Six months later …335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflISW1AACe
"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."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnsPpHTurj
She groans.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrpqBsspoJ
"My gosh. You act like you're the father instead of Dracula."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6Sg3Betfq
"I want to be the child's godmother. Please?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxibkdVr1i4
"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?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwzaV6jIzc
"Yes, Nikki."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFhc5ERRvS
"Good."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJs36oezv3r
We get to school and go to our lockers. While we're getting our things, Charlotte says,335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2DRlM2Cco
"Oh, hey. I've been meaning to tell you something."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPM4YKut1W
"What?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SgDjs8BSm
"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."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJIdjsfuA2
"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—"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVCcjFLGiB
"Shh! Be quiet!" She sighs. "Oh, and his name is Mr. Balaur."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuszyfKMb10
"Mr. who?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR87J4XVlC
"Mr. Balaur."
"Oh, God. Do you realize who that is?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAYxgGoo14
"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?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCvwi6rUlX
I nod slowly and sigh. "Yes."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gDp0Bm0Uj
"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."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SsZZ0GuT6
"But what if he tells me to stay behind after class? Or if he has outside duty during free time?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekrY83kVoO
"Well, we're just going to have to hope for the best then."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtYQvhZ80p
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHh9HrNvm5
"Charlotte!"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFusv7vPIl
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuhkULFlGY
"Oh, hi Mr. Balaur."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSZUkqC52z
"Ah, Charlotte. Hello. Do you know where Mrs. Filmore is?"
"Oh, she should be coming back from the printer soon."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwc0WoPDhF
"Okay." He sighs. "Hi, Nikki."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNkp81n2SN
I close my eyes and hug Charlotte's things. "Hi."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSKZVd0TzJ
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk1Es39plE
"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."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2WoDQfaUS
The bell rings and I try to stand up. I fall and he—he—helps me up.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwHTO5VEQY
I smile half-heartedly. "Thanks." I look at Charlotte, who is staring intensely at him. "Uh, Charlotte?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HoPuJmN5Q
"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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW2weaIx2o
"Mom!" I rush up and hug her.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFBi0hldj0
She puts me at arm's length and examines me. "Are you alright? Did anything happen? Are you feeling well? Is—"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbONLACWfI
"Mom, calm down. I'm fine, everything's fine."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtM49A3KCd
"Okay. Alright. Well, you have an appointment today."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcLNpB7mEV
"Okay. Can we please go ahead and get there? Please?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWRvgpvUqF
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Can we please just go?"335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljdDM5OmiT
"Alright, fine. We'll go." She looks at the secretary and smiles. "Mm bye."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP4HEwk2xX
"Bye." He looks at me. "Enjoy your doctor's appointment."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCEfFuUmAl
"Yeah. Sure."335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjYhM9HCGL
We leave.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo04AR4H4H
