It's been over a week now and everyone is still on pins and needles around here. I try to tip-toe up to my room but the damn steps creek and groan under my feet. "Charlotte....is that you? Get in here we need to talk." She yells from the kitchen.

I turn and go back down the steps...thumping very loudly. Why bother being silent now. She is at the counter with her mug of coffee looking over some papers."The appointment is all set up on Friday, so you will be missing school."

I roll my eyes and throw my backpack down on top of one of the bar stools. I walk over to the cabinet to get a glass and then walk over to the fridge to find the orange juice. Instead of pouring the juice into the glass, I decide to drink right from the carton just to piss her off even more.She huffs...just as I had planned.

"Charlotte...seriously it's not just your juice have some decency and respect of others living in this house."

"Respect for others...really mom. No one freaking respects anything I do around here."

"Stop acting like a child...grow up for once."She huffs again.

I slam the carton on the counter and juice flies up from the opening. "Grow up...how can I freaking do that when everyone around here makes decisions for me. No one will let me grow up around here so yeah...you know what I'm going to drink from the damn carton." I pick it up and take another swig only to find it seconds later flying out of my hands and landing on the floor. The contents seep out all over the floor. I glare at her for a brief moment. I see the hate in her eyes and the sting from her hand that comes across my face, knocking me backwards. I replace her hand with mine and hold my cheek. I can't recall a time when my mother ever hit me. Tears form in my eyes.

"Don't you ever talk to me that way and you are not capable of making decisions on your own...hell you can't even keep your legs closed....letting that boy touch you like that."

"That boy was my boyfriend...you act like you were never young once...I never planned on getting pregnant."

"Well what did you think would happen? Are you that naïve?"

"No...I just trusted someone that I thought cared for me...alright!!!" I wipe the tears that stream down my face.

"Charlotte...look I...we...are only looking out for you...what is best for you. Having this baby will change everything. Your life will never be the same...ever."

"Would that be a bad thing? Maybe this is the way God planned it to be?"

She laughs at that statement... "God...doesn't want any sixteen year old girl running around pretending to be a mom...look you have your whole life ahead of you. You can have kids when you are older...more stable...when you can take care of yourself. You are just not ready to take on this responsibility."

"Mom...I just don't think I can go through with it."

"Well you are...and you will...and it's all going to work out....you will see."

"But it's not what I want."

"You are too young to know what you want...you don't understand the burden this will be. You're doing it and its final." She sets her mug down and walks out of the room.

I look down at the mess from the juice all over the floor and don't bother cleaning it up. I grab my back pack and head up stairs to my room. I dump all the books out and load it back up with two pairs of pants...two shirts and underwear. I can't stay here. They just don't understand. I love Danny...and we created this little living thing between us. I just can't go through with it and I know if I stay here they will force me to get rid of it. I don't even bother living a note. I grab my bag tossing it onto my right shoulder and then head downstairs and right out the door.

I walk over to Danny's house. Of course he is at football practice so I walk all the way into town to the high school. I watch the guys play on the field as I set up on the bleachers. He looks up and waves at me and then back down just in time to get tackled. After practice he makes his way over to me. "Hey...what are you doing here?"

"We need to talk." I glance around to see some of the guys from the team.

A few of the guys walk by and tap him on the back and head off to the locker room. I watch as he runs his hands through his soaked hair from all the sweat from the helmet and the heat. "Let me go get changed alright...I will be right back."

I sit back down and wait on the very uncomfortable bleachers. The moment he comes out, he motions for me to come with him. We walk over to his car and I get in the passenger side and he gets behind the wheel. I start crying before he turns to look at me. I feel his hand reach for mine and I let him hold it softly in his hand."Did you do it?"

I shake my head no. "The appointment is Friday."

"Then what is wrong...why are you upset and crying?"

"Be....because...I...I...I just can't do it."

He shakes his head all disappointed. "Why the hell not? Char...just do it alright."

"But it's a part of us...it's the love we shared. I can't do it and not feel right about it...it's wrong and you know it."

"Char...there is no us alright. I'm sorry...but if you plan on having this thing...I can't be a part of it."

I break down, throwing my face into my hands so he can't see the tears. Which is pointless because he can hear me.

"Char...my parents will take the car back...they say I won't be able to go to college. I'm too young to face this."

"Too young...everyone keeps saying that. So what...we are young...we can do anything that we put our minds too...we can do this. We can get jobs and work...get a house...be together...we don't need them."

"Whoa...slow down Char...I'm barely making minim wage...hell I can't even pay for the shit I got now...there is no way that I can pay for a kid...it's not going to happen alright...I'm sorry...but it's not."

"Fine...you are just like them. I will do it all on my own...I don't need them...I don't need you." I open the car door and step out, slamming it right behind me.

He rives up the car and spins tires on the payment. I had hoped that he would get out and embrace me with his arms but I was wrong...he is a freaking jerk. I watch as he leaves me standing there all alone. I have nowhere to go for the night. I walk back over to the bleachers and sit down. I dig into the front pocket of my bag and pull out Henley's number. I pull out my phone and see all the missed calls from my mom and I ignore them. I call Henley.

"Hello."

"Henley..."

"Yes."

"Hey its Charlotte...I have nowhere to go. Would it be possible if I can stay just the night with you?"

"Sure...come on over."She gives me her address and I take off walking. Her house is only about two miles away. It's not really that far...but in this heat and me being pregnant...it feels like ten miles away. She meets me outside."Hey...girl...come on in...so what is going on?"

"My mom and I got into it...and Danny..." I start to sob.

Her arms come around me and she pulls me into the house. We go to her room and she pats the bed beside her for me to come and sit down. "So...I'm guessing they still want you to do it and you can't...I'm I right?"

I nod my head and the tears just keep coming. "I...I...I'm not a child...I know what I want."

"You want to keep the baby."

I nod again. "Why can't I just keep it? They say it will ruin my life...but how do they know that."

"Because they are your parents...but you are right...no one knows what will happen in the future. I'm sorry they are making you do this."

"I'm not going to do it...I want to keep the baby."

She doesn't say anything as she holds me close to her and lets me cry it all out. When I am done having my little moment she hands me a Kleenex. "So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know...it can't be that hard to get a job and find a place to stay."

"Yeah...if you say so. Finding a job may not be that difficult but a place to stay. No one will rent to a minor. Will Danny let you move in with him?"

"Yeah....NO...his parents don't like me...since I'm the one that is trying to ruin his life and all...besides he doesn't want the baby. Could I stay here?"

"I wish you could...but my parents don't even want me to be here. I mean they say they do but they really don't. But you can stay the night...maybe two but then you will have to find somewhere to go."

"Ok...thanks for letting me at least stay a few nights."

She moves the fallen hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. "You're welcome...now...what would you like to eat. I know you have got to be starving."