August.

Jessica is now seventeen weeks pregnant. After discussing homeschooling with her parents, Bill and Suzanne thought it would be best for Jessica to stay in school.  This of course broke Jessica's heart.  She had severe anxiety even thinking about stepping food in that school.

Sarah felt for her friend and promised not to leave her side, and to hurt those who tried hurting her best friend.

At seventeen weeks the baby is starting to make itself known to the world.  Since Jessica is so petite it is starting to become more and more obvious she's pregnant.

**

Today is the first day of school and Jessica's stomach is in knots.  She wore a loose fitting black top to hide her bump, but she swore it wasn't enough.

"Good morning, Jessica." Bill says as Jessica makes her way downstairs.

"Good morning, do I look pregnant?"

"Well let me look at you."

"That's it, I need a bigger top!"

"No!  No, I just hadn't taken a good look at you.  No, it's hidden.  Go eat something before you have to go."

Jessica sighs and walks into the kitchen. "I don't know what to eat anymore.  This baby hates everything!"

"What about toast?" Suzanne asks.

Jessica makes a face. "No.  Not that either."

"Well I don't know what to offer you.  That thing is picky!"

Jessica frowns and places her hand on her bump as she looks down to it.

"I'll just take some yogurt."

"You have to eat more than that."

"I don't want anything else, I'll just pack some snacks."

"Alright.  Well I have to go to work.  Have a good first day."

"Thanks.."

**

A few hours later.

Things were different this year.  The bullies sort of moved on, and the ones who haven't Sarah made sure to deal with.  Jessica was relieved, but she knew once her bump grew they'd pick on her once again.

During lunch Sarah and Jessica sat together.

"You okay, Jess?"

Jessica looks around and takes a deep breath.  Jessica fought back tears.

"It's just weird being here.  It brings me back to the day it happened.  I feel scared but.. relieved he isn't here to bother me."

"Yeah.  Bill had your back on that one."

"He did!  I'm glad.. he's a lot nicer than Suzanne."

Sarah scoffs. "Yeah she's a bitch."

"You and that mouth!"

"Mhm!" Sarah smiles.

".... I feel so awkward.  The story made the news.  Yeah they didn't use my name, but they know he molested a student, and guess who's the only one pregnant in junior high?  ME!"

"I know, I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Jessica sighs. "In other news, I was on Bill's computer last night and I was reading up on the symptoms I should be expecting this week."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah and guess what."

"What?"

"The baby is the size of a large onion!" Jessica chuckles.

"It's that big already?"

"Mhm!  It's like twelve centimeters.  That's two more than my vagina will be when I have to push it out of me!"

"Oh geez!" Sarah shivers.

"I know, scary.  Oh hey I have an appointment next week.  You comin'?"

"Of course!"

"It's an ultrasound so we get to see the baby." Jessica smiles.

"Nice!  Those things are so weird.  Like how do they even work?"

"Honestly.. I have no idea!  But you're right, they're weird!"

***

One week later.

Today Jessica has a doctors appointment. Suzanne takes her on her visits, and Sarah always tags along. Jessica is very grateful to Sarah. She doesn't know what she'd do without her.

Today while waiting in the waiting room Jessica felt a strange feeling in her stomach.

"Woah!" She says placing her hand on her bump.

"You okay?" Sarah asks.

"I think so. I felt something weird."

"Like what? Did it hurt?"

"No. I think it was the baby kicking.  I've felt it move before, but these were kicks.  Like real kicks!"

"Woah!"

"It felt really weird." Jessica laughs.

"I bet! It's like an alien moving around inside of you!"

Jessica laughed harder and smiled softly to her bump.

As Jessica's belly grew, Sarah noticed a change in Jessica. Not only in her appearance, but in the way she acted. She always had her hand over her belly as if she were protecting the unborn child.  Perhaps because no one has ever protected her.  She didn't want this baby to feel the way she's always felt.

**

"Everything looks good. Your vitals are good. Baby is measuring right on track. Let's just go ahead and take a look. Would you like to know the sex?"

"Huh?" Jessica made a face. "The.. sex?" Jessica whispers that last part.

"The gender of the baby, Jessica." Suzanne says.

"Oh! Oh I don't know.. I'm not keeping the baby.." Jessica looks down.

"Well you can still find out in case the adopted parents want to know." Suzanne says.

"Yeah.. Okay, then yes. I want to know."

"Alright. Let's just see here.." The woman squirts gel on Jessica's stomach and starts the scan.

"There's baby."

"Oh wow! It's so much bigger now." Jessica smiles. "Sarah, look!"

"That's a whole baby!" Sarah says making Jessica laugh.

"It is!" The doctor smiles. "Here is the spine.."

"Wow.." Jessica watched the screen in amazement.

"We have a little hand over here."

"Aw, Hi!" She squeals.

"And that's a foot."

"Look at that!" Jessica giggles. "It's so tiny!" Her voice goes higher.  Seeing the baby on the screen actually looking like a real baby, made Jessica's heart flutter.  She's never gotten this way before when seeing the unborn child.

"Now let's see.." The woman scanned her lower stomach and pressed in slightly.

Jessica look a deep breath in from the slight discomfort.

"I'm sorry.  I've gotta get way down here to see their little parts.

Jessica giggles. "It's okay."

"I'm probably making you have to pee."

"Yeah a little bit." She laughs. "Can you tell?"

"I can!"

"Eeek!  What is it?!"

"She's a baby girl!" The woman smiles.

"A girl?! Oh wow! A little girl!" Jessica looks at Sarah and tears up.

"That's so cool, Jess!" Sarah smiles. "I thought it was a boy!" She laughs.

"I didn't.. I knew she was a girl.  I could just feel it.." Jessica wipes her cheek.

Suzanne looked at Jessica just beaming at the screen.  With a very serious look she said, "I'm sure the baby's Parents will be thrilled about having a girl."

Jessica's smile fades. "Yeah.." Her eyes then travel down to her bump.  She places her hand on it and feels the baby girl kicking from within.

"They'll be so lucky to have her.."