Frostbite

Laiken

Being that I was at the gym last night and got home late, I didn't have time for a shower so I woke up early to freshen up before school. My legs are so sore this morning. Brian and I hit the gym for about two hours last night. He's a great coach. We spent the entire time chatting about the baby, his hockey team and Cole. I hope Cole isn't too upset with me because I went to the gym with Brian instead of him. Now that my schedule has freed up a bit, I hope to spend more time with Cole and our friends. I think about shooting him a text, asking if he's okay but I decide to just ask him when I see him at school.

As soon as I'm about to leave, my phone rings. After scrambling to retrieve my phone from my jacket pocket, I see that its Reese. I answer it on the last ring. "Hey Reese. What's going on?" I greet him. "Hey Laiken. Do you have time to drive Isabella and I to school? Mom's car is in the shop and my truck is out of gas" Reese exclaims. "No problem. I'll be there in two minutes." I hang up the phone and stick it back in my pocket. I make it to Reese's house in the elapsed time. They're sitting on the step of his mom's front porch. I motion for them to hop in. Reese helps Isabella into the front passenger seat. He gets in the seat behind her. "Thanks for taking us to school, Laiken" Reese says as he closes the rear door. I throw the car in reverse, backing out of the driveway. "Don't mention it. How are you doing Isabella?" Isabella looks down and rubs her belly. "We're okay. I have another appointment on Monday. When's yours again?" "Three weeks. I'm so excited! I can't wait until I start to show like you" I add. Isabella laughs. "It isn't all that's cracked up to be. Finding clothes to wear is getting more difficult by the week. My belly feels as hard as a rock too. Bending down feels so weird. Here, feel it." Isabella takes my right hand and puts it on her stomach just below her belly button. Her stomach is so much firmer than mine. Though, I'm barely showing besides that tiny bump that makes me look like I'm on my period. "Have you felt him kick yet?" I ask her while taking my hand off her stomach and back on the steering wheel. "Not yet. Its still too early. I do feel some fluttering from time to time, whatever that is" Isabella confesses.

We make it to school a few minutes later. It just so happens that there's an empty parking spot beside Cole's truck. I back into it and we all hop out. Cole notices us walking up to the building because he hops out of his truck and jogs over to us. "Wait up!" Cole shouts to us. We all stop and turn around. "Hey Beckett! Laiken gave us a ride. I have that resume for your dad. I'll drop it off after school if Laiken doesn't mind chauffeuring us around" Reese hints to me. "Of course not. Meet me at my car as soon as school ends." The four of us walk in together. Dylan and Cameron meet us at Cole's locker.

"Mornin' guys. Ready for our away game this weekend?" Cameron asks. "I haven't even packed yet. My parents and Maddie are coming by the way. We have to tell Darius not to bring any of the good stuff this weekend. My mom will be pissed if she found out we drink while we're away" Cole says while punching in his locker combination. Reese pipes up. "Isabella and I are already packed. I think we're going to pull an all nighter and sleep on the bus." "I didn't know you were going away this weekend. Why didn't you tell me, Cole?" I ask him. I glance over at Isabella. She gives me a concerned look. "I must've forgotten. I'm sorry. You can come to the next game, okay?" Cole apologizes. He shuts his locker and walks away. Cameron, Brian and Reese follow him down the hallway. I look at Isabella again. "What the fuck was that?" Isabella asks me. "I don't even know. I wonder if he's upset about the fact that I was at the gym with Brian last night." Isabella puts her hand on my shoulder and gives it a light shove. "What do you mean? Do you think he's implying that you're cheating on him or something? You're not, right?" I give Isabella a dirty look. "No what the hell! He's just a friend. Besides, I'm happily in love with Cole and I'm carrying his child for God's sake. Plus, Brian is Cole's best friend. I'd never do such a thing to either of them!" I shout. Isabella rolls her eyes. "It was just a question, geez. You don't have to act so defensive" she says while walking away from me.