Two of a Kind

“Really?” I hear, and I turn around to just about the most disappointed face I’ve ever seen. I lick the powered sugar from my lips, “You just couldn’t wait, could you?” He asks, and I shake my head with a smile. I watch a nearby couple share this big fancy drink, and I look back to him. “I’m still gonna share whiny.” I tell him, and he rolls his eyes, taking a piece. We find a shady spot to sit, and I find him pulling out a chair for me.“Thank you Toby.” I tell him, and I waddle over and literally pop a squat, and my ears pick up laughter. Feminene laughter. I set down my funnel cake, and look over, only to find the unbearbable. Our schools whole cheer squad, including the team captain, -Joyce Everdane-, staring at me. Pointing. Giggling. Gasping. My cheeks flush, my heart pounds, and I look away. I adjust my flowy dress, trying my best to hide the reason they’re laughing. But eventually, I’m stopped. And I look up to see the hand stopping me, was my bestfriend’s. Childhood bestfriend. Tobias. Tobias Harris. “Don’t let it bother you.” He says, and I look into his eyes. Brown. Light brown actaully. “Because right now,” He pauses, “They’re just pissed they’ll never look anywhere near as beautiful.” He says, warming my heart. I smile at him. “Thank you.” I say, and he smiles right back, squeezing my hand. “You’re welcome love, and like I said,” He says, placing his hand, and essentially my hand, onto my bump, “we’re in this together.” He adds, and I place my other hand ontop of his. Correction, our bump. “You mean that?” I ask, honestly letting my emotions get the best of me, “Even though w-were not . . . ?” I question, and for some reason, he searches my eyes. “Yeah about that actually, I-I uh,” He pauses, swallowing hard, “You’re gonna hate me for this but, I-I uh, was wondering if-,” And mentally, I’m pushed back from the edge of my seat when a football lands dead center of our table. Hitting our funnel cake. I immediately look back near the group of girls, seeing the football team has just arrived to the fair. “Hey Harris! How does it feel knowing the next time you here the word ’congratulations’, it’s not gonna be because of a diploma?” I hear, and I recognize the voice and spot the face. Warren Pierce. Rich boy. And I grow enraged. I look back to Tobias, expecting to see what I feel but, I end up seeing the exact opposite. And I watch him. He stands. Picks up the football the right way, dusts off the powdered sugar a bit, and recoils. Throwing just about the fastest spiral I’ve ever seen in the direction of the two groups. The girl’s flee screaming, while all of the boys try to catch it. Running into eachother left and right, having the ball’s final desination point, be the very nose, of Warren Pierce. Tobias and I both hiss and cringe on impact as he falls back, but very soon after, we burst into laughter. “Fuck!” Warren cries, holding his face as his team flusters around him and his bloody nose. “You fucking prick!” He yells, and that’s when I get up, and take his hand as he admires his work. “Let’s go quaterback, we’ll need a headstart because of me.” I start pulling towards the exit, “As if I’m gonna let you run.” He says, picking me up bridal style just before taking off. “You’re a dead man Harris!” We hear, and we look into eachother’s eyes. And it was like we both knew what needed to be done. We nod. And I start hissing and groaning in pain, “Move people! My girlfriend’s in labor! Move!” Toby starts yelling, and just like that, crowds part. He books it to the entrance, I spot a toy stand coming up. And I stick my foot out just in time, kicking a shelf down behind us. And the sound of boys tripping and falling was like music to my ears as we make it to the exit. We make it to his truck, and he sets me in the passanger side, before sliding over the hood, hopping in the drivers, and pulling off. Just in time for me to flip off Pierce as he chases beside us, which soon becomes behind us. We laugh together, and high-five. “We did it!” I yell, so unbelievably happy. He pulls off to the side of the road once we got far enough, and puts it in park. And takes a minute to breath. And I watch as his chest rises and falls. I think back, and I realize, I can’t believe it. Not that we couldn’t get away. I can not believe him. About what he said. “Move people! My girlfriend’s in labor? Really?” I mock and then ask, making him laugh. “It’s not like I had enough air to yell my childhood-bestfriend-that-of-which-I-knocked-up is in labor. Not to mention, it would sound silly.” He responds, making me laugh. “Girlfriend sounds better.” He mutters, and I don’t think I heard him right over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. I take a breath. “Wait, what?” I ask, just to be sure, and his eyes find their way back to mine. “I said,” He starts, “Girlfriend sounds better.” He says, emphasizing the word better this time, and keeping my eye contact. And my heart races. W-What? He takes a deep breath himself, and I catch him bouncing his knee and tapping his fingers. He does that when he’s nervous. Nervous? W-Why is he-, I gasp. “You’re not talking about yelling anymore,“I say, “Are you?” I ask, letting out a shaky breath. And I feel my heart start pounding for a different reason. Anger. “Are you??” I ask again, as he stares at me like a puppy. “N-Nat I-I,” - “Answer the question.” I cut him off, having images clouding my mind. Images of him with . . . her. Before I told him I was pregnant. He is literally the only reason why we’re not together already. He chose her, over me. Which then led me to not telling him, and avoiding him at all costs. I stayed home ′sick’, alot. When in reality, I was so conflicted and so hurt, I could barely muster the energy to eat. It got to the point I didn’t even care about my parents finding out. I needed to talk to someone and so, I choose to talk to my mother. Which was both the best and the worse desicion I could’ve made. She was there for me, and she completely understood what I was going through. But, I made the mistake of telling her who the father was. The next day, she invites Tobias and his family over for a spaghetti dinner. He brings she-who-shall-not-be-named, and my mother, -petty little thing she is-, dished out my business like it was fucking garlic bread. I did relish in his little sluts face but, his face? Not so much. He had thee fucking nerve to be mad. I furrowed my eyebrows right back at him before getting up and going to my room. But of course, my sappy-little-preteen-ass didn’t lock my door, -like an actually upset person would do-, and he barges in behind me. Which was surprising, given my father had obviously just found out at that table. He demands that I tell him why I didn’t tell him, of course, whilst dodging my stuffed animals. I told him the truth, that I was in love with him, and was going to tell him but, I found out the spot I wanted was already filled. And of course, I was hoping for that fairy tale ending, where he drops the other girl and chooses me right then and there but, all he did was stand there. And I knew. So, I made it easy for him. I told him it was fine, and that he doesn’t have to worry. He fell so relieved. Like the biggest weight was lifted off his chest. It damn near broke me. But, I held it together. And I told him nothing has to change, and that we can keep being bestfriend’s. And I made it very clear that I’m keeping his child, regardless of how he feels. He understood, and asked me for a hug. Every part of me wanted that hug. Needed that hug. But, I knew better. I needed to get over him before I could even think about being near him again. So, I told him I needed time. Space. Just before my father busted in and yanked him out of my room. I scoff. That was about six months ago. He finally shakes his head. And I can’t believe him. I grab my phone and hop out of the truck as fast as physically possible. “Wa-Natalie wait,” He says, and I slam his stupid truck door. I hear his keys jingling aggressively behind me as a waddle away. “I’m walking home, it’s not far from here.” - “You’re nine months pregnant, you’re not walking anywhere.” - ”Watch me.” I respond, and I hear him cuss under his breath as I speed up. He, apparently, speeds up too, and grabs my wrist, stopping me. “What do you want me to say huh??” I ask, and I rip my arm from him, and continue my path. I don’t hear the keys but, I keep going. If he doesn’t care, I don-, “I’m sorry I was too stupid to see what was right in front of me? What do you need me to say Natalie?!” He says and then yells, and I stop. Almost breaking down. I wipe my tears, “That I am completely, hopelessly, and utterly in love with you? That I’m an idiot for not kissing you in your bedroom that day?” He goes on yelling, letting me know everything I’ve ever wanted is waiting right behind me. It’s just . . . late. So, unbelievably late. “Then why didn’t you?” I ask, feeling him right behind me, “Why did you just . . . stand there??” I add, turning around. “Natalie, I was dumb and scared. I should’ve talked you to but I didn’t know how to tell you that I-I don’t know how to be a father.” He struggles to tell me, and I pout. “A-And I convinced myself, as long as we weren’t together, I could act like I wasn’t becoming one. But I am, and I couldn’t be more happy that I am. I’d do anything to go back in time and kiss past you for past me.” He says, and the bastard pulls me closer to him. “I know I’m late but, please Nattie.” He uses my nickname, and a big part of me doesn’t wanna give him the satisfaction. “Just give me a chance to make up for being an ass.” He pleads, giving me those damn eyes. “A big ass.” I say, and he laughs, nodding. “Yes, a big ass.” He corrects himself, rightfully so. I look around, realizing something. “This all started because you lied to me. I understand you were scared now, but regardless, you still lied. And we don’t do that Tobias.” I start, and he looked so nervous as I spoke. It was cute. “Lie to me about anything serious again,” I say, and I watch him go from excited to anxious, “And we are over, friendship and all. Am I understood?” I ask him, and he literally jumps for joy, making me laugh. "Loud and clear beautiful." He says, cupping my cheeks and kissing me all over my face. My knees go weak but, I fight it. "I want back rubs every day too,” I say, “Even after he or she comes.” I add, and he kisses me. And since it's been so long, I melt into it. Gripping onto his shirt. And the way he kisses me back. It's . . . different. Amazingly different. And just as I fall into a trance, he pulls away. “Whatever you want love.” He says, and he hugs me, going under my arms, like he loves to do. and I hug him back, breathing him in. And just like that, I’m worry free.