Chapter 15- Baby Steps
It's Sunday and Stephanie is lying in bed with Paul. Paul and Stephanie are at Paul's house. She slept over this weekend because Paul's parents wanted to spend time with her. "Hey Paul" Stephanie said. "Yeah baby" replied Paul. "Can you believe in just four months, a little girl will be looking up at us?" said Stephanie as she rubbed her belly. Paul wrapped his arms around Stephanie and cuddled up. Paul used his right hand to rub her belly. To be honest, he couldn't believe it. A baby! A baby girl! A baby girl that is his will be out of Stephanie's stomach and in his arms. He looked into Stephanie's eyes and replied. "No, I can't believe it! I am going to have a baby girl calling me daddy. That's a lot to think about" said Paul. "I know but I know you are going to be a great father!" said Stephanie as she put her hand on top of Paul's hand that was resting on her tummy. "I hope so." Paul replied. "I know so!" replied Stephanie. Before Paul could reply, his mom walked in. "Hi, you two! How are you this morning?" asked Pat. "Fine Mrs. Levesque, we're just talking about some things" smiled Stephanie. Pat looked between Paul and Stephanie and felt the awkwardness in the room. "Oh, well I hope I wasn't interrupting anything!" replied Pat. Paul and Stephanie shook their heads. "Good! I just came to tell you that breakfast is ready! Since you are eating for two now, we thought we get breakfast started early. Also, after breakfast, you and I will go shopping!" replied Pat. Stephanie looked at Pat and then at Paul. Paul was looking away from her. She smiled at Pat and replied. "I would like that! Can I talk with Paul for a minute please?" asked Stephanie. "Of course, see you both in a few!" replied Pat as she exited the room. As soon as Pat left, Paul got up from the bed. "Are you okay?" asked Stephanie. "Yeah, I just… I don't know how to explain it!" said Paul as he ran his fingers through his hair. "What do you mean?" asked Stephanie. "I don't want you to get mad but this just feels so weird and awkward. I just still can't get my head around the fact that my life went from my parents shopping for me to shopping for my girlfriend and baby. How did my life go from party guy to staying with my girlfriend all night and talking about baby names? Now before you get upset, I'm not saying I am backing out or that I don't want our daughter. I am just saying it's a lot to take in. I don't know how you became so cool with it so fast. I'm 17 and going to be a senior in a couple of months. You are 15 and going to be a sophomore is a couple of months. How is it that your high school life has just began and you are cool with it being totally turned upside down by a baby?" asked Paul. Stephanie felt tears well up in her eyes. Paul said he wasn't backing out but he sure as hell is talking like he is. "That's because I'm not completely cool with becoming a teen mom in my first year of high school. I feel like I'm living a real-life version of Secret Life of the American Teenager! I hate walking down the halls at school because I feel people will talk about me. They will call me slut, whore or any other hateful name in the book. I can't even wear my regular clothes because my belly is starting to show! It's either wear loose clothes and people say you are getting fat! Or wear tight clothes and everybody will start talking about me being pregnant. I don't like the fact I am 15 and pregnant but I accept it because I don't want 9 months of depression and 18 years of pain and regret. I just want to live my life and get on with all this. I just ask you do the same" replied Stephanie as she stood up and held Paul's hands. Paul looked down at their hands and then to her eyes. He wanted to say he could do that but he just didn't know how. "I will try Stephanie because I don't want a life full of regret either, but as of right now it feels like its heading down that road" replied Paul. "I know, and we can get through this together! Please, just try to forget about the past Paul. Don't keep thinking about the party animal, male-whore, who didn't care about nothing but himself. Think about the future Paul, who will be a great friend, boyfriend and father" Stephanie said as she caressed his cheek. Paul nodded and leaned down to kiss her. They kissed for a while before heading downstairs to eat.
Few hours later, Stephanie was headed to the store with Pat while Paul stayed back with Paul Sr. They just pulled into the store Mothers and Me. "Are you ready sweetie?" asked Pat. Stephanie nodded and opened the car door. While walking towards the store, Stephanie started to get nervous and stopped. Pat noticed Stephanie stop and turned to ask her what's wrong. "Stephanie, what's wrong? Are you scared to go in?" asked Pat. Stephanie nodded. "I don't think I am ready to wear mommy clothes! I will just buy some loose shirts" said Stephanie as she turned around. "No, Stephanie! You need to wear these clothes! Don't let people get the best of you! Soon those loose cloths will be no help once that belly hits 6 months! You need to get use to Maternity Clothes" replied Pat. Stephanie shook her head. "I don't want to! Please don't make me! When I become 6 months, I will come back just please don't make me get them now!" begged Stephanie. Pat looked at Stephanie and shook her head. "I can't do that! You are just going to have to suck it up and wear them. It won't feel so bad and they will be really cute. Just try them out! School is tomorrow and you will need more clothes than just the same loose shirts!" said Pat. Stephanie nodded and walked into the store. Pat made Stephanie try on many Maternity Outfits. When Stephanie was trying on her last one, she heard her name being called. She looked in the direction of the voice and felt the air come right out of her. "Stephanie, is that you? I never knew you were pregnant! My friends and I always thought you were gaining a little weight but never this! Wow! I guess I should've known! Especially with all the people you hang out with. Congrats! By the way, freshman sluts always are the first ones to be bringing a baby to their graduation. Guess you became one of them" said Maryse. Maryse was a popular junior girl at Greenwich High. Maryse's group of friends hated Stephanie's group of friends. Maryse was known for passing rumors and she knew this one would be one of them. Stephanie felt tears in her eyes as she watched Maryse walk away with her mom and leave. Stephanie looked at Pat and Pat nodded. Pat bought all the items and some little girl cloths too. After buying all the items, Stephanie and Pat drove back to Pat's home. When they pulled into the driveway, Stephanie ran into the house. Paul saw Stephanie enter. Before he could speak to her, Stephanie ran upstairs crying. Paul noticed she was crying and followed her upstairs. When he walked into his room, he saw her curled up on the bed crying. "Baby, what's wrong? What happened while you and my mom were out? Please tell me!" begged Paul. "I am a slut Paul! I am nothing but a whore. I hate myself!" cried Stephanie. "How could I be so stupid? Why did I have sex with you? Why did I go over that night? Why didn't you wear a condom? Why Paul?" cried Stephanie. Paul felt tears roll down his cheeks as he cuddled with Stephanie. He let Stephanie cry in his arms as they cried together. "Stephanie, you are not a whore, slut or anything like that! You are the most beautiful, intelligent, and respectful girl I know! You respect yourself which makes you not a whore! Trust me; I have been with girls who didn't care who or what they slept with! I know you had sex with me because we fell in love and it felt right. I know that because it felt right to me too! I don't know why I didn't use a condom that night. I was more focused on you than the other things at hand. I love you and this baby. I know I had my doubts but now I am getting used to our baby girl. You are supposed to be helping me with this pregnancy thing, not pushing me away from the idea" joked Paul hoping to make her laugh. When Paul heard a little giggle, he smiled and kissed Stephanie's cheek. "Thank you, for making me feels better Paul. Tomorrow is going to make me feel so much worse though" smiled Stephanie. "Why do you say that?" asked Paul. "Today, I ran into Maryse. The bad thing is I ran into her at the Mommy and Me store. She was there with her mom and said some hurtful things before leaving" cried Stephanie. Paul nodded and finally understood why she was so hurt right now. "Maryse is a bitch! Don't let her get you down! If she does anything to you while I am there, will kick her and her boyfriend's ass just because he is with her! I mean that!" said Paul as he kissed her. Stephanie kissed back and the kiss became deeper. Before the kiss became too heated, Paul pulled back. "What's wrong?" asked Stephanie. "I don't want to hurt the baby!" replied Paul. "You won't hurt her!" said Stephanie. "Well I will feel weird if our daughter's first view of me was my penis!" laughed Paul. Stephanie couldn't stop laughing. "The baby will not see your penis! I can assure you that but I need to pee, so excuse me!" laughed Stephanie as she ran to the bathroom. Paul watched as she ran to the bathroom and then returned. She jumped on the bed with Paul and kissed him again. "Are you ready this time?" asked Stephanie. Paul nodded and they spent the next few hours making love to each other.
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