It was almost new years, 2004. Everyone plans on partying, going crazy, getting drunk, it's all going to be done. Of course, I don't think I can party the way everyone else can. How can I? I have the flu, and I can't even breath two breaths after opening my eyes in the morning without having to rush to the bathroom. I'm throwing up more then I'm eating. I've lost about 50lbs this week, and yet, my belly looks round. I'm rarely strong enough to hold down a glass of soda, how on earth can I hold alcohol? I don't even think I'm going to try.
"How are you feeling, babe?" Taylor asked, walking into the living room. I was snuggled up on the couch, watching QVC. Like Davey does when she's sick, tired, or bored. I guess we've been hanging out too much, right? I looked up at my baby, and started to cough, waving my hands at him.
"Don't come any closer, or I'll end up killing you." I said, my voice weak and cracked. I coughed again, and my stomach itched its way upward. I struggled to get the mound of blankets off my cold body as I rolled off the couch and raced for the bathroom. "Taylor, move." I called, shoving him out of my way. I raced myself into the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind me with my foot as I dove for the toilet. Of course, all I threw up was flem. God, I groaned, this sucks so bad. I never get sick, why must I get sick now?
"Baby are you alright?" Taylor called, opening the door. He came up behind me as I stood up, and put his hand on my belly and on my back to support me as I stood up.
"I'm a walking germ case." I groaned, leaning away from him. All I needed was to get Taylor sick on his only month's break. The boys decided to take half December and half of January off. Thus, they'll be home for my birthday, I'll be twenty. Can you believe it? I've been with Taylor for almost seven years now. As a couple, I mean. "I've never felt so bad in my life." I groaned again, coughing. My throat seemed to be closing on me, and my head was pounding all over.
"You've got one mean case of the flu, Amanda. I don't think you should be going anywhere today."
"Do I look like I'm planning on it?" I shot at him, I am not in the mood for his smart-ass antics. Not right now, any other time, fine. Just not now. I pulled away from him and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was mangled all over, my highlights were fading, and my eyes were swollen. My neck was swollen, and my lips were chapped. God, how could Taylor love me when I look, and feel so bad?
"I was going to take you to dinner, I wanted us to just have some time to ourselves." He replied, handing me a brush, knowing I was going to end up brushing my hair if I kept starring at it the way I was. I nodded a thank you and brushed my hair back, pulling it in a pony-tail.
"Dee's gone for the weekend, she's spending the night at Ike's house, remember?" I told him in a forced whisper. My voice cracked, and I screamed the rest of my sentence. He held back a smile and I slapped his arm. "Don't laugh at me, I'm in pain here."
"Alright, I'm sorry. Do you want to rent a movie?" He questioned, bringing me in his arms and guiding me out of the bathroom. We stumbled together back to the couch, my head missed the pillow. I hit my head, and cried out.
"Damn it Taylor, can you try not to kill me, for once?" I shot, pained and annoyed. He laughed at me, kissing my forehead and smiling broadly.
"I'll let that little comment slide, just because I love you."
"Gee, thanks." I coughed, this is the life I live hm?
- - - -
Davey paced, Dee and Isaac watching her. "Will you sit down atleast?" Ike suggested.
"I can't. If you thought you were pregnant, you would be sitting, now would you?" Davey shot, not feeling any sorrow when Ike looks pained at her tone of voice. "I am making myself dizzy, though." So she sat down, holding her head in her hands. "I can't believe this. Me! Me, of all people! Zac will disown me when he finds out. He's not ready to be a father, he can bearly take care of himself, never mind a kid. What have I gotten myself into?"
"Dave, calm down. You don't even know for sure. Just calm down." Dee whispered. How could Davey get herself pregnant? She's been with Zac for less then a year, is he even really that serious about her?
"I need to get a test, but how can I get it without screwing up and letting Zac know? He'll flip out." She was going to drive herself crazy. Dee opened her mouth to respond with an idea, when the phone rang. She leaned over and picked it up.
"Hello? Oh, hey Sams. Yeah, of course," she turned toward Davey, "here." she tossed the cordless at her. Davey caught it, thanking the lord it wasn't Zac.
"Hey hey."
"Hey girl, are you alright? I got your email, do you need me to come get you?" Sammy asked, referring to the 911 email Davey left in her mail box this morning when she realized she had been having morning sickness for five weeks.
"Yeah, could you? I'm about to go crazy. I need to get out of here before Zac comes home." Dave replied, getting up and going toward the kitchen. At that very moment she was craving Chinese food, and she had to have it now. "Could we pick up some Chinese on the way back home?"
"Sure, of course. I'll be there in ten. Later." Sammy hung up. Davey sighed, ahh, my hero. She's going to save my life.
- - - -
Sammy sat in the bathroom, on the edge of bath tub, starring at the test. "If this gives us an unclear answer, we can go to the doctors."
"A gyno? Are you crazy? I've heard bad shit about those nut-cases. I don't think so." Davey said, vicious shaking her head, her mouth full of rice. She was having her way with $60 worth of Chinese food.
"We can call up Amanda, you know how she raves about her doctor. She's sick anyway, so she'll probably come with you."
"Yeah, alright. Let's not get my hopes up." she shot, her attitude flaring with her cravings. Sammy rolled her eyes.
"You can check it now."
"No, you check it. I'm too nervous." Davey lied. She wasn't nervous, she was down right scared. Wouldn't you? She was about to here news that will change her life forever. Like it or not, she knew she was pregnant. She still wished with all her heart that she wasn't. What on earth will Zac think? He'll get so crazy, he might even deny it was his. Then where would she be?
"Fine. I'll check it." Sammy had to admit, she was holding her breath when she picked up the little strip that held her best friend's destiny. "Dave, it's positive."
"F**k." she shrieked, her blood curling in her veins. "No, it's wrong. I can't be pregnant. Zac will kill me, he'll hate me. No. I can't be pregnant." She burst into tears, she was so upset that it was positive. Maybe its wrong. Maybe she's not pregnant. Maybe its all in her head? "Call Manda, we're going to Dr. Manchester."
- - - -
The phone rang, it matched the ringing in my ears. I groaned. Taylor was half sleeping on me, and I hated to move him, but I had to answer the phone. "Yeah?" I said, picking up the phone.
"Mandy, you have that doctor's appointment today, don't you?" It was Sammy, her voice was shaken, something was wrong.
"Not a normal one, it's Manchester's. I was going to call and cancel. I don't feel like going."
"You have too, Davey needs to go."
"Why?" I asked, what is this about? What's going on? Why isn't Davey calling me herself? I held my breath as I pulled myself out from underneath Taylor and quietly made my way to the bedroom.
"She's pregnant, we want to know for sure."
"How is she pregnant? She's been sick! She's been throwing up every morning for weeks, like I have. It's probably just the flu."
"We took the test, it's positive." Sammy told me, her voice losing anxiousness. Now she was just rushing.
"How can that be? We have the same crap."
"How long now for you?"
"More then a month, her too. I swear, it's just the flu." No way is she, or I pregnant. We're always safe, it's just the flu. It's got to be.
"What time is your appointment?" Sam finally cut to the chance. I looked at my card that lie on the dresser by our bed.
"In about twenty minutes. Do you want to swing by and pick me up? I'll be outside, I have to shower and get dressed." I agreed, maybe I should be going. Prove these girls wrong, their just going through a thing called 'wishful' thinking.
"Don't tell Taylor, whatever you do. We'll be there." She hung up. I slumped, hung up, dropped myself and the phone onto the bed. What will we do if we're pregnant? What will Zac do with Davey? He'll kill her. He can't take care of a kid, he won't know the first thing.
- - - -
We all stepped into the office. My hair was wet, and I smelled of Taylor's cologne and cough drops. I was actually sucking on an orange cream-saver, to smooth my itchy throat.
"Amanda London, four o'clock." I said to the lady behind the glass. She was new, I wonder where Sarah-Jo went. She would usually bring me right in, I've never waited in this office before, and I have a feeling that if I start now, I'll go crazy.
"Go right in."
"I have Davey London with me, she's the one I called in for." Davey had me call in on the way there, so they'd be expecting her. She refused to use her last name, too. So I let her borrow mine for the time being.
"Go right in." I exchanged glances with Davey and Sammy, and Sammy reached for Davey's hand, squeezing it.
"You can come, I want you to." I said as we all followed the thick hallway to room five. I've had this room before, this room scares the crap out of me. The first time I ever came here, I was in this room. I had a male doctor, and I remember that when I got in there, I cried. I swear, I think he was hitting on me. That's alright, I have Susan Manchester now, I've had her for a good enough time. She's sweet, too. And married.
"Ms. London, you can change into this while Dr. Manchester prepares for you. Ms. London, you may change too." A nurse said, as she walked by the room. Sammy sat down, she crossed her legs and shook nervously as I changed, Davey too. I felt my stomach turn, this is going to be crazy. I mean, what if I am pregnant? That will be a gift, but not right now. I'm just getting my career started, I'm finding myself a publisher and everything, I can't do that with a baby, can I? I mean, I'm almost twenty, I can handle it. I have a good money supply coming in, from all my books in France and Switzerland, I can handle this. Of course. I have to. And Taylor? Oh god, Taylor, he'd love it. He'll love having a baby to hold, to cuddle, but not right now. His career, as well as Zac and Ike's are soaring right now, a baby is not what he needs to slow him down. How could I put him in a situation like that? What about Zac? He'll go ballistic if Dave's pregnant. He'll love the baby to death when it comes, of course. He'll laugh his eyes on his child, and melt. Until then, he'll be grief-stricken.
"Amanda? It's good to see you, and your friends." Susan walked into the room and hugged me. She was sweet, but she scared the crap out of me. I hate to admit it, but I'm shaking, and I feel like I'm going to choke. "You have a fever? Missy, I think you have the flu." Alright, what did I tell you?
"Yeah, that's what I said, but Davey thinks otherwise, I said I'd come." I smiled, and got myself ready.
"Actually, I was hoping you could come in the other room, so your friends can relax alittle."
"Alright. Be back, don't worry." I said, as I followed Dr. Susan through a door and into the next door.
- -
Half an hour later, I felt tears well in my eyes. I can't believe it. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'll even give you the test while I take care of Davey."
"No, that's alright. I think Davey needs me with her." I can't believe it. I'm pregnant. "Can you tell how far along I am?"
"Yes, I told you, didn't you hear me?"
"No, I wasn't listening." I admitted. Me, pregnant. Can you believe it?
"Eight weeks, Amanda. Congratulations. Your due July 3rd." My, oh my. That'll explain my round belly and weight loss. I'm pregnant. Wow. "C'mon, let's go share the news with your friends." Susan said, walking with me back into Sammy and Davey's room.
"So?" Sammy asked, arching a scared eyebrow at me. I smiled, tears welling in my eyes again.
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh my god, really. That's so great Amanda!?" Sammy shrieked, jumping up and hugging me. "How far along are you?" she asked, wondering. Just like I had.
"Eight weeks, can you believe it? And I didn't even notice." I giggled, hugging Sam back. Dr. Susan whispered to Davey, and took her into the room I had been in. "I have a feeling she's pregnant too."
"Hey, did you get a due date by any chance?" Sammy asked me.
"July 3rd, can you believe it?" I asked, lifting my shirt and rubbing my belly. There is a baby inside me, can you imagine?
"I bet Davey's going to be due in late July, she started getting morning sickness a few weeks before you did. Remember?" Sammy had been right, this morning sickness has been haunting us around the same time. Wow, I never even thought about it.
- - - -
Davey cried, tears choked her words. She wasn't happy, yet I knew on the inside she was. I held her, and Sammy did too. "Please don't cry. Having a baby is such a great gift Dave, Zac's going to be so happy." I said, knowing I might of been lying. I can't even bring myself to think of what Taylor, never mind what Zac, is going to say. All I know is that Zac will not take it the way Taylor will. I know it, I can feel it.
"Eleven weeks, I've been pregnant eleven weeks, and I can't believe this. What am I going to say to Zac? I can't tell him, he'll hate me."
"Your going to start to show in less then a week Dave, you don't have very much time to tell him. He loves you, it won't matter if your pregnant or not. He loves you." Sammy said, kissing our friend's forehead. I wonder why Dee's not here. The thought just crossed my mind, seriously, why isn't December here? She should be here.
"C'mon, let's go home. I want to call everyone to a dinner tonight. I want to let everyone know!" I said, outly excited about it. I can't believe it. We're due in the same month. Maybe I'll even be early, and we'll have the baby on the same day. She's due June 23rd, she's eleven weeks pregnant. And yet, she's not happy. She's so afraid, she shouldn't be. No, Zac will love her, and the baby. I know it, I feel it.
We, tears and all, climbed into the car, and on the way back to Sammy's house, called everyone we know to come to dinner. Tonight. Davey's got three hours to swallow her fear and prepare to tell everyone the good news. We're gonna have babies. Can you believe it?
..and i waited...for you
