i believe in yesterday ☽ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒

𝐨𝐧𝐞

"my skirt shrunk. it's not my fault!" she defended.

"you'll have a rash from the rapping you'll get!" paul jeered. "but i must say, i much prefer this over the long, baggy ones you normally wear,"

she scoffed. "trust me, this isn't by choice. i'd rather wear a toga than this right now,"

"you'll be wearing a bathing suit this summer! it's the bloody last day, molly!" he eyed her again, in a more thoughtful way. he eyed the way her skirt fit her in all the right places. he'd always liked molly. it would've made her uncomfortable if she'd noticed.

but she didn't. she kept walking, laughing.

"where are you going at a time like this? school's that way," paul asked again.

"i'm having breakfast with george," molly said.

"oh," he said, almost with a hint of disappointment. "it's not a date, is it?"

her eyebrows furrowed. "well, no, paul. it's not a date," she stated. "why?"

he shook his head, shrugging. "i was thinking i could join!" she gave a long sigh. paul was always the invasive type, but it didn't bug her now as much as it did when she first met him.

suddenly a figure came up from behind paul, hitting him over the head with a book. "boo!"

molly turned around, scared, but it was only john. "john! you gave me a terrible fright!" she slapped his shoulder.

"i see you dressed up for me," john said with a growl in his voice. she sighed again.

it was second nature for john to make a crude remark. "her skirt shrunk, genius," paul rolled his eyes this time. she laughed at this, and john only kept up behind them.

"so where are you two off to? brekkie?"

before molly could answer, paul said, "i'm going with molly to meet with george at the café up the street,"

"mind if i come along? i'm starving!"

"oh, no," paul groaned. "there's only money for three, bud,"

"well, make room for one more!"

molly continued with the two all the way to the café. they talked all about the summer, and molly couldn't even believe paul had the pleasure of knowing a college student! she was just fifteen then, the same age as paul, and she adored john. once they arrived, george was already sitting, waiting for molly.

he saw the boys trail along with her, releasing a heavy sigh. "i see you've brought friends," george smiled in a patronizing way.

"sorry," molly mouthed to him, but the boys had already sat down, looking over the menus.

"so," john began. "what do we think of molly's skirt, everyone?" george hadn't noticed until he pointed it out. molly was only just sitting down when john said this, making her feel exposed. she gave a coy smile and stood back up, modelling the shrunken skirt for the rowdy boys. paul gave a small whoop, john began clapping and george just sat smiling. molly sat down with red cheeks. "innit cute?" john said through a laugh.

"you could say that, but the rapping you'll get is horrible!" george said protectively. "why don't you buy a new skirt?"

"with what money? i'm spending it on you all for breakfast," molly replied shortly.

the waitress came round and gave the teens water. her name was betty— molly only knew because her mother recently worked with her, and it was her step-father's aunt. small world. "oh, molly! wonderful seeing you, dear!"

"hello, miss grend," molly smiled at her.

"what can i get you all?" the boys placed their orders, but all molly had was a waffle and water. she wasn't sure if a pound could cover the whole order plus a hefty tip.

"what's with you? trying to lose weight?" john questioned.

george shot him a look. "what? no!" she replied.

"good. you're already skinny enough. don't want you to get like those other girls," he said back.

her eyes found the empty plate in front of her. he was right. so many girls were like that. especially at her school. and what was, 'skinny enough'? before she could think any more, betty came back around with her waffle. she swallowed hard and took a huge bite of it, not minding any manners until seeing the looks on the boys' faces.
"what? i'm hungry," she said with a mouth full of waffle and syrup. she half did it so john didn't think she was just an insecure little prude, but she also half did it because she was hungry.

george lightly chuckled. john and paul only shook their heads.

*

soon enough, it was time.

three o'clock never looked so good. every single girl in the classroom was anticipating the moment the clock struck the number. molly's foot subconsciously tapped away as the final minutes passed.

surprisingly, molly didn't get in a lick of trouble for her skirt. most of the teachers only gave her ugly looks, not caring because it was the last day and they'd get their paycheck soon. "class, i know. you're all very excited for summer," the teacher began. "but, as a teacher, i need to give you one last piece of homework," everyone simultaneously groaned and started complaining when sister sue said this. "it's not a bad one, trust me! it's fun!"

molly got her pencil back out to write it down.

"your assignment for the summer," she paused.

at the same time, only a few blocks away, george was also fidgeting with his pencil, waiting. paul, a few classrooms down was watching the clock with an aching head.

"is to find a person of your choosing, and raise a baby with them." molly gave a short laugh along with the rest of the classroom. "no, i know what you're thinking. a baby? well, we've got baby-dolls for all of you to take home and raise. they don't really do anything, but it's your assignment, so you must do it." the classroom began to murmur with excitement. "everyone line up and get a baby," sister sue opened the classes closet to reveal two small cribs full of at least twenty baby dolls.

one crib had boy babies, and the other had girl babies. molly already knew she'd choose george to be the baby-daddy, but she wasn't sure if she should pick a girl or boy.
molly stood up and got into line. when it came to her, she finally decided on a little baby boy.

finally, it was time. everyone sat down with babies in hand. it was two fifty-nine.

here came summer. the minute felt like an eternity.

five... no more waking up early!

four... there was a ghost of a smile on george's face.

three... no more early bedtimes!

two... paul was finally ready for the summer nights to come...

one!

all the kids got up at once, rushing past the teachers and other students to get out of school. even a few babies were dropped. molly stumbled and almost dropped hers, but caught herself just in time.

"careful this summer, miss mayweather," the teacher said over the commotion.

she waved goodbye to her and joined the halls full of girls waiting to get outside.

hey guys! this is my first chapter of series, and i am so excited for you all to see the rest of it!!! and yes, i've changed the cover because it had my old username on it :) this series will have 40 chapters. there will definitely be more books out of this series come out eventually, and i'll be releasing the rest of the book throughout the year, so enjoy!!! ;)