come with us. Maggie watched him for an hour whilst I went. I want you to know that I won't be bringing Hunter and David around each other. I wouldn't do that" I explained.

"You're damn right Hunter won't be goin' round him" He stated angrily.

"We're just going to watch a movie and then he'll bring me home. I can't sit around in this house all day with no one to talk to Daryl… it's driving me crazy. I need to go out and socialise with people every now and again" I told him.

"You want to go and meet lots of guys is what you mean" He accused.

"No it don't!" I exclaimed but because Hunter is here I know I need to calm down "It's one date" I clarified.

"You're goin this weekend? Who's gonna have Hunter?" He questioned.

"Well I was gonna ask if you would have him Saturday night" I said.

"You want me to baby sit so you can go on a date?" He questioned.

"You don't have to, I can ask Maggie" I replied.

"It's Maggie that put you up to this isn't it? She's the one makin' you go out with boys" He said.

"She made me realise that you didn't want me!" I shouted.

Hunter started crying and Daryl started soothing him. Hunter calmed down and Daryl looked at me like he's never looked at me before. A mixture between hurt, sadness and anger. I knew he would be upset about but I didn't think he would be this upset.

"I didn't say I didn't want you. We didn't know each other when you got pregnant. We were tryin' to get to know each other, get ready for a baby and live in the same house all at the same time. I told you we needed to get to know each other and work things out properly before we got together or even attempted being together. I care for you Beth, you know I do. I'll pick Hunter up Saturday afternoon, enjoy your date" He said and stood up.

Daryl kissed Hunter on the head before giving him to me and leaving the house. When the door closed Hunter started crying and reaching his arms out for Daryl to come back. I tried to calm Hunter down but all he wanted was Daryl. Hunter loved his dad very much and it was the same every time, when Daryl drops Hunter off after a weekend visit he would cry, when Daryl leaves the room sometimes Hunter cries. Sometimes I think Hunter loves Daryl more then he loves me, he doesn't get that upset when Daryl picks him up or when I leave a room.

Maybe I should just cancel the date. I should be focusing on Hunter right now not going out on dates with boys. I don't even think David realises what it would be like dating a girl with a baby. I don't have a lot of spare time, I don't have interesting topics to talk about. I just sit in my house day after day doing the same things. It's like I'm a robot. Everything is in routine and I've noticed myself that I'm not the same person I once was. I know having a baby changes things and you have to sacrifice things but I never thought it would be like this.

I put Hunter in his chair and got my phone out my pocket. The only person that would give me true advice is Maggie. I put in her number and pressed the call button "Hey Beth" She said as she answered "Everything ok?" She asked.

I sighed "I'm not sure. I told Daryl about my date with David and he got upset and angry" I told her.

"Did you think he wouldn't?" She asked.

"I thought he would but I didn't think he would be that upset" I stated "I don't think going on this date is the best thing to do" I told her.

"Of course it is! Beth you might be a mother but you're a teenager as well. You can go and socialise with people your own age from time to time. You can go and have normal conversations that don't involve how many ounces of milk is in the bottle or that you need more diapers. It's one date, if you don't like then don't go again but you have to give it a chance" She explained to me.

"Do I seem like a shit mom? Asking the father of my baby to baby sit so I can go on a date" I said to her.

"Stop worrying about other people. Just go and enjoy yourself for a few hours" She told me.

"I don't know Maggie. Daryl seemed really upset about it, he told me that he wanted us to get to know each other more and then think about the two of us getting back together and giving a relationship a try. He seemed so upset that I was meeting someone else" I explained.

"Beth!" Maggie exclaimed "Will you calm down. You're going out to see one movie with someone so stop stressing out so much. You're nearly 17 years old, you're supposed to go on dates with a few boys and test the waters. Just because you have a baby with Daryl doesn't mean you have to dedicate yourself to him if you don't want to" She replied.

I opened my mouth to reply when Hunter started crying "Let me call you back, I just need to sort Hunter out" I told her and we said our goodbyes before hanging up.

I picked Hunter up from his chair and looked at my watch, it was time for his feed. I went into the kitchen with him and put him in his high chair as I started making some jar food for him. This was my routine normally. We sit in the house, I feed him, change him, he naps, I clean, I feed him and change him and this carries on until he goes to bed at night.

Maybe I should go out and just have fun for a couple of hours like Maggie said. Don't get my wrong, I love Hunter with all of my heart but I would love to just go out for a couple of hours and do something. Maggie is right, it is just one movie and I don't have to see David again if I don't want to. I can just tell him that I'm not ready to see anybody and then I will come home and carry on with my life, I am scared in case I fall for David and what would happen. I don't want to be in a relationship with someone right now and I definitely don't want to fall in love with anyone but you can't help who you love.