My Coffee Boy

|six|

It was nearly a week later, and not much progress had been made with Grayson. I understood that he was mad, but this? He might as well just break up with me instead of leaving me on a cliffhanger 24/7.

Jenna took Grayson's place. Every other day she came by before school with coffee. She became the first person I would confide in. The first person I would choose to help me make big decisions with.

Like this one.

All my life I told myself, if I ever got pregnant as a teenager, and I sure hoped I wouldn't, I would keep the baby. But after talking to my mom, Jenna, and Cole, we decided it would be best for me to go the adoption route.

I had Jenna help me find a good contender, and after a long debate: "She has a dog!" "What if the baby's allergic?" We finally decided on a woman named Beth. She was from Washington, and was looking to adopt. Beth emailed me and said she was single, and hadn't gotten married because every one she dated wanted they're own kids. But Beth couldn't have kids because of the cancer she once had, removing any chances of her own children. She'd seemed friendly enough, but this would be the final test.

I pushed open the door to Diane's Diner, a popular diner that was open all the time. I searched for Beth, and rested my eyes on a woman with blonde hair in a tight ponytail, and was wearing jeans and a buttoned down shirt.

"Beverly." Beth stood up, a kind smile on her face.

"Hi!" I said, grinning back. "I'm so glad to meet you, Beth."

"You as well," Beth said, a smile still on her lips. "I'm so excited to talk to you."

"Me too," I said. Before we could get into conversation, a waiter came by to take our orders. I got onion rings and chicken tenders, and Beth got a salad. I immediately felt self-conscious.

"So," Beth said. "I had a lot to say, but I decided to put it into this notebook." She pulled a large spiral notebook out of her purse, and pushed it over to me.

"What's in it?" I asked, shoving it into my bag.

"Everything," Beth answered. "Like, seriously everything."

"Wow," I smiled. "I wasn't expecting this."

The rest of the dinner was just talking, not much about the baby, but more about Beth and her life. I felt like I needed to get to know her.

I got home, greeted my mom, then started to run the bathtub. I was in desperate need of a bath, and I decided to start paging through the notebook Beth gave me.

Once in the tub, I took a deep breath as I opened. Immediately, it showed the public schools she'd go to, what food she'd eat, clothes she'd wear. After flipping through a few pages, I finally found the page I needed to find.

The name.

I smiled before I even read it. This name would hold my babies future name, only the most important part. I told Beth she could choose, considering it would be her baby.

So I read it, and when I did, I nearly screamed.

Naomi Claire Campbell.

Maybe to you that isn't the perfect name. But to me, it was. The way it flowed and tied together, just seemed so perfect to me.

I immediately drained all the water in the bath tub, and pulled on pajamas, rushing downstairs to where my mom was watching the TV.

For about fifteen minutes we shuffled through the book, gasping, and sighing, and laughing, then I heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it," Mom said. She pushed off the couch, and I watched as she opened the door, and the second I did, the voice I heard made me jump to the ground and hide.

"Oh my God, oh my God," I whispered repeatedly.

"Grayson!" Mom sounded shocked. "What a surprise. Come on in."

"Is Beverly here?" I heard Grayson ask. Crap.

"Yeah, she's in here." I popped up the moment I heard her say this.

"Hi." I said, scratching my neck awkwardly.

"Can we talk?" Grayson asked, just as awkward.

"I'll leave y'all to it." Mom winked at me as she walked upstairs, I flinched as I heard her bedroom door shut.

"So," I said, refusing to make eye contact. "What is it."

"Beverly," Grayson said. "I'm so sorry I lashed out at you. It was so immature of me." I felt my eyes tear up. "I just was upset and I hated you for a moment. But I realized my mistakes. I love you."

I looked up at him as tears spilled from my eyes. "I didn't want to lose you."

Grayson came up to me, wrapping his arms around my neck. That's when I started sobbing.

"I couldn't stand not knowing whether you hated me or not, whether we were still together or not," I cried.

"I'm sorry Bev." Grayson stroked my head.

"Don't be." I pulled back, wiping my tears. "I need to think before I speak."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Gray."

The next morning I woke up at the crack of dawn, surprised to find myself leaning against Grayson on the couch, who was still asleep. The TV was still on, playing reruns of Friends.

"Y'all were watching TV, and when I came down, both of you were passed out." I turned my head to see Mom, sitting at the kitchen table, holding a cup of coffee, and a small smirk on her face.

I smiled down at Grayson who was still asleep, then leaned against him, finding myself fading into sleep.