Carry on Like You're Supposed to Be

"You know, I'm definitely getting more comfortable with the idea of being a father." Kyle said one morning, waking me up.

"'Kay." I said groggily and snuggled my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. He wrapped his arms around me.

"You have to be in to work in a few hours, and I'm not letting you be late. Get up!" I rolled over and curled up in a ball. "Up, as in awake, you know?"

"I'm getting there." I swatted at the air and opened my eyes. "It's so bright! What did you do?"

"That's the sun. I opened the windows, stupid. Now get up! Up and at 'em! Chop chop! Git 'er done!" Kyle clapped and I sat up and yawned.

"Okay, I'm up. Happy?" I said and slid out from the warm covers, into the cold air.

"Yes, very. But put some clothes on, or else I won't want to let you go to work." I flicked his head and smiled. I then proceeded to grab some clothes, dress in them, and head towards the bathroom to complete my hygiene process. Once I was done, I checked the clock to see it was only 9:14.

"Why'd you wake me up so early? I don't need to be into work 'till 11!" I complained at Kyle.

"I was really bored and wanted someone to talk to. Marc threatened to break my kneecaps if I ever tried to wake him up. I need my kneecaps, for everyday use, thanks."

But after I had made some coffee and he had gotten cereal, we didn't talk that much. We just sat, cuddled up together on the couch, occasionally saying something. It was perfect.

+++

"I'll walk you in." Kyle said after we had arrived at the HMV outlet, and I nodded.

We walked in, and I saw only one kid in the whole store. I clocked in and said goodbye to Kyle.

"You know, I hate having this bump. It makes me look like I have a weird potbelly." I said before he left.

"I think it's cute. And now people will know that you're pregnant, and not some nasty super-moody chick. You'll be thankful in the end." He kissed me once, for a while mind you. Until the kid who was here coughed impatiently. Kyle smirked and walked out the door, and I went to the store to serve the stupid ass moment-ruin-er.

"Sorry. Did you find everything you wanted today?" I asked as I scanned his item.

"Yeah, thanks." After paying he took off rather quickly. I sniffed myself to make sure I didn't smell bad, to find I smelled amazing - like coconut vanilla, in fact. A few more people came and went over the next few hours. I was scanning a classical mix for a sweet old-lady who smelt a lot like cabbage, when a quite familiar boy walked in.

I was the only one working, as it was 1 o'clock on Tuesday, so it wasn't that busy.

And there was one word running through my head. Over and over, like a broken record.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

He chose two CDs and came to the counter. I took them and gulped.

"Di-d you find everything you were looking for today?" I said nervously, and he looked up, surprised.

"Alexa?" His surprise turned into confusion, and then anger, and back again.

"Yeah, heyyy... Caleb. Uh, sorry for..." I started feeling extremely dizzy and steadied myself on the counter.

"Sorry for yelling at you a few weeks ago." I said once I had regained my balance, but the dizziness had yet to leave.

"Yeah... Sorry for calling you a whore and stuff, I guess. I really don't think of you like that. It's just... I was angry. I thought you were gone from my life, forever, you know?" He said awkwardly.

"It's.. o-okay." My vision started blurring, and I felt like I was swaying back and forth.

"Alexa, are you alright?" I fell to the floor, my vision darkening into a pool of blackness.