THIRTY SEVEN

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

"Baby you're a one of one to me
I know that I should probably wife you up
And baby I swear I'm done with these
Other women they don't mean shit to me"
—Russ

August, Four Months Later . . .

It was hard to find something to wear these days. I mean, when you're 9 months pregnant, the options are limited. I need to find something good! Reid gently woke me up saying how he had something planned for today and to dress nice.

It's summer. I'm supposedly a senior in high school, yet I'm still on independent studies. I'm not gonna lie, some part of me really wishes I'd experienced prom, but this baby is my number one priority. Reid graduated in May, along with the Marshmallows and Oliver.

I tug at the tight material squeezing my bump. Reid and I decided to keep the gender a surprise. It's still crazy to know their is a human growing inside me, and in T-minus 2 days, will be growing in the real world. The reality is finally setting in: I'm going to be a mother!

This is useless! This fabric is irritating my abdomen, my back is killing me and I already have the urge to pee. The surprising and unwanted cramps in my belly made my abdomen cramp slightly. It kind of felt like period cramps.

I guess I have one last option. I pick up my phone and dial the one person I know will help.

"Hello? Mere? Are you hurt? Is the baby—"

"Holly! Yes, I'm fine—the baby's fine! That's not why I called."

"Oh . . . so what's up?"

I look back into the mirror and stare at my reflection. "I'm having outfit troubles."

"On my way!" Then the line cuts.

In less than five minutes, Holly bursts in my room, heaving and hunching over. With her hands placed on her knees she takes a couple deep breaths.

"I'm," deep breath, "here!" She announces.

"So I've noticed," I giggle as I hand her a water bottle and she greedily gulps down half of it.

"What did you do? Run all the way here?"

"Nope! Those stairs are a killer . . . how can you face those with that belly?"

"Reid installed an elevator!"

"Lucky bitch," Holly mumbles and we both giggle.

She takes the liberty of snooping through my wardrobe as I peel off the tight dress. I hear a gasp from behind me and spin around. Holly is staring at me—more like my bump, with starry eyes.

"Mere . . . you're glowing!" I turn and look in the mirror again. My bump is beautiful, and I have no doubt, so is the little life inside.

"This!" Holly throws me a lilac sundress that I've, honestly, never tried on nor seen. I run the silky fabric between my fingers and hum in approval.

"I guess I'll try it on," Holly squeals and starts helping me remove my shirt and pants. I shimmy through the dress and stare back into the mirror.

The dress is gorgeous, accentuating by curves and baby bump. After about 6 months, I started noticing changes; my breasts and bum became larger. So the curves are definitely a killer now!

"Yes, Mere! You have to wear this!" Holly shrieks. She's absolutely right, I will wear this.

"Thank you Holly! Anything I should do with my hair?" I had curled my hair yesterday, so I have day two curls—which in my opinion, looks better than day one curls.

"No, your curls look pretty!" She turns around and looks at the shoes in my closet, "here." She hands me a pair of gladiator sandals with arch support—also another thing from the pregnancy, my feet became incredibly swollen.

"Thank you!" I kiss her cheek and we saunter out the door. Reid waits with the Marshmallows at the bottom of the stairs. When they hear my steps, they turn. Reid's eyes widen in lust.

"You," he takes my hand from the last step. "Look beautiful, babygirl."

I blush and lean in for a kiss. Our lips meet halfway for a chaste kiss and I sigh in delight.

"Alright you crazy kids, the cars waiting for you," Ryan chimes. I smile at him and the other Marshmallows before Reid and I exit the house.

Living with them has been anything but simple. I've come to learn that the Marshmallows are just like any other teenagers. Their rooms are messy and they lack cleaning skills. I, however, gave them a strict pep talk focusing on the fact that they'll never get a relationship if their rooms look like a tornado plowed through them.

They all shaped up after that.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Reid asks from the drivers seat.

"Thinking about the Marshmallows."

He laughs, "I can't believe they let you call them that."

"They love me, that's why! And you threatened them!"

"True."

We sit in a comfortable silence the rest of the ride. It totals up to about a fifteen minute drive. We arrive at a warehouse and Reid parks. I look around as I try to think what we'd be here for.

"Come," he holds out his hand as he opens my door. I place my hand in his and we walk towards the warehouse.

"Don't judge a book by its cover, babygirl." As if he's reading my thoughts, he warns me. I nod and follow him up the short flight of stairs.

Halfway up the steps, I have to stop and catch my breathe. I didn't miss the cramp in my belly—like the one from earlier, just more intense. I rub over my swell and calm my nerves.

Reid turns and furrows his eyebrows in concern. He glances down at my hand caressing my bump and back at me. "You okay, babygirl?"

I mumble a 'yes' while nodding. Reid looks warily at me, but I urge him to continue up the steps.

We get to the top of the stairs and stand in front of a door. What is he planning?

He places my hand on the door knob and covers my eyes with his palms.

"Open the door."

I oblige and hear the creek of the hinges. Reid walks forward with me in front of him. We walk a few paces and still.

"Ready?"

"Mhm!"

His palms release from my eyes and I open to the most amazing and thoughtful sight. We're on the roof of the warehouse where strung lights hang off the wooden beams above us. A soft tune plays somewhere in the background that warms my heart.

"Did you do this?" I breathe out in awe.

"Well, the boys helped but it was my idea," his tone is prideful in his work.

"Reid! It's amazing!" I wrap my arms around his neck and get as close as I possibly can to him. My bump makes it impossible to press my body to his, but that doesn't stop me from trying.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, my angel."

We danced, chatted, kissed like horny teens and danced some more.

"Look out there," Reid points in the distance. I follow his index finger to the meadow filled with flowers. I race over to the edge of the roof top to get a better look.

"Reid, this is so—" I pause in my own sentence when I see more lights spread out in the meadow saying, 'Be Mine.'

I turn around and see Reid kneeled on one knee before me. I gasp and cover my mouth with my hands.

"Angel, I promised you my heart before, and now I give you my life. I want to spend the rest of our eternity together. I knew from the moment I met you, you were different, and I love that about you. You're mine, and I am yours," he pulls out a velvet box from his pants pocket. He flips the lid and a big, shiny ring glimmers inside.

"Marry me, Meredith Hill. Take my last name and marry me."

I still. He wants me to marry him! Son of a biscuit!

"Yes!" I jump up and down while the tears spill carelessly out of my eyes. This time, their happy tears.

Reid takes my left hand and slides the ring on my ring finger. I pull him up with my hands and kiss him like my life depends on it.

When we return back to the house, all members of the household, Holly and Oliver stand at the door waiting for me. They look warily between the two of us.

I hold up my hand and the diamond gleams in their eyes. They let out a sigh in relief and congratulate me.

We stay up for a while, talking and celebrating, before my day catches up to me. I yawn and stretch my limbs. The pain in my abdomen has increased, again, like period cramps but worse. Slightly fatigued and nauseous makes me more tired.

"Time to get you to bed," Reid steers me away from the crowd and takes me to our room.

"Thank you for today. I love you so much!" I kiss him as we settle in bed.

"Of course baby, I love—" his phone rings, cutting him off from his sentence. I feel a bit disappointed.

"What! . . . Really? . . . Now? . . . Okay, Okay, give me a minute . . . I'll be there soon." He hangs up and runs his hand down his face, clearly in distress.

"I'm so sorry baby. I have to go," he sighs and takes my hand. He kisses my knuckles gingerly.

"What? Where are you going?" I didn't hide the downfall in my voice.

"It's an important surprise, honey. A big one—for us!" Reid caresses my cheek with his knuckles.

"Oh . . . okay."

He sighs. His big blue eyes holding sparse pain. "Please don't be mad."

"Reid, honey. It's okay. I understand!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. It's okay baby," I kiss his cheek reassuringly and he smiles at me. I know he doesn't want to go, especially now, but if it's truly as important as he says it is, then it's okay.

"I love you. I'll be back soon!" He rushes out of the door and I hear the front door slam. I get up, and watch him from the window as he and Ryan drive off.

Out of nowhere, a sudden pain in my abdomen has me doubling over. I clutch my stomach and whimper. I still for a moment, attempting to get my breathing under control.

When the pain passes, I slowly raise and shift to bed awkwardly. But yet another pain prevents me from going any farther. I grip the night stand and unintentionally knock over a glass of water.

What's happening?

I shriek in pain when the knot in my stomach shifts. The door flies open and Luis runs to my side, followed by Jake and Ryder.

"Mariposa? W-What's wrong?" Luis stammers.

"I don't—" I'm cut off my my own scream as warm liquid drips down my thighs.

"Oh, shit!" Jake yells as he picks me up in his arms.

"The baby is coming!" Luis yells through the hallway as we move.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net