Dani can't figure out how to tell Chad, so she just stays out of touch for the moment. The next day she finds herself on another exam table with cold jelly smeared across her stomach. Her mind keeps asking - How did I get here? What will Chad say?? What will Mom and Dad say???
It feels like no time at all before Dr. Conner calls her in. She has a still frame from the ultrasound on her computer. "Well Dani what we have here is a healthy little fetus. It's a bit further along than I thought. At least 13 weeks, that is to say three months. Possibly 15 weeks. I believe your strong stomach muscles and your young age are conspiring to hide your pregnancy."
"Why do you keep calling it a fetus?"
"Policy. First of all a lot of women miscarry early in the pregnancy, so we don't want to encourage attachment too soon. Also some girls don't want to call it a child or a baby. It makes some choices harder."
Dani gasps "Oh no! I can't do that. No way - it's already so big."
"In that case all you really need from me are some special supplements and this vitamin shot. I can also give you the number of a counselling center. Look on the bright side - you seem to have already got over the morning sickness and it clearly wasn't as bad for you as for some women."
Once again Dani walks home in a stupor. Then it hits her. Three months. She and Chad weren't together three months ago! Could she have been pregnant the whole time they've been together? How the hell could she explain that?
Wracking her memory Dani recalls one party, the last party before she started going out with Chad. She got blackout drunk and someone took her home. They must have had sex! Dani races to the fridge and checks her calendar. Sure enough, that party would have been at the most dangerous time.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" How the fuck could she explain this to Chad or anyone? Hell, the baby could be half-black, half-asian, half-latino! Who knew who the fuck had fucked her? Not that she had something against black, asian or hispanic men - but Chad might just notice.
Now she was damned. She would probably start showing soon. Or not. What was it Dr. Conner had said? Oh yes, strong stomach muscles and youth were helping hide the pregnancy. |