I was walking towards Home Ec. the next day, and I heard crying from the Home Ec. room. Not anyone my age crying, but like a baby. I walked in and there were those realistic baby dolls lying on the tables wrapped up in blankets.

I quietly groaned. We did his once in here last year. During the class, we had to find out why it was crying, then change its diaper, feed it, or put it to sleep. It was annoying having a room full of babies crying and screaming because people weren't taking care of them right.

After everyone got into the room, Mrs. Brown explained what we were doing. She told us the rules, and everything else we needed to know.

"You will get a partner, boys with girls, and you will take the dolls home for the remainder of the week. You'll bring them back on Friday and then we'll see how you guys did," she smiled at all of us. We all groaned in response.

"Most of you will have children one day. You'll have to get used to it. Don't be complaining," she warned.

I looked to my left at Michael, "Partners?"

"Sure," I could tell he was as happy about this project as I was.

I stared at the thing in front of me as Mrs. Brown placed it on our table. I looked up to Michael, "Is this stupid or what?"

"It is. But as Mrs. Brown said, we will all probably have to do this someday, and this is good practice, I think."

"I guess."

"Pick the babies up, one of you. Just so they stop crying," Mrs. Brown yelled out.

I grabbed the doll from the table and held it in my arms. It stopped crying, and so did everyone else's. It was finally quiet.

"Now, hand the baby to your partner. Let them hold it," she instructed after making sure everyone was holding the baby right.

I handed the doll to Michael, and Mrs. Brown walked around again. She corrected a few people on how they were holding the baby.

"Are you taking it home or am I?" He asked me

"We could both go to my house," I suggested, and he nodded.

"Does she expect us to put it in a car seat or something? If it cries the whole way home, that will distract whichever one of us is driving.." I wondered.

"You can just hold it. This will be so annoying."

"What do we do with it while we're at school?"

"I don't know. My mum is off this week, I think? She could keep it."

"Okay."

------

We got to my house that afternoon, and I got a playpen down from the attic to lay the baby down in. We just put it in my room. Michael and I agreed that if we're going to do this once, we're going to do it right the first time so we don't have to do it again.

We both went downstairs and I got a little bite to eat for an after school snack. Isaac arrived home then with Marissa, Lainey, Delilah, and Eli.

"Hey," I said with no emotion as they walked in the door.

"Hello to you too," Isaac scoffed as he placed his keys down on the kitchen counter.

"You're not the one that has to take care of a fucking baby doll all week for Home Ec.," I defended.

"Oh, I remember that. It's annoying. Good thing my partner kept it at her house the whole time. I got a grade and didn't do anything."

"Lucky for you.." I turned to him, "Michael and I will have to keep it all week. I'm not making him do all of the work, he's not making me do all of the work."

He went up to his room. By this time, Marissa, the twins, and Eli were all in their rooms.

Michael and I stayed in the living room, talking about the torture machine upstairs. My mum got home soon after that.

"What's that?" Mum asked as the baby started crying.

"The baby-" I started, but she interrupted me.

"I thought those pregnancy tests I found were negative. Was there something you weren't telling me?"

"Wait a minute, what pregnancy tests?" Michael asked.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Flashback~

September 28, 2012

My mum walked into my room to empty my trash. I had completely forgotten about the pregnancy tests I had taken and thrown away in there. She picked up my trash can and noticed them right away.

"What are these?" She asked.

I didn't know what to say, "they're negative, mum."

"I don't care. I thought you and Michael just started dating?"

"Actually, we've been together for a little while now."

"Still, you should not be having sex or especially thinking you're pregnant! I am so disappointed in you!" She exclaimed.

"Mum, I'm sorry. At least I'm not pregnant! That's good, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Again, I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry about it sweetie. I just don't want you pregnant at sixteen."

"I won't be, I promise."

"Good," She smiled and walked out of my room.

~Flashback Over~