Six months later …267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JkixTn94a
"Oh, gosh. Nikki, what are we going to do? Your pregnancy is showing already."
"It's going to, Charlotte. I'm already six months along."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBjKkB2qE2
She groans.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibpHyKibMz
"My gosh. You act like you're the father instead of Dracula."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhY4RqsxAw
"I want to be the child's godmother. Please?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiSlkSlzog
"Fine. You can be the godmother, but you can't tell anyone at school. If I want them to know, I'll tell them. Got it?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqKkPzmL2s
"Yes, Nikki."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAUnHELh8P
"Good."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKQtte40vW
We get to school and go to our lockers. While we're getting our things, Charlotte says,267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRxDKQNmim
"Oh, hey. I've been meaning to tell you something."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg2R1vkKYc
"What?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg1l7HzQrP
"It was said on the news over the summer that the, um, history teacher from last year died of some sort of disease or something. So, we have a new history teacher."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxRD4QYWBl
"You're kidding. So I'm going to have to introduce myself? That means I'm going to have to stand at the front of the class, and everyone's going to find out that I'm—"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpx4xJKpBa
"Shh! Be quiet!" She sighs. "Oh, and his name is Mr. Balaur."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpOl1NPzs8
"Mr. who?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfF7dXS0FV
"Mr. Balaur."
"Oh, God. Do you realize who that is?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvnDmhV0rY
"Is it really? You've got to be kidding me." She groans. "And more than likely, everyone's going to have to introduce themselves so he can 'get to know us'. That's not good. He's going to figure out that you're pregnant. And the bad thing about it is we have him right before free time. He's also your free time teacher, too, isn't he?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErzvkJhF8W
I nod slowly and sigh. "Yes."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxphqVN4odZ
"Oh, no." She moans. Then she gasps. "I have an idea. We can go outside for free time. The doctor said you need the fresh air anyway. For the baby's health."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTulfuTJUO
"But what if he tells me to stay behind after class? Or if he has outside duty during free time?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIJSAUedQ5
"Well, we're just going to have to hope for the best then."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8kNbuVaq2
Later, I meet up with Charlotte to walk with her to class and as I'm waiting for her, he walks by and sees me. He starts walking over and I freeze. What do I do, what do I do? Ah-ha! I glance up and quickly dash into the classroom I'm waiting outside of. I glance over to the door and to my dismay, he's coming in here with some papers. Oh, shoot. Suddenly, I spot Charlotte.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmItOp2Lb01
"Charlotte!"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVisqjVqSb
She looks over and sees me. I rush over to her, dropping a pencil. I groan. She quickly picks it up and hands it to me. She gets up and sees him. I hide behind her, picking up her things. He looks directly at her.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhUtkSEbqF
"Oh, hi Mr. Balaur."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxIuyGAxEB
"Ah, Charlotte. Hello. Do you know where Mrs. Filmore is?"
"Oh, she should be coming back from the printer soon."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI8qnM1pgp
"Okay." He sighs. "Hi, Nikki."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LZdfliPZu
I close my eyes and hug Charlotte's things. "Hi."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr133VSkxgf
I shove her things in her bag as he comes over and leans on Charlotte's desk. I zip up her bag and try my best to avoid looking at him. Suddenly, the intercom comes on.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIm0sd3b1R
"When the bell rings, I need Charlotte Hallaway and Nikki Henderson to the office, please. Charlotte Hallaway and Nikki Henderson to the office. Thank you."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF42bohtg00
The bell rings and I try to stand up. I fall and he—he—helps me up.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyytltHCU5s
I smile half-heartedly. "Thanks." I look at Charlotte, who is staring intensely at him. "Uh, Charlotte?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1vdJid22k
"Oh. Sorry." She picks up her bag and glares at Mr. Balaur. He returns the glare and we go to the office. We get to the office and to my delight, mom's there.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EratAkFEV
"Mom!" I rush up and hug her.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqEjqzVxfo
She puts me at arm's length and examines me. "Are you alright? Did anything happen? Are you feeling well? Is—"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKHdLLmGM6
"Mom, calm down. I'm fine, everything's fine."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrDYWlqRhS
"Okay. Alright. Well, you have an appointment today."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkkqeE5x3r
"Okay. Can we please go ahead and get there? Please?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN0rqbR1bd
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Can we please just go?"267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32d3esN2KL
"Alright, fine. We'll go." She looks at the secretary and smiles. "Mm bye."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7cLR2GOVN
"Bye." He looks at me. "Enjoy your doctor's appointment."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1L8hgGNur
"Yeah. Sure."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAfLl4xvO3
We leave.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGMxy90blG
