I'm Not Dead

Chapter Twenty-Two

Walking down the halls at school was intense. Laura wore her ring—which really wasn't much to look at, just a thin band with a measly diamond—proudly on her finger.

I got the ring at this antique shop downtown, and bargained like hell to get them to lower the price. I explained that I had a baby on the way, and looking as young as I am they finally did. I left with that ring just a week after Laura told me she was pregnant, that she lied about the abortion. In the week that followed, I carried that ring in my pocket, looking for the perfect opportunity to ask her to marry me.

But I couldn't each time. It wasn't right. It didn't feel right. She's my girlfriend. Even though she's carrying my son, if we do get married I want it to be because I want to get married to her, not because I feel forced to marry her.

So I quit carrying it so often.

It's been sitting in my shirt drawer since Christmas.

And now Laura's wearing it, flaunting it off.

We haven't even told her parents. Or mine.

That's what's coming tonight.

Laura and I worked to make dinner. We made a southwestern style mac and cheese and Laura worked to set the table. Nervous to make sure that everything was perfect. Our parents get along well together, but with such big new as this there's no telling what might happen.

"Okay, my parents will be here at seven. The food can't be cold. And Elliot you have to eat."

My stomach turned just thinking about it.

I looked at the time on my watch I stole from my dad for the night. It was getting close to seven. I put the mac in the oven to keep it warm.

Then the doorbell rang. Laura gave me a look of horror.

I took her hands in mine. "Laura, it'll be okay." I kissed her cheek and went to answer the door. I welcomed Rebekka and Brad into my house, telling them that my parents would be home soon. Laura came out of the kitchen and welcomed her parents, the ring gone from her finger.

Mom and Dad came through the door a minute later. We all chatted a little then sat down at the table to eat.

We discussed the baby for a while, Mom nagging at us to try to get us to spill on the gender. Laura and I agreed that we would know the gender and that we'd keep it a secret.

I forced down the food very slowly, getting one skeptical look from Mom.

Once everyone had finished eating for the most part, I looked at Laura. Then I stood and cleared my throat. "Uh, Laura and I have something we'd like to announce."

I glanced under the table. Laura slid on the engagement ring. Laura smiled a little as she did so. She held her hand. "We're engaged."

I looked around the table. Both sets of parents were dead silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

"Mom? Daddy?" Laura said, her smile quickly fading.

Brad stood up and left. Rebekka looked at Laura, gave a sorry look, and went off after him. Laura bit the inside of her lip and went after her parents. I sat back down, looking down at my lap and trying to keep my food down.

I couldn't.

I stood up and rushed to the bathroom, Mom trying to talk to me through the door. Once my stupid stomach was empty I stood up and splashed water on my face and rinsed my mouth out. Mom kept saying that she's okay with it, she's just not sure it's such a good idea.

She followed me as I went outside. Laura was out there, being yelled at by her father. I've never seen her father yell like this. Laura stood there, taking it all, tears running down her cheeks. Her mother was silent too.

"Listen," I said but he cut me off before I could say anything else.

"No you listen. My daughter is barely eighteen and you think you can just ask her to marry you without even talking to me? Her father? Not only did you get her pregnant, but now you want to marry her? I don't know what crazy world you've been living inside your head, buddy, but you need to get back to reality."

"I didn't ask her to marry me. It was her idea. She offered. She's eighteen. Whether she's a day eighteen or ten months eighteen she's still eighteen. And I'm sorry that she's pregnant. But we're all going to be one big happy family, and yelling at your daughter like that isn't going to solve anything, now is it?"

"Elliot," Laura said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back.

Brad scoffed. "Whatever." He stalked off towards their car parked on the curb. Laura hugged me goodbye.

"I love you, Elliot," she said.

"I love you, too, Laura." I kissed her cheek and watched as she got in her car and as they drove off.

We got married after school, with all the witnesses and necessary papers signed. Walking out of the courthouse, I didn't feel that much different as a married man. I'm sure Laura didn't feel much different either.

I'm not saying that I was a little pissed at Laura for not allowing us to have sex, but I wanted to have sex with my wife. Hell I just wanted to have sex. Was that such a bad thing? I am still just a teenager after all.

Her dad glares at the two of us whenever he sees us together. We're slowly starting to buy baby stuff for the nursery, trying not to spend all the money at once. Most the time we leave baby stores feeling more confused than when we enter.

The weeks and months are just counting down. Laura is starting to tell people how many months pregnant she is instead of weeks, although I'm still keeping weekly track. Four months. Seventeen, almost eighteen weeks.

It's all going by so quickly, and each day there's more talk at school about graduation. Laura's freaking out, worried that she'll be pregnant for it. I keep assuring her that the gown will hid the bump but she's still worried.

I'm running out of ways to reassure her.