It's Your Baby by Belén Domínguez (book recommendations for teens .TXT) 📕

who could possibly be. I grabbed it and then checked the caller ID.

 

Austin.

 

Crap. . .

 

What can he possibly want?

 

I was hesitating, debating if I should press answer or not. . .He might just want to chat, and I ignore him he will think that I'm avoiding him. Which is probably true, but he can't know that. . .

 

I shook my head and decided to answer. “Hello?”

 

“Hey Gwen” he said cheerily.

 

“What's up?”

 

“Just wanted to see how were you doing? I mean, you did get out of school early. . .”

 

“I'm fine, I promise, I just talked to the principal about this pregnancy thing and well, yeah I left”

 

“Really? And how are you feeling?”

 

“Honestly? Like crap” I said which made me laugh.

 

“Anyway, I'm sorry if I'm bothering you right now, but I truly wanted to hang out with you. . .”

 

I don't want to, but I feel like if I deny he might think that things are still awkward between us and that I am doing the impossible to ignore him. But I'm tired too. . .And also don't want to sound like a lazy ass. God, this is hard.

 

“Umm—”

 

“It’s alright, you know? I-I can call—”

 

“I was going to say that I would love to hang out with you” the words blurted out of my mouth before I stop to think.

 

“Really!? Awesome! I'll go by your house in like. . .Is okay fifteen minutes?”

 

“Sure” I sighed, but a smile crept to my lips, his happiness contagious.

 

“Perfect, see you in a bit!” he said and hung up. I let go a heavy sigh and leaned my head on the headboard. I stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. I don't want to go out, I'm too tired for that. But it would be nice to go out with him; I mean, we are friends after all.

Chapter 35 - A not-so Romantic Way

15 minutes later—like Austin had confirmed—I heard a loud horn outside at my driveway. I quickly grabbed my purse and rushed outside. There stood him, leaned on his car with arms folded. He was wearing and red t-shirt from Gap, khaki pants, ray ban sunglasses, and his dark blonde hair was messy with the typical I-don't-care look, but that he can rock out perfectly.

 

He grinned when his gaze fell on me. “Hey there, someone is looking great”

 

I laughed. “Really? I believe those dark sunglasses don't allow you to see very well”

 

“Oh come on, I was being nice, that loose gray shirt and sports pants look damn good”

 

“Thanks” I replied sarcastically. He opened the door for me so I could get in. I buckled in while he was entering the driver's seat. When we got out of my driveway, he turned on the radio. The sweet melody of the song: Sad Song by We the King started feeling the car.

 

“So” I started, fidgeting with my fingers. He acts like the kiss never happened, and I hate it that I can't stop thinking about it. I mean, I don't even know why I let it happen in the first place. “Where are we going?” I asked.

“It's a surprise” he grinned widely. I let go a frustrated sigh.

 

“Ugh! Nobody ever wants to tell me where we're going, everything needs to be ‘be a surprise’, I'm starting to get pretty annoyed by that” I pouted while crossing my arms across my chest. He laughed and glanced at me briefly before turning back to the road.

 

“You can't be patient for a few minutes?”

 

“Nope” I replied, popping the p.

 

“Well, you'll have to in order to find out. . .”

 

I rested my forehead against the window, the sky was so blue; it was indeed such a beautiful day here in L.A. The trees were passing by, and the radio was playing such soothing sound, I almost fell asleep. It seemed like forever when Austin finally killed the engine.

 

I stared at him, he wasn't moving, he just smiled at me. “Now you're going to tell me where are we?”

 

“Sure, let's go” he said and got out of the car. I did the same and followed him. I was soon met by beautiful flowers and a crystal clear blue water. I gasped, admiring how amazing this sight looks.

 

“I love coming here in my free time. . .I can be myself and do whatever the hell I want. I've noticed you've been so stressed with this baby thing. I know that you might be feeling like you can't escape the laughter from our classmates, the tiredness, not even from the complications with your family”

 

“How do you know I have complications?” I asked furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.

 

“You're 17 and pregnant, I don't think they're dancing around with flower crowns in their heads, singing songs and hugging everyone. . .” he said which made me laugh.

 

“You're right, I've been fighting with them so much lately, especially with my big brother”

 

“That's why I brought you here. . .I won't you to relax and forget about them for a little while. Think of nice things and happy endings. Take a deep breath, and try your best to smile”

 

I did as he said. I felt slightly better, but that stinging pain of constant drama was still lingering around in my head. Although this was such a nice gesture of him.

 

I opened my eyes and looked at him, he was staring at me. The sun was setting down, leaving a very particular color in the sky. “Thanks for doing this, but. . .Why?”

 

“Why what?” he asked, confused.

 

“Why are you being so nice to me? I mean, we hardly even know each other. And you know I'm pregnant. Don't you think I'm a slut?”

 

“What? No! Of course not. How can you ask something like that?” he asked with a frown while taking one step towards me. "I would think you're a slut. Yes, I almost don't know. . .But what I is that you're a sweet, strong, and amazing girl” he said and caressed my cheek. “And very beautiful” I exchanged looks from his eyes and dropped it to his lips, he did the same. I never noticed his eyes were so pretty. They weren't as intense as Finn's, but they were indeed stunning.

 

“What are you thinking?” he asked, it came out kind of breathless.

 

“I-I don't know. . .What are you thinking?”

 

“How much I want to kiss you right now” he leaned in, our breaths were mixing. I couldn't kiss him, not again. Finn's face popped up. His toothy grin and cute dimples looking so cute. Austin stopped before, which made me look in his eyes. “But then I remember, that I can't because you don't want to, I guess. . .” he sounded sad and disappointed. But he didn't back away, he kept his face just mere inches from my lips. One leaning, and I'll be kissing him. Why aren't I pulling away? I don't love him, yeah, he is handsome and very sweet, but I don't love him. More importantly. . .I can't kiss him.

 

“Austin” I whispered. He rested his forehead against mine.

 

“I didn't bring you here to force you into kissing me. But I did want to be honest with you and tell you what has been on my mind since the day I met you”

 

“I'm sorry” I finally pulled away. “I don't want to hurt you”

 

"You're not hurting me, Gwen. Is not fair that I put you through this when it’s obvious you have feelings for someone else. It would hurt me if you would kiss me out of pity. I brought you here so you can be free, even if it’s just for one day. But instead I told you straightforwardly what I've been wanting to do” he chuckled and looked down at his fingers. “I'm sorry”

 

I raised my hand and touched his cheek, caressing it delicately, “You don't need to apologize Austin, it's totally fine”

 

He smiled sadly at me. “You're not mad?”

 

“No, why would I be mad?”

 

“Because, maybe—”

 

“Maybe nothing. . .I'm not mad, in fact, I think is very sweet of you in bringing me here” I smiled reassuringly at him. He sighed in relief and then smiled back.

 

“Thank you, and well. . .I hope everything is good between us, even though I almost kissed you a second time” he chuckled nervously.

 

“Of course everything's okay” I said and hugged him, he hugged back but even tighter. When we pulled away, we stared into each other's eyes. “I actually feel much better. Thank you for showing this amazing place, is beautiful”

 

“Like you” he commented, which made me give him a look. He raised his hands up in defeat and smiled innocently.

 

“I know; I know. . .Friendzoned” he said which made me laugh. I punched his arm playfully and then tried to sit on the ground, keyword here: ‘Tried’.

 

“You okay?” he asked while sitting next to me.

 

I nodded. “This baby is not helping at all” I replied. He stared at me with understanding and concern. I let go a heavy sigh, and briefly placed my hand on my stomach.

 

“I'm so sorry that you're going through this. . .It might suck to be like this”

 

I nodded. “Thanks for showing me your concern, but I'm fine. This does sucks, but there's nothing I can do to avoid it from happening”

 

“Have you thought of having an abortion?” he asked which made me look at him with widened eyes. I shook my head repeatedly.

 

“I won't kill him or her. . .I can't have an abortion, even if that would solve my problems. . .I've been always against that method, and I won't use it in a human being, I can't. . .”

 

“I understand, Gwen, believe me I do. . .But, don’t you think is your ticket to go out?”

 

“An abortion is something I won't do, Austin, I won't”

 

He nodded once again and pursed his lips in a tight line. I sighed, and put a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know, that an abortion could solve everything, could be my ticket out, I wouldn't have to go through birth labor. . .But, we're talking about the life of a child that isn't even born, that doesn't have the fault for any of this”

 

“I know, I just thought that maybe—”

“I'm not like that, I will have it. . .The problem is: What I will do when he or she is already here?”

 

“I'm sure you will find the correct answers along the way. . ." he said reassuringly. "May I hug you in a very friendly not-romantic way?” he asked, making puppy eyes. I rolled my eyes playfully, but couldn't help the smile that crossed my face.

 

“I would be mad at you if you didn't” I said and hugged him. He hugged me tightly, caressing my back soothingly.

Chapter 36 - We Should Keep Moving Forward