Girl in a Hoodie: Where the Future Lies

Chapter 1

Riley's POV:

I sat on James's bed, thinking about... well, life. My life. My hand was placed over my stomach which had somewhat grown the slightest, but not as much. I've had the best year of my life with James, his family, and my friends... Despite everything that's happened with Dad and Lauren and Myah and Alexa, some of the worst moments of my life, there were amazing times as well, like reuniting with my sister. I would have never thought I'd ever have been able to meet her, yet I did. But now I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do with myself and I don't know what's best for me and James, or for our baby. We've finished school and right now, I'm studying at University but from home. I'm way too preoccupied with the obvious...

The bedroom door slowly opens and then when I swivel my head around to the side, I see James, or... my fiancé. I still can't believe he actually proposed. At the time, my answer felt like a no-brainer, but one month later and I'm beginning to think this was a bad idea. Maybe it's too early. It's not too late to call it off, but I don't want to hurt him like that, and I don't want to hurt myself. I don't even know what I want.

He smiles at me before stepping inside the room and closing the door tardily, so as not to make too much noise. I shuffle up on the bottom edge of the bed to make room for him to sit which he happily does so. "How you doing, Ri?" he asks me, glancing down at my stomach.

"As good as I can do I guess," I answer. He takes both of my hands in his, holding them lightly and fixing his gaze on my silver-studded ring.

"Everyone's downstairs, I was wondering where you had gone off to," he states. I sigh. All of James's family were downstairs as Deborah had taken it into her own hands to 'celebrate our engagement'. I'm eighteen. I don't really want to celebrate anything. I adore Deborah, but sometimes she can be a little too much. I don't really feel like being around everyone at the moment.

"I guess I just don't feel up to being around everyone right now," I tell him, exhaling at the same time. He nods understandingly.

"You want me to stay with you?" he questions. I think about it for a short moment and shake my head.

"It's fine. Go. Have fun," I answer, smiling softly at the same time.

"You sure?" he asks. I nod. He leans forward and kisses my lips, allowing them to linger for a short while before eventually pulling away.

"I'll be down in a bit," I tell him as he stands up and begins to walk away.

"Okay, babe." I sigh as he leaves me on my own, shutting the door closed. Even though I told him to go, I wish he would stay with me. I prefer when it's just the two of us, not surrounded by a mob of people. But they're his family so I don't want to stop him from spending time with them.

Looking at my own reflection in the closet mirror, I sigh. I stand up and walk closer, fixing my hair properly where it had got severely messed up around the edges and smoothen it out. I then quickly grab James's hoody off of the bed and put it on over my short-sleeved t-shirt which was getting smaller each day. Except it wasn't getting smaller, I was just getting fatter. I know it's because of the baby but I just wish this pregnancy didn't have to affect my weight. It really does put a spin on things.

Taking one last look at myself, I breathe in and then force a small smile among my lips.

"It's okay, Riley. You're fine," I tell myself before straightening out my clothes and then walking towards the door and leaving.