Streetz 2: The Tried

16. Good Terms

"Well how did it go?"

I sat my bag down on the sofa, "What you think?"

"Whoa," Melody rolled her eyes, mixing a bowl of cookie batter in her hands, "You literally waste no time. You get to Cali and knock my best friend up, shame on you,"

Princess walked into the living room with that ugly ass cat, "How many months is she?"

"3." That meant that we conceived somewhere in November, right when I got out of prison. That shit was still insane to think about.

The doctor said that more than likely the weight gain that Ari had put on, could have interfered with her birth control. And because they don't usually give out pregnancy tests when you're already on the continuous cycle of taking it, they never checked.

It was a slight possibility. Ariana hadn't even put on that much weight and she stayed moving around so it didn't make sense to me. Ms. Lauren explained that sometimes stress levels could also interfere and maybe Ari was really stressed out at some point and had forgotten to take it, or it just wasn't as effective. Either way, there was a baby now, so there's that.

"And she wasn't showing any signs of morning sickness, cramps, or anything?" Princess asked, sitting that stupid cat down.

"Nah, not that I know of, she's been fine."

"Well, what about you?"

"Fuck you mean?"

"You've been sick," Melody pointed out, "You may not have vomited but you've been nauseated a lot. Maybe she didn't know because you were the one having the symptoms, not her."

"Mel, shut up."

"It's true." Princess agreed, "It's called Couvade syndrome and basically it's when men experience symptoms that mimic those experienced by their partners during their pregnancies."

I sat still, not saying a word.

"That's why that medicine wasn't working," Melody laughed, "I was wondering why."

Princess laughed too, "This is so cute, I wonder how long that will last."

"Y'all think this shit cute?" I huffed.

They laughed together again, "Duh,"

"My best friend is pregnant because of you so I owe you," Melody walked away, pouring the cookie batter onto the cookie sheet in the kitchen.

"Congratulations again," Princess smiled, "A baby is a blessing and I can't wait to spoil him or her,"

"I hope it's a girl!" Melody yelled.

Princess glanced at me, "I got a feeling it's a boy."

I rubbed the side of my face and shook my head. All them damn times that I didn't wrap up before hitting and I never thought it would hit back like that, at least not for a few more years. Ariana and I both believed her birth control to be effective and this was just another thing added to the long list of dealings.

After a few hours, I was on my way to pick Ariana up from class. Ever since we found out back at her mom's house, she ain't really been in the mood to talk. I pulled up next to the library and waited for her to walk out. 

"Hey," I smiled, opening the passenger door for her as she threw her books in the backseat.

"Hello,"

"How was class?"

She fastened her seat belt, "Class was great,"

I chuckled to myself and peeled out of the loading area. Ever since we had gotten back, this was how our conversations were; short and dismissive. She didn't want to talk and I get that, but she was acting like it was my fault and it wasn't. Not entirely anyway.