Oh, Baby! #Wattys2020

Chapter One

Bella sighs quietly, plugging her earbuds in, seconds before the bell rings. She lingers in her seat a few seconds as she waits for her music to play. As the soft voice of Sam Smith rings in her ears, she stands and leaves the classroom, bypassing students coming in for the next class. She vaguely notes that the girl she passes was the girl she had as a lab partner Freshman year. They could have been friends, but back then, Bella was too worried about other things. And she has a weird smell, a mixture of new shoes and some type of cleaner.

The hallways are crowded, too narrow for such a large population. She wonders if there's some law against overcrowded schools. Bella hesitates, waiting for a gap to step into and once she does, it's just moving with a flow, like mechanics. A school of fish swimming in an overpopulated pond. None more important than another, except for the people that part the waters like sharks charging their prey.

Bella pushes to the side with the rest as Hale Nathan and his friends walk down the path created as if they were walking a red carpet. Hale's face is it's usually stoney expression, drawing lingering side glances from curious girls. Bella gives a fleeting glance, catching his silver eyes. They hold for a split second before Bella walks around the corner.

She knows he came here Sophomore year, moving in from out of state. He quickly became the talk of the school. At first for his extremely good luck in the gene pool. Then for how rude he is. And for his refusal to give the needy girls of the school attention. Or really any girl attention. Bella gave him props for that one, because they came in heavy, staking claims on him. Only to be rejected just like the rest. It got to the point where people whispered about him being gay. The rumors were that he and his best friend Omar were lovers. But Omar sleeps around too much.

Now, everyone just knows him as a mystery, untouchable and unsolvable. Admittedly, Bella was curious about him, about the stone face he wears and what could possibly be hidden behind it. But that was everyone, and no one had managed to get through to Hale. And she didn't consider herself special enough. Aside from the fact that he would be trouble for her. Their goals are too alike, he wanted to be left alone, and so did she.

Shaking her head, Bella pops into the classroom of an old teacher for a hug, before continuing on with her day, walking to the beat of her music, though no one would know that. She steps into the balcony classroom over looking the cafeteria, a safe haven for her, with it's faded blue carpet, rectangular desks and childhood development posters.

And baby car seats...

Bella's face falls, showing her utter devastation. Those robot babies. Babies. How could she forget this day was coming. Bella shudders, looking over at her teacher, Ms. Burr. The teacher smiles evilly back, mocking Bella in a teasing way.

"Not this, please just exempt me." Bella pleads quietly as more students file in, reacting in different ways. Some buzz with excitement, others groan with annoyance, mumbling about how the baby better not do this and that.

"I'm not sorry, Bells." Ms. Burr grins and Bella's shoulders slump as she goes to her seat, approaching the carrier as if the mechanical baby might jump up from it's resting place and start stabbing her in the eye.

Bella stands in front of the carrier, peering down at the Caucasian baby with blonde hair. It wears a pink outfit, staring back at her blankly, yet it's face is asking her to take care of it. To nurture it and protect it. Something in her wanted to, but it was a small voice in a big ocean of not wanting to. Of fear. It is fragile and represents something even more fragile.

Bella sits as far away from the baby has she can without looking absolutely ridiculous, staring at it with distaste as her teacher gives instructions. All of which she's heard before. This wouldn't be her first time with the baby. For the education program each year they take the screaming infant home, each year the intensity level increases as well as the time they have it.