Chapter 22

Samantha laid there on the bed, watching TV later that night when she heard someone come on the bus and Nick walked to the back, throwing his bag down and looking at her as Brian walked back.

“Hey girl… what’s up?” asked Brian as Samantha got up and hugged him.

“Nothing much, how are you?” asked Samantha, “How was the show?”

“Good…” said Nick as he sat there on the sofa and looked at her as he looked back at Brian.

“It went great.” Said Brian as he saw the look Nick was giving him, “I’m beat.. I’m gonna go on in my bunk… night.”

“Goodnight.” Said Samantha as Brian walked out and Samantha sat back on the bed, on her knees as she looked at Nick, “I don’t like that look you’re giving me.

“How could you get pregnant?” asked Nick as Samantha looked around.

“Accident’s happen.” Said Samantha.

“When are you due?” asked Nick as he got up and sat down on the bed as Samantha looked over at him.

“January 27th.” Said Samantha as Nick looked at her in shock.

“Like almost my birthday?” asked Nick, “Seriously…” as he started to count, “April.. prom?”

“Yeah…” said Samantha as she smiled.

“I thought you were going to be careful…” said Nick, “You’re parents are gonna have a freak attack I mean.. well you’re only 17.. you’ll be 18 in a few days.”

“Yeah a little young… younger than I ever expected.” Said Samantha.

“God… I can’t believe this.” Said Nick, “So… a boy or a girl?”

“I dunno..” said Samantha, “I dunno.. I know I’m pregnant and I’m due the day before your birthday.” As Nick smiled.

“Well I mean.. this is great news, I mean, of course you and Jake will get married now.” Said Nick as Samantha looked away.

“I dunno…” said Samantha, “I’m not ready to get married to anybody, must less him.”

“Much less him?” asked Nick as Samantha looked down and back up at him, “He hasn’t hit your or anything has he? I mean I’ve had my suspicions like the day after the prom, but I didn’t say anything.”

“No.. no.” said Samantha, “He hasn’t.”

“You sure, I’ll kick his ass, get security on him, he’s gone.” Said Nick as Samantha nodded her head no.

“No Nick, it’s fine.” Said Samantha, “I promise… he hasn’t hurt me.”

“I just… can’t believe it…” said Nick as Samantha laid down on the bed on her side, facing him, with her head propped up on her arm and Nick looked at her from head to toe, “You don’t look like a mother.”

“I’m sure your father said the same thing to your mother when she got pregnant with you.” Said Samantha as Nick laughed as he smiled at her. He could tell she was glowing; maybe it was that pregnancy glow that he always heard them talk about on soap operas. Maybe he shouldn’t say anything so she wouldn’t know he watched them.

“You look happy now.” Said Nick as Samantha smiled.

“Well you’re happy for me.. I’m kind of disappointed in myself, but you’re taking this well and you’re happy for me…” said Samantha, “Just I’ve got to tell Jake and we have to tell our parents. So… this means no FSU. I’ll have to get out and get a job or something.”

“You don’t have to get a job, you got me.” Said Nick.

“Nick… that’s not your place to do that and besides, Jake won’t let you. I mean he get jealous enough like those earrings at Christmas and the car for graduation. God when he finds out I came here…” said Samantha as Nick interrupted her.

“He doesn’t know you came here?” asked Nick as Samantha nodded her head no.

“No.” said Samantha, “No he doesn’t know. My mom took me to the airport…. I told her to tell my father. It doesn’t matter, I’m almost 18. I’m an adult. I made a mistake and I’m gonna pay my consequences, I won’t go to college, I won’t be a teenager anymore. I’m going to have a baby and that’s that.”

“Well you know if you need anything, you can come to me. If you need a place to stay, you can stay at my place. I’m never there anyway…” said Nick.

“Nick… it’s not your baby… it’s not your place… it’s my responsibility… I just have to get the nerves to tell Jake and to tell our parents and everything.” Said Samantha.

“Is Jake going to be mad?” asked Nick as Samantha leaned up a little more and her sundress rose up on her legs and Nick noticed it as he looked back in her eyes.

“I dunno… he wants us together forever, that’s what he says… and if we are, someday we’ll start a family so I guess just a little bit sooner than later.” Said Samantha as she laid back on the bed on her back and lifted one leg up a little, bent with her foot flat on the bed. Nick just laid there looking at her as he leaned over a little.

“Cant you feel it or anything?” asked Nick as Samantha looked over at him.

“I dunno…” said Samantha, “I haven’t really tried to.” As she put her hand on her stomach and Nick watched her as he put his hand on it, “I don’t feel anything.”

“Me neither.” Said Nick as he looked back at her, “Ohh.. well I better go on to the bunk, I’m tired…” as he stood up and looked around, confused as Samantha sat up.

“You okay, that didn’t freak you out did it?” asked Samantha.

“Oh no…” said Nick as he smiled, “I’m just tired, one hell of a show tonight. So you gonna sleep here?”

“Sure.” Said Samantha as Nick leaned over and hugged her.

“I’m glad you came…” said Nick.

“Me too.. ” said Samantha as Nick smiled and walked out. Samantha sat there and looked around as she sighed. She knew Nick was acting weird, but she thought it was because she was pregnant. She didn’t know what he was really thinking.

Nick got up in his bunk, putting his hands over his head trying to get Samantha’s image of her laying like that out of his mind. He didn’t know why in the hell he was even looking at her like that. He never had before.

“That’s a lie..” Nick thought as he nodded his head no.

She was about to be someone’s mother, and why the hell was he looking at her like that for. She was his best friend, and she was pregnant. He knew Jake was doing something to her and she was denying it. He knew he couldn’t do anything about it until she confided in him. Maybe it was just his judgment on Jake and the fact that neither of them liked each other.

“Damn.. stop.” Nick thought as he smiled and peeked out of the bunk to see the door open. He looked to see Samantha laying flat on the bed on her back with her hands on her stomach, feeling it as he started to smile.