Maximus Ten: Getting Ready

Almost seven months have passed. I was able to finish my semester of school before Christmas break, and Max and I spent Christmas with his father, Alex. This semester has started, and Max is driving me to my classes like he said he would. He's juggling lots of things and I am very grateful to him. He's doing well at his job, so he's been getting bigger roles. I'm tired most days and I sleep a lot when I'm not in class. Noelle and I have remained friends since the day she helped me move out of my dorm. Today I went shopping with Alex and we got a crib, high chair, and a big fuzzy teddy bear. Max said we could use part of the upstairs for the baby. He's quite the bachelor so he doesn't have much in the way of extra furniture, which works well for needing to put a crib in the house. I'm not going to be painting any of the walls or anything since the room the baby is in is just the big room upstairs, where the exercise equipment and television are located. I got a divider for the room that serves as a temporary wall.

Helena still doesn't know I'm pregnant. I haven't talked to her since I moved out, and she hasn't made any attempt to contact me. I only hear about her when Noelle hangs out with me, and it sounds like she is the same stuck up, irritating bitch she's always been. Noelle says Helena has a grudge against her because of the misunderstanding between them about Max. Helena's still convinced that Max and Noelle hooked up that day. I'm saddened that the things I said didn't get through to her at all. I decide to stop thinking about Helena since I have no obligation to her, as Max has never really liked her either, so we both have no desire to tell Helena. If she finds out, then she finds out on her own somehow. She'll most likely be upset about it because she's always like that. I don't know if I've ever seen her be happy about anything, now that I think about it.

Today Alex is helping me set up the crib, and I help him hold pieces upright as he screws them together. We're almost done, when a pang of tiredness hits me like a shockwave. I close my eyes and rest my elbows on the railing for support. Alex finishes putting the last screw into the hole, and touches my shoulder. I look up at him and he smiles, helping me over to the couch so I can sit down.

Once I sit on the couch, I feel a lot better. I must have just gotten tired of standing. Alex offers to get me a glass of water, and I thank him for being so kind. He has plenty of time to hang out with me while Max is working because he's a martial arts teacher and he can make his own hours. He's been taking only one or two appointments a day ever since he started helping Max and I. I think back on what Max told me about how they met, and am overcome with warm feelings when Alex said he actually wanted to be friends with Max. I'm even more amazed that Max harbored no ill feelings towards his father, despite how late they came into each other's lives. I think of the fact that it's good it was like that because they wasted no time in wanting to become friends, and I'm fairly certain that is why their relationship continues to remain strong.

Max is going to be a great father, I think to myself. He's so caring and adaptable. I'm not so sure about myself, though, I have always been pretty selfish. I'm kind of worried the baby might hate me if I don't take care of it the right way. Is there even a right way to do it? Other than making sure it stays alive, I don't really know. We are too young for this. My worries start making me cry just as Alex comes upstairs with the glass of water. He sits down next to me after handing me the glass of water, and looks at me, trying to comfort me with a gentle rub on my back.

"Max will be home soon."

"Thank you, Alex, for helping me with all of this."

"It's no problem. I'm happy to help. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm just still so not ready for any of this baby stuff. I feel like I'll be bad at it."

"Hmm... I'm not sure anyone is ever ready for it, especially when it's the first time. You'll be okay though, I think the fact that you're worried about it means you care enough to want to do a good job."

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I come home from another fun day of filming, and see my dad's car parked in front of my house. I'm grateful that he's here to support me and Soleil. I walk in and notice a high chair by the wall. It seems my pretty lady has done some shopping. I wonder what else she added to the house. I go upstairs and see Dad hanging out with Soleil on the couch.

They can't see me since the couch is facing the other way so I decide to surprise Soleil by walking up behind her. She turns around and smiles at me through her tears. I feel bad for her cause she seems to be extra sad lately. I can't even imagine what it's like to have that much extra weight on your body. I tell her I like the high chair she bought and she says she bought a crib as well and a teddy bear. I ask Dad if he wants to stay for dinner and he says he does, so the three of us go downstairs. Soleil sits on the bed while Dad and I cook.

"I feel like a burden, Max. I'm just sitting here being fat while you guys run around doing stuff for me. It's driving me nuts."

"Soleil, it's fine. I said I'd take care of you, and I don't regret that at all. I got you into this condition, so it's my responsibility to make sure you're okay. Besides, I noticed you are sad a lot of the time, and I'd hate for you to have to constantly be doing extra things when you're not in a good mood. Is there something I can do to help you?"

"No, it's nothing I think anyone can do. It's more of my internal problem. I just feel like I'll suck at this parenting thing, and it's making me sad."

"Don't worry about that, or at least, just try to get through the days one at a time. I'm scared too that I'll suck, but I can only do so much at a time, and worrying about what hasn't come yet isn't going to help us."

"But it is coming, Max! It'll be something we have to deal with! I can't just pretend like it's fine!"

Soleil gets off the bed and goes into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. When she gets like that, I try not to take it personally, as she's been irritable a lot lately. It stings a little every time she does it, but I'm trying to be strong for the both of us. I'm hoping she will be back to her usual easygoing self after the baby is born. I knock on the bathroom door to tell her dinner's ready, and she comes over to the table to eat. She puts her hand on my thigh and rubs it. I know she's trying to apologize for yelling earlier, and that she still cares about me. I'm a little scared she might start resenting me, but I'm trying to do my best to not give her a reason to.

After dinner, Dad leaves, and Soleil and I head to bed. She pulls on my shirt before I can change into my pajamas and looks up at me.

"Max, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you. I don't want to fight with you. Please don't hate me."

I sit down next to her and put my arm around her.

"Soleil, I"m not mad at you, and I would never hate you. I hope you don't hate me because I get to keep doing normal things while you have to do all that stuff for your pregnancy."

"No, no. I'm annoyed about all the things I can't do because I'm pregnant, but I don't hate you. I promise. Thank you for staying with me. You could have easily just left."

"Leaving you would not have been easy in any way. I really like you, Soleil. I enjoy having you in my life. Leaving wasn't something that ever crossed my mind."

"We're going to be okay, aren't we, Max?"

"Yes, we are, baby."

I squeeze Soleil once tightly, and give her a short massage before going to bed. She thanks me, and falls asleep quickly. She must have been so tired. After a shower, I get into bed, and can't help looking at her again. Despite her irritability the past few months, she looks peaceful, and I can only hope that we really will be okay after the baby comes and changes our lives forever.

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Credits:

• Aeoverse Poses
• World of Creations