As Life Goes: Gen. 5.3-Matthew

***SENSITIVE ISSUE CHAPTER***

The start of my junior year. Dad taught me to drive and Grandpa bought me a new car the day I got my license. Mom and Dad weren’t all that happy about it. They’d got me a little scooter to use, but I couldn’t take Claudia out in that, and what happened on rainy days. They couldn’t deny that logic.

I still hung out with Dax and Kraig. I was the first one to get a car so they were just as excited as I was. Not that not having a car stopped us. One of the parents would drive me into town when I needed. At times I kinda wished we didn’t live so far away from everything, but the idea of moving freaked me out a bit. I was already preparing myself a year in advance for college. When we toured Bay University, I’d originally wanted to rent an apartment. I wasn’t really keen on staying in the dorms, but they did have co-ed dorms so that was a plus.

Claudia and I were still dating, exclusively dating, for the past few months. She would come over and we’d do homework and such together. My courses seem to come easier to me this year and I was acing nearly all of them. Claudia struggled a bit so I was happy to help when I could. We no longer had many classes together, since I bumped up to the more advanced levels. The only class we did have was History but luckily we still had the same lunch period. Mom had warmed up to her and by warmed up, stopped asking me if we were still dating on a weekly basis. Claudia was funny and a blast to hang around. Hell, even Dax and Kraig stopped giving me as much shit about her when they realized she was a big a prankster as the three of us. 

When we wanted ‘alone’ time we usually hung out at her house. My parents didn’t know how much her mom wasn’t home. I didn’t like lying to them so I’d tell them we were meeting up at the library or something, which wouldn’t be a total untruth. We just didn’t stay there long.

Junior prom was approaching. Claudia told me no at first. She wasn’t into all those sorts of traditions and thought they were kinda stupid. Then she said she couldn’t go because her mom wouldn’t give her money for a dress. Claudia told me it was because her father hadn’t paid his child support in a while and her mom was pissed. For some reason that woman wanted to punish Claudia for her dad’s actions. I thought that was unfair. I’d only met her mom once or twice in the two years I’d know Claudia. I came from such a close knit family seeing how different Claudia’s was, I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. My family did things for the holidays we were always together if we could be. Sometimes Aunt Hope and Uncle Caleb came out other times we’d go to Aurora Skies to be with them. Since I felt bad Claudia didn’t want to go with me because she wouldn’t have a dress I decided to take her shopping since I’d just gotten paid. I never did much with the money I earned from the store anyway and so I had most of it saved in an account Dad made me open. He was big on teaching me financial responsibility.

Shopping with a girl was an experience and one I didn’t want to repeat anytime soon. I’d never gone shopping with a girl before other than Mom and that was mostly when I needed new clothes.

That night at dinner when I told Mom and Dad about the hours it took Claudia to pick out the perfect dress. Dad laughed and said sacrifices had to be made sometimes. Mom thought my gesture was nice, but wasn’t totally comfortable with the idea of me spending hundreds of dollars on Claudia. Good thing she didn’t know about the other times I’d given her money for things.

“What did you expect, babe. The boy clearly has learned everything he needs to know about wooing a girl from his father,” Dad said giving Mom a big smile.

She leaned over and gave him a kiss. “I guess I can’t argue with that.”

Prom night was great. Dad rented us a limo since it would be six of us. Claudia didn't really like the Dax and Kraig's dates, and kept making comments about why they had to be included in on our night. I'd already explained to her the plan was for us all to hang together. I was voted prom king. Dax’s parents were out of town for the weekend so we had an after party there. There was dancing and drinking and the night eventually led to Claudia’s favorite ‘activity’.

Right after spring break, Claudia started acting funny. She started avoiding me and not returning my calls. One day after school I managed to corner her before she ran off to her bus.

“What do you want Matt?” she snapped.

“I…I just wanted to know what was wrong.”

“You’re what’s wrong, Matt. Geez-us you are so fuckin’ clingy. Can’t you take a damn hint!”

One…two…three…her outburst was drawing attention as other students milled around. “I…I…”

“I…I…” she mocked “You are not who I see myself tied to for the rest of my life! It’s over Matt and tomorrow I’ll be rid of the brat you tried to saddle me with.”

“What!?”

“I’m pregnant you moron, but not for much longer.”

One…two…three…“What do you mean not for much longer?”

“What do you think Matt? I already told my mom, who was PISSED by the way so thanks for that! She’s taking me tomorrow. At least she was happy to know she wouldn’t have to pay.”

I was confused. I didn’t understand she was pregnant. We were careful, she said she was on birth control. One...two…three…my parents were going to kill me.

“You won’t have to do this alone. We can get married, you can move in with me if your mom is that unhappy.”

“Are you not hearing me? I’m…not…keeping…it! I don’t want it. When and if I become some brat’s mother it will be with a guy that can take care of me in the manner I require. I do not and will not stay in the Podunk town married to a grocery store bagger!”

One…two…three“It’s a high school job Claudia! After college, I’ll…”

 “You’ll what? Work your way up to manager? Whoppity fucking doo. My life plan includes marrying someone rich and preferably old and living in the lap of luxury the rest of my life. Look Matt, you’re cute and fun and all, but you had to know this was never gonna be long term right? You may be happy being a farm boy, but that is NOT the life for me! But thanks for the cash you gave me last week. That will be enough to take care of it.”

She turned and walked off and I just stood in front of the building watching her go. Claudia was pregnant with my child and was planning on terminating. Even worse, when she’d come to me saying she needed money I gave it to her, and now I knew I would be funding her choice.

Mom was out in the garden when I got home. She walked in to find me scrubbing the counter repeatedly and counting.

“One-hundred-twenty, one-hundred-twenty-one…”

“Matt?” I kept going. “Matthew!” Mom half yelled, putting her hand over mine.

“I told her Mom. I told her I would take care of her and she laughed. She’s going to…to…she....” I started counting again, “One…two…three.” Over and over. Mom pulled me into a hug as I continued to count.

“Honey, what’s happening?” She was worried, I could hear it in her voice. “Please I don’t understand what’s wrong.”

How could Claudia be so…so nasty? How could she say those things? Mom made me some tea and told me to lay down for a while. 

When Dad got home, I felt a little calmer and was able to tell them the whole story. As expected they were pissed, they didn’t even know I was having sex and I’d gone and gotten my girlfriend, correction ex-girlfriend, pregnant.

“Well, what’s done is done. It won’t be easy, but you will help her take care of the baby. We’ll make sure you get some custody rights,” Mom said patting my leg.

“She…she’s not keeping it,” I said quietly.

“Oh, well then if she wants to do adoption then we will just make sure we get full custody,” Dad commented.

“No…she’s…not staying pregnant.”

A silence fell over them. Mom looked especially upset by my words. She started pacing I hated seeing her upset. …one…two…three…

“Jonas…”

“I’ll go talk to her mom, but I don’t know…”

“You have to try. Please.” 

I watched my Mom look more upset than I’d ever seen her. She and Dad had some silent communication going on that I didn’t fully understand right away. Then it hit me, the talk we’d had a few years ago when I’d asked about being an only child. Guess she wasn’t one of the ‘blessed’ ones; she must not have been able to have more. Mom had her reservations about Claudia and now I felt bad for not listening, if I had I wouldn’t be in this situation. I had disappointed the two most important people in my life. One…two…three…

**A/N**

There will be carry over in the next chapter as well dealing with the same issue touched on in this chapter.