The following days, I didn't think much about Colby, nor his refusal to be a dad. Sure, I was still angry, but I had other things to worry about such as school and church. Aiden was pretty happy when I told him I found that service really helpful and I couldn't stop reading the bible. It still didn't make a whole lot of sense what it said or talked about, so given any possible chance, I asked Aiden and he explained it as best as he could.

"Two months and 20 days before my due date," I told Avery one afternoon as we were headed home from the library.

"For a girl who's life got ruined by a celebrity fudge cake, you sound pretty excited," Avery observed, looking up at me. 

I shrugged, "What can I say, the past is the past, I can't change it."

"So have you decided to keep the baby?" Avery asked, trying to avoid any Christian topic that I might project.

"I don't know, I can't bear the thought of abortion, but I can't agree with adoption either," I admitted.

Avery crossed her arms, "At the beginning of summer, you were so certain about abortion, now it's like I'm talking to a wall. Is the old Brooke in there?" She joked. "It has to be Aiden."

"What's wrong with Aiden?" I asked, feeling the need to stand up for him.

"I just...I don't know...miss the old Brooke. Ever since you somehow met Aiden, you just became different." she confessed.

I looked into her sad brown eyes. We've been friends since freshmen. She has helped me through the ups and Downs of life, and even supported me when I found out I was pregnant. "Ave, I'm still here you know, you'll always be my friend, just don't let my possibly new found faith get in the middle of our friendship. And," I added with a smile, "if I do decide to keep the baby, you can spoil her."

She returned my smile with her own, as her eyes lit up, "You can bet I will! To the vanilla and back!"

I shook my head, laughing, "Sometimes I wonder how we managed to stay friends."

"Its cause you love me." She grinned, I attempted to give her an annoyed look, but ended up grinning as well.

"You know I do."

◇◇◇

"So if b equals 3 then c has to be 46." I concluded, tapping my pencil on my algebra textbook. "Agh." I groaned, as my head hit the desk. "I hate exams." A small kick followed after my tantrum. I smiled, "Even the baby agrees." I mumbled.

The sun was already setting and I still wasn't done with homework. Every little thing distracted me. So I decided to take a small break, by getting a snack. I ventured into the kitchen and was surprised to see mom sitting at the kitchen table.

"Hey mom," I smiled.

She turned around and gave a short smile before turning back around. "Hello, sweetheart."

"Who's that from?" I asked when I noticed there was a package right beside her.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," she mumbled, looking at the address. "It's addressed to you."

"Really?" The last time I got package was on my birthday seven or eight years ago from my grandparents before dad left. So this is pretty much out of the ordinary. 

"Mm-hm," mom replied, still looking at the address, "do you know who Aiden Miller is?"

My breath caught in my throat as my cheeks heated up, "Um, yeah, he goes to my school. He's the boy who takes me to church."

"Oh?" She raised her eyebrow, "Is he your boyfriend?" Mom handed me the small package.

"No!" I exclaimed, "I couldn't....I shouldn't...I mean, he's not my boyfriend, just a friend." 

She shook her head, "Is he the one who is talking you out of abortion?"

"Yes." I replied glumly. The package felt light in my hands.

"Brooke, I need you to stay away from him, he's a bad influence on you."

I rolled my eyes and then glared at her, "It's not like you've been a mother to me after dad left!" I burst, her expression changed, "What about Colby?!" I continued, "I'm pregnant with his baby, and you say that Aiden's a bad influence? Gosh, mom, even Avery is a better family figure than you. All you do is work, and for what? To pay for the house and the car? What about the little family that we have? Don't you care about me? If dad was here, he would have done his best, but he wouldn't sacrifice all of his time on work." I stormed off without another word. Leaving her speechless. 

By the time I closed the door to my room, tears were spilling through my eyes. I miss dad so much, I wish he was here. What was the reason for him to leave us for another stupid woman? Aren't we enough? I laid on my back and looked at the ceiling. It's what I've grown used to doing on days like this. Analyzing my life over. 

Tomorrow is Friday. I'll just stay home tomorrow and call it a sick day. I don't feel like seeing everyone's faces when they look at me. They think they know me. They think I wanted to get pregnant. I'm just that girl who slept with a boy for the fun of it. I hate this little world that I've grown up in. Mom's a workaholic, while dad is who knows where. I don't even know if I have any half brothers or sisters. Somedays I just feel unloved.

The sun was starting to set, so I sat up and looked around the room. My lonely desk stood in the corner with my math textbook on top and paper littering every edge of the desk. My trash bin stood half empty. Bare walls reminded me of what could become of my future. I shook my head. No. I can't think like that. Not now. If I have to, I'll put this baby up for adoption. Looking around my room again, my eyes landed on the bible that Aiden gave me more than a week ago. Standing up, I walked across the room to retrieve it. Once the black book was in my hands, I sat back down on my bed and turned to a page that was somewhat familiar to me.  Romans chapter eight. I was surprised to find three verses highlighted already and more or less to find a small bookmark and a sticky note with the word Sorry. Scribbled on it. Smiling, I read those three verses.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" -Romans 8:31

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." -Romans 8:37

My  smile grew wider. This was exactly what I needed to hear, or in this case, read. The short simple verses seemed to speak to me as if saying that everything will be alright. God's Love is more powerful and meaningful. Glancing at the bookmark, it had "Emergency Phone Numbers" for when you feel upset or lost, or just want a word of encouragement. I'll have to read that later. It was already starting to get dark, so no point in straining my eyes to read. I didn't feel like turning on the light since mom might still be awake. 

So laying back down, my head hit something hard. Sitting back up, I saw that it was that package that mom gave me. I got excited as I started to open the small box. It's not every day you get mail, right? Soon after I opened the box, my smile disappeared. The label read, 'iPhone 5s'.

"Aiden." My voice sounded strained. It's not that I didn't want a cell phone of my own, it's just that, I felt more relaxed without one. I opened the white box and took out the phone and the phone number that went along with it. Another sticky note fluttered down to my bed. Picking it up, I saw that it was no doubt Aiden's handwriting. It read:

Brooke, I figured you needed a cell of your own. So I got you one. Don't worry though, I wasn't the only one who paid for it, Avery helped as well. Don't get mad at her, it was my idea. I know you may not like this idea very well, but it is another way for you to reach us if you need us or vice versa. My number is listed below as well as Avery's. I figured you needed her's as well:) 

Aiden wrote down his number at the end of the note, and it looked like Avery's handwriting wrote down her number and a PS followed, saying, don't worry, we already got your new phone number, so you can't back out of it, love you Girl! I groaned. Really? Avery is behind this as well?

Sighing, I then decided that I'll deal with them tomorrow. But as of right now, I need to go to sleep if I plan on getting to school tomorrow.

I slowly stood up to discard any trash and to put the Bible and the phone on my desk. Once I have succeeded with this simple task, I then put on my PJ's (the one's that still surprisingly fit after seven monthes) and slipped under the covers, falling into a giant black hole of utter nonsense.

Sorry I made you guys wait this long. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Have a blessed night or day and please vote and comment! Your votes and comments encourage me to continue writing on!!