Six months later …351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnHNJvqU74
"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."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz28b7SRm6t
She groans.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJICOQ1Yzx
"My gosh. You act like you're the father instead of Dracula."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B5H9ZjRft
"I want to be the child's godmother. Please?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6GQRdAuSo
"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?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8x2DzOiaC
"Yes, Nikki."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnX59fV7Js
"Good."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLtkMBdTMV
We get to school and go to our lockers. While we're getting our things, Charlotte says,351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2ByZ40BZD
"Oh, hey. I've been meaning to tell you something."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTJ0OfoGCS
"What?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmAYLSSJLb
"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."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2vWKzIuH5
"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—"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxaGgKK7c6
"Shh! Be quiet!" She sighs. "Oh, and his name is Mr. Balaur."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UO5B4SBd6
"Mr. who?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fei9cIyxL
"Mr. Balaur."
"Oh, God. Do you realize who that is?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZTwfLlIBU
"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?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfLVpkBO6G
I nod slowly and sigh. "Yes."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMphV9AXaKr
"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."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtPcUACCak
"But what if he tells me to stay behind after class? Or if he has outside duty during free time?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF49qSBffZ9
"Well, we're just going to have to hope for the best then."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZSRmAXNlb
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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVLdGXkSOO
"Charlotte!"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT68lGCFQ3s
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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteZxVK3exf
"Oh, hi Mr. Balaur."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL4MxzpGGy
"Ah, Charlotte. Hello. Do you know where Mrs. Filmore is?"
"Oh, she should be coming back from the printer soon."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jsHizF7rL
"Okay." He sighs. "Hi, Nikki."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEjWzjJi62
I close my eyes and hug Charlotte's things. "Hi."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWynmeGwRU
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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrm5PYK223
"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."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTNiic2woz
The bell rings and I try to stand up. I fall and he—he—helps me up.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsSmMZkExq
I smile half-heartedly. "Thanks." I look at Charlotte, who is staring intensely at him. "Uh, Charlotte?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK4HZl7R18
"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.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYriyexwRih
"Mom!" I rush up and hug her.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ihh8TkecN
She puts me at arm's length and examines me. "Are you alright? Did anything happen? Are you feeling well? Is—"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TJRuaFejJ
"Mom, calm down. I'm fine, everything's fine."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzqch2E1H1
"Okay. Alright. Well, you have an appointment today."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJgJKJVMrI
"Okay. Can we please go ahead and get there? Please?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1jPRO7MQ9
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Can we please just go?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXzIS3Z3Ed
"Alright, fine. We'll go." She looks at the secretary and smiles. "Mm bye."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRiZuRL8hG
"Bye." He looks at me. "Enjoy your doctor's appointment."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3dkXI186K
"Yeah. Sure."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0Y16nYRfa
We leave.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztMvr6dFjk
