She's Having My Baby

The Name Game

Riley was sitting next to Maya on a couch and Lucas and Farkle were on separate chairs . They all sipped their drinks and made small talk for a while until Maya couldn't take it anymore.

"Why haven't we all hung out together in a group for so long?" she blurted out in the middle of a conversation.

Everyone went silent and stared at her.

"You don't need to answer that. I know why. It's because of me. Ever since I got pregnant, everything changed. It's weird and I don't like it. I'm sorry," Maya said.

Riley put her hand on top of Maya's.

"Maya, it's fine. We're fine. Just because things are different doesn't mean you need to apologize," Riley comforted.

"But I am sorry," Maya insisted.

She was tearing up now.

"How's those hormones, Maya?" Farkle laughed.

Maya wiped her eyes but they all caught her smile.

"It's just all so much and I want us all to stay friends through all of this. Can we please all stay friends?" Maya was practically begging now.

Riley patted Maya on the back and smiled at Lucas and Farkle.

"Of course we can," Riley said kindly.

They all nodded in agreement.

"So, have you guys thought about names?" Riley asked to change the subject.

Maya and Lucas exchanged clueless looks and both shrugged.

"With everything else going on, we haven't given it much thought. You guys have any suggestions?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah, we'd love to hear 'em," Maya agreed.

"Alright...hmm..." they all thought for several minutes before the suggestions.

"Okay, how about Kayla?" Lucas suggested.

Maya wrote it down on a napkin.

"Blaire? Macey?" Riley pondered.

Maya continued writing them down.

"Elizabeth? Nova?" Farkle tried.

"Oh, I like Avery. Or Noelle," Lucas said again.

"No, her name can't be Noelle if she's born in April. Ooh, April. That's adorable, Maya. Maya, write that down!" Riley squealed.

"Naomi, Brooklyn, Hope?" Farkle listed.

Maya was surprised they could come up with this many names. She had a whole list now.

"What about Mallory or Harper?" Lucas said.

"Or Scarlett, Arden, or Ariel?" Riley suggested.

"She's not a fish, Riley," Farkle laughed.

"Ariel is a mermaid, not a  Riley scoffed.

"Alright guys, I think we have enough," Maya interrupted, holding up the napkin that was now covered in name suggestions.

The group chatted for a little while longer, but then Maya started getting tired and uncomfortable. Riley offered to take her home, so she said goodbye to Lucas. He told Maya he'd come over after school the next day. Farkle said to text him any time if she needed company.

It wasn't even six o'clock yet, but to Maya it felt much later. She was tired pretty much all the time now, and Riley reminded her she'd probably be more tired once the baby got there.

Maya was both excited and terrified to meet her baby. She wanted to give birth right now, but she also didn't want to give birth at all. She expressed some of these thoughts to Riley, who was ever-positive and told her there was no need to be scared.

"What does it feel like, being pregnant?" Riley asked as she pushed Maya along the sidewalk.

"It's feels annoying," Maya told her.

"But like, can you feel her moving and stuff?" Riley asked again.

"Yup," Maya answered simply.

"All the time?" Riley questioned.

"Yeah, pretty much," Maya said.

"Weird," Riley thought aloud.

They got to Maya's apartment and Riley opened the door to push Maya in.

"Riley, listen. I know I was all weepy and hormonal and stuff earlier, but seriously: we'll always be friends even after the baby comes, right?" Maya asked.

"Especially after the baby comes," Riley reassured.

"Okay. Thanks for taking me home, Riley," Maya smiled.

"Thanks for caring so much about our friendship, Maya," Riley smiled back.

Maya let Riley shut the door and then wheeled herself over to the TV. She pulled the napkin with the name list out of her pocket and went back over them again. She got excited at the thought of getting to choose a name. It all seemed so real now. She folded the napkin up and carefully put it in her bedside drawer. She knew she'd be wanting that later.

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A/N: I don't have time to write one of these now so comment anything, surprise me 😂