Sixteen by Emily Rachelle Read Free Book Online Page A

and the shame -- to fade? Would that night ever truly leave her alone, especially with a baby now on the way to forever remind her?
    Christy didn’t notice Nikki’s involuntary shiver -- or she ignored it. "No, but you're going to church tomorrow. Afterwards, my family is going to lunch. You’ll come too. Then you and I will be dropped off at Matt's and you are going to tell him everything."
    Nikki rolled her eyes. "And when did we decide all this?" Christy made a great friend, but she seemed a little too practiced at playing the part of bossy older sister.
    "You didn't. I did. Mom will understand, so we don't have to clear the plans right now. And we're going to need our sleep, as does your little baby, so it's lights-out!"
    Nikki reluctantly changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth, grumbling the entire time. Why did she have to consider the baby now? It’s not like she’d been behaving… pregnant… earlier, before she knew for certain. Besides, the baby was barely a month along. Surely one more late night couldn’t hurt. And shouldn’t she be in charge of her own choices? Especially if she’d have to start making choices for a kid, too. She stared at herself in the bathroom mirror for several minutes, turning this thought over. She was going to be a mom . Of a living, breathing, crying, eating, flesh-and-blood child.
    Christy prepared for bed as well, still being annoyingly chipper. She insisted on sleeping on the floor with Nikki on the bed, despite Nikki’s protests that they’d always shared the mound of blankets and pillows across the floor during sleepovers. Why couldn’t anything be like it was before?
    “For the baby's sake,” Christy told the mother-to-be. They did end up sleeping where Christy decided, and Nikki slept like a rock until her mother woke them up at eight. They rushed to shower and get ready; then Christy walked to her house, and each family drove to church.
    Nikki actually enjoyed Sunday school, and everybody was friendlier and accepting of the new girl than she’d expected. She paid attention to the message, and the pastor introduced himself to her after the service. Christy's family piled back into the car; they ate lunch at a local restaurant. Christy's mother helped Nikki discreetly choose a pregnancy-friendly meal. After they finished and paid the bill, Christy’s parents dropped Nikki and Christy off at Matt's house.
    Her heart beating wildly, Nikki wiped her sticky hands on her light green spring-style dress -- the only outfit she owned that felt proper for church. The butterfly troupe in her stomach woke up the minute she rang the doorbell. Christy stood behind her.
    Matt's brother opened the door, and greeted them with a friendly smile. However, a question hid in his eyes. "Nikki! It's been a while. Who's your friend?"
    She smiled nervously. "This- this is Christy. Um, is Matt here?"
    Unfortunately, he nodded. "He's out back, on the porch. You can just go on around if you want."
    Nikki nodded, and slowly headed for the person she dreaded seeing. Christy stood too close to make a break for it, so she took a deep breath and turned the corner.
    Matt lounged in a patio chair, probably enjoying the sunshine. Nikki stared at the patio tile. Christy cleared her throat, and Matt jerked around. When he saw Nikki, he jumped out of his chair and approached her. When she stepped back, he halted.
    "Nikki! What- how... hey, are you okay?"
    She tried to slow her breathing to something resembling a normal pace, but failed. "Um. Hi."
    "Hi. Do you- here, sit down." He motioned to the chair and pulled it out for her.
    She shook her head without looking up. "I'd rather not. I... I have to talk to you."
    "Is everything alright?" Worry clouded his features.
    "Actually... no. You see..." For the first time since she'd arrived, she looked at Matt, face to face. That was all it took to open the floodgates. She buried her face in her hands as tears began to flow.
    Concern flashed over Matt's