Someone Like Us | Completed ✓

Chapter Ten: Jellybean

Week 18 (5 months), August 1

It was study hall, and Joan was sitting in the library with her friends, working on a paper that was due soon.

The pregnancy announcement on Instagram had really helped she and Ace at school. A couple of people were still skeptical and stayed far away from them, but for the most part, everybody had become very supportive and encouraging now that that knew the truth.

Suddenly Joan felt something in her stomach. It was a fluttery feeling, or tiny pulses. She gasped and pressed a hand onto her belly. "What the matter?" Brittney asked. "Is something wrong?" 

"I—I don't know," Joan said. She put both hands on her belly and waited for a few seconds... then there it was again.

Joan gasped again and put a hand over her mouth. "What's wrong?" Clara asked. "The baby's kicking!" Joan said. The girls gasped and put their hands on Joan's belly. They felt the tiny pulses and gasped. Alyssa squealed. "You have to get Ace!" she cried. Joan shot out of her chair (as quickly as she could with a baby bump) and ran with her friends down the halls.

Joan was the first to dash into the computer lab. "Ace!" she cried. Ace looked up from the monitor screen. His expression was concerned. "What's wrong?" he asked. Joan ran over to him and put his hands on her belly. Ace gave her a confused look. "What—"

"Just wait," Joan said. A minute passed, and soon others in the computer lab turned away from their work to watch.

Soon Joan felt the tiny pulses again. When Ace gasped she knew that he did, too. He put his other hand on her belly. "Is he kicking?" he asked. Joan smiled big and nodded. Tears came to Ace's eyes and he put a hand over his mouth.

"Honey, are you crying?" Joan asked. Ace didn't answer. A little sob snuck out when he felt another kick, and he wiped his eyes. "Wow," he choked out. He kissed her stomach. "My baby boy," he mumbled. "Oh my gosh!"

He felt another kick. More tears welled up in his eyes. "Hey, Jellybean," he said softly. "Trying to help mommy with her paper?" Joan laughed. "That or he hates being in school!" she said. "Let's hope it's not the latter," Ace said.

He kissed her belly again. "How could somebody want to get rid of this?" he marveled. "That's totally bizarre. He's precious. He's irreplaceable." 

"I know," Joan whispered. She was touched that her boyfriend would come to tears over his son kicking. She had never expected this.

She sat down in a chair, and Ace kept raving over Joan's belly and Jellybean's kicks. "We should probably get back to work," she said eventually. "There's only an hour left until the next class." Ace's face fell. "I guess you're right." "A good dad needs good grades!" Alyssa said. Ace grinned a little and rolled his eyes.

He kissed Joan's belly again. "See you later, baby boy," he whispered. "I can't wait to finally hold you in my arms!" 

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so short. I've been busy lately so I had to whip this up quick ;)