CHAPTER 8
The days that followed my night at the Elliott household only got better. My feelings for Taylor had only become stronger each day. I couldn't help myself from flirting with him whenever we were together - even though I still wasn't ready for a relationship.
I had developed a very slight roundness over my abdomen and a lot of people at school now knew. Mostly, everyone was okay about it, but there was still the odd person who had a huge aversion to it.
"Eww, you fucking slut," a girl from my class had said once the news had reached her.
Courtney had defended me, "Well, Tiffany, at least she's capable of being a mother! You'd probably eat your baby because you wouldn't know what to do with it!"
There were many comments throughout each day, and sometimes someone would come up to me and ask to feel the baby-bump. I kept telling them that it doesn't kick yet, and they all turned around disappointed.
Taylor would always lighten the mood on the bus ride home if I'd had a bad day. It was hard to get my head around the fact that this was his last year at school, and then he'd be going to university or something. I couldn't imagine school without him.
Often, when Taylor was at work, I'd tag along and talk to him at the registers. Twice, the manager had to escort me out of the building, leaving Taylor in laughing hysterics.
As the last two weeks of term approached, I couldn't help but notice the changes that had happened in three months.
My morning sickness was slowly fading and I'd been to the doctors for a check-up. He'd reported that the baby was in perfect health. It was all I could ask for.
It was Thursday of the second-last week of term and I was waiting at the bus stop for Courtney and Taylor to arrive.
After what seemed like an eternity, Mr Elliott pulled up at the bus stop and dropped off my two best friends.
"Hey Nas," the both greeted in unison.
"Hey guys," I replied. I couldn't help but smile tentatively to Taylor. Courtney had seen the 'chemistry' between Taylor and me, but she didn't seem to mind.
"Hey Nas, can I ask you something?" Taylor asked, walking over to stand in front of me. He was incredibly tall that I had to strain my neck so I could look into his hypnotizing eyes.
"Of course you can. You can ask me anything," I replied, probably too loudly.
"Tomorrow, as you very well know, is my eighteenth birthday and I'm having family and stuff over for dinner. I'd really like you to come," he announced.
He smiled his gorgeous smile and it would have been impossible to deny, even if I'd wanted to.
"That'd be great. Thanks," I answered. "So, what, you're not having a big party or anything to celebrate this aging milestone?" I was only teasing, and he knew it, but his answer was serious.
"No, because if I did, I wouldn't want you to come," he looked into my eyes. I was confused as to why he would say this, when he continued; "Only because there'd be alcohol and stuff, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you or the baby were hurt."
"Oh." When he put it that way, he was one-hundred percent correct. I wouldn't drink alcohol, but that wouldn't stop other partiers from drinking, becoming drunk, and I could only imagine what sort of behaviour they would demonstrate to a pregnant fifteen year-old.
"So, you'll come then? To dinner tomorrow night?" he sounded really eager.
"Of course." At that, the bus pulled up and we continued the day routinely.
* * *
After school on Friday, I'd planned for Mr Elliott to take me home after school with Taylor and Courtney. At home, I would change out of my school clothes quickly, pack an overnight bag, and then go to the Elliott's place afterwards.
Courtney, Taylor and I had just got off the bus and were surprised to see Mr Elliott waiting early. Mrs Elliott was in the passenger seat, so the three of us had to squeeze into the back seats. I got stuck in the middle and had to press up against Taylor whilst Courtney fastened her seatbelt.
"Wow, jeez, make room for the pregnant lady!" Taylor announced, trying to be funny. He was subtly implying that I was hugely overweight.
When I was seated back in my seat properly, I began punching his shoulder. He just laughed. "And here comes the raging hormones," he continued teasing.
I gave up and just sat back, crossing my arms across my chest. That didn't stop him from finding something funny to say still, "You know, anger can bring on early labour."
"Oh, enough Taylor. Please." It had become beyond joking for me. "I get enough of that at school. I don't need it from you too. Why are you suddenly being like this?"
"Oh, sorry. I was only joking around."
"I know, but I just get sick of it," I hoped that this would end all of his stupid remarks.
"Okay, no more pregnant lady jokes. Promise." He had a sincere look through his eyes.
Courtney interrupted our eye contact with her frustrated voice, "Well, if you two lovebirds are finished, you might like to notice that we've arrived at Nasettia's place and if you want to be home in time for the dinner, I suggest you stop gazing at each other."
I gasped and looked around at the others. Mr and Mrs Elliott were trying not to show any laughter and Courtney looked frustrated still. "Sorry."
Taylor had to get out because Courtney was being stubborn. Taylor claimed that he didn't want to be stuck in the car with Courtney when she was in such a mood and so offered to help me pack my bag.
Dad was watching the afternoon news bulletin and I guessed that Becky was still at work. We headed upstairs to my bedroom and I collected various items and packed them in my bag. Taylor sat on my bed at first, but became bored by that and decided to look at the various belongings I kept in my room.
I went into the bathroom to change out of my uniform, and when I came back into the room, Taylor was at my bedside table with one of my photo frames in his hands. He turned to look at me, showing the photo to me. "Who's that in the photo with you?"
"Oh, that's my brother Dallas." It was my favourite photo I had of my brother and me. We were on the beach and I was burying him in the sand and making his head the head of a sand mermaid I'd built in the sand.
"It's a nice photo," he stated.
"Yeah, it's my favourite," I said.
He seemed to be contemplating something in his mind. "How long since you've been to the beach?" he asked.
"Probably when that photo was taken, so about two years," I answered.
"I'll take you down to Geelong during the summer. I'm going for my licence tomorrow and so I'll be able to drive and everything."
"That would be great," I answered.
"It's a date then," he grinned at me. I couldn't help but smile at the word 'date'.
I went to pick up my bag, but he insisted that I shouldn't be lifting heavy things and carried it downstairs himself.
I said goodbye to Dad and went out to the waiting Elliotts. Taylor put my bag in the boot of the car before getting in himself.
We went back to Taylor's place and as soon as we were there, both he and Courtney ran to get changed. I offered to help Cathy prepare for the dinner. She was just about to start cooking the meals.
"Do you mind teaching me some stuff Cathy?" I asked as she was collecting various ingredients, "Just that I don't know much about cooking and I think I'd need to know something for when the baby comes."
"Of course dear," she smiled warmly at me, "I was going to make chicken schnitzels and roasted vegetables. I can show you how to crumb and cook the chicken right after I put these vegetables into the oven," she directed to a pile of raw potatoes, carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, and various other vegetables. "Do you mind helping me chop them into chunks?"
"Not at all. Just tell me what to do." And at that, I got to work.
I chopped the vegetables into suitable sized pieces and put them in the oven. I was then taught how to crumb the chicken. Taylor watched pretty much the whole time, laughing when I did something wrong.
"Hey, I don't see you here cooking, Mr Eighteen, so don't judge me," I said, pointing a knife at him 'threateningly'.
Cathy laughed and went to hang out a load of washing that had finished in the machine.
"Okay, okay. Sorry," he grinned at me, "But speaking of my age, you still haven't congratulated me for making it to this particular birthday."
"I wished you a happy birthday this morning," I said, taken aback.
"I know, but you haven't given me my gift yet," he continued.
"But I gave you one hundred dollars in the card?!" I was becoming more and more confused by his words.
"You know what I truly want Nas."
"I do?" I was beyond confused now.
"Remember that morning in the bathroom...?" he raised one eyebrow.
That rang a dim bell - a bell that sounded alarm. I still didn't think that I was ready for it all yet.
"Oh... Taylor, I don't think- " but he cut me off.
"I know, you're not ready yet. I just thought that, when I'd asked you to the beach, well it sounded like you were ready..." he trailed off.
I hated to see him so hurt. I couldn't restrain my hand as it reached up to stroke the water away that was forming under his eye. Before I could move my hand away, he placed his own over mine, keeping it there.
"This might be a little too soon, but you have to know that I love you, Nasettia. I think about you all day, and you star in my dreams. I can never seem to get you out of my head."
Nobody had ever told me that they loved me. Well, except for my parents of course. But, not even in the two weeks Chad and I were together, did he even mention the 'L-word'.
Taylor and I weren't even together and yet he was already declaring himself. I was beyond shocked, but also euphoric.
I smiled hugely and he returned the gesture.
I pulled my hand away from his face, only to put both around his neck. I stretched up on my toes and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thank-you. I love you too, but...I'm not quite ready now. Oh, and Happy Birthday!" I whispered in his ear before pecking him on the cheek again.
I pulled away and continued with the crumbing. Cathy came back in and showed me how to cook them.
Not long after the first lot of chicken started cooking, people began to arrive. Firstly, Cathy's sister, her husband and two children arrived. One of the children could only be a few weeks old, and I found myself totally adoring him. Taylor's grandparents and other aunts, uncles and cousins arrived shortly after.
When, the dinner was cooked, Cathy called everyone to the back deck where a table was set up to host the number of people present.
Taylor sat in the middle seat of one of the longer sides and insisted that I sit beside him. I sat to his right and his aunt with the baby boy sat to his left.
We devoured into the meals, and Taylor constantly reminded everyone that I had cooked it. I blushed red every time that he did so which only made him laugh.
After dinner, Taylor's aunt got up to get the birthday cake. She handed her baby son to Taylor to hold, and I couldn't help leaning over his shoulder, trying to get a glance.
Taylor turned around in his chair to face me. "What's wrong?" he asked. He obviously didn't understand what I was trying to achieve my touching his shoulder.
"I was just trying to get a glimpse of the baby," I said, looking at the sleeping baby's face.
"Why?" he asked. It sounded like it was stupid for me to want to see a baby.
"Because, if you haven't noticed Taylor, I am actually pregnant, and so of course seeing a baby would bring on curiosity," I told him as if it should have been obvious.
"Oh, of course. I'm sorry Nas. I must've had a mental blank or something," he leaned the baby towards me. "Do you want to hold him?" he asked.
"Please," I asked, reaching towards the baby. I moved my arms into a cradling position and Taylor carefully handed me the baby.
When the baby touched my skin, I felt an overwhelming feeling of joy course through my body. I pulled him right up to my chest and watched him as he slept peacefully.
The rest of the night proceeded smoothly and I held the baby until his parents had decided to make the trip back home to Geelong. I handed him back to his mother when she said, "I know that you'll make a great mother, sweetie."
"Thank-you. That really means a lot to me," I replied. I noticed Taylor smiling in my peripheral vision.
When all the guests had left, I was extremely tired, but Taylor insisted that we watch one of his favourite movies. Courtney moved into the lounge room with us, but she spread out across the couch so Taylor and I sat on a bean bag.
Halfway through the movie, Courtney got up, insisted that she was too tired to stay up, and proceeded to bed. I noticed that I was slowly drifting to sleep next to Taylor also.
Once Courtney had left the room, Taylor continued watching the movie. I could feel myself falling asleep and I couldn't stop my head from resting on his chest.
It seemed to be the first time that he noticed my drowsiness and he pulled me up against his chest as he moved us into a more comfortable position. I smiled contently and fell deeper into unconsciousness.
I was woken briefly when Taylor turned off the movie and lifted me up. He carried me in his arms to what I guessed was his bedroom. He pulled the covers up on his queen-sized double bed and placed me down on the mattress.
He left the room for only a minute or two. I guessed that he was getting changed or something. When he came back, he lay down on the bed beside me and pulled the covers over us.
The space between us was killing me - although I was too tired to change that status. As if he could read my mind, Taylor shuffled his way over to where I was and pulled me into his arms.
He stroked my face and kissed my forehead. "Goodnight," he whispered.
"'Night," I managed to slur out.
He kissed my forehead once again, and I snuggled closer into his chest before slipping into further unconsciousness.