THE ONLY EXCEPTION (BOYXBOY)

Chapter One: Declan

 "Edward and... Wallace come get your belly and assignment book." She said. When she said their names I immediately looked to Micah. He wore a relieved look on his face. I guess we both did. I mean really... hot onion and garlic. Who wants to sit next to that? After they sat down I got up from my chair and went to the front of the class. I waited for her to give the last of the girls their assignments before stepping forward to get mine.

 "That just leaves you and Micah." She said scribbling in her notebook. After peeling off the sticker she placed it on the inside of the assignment book and handed it to me.
"Micah, grab that last belly for me." She called out. I could hear his chair scraping back against the floor as he stood.

 "Bellies will be worn starting tomorrow but you can try them on now to get a feel for it." Taking the book I headed for my desk. Taking a seat I tried to calm my breathing. This couldn't be happening but somehow it was. Megan's words echoed in my head as I watched Micah advance on me with a belly in hand.

'I know it's difficult but you need to man up.You just need to learn some self-restraint.' Damn you Megan for giving me sound advice. Placing the belly on the table Micah took the empty chair beside me.

 "I can't believe they did this." He muttered. I nodded my head agreeing.
"Why do we have to wear these things anyway? It's not like we can get pregnant for real." He said slouching in his chair. I managed to keep my eyes on my knee caps while he fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. With each tug it made the bottom lift exposing his ab-tastic abs.

 "I only took this class because I needed the elective credits. If I'd known I'd have to be pregnant I would have just joined work studies." I said. From the corner of my eye I saw Micah nodding.
"You got a job?" He asked. Raising my eyes to meet his I chuckled.

 "Yes and no. My dad won't let me get a job. He says I need to focus on school. But after every soccer season he makes me come down to garage everyday after school and on weekends to learn 'good work ethics'. One time I asked him about me getting paid for helping out and he said I was receiving payment in experience.... but my mom gives me a hundred and eighty dollars a week as allowance. At first I thought it was a mistake but she told me it was for the great job I do on the soccer field and keeping my grades up. I really think my mom chewed my dad out for using me as free labor and told him he had to pay me like everyone else." As I literally told Micah my life's history I mentally kicked myself. I was babbling like an idiot.

Finally finding the courage to look him in the face I was surprised. Instead of boredom he had this silly little smile on his face as I talked about my strange family life. As class went on we discussed sports, classes, cars even prom.

 "Katlin wants me to ask her but I... just don't want to. We broke up before summer vacation so we both could be free and all that. We get back to school and she's up under me, scaring away any girl who looks in my direction. Then out of nowhere she says she can't wait for us to become prom king and queen... she's seriously is freaking me out." He said his voice getting real low as if he was trying to keep it a secret.

 "Um... She does seem a lot more... clingy this year." I said somewhat kicking myself yet again. I should really learn to think before I speak.
"I know... wait you noticed that too?" Nodding my head I laughed at Micah's astonished face.

 "Of course I've noticed. The entire school's noticed how batty Katlin's become. My friend Megan says Katlin is just scared that she's already at the peak of her life. She doesn't think she'll amount to much after we graduate so she's holding on to her high school glory." I said repeating Megan's diagnosis.
"That would explain... everything. I'm trying to be nice but she's driving me up a wall. Honestly I can't wait to get out of here." He muttered raking his hands through his hair. I was almost transfixed by the motion.