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Epilogue

I sit on my bedroom floor, criss-cross applesauce, doing my Algebra II homework. It's late May and it's been about nine months since Jake and I started the agreement. Ana is practically popping out of every since maternity pants that she has and Chuck has been smoking more cigarettes than ever lately. It's the 'stress' he says.

Graduation is in only a few shorts weeks and Jake and I are getting more and more serious everyday. I love him more than anything else, but the thought of moving out of this house and into another with him is scary. Being all alone and sharing a bed every night... It feels naughty.

My thoughts are interrupted by a pair of hands covering my eyes.

"This is so cliché... Please don't say 'guess who'." I sigh. Jake groans and pulls his hands away.

"You're no fun." He says. A pair of lips nibble at my neck and I can't help but smile.

"Just sit down and study with me. Jeez, you're annoying." I joke, pulling him down next to me. "Here, help with me this."

I hand him the packet that I had in my hand and he looks over it.

"This is easy..." Jake points out a few of the things that I was doing wrong and he keeps tapping my knee when he tries to make a point.

Just then, my phone rings. I grab it off of the floor and notice Ana's contact name. I answer it.

"Hey, what's up? I'm doing homework." I say, biting my thumb nail.

I can barely make out any actual words between the bad connection and the yelling. Finally, a voice breaks through.

"Hey, Manny, honey." Carol, Ana's Mom, answers. Instantly, my stomach lurches into my chest and anxiety tugs at me.

"Is everything okay? Where's Ana? Chuck?" I ask hastily. Jake looks at me strangely, as if to ask 'whats going on?'.

"She went into labor about half an hour ago. I just wanted to let you know, sweetie. She's okay, I'm going to stay here with her until the baby comes, but I think that you should come help her with this. She's freaking out and I know you can make her relax." Carol explains. "Chuck has been with her all day, he's here too."

"Yeah, of course. I'll be right there. Which hospital?" I run a hand through my waves and bite hard on my bottom lip.

"The Theriault Memorial Hospital, do you know where it is?" She says.

"Yep. Thank you so much, Carol." I thank her and I hear the line go quiet as she hangs up.

I turn to Jake, who seems to have finally clicked.

"The baby's coming?" He asks, his eyes suddenly going big. I nod. On command, Jake grabs his bag off of the bed and takes out his phone and wallet. Then, we're out the door.

Mom and Dad are sitting at the bar, like usual, reading the newspaper and drinking sangrias. It's a Saturday afternoon, so I don't blame them.

"Ana wen't int labor, bye!" I yell as I bound down the stairs, my jacket half on/half off.

"Bye!" My mom says. "Keep me updated!"

"We will!" Jake answers for me, waving to both of my parents and then closing the front door behind us. We get into his Chevy and are on the turnpike within five minutes.

"Breathe, Ana." The doctor instructs. Ana curses at him and practically spits in his face.

"Push a child through your pelvic bone and tell me how you like it!" She screams.

I'm standing at her head, refusing to even get close to her vagina. I really don't want to see the baby come out. I'll keep her calm and let her squeeze my hand up here by her sweaty face.