Chapter 3: The Awkward Family Meeting

You could say little has happened in the past week; I had told Drew. We then decided he should move in to help with the baby. His reaction was better than I thought it would be, actually. He took it well.... I know he's not ready. But I'm not either, so why should I criticize him?

Oh, there's something I should mention. This monster is Beauty. Same name as me, actually. Belle is short for Bellezza, which is Italian for Beauty.... Anyways; Drew's an animal lover, and I'm a cat person.

The BOOM. We have a kitten.

The baby's room is a bit dull, I know. But we tried to make it match the house and do it in as little funds as possible.

Pregnancy's a little.... Stressful. It's magical but it makes me moody and I can tell Drew isn't a fan of that. We haven't even told our parents yet. We've been planning on it. I'm just scared to know how my mother's gonna take it. Last time we spoke we weren't really the nicest to each other.


And she'll probably take it WORSE than I think. Considering that me and Drew aren't necessarily a couple, even though we act like one. It's a confusing relationship.

"Don't be scared," he tells me. "It won't go as bad as you think it will."


"You don't know that...."


"Do you really think she'll snap in front of me?" Drew asks. "Or my mother?"


I think for a second. "I have no idea."


"C'mon, we have to tell them one day." Why was he so perfect? How the hell did I think he was just some stuck-up jock?

He kisses me like he means it, like he feels something for me. I don't know if he does, or if he's trying to make me feel like it. Either way works for me; these kisses were worth it.

My hearts racing. How will my mother take it? How will Drew's? God, I wish this was already over with.

After the introductions we just sit down and talk. My mother doesn't look happy at all, but I don't care.


"Hey, um...." I start. "Mom, Amber. Me and Drew have some news."

"Yes, dear?" Amber says. She seems like one of the nice old lady's you only see in movies. Maybe she was? She could be like my mother for all I know.

Drew's the next one to speak. "Belle and I are having a child together." He was calm about this. CALM. Oh, how I wanted to just collapse into his arms right there. He was confident.

"You're kidding, right?" Mother has the most dreadful voice in the room. "Someone actually knocked you up? Did you drug him or something?"

You have no idea how bad I wanted to smack her right then. Everybody had a moment of silence.

To my surprise, Drew reacted to her. "Don't talk about Belle that way. She's a great girl."

"I've lived with her for 16 years." She says. "Don't tell me how to treat my daughter."

"18. She's 18, not 16."

She stares him down for a couple seconds, then looks back at me. "How did this happen? Did this boy rape you? Don't lie to me."

"Mom, no!" I exclaim. "It was our choice!" There was another awkward silence. An abnormally awkward silence. I felt my palms moisten and started to feel uncomfortable.

"When's the wedding?" Amber asks.

We all stare at her. Wedding? Like, man marry girl? Drew marry me? MARRIAGE? I can't get married. No way. Not happening. My -- Our baby would be fine without married parents, right? We'd just have a ring on our finger. Marriage is too much for me to handle right now.

"You can't have a baby with her and not get married, am I correct?" She says.

I stare at Drew in desperation. My eyes asked "What are we suppose to say?" and his say "I don't know." Reading eyes was something we accidently picked up after he moved in. Moments of silence were too common in our household, it just happened. =

"We wer -- We never thought of getting married." I hated to dissapoint Amber.

"We never really paid attention to the thought of marriage. I guess it never came up." I look at Drew again.

Amber shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "Well darling, think of it now! My son is not having a child without getting married. I don't want my grandchild to grow up with unmarried parents."

Drew looks at Amber. "Mom...."

"Drew, honey. I know marriage is a tough decision but it's for the best."

I'm still looking at Drew, studying his eyes. My mother looks at Amber. "I don't want my daughter getting married." I shoot up in my seat and stare at her defiantly. "Marriage brings heartbreak." I hated her for bringing her own marriage experience into mine. I'm pretty sure the majority of marriages don't end with cheaters.

"I've been married for 47 years. Never once have we had any big conflict."

I could sense the envy my mother had towards Amber.

I spoke up again. "Mom, you can't control my life. I'll get married if I want to get married. Okay?"

If it was just me and her in the room she'd slap me. She'd slap me so hard I'd have a red mark for days. She hates it when I'm defiant.

It looked like she was about to kill somebody. "She's not getting married."

Drew moved his gaze up to me and his eyes showed love. Love. "Can we have a say in this?" He asked. "Because this is our decision."

Amber smiles. "Of course, dear."

"Belle, let's get married."

From what started as lust turned into love, I never knew this would happen. I never expected it. He wanted to get married, he really did. So why not? I think I might actually be in love with this man.

Amber loved the idea. My mom.... not so much. Drew's mother was the next to speak. "Wonderful! Belle? How do you feel about this?" In a way she reminded me of Yumi, my Realtor. She was so sweet and full of consideration.

"I don't see why not." I was surprised that I didn't stutter at the fact of me agreeing to marriage. This was it.

Me and Drew are getting married.

***

I had the strangest dream that night. I was with a unicorn. A unicorn. And I was petting it. It's mane was like silk and it was glowing like nothing I've seen before. It made me feel.... at a daze. But then something happened.

It stamped at me. The horse was showing nothing but hate. I tried to back away, but it just came closer. My heart started pounding and I was feeling faint. I backed away faster and faster, about to run. Suddenly I couldn't move my feet and I was locked there.

Then the horse did something to me. It lifted me up in the air and I couldn't see. It felt like I was being surrounded by fire and hatred. My body's temperature shot up and I thought I was on fire, trapped where no one could get me.

But soon I felt safe. Drew had woken me up and he seemed horrified. What had happened to me?

He ran outside and I hate no choice but to follow. Turns out there was a fire by the pond. It makes no sense, really. How would the tree's spontaneously catch on fire? It didn't matter, then. It was around 3am and we were too petrified to call anybody.

Drew brought the fire extinguisher and let it out, he was saving us. He was truly a hero in my mind.

***

We spoke nothing of the fire the next morning. He watched me play my piano and I heard him humming to the familiar tunes.

Not to my surprise, he was the first to speak up that morning. "Lets go out tonight."

"What?" I smiled.

"I want to take you on a proper date, I already have the whole thing planned. C'mon, it'll be fun."

I pretty much pampered myself throughout the whole day. Long showers, nail attempts, hair and makeup perfection. I've looked my worse around Drew but today he had to see me look good. My stomach was full of butterflies all day, I couldn't wait until our date! You could say I got a bit too excited, but I didn't show it.

***

The evening arrived and he drove me to the beach. As soon as I saw what was happening I covered my mouth and tummy in pure awe.

"Our first proper date." He said. Oh, it was so beautiful. I loved every bit of it. The radio played simple love songs and our only light source were little candles. I knew tonight was going to be perfect.

"Drew you didn't have --"

"Yes, I did. I want you to know that I'm not just here for the baby; I'm here for you, too."

"Thank you." I felt myself near tears. "Thank you so much. It's beautiful."

"So are you." I didn't deserve to have this man in my life.

We sat down under two cherry tree's and devoured the salad Drew prepared for us. "It looks delicious." I say.

"Hopefully it's as good as it looks." He smiles.

After taking a bite I just tell him "It is" and we continue on with our dinner. Making small talk was our specialty, me and Drew were so much alike we could talk about anything. I've known him for such little time but it seems like forever.

When we were finished he started to get up. "Where are you going?" I asked.

"To dance. Care to join?" How could I say no?

"Marry me." He said.

"No." I joke and smile.

"Why not?" We were both smiling. "I'm not that bad, are I?"

"You are just repulsive." I say. "I only need someone to help pay rent."

"Funny." He tells me. "I guess this doesn't make us a couple, does it? Since you're just mooching off of me."

"Not necessarily...."

He looks into my eyes playfully and grins. "So we are a couple?"

"As long as you say so." Did this just happen, or did Drew really become my boyfriend? I've never had a boyfriend before. My tummy was full of butterflies.

"Then marry me."

"I'll marry you on one condition."

"Anything."

"Don't be like my dad."