My Dearest Friend

That's right: You're a daddy now. (8)

Eh, how do you tell someone you’re pregnant?

Like the father?

Or the Elder’s?

What will Melvin say?

I ask myself this as I walk up the steps to his house.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I’m making a scenario in my head:

I’ll say: “Melvin I’m pregnant.”

He’ll say: “YES! I’ve wanted this entire life. To be a father at sixteen, you know?” With a lot of sarcasm.

I’ll say: “I’m proud to be the mother! Since you know, I’ve been in love with you since we were like two.”

He’ll say: “I’m in love with you, too, Hannah.”

Then we’ll hug and kiss passionately and it will all be well.

“Han?” Melvin asks, confused.

His voice brings me back to reality and what I came here for.

“Hey,” I say weakly.

“What brings you here? Is everything okay?” I wish.

“Uh, I wouldn’t say they’re okay but I have something important to tell you.” I say. “Can I come in?”

He nods and opens the door wider. “Come in. No one is home.”

Right, it’s Tuesday. Everyone’s is working.

I make my way in to the living room and sit down.

Tangle my hands. Untangle them. I’m nervous.

Tangle.

Untangle.

Tangle.

Untangle.

“Spit it out, Han. Clearly, you’re nervous.” Melvin says. Of course he knows. The guy is my best friend.

I’m pregnant.

“I don’t know how to tell you this. . .” I start. “I went to the doctors just this morning and he had some interesting things to say.” I looked at the floor. I couldn’t look at him in the eyes.

“Like what?” Melvin asked, sitting down across from me.

“He said that. . .” I can’t say it.

“What?” Melvin pressured.

“That I am. . .” I can’t.

“Yes…?”

“Pre-“ Can’t.

“Hannah!” Melvin hissed angrily.

I flinched at his loud voice.

“I’m pregnant.” I whispered.

“Que?” Melvin asked in Spanish.

“I’m pregnant.” I said more loudly. I looked up to see Melvin’s face fall apart.

His brown eyes went wide and his tan skin went pale as a vampires.

He started to shake his head from side to side. “No. That can’t be possible.”

That enraged me. “How is that not possible? We had sex!” I puffed.

His eyes found mine and they filled with anger too. “I used a condom. I’m not ready to be a father. Especially at the age of sixteen! I’m not gonna be on one of those MTV shows! I have my whole life ahead of me!” He yelled.

“Do you think I wanted any of this?! Did you think I wanted to get raped by you?! To have you reject me like I’m some slut that just got knocked up?!” I scolded.

His eyes soften at the word rape but they also held shame and grief. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of that.”

Liar.

“Of course you did. You don’t have to lie. And that’s not what I came here for. I’m not gonna ask you to marry me or anything. We’re Jehovah Witness’s we’ll figure it out, with the help of God. I came because you have the right to know. And also because I wanted to tell your parents but since they aren’t here it will be in another day. And because we need to tell the Elder’s”

He sighed. Heavily. “You’re right. We’ll figure it out.”

He got up and reached for my hand.

I took it and got up.

He pulled me in a hug. A strong one at that.

We stayed like that for what seemed like forever.

“Can I, uh, touch your belly?” Melvin asked, shyly.

I smiled. “Yeah.”

He crouched down on his knees and touched my belly.

It took my breath away.

Melvin smiled.

“What do you think it will be?”

Eh, men. One minute they’re furious the next they’re ecstatic.

And they say we have mood swings.

I repeat: MEN.

“I think it will be a girl.” I hear my self say, grinning.

“I’m gonna be a daddy,” He says in disbelieve. Still touching my belly. Making me feel all tingly inside.

“Yes,” I say.

He grins up at me and just for a fraction of a second I left myself think that Melvin and I can be together.

Just for a moment.

But that’s all I need.

A moment.