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39. Get This Party Started!

"Package for Miss Ashley Lopez." The mailman says, when I open the door, a little bit before lunchtime. I thank him and sign off his package. I look at the address it's been sent from and smile. Guatemala, where my mom was at the moment. I sat down on the couch and tear open the package. Inside a collection of presents.

I open the first one, and it is a matching necklace to the bracelet Isabelle gave me this morning, with the words Be Brave inscribed on it. I ask Jess to put it around my neck and she did so. We sat together while I opened the next one. It was a new speaker, replacing the one my mom dropped into the pool a few months back. I placed it to the side, and opened the second last one. A new makeup set and a travel bag. Mom knew that I wanted a new set.

"I'll have to practise on you." I tell Jess, and she wrinkles her nose.

"Your lucky your pregnant and it's your birthday." She said, though I know that she loves me doing her makeup.

I open the last present, and it's a ring. With my birthstone in it. I slip it on my finger, and it slides on, with only a little bit of a push. Once my fluids go down, it will be a perfect fit. I take my phone and text her.

Thank you a million. I love it all. Wish you were here.- Ash xoxo

I'll call her later when it's not midnight in Guatemala. I take all the stuff and the check that my grandparents sent me. Although my dad was out of the picture, his parents were still very much apart of my life. And they were rolling in money. They sent a big check each birthday, as did moms. The checks were a little bit bigger this year, probably due to the fact that I was pregnant, and they wanted to financially support me. I was actually very wealthy for a girl my age. I worked for a couple of years, babysitted until I got pregnant and received large amounts of money from family.

"Pizzas here." Ben calls, as he walks through the door. The baby kicks when I breath in the scent and follow Ben to the kitchen table. I sit down next to Lachy and in front of the bacon pizza, which I know is his favourite. He gives me the evil eye before taking a slice. I pretend to be upset, but he just ignores me.

"Just because it's your birthday and your pregnant with my niece doesn't mean I'm going to let you eat all the bacon pizza." He says, poking my belly.

"Fair enough." I take a slice of pizza.

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"Babe are you ready to go?" Ben shouts from downstairs.

"You try getting a baby bump into a dress." I yell back down. I pull down my casual yellow dress and slide my feet into doc martins. I may be pregnant, but I am Ashley Lopez, and I did still have style. I grab my purse and walk downstairs.

"You look beautiful." Ben says, kissing me on the cheek. I smile at him.

"So, where are we going?" I ask, as we walk out to his truck. He opens the door for me, and helps me get up.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out." He smirks, shutting the door and walking around to the drivers seat. He hops in and pulls out of the driveway. He heads downtown, where all the hangout places and restaurants we usually go to are. He pulls up in front of Mama's, a retro style café, where the milkshakes have whipped cream, the stage has a karaoke machine and the waitresses wore roller-skates. It had always been my favourite place to hang out after school, or with Jess and Lachy when I picked them up from training. He opens the door for me. I walk in. Everything is dark, and I can't see a thing. Ben walks in and shuts the door. I look at him uncertainly and open my mouth to ask a question.