Devine

41

I go downstairs. "You think dad's really gonna marry her?"

"Why not? She's like our mom."

"But she's not our mom." What?

"I thought you liked her."

"I did but I rather not have a mom or someone mom like around because I want to do what I want."
Oh. "She's the closest we're gonna get Paris and she's like perfect." Aww River. "I don't want her around but don't tell her or dad. I'll do something about them."

"Stop being a child Paris." I can't believe she would say that. I go back up. "Hey babe. Aren't you and the kids leaving soon?"

"I don't want to go anymore."

"What happened?"

"Paris doesn't want me around anymore and I don't know what I did wrong. I've been trying my best to be different." He hugged me. "I'm trying to change my attitude and my yelling and cussing. I guess I'll go back."

"Wait."

"No it's settled. I'm back to how I was since the new me isn't good enough." He let me go. "It was babe. Don't let her change you. You've been doing really good."

"Okay. I'll ignore it for now.x

"Don't let this put you in a bad mood."

"I won't. I'm gonna go to work normal in a good mood."

"Like you should." He kissed me. "I love you.".
"I love you too."
~~~~~~~
I go inside the school. I've seen three fights already. That's great. I go to my office and see Ariana sitting outside my door. "Good morning sweetheart." I unlock my door. "Good morning." We went in. "Okay so tell me what you decided on. If you decided."

"Okay well, I told my mom last night, I just sat her down and just said I was pregnant."

"What did shesay?"

"She said that I can keep the baby and she'll help but I need to finish school. I'll need someone to babysit. But I have to do it on my own."

"Wow. I wish I had those options but anyway, is that what you're doing?"

"I think..I kinda want to. "

"Is that final? You sound unsure."

"I'll think about it more."

"Okay. Do you need anything else?"

"Can you print me some papers about pregnancy...teen pregnancy? I don't want to go to the library."

"Of course."

"Miss do you know how many pregnant girls are in this school?"

"I've seen a few. I've tried to stop and talk to them but they get mad and keep walking. I understand that. But I want to help. I went to college just so I can be a counselor and help with teen pregnancy."

"What's your reason?"

"My reason? I'm almost twenty seven and I have a ten year old. What do you think?" She thought for a second. "Oh you were sixteen?"

"Mh. I want to help girls or couples make the best choice for them."

"That's really cool."

"Thank you." Someone knocked on the door. "Can you get that for me?" She opened the door. "Good morning.'

"Morning."

"Do you need something?"

"I'm the old counselor. I'm here to take my job back."

"Yeah no. You're good. You ran away so I'm here now."

"Ran away?"

"Mhm."

"Okay, we'll see if you can last the rest of the month."

"Okay bye. I'm busy. I'm sure you have other things to do like.... powerlifting." She looked offended and Ariana laughed which made me smile. She just walked out. "Okay anyway. Do you need anything else?"

"I don't think so. I'll have to get back to you later. Yesterday, you weren't in your office."

"I had other things to do. I'm sorry but hopefully I'll be in here today."

"Okay. Well I'm gonna go to class now. Thank you."

"No problem." I don't understand why a counselor would leave because of the students.
~~~~~~~
Apparently I'm supposed to email parents about students absences. Do I not get any help with this? I thought it was weird that we only have one counselor. Maybe in middle school and elementary but in highschool we had at least four. For every grade but I guess it's different over here. I hate to email someone while they're working. Someone knocked on the door. I get up and open it. "Hi."

"I need to talk to you."

"Okay come in. What's your name?"

"Jaquelin."

"Alright. What's up?"

"Okay. I've seen my girlfriend come to you."

"Ariana?"

"Yeah."

"Okay and?"

"What do you guys talk about?"

"If she's your girlfriend I would think you know. She told me you knew."

"I know about the baby but what about it did you tell her?"

"Why does it matter? If she wants you to know she'll tell me. I'll ask her but until then I can't tell you a conversation I had with another student. Now if you have a problem we can talk."

"Alright. My girlfriend is pregnant with my baby and I broke up with her. What do I do?"

"Go with what she wants. It's her choice."

"But I think I should have a say because it's my baby, right?"

"Of course but she makes the final decision. Do you want a baby?"

"Not really."

"You're in highschool and that's understandable. One thing I told her was to not force you to want the baby. You have a life and so does she."

"Yeah but if she keeps it, I would need to be involved don't I?"

"Child support yes."

"If she keeps then...fuck. My parents don't even know. What do I do miss?"

"Talk to her. I'll talk to her too."

"Okay."

"How's your attendance by the way?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"I'm emailing everyone's parents about it. Meaning the whole school basically."

"I guess it's okay. I don't know."

"Okay. Do you want anything else?"

"No."

"Okay well-."

"Wait. Why are you helping Ariana?"

"Why not? I'm a counselor. She needs help and I've been in her place when I was younger."

"And what did you do about your boyfriend?"

"You talking about child support?"

"Yeah."

"I waited until my kids were like five to start asking him for money. If she can handle herself and doesn't want you then okay but it's your baby too remember that.'

"Okay. Thanks miss."

"No problem." He got up and walked out.