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

When Austin dropped me off, I waved at him goodbye and walked to my front door. I saw Alec plopped down on the couch. He noticed me and stood up abruptly. “Where were you!? I was worried sick”

“Oh you know, I was getting high with some friends I have from the alley, then we stole a car and started escaping from the police, we went to jail and my friend from the drug store bail us out. . .You know, my typical way of living” I said jokingly.

He gave me a look and crossed his arms across his chest. “I'm serious”

"I was with a friend. . ." I replied and walked to the fridge. I found a left overs of a chocolate cake my mom had prepared. I smiled and started searching desperately for a spoon.

“What friend?”

“Do you like interrogating me every time I cross that door? Jesus Alec”

“I'm worried for my sister. I just hope you weren't hanging out with you know who”

“He has a name you know”

“His name tastes sourish coming from my lips. I feel like puking”

“You're being so rude right now” I said and kept eating my cake. it was so good. I heard him chuckle, which made me look up at him. He walked towards my direction until he was in front of me. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as he raised his hand up to delicately touched the side of my lip with his thumb.

"I can't take you seriously when you have chocolate all over your lips" he said. I playfully glared at him, but couldn't help but laugh.

“I'm sorry if I'm always asking where you've been, I just—”

“Care about you” I finished for him.

“Exactly, and you should feel thankful that you have a brother that actually cares enough and protects you. I love you, G. You're my baby sis. . .You can be 17, 20, 30, even freaking 40. . .And I will still call you my little princess”

I couldn't answer to that, I feel like if I do, I will end up crying. He is my big brother and I love him; I love him so much.

“I love you too, Al. And you will always be my big brother, no matter what. It doesn't matter how much time changes, I won't stop being your little princess. But, you also need to trust me, and know that I can take care of myself. I need your support 100%, I can't do this alone. . .”

“And you won't be alone, that's for sure. I don't want you to grow up so fast, I feel like I'm losing you. Where did the time go, huh? I can still remember when we used to grab all the bed sheets in the house, and build a tent inside our living room using the chairs as support”

I nodded, smiling at the memory. “Childhood goals”

He chuckled. "You said it, sis" he hugged me tightly. We heard the door clicking open. We pulled away just to see our parents walking towards us.

“Hey guys, how was your day?” my dad asked while placing his suitcase on one of the couches.

I exchanged some looks with Alec before turning back to our expectant parents. “Good” we said at the same time. I excused myself and went straight to my room. I lied on my bed and stared at the ceiling, briefly glancing at my wall full of pictures. I truly love that wall, all those memories always come rushing to me like lightning every time I take a glimpse from it. I placed both of my hands on my growing stomach. Believe it or not, I'm happy that my parents found out—not in the way they did honestly, that was so bad—you have no idea how much it was killing me not being able to tell them. It felt so awful to hide such thing from them.

I heard my phone ringing beside my nightstand, so I grabbed it and saw the BLOCKED ID. It was Finn. I clicked ‘answer’ and then pressed it to my ear.

“Hey, what's up?” I asked.

“I-well, I texted you a few hours ago, but you didn't answer, I was wondering if you were okay. Where you sleeping or something?”

“Clingy aren't we?” I teased jokingly.

“Funny. Why weren't you answering?”

“I went out. . .” I replied simply, while caressing my stomach. I heard how he was moving and then sitting down where I assume was his couch? Or perhaps his bed?

“With who?”

“Why do you want to know, Grier? Stalker much?”

“I was just wondering, I wanted to talk to you”

“Even though we spend like half the day together stuffing our faces with McDonald's, you still wanted to keep the fun going so you started texting me?”

“Exactly, you see babe? You get it”

I chuckled. “Finn, I just went out with Austin”

“What? Why? What did that blonde boy wanted, huh?” 

“He wanted to hang out, he's very sweet, you guys would get along pretty well”

“Yeah, I don't think so, babe” he said. 

“Why not? Are you. . .Jealous?” I smirked, even though he couldn't see me. He huffed, and I can already see him glaring at his phone. 

“Me? Jealous? Come on, I am not jealous” he said. I giggled and shook my head in amusement. I took a long sigh, trying not to keep laughing.

“Really? Because I would think is really cute if you were jealous” 

“Why?” he asked. 

“Because it would show how much you care about me”

“Sometimes I can't understand girls” he chuckled. 

“Well, sometimes I can't understand guys. . .They're always saying how much they hate when girls are so clingy, and here you are, needing to know where I've been”

“Touché, Gwen, touché”

“Exactly. . .” I smiled “I have to go”

“You need to call Justin?” he huffed. 

“No, silly, I'm tired, I'm going to bed. And thanks for being jealous”

“No problem, beautiful”

We said our last goodbyes and then hung up. I let go a long sigh and stared at the pictures ones again. I covered my face with both of my hands. Is like Alec said: Where did the time go?

 Why can't I go back in time, and avoid of this ever happening. I just wish more than anything that I could change this mistake, that I would never be pregnant. I want my normal life again. I want all those times where I the only thing I had to worry about was homework and school. But I know that what is done is done, and there's nothing I can do about it. . .

A baby is on its way, and the only direction we should go now. . .Is forward.

I started puking. The taste was too unbearable so I puked some more. It felt like I was chocking, my forehead was sweaty, and I was trembling. God, I felt terrible. I wanted to stay in, to avoid going to school, which the thought of actually going only made me want to puke all over again. I went back to bed, crawling into my covers, I glanced at the clock, 6:29 A.M. I groaned and turned the other way around.

“Please, just take me out of my misery” I muttered under my breath. I heard my door creaking, and I didn't need to look to know it was my mom.

“Sweetie? Are you alright?” she asked, her voice full of concern. I groaned once again as a reply. She didn't turn on the lights, so the room was dark. She started walking towards my bed, then sat on the edge. “If you feel like you can't go to school, then don't. . .I understand. Believe me, I was the same way when I was pregnant with your brother and then with you”

I faced her, with some tears on my face. I sat up straight and rubbed at my wet eyes. “Oh, baby” she said and hugged me. “Why are you crying?”

“I don't know, I just feel so emotional, and-and I feel so bad at the same time. It sucks" I said angrily. My mom shushed me, and rubbed at my back soothingly.

“It's alright, just rest, my little angel. . .” she said, and I couldn't help but smiling, it's been so long since she had called me that, it felt so right and sweet to hear her say that.

"Later, we have to talk, but for now. . .Just sleep. I'll call to your school, alright?”

I nodded slowly and rested my head back on the pillow, letting the sleep consume me completely.

• • •

“Gwen?” I heard someone calling me. I groaned and rolled to the other side. My stomach had stopped hurting, but now I had a major headache. “Gwen, wake the eff up!” Yup, its Dani. . .She's the only one that would wake me up like that. My parents would just place a single kiss on top of my head, my brother would just shake me until I open my eyes, which was more effective if I'm honest. I admit I'm kind of a heavy sleeper. There could be an earthquake and I would still be under my covers, hugging my pillow. I opened one eye and glanced at her.

“What?” I asked, my voice hoarse. I saw her folding her arms across her chest. I glanced at my clock on top of my nightstand. 10:15 A.M. “Why aren't you at school?” I asked.

“You missed it, G! We had to leave early, there was sort of an explosion in the lab, and there was gas everywhere. . .We had to evacuate. It was pretty awesome”

“Why would I want to witness the fact that I could've died of poisoning gas? That is just horrible” I said, rubbing my sleepy eyes.

“Perhaps. But you know that in that school, nothing interesting ever happens, you know?" she chuckled slightly.

“I am indeed pregnant, and I haven't seen a line full of pregnant girls in that school, so I believe something unique and interesting happened already, right?”

“You're right, you are unique” she said and took a strand of my hair out of my face. “Anyhow, I called your house since you're obviously not in condition to answer your phone. So when I called, your mom told me you were sick as hell—obviously not using those words—so, as the amazing friend that I am, I brought chocolate ice cream and chick flicks, your favorite combination”

“Thanks, but I don't think—”

“You're eating a bowl full of very cheap ice cream and watch some cheesy movies with me, no excuses. Even if you're on the edge of dying, I want to spend some time with my bestie” she said. I giggled and took the covers off of my body. I looked up at her, and hugged her slowly. She's my best friend, and I love her.

“Of course I will spend time with you. . .The whole day if necessary” I smiled at her reassuringly.

She hugged me back again, “I missed you” she whispered into my ear. “I don't remember the last time we hung out together” I nodded in agreement and grabbed her hand.

“You're right, and I'm so sorry that I let that happen” I said. She nodded