Beyond The Pale

number 2

Monty's POV

My head was spinning the whole way to Walplex. I knew for a fact they'd be open, a place like that wouldn't care if it was Christmas or not. Anything to make a buck. I quickly went in and out, buying two different kinds of pregnancy tests. One that was supposed to detect pregnancy 6 days before your missed period, and one that was a little cheaper but still good. I was praying no-one I knew saw me.

On the drive back to Raina's, I wondered. What kind of father would I be? I knew hardly nothing about kids. Sure, being with Ashe all the time taught me some of the basics, but I'd never even touched a baby, let alone fed one. How the fuck do you change a diaper? What if I dropped it? It was rattling my nerves even thinking about it.

But, I knew the right thing to do was stand by Raina and raise our little family together. That's what I wanted all along, I just didn't know how to feel about being a teen dad. She was a great mother, excellent parenting. Hands down. She didn't raise her voice to try to intimidate Ashe. He was well behaved, brilliant. She was caring, and loving, and understanding. She was ready for this. I, however, was freaking the fuck out.

I sat in my Jeep for a minute once I'd pulled back into Raina's. This was stressful. I loved her and Ashe both, but was I really ready for this? Ultimately, I knew I'd have to be, if she was pregnant. But there was still a little fear in the back of my mind that this was all going to mess me up.

I found Raina in the kitchen, Ashe napping peacefully on the sofa. She was at the kitchen table, her head in her hands. She had been crying, and from the looks of it, she was taking all of this pretty rough too.

"Here babe." I handed her the Walplex bag and kissed the top of her head. She sighed shakily, and headed off for the bathroom. I sat at the table, and waited. I didn't know anything about a pregnancy test, so when twenty minutes had passed and she was still in the bathroom, I started to get scared.

I lightly tapped on the bathroom door, trying to coax her to let me in. The door was locked, and when I'd jiggled the handle she had asked that I just give her a minute. I knew then. We were going to have a baby.

"Raina, let me in. Please." I whispered softly, and after a minute of hesitation, she unlocked the door. On the counter sat both pregnancy tests. Two lines as pink as could be on each of them. "I'm pregnant." She said emotionlessly, and I sat on the tub, trying to take her hand. It was limp in my own, which only made me grip it tighter. "Monty, I am so fucking sorry." She said dryly, her voice cracking and the tears falling freely off her face and onto her sweatpants. I tried to hold her, but she stiffened up at my touch, so I tried not to push it.

"Don't be sorry, babe. I mean, it's kind of my fault for not pulling out the night we had sex for the first time. Not only that, though. You weren't the only one who made this baby. I did, too. We're both responsible. I'm going to get a job, a good one. I'll quit school and work full time if I have to-" She gave me a dirty look. "You are not quitting school, Montgomery De La Cruz." I giggled at her stern tone, the scowl on her gorgeous face. Fuck. We were having a fucking baby.

"Whatever I have to do, I'll do it, Raina. I swear. We can move, out of town, out of state, you name it.  You can finish out the school year, and by then you'll have your counter offer from the Walker's. You can take next school year off and stay home with Ashe and the baby..." All of this sounded so surreal coming out of my mouth. Me, a fucking dad?? A teen dad, at that, with a whole ass pregnant girlfriend, a step son, and no job.

I stood up, my mind cloudy and my skin boiling. "It's so hot in here," I muttered, taking off my flannel. Raina looked at me, clearly worried, but I didn't pay it any mind. I was feeling trapped in that bathroom, I couldn't fucking breathe. "I'm gonna go to my house and get some stuff, babe. I'll be back in a little while, okay?" I announced, and Raina nodded.  She seemed a little disappointed, but I knew she'd get over it. I was coming back.