After about a month, my pregnancy really starts showing. Finally, one day, on a Sunday, mom takes Charlotte and me to the mall. She drops us off and heads to work. 243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBvpHW1OZr
"So," Charlotte says, "what kind of clothes are we going to get?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaS0PANICY
I turn to her. "We're definitely getting oversized sweaters. I know they have those. Anything oversized that would look good to hide my pregnancy."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNyuz3Nmy3
"Okay. Will do. You're so lucky I got my mom to cash two checks of 200 Romanian lei yesterday. Or else you would be just SOL. I'm serious."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCGlhbgfyJ
We get inside the mall and go straight for the nearest clothes shop. Once at the clothes shop, I spot the last person I want to see right now. I quickly push Charlotte behind the nearest clothes rack and watch him carefully.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7QWACVb2x
"What is—"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad34kQSFDc
"Shh!" I give her a stern look and stab a finger at him.
She gasps and scurries over to the next clothes rack. Thankfully, it's women's sweaters. I immediately start looking through them. I look up and instantly regret it. Standing at the clothes rack that we were just at is one of Dracula's assistants. I let out a slow, silent sigh as he moves away. He glances over and I quickly hide behind the rack.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFneoRu9LT
"Hi, Charlotte."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bkbtyLufM
I sigh.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0kxeARSnE
"Hi, Samual."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNz8yoRsf9
I look at her confused. And then I hear it.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7rzOSEHou
"Samual. I've been looking all over for you."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI6B8BGsCj
"Dra—"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNeNyRliza
"Shut up! What have I told you about saying my name in public?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTHWmRhxLY
"Not to."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLPbrusiZ8
"Right. Um … I need, uh, ah, yes."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1hIVBQJUC
I hear him approaching and frantically look around. I start to walk away and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I wince.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9v4U0lryi
"Well, look who it is. Miss Nikki. What could you possibly be doing here?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwYepGVgbA
"None of your business," I reply, straightening up and keeping my back facing him.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHW5IBBUOZ
"Ah, I see." He sighs. "You've been hiding something from me, haven't you?"
I wince, closing my eyes. "How did—"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzFhcuG93N
"I’m not stupid, Nikki. I've seen the way you act when you hear I'm around."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WrMTILoiM
I whirl around. "Okay. Fine. Since you want to know so fricken badly, I'll tell you. I'm pregnant. Happy? Now leave me alone." 243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJesT9ILAdh
I turn around and start to walk away, but he grabs my arm. I look at him, horrified. He just stares right back, shocked.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0LdoI457r
"You can't be serious." He glances at my abdomen. He gasps and pulls me closer. He gently hugs me and kisses my forehead.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t0KO5yPQx
At first, I'm completely shocked, but then I drop the sweaters and snuggle closer. So warm.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNLs3OV8Is
"You know, you could've told me sooner," he whispers.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoBIhNfT29
I adjust and that's when I realize that I'm crying. I lift my head and look up at him. He's smiling. I smile. He looks down at me. He lifts up his hand and wipes away my tears.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaZ5rPXdbX
"Shh, it's alright. No need for the tears."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS3PiFctKs
I hear a gasp and he looks up. He pulls me closer protectively.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJvai4Snvh
"Nikki? What—Dracula?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxFmzo0cTQ
"Shut up Charlotte." He looks at me sympathetically and whispers, "Why didn't you tell me someone was here with you?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eq5kzxmdg
"I forgot." I look around me and gasp. "Charlotte, I'm so sorry. I—I forgot. I didn't—"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk89bfbEiFv
"Don't. We really need to get going. I got you some sweaters. I've also called a taxi. You've got a doctor's appointment today, remember?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fex9luWtb
I look up at Dracula, back at Charlotte, and up at Dracula. I push away and grab his hand. I pull it up and press it against my lips. I kiss it and put it on my cheek just as a tear escapes from my eye. I smile. He smiles back. I back away slowly, holding his hand. I continue to back away and let his hand drop to his side. On our way out of the shop, I take one last glance at him and smile. He smiles back and I reach out my hand. He does the same and Charlotte and I leave.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyvTfwnABm
