Blue Lines
1584 Words
"I'm pregnant!"
*** A while later: I'm digging into my ice cream, seeking comfort. "What are you going to do?"
"I still can't believe it. I didn't plan for this!"
"It's like that sometimes."
"Yeah, but this is bullshit. I'm not ready for this. What if my bump starts to show? What am I going to tell my mom?"
"Should I call Mike? You guys were together, he might know what to do."
"Go ahead. I think I need all the help I can get."
"Okay, I'm texting him."
*** A few moments later: "He agreed to meet us at the diner."
"Okay, great."
Hailey smiles and puts her phone awkwardly in her purse.
"What's wrong?"
"I just... remembered how I ended up with Mike, and it's... it's something I'm not proud of."
"The past doesn't matter. What matters is that you're happy now."
"I wish it's that simple, but guilt doesn't make me happy. I was a shitty friend."
"Well, if you want to cry on the past, we're in the perfect place."
"I hate you."
"Shouldn't I be the one who hates you?"
"Ouch."
"By the way, we should actually go to the diner to meet Mike."
"Ah, yeah. Almost forgot."
"How could you? He's your boyfriend."
"Relax. I just forgot about calling him to meet us."
"That was a joke."
"I know."
After we waited for him, he finally shows up. "I don't know how to break this to you, but I'll try to get straight to the point."
"I don't like where this is going."
"Jalissa is pregnant. You're going to be the father."
"What the f**k?!"
"What?!"
"That's impossible!" He turns to me.
"How is it possible that you didn't notice it earlier? It's been forever since we slept together. I'm sure the baby is not mine."
"Hailey got it wrong. Mike... the baby... you're right."
"Wait, are you sure about that?"
"Yes, you heard her."
"Jalissa, you should be honest. I don't want you to pretend like it's not his just because you're my friend."
"I'm sure about it. It couldn't be Mike."
"Thank god!"
"What? Really?"
"You really thought it's his? Is that why you've been acting funny today?"
"Well, yes!"
"No, Hailey."
"I'm 100% sure it's not mine. If I got you pregnant, it definitely would be showing."
"Yeah, true. But if it's not Mike, who?'
"I think... uh... It's kind of messed up."
"Oh, come on!"
"I guess I should just tell you the truth." The father of my baby is... my mom's boyfriend. His name is Damon."
"Wow. The hot guy from the gym?"
"Seriously? This makes even less sense than your pregnant with my kid."
"I know. My mom can't find out."
"Don't worry. We'll support you. Right, Mike? We can babysit, right?"
"Sure. I can even pretend the baby is mine if you wish... at least for a while."
"And if you need to talk or need anything, I'm here."
"Thanks. I feel so lucky to have you guys." I try to pull through the stress. It's nice to have friends... even if one of them is my ex.
"There's one condition."
"What is it?"
"You're buying us dinner."
"Oh."
"Just kidding!" Hailey grins before she orders her food.
"Just ignore Hailey."
"Okay, I guess we'll split the bill as usual?"
"Yep."
We laugh and talk about what to do if mom kicks me out. Joking helps, but I can't avoid this forever.
*** Later that night: Mom probably won't be back yet. This is my chance to talk to Damon. "Damon?"
"Yeah?"
The moment I look at him, it sinks in. When I talked about this with Hailey and Mike, I was in shock. But now, with the father of my child standing in front of me, I feel like I can't breathe.
"Jalissa, are you okay? What's wrong?"
"I, um... can we talk for a minute?"
"Sure."
"Okay."
Damon sits on a chair and I sit next to him. I can't do this. What if he's scared? "Jalissa... I can't read your mind, but you can tell me whatever it is."
The way he looks at me, I know I can trust him. "You know... You probably noticed how I've been feeling for the past few days."
"I did. Is everything okay?"
"Well, it depends on how you take it."
"What do you mean?"
"I know why I haven't been feeling good. I decided to take a pregnancy test and it turns out that... I'm pregnant."
Damon can only look at me, shock clearly shown. But before he can respond, mom bursts in. Ugh, this is the worst timing ever!
Damon and I move away from each other. Mom looks irritated. "My meeting was cut short, so I have to reschedule. Good night, you two!" She speaks without looking at either one of us. Damon recovers from his shock enough to look at my mom.
"Kara? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I don't want to talk about it right now."
She walks out of the room, leaving us alone. "Did you smell that?"
"Huh?"
"When she walked past us, she reeked of cologne and alcohol."
"Yes, I noticed. I thought it was just my mind."
"Well, my suspicions make a lot more sense now."
"Do you think she's having an affair with someone?"
"I do. Probably with Frank, right?"
He looks resigned more than hurt. That's a good sign! "Come on. Let's go somewhere more comfortable."
He takes my hand and leads me in the living room towards the couch. "So, umm... what you just told me before she barged in... I... wow. I'm speechless."
"I know. It feels like a dream. Or... a nightmare?"
"Definitely not a nightmare. Not to me." He looks at me in the eyes, his question unspoken.
"I'm keeping this child, Damon."
He smiles, relieved. "You know... I'll be here for you, no matter what. Even if you don't want me to..." Before he can say anything else, I cut him off with a kiss.
"I want you. I need you... to help me stop feeling scared."
"Jalissa... I can't even imagine how you're feeling right now. Maybe we should talk about the baby? I'd love to help you relax and make your pregnancy less scary. What do you think? We could cuddle, talk about our plans and I'll take care of you until you get tired of me."
"I'll never get tired of you."
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes. I think that's a great idea." I lean my head on Damon's shoulder as we cuddle on the couch and I close my eyes, imagining a perfect life with him. "Can you imagine how easy things could be if we lived together? Just the two of us?"
"That would be amazing. My condo is smaller, but it would be a good start, It doesn't have to be a big house."
"I bet you'll need a big garage."
"You're right. Thanks for reminding me of that. And about the baby... Do you have any name ideas?"
"I don't know. How about you?"
"I would like to call her Lily."
"Who says it's a girl?"
"You're right, sorry. I just have a feeling that we'll have a girl." Damon smiles at me before he wraps his arms around me. He gently caresses my stomach as he softly talks. "Can you imagine how our baby would look like?"
"Amazing, because I'm their mom." He chuckles. "Why are you laughing? Don't you agree with me?"
"Of course. I can already imagine the baby having your eyes." He lifts my chin, so my eyes meet his.
"Well, I can imagine the baby having your nose and hair. So beautiful."
"And I hope we can raise our kid into someone with a beautiful personality."
"I hope so. I hope they will be as patient and hardworking as you."
"And I hope they will be as kind, caring and intelligent as you." Damon looks at me for a moment before he kisses me. "I love you. Have I ever said that before?"
"It doesn't matter. Say it again."
"I love you, Jalissa. I've fallen in love with you, and I know it's real. It's permanent. I want to be with you."
"It that... just because of the baby?"
"No. The baby is just the encouragement I needed to let go of my fears. But now I feel more confident than ever. And I know you're going to be a wonderful mother."
"I'll try and I hope we can be great parents together."
"We will."
"Oh and Damon?"
"Yes?"
"I love you too."
He looks excited, his face lit up like a little boy and kissed me again. However, his smile slowly fades and he looks at me with a desperate stare. "You know... It sucks that reality is not as perfect as our imagination."
"What do you mean?"
"I know we both have great plans on what we'll do as parents. But for us to take care of the baby properly, we need to come clean with our relationship. And we need to do that soon. I want to be able to be by your side whenever you need me."
Before I can say a word, the doorbell rings and Damon and I get away from each other.
"At this hour? Were you expecting someone?"
"No."
"Me neither."
We look at each other in confusion. "Don't worry, I'll get it."
I open the door, and... "Umm..."
It's my dad, looking nervous. "Dad?"
- Writer
