Fall 30

I awoke in a daze. What happened last night…was it real? Or a dream? I didn't want to think about it. The kisses…they were both too sudden and too much, just like my pregnancy! And I was just getting used to that! I felt the baby move a bit, kicking me out of my trance. My stomach growled

"You hungry, baby?" I asked it, looking down, placing my hand on my stomach, slowly getting out of bed, grabbing my bedpost to help me up. I slowly tiptoed downstairs as best as my weight would let me and into the kitchen, grabbing the oven and a plate I slipped a few slices of bread into the oven waiting for it to turn a golden brown as I grabbed a jar of strawberry jam, sneaking a few spoonfuls of the sticky sweet stuff before smothering my toast with it. I sat down at the table, stuffing my face, the jam slightly dribbling down my face as I wiped it off my face with a napkin.

As soon as I was finished I quietly walked back upstairs to get dressed. I didn't want to wake my parents up this early, it was, after all, five in the morning, but I was just so hungry! I could barely eat anymore without the baby pressing up against me.

I pulled out a simple pink baby doll top and a pair of blue skinny jeans (with an elastic waistband) out of my dresser's drawers. I slipped some wooly socks over my feet and pulled a pair of soft furry pink boots over my socks and the ankles of my jeans. I gawked at myself in the mirror, turning slightly to make sure I looked okay. As soon as I was sure I was satisfied with myself, I quietly left the house.

The school was dark and empty as I sat on the stairs. I wrapped my arms around myself shivering. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea leaving without a jacket, after all, winter was tomorrow and from what I heard, it was going to snow.

I felt the baby kick a bit as I placed my hands under my shirt and onto my stomach, trying to keep them as warm as possible.

"Clara? What are you doing here so early?" I looked up into the face of Barrett blinking slightly,

"What am I doing here?" I looked down pondering, "I don't know. I guess I was just energetic and couldn't sleep any longer so I chose to come here…what are you doing here?"

"I'm a teacher here, I came to get my lessons ready." I blushed a bit, feeling dumb for forgetting.

"Why don't you go hang out at my place, I'm sure Leonel would like to see you. You two can talk about the baby." I blushed, I didn't want to see Leonel or Serena after what happened last night, I smiled at Barrett before replying.

"Thanks, Barrett, but I was kind of also on my way to my cousin's manor. I'll try dropping by after school." And with that, I left for the manor, knocking on the large golden doors. My aunt Julia answered with a warm smile on her face.

"Good Morning, Clara! What are you doing here so early?" I had to think of something, quickly.

"I uh…thought it'd be nice to visit with you guys!" I lied, biting my lower lip slightly; fortunately she took it and led me in. The manor was always so bright and vibrant and not to mention the fireplace brought a warmness that I felt my very skin melting off; Julia wrapped a blanket around my shoulder before leading me in front of the fire.

"Oh, Clara! You're freezing! Did you forget your jacket? I swear that pregnancy brain is real!" she exclaimed jokingly, taking my hands, trying to warm them up in her hands, it seemed to have worked for the most part.

A few hours had passed before Max and Leann came downstairs, my uncle seemed overjoyed to see me as he rushed towards me.

"Oh my goodness! Clara! I haven't seen you in two whole seasons! How are you? How's the baby! I'm looking forward to becoming a great-uncle, but you make sure the baby calls me Max and not great-uncle Max, okay?" I blinked a few times taking all of this in before replying,

"Uh…okay." He squealed in delight before giving me a big, but gentle hug.

"How's your mom been?" he asked.

"She's doing great!" I replied he just chuckled.

"Have her come over sometime! Oh! Maybe after the baby is born, you can bring it as well." I smiled a bit and nodded; my eyes gawked over to where Leann was standing as she gathered her books for Mana's class, I clutched my bag and waited.

"Do you want to walk together, Clara?" my cousin asked as I nodded, we each took each other's hand walking out the manor…that's when I saw him; his blue eyes, his golden locks, and that maroon outfit. I wanted to hide; I was so nervous. I felt Leann's hand squeeze mine as I looked over at her concerned face. I felt a little safer with her.

"I'm fine." I whispered in a slight lie. Her brows furrowed.

"Talk to me later?" She asked in a whisper as I nodded. We continued hand in hand until we entered the classroom.

The bell rang as everyone gathered their things, Ms. Mana reminding us to read chapter 25. The doors of the school flew opened. I felt someone grasp my hand as I looked over at Leonel, his cheeks flushed a rosy pink color, before he began.

"Shall I drop you at your house?"

My eyes felt wide, I didn't know what to do, I had to think of something; so I made up an excuse,

"Uh, no, th-that's ok, I have to run a few errands before I go home, but tell you what, I'll try to drop by your house sometime later! Okay?" he smiled a bit and nodded, He looked like such a girl! I'm really hoping the baby is a girl so if it did come out looking like Leonel…I noticed he was skipping merrily to his house. I sighed. I hope he didn't think I was coming over to his house sometime later today. I felt someone tap my shoulder as I looked into Serena's eyes. Damn, this day couldn't get any worse.

"Clara." She began, taking a deep breath. Her eyes held a bit of hurt and sorry as she began to cry, "I am so sorry about last night! I just wanted you to know how I felt about you! I should've just told you! But I didn't know how to tell you! I understand if you hate me now and want nothing to do with me." She began to sob as I placed my hand on her shoulder, pulling her into a big hug!

"You're my friend, Serena! I could never hate you!" I reassured her, she just wiped the tears forming in her eyes before returning my hug.

I knocked on the large golden double doors of the manor, Ceci opened the door.

"Hello, Clara." She greeted me, letting me in. "Do you need something?"

"Yeah…is Leann here?" she nodded.

"She's probably in her room. Shall I fetch her for you?"

"Oh, no…I-I can go up there. We do need to talk about something." Ceci nodded her head as I waddled up one of the sides of the beautiful stairs. I stopped in front of Leann's room and knocked. She peeked out of her bedroom door.

"Oh, Clara! Good, you made it!" and with that she opened her door the rest of the way, allowing my entrance. "Have a seat."

"Thank you." I replied, taking a seat at her vanity mirror.

"Shall I have Ceci bring you a cup of tea?" I blushed.

"N-no, thank you." There were a few seconds of silence.

"Are you going to tell me why you were shaking this morning?" I blushed deeper.

"I was shaking?" I asked.

"Like a scared animal. And the way you were shaking wasn't as if you were cold, either." I took a deep breath, I decided to just tell her only about my situation with Leonel.

"We-well, last night, at Sera and Serena's party, I asked Leonel to walk me home for the night." I saw her nodding as if saying, go on. "Wh-when we reached the front door of the farmhouse he kissed me."

"Ah! So…that made it awkward for you?" I nodded.

"Hm…well, you can't really avoid him. He is the baby's father." I sighed.

"I know…but, I don't know what to do."

"Just go talk to him! For the sake of the baby." I blushed while sighing.

"I'm gonna have to, aren't I?" Leann gave me a stern look. "Fine. I'll go now."

"Good." She helped me up out of my seat as I made my way out of the manor and towards the mayor's house. I knocked on the front door to see Dorothy's hidden face peek out.

"Oh, good evening, Clara!" She said, opening the door to allow me in. "If you're looking for Leonel, he's in his room."

"Thanks Dorothy." I began to walk towards the stairs. I stopped, turning my head to face Dorothy while pointing at the stairs. "Uh, can I…?" I saw Dorothy's lips curl to a smile.

"Go ahead." I began to waddle up the stairs. Considering I was in this situation with her son, she probably didn't care if I went into his room or not.

I knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked again. Nothing. I sighed, opening the bedroom door slightly. I peeked inside to see Leonel was sitting at his desk with his back turned towards me.

"Uh, Leonel?" I asked.

"Gah?!" He exclaimed, throwing something in the drawer of his desk before shutting it quickly. "Cl-Clara! I-I didn't know you were here!"

"I can tell. I knocked several times." I noticed him blushing as I pointed to his desk's drawer. "What were you doing?" He blushed deeper.

"Uh, j-just writing in my journal."

"Ah. It must have been embarrassing." I joked as he gave an awkward, nervous chuckle.

"It kinda was."

"I used to write embarrassing things in my journal as well when I was a kid. I probably still do now."

"I think we all do." We both began to laugh that I had completely forgotten about why I came here, for.

"Anyway, now that I know you're alive. I'm going to get going now."

"Ye-yeah! Take care, Clara!" I left the mayor's house with the cold air from autumn's final night entwining in my hair. I felt change creeping in on me.

The good and the bad.