Since I took so long to update last time, I tried to get this chapter out as soon as possible. I hope all of you like it. :)

Chapter 13: My First Baby Shower

Let me just say that, as cute as kids are, I don't feel any need to celebrate them until they're here. I mean, if someone's pregnant, yay for her, but I don't think all of her friends should be rejoicing until they can see if the kid is even cute or not. I mean, what if the baby was ugly?

That sounds rude. Truthfully, if it was someone I cared about, I'd probably be happier about this, but it's not. Mrs. Glazer, some random lady who works in our school, apparently in charge of some program for gifted students, is going to have her first child, and she asked her class to attend her baby shower. Carly decided to invite me, and by invite, I mean force me to attend. I don't know why, really. She mumbled something about adults, baby names, and soft colors. I'm not quite sure what she was implying, but she trapped me into going.

So, Carly and I will be attending the baby shower for some lady I never met, and to make it even better, Freddie's invited too. Of course, he was invited on his own account, since according to the system that uses grades instead of actual knowledge to judge who's smart and who's not, he classifies as "gifted." Yeah, right.

Carly yanked a brush through my hair. "Owwwww! Stop, stop, stop!" I yelled at her, my head being pulled down with each stroke.

"Hold still, Sam! It'll only take a minute."

There was a faint noise downstairs. "Hello!" Freddie's voice called out. "Anyone home?"

"We're up here. I'm just finishing Sam's hair, we'll be down in a minute." Carly called downstairs.

"You know Carls," I gasped in between brushes, "my hair was brushed when I came over here."

"Yeah, but it still looked horrible."

"I don't even know this lady!"

"She's having a child!" Carly retorted. She's big on babies and helping people. "We're done."

"Finally." I jumped up from the seat and flew down the stairs, only to come face to face with Freddie.

"Sam," he greeted.

"Frednub." I turned away and went to find a chicken leg in the fridge while Freddie stayed in his spot, ready to leave.

Carly finally made it downstairs, and with a final nod of approval that she liked her work on my hair, we filed out of the apartment.

"Carly, Freddie!" Mrs. Glazer enveloped the two in a giant hug, which was harder than usual due to her humungous stomach. "And is this your friend Sam?"

"Yes it is. Sam, this is Mrs. Glazer," Carly introduced us. I shook her hand passively, scoping out a platter of dainty tea sandwiches.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Sam." At least she didn't call me Samantha. After a brief moment of discussion, I made my way to the food.

I piled my plate full of tiny sandwiches. As I reached for a mini ham and cheese croissant, I heard a small voice in my ear, "Maybe it would be best if you ate what was on your plate first, and only what's on your plate. Please Sam, don't get in trouble."

"Fine," I responded, making a mopey face at Carly, "this should be enough. But if I'm hungry, I'm blaming you."

I wandered over to the other side of the room and plopped down on the end of a plush couch. As I ate, I watched the festivities. Each woman who entered fawned over Mrs. Glazer, whose first name I discovered to be Ellen. It turned out that only one other student showed up, which made me even more upset to be there, but my mini sandwiches pacified me.

"Who's ready to play Baby Shower Bingo?" A lady questioned enthusiastically. The rest of the women gathered around Mrs. Glazer and rushed in their huddle to find seats. Even Carly and the other girl who I didn't really know were happily included. Since I'm not big on girly games, I stayed just where I was, continuing to make my way through the snacks.

I stared emptily at the giggling women who waited for "bonnet" or "bottle" to be called so they could be the first to receive a baby-themed present. My attention was forced elsewhere when Freddie sunk onto the couch right next to me.

"Not too fond of baby shower games either?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Nope. Don't get me wrong, cute babies don't bother me, but I just don't get why adults feel a need to celebrate one that isn't even born yet with kiddie games."

"I'm with you on that one. Plus, men aren't even really supposed to be at baby showers, but since I'm the only boy in her program, I think she felt a need to invite me."

"Why'd you accept?" Doesn't he know you can decline invitations?

"Carly. She tried to get our whole program to go. Two girls opted out, but, since I hang around Carly so much, she wouldn't take no for an answer, and my mom told Carly and Spencer she was going out of town so I couldn't even say I was doing something with her."

"Well, it looks like we're both stuck here." I reached for another sandwich.

The day continued and I watched as Carly and the other women played more childish games, squealing with each detail Mrs. Glazer gave about her pregnancy. Freddie and I didn't talk much, but when we did it was usually to make fun of the group.

"Freddie, come over here!" Mrs. Glazer called over to her student. Grudgingly, Freddie got up from the couch, and with one last solemn "help me" glance he approached the teacher and her friends.

It was so entertaining to watch as Freddie was forced to play baby shower games. I don't know if I could have been much more entertained by his silent suffering. It wasn't too harmful, so I didn't feel any bit guilty for my joy. Every now and then I could see him try to get Carly's attention, knowing that he wanted her permission to come back to the couch, but she was too enticed with everything that she paid no attention to his desperate signals.

Eventually, it was present-opening time, and everyone made their way over to the couch. Freddie tried to get away from the group of enthusiastic ladies yet another time, but he was dragged down to the couch. He was directly opposite of me on the curved seat, and I could see the boredom in his face.

Mrs. Glazer started opening her presents, which were just pale-colored objects that she would need for the baby once he or she was born and then never use again. Pointless, really.

"Isn't that just the cutest onezie you've ever seen!" The lady next to me gushed, turning her dazed eyes to my face, her airy voice warming my ear. Before I could answer she had returned her attention to the gift-opening process, looking so excited I thought that she was going to drool.

I picked up my head, curious if Freddie was still as bored as I was. I saw him furtively glance back down, obviously embarrassed because he was probably doing the same thing. He looked back up cautiously, and we exchanged exhausted smirks. I rolled my eyes and he gave a small nod in response. Before our silent conversation could continue, the lady next to me latched onto my arm in excitement, again demanding my attention.

"Oh dear, I must have left my gift in the car!" One of the ladies clutched her purse and stood up, making her way to the door in a flurry of confusion and overexcitement. It was the perfect distraction for everyone, so I allowed myself to go get more food.

I tried to appear as if analyzing all of the treats, but I ended up grabbing one of each and then going back for more. As I reached for a baby-block shaped cheese on a stick, my arm bumped into someone else's.

"I'm- not sorry at all," I finished, seeing who it was. "I didn't realize nubs got hungry too."

"Funny, Sam." Freddie gave me a fake smile. "Truthfully, I'd do almost anything to take a break from that perfume-infused circle of unprecedentedly enthusiastic women."

"Woah there, Benson, that's a lot of big words for one sentence. Didn't do your daily brain stretches yet?"

"It means-"

"I know what it means." I grinned, playfully bumping his side. "I just like teasing you."

He returned my smile and bumped me back.

"Hey," I said in a hushed tone of fake annoyance.

"Don't 'hey' me, Puckett, you're the one who started it." We started a bump war, which turned into more of a tickle war.

"I've got it!" The lady had returned from her car, holding a package wrapped in pale yellow and surrounded by a plethora of bows over her head triumphantly. Freddie and I immediately came to a halt, realizing what we were doing.

Stupid nub, thinks he can start a tickle war with me in the middle of a party. I attempted to give Freddie one last glare as I marched back to my seat, but my sides hurt too much from the tickling and the laughing and all I could manage was a weak twitch in my mouth that, unfortunately, could be taken as either a smile or a frown.

Carly somehow got me to participate in a game of pin-the-baby-on-the-stork. It was my turn, and I was blindfolded, something I was unhappy about because I hate not being in control. I reached out, violently stabbing the piece of paper in my hand throughout the air, desperately searching for the wall. Let's just say this was not my best talent.

The women behind me were all very serious, and I could almost hear their brains trying to figure out tactics. I heard a giggle.

"Carly!" I whipped around, realizing too late that I still couldn't see her. "Don't mock me." I pouted.

Another laugh was added to her giggle. "Frednub, don't you laugh at me either!" I was upset that they were making fun of me, but for some reason, I wasn't that mad. This is a first. I felt Carly's hands on my shoulders as she spun me back around and gave me a small push, helping me to put my pin on the wall. Once I knew that my pin was firmly into the wall I ripped off my blindfold. I actually wasn't that far off from the stork. There were more laughs and I gave my friends a small look of annoyance but tried to hold back a smile myself.

After each woman (and Freddie) had their turn, we returned to the couch. When we sat down, Mrs. Glazer decided to go through the explanations of how she knew everyone in the room. All of the ladies must have been close for a while because if she forgot a small detail form any of their stories, one of the women would pitch in and remind her.

When she finally got around to Freddie, at first she started telling the story to everyone, but apparently it was some funny inside joke among those in the gifted program, and so it became more of a vague explanation and laughing fest for those who understood. While the rest of the ladies entertained themselves in the happiness of the mother-to-be, I was left alone again, trying to find some excitement in a room full of inside jokes and happily gawking women.

Freddie let out a particularly loud chuckle, which made me look up at him. When I did, I suddenly felt as though everyone was watching me. I tucked my head back down in an awkward and rushed motion. I guess no one was looking at me, and suddenly dropping my head would be more attention grabbing, but for some reason, I felt paranoid. What had happened in those past few seconds that made me feel so uncomfortable? It's probably because I was uncomfortable being the one left out to begin with. Probably. It's not like I was nervous or something; there were no butterflies in my stomach; I was just paranoid. But of what? It's like I figured something out subconsciously, but I still can't really understand what it is. Maybe she's going to have an ugly baby and I can feel it. I guess not, after all, I'm not a physic or anything. Look at me; all of my paranoia has made me try to figure it out, making me even more paranoid. Maybe I need more to eat. Yeah, that must be it.

Glancing back up (this time looking around the room to make sure no one was watching me, which they most definitely weren't, (most of them were laughing so hard that they were clutching their stomachs, and some of the ladies were eyeing each other with looks of pride that Mrs. Glazer was so happy), I made my way back to the food table, scooping up a few more finger snacks. Okay, a lot more finger snacks, but details aren't important. I swept my eyes over the group. At least they were having fun; I was fine with my food. Who needs to have friends when you have food? Oh wait; friends give you food, so never mind that. I do appreciate Carly for other things like, like, like… Like brushing my hair, and comforting me, and giving me ham, and saving me from getting expelled, and giving me ribs, and going to Build-A-Bra with me, and controlling my anger, and baking me lasagna- I don't know where I'd be without a friend like Carly. And Freddie, too, I suppose. The nub is a great punching bag. He's kind of helpful sometimes too.

I set my pencil down when I finished adding to my list:

September 15, 2009: My First Baby Shower (Mrs. Glazer – Carly and Freddie's gifted program teacher)

It had been a weird day, and as I tucked my list behind my mirror once again, I reflected on all of the day's events. When I finally drifted off to sleep, I had almost forgotten my paranoia. Almost.

I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, we're nearing a very important one (it may be next), so start getting excited if you're not already! :D

Please review, your comments always make me excited to write. Also, I try to respond to everyone's comments, at least with a thank you, but if I don't send you one, it's not on purpose, it's probably just because the notification email got lost amongst the sea of my other emails.

Thanks again for reading (and hopefully reviewing)! :)