October 4th.
25 weeks pregnant.

"Good morning Bill, good morning Suzanne!"

"Wow, you're cheerful this morning." Suzanne said.

"Yep!" Jessica giggles.

"Did you get a good nights rest finally?" Bill asks.

"Nope, I slept horrible!"

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"I'll get over it." She smiles and grabs a plate so she can serve herself breakfast.

Today is Danny's first day at school. Jessica was so excited to see him again. She wore a color that made her eyes pop, and did her hair. Lately Jessica hasn't put much effort into her hair, but today was special.

"Suzanne?"

"Yes?"

"Before I leave can I please borrow some of your makeup?"

"Why little miss? You wanna look more mature? Because I think the big belly is enough."

Jessica sighs and her smile fades.

"Suzanne, please." Bill said. Jessica was finally cheerful after so long, Bill didn't want Suzanne to ruin her mood.

"It's in my room."

"Ooh. You want me to walk back up the stairs?"

"Well do you want it?"

"I'm sorry. I'll go up."

Suzanne sighs and stands up. "No, I'll go. I'll do it so you don't look like a whore.." She then stands up and mumbles under her breath, "The bump does enough of that already."

**

Suzanne put very very little mascara on Jessica's lashes, and gave her a new lip gloss she hadn't opened yet.

"So why are you wanting to wear makeup?"

"No reason." Jessica smiles.

"Is there a boy you like?"

She giggles. "Maybe."

"Seriously? He knows you're pregnant, right? Not just fat?"

Jessica's bottom lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears. "You called me fat."

"Well aren't you?"

"Suzanne!" Bill sighs. "Jesus, you don't say that! Jessica, you are not fat. You are perfect and you look so so beautiful."

"She said I was fat!"

"But you're not! I bet this boy really likes you too."

"He's just a friend. He's Sarah's cousin. But I really like him. I've never had a boy as a friend before, and I don't know about this stuff!  I just wanted to put some effort into myself. This baby makes me look tired all the time!" Jessica cries.

"No, you might just feel tired. You look great, Jess!"

"Yeah, Bill's right. I'm sorry, Jessica."

Jessica makes a face at Suzanne and turns away from her.

**

"Ooh Jessica! You look great!" Sarah says as Jessica walks to her desk.

"Well thank you!"

"How's the baby today?"

"She is very hyper this morning!"

"Uh oh!  Isla, are you bouncing around in there?" Sarah talks to her belly.

Jessica giggles as a boy in her class loudly shouts from across the room, "Hey Jess!"

"Um.. hi.." Jessica smiles softly to the young boy.

"I heard pregnancy gives you hemorrhoids so I bought you this cream for your butt." He throws it at her.

Everyone and laughs as Jessica looks down to the ground just wishing she'd disappear.

Sarah jumped up, but Danny cut in.  He had arrived just as the boy was speaking to Jessica.

"HEY!  What was that about?" Danny drops his things and walks face to face with the young boy.  Danny was very tall for his age, and he had some meat on his bones that made him look stronger than the other boys his age.

"You don't throw things at her or anyone else!"

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"You don't wanna find out." Danny says bumping his chest against him.

"Tough guy." The kid scoffs. "You her baby daddy?"

"No Ricky, her baby's daddy is that weird old guy that used to clean up our shit, remember?" His friend says.

"Oh yeah!  That poor kid has two sorry excuses for parents.  I feel sorry for it.  Why don't you give it away someone older than you?  Someone who is at least legal to drive." Ricky laughs.

Jessica looked down and cradled her belly as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

Danny lifted his fist and Sarah grabbed his arm.  "It's your first day, cuz.  Let me do it.  I enjoy being sent to the principals office." She smiles.

Sarah lifts her fist and the teacher walks in. "Saved by the Fucking bell, Mother Fucker." Sarah says inches from his face. "I'll get you later."

"Oh I'm so scared!"

Sarah goes towards him and Danny grabs her.

They then take their seats and Jessica slowly lifts her head. "Thank you." She whispers to them.

Danny pats her back as he walks to the seat beside her.

"Is this desk taken?" He smiles.

Jessica giggles softly and wipes her cheeks. "No."

Sarah took her seat on the opposite side, and they began listening to the teacher.

Jessica looked side to side and smiled.  She was so thankful to have two friends who stand up for her.

**

The class ended and Danny stood.  He grabbed Jessica's things and she smiled.

"Danny, I can take them."

"I know you can.  But you don't have to.  I got it."

Jessica blushes. "Thank you."

"You two are being weird again. I might have to find someone else to sit with at lunch."

Jessica laughs and glances to Sarah. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah, yeah.  Hey Jess, your foster parents let you wear makeup now?"

"Shut up, Sarah!" Jessica makes a face.

"Woah, why?  I was just asking because I thought it was cool!"

**

Lunch.

"I seriously need to start packing a bigger lunch." Jessica says looking down to her now empty lunch box.

"You still hungry? Cause you can have some of my food, Jess." Danny says.

"Oh no, I can't take your food!  Thank you though!"

"I'm not gonna eat anymore. Especially knowing you're hungry. You've got the baby to feed. Please take it."

"Aw.. Danny, are you sure?"

"Yeah!"

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"Can I have some?"

"No, I didn't offer it to you Sarah."

Sarah makes a face. "You suck, Daniel."

**

After school Jessica went over to Sarah's.

"I'm so grateful I have you, and now Danny as friends.  That boy was mean!"

"He was, and I still owe him a beating."

Jessica laughs. "I love your fire, Sar."

"Thanks.  How do you feel?" She asks as Jessica lays on Sarah's bed.

"Exhausted."

"You look it.  Take a nap."

"I might have to."

"It's okay."

Jessica yawns. "Thanks.... So.."

"Yeah?"

"Your cousin." Jessica smiles.

"You like him."

"Do you hate me?"

"Why would I hate you?  I think he likes you too."

"What!  Oh Sarah, he doesn't like me!" Jessica laughs.

"I think he does."

"Well.." She giggles. "It's not like we're gonna do anything about it.  We're so young, and I'm so pregnant..... Sarah, I'm about to be a mom, I highly doubt he likes me!"

Sarah tilts her head.

"I mean not really....  I of course will be a mom when the baby comes out and until I sign the adoption paper, but after that I'll just be a regular twelve year old girl. With a mushy belly and Danny will never want to hug me cause my skin will be all loose."

"You are SO dramatic!" Sarah laughs.

**

Danny's POV.

"Hey mom?"

"Yes, honey?"

"Sarah's friend Jessica.."

"What about her?"

"You said she was.. raped?"

"She was. Don't bring it up though."

"I won't! It's just.. well she's really sweet and.. I just feel bad for her."

"Your aunt Catherine has told me so many stories about her. Her foster parents aren't the best. I actually think the dad is better than the mom, but it still isn't a pleasant place to be."

"She and Sarah mentioned her foster parents.. She's adopted?"

"No she's never been adopted.  She is taken in to different homes, then sent back.  No one has ever even started the adoption process on her."

"Why not?  She doesn't seem to be any trouble."

His mother sighs. "I don't know.  My heart just breaks for her.

"Why did her parents give her away?  Were they young?"

"I don't know.  I do know she was abandoned when she was two months old."

"What?" Danny's eyes widen.

"Yeah.."

"Wow so she's always had it hard?"

"She has. Be a good friend to her, baby. She needs more than just Sarah right now."

"I will, mom."

Danny's mother smiles and runs her hand through his hair.

"What?" He asks.

"You're so mature. Most boys would see a girl like Jessica, assume she slept around, and make fun of her."

"You and dad raised me better than that, mom."

"Good boy! If I hear about you bullying that girl, I will beat your ass."

Danny chuckles. "I know, mom."