Not Perfect by Laura Banister (best ereader for manga .txt) 📖

beat and it is developing well” he said, he moved a white stick across my stomach, a small speaker in his other hand giving out a loud dudum dudum. Listening to the sound of it’s heart beat, I suddenly felt a warmth around me. My hands moving to cover my stomach in protection. A smile slowly spreading across my face as I looked down at my hands, a tear slipping out my eye as a small laugh escaped my lips. Dr. Lexas smiled, watching me.

“A couple of months and I will be able to tell you the sex” his voice light, not wanting to disturb my burst of happiness. “How ’bout we organise your next appointment? And I will grab some books for you to read that will tell you about pregnancy, and child birth”.

I smiled at him, nodding my head, my voice lost beneath my joy.

 

Dr. Lexas, had been Grandma’s doctor, and knowing that I had no one to help me through the pregnancy and to teach me how to take care of a baby, also signed me up to take some birthing classes that would show me how to do everything I needed to know.

“Now, the classes are on Wednesdays at 10:30, so you will have to be there by then tomorrow, ok?” he said, a gentle smile on his face as I still stared down at my belly. I left the medical centre after that and drove home, sitting up late that night to read one of the books Dr. Lexus had given me about the stages of pregnancy.

The next morning I woke up at 8:30 having the need to be sick. I had read about morning sickness last night and rushed myself to the bathroom just in time for me puke into the toilet bowl. I took myself a quick shower and dressed myself in a pair of black skinny leg jeans, a short sleeved red hooded shirt and black flats, before grabbing the car keys, locking up the house and headed to town.

 

Meeting Someone New

I pulled my commodore into the last parking space left. I turned off the engine, and got out of the car. The family center was an old red brick building, with a large grassed area out the front. I watched as a couple with a toddler ran around, chasing each other. I walked to the foot path that led to the glass sliding doors to enter the building. As the doors opened, a cold gush of air blew across my face. The walls were white inside, a front desk sat to the left of me, an older looking lady with red framed glasses and silver hair sat behind the desk reading a book. I walked over as she looked up at me.

“Can I help you dear?” her voice was sweet as she spoke to me, putting down her book.

“Umm… I’m here for a pregnancy/birthing class” My voice sounded shaky to me, but she answered me kindly.

“Yes, it’s just down the corridor, the second last door on the left. It should have a sign on it saying ’Birthing Class’” I thanked her and followed her directions. The door was wide open when I walked in. The room was bright, with light blue walls and carpet to match. Pictures of babies covered the wall across from, with a banner saying ’Welcoming to the World’. Five other people were here already. Two couples were talking to each other against the back wall. The other person, a light brown haired girl, stood looking at the pictures of all the babies. She wore black tracksuit pants and a light green tank top, her hair falling down around her shoulders. I walked towards her, pretending to looking at the pictures.

“They’re cute aren’t they?” Her voice was soft as she spoke. I turned to look at her, but she was already looking at me, a soft smile on her face.

“Yes, I suppose they are” I replied, smiling back at her. Her brown eyes sparkled as her smile grew.

“I’m Christan Browne” She held her hand out for me to shake. I shook her hand back.

“Sienna Ryan”

“Nice to meet you” She looked around before continuing to speak.

“You here by yourself?” I nodded slowly.

“You?” She nodded back.

“Welcome my class!” I large lady walked in the door, her voice booming around the room.

“Please find somewhere comfortable to sit, and we will begin”

“Sit next to me?” Christan asked as she walked over to the corner and grabbing a couple of bean bags and putting them in front of the lady. I joined Christan, smiling as we both got comfortable. The lady before us smiled at us and begun the lesson.

“Now before we begin, I would like us to go around the room and introduce ourselves to everyone and just say a little something about your little beings. So to start off; Hello everyone, I am Amanda, I will be running this class, and while I myself am not pregnant, I have three children. Who would like to go next?”

A lady from one of the couples stood up. She had bright red hair that was flowing down over her shoulders, reaching the top of her very large belly. A man stood along side her, with dark brown hair, and deep blue eyes that shined even brighter compared to his navy blue sweater and dark blue jeans.

“Hi everyone” The woman said, a big grin spread across her face.

“I am Tiffany, and this is my partner Ryan. We have been trying to conceive for the last four years, and are proud to be having a little baby boy, who we have named Levi” Together they sat back down as the next couple rose. They both had dark brown hair, and just like Tiffany, the woman also had a rather large belly.

“Hi everyone, I am James and this is my partner Jacinta, and we are having a little baby girl, who we have just decided to call Ebony” The man spoke. As he and Jacinta took their seats again, I noticed Amanda looking toward Christan and I. In fact, everyone was, wondering who would go next. Slowly, I rose from my bean bag and turned to face everyone.

“Hi everyone” My voice felt so weak to me, yet I hoped was loud enough for everyone to hear.

“I’m Sienna. I have only just found out I was pregnant, so I don’t know the sex yet..”

I turned to take my seat.

“Where’s the father?” Tiffany called out towards me. I turned back to face her.

“Umm… I don’t know” My throat clenched as I spoke, trying to stop the words coming out as I thought to Jake, my heart pounding in my chest. I quickly fell myself to the beanbag before anyone tried to pry further into my pregnancy. Christan stood up as soon as I was seated.

“I’m Christan, and my babies father wants nothing to with ’it’ so his not here” She said quickly, earning shocked faces from Jacinta and Tiffany, before taking her seat beside me. All was quiet, before Amanda cleared her through and begun the class.

She spoke to us about eating healthy and all the things we should and shouldn’t eat. I took notes as I listened.

 

After class, Christan and I walked out the car park together, having organised to go and have some lunch together. Christan didn’t have a car, so we went in mine. We drove to a small café on the other side of town, and ordered a couple of salads, with fruit juice. While we waited for our food to come, we got to know each other.

 

Christan was 18. She was currently two months pregnant and single. She fell pregnant after being raped by her boyfriend’s best friend, but when she refused to get rid of the baby, her parents threw her out. When she told her boyfriend the news of her pregnancy, he left her. She found a refugee where she was currently staying, but was finding herself becoming bankrupt due the cost of staying there.

“You know, I live in big house all by myself… Why don’t you come stay with me? Until you get back on your feet” I said. I really felt sorry for this girl, and wanted to help.

“Really?” her voice was so soft as she spoke, her eyes still welled up with tears.

“Yeah, I really mean it” I smiled at her, making her smile back at me.

“So what about you?” She asked as our food arrived.

“What about me?” I answered taking a mouthful of my salad.

“What’s your story? How did you come to live in a house all by yourself and be pregnant?” She asked smiling at me. I don’t know why, but I suddenly felt that I could tell Christan anything, and she wouldn’t judge me. So I told her; about the party, what Jake did to me, and how I found Emily, even about Gran. By the end, we were both had tears rolling down our cheeks.

“Oh my god. I’m so sorry Sienna” She whispered shaking her head. I tried to give her a soft smile, not really sure whether or not I succeeded until Christan returned the smile.

“So, where’s your parents then?“ She asked after a while. I had been waiting for this question. It was the question I was always asked.

“They died in a car accident when I was three. Head on collision with a truck on the way to come get me from Gran’s” I answered. I don’t really remember them but Gran always showed me pictures of them.

“Oh, sorry…” She said quietly.

“It’s fine. Everyone always asks me about them” I smiled reassuring at her, to which she returned. Together we finished off our lunch, and I drove her to the refugee to collect her belongings before we went home.

Caught Out

Christan’s eyes widened in amazement as I showed her around the house.

“Your house is huge!” She exclaimed as I led her to the spare room.

“This room is for you” I said, opening the door to baby blue coloured room. It was the same size as mine, and styled all the same. Christan’s mouth dropped when saw the room.

“This is for me?” She squeaked.

“Yeah, it’s the spare room, but no one’s stayed in here since Grandpa died” I hoped my voice sounded neutral, cause at the sound of saying grandpa, I felt like bursting. Christan turned towards me, a smile spread on her face.

“Thank you so much, Sienna” She said before giving me a big hug. I helped Christan unpack her belongings, and together we