Even Angels Fall

Chapter 18

                              ~~~~Christina~~~~

Over the next two weeks, I paid closer attention to my habits and the way I felt than I ever had before. So far there had been nothing to worry about. There was nothing out of the ordinary and nothing to indicate that I might be pregnant. The only thing that did scare me a little bit was when Mike took me out on Saturday for the special date that we didn't get to do, on Thursday. 

He took me to this outrageously fancy restaurant followed by a horse and carriage ride down Michigan Avenue, and then to this jazz club that actually let us in even though we were under eighteen. After the waitress delivered our drinks (non-alcoholic of course) Mike gave me the most beautiful silver ring with a sapphire heart, which was my birthstone.

It was all ridiculously romantic and I didn't even want to think about how much it cost him. But of course it was perfect.

Anyway, I got pretty nervous when I felt a little queasy after eating the shrimp appetizer. But then Mike tasted it and said he thought it tasted a little funny too.

After that I felt totally fine. I didn't get even one symptom that was supposed to be classic in pregnancy. I ate the same as I always did and didn't feel the slightest bit sick, aside from the shrimp. I wasn't extra tired or getting headaches or anything. Every day, I relaxed a little bit more and was more confident that I'd stressed out for nothing at the beginning. I just had to wait a few more days until I got my period to be completely sure, but I was confident it would show up right on time like always. 

Everything else was going great too. School was still pretty hectic. I kept doing the same things I already had been, but now, I was working for myself. I was finally starting to think of other options for my future. Maybe a teacher or a social worker. I wasn't quite sure yet, but at least I knew that when I decided, it would be what I wanted. Daddy would just have to get over it. 

I hadn't brought up the subject of my future a second time with Daddy yet. I was going to wait and be sure about what I actually wanted before I attempted that conversation again. But I'd do it, and Daddy wasn't going to change my mind. I knew he wasn't going to like it but it was my life, not his. And it was all thanks to Mike that I finally understood that.

Turns out my other worries were for nothing. Mike didn't have expectations apart from what I wanted too. What I wanted was for us to be alone together alot more than we were actually able to be. Our time was still limited to school and weekends, so time by ourselves was pretty rare. Every once in a while though we were able to get a little privacy and we started being much more careful than we had been that first night. 

It's not like we were jumping all over each other every time the door was closed. But when we did finally get a little time for ourselves, we didn't hold back. I felt closer to him than I had to anyone in my entire life and I fell in love with him a little more every day.

But we were really careful and I had absolutely no reason to think anything was going to come from even that first time we were together. I know it was possible, but I was sure nothing happened. And in a few days, I'd be positive.

"Do you want extra cheese on yours?" Mike asked, handing me the plate of chicken parmesan. "I can get some from the kitchen."

We managed to get a rare Saturday when his family was gone for hours. I didn't mind coming here when his mom or Melanie were home, but I had to admit, I was glad his dad wasn't around. 

Since his family was out, we decided to take advantage of being able to have the house to ourselves. We got food from the pizza place around the corner and rented a movie. It was cold and raining out and the perfect day to stay in like this.