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

and then we both sat down on my couch, my TV in front of me. She put the movie: The Notebook, even though we watched it like a billion times. But I didn't actually care what movie we were watching, I was just grateful that I have such friend as her.

 

When the movie was over, and the ice cream already eaten, I glanced at my clock. 12:09. I let go a heavy sigh, Dani was resting her head on my shoulder; something she always does ever since we were little kids. And that made me think of when we were much younger. . .

 

Everything started when we were just eight years old. I was bracing myself for what was about to come: A new school. Away from everything old and moving to something new. . .Is a huge process, full of new discoveries and in those times for me, more reasons to feel even more anxious and nervous.

 

My palms were sweaty, and my lip was trembling. My mom smiled understandingly at me, probably knowing the reason to why I'm feeling this way. She was caressing my cheek tenderly, then kissed my forehead. "Everything will be alright" she whispered against my forehead before placing a soft kiss on it. I nodded slowly, still quite insecure. I swallowed the lump in my throat and watched my mom walk away.

 

“Alright, class. . .Today we have a new student” the teacher announced. I took a deep breath, ready to pass out. I hold my chest, so I wouldn't collapse. “Come on sweetie, don't be shy” she said in a delicate voice. I nodded and took a deep breath. I slowly walked inside, everyone was staring at me. I gulped the lump in my throat and stared at everyone with their jeans and shirts. I consciously looked down at my pastel pink dress and nervously twisted one of my braids. I heard people snickering and chattering among themselves, all looking and pointing at me.

 

“Hey, nice outfit, freak” blonde girl said while folding her arms. The class erupted in laughter. I blushed and fidgeted with my fingers.

 

“Meredith, enough!” the teacher said loudly. When they started to quiet down, she turned to me. "Why don't you choose a seat—”

 

“Here! Ms. can she seat down here!?” I heard someone screaming desperately. I looked up, just to see another blonde girl said while waving her hands frantically. The teacher chuckled and motioned for me to go ahead.

 

I shyly sat down at the empty chair, placing my princess themed backpack beside me. I glanced at this girl, she was smiling so widely, in a way I didn't even know was possible.

 

“I'm Dani, short for Danielle, but I hate it when people call me that. . .What's your name?” she asked.

 

“Gwen” I replied simply.

 

"I LOVE your dress" she said. I was about to thank her when I felt how someone was pulling one of my braids.

“Ow” I said.

 

“Aw, did it hurt the little baby?” a blonde guy said mockingly.

 

“Don't bother her you butthole! Touch her again and I'll make sure of making you pay” Dani said with a threatening voice, glaring at the bully. How can someone be so sweet in one second and then the other is all tough and scary? The boy raised his hands up in surrender and went back to talking to his friends.

 

“Thank you” I said shyly.

Her face softened and once again was back to smiling. “You're welcome, I hate bullies” she said. Dani sat even closer to my desk, “Something tells me we will be great friends”

 

And that's exactly what we started to be, best friends.

 

9 years of friendship. The best ones actually. . .We supported each other, we consoled each other. Dani is the type of person that will know exactly what to do or what to say during a crisis. If your boyfriend cheated on you or something, she would appear at your front door with a tray full of chocolate brownies and tissues. She understands me, and I understand her. . .She's not only my best friend, she is my sister.

 

“I am so lucky to have you” I whispered while leaning my head on top of hers, since she was still resting hers on my shoulder.

 

“I am lucky too, G. I am so glad that we met”

 

Chapter 38 - Exposed? Gotta Cover the Truth

Dani left like an hour ago. I walked downstairs and saw my mom sitting on the table, along with my dad. “Hey” I said while walking towards them. They stared at me, with an expression I couldn't quite decipher. “Is everything alright?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. They exchanged some looks with each other.

 

“Everything is alright” my mom replied, with a fake smile.

 

“Actually we—”

 

“Is alright” she interrupted my dad.

 

“Are you sure? You don't sound that way, mom” I said and crossed my arms across my chest. Something was going on, and I have to know what it is. She fidgeted with her fingers and then slowly looked up at me, cautiously.

 

"We've-we've been wondering. . ." she started. "We've been wondering if you were still hanging out with-with Finn, you know. . .The father of this baby?" she asked. I looked at my dad, whose face was turned to my mother.

 

I am indeed still hanging with him, but there's no way in hell I'm telling them that, it would just make things worse. I put a strand of hair behind my ear, biting my lower lip. I shook my head slowly. Of course they didn't buy it. I am a terrible liar.

 

“Are you?” my dad pushed. I quickly shook my head. Guess we're going to the lying option. They stared at me suspiciously, not buying it, of course.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yeah, don't you trust me?” I asked, faking hurt. I smiled nervously, swallowing the lump in my throat. I hate lying them, which is something I started doing since the baby news. They both let go a heavy sigh, my mom smiled at me, rubbing her forehead before standing up.

 

“Of course we trust you, sweetie. . .Is just-is just that we're worried, that's all, we don't want you to get more hurt than you already are”

 

“I am not hurt, mom”

 

“Are you listening to yourself right now?” she said, her voice raising a little.

 

“Mom, he didn't hurt me”

“Gwen, I don't know if you can't see it or even feel that growing stomach that has a baby inside. A baby, Gwen. . .That's how he hurt you, by getting you pregnant!”

 

“But mom—”

 

“Are you or are you not hanging out with him. Be. Honest. Please"

 

“I just—”

 

“Answer your mother, Gwen” my dad interrupted me.

 

“This was my mistake too, I agreed to it”

 

“You were drunk; you weren't thinking at all. He obviously took advantage of you”

 

“He was drunk too you know? It was just one single second of irresponsibility. We didn't know it would actually end like this, mom!”

 

“Gwen, please tell me: Are you seeing him, the answer is not maybe nor I don't know; the answer should be either yes or no. So answer, young lady”

 

“No, I'm not seeing him” I obviously lied, since I already saw him multiple times. But, what were you expecting me to do, huh? I know I shouldn't lie, but if they find out I've been seeing him, then they will most likely kill me; that's not only a reality, is a fact for sure.

 

“But—”

 

“I already answered you, mother. . .I have to go” I said and started walking towards the front door.

 

“Gwen wait, please” my parents tried to stop me, but I didn't look back. I closed the door behind me and started walking till I could find a cab nearby. When I did, I told him Finn's address. When I got to his apartment, I rang the doorbell. Seconds later, a boy with black hair with some highlights appears.

 

“Hey” I said while putting a strand of hair behind my ear. He smiled, folding his arms across his chest.

 

“You're Gwen, right?” he asked. I simply nodded and offered him a nervous smile. “I'm Jack Crawford, it's very nice to meet you”

 

“Same” I replied.

 

“Finn! Gwen is here” he called. Moments later, Finn appeared, wearing a plain white shirt with blue jeans. His hair was wet, it seems like he just got out of the shower, and thanks to the light that was coming from the window and hitting Finn's face, his eyes had a brighter spark.

 

“Gwen, hi” he said while hugging me. “What are you doing here?”

 

“I just wanted to visit you, my parents went back to their interrogation and I seriously didn't want to go through that again” I explained. He nodded understandingly, and motioned for me to walk inside.

 

“Gwen!” I heard Skyler scream, she started running towards me, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. Her view dropped to my stomach. “Did you ate a big fat cake before coming here?” she asked which made the boys laugh their asses off. She doesn't know yet. . .Finn, didn't tell her.

 

“You didn't tell her?” I whispered in Finn’s ear. He shook his head and nervously scratched the back of his head.

 

“I don't know how, is not that easy. . .”

 

“I understand that, but I know she's smart enough to remember when I first saw you that I didn't had this big of a stomach that first time I came here”

 

“Sup, Gwen” Hayden said while plopping down on the couch.

 

I waved at him and shyly stood there. There was a long silence until Jack cleared his throat, all eyes were on him now.

 

“I have to go, but I'll see you guys later. . .Nice to meet you, Gwen” he smiled and left. I turned to Finn who was staring at Hayden.

 

“You want me to go too?” he asked, rolling his eyes. Finn nodded and folded his arms across his chest. "But I'm comfortable" he whined.

 

“Now, Hayden. And please take Skyler with you” he commanded. Hayden stood up and grabbed Skyler's little hand, then both of them left, stomping their feet. “Sometimes he acts like a little kid” Finn said and plopped down on the couch. “So, you came to see me?” he asked.

 

I nodded and sat beside him. He smiled at me and put his arm around my shoulder. “I'm glad you came. . .” he said and kissed my forehead tenderly. I rested my head on his shoulder.

 

“Me too” I whispered. With his free hand, grabbed his phone. I stared at his face, he was. . .Frowning?

 

“Is everything alright?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. He quickly put his phone away and nodded.

“Of course, what makes you think something is happening?” he chuckled and hugged me. I shrugged and stared into his blue eyes. 

 

“Well, you were frowning at your phone”

 

“Don't worry about it, babe. . .It was just a-a t-text” he said and gave me a peck on my lips. “Now, let's talk about how beautiful you look today”

 

“Ugh, don't, please. . .I look like a freaking scarecrow” I said, staring at my lap. Finn brought my chin up for me to face him. He leaned in, but didn't kissed me, he didn't touch my lips. He just paused, exchanging looks from my eyes dropping it to my lips.

 

“You're gorgeous” he whispered and then kissed me, making my stomach flutter and heart racing. We spend like half an hour