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. 436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruLZGPLawH
"So," Charlotte says, "what kind of clothes are we going to get?"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtcj9pYdVF
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."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yy8aRMKNw
"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."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIhmRKQWDx
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJklbH1m3b
"What is—"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkznZPkmjHi
"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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR9h3LDprP
"Hi, Charlotte."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJYH47J2vB
I sigh.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfinNW4mGQL
"Hi, Samual."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTS4hjmvD0
I look at her confused. And then I hear it.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpTzK03BSf
"Samual. I've been looking all over for you."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tS5Xm2zwY
"Dra—"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e0Fr1ndLO
"Shut up! What have I told you about saying my name in public?"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFPbyKEiE2
"Not to."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQLrwcpsbc
"Right. Um … I need, uh, ah, yes."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZSRt0QjYC
I hear him approaching and frantically look around. I start to walk away and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I wince.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhox7aPALKT
"Well, look who it is. Miss Nikki. What could you possibly be doing here?"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHobIzCEqH
"None of your business," I reply, straightening up and keeping my back facing him.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVRdopcRHn
"Ah, I see." He sighs. "You've been hiding something from me, haven't you?"
I wince, closing my eyes. "How did—"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklrASfQ13L
"I’m not stupid, Nikki. I've seen the way you act when you hear I'm around."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgLIaosxBU
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." 436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8PHpIHoNJ
I turn around and start to walk away, but he grabs my arm. I look at him, horrified. He just stares right back, shocked.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7eIcSnYp4
"You can't be serious." He glances at my abdomen. He gasps and pulls me closer. He gently hugs me and kisses my forehead.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR3GiHlMWe
At first, I'm completely shocked, but then I drop the sweaters and snuggle closer. So warm.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJc5F15c78
"You know, you could've told me sooner," he whispers.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PxQa2mpWR
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTGFR9tfpu
"Shh, it's alright. No need for the tears."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggkIYTuFNd
I hear a gasp and he looks up. He pulls me closer protectively.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNYPnnQoCs
"Nikki? What—Dracula?"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe96QurJtU2
"Shut up Charlotte." He looks at me sympathetically and whispers, "Why didn't you tell me someone was here with you?"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ra0celRYd
"I forgot." I look around me and gasp. "Charlotte, I'm so sorry. I—I forgot. I didn't—"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpYQqoM0cW
"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?"436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHgWJKubu3
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtUuvOuNq5
