Six months later …308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNTVmusapV
"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."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWme18DzgO
She groans.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I1Y989Qwi
"My gosh. You act like you're the father instead of Dracula."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLYO9PK5yu
"I want to be the child's godmother. Please?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaP1jhWeRi
"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?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzwvZp2LRD
"Yes, Nikki."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8shZ2xprqQ
"Good."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEraNL0fFE
We get to school and go to our lockers. While we're getting our things, Charlotte says,308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TJB6y1TLF
"Oh, hey. I've been meaning to tell you something."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHipnGhMkhh
"What?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcjqRwZXha
"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."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXPg7NPYi9
"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—"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctf7eEBHYs
"Shh! Be quiet!" She sighs. "Oh, and his name is Mr. Balaur."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzGieUFde2
"Mr. who?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm9P30SuTq
"Mr. Balaur."
"Oh, God. Do you realize who that is?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8iY5xXw4v
"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?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM77fIEN50y
I nod slowly and sigh. "Yes."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPjJyYv7FI
"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."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEo2ecvd78
"But what if he tells me to stay behind after class? Or if he has outside duty during free time?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifG4b1kxTm
"Well, we're just going to have to hope for the best then."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPLY0iS7gc
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.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJR7WxtIAH
"Charlotte!"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOziGEFtsb
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.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG6wkVfDg4
"Oh, hi Mr. Balaur."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtru8gVXEJg
"Ah, Charlotte. Hello. Do you know where Mrs. Filmore is?"
"Oh, she should be coming back from the printer soon."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSDBWhqpg9
"Okay." He sighs. "Hi, Nikki."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VpbfJEzQ5
I close my eyes and hug Charlotte's things. "Hi."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvlJMbHevP
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.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8Ji85drWl
"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."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2RNFmpxqF
The bell rings and I try to stand up. I fall and he—he—helps me up.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwYtM7dVYF
I smile half-heartedly. "Thanks." I look at Charlotte, who is staring intensely at him. "Uh, Charlotte?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTqJPPuW2F
"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.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0EqaWUIDh
"Mom!" I rush up and hug her.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9oO9XK29s
She puts me at arm's length and examines me. "Are you alright? Did anything happen? Are you feeling well? Is—"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbIhs7xjzx
"Mom, calm down. I'm fine, everything's fine."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G4LitLh0v
"Okay. Alright. Well, you have an appointment today."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXKekCzwWn
"Okay. Can we please go ahead and get there? Please?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXcmytTVh0
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Can we please just go?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjaprkATHs
"Alright, fine. We'll go." She looks at the secretary and smiles. "Mm bye."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4Wn2dWo20
"Bye." He looks at me. "Enjoy your doctor's appointment."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe6KG2JewR
"Yeah. Sure."308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkOsAljmr9
We leave.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCMbL738iI
