Blame It (Of Mice & Men)

Secrets Don't Make Friends Pt. 2

I sat up and gasped, turning to see Alan in bed next to me. I lifted my hand to my cheek and poked it. No pain. It was a dream. Alan didn't hit me. A hand rubbed my back and Alan sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, looking at me. "I had a bad dream. We got in a fight and you hit me," I whispered. "April, baby, I would never hit you, you know that," he said, pulling me to him. "I would never risk you or Jellyfish like that." I nodded and wrapped my arm around his waist, closing my eyes and drifting back to sleep.

I woke up for the second time to the bus stopping. Today marked 1 and a half months until the end of my pregnancy."April, we're home," Alan said, knocking on the door. I pulled on my sweatpants and grabbed my suitcase and walked-- well, more like waddled-- out the door. "Bye, April," the guys said, hugging me. They told Alan bye as well and we headed into the house.

"Hey Alan," I said as I was emptying out our suitcases. "Yeah?" "Um, can you do me a favor if it isn't too much trouble? I asked, starting the washing machine. "Sure babe. What's up?" he asked coming behind me and wrapping his arms around my swollen tummy.

"Um, can you get a bath started, please?" I asked. "Sure thing." He headed for the stairs and I sighed to myself. "It was just a dream," I told myself. Alan wouldn't get aggravated that easily. I walked up the stairs and smelled something.

I turned the corner into the bedroom and saw the bathroom door cracked open a little. I pushed the door open as Alan stood up and turned around wiping his hands on his jeans. He'd lit candles and threw rose petals on the floor and in the bath water. He'd even put a bunch of bubbles, just like he knew I loved.

"I just kind of wanted to make it special," he said, shrugging his shoulders a little. "Thank you, Alan," I said, placing my hand on my stomach as Jellyfish kicked. He kissed my lips before walking out and closing the door. I stripped off my clothes and carefully got in the bathtub, sitting down and engulfing myself in bubbles.

I closed my eyes and laid my head on the back of the tub and suddenly a sharp pain ripped through my abdomen. "Oh shit," I said, gasping and gripping the edge of the tub.

"ALAN!" I screamed as another contraction ripped through me. I heard him trip and run up the stairs, sliding into the doorway with wide eyes. "What?! What's wrong?" he asked. "No. No, no, no. You still have a month and a half to go!" he said with realization. I gripped the run edge with white knuckles and tears stung my eyes as another contraction bubbled up. "Jellyfish wants out NOW."