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. 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsmD4rVNOR
"So," Charlotte says, "what kind of clothes are we going to get?"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5osBPwDId
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."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiYiNqbyDz
"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."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX6F7aI128
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.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ki85no7J9
"What is—"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsLbQvBEUt
"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.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbFg8lX6Xi
"Hi, Charlotte."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXC4CsrPsF
I sigh.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjTyFZJ1TI
"Hi, Samual."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmt1d2G5D9
I look at her confused. And then I hear it.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP93PKGIgXX
"Samual. I've been looking all over for you."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIdnJYAcj2
"Dra—"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoTG1pu8IL
"Shut up! What have I told you about saying my name in public?"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GK0MOejF0
"Not to."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJDZ47ho0N
"Right. Um … I need, uh, ah, yes."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0kyTpAQq9
I hear him approaching and frantically look around. I start to walk away and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I wince.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7oVX3jKFg
"Well, look who it is. Miss Nikki. What could you possibly be doing here?"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxZhfp8VSc
"None of your business," I reply, straightening up and keeping my back facing him.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1XylUSJrw
"Ah, I see." He sighs. "You've been hiding something from me, haven't you?"
I wince, closing my eyes. "How did—"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIUrPj65C5
"I’m not stupid, Nikki. I've seen the way you act when you hear I'm around."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLJTQw3vjy
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." 325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0bKeDjRHQ
I turn around and start to walk away, but he grabs my arm. I look at him, horrified. He just stares right back, shocked.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2tFpkPBVL
"You can't be serious." He glances at my abdomen. He gasps and pulls me closer. He gently hugs me and kisses my forehead.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkfANlvjHG
At first, I'm completely shocked, but then I drop the sweaters and snuggle closer. So warm.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMFIBbSgEL
"You know, you could've told me sooner," he whispers.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAbDEwTsGT
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.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiKbrFeX22
"Shh, it's alright. No need for the tears."325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTGBazAE18
I hear a gasp and he looks up. He pulls me closer protectively.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZSTf6TPOm
"Nikki? What—Dracula?"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r68O1BTsj
"Shut up Charlotte." He looks at me sympathetically and whispers, "Why didn't you tell me someone was here with you?"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvj5qQRkVR
"I forgot." I look around me and gasp. "Charlotte, I'm so sorry. I—I forgot. I didn't—"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgAU4ZIp31
"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?"325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAerV4HlZbl
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.325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2MvkNzEKb
