Six months later …477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu8XdPVaRW
"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."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IYAW6KyMq
She groans.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzjGoGKI6b
"My gosh. You act like you're the father instead of Dracula."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWwxAppnAM
"I want to be the child's godmother. Please?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsibab3LB6G
"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?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkadpO5r5t
"Yes, Nikki."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡondb6z8WEe
"Good."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvGffk1720
We get to school and go to our lockers. While we're getting our things, Charlotte says,477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0gC0B4gOP
"Oh, hey. I've been meaning to tell you something."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEQDAknjSv
"What?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxarbZWGJn
"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."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTiwYnvogk
"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—"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMTu4CZqhg
"Shh! Be quiet!" She sighs. "Oh, and his name is Mr. Balaur."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnaTj015Rm
"Mr. who?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosRB9mP1zc
"Mr. Balaur."
"Oh, God. Do you realize who that is?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMsE1GwaeR
"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?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILGssjic2C
I nod slowly and sigh. "Yes."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjSiRzCSCK
"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."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxcYe0Tfw9
"But what if he tells me to stay behind after class? Or if he has outside duty during free time?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLh1ZsRaJD
"Well, we're just going to have to hope for the best then."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOB0R5Plqm
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHFiuveGSD
"Charlotte!"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbsurcPxhk
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TSgJMt3I7
"Oh, hi Mr. Balaur."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFl4GRglTv
"Ah, Charlotte. Hello. Do you know where Mrs. Filmore is?"
"Oh, she should be coming back from the printer soon."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcA8GkGfvn
"Okay." He sighs. "Hi, Nikki."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfRch4lK78
I close my eyes and hug Charlotte's things. "Hi."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8RjaA78D3
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlMU2nZjhg
"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."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BhvjSVtGK
The bell rings and I try to stand up. I fall and he—he—helps me up.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0SPkfwN39
I smile half-heartedly. "Thanks." I look at Charlotte, who is staring intensely at him. "Uh, Charlotte?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7cue7s395
"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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw6Ro7A6Ub
"Mom!" I rush up and hug her.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdCZNUZ1IP
She puts me at arm's length and examines me. "Are you alright? Did anything happen? Are you feeling well? Is—"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUutogmKo9
"Mom, calm down. I'm fine, everything's fine."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrvYjuKdUM
"Okay. Alright. Well, you have an appointment today."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc5dG7lJZ2
"Okay. Can we please go ahead and get there? Please?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbTHHUxu19
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Can we please just go?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAbNEVOLVN
"Alright, fine. We'll go." She looks at the secretary and smiles. "Mm bye."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF5pSBhqw1
"Bye." He looks at me. "Enjoy your doctor's appointment."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1DVkWE0tL
"Yeah. Sure."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWcObQG801
We leave.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw0Z2szNFA
