Pregnant With Her Man's Baby

"Uh. Paige?" I heard Leyah say as I picked up the phone.

"What is it, Leyah? I am really backed up on homework. Can this wait?" I said really wishing Leyah hadn't interrupted my study-time.

I expected her to day that she would call back. But instead I heard her crying. She seemed really. Tore up about something. If you find Leyah crying, you know something is up. Leyah is one if those people that you will seldom find crying. As a matter of fact, I don't think I have ever seen her cry...

"Leyah? What is it?" I said beginning to be concerned.

I heard her sniffle. There was a long silence. "Leyah, listen. You know you can tell me anything. I will always be here for you." I waited for a response. Nothing.

I sat, expecting Leyah to tell me that se had been arrested or gotten fired. "I can just call you later. Since you're busy with homework."

"No! The homework can wait. Something is bothering you. Spill it!" I demanded closing my algebra book and focusing on the call.

"Paige... I, uh, I'm..." She began but burst into tears, "You are going to be so ashamed of me. I feel so horrible, Paige, I really don't know what to do."

"Hold it, right there. How am I supposed to tell you what to do if I don't know what's wrong? You have to tell me what's up." I pleaded

"You're right..." She said trailing off.

"Exactly, so tell me. What's wrong, Leyah?" I pushed

I could hear her sigh, "I. Am. Pregnant."

"You're what?" I said in disbelief.

"I'm pregnant." She repeated, sobbing again."I knew you would hate me. I just knew it. No one wants to be friends with a pregnant girl. I'm just some hoe now."

"Leyah, don't say that. You're not a hoe. And I don't hate you." I assured her.

She sighed, "I feel so horrible. What will the kids at school think?" And with that, she burst into tears once again.

"Leyah, I am not going to tell you that what you did was a good thing, but I'm not going to make you feel bad about yourself either." I said.

You don't understand, Paige. My parents... They will have me locked up in some all girls' school, or worse; KILL ME! Don't you know what this means?"

"Yes, Leyah, I know what it means. It means that you are very irresponsible. But I can also tell you what it doesn't mean." I said.

She waited for me to continue.

"It doesn't mean that you have to hurt yourself." I said in an almost motherly voice.

"I just feel so horrible." She said letting out a loud sigh.

"Yea, I know." She groaned.

"Good! And as long as you know that, you'll be fine." I assured her.

"Yea. I guess so..." She paused, "But, Paige?"

"Yea?" I said wondering why she paused.

"Don't you realize what will happen when everyone sees my baby bump?" She said. I did know what would happen. When everyone discovers the truth about Leyah, they would feel differently towards us. She broke my thoughts, "We won't be able to be the most popular girls in school!"

"Just the more reason to hate yourself. Stop it! Prom is only two weeks away. I'm sure you won't start showing before then." I said confident that this would ease her mind.

She made a noise, one that I know too well. It's the noise she makes when sea not telling you something. "How long have you known, Leyah?"

She didn't say anything for a while. I assumed she was a little embarrassed. "I know you're scared, but you've got to tell me." I said hoping for her to respond.

"I found out the week I got back from band camp." She said in a single breath.

"That was over a month ago, Leyah!" I shouted

"I know, Paige, damn! It's not really something I was ready to talk about." She said, obviously getting angry. I don't want this to make it any worse.

"Okay, I have to go now, but tomorrow I'll stop by your house before school, and we'll have a little talk." I suggested. Even though we have basically covered everything, there was one major detail she has left out. I won't prod her right now for answers; I know this has to be difficult for her. But at one point or another, she'll have to tell me; it might as well be sooner than later.

"'Kay. See you then." She said and hung up.

I brought the phone down from my ear and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath. I, honestly, never thought I'd live to see the day when little miss perfect would end up pregnant, let alone in our junior year of High School.

"My best fried is... Pregnant..."