I open the passenger side door and grab my bags from the car floor before getting out. I look up at the house my grandmother just bought, the house I now live in. It was small brick building with bushes lining the walls. Two trees stood on either side of the front yard, their leaves turning orange from the new season. I follow my grandmother inside placing my bags on the floor. The house was already furnished, the living with a black leather couch and a flat screen TV hanging on the wall in front of it. A fireplace sat under the TV, an electric one, sadly.

"Isn't it just lovely?" My grandmother asked me as she took a seat on her new couch. The whole house gave me a very homey feeling, something my old house never did. It was a big house, very modern with a lot of windows and the walls and furniture colored white. The walls in the living room here were painted a light orange color and a brown carpet.

"It's great, nan." I say, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible. I flop my body on the couch next to her, a grim look on my face.

"Oh, honey I know moving out is going to be hard. But it'll be great with me." I force a smile at her. Living here would be much better for the baby. It's not like my mother would've helped me and I can't do this alone.

"I know, it's just hard." I sigh.

"I know it must hurt. That's where you grew up, with your father." Tears started to swell up in my eyes. Stupid pregnancy hormones. When my father died, I didn't shed a tear, not even at his funeral. Well, I did when I was alone, but never in front of people. I always made my feelings oblivious, like nothing could affect me. Some people asked me if I was even sad, and I just shrugged, Of course I was sad, but I wasn't going to let anyone know that. I hate pity, it makes me uncomfortable.

"It's the only thing I have left of him, nan." I choke, tears now running down my cheeks. I sob, unable to hold it back anymore. My grandmother wraps her arm around my shoulder and pulls me into a hug, my face laying on her chest.

"I know, sweetheart. But your father is always watching over you, making sure you're making the right decisions."

"Well he obviously wasn't trying very hard, I'm sixteen and pregnant for god's sake." I shake my head, more tears running down my cheeks. "What a stupid, stupid thing I did."

"Hey hey hey, nothing is your fault. Or anyone else's fault. Bella, everything happens for a reason. And this baby-" she said, poking at my small bump gently. "was not a mistake. Something good is going to come from this, and not only that, but a beautiful baby." I smile slightly, sniffling my runny nose.

"Thank you, nan. I hope you're right."

"I'm always right, grandma knows best." I laugh.

~~~

Tick tock

Tick tock

The clock ticks annoyingly in my ears. My leg bounces anxiously as I sit in the comfortable waiting room chairs. I stare into space, my heart beating annoyingly fast in my chest. Why was I so nervous? Was it all the stares I was getting from the other expectant mothers? Maybe. Everyone else in the waiting room stare at me in disgust, like I'm gum stuck on the bottom of their shoe. All the other girls seem to be much older and married, while I'm sitting here, sixteen and ringless. Not that I wanted to get married right now. Hell no. I may be having a baby at sixteen, but marriage is not something I want for a long time. I hate how some people think that just because two people are having a baby, means they have to get married. That's just stupid. I admire the women who are single mothers, always have.

What am I even saying? I'm just word vomiting in my own head.

I sigh, leaning back in the chair. I look down at the small bump growing. I took off James's sweatshirt since there was no point in hiding it anymore. I'm wearing a white white that used to be very loose on me, but now it hugs my stomach. I run my hand over my bump, hoping everything is alright in there. Is it dumb to already feel so much love to something that hasn't even been born yet? I haven't even met my baby and I already have so much love for him or her.

"Stop being so anxious, everything will be fine." James whispers in my ear, grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers together. He must of sensed my nervousness, but I mean, who wouldn't? It's practically radiating off of me like heat.

"I can't help it. What is something is wrong with the baby? What if I did something to hurt it? What if-" I'm cut off by James covering my mouth with his hand.

"Belle, you're thinking too much. I'm sure everything is perfectly fine." He reassures me. I try to reply, but my voice is muffled by his hand. "Huh?" He says. I roll my eyes and lick his palm, causing him to remove is hand in disgust. "Ewe, what was that for?"

"For cutting me off. Don't ever cut a pregnant girl off, it's practically asking for death." I smirk and he laughs, wiping his hand off with his jeans.

"Bella Carpenter?" Someone says, grabbing our attention. I look up to see a women wearing scrubs and holding a clipboard, looking around the waiting room.

"I-I'm here." I rely nervously, lifting my hand up to grab her attention. Her gaze lands on me and a soft smile appears on her face.

"Ah, there you are. If you'll just follow me-" She says as I stand up from the chair, James following my actions. We follow the women to the back of the clinic until we reach a door. She opens it and the smell of latex hits me in the face like a ton of bricks. Since being pregnant, my smell has increased by at least ten times. The room is painted a white with pictures of babies hanging on them. In the corner, a strange machine sits next to what looks like a bed. I take a seat on the bed and James takes the seat next to it.

"Alright, I'm Dr. Anderson and I'll be your doctor throughout your pregnancy." The doctor says as she shuts the door behind her. "I'm assuming you're the father?" She asks, her gaze on James.

"Yeah, I am." He said nervously, forcing a half smile towards her.

"Great. Now just a few questions before we start." She proceeded to ask questions about family health and blah blah blah. I honestly wasn't paying much attention, my heart was beating so fast with nerves, I couldn't concentrate.

"Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's get to the part you've been waiting for. Lay back." She directs me as she turns on the machine. She dims the lights slightly, making us be able to see the monitor better. She squirts a cold gel on my bump before putting an unusual instrument on it, She rubs the instrument around my bump before the picture comes up on the screen. At first, all I saw was black and I was a little confused. But then, I saw it. A white blob in the center of the screen. "And there is your baby." Dr. Anderson said with a smile, typing a few things on her computer. A smile appeared on my face as I stare at the monitor in awe. That tiny blob is my baby. My baby. I felt a hand intertwined with mine, making me turn my attention to James. He was staring at the monitor, an unhidable smile on his face.

"Would you like to hear the heartbeat?" Dr. Anderson asked, making me nod my head vigorously. The room was silent for a few seconds as she typed something into the machine. Then, I heard it.

Womp womp womp womp

That was my baby's heartbeat. There really was a baby inside of me, and it was alive. I felt tears stinging in my eyes as I continued to stare at the monitor, astonished by everything that was happening.

"Wow." I hear James whisper from my left. I smile at him, overwhelmed with so many emotions. "That's our baby."

"Yeah, it is." I whisper back, my voice cracking a little from the tears threatening to fall.

"Would you like a picture?" Dr. Anderson asked, turning my attention to her.

"Yes, please." James and I say at the same time. She smiles, typing something on the machine before turning it off. She handed me a tissue before turning towards the door.

"I'll be right back." She said before exiting the room. I take the tissue and clean the gel off of my bump. Dr. Anderson entered the room minutes later with two copies of the scan. "There you go. You're next appointment should be when you're sixteen weeks, you can book the appointment at the front desk." She said with a smile. I smile and nod at her before leaving the room. I book my next appointment at the front desk before leaving the clinic and heading to James's car. I sat in the passenger seat, staring at the photocopy of the ultrasound in awe. The smile on my face was unhideable. An overwhelming feeling of happiness and excitement washed over again.

"This seems so surreal." James whispers from over my shoulder. I didn't notice that he was looking at the photo too, a smile on his face.

"I know. I still can't believe this is our baby." I look up from the photo and into James's eyes. His chocolate brown eyes stare back at me with an emotion I've never seen in his eyes before. It felt like we were the only two people on Earth. I was lost in his eyes for the millionth time recently, but I couldn't help it. When I look into his eyes, I just feel content. Happy, really. My body gets tingly and my heart races, in a good way.

"Belle, I-" James is cut off by the ringing of my phone. I break our intense gaze and grab my phone awkwardly. I see it's a text from Kyle.

Can't wait for our date See you soon. Xxx

A small smile appears on my face but then I notice the time.

"Shit." I mutter, realizing I only have an hour until Kyle is supposed to pick me up.

"What?" James asked with concern, watching me cautiously.

"I have a date with Kyle in an hour, that's not enough time to get ready." I notice James's posture tense beside me as he turned to face forward. He turns the key in the ignition and the car roars to life. The air between us turns tense, which makes me uncomfortable. "James, are you okay?" I turn my body to face him in the passenger seat, but he keeps his eyes straight ahead as he pulls out of the parking lot.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Lie. James and I have been bestfriends since the beginning of time, I've learned to tell when he was lying.

"You're lying. What's wrong?" I ask worryingly. He was silent as he drove, which only added to my worry. Then, he broke it.

"What do you see in him?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I give him a confused look.

"I mean, what do you see in Kyle?"

"Well for one, he's attractive." I notice James shift in his seat. "He's sweet and kind. And best of all, he doesn't care that I'm having a baby with someone else."

"That's just the thing, you're having a baby with someone else. You shouldn't be dating right now." He spat.

"James, what are you saying?" I cross my arms over my chest, raising an eyebrow at him.

"I'm saying that I'm not comfortable with you dating other guys while you're carrying my child." My eyes widen at his statement.

"I'm allowed to do whatever I want, James. You're not my mom." I snapped, turning my body to face forward.

"I know that, but you're having a baby. Dating should be the last thing on your mind right now."

"You're having a baby too, but you're allowed to date?" He's silent for a second.

"That's different-"

"No, it's not James. You can't tell me what to do." He pulls the car to a stop and I realize we're in front of my grandmother's house, well my house.

"Belle-"

"No, just stop." I spat back, opening the passenger door and slamming it shut.

"Belle I'm so-" James called out as I walked angrily towards my new house.

"Just leave me alone, James." I yelled back as I unlocked the front door and slammed it shut in annoyance.

"How was the ultrasound-" My grandmother asks me as I begin stomping up the stairs.

"It was great." I replied sarcastically, slamming my new bedroom door shut. I fall on my bed, yelling in annoyance. Who does he think he is, telling me what to do. Just because I'm having his baby doesn't mean he can boss me around. He has no right. I grab my phone and check the time.

Shit, I only have half and hour to get ready.

I jump up off my bed and begin searching through my closet.

~~~