Step Up

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten:
Let it out

I took a deep breath and told them what they needed to hear.
"Mom ... Mr. and Mrs. Matthews ... I am pregnant." 

I was staring at them, waiting for a response.

Mrs. Matthew's mouth slowly dropped, her eyes watered, and her hand covered her mouth. Disappointment.

Mr. Matthew's head locked on anything but me, running his hands over his face and through his curly hair. Disappointment.

My mother's lips formed a small smile while her eyes became filled with an emotion I could not fathom. She reached over to me, kissed my forehead and hugged me tighter than she ever has before, taking the seat where Riley stood up from.

"We're gonna get through this, baby girl." She whispered to me. As she sat back down,
Mr. Matthews tried to speak but couldn't get anything out.
I just sat and stared at two of the most important people in my life as they sat in disappointment of me.

My mom looked at me, watching Cory and Topanga, and then looked at them.

"I don't understand how this happened, Maya," Cory exclaimed.

"That doesn't matter anymore," my mother said, "It did happen and what matters is that now we get through it. My daughter and I both love you very much. You're our family. And we would love if you didn't turn your backs now because of something we have no further control over. But that's your choice." She stood up, "Thank you for having us." she nodded. The night did not go as I would have hoped it would, but it was not disastrous. They just need time to process and until then I can do nothing but hope they come around when they do. 

She then grabbed my hand, and pulled me out of the apartment.

The car ride home was so silent, you'd think you'd have gone deaf.
Suddenly my phone rung with a text message.

Riles: Don't worry about my parents, they'll come around. They feel really badly about how they reacted but they're still shocked, just give them time. You're mom was smart for what she said and also to get you out when she did.

I decided not to respond to her, seeing as I had nothing to say but yet I felt like I also had everything to say but couldn't find the words to say it with.

"Thank you." I spoke up, "I know it must be hard for you... hearing your only daughter is having a baby at seventeen."

She looked over for a second and smiled before looking back at the road. I feel like some where in that blonde head of hers was disappointment that her daughter was turning out just like her. But maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

"I'm over two months. I missed my first appointment ... I should have told you earlier, I'm sorry. It's just that you're always working and you have enough going on in your life and I didn't want to add more stress." I said calmly. She glanced at me, her smile weakened.

" I don't care what I have going on, you're my daughter Maya. Your problems are my problems, it's my job to stress as your mother. We can figure this out. We'll get you to your next appointment and you can decide what you want to do ... whatever that is. I'll support you and help you out, however, best I can."

She kept looking at me, then back at the road, then back at me, then back at the road.

"It's not so bad you know: me turning out like you. You're a good mom. And you're an amazing person. You're strong. I'd actually be lucky to turn out like you."

She smiled at me once more, but this time it felt more real.
I smiled back as she grabbed my hand and kissed it with the love only a bond like ours could give. We sat, hand in hand, on our way home. Although there's a small possibility I may have just lost two very important people in my life, I didn't feel so upset in the moment. I finally felt close with my mom. That's all I've ever wanted and where we are now, I am.