The past week had gone by so slow, and I had skipped every class because my morning sickness was really bad. Ross offered to stay with me each time I told him I was skipping, but I forced him to go. We had all the same classes, so he offered to take notes for me. I found the gesture really sweet.
I found everything Ross was doing for me really sweet. The fact that he offered to help me raise the baby made me incredibly happy. I never thought in a million years that this would be happening, but the fact that I wasn’t doing this alone made this a lot easier.
And just the other day, I told all his siblings, except Rydel, Ratliff, and his parents that I was pregnant. They were shocked to say the least, but they were even more shocked to find out that Ross would be helping me raise the baby. Well, Rydel wasn’t really shocked. She actually started squealing like a thirteen year old girl.
But then the questions started rolling in. All the questions included Ben, so I then had to explain why he wasn’t in the picture. And even though I was upset about Ben not being there for our child, I didn’t show it. I cried over that bastard too many times, and I was done. I didn’t need him, and our baby didn’t need him.
“Please let me keep this down.” I muttered as I shoved a spoonful of cereal into my mouth. I was actually able to swallow the spoonful and keep it down, but just as I was about to try and eat another spoonful, the nausea I had come to loathe crept up on me. I dropped the spoon, letting it hit the ground, as I bolted to the bathroom.
“I can’t even eat my favorite cereal.” I mumbled angrily, once I finished puking anything I had in my stomach. Gross, I know, but I didn’t care.
Just as I walked out of the bathroom after brushing my teeth, the front door slammed shut. I walked into the kitchen to find Ross picking up the spoon I dropped.
“I’m guessing you had about three bites before you bolted to the bathroom?” He guessed, an eyebrow raised.
I chuckled and shook my head. “Nope. One. I think I’m gonna stop eating until this morning sickness is done.” I was obviously joking, but I was so done with throwing up every day.
“Yeah, not gonna happen.” He grabbed the bowl of cereal I was eating and started eating it himself. “You need to eat. Have some saltine crackers if you can’t eat anything else. Those helped my mom when she was pregnant with all of us.”
“Then I’ll stop by the store and buy some after work.” I went to my room to go get changed for work, and Ross followed.
“Do you really have to go to work?” He whined.
I rolled my eyes.” I have to, Ross. I can’t miss work, and I don’t want to call out.” Even though I skipped classes, I never liked to call out of work. I worked part time at Get Shaved, and Ross worked at some skate shop.
“But you puke your guts up all day.” He pointed out.
Again, I rolled my eyes. “I don’t puke all day. It only happens in the morning, so I should be good for work.” I searched my closet for a pair of jeans and my work shirt, and quickly grabbed them, throwing them on my bed.
“And what happens if you end up feeling sick?”
“Then I’ll tell them the truth, Ross.” I sighed. “I’m gonna have to do it eventually, so it might as well be now. I don’t want my manager and co-workers finding out when I walk in and I’m as big as a whale.”
This time he rolled his eyes. “You’re not going to be as big as a whale. You’re so overdramatic.”
“Says the one who once cried because his favorite character on a dumb TV show died.” I scoffed.
His cheeks slightly reddened. “She was my favorite character.”
“You only liked her because she was hot.”
“…Maybe.”
I laughed. “Alright, get out so I can get ready. I don’t need to be late.”
He suddenly looked serious. “Just be careful, okay?”
I nodded slowly, not completely understand why he was being so protective. He gave a small smile before walking out, closing the door behind him. Ross had always been protective, but he seemed overprotective now. I guess it could be due to the fact that I was pregnant, and Ross basically agreed to be this baby’s father.
How was it possible for Ross to be a better father to my unborn child than the biological father? It made absolutely no sense, but yet it worked for me. I was glad that my baby was going to have a father in his or her life, and I didn’t even care that he wasn’t the actual father.
Once I was finished getting ready, I exited my room and entered the living room. I grabbed my purse off the couch and said a quick goodbye to Ross before hurrying out of the apartment. Since I didn’t have a car, I always used Ross’. He didn’t mind, and I couldn’t afford my own yet.
When I arrived at work, I noticed that there were only a few customers, so I had a feeling it would be a slow day. I made my way into the employee break room and shoved my stuff in my locker, grabbing the hat us employees had to wear before closing it.
“Hey, Hazel.” I greeted my fellow employee and friend, as I walked out of the break room. She was the only one working, including me, now.
“Hey, Sky.” She smiled. “What’s up?”
I shrugged. “Not much. What about you? How’s your mom?” Her mom was recently admitted into the hospital with appendicitis.”
“I’m fine, and my mom’s officially out of the hospital.” You could tell by the sound of her voice that she was relieved.
“Good.”
A couple of hours had passed and we had only dealt with a few customers. I hated slow days because it made the day just drag on. Add to the fact that I was a bit nauseous, so all I wanted to do was go home.
“Are you okay?” Hazel asked me, watching me as I sat down on a stool. The nausea was getting worse, and I was trying my best to not throw up.
“I’m fine.” I muttered.
“Then why do you look like you’re going to puke?” She asked.
She didn’t get an answer, due to the fact that I bolted to the bathroom and emptied my stomach. I didn’t even eat today, besides that spoonful of cereal which I had already puked up.
“Skylar?” Hazel’s voice was heard from the other side of the door. I quickly flushed the toilet and washed my hands before walking back out. “Are you okay?”
I nodded weakly. “I’m fine. Do you have gum or mint?”
“Yeah,” She reached into her back pocket and handed me a piece of gum. “Here.”
“Thanks.” I quickly unwrapped it and stuck it in my mouth.
“Are you sick?” She asked. The store was empty, so we didn’t have to worry about taking care of anyone. “’Cause if you are, maybe you shouldn’t be working today.”
“I’m not sick, Hazel.” I sighed, reclaiming the spot on the stool. “I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You heard me.”
A moment of silence passed, and I knew she was trying to process what I had told her.
Finally, she spoke up. “Well that was unexpected.”
~*~
“Bye, Hazel.” I waved goodbye, as I walked out of the store. After a boring seven hour shift, I was finally able to go home. I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was sleep.
After Hazel actually processed the fact that I was pregnant, she started firing questions at me. Of course I answered all of them, but I hated answering them in the first place. They were the same ones I had to answer when I told the Lynch’s I was pregnant.
Walking into the apartment, I immediately kicked off my shoes and plopped down on the couch.
“Sky? Is that you?” Ross called from his bedroom.
I rolled my eyes. “No! It’s a burglar with a key!” I hollered back.
“Alright, no need for sarcasm.” He said, appearing in front of me. He plopped down next to me, and I leaned my head on his shoulder. “How was work?”
“Boring and exhausting.” I yawned. “And I think you jinxed me because I ended up puking.”
He chuckled. “I did nothing, dude. And I told you not to go to work.”
“I had to.” I yawned again. “All I want to do is sleep right now.”
“Okay, but you should know something before you head to bed.” He looked nervous, which made me nervous.
“What?”
“I made you an appointment for an ultrasound, and it’s in two weeks.”
I grabbed a couch pillow and started smacking him over the head. “Why would you do that?!” I continued smacking him.
“Ow! Sky, stop!” He grabbed the pillow and set it aside. “Would you relax?”
“Uh, no!” I snapped. “Why would you make me an appointment for an ultrasound?”
He looked at me like I had three heads. “Because you need to see if everything’s okay with the baby.”
I bit my lip nervously. “And what if something’s wrong?”
“Hey,” He rested his hand on my thigh. “Nothing’s wrong with the baby. Going to the ultrasound will just prove that.”
“But-“
“No ‘buts.’” I sighed. “Sky, I promise you that nothing’s wrong with the baby.”
I exhaled and nodded. “You’re coming with me, right?”
He smiled. “I am the substitute father,” He joked. “So yes, I’m going.”
I chuckled. “You should really stop saying that. It just sounds wrong.”
He rolled his eyes, but smiled. “Fine. I won’t say it.” He paused. “Out loud.”
Short chapter, but I thought it was a good place to start. The next chapter will be with the ultrasound. And I added something to chapter 1, and that was the pregnany test. I made it so Skylar took a test that showed how far along she was. Vote and comment!