Too Young

Too Young Chapter 10

Too Young

Chapter 10

Benjamin:
     Amy and I left around the same time Friday night. I was taking Jennifer out for dinner and to se a movie of her choosing. When I told Amy that, she started laughing. "You realize what you have done, right? Or maybe you don't realize. You will be going to see a chick flic. I hope you are okay with that, lover boy."
     I wanted to slap my sister for that little comment. "Yes, Amy. I realize that. And if we would happen to go out a second time it will be my pick. But I honestly don't see us going out more than once. I then explained why we had originally decided to go out because I couldn't remember if I had told her what had happened. And once again, Amy got another laugh at my expense.
     I picked Jennifer up at 6, and we decided to go to Taco Bell. Again, Jennifer's pick. That was fine with me. I just liked being around her. One of my favorite things I liked about her was her curiosity about everything. "Where was your favorite place to live. I mean, it had to be hard for you and Amy."
     I had to really stop and think about it. I really had never thought about it before. I really couldn't decide on one particular place. But there was one place that everyone thought was interesting. "We lived in Germany for four years." Jennifer sat and listened. "We have lived kind of all over."
     "Wow. Do you speak German?"
     "No. Amy and I never really had to learn. My mom might know a little bit, but I don't know for sure. My stepdad probably remembers it."
     "Well, I'm glad you moved here, although you probably don't see it that way."
     She was right. I sure didn't really see it that way. I was still really upset that I couldn't graduate at my last school. But I was going to do what Mom and Peter wanted me to do. Make the best of the situation. At that point, there was nothing else That I could do. I then realized that Jennifer knew a lot more about me than I knew about her. So I decided to ask some questions of my own. "You really don't talk about your family or anything. What's your family like?"
     Jennifer grew extremely quiet. "I really don't talk much about my life because I don't have much of one. I'm actually really surprised that Amber and Ashley didn't tell you when you turned Amber down."
     I had no idea of where she could be going with our conversation. I didn't think she could tell me anything that awful. "I don't get to go out very often anymore. I don't know how you're gonna take this."
     "What is it?"
     "Well, I have a baby."
     I could honestly say that I was not expecting that, but it didn't change the way I felt about her. "Wow. Boy or a girl?"
     "A boy. His name is Liam. He'll be a year old tomorrow."
     "What are you doing for his birthday?"
     Jennifer was extremely quiet. "I really couldn't afford to do anything, and my mom said that it was pointless, anyway. He wouldn't appreciate anything because he's too little."
     That made me really angry. Liam needed a little cake, at least. I had an idea, but wasn't sure if it would work. "Forget the movie, Jennifer."
     "What? Why? Oh. I know why."
     I knew that she thought that I was taking her home. But that was not the case at all. I drove to a bakery that I prayed was still open. I saw it when Amy and I were out one day. It was almost 7 o'Clock, so I didn't know if they were still open. Jennifer looked really confused. "Why are we here?"
     "We're going to try and see if we can at least get Liam a little cake that he can dive into. If we can order one, I'll come pick it up tomorrow."
     Tears began to fill Jennifer's eyes."You don't have to do that."
     "I want to. White or chocolate?"
     "White."
     I went in and went to order the cake. They told me they had one left from that day so I decided just to get that one. When I came out with the cake Jennifer looked totally surprised. "How did you ..."
     "It was the last one they had. Now your little boy can have some cake."
     "I have to pay you, Ben."
     I smiled at her. "No you don't. Let me do this for you. I want to."
     We were still able to make it in time to see the movie. I was glad I was able to help Jennifer out. I did wonder about Liam's father, but I wasn't going to ask. We enjoyed the rest of the night by ending it with ice cream. Then I took her home.