"Baby wake up," I heard AJ say.
"Go away. I want to sleep."
"Kiki if you sleep now, you won't be able to sleep tonight."
"I don't care."
"You have school tomorrow; you have to sleep tonight."
"I don't want to go to school. Everyone is gonna know."
"Baby, nobody is going to know. Pretty soon, you'll be out of school then you can stay in bed as much as you would like."
"Oh fine," I said rolling out of the warm bed.
AJ led me downstairs and into the kitchen. I rubbed the sleepiness out of my eyes and looked around. On the black table I noticed two plates filled with what looked like Chinese food. AJ nodded for me to sit down. I pulled out the zebra print chair and sat down. I looked at the plate in front of me. It had chicken and cashews along with house-fried rise and an egg role. I looked at AJ and smiled.
"Thank you AJ," I said.
"You deserve it Kiara."
"AJ, what am I going to do when you go on tour?"
"You know I wish I could stay, but I can't. If you want my mom said she'd stay with you."
"Remind me to give her a big hug when I see her again."
"I'll remember that sweetie," he said reaching for my hand.
"AJ, I'm so scared."
"I am too baby. We'll get through it together though."
"AJ you won't leave me will you? Because if there's even a chance of that happening, I want you to leave me right now."
"Baby, I would never do that to you. This baby is my responsibility too."
"Are you sure AJ? If you want to get out of it now, I won't hold it against you."
AJ got a huge smile on his face.
"Baby, I love you. I don't want to leave you or our baby. I won't do that to you. Are you trying to get rid of me?" he asked laughing
"Nah, I guess not."
"Good. You know, I'm glad you're here with me."
"I am too."
We ate our food quickly, without much conversation. After my last mouthful of rise was swallowed, I yawned and looked at AJ.
"Can I go to bed now? I'm really tired."
AJ looked up at the wall clock, then nodded his head.
"Yeah I guess so. I'll be right up."
"Ok," I said smiling.
After I was changed into my pajamas, I went over to at my reflection in AJ's full-length mirror. As I looked at myself, I realized for the first time, that in a few short months, my body would no longer be small and thin. I felt tears flood my eyes at the thought.
I saw AJ come into the room and quickly wiped my tears away. AJ came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He put his chin on my shoulder and looked into my eyes through the mirror.
"What are you thinking about Kiki?"
"I was thinking about how much my body is going to change in the next few months. I'm not going to look like this. How depressing is that?"
"Maybe it is a little depressing, but you're going to bring our baby into the world. I think it's worth the change."
"Yeah, but I'm so scared AJ. I'm only seventeen. I don't know if I'm ready to be a mom. What if I'm not a good mother? What if I totally screw this kid up?"
"Well, then we'll screw him-"
"Or her"
"Yeah, or her, up together."
I laughed slightly.
"You're right. Now I have to go to bed. I am so tired."
I climbed under the soft cotton sheets on AJ's bed. AJ pulled the comforter up and tucked me in. After he turned out the lights, he went downstairs to clear away the dinner dishes. I sat thinking about my future, before falling asleep only minutes later.