What's My Age Again?

I woke up groggy from my nap. As soon as I came home from school I went straight to my room so I wouldn't accidentally run into my mom. I wasn't going to dare leave my room out of fear of running into her. I didn't care how much my stomach growled. Thankfully my bathroom was connected to my room so I could go shower without leaving my room.

I took a long shower still trying to process what happened last night. I was grounded without my phone, no way to contact Alex. Things couldn't possibly get worse. I laid back and bed and covered back up. There was no other reason for me to get out of bed since I couldn't do anything. No TV, no texting, no internet. I might as well have been dead. I laid back in bed and closed my eyes.

When I woke up again it was almost six. The only reason I woke up was because my stomach was growling louder. I would rather die of starvation than go face my mother though. Part of me wished that she had sat food outside of my door for me, but I was too scared to open my door and look. My door was opened anyways by my mom.

"Jack, I'm going to the mall which means you’re going to the mall too so get dressed." She demanded. Usually she would ask if I wanted anything and not make me go, but she probably trust me to stay home alone.

I sighed and got up to throw some clothes on. I picked out a pair of black skinny jeans out of my closet. I got both of my legs in them easily, but I couldn't zip or button them up. I tried sucking in, but nothing would work. I frowned to myself and took the pants off. I grabbed the pair of skinny jeans May bought me for Christmas and I put them on. The same thing happened, I couldn't zip or button them up. I looked down at my stomach and it was kind of poking out. I couldn't fit any of my jeans so I had to grab my jogger sweatpants instead. Thankfully they stretched so I had no trouble putting then on, but I would in the future.

I put on a tee shirt that was a little too big for me so my stomach wouldn't be noticeable. I was probably being paranoid, you couldn't really tell my stomach changed that much. It looked more like I gained weight from eating instead of pregnancy.

I slowly made my way downstairs to the kitchen to grab a pop tart. I needed something quick to eat since my mom was waiting on me. I quickly went to from the door where she was standing waiting on me. I couldn't even make eye contact with her, I was too ashamed. She walked out of the door, expecting me to follow and I did. I didn't want to sit in the front seat next to her, but I knew she would say something if I didn't so I slowly slid into the seat. She started the car and drove in the direction of the mall without saying a word. I was tempted to talk to her just to ease some of the tension, but I couldn't.

When we made it to the mall we both got out and walked to the door. I felt like a sad puppy dog just following every step she took. We went to Dillard's first and she went to the shoe department. I sat down on a bench and watched her try on shoe after shoe. We stayed in the store for an hour as she shopped around for different items. Then she checked out and I followed her out and to the next store.

The next stop was Bath and Body Works since they were having a sale. I walked around with her as she picked out soaps, lotions, and perfumes that she liked. We still hadn't said a word to each other since we stepped into the mall. It was so weird and uncomfortable, but she was still mad at me. I followed her to the cashier, she paid, and we left. I wanted to know how long we would be here, but I wasn't going to ask.

I followed her to the next store which was Things Remembered. She went to go look at the different stationary items they had so she could buy something for Avery. Maybe his birthday was coming up. I walked over to the baby section just to look. There were silver rattles, customizable brushes and combs, spoons, and sippy cups. It was all so cute. I think my hormones were making me feel this way because I didn't really care about this baby stuff before.

"Jack." My mom said to get my attention. She was holding a bag in her hand so I guess it was time for us to go. I followed her out of the store and she began walking towards the direction we came in. I guess that meant we could finally go home. I exhaled in relief, I was happy I could finally go back home.

"Jack?" I heard a familiar voice call my name. I prayed and hoped it wasn't who I thought it was.

"Jack! Hey wait." Alex ran up to me with Rian behind him and stopped me. My mom looked at us and frowned because she was confused.

"I've been calling and texting you, why haven't you answered?" He asked. I opened my mouth to answer, but my mom did it for me.

"He's grounded." She said and I sighed trying to hold back tears.

"Grounded?" Alex asked condensingly.

"Yes that's right. Grounded." My mom repeated kind of angrily at the tone Alex gave her.

"Sorry I didn't mean to offend you, Ms. Barakat. It’s just...I find it funny that you still ground him at twenty-one." He said and my heart skipped a beat.

I already knew what was going to happen. It's like my mom spoke in slow motion as she answered him. "Twenty-one?? My son is sixteen." She told him and Alex and Rian's eyes flew out of their heads.

"Sixteen?!? You're sixteen?!?" Alex questioned me.

"I- Alex I-" I stammered, but my mom cut me off.

"-Yes he's only sixteen so stay away from him." She grabbed my arm and pulled me with her towards the door to exit. I looked back and saw Alex and Rian staring in shock. I wanted to tell him how sorry I was.

We walked to the car and my mom began to drive us home. She didn't speak, but she had a permanent scowl on her face. This was not good. Not only did Alex and Rian just find out my real age, they were definitely going to tell Vic about Kellin since it was likely that we both were lying. I wished there was a way for me to call and warn him.

My mom pulled into our garage and we got out and went inside. I tried to quickly go upstairs to my room, but my mom stopped me.

"No get back here." She demanded. I stopped and turned around to come back to her. "Sit." She stated and I sat on the couch. She rubbed her temples while thinking of what to say to me. I really did hate that I was causing her all of this pain.

"Tell me." She said after a while.

"Tell you what?" I mumbled.

"Tell me everything! No more lies Jack! I want you to tell me everything that you've been doing behind my back!" She yelled at me and my eyes began to water.

"There's nothing to tell." I sniffled.

"We both know that's bullshit! That guy was way older than you. How did he know you?"

"I don't know." I lied. I was panicking, I couldn't let her know anything about Alex.

"Stop lying and tell me the truth." She said. "Who was he?"

"I don't know."

"Jack Bassam Barakat tell me the truth or I swear I will send you off to Lebanon to live with your Grandmother!" She threatened.

"I honestly don't know him. He was just some random guy that I met before."

"Met where?"

"At a party." I cried. At least I told the truth about something.

"A party? So that's where you and Kellin were going when we left you two home alone? Parties?" She asked and I nodded. She took a few minutes to let all the information, I just told her, process in her mind.

"Did you have sex with that guy?" She asked and I looked up at her. She looked exhausted when I finally saw her face. I didn't want to lie anymore, but I didn't want to get Alex in serious trouble either. I just wanted to get this over with.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I've gotten drunk and slept with lots of guys. I don't know if I've ever had sex with him or not." I sighed.

"Even after I warned you what could possibly happen?! Why would you do something so reckless?!" She shook her head at me.

"I don't know, Mom." I said honestly.

She stared at me and then I saw something click in her head. "Wait so the throwing up, mood swings, and sleep pattern . . . You might be pregnant." She thought out loud to herself.

" . . . I am."

"You're what??"

"Pregnant."

"Oh my god." She wiped her eyes as tears began to fall. I felt so numb that I could barely react to making my Mom cry. "You're pregnant?" She asked and I nodded, making her cry harder.

"JACK!” She yelled then she took a seat and placed her head in her hands. “What did I do to make you like this? What did I do wrong?" She sobbed.

"It's not your fault mom." I told her, but she wouldn't listen. She just continued to cry her eyes out.

"Mom please listen to me." I begged and moved closer to her. I wrapped my arms around her and cried into her chest. It took a minute or so for her to finally wrap her arms back around me.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered.

***

I was laying in my bed just staring at the wall. My mom had to go lay down after hearing everything I told her. I wanted to give her some alone time so I went to my room and she went to hers. I'd been staring at the wall for two hours. I only moved once when I felt the urge to throw up. I threw up what I could and I came back to lay in my bed. I could feel my body trying to get me to close my eyes but I ignored it. I had too much to worry about. I ruined my mom’s, Alex’s, Kellin’s, and Vic's day if not life within the span of an hour. I was probably the most hated person between them by now.

I heard the front door open and close. I knew it was probably May just coming to visit. Hopefully my mom would just get it over with and tell her everything. It was five minutes later when I heard May's footsteps on the stairs. She was at my door in no time, with tears in her eyes.

"You're pregnant?" She asked and I nodded. I added May to the list of people hated me.

"Jack, why couldn't you be more careful?" Scolded me.

"I don't know." I sighed.

"And you have no idea who the father is?"

"No." I lied.

"This is so ridiculous." She wiped at her eyes and sat on my bed.

"I know."

"How many months are you? Do you know?"

"I think two, but I'm not sure." I answered.

"Well you're going to have to go talk to mom so she can make you a prenatal doctor’s appointment." She told me.

"Okay." I got up and went down to my mom’s room.

My mom was laying in her bed in her pajamas when I walked in. Around her eyes was dark and her nose was pink. She looked like she hadn't stopped crying. May followed me into her room and we both sat on her bed. My mom looked at me and fresh tears began to fall down her face.

"Come here, baby." She opened her arms for me. I crawled over to her and laid down in her arms. It felt good to know that even though I did so much wrong, she still loved me.

"I'm sorry, mom." I apologized again and she shushed me.

"Shh I know." She kissed my forehead. "I need to make a doctor’s appointment for you. How far along are you?" She asked.

"Two months I think."

"Okay. I'll see if I can get you in tomorrow."

"Thank you." I mumbled and she nodded.

"Of course." She sighed tiredly.

Notes

It had to happen sooner or later!