Frostbite

Cole

My parents invite Laiken to have dinner with us. She accepts the invite. We're going out for Chinese food. Her parents join us. As soon as we sit down to order, mom pipes up. She suggests some items on the menu that are safe for the baby. Laiken's parents give her a dirty look. I try my best to change the subject. "Did you guys see clips of the game last night? We won by one point." I gloat. "Yes I saw. Good job. I'm looking forward to seeing you on the big screens next year" Laiken's dad says. Mom asks us about our goals for next year after Laiken and I graduate. Laiken's parents let her know that Laiken plans on continuing her skating career. They want her to work towards their dream of watching their daughter represent Canada at the upcoming winter Olympic games. My mom laughs at their response. "What's so funny?" Laiken's mom snarls. "You're daughter shouldn't even be skating. She's carrying my son's-" "Mom stop!" I shout, cutting her off. "She's... what?" Laiken's dad questions. I sigh and look across the table at Laiken. Laiken bows her head. "Mr. and Mrs. Collins, Laiken and I have something to tell you". I pause. "We're pregnant". Her parents gasp. Laiken's dad drops his fork into his lap. "Excuse me? When did this happen?" her mom asks. "We found out earlier this week. Laiken has a doctors appointment tomorrow. We're going to see the baby for the first time" I elaborate.

Laiken's parents take turns questioning us. They didn't even know we were sexually active. We had sex one time. I didn't know this could've happened or I would've been more prepared that night we lost our virginities around the fire behind my house. Maybe I would've worn a condom. Better yet, maybe I should've pulled out. Either way, its too late now. We're having a baby and there's no changing that outcome. I also decided to skip practice tomorrow and attend Laiken's appointment. Being that my schedule is so busy, I don't know how many appointments I'll be able to attend in the near future.

Monday morning finally arrives. The guys boast about the hockey game before class starts. The game doesn't even matter to me anymore. What matters most is having the opportunity to see my kid on screen for the first time ever. I can't stop looking at the clock. Counting down the hours until school ends. Laiken's looking forward to it too. She keeps looking at her phone in class. Though, it isn't me she's texting. I meet her outside the English room door as soon as the bell rings. "Who were you texting all class?" I ask. "Isabella. I was asking her what to expect at today's appointment. She's getting an ultrasound done after school too. Maybe we'll see her there" she adds.

Laiken and I meet at the doctors office right after school. She checks in, then we have a seat in the waiting room. Isabella and Reese walk through the front entrance. "What's goin' on guys?" I ask, getting up to give Isabella a hug and fist bump Reese. "We have Isabella's eighteen week appointment today. We get to find out the kid's gender" Reese tells us. Isabella checks in, then sits beside Laiken. "Are you nervous?" Isabella asks her. "Not really. I just have to pee really bad. Do I really have to drink all of this water?" "Yup. Every time. Just you wait. They'll make you drink this really disgusting juice to test for gestational diabetes when you're further long."

Laiken's name is called. She stands up and walks into a room. I follow her. Laiken has a seat on the bed in the room. The nurse practitioner has a seat in the office chair beside her. "So Laiken Collins, I see you suspect a pregnancy. Have you tested?" the nurse asks. "Yes I took one test. It came up positive right away." "Good to hear. Let's do another urine sample and bloodwork. We can have the results in about half an hour if you'd like to wait in the waiting room." Laiken completes the testing in the lab next to the waiting room. I save her a seat in the meantime. Isabella and Reese must've already gone into the ultrasound room because they weren't there when I came out. While I wait for Laiken to be called in again, I text my dad.

Cole: Laiken just finished her bloodwork and urine sample. Just waiting on results. I'm so nervous, dad. I'm sweating. Hope coach isn't mad I skipped practice.

Dad: Good luck, son. Don't worry about practice tonight. There's always tomorrow.

Laiken is called in again. We follow the nurse practitioner into another room. "Have a seat, guys." We sit down in the chairs across from where the nurse is sitting. The nurse pulls up Laiken's file. "Your results came back. Congratulations. You're having a baby! Let's get you an ultrasound before you leave" the nurse says. She leads us to another room way on the other side of the office. We pass by Reese and Isabella in the hallway. "We're having a boy!" Reese hoots. I give him a high five. "Congrats, brother" I cry out. Its our turn to have an ultrasound performed on Laiken. She rolls her leggings down just enough so it doesn't expose too much. The tech squirts cold blue jelly on her lower abdomen. I don't have a clue what I'm supposed to be looking at, but Laiken clearly does. I look over at her. She's tearing up. She has the biggest smile on her face. The tech points to the screen. All I can see is a tiny little circle shaped object floating around. "There's your baby" the tech coos.