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(Also important A/N on the bottom)
Chapter Eleven
Week 14- The baby's eyes begin to move, while the arms and legs can flex. The baby's' hands can open and close into fists, making movements such as putting hands into the mouth. The organs of taste and smell are developing. The baby's skin is becoming thicker, while hair follicles are appearing below the skin surface.
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Today's the day.
My family will either love the news or hate it and if it's the latter I'm going to be really... emotional.
I hop into the shower and use a bunch of soothing soaps, hoping it'll relax my nerves.
I get out and get dressed in a sweater dress, hoping that it'll hide the barely visible bump. After blow drying and straightening my hair, I begin on my makeup. Since both my parents and my 3 siblings were going to be there, I wanted to look nice.
After applying all of my face makeup, I move onto the eyes. Using my Lorac pro 3 palette, I do a fancy eye and make sure to add my signature wing. One more coat of mascara, and boom, I was done.
I run my fingers through my recently straightened black hair, enjoying the appearance of volume and shines.
Walking out of my bedroom, I see Theo eating a cupcake at the counter, looking fashionably dashing wearing only all black.
"Ready, Theo?" I ask him, stealing his cupcake and taking a bite,
"Sure am!" He says back.
Since I was telling my family about my pregnancy tonight, I figured I would need some support from my best friend, so I invited him along.
My phone beeped, signaling a text from my awaiting uber. Theo and I headed downstairs, stopping to say hi to Frank. Being a doorman was be so boring, but at the same time exciting.
We got into the uber and began the journey to my parents two-story townhouse on the outskirts of Manhattan.
My hands wouldn't stop wringing my fingers out, and beads of sweat were on my forehead.
"Stila, baby. Calm down. Your parents will be ecstatic to know that they are expecting another grandchild. And this fella's other uncles will love your child to death. I promise," Theo says, taking my hand and not letting go until we got to the brick building.
We got out, and Theo paid the uber driver because I forgot my purse. Luckily, I remembered my cell phone.
Walking up the steps to the front door, Theo took my hand and rang the doorbell. All too soon, the face of Sandy Banks, my mother, was smiling at me and Theo while opening the door and gesturing us in. She was a petite lady, and both her and my dad were 51. She had a cute little bob with her blonde hair, and like me, green eyes. Except hers were sparkling with knowledge of the unknown. Throughout me and my sibling's lives, she was the perfect house-mom.
"Pleasure to see you again, Theo," She says, taking our coats and hanging them up in the foyer closet.
"The pleasures all mine," Theo says back, ever the charmer.
We walked to the living room, where everyone was gathered. I could see Joe, my 25-year-old brother with his sleek black hair and mysterious brown eyes. Growing up, I was the closest to him considering how our age gap was only one year apart. Safe to say, he was the most protective of me and he'd probably take the news the hardest.
Moving my glance over to the right, I saw Josh, my 27-year-old brother, and his wife. Josh's appearance was basically the opposite of Joe's. Josh had brown hair and blue eyes, ever so bright. Last year, he got married to the love of his life; June. You wouldn't believe what month they got married in. Totally cliche.
And across from those three sat my last brother, John, who was 30 and married with two kids. He had, like me, black hair and green eyes. He was married to Susan, the sweetest girl ever. His two kids, Cory and Aila, were twins and he was the best father to them. Because of him, I was really excited to become a mother. He resembled me the most; whenever we went out into public together people instantly began asking if we were twins.
And finally, sitting on his old, battered up cushion chair, was Fred Banks, my father. His bright blue eyes were crinkled at the corners from old age and laughter, and his salt and pepper hair made him look young instead of old. He raised 4 children on a lawyer salary, which might not seem amazing, but living in a Manhattan townhouse in the middle of New York City, you could say it was hard to do. I appreciate all the sacrifices he made so that all of us could be sitting right here, sharing goods news.
"Hi, Stila!" Joe says, his face instantly lighting up. He was probably bored with all the couples in the room.
"Hi Joe," I said walking over to him and smiling. I sat down next to him, Theo sitting down next to me, and all three of us began indulging in a conversation debating about the clown disaster that was happening in America right now.
When our debate was getting really heated, my mother called us into the dining room for dinner. Theo sat on one side of me and Joe on the other. Our conversation dropped, while we picked up on what the rest of the group was discussing; Trump or Hillary.
Don't get us wrong, we all know that Hillary is obviously the best choice in the future of our country. We just liked to debate.
I wasn't paying attention to the conversation anymore, instead  twirling my mashed potatoes trying to relax. It wasn't easy when 4 out of 5 of the most important men in my life were about to hear my secret for the first time. The other man, Theo, was there for me during morning sickness, I so owed him a candy bar.
"Sweetie," my mom says, interrupting the table's debate. "Is something wrong with the food?"
"No, mom, the food looks great," I say, forcing out a smile and eating a spoonful of the perfectly crafted potatoes. Looking around the table, I could see that everyone was done.
I looked over at Theo, and he turned his head and looked at me, giving a nod of encouragement. "I, um, actually wanted to tell you guys something."
They all looked at me, including Aila and Cory who were covered in slimy cheese from their head down to their toes.
"What is it, honey?" My father asks, breaking the silence.
"I, well I'm.." I stutter, looking at Theo for comfort. He gives me and a small smile and squeezes my hand under the table.
"I'm pregnant," I blurt out, covering my face into Theo's black sweater.
For a few seconds, the whole table was silent. And then all at once, everyone spoke.
"Who the hell got you pregnant?"
"Congratulations, sweetie!"
"I will kill you, Theo, get your disgusting hands off of my sister."
"I'm so happy for you!"
"My baby girl is having a baby?!"
"ENOUGH!" Joe yelled, standing up and looking down at me, anger evident in his body language. Everyone silenced and looked between me and Joe, where we were currently having a staring contest.
"Who go you pregnant, Stila?" He asks me, his voice dead calm, but his hands are fists.
"Uhm.." I stammer, not being able to get the words out.
"Do you even know who got you pregnant," he shouts, turning his back to me.
At that comment, I was instantly angered and forgot about keeping the peace. "OF COURSE I KNOW YOU JACKASS," I yell at him, standing up and pushing him so that he's facing me. And then I'm raising the back of my palm and slamming it into his face.
Everyone sat in silence, including me and Joe, who just stared at each other in shock. At the same time, our arms went around each other for a hug. I started crying, emotionally drained from my family's responses.
"I'm so sorry, Stila. I didn't mean that" Joe keeps whispering into my hair, rocking me back and forth. "It just came out. You're my baby sister and I want to protect you."
By now, everyone had left the room, including Theo, to give me and Joe space.
"I'm sorry I hit you," I say, lifting my face up and wiping underneath my eyes with my fingers.
"Don't be, I deserved it." He muttered, reaching behind the table for a box of tissues and passing them to me.
I quickly wiped my face and stared at Joe. "The person who got me pregnant. He's Clyde Lyle's, and he is being supportive."
Joe calms down at that, but soon after recognition draws on his face. "Clyde Lyle's as in the CEO? As in the manwhore? Are you sure about this, Stila?"
"Yes, Joe. If I have any problems with him, I'll call you up and you have my permission to pummel his face in."
Joe and I laugh and talk for another five more minutes before joining the others back in the living room.
Instantly, I'm being crushed by my mother, June, and Susan, who all congratulate me at the same time and usher me to sit so they can surround me and talk baby talk. The boys are looking in at us with pure amusement from the sidelines, talking to each other in hushed tones.
The girls and I gossip about the baby for a bit and what's it's like entering the realm of motherhood. Soon, it became later and the first to venture off was John's family, with Aila sleeping on his shoulder and Cory sleeping on Susan's.
Pretty soon, Theo and I said our goodbyes as well, and after receiving multiple hugs and congratulations from everyone, we left with my heart heavy.
On the way home, Theo caught me smiling out of the window like a lunatic, and instead of saying something, he smiled at me and squeezed my hand.
No sooner than we got into the Uber, we were out again and in front of our apartment. After closing our front door, we head to our separate rooms and bid each other a goodnight.
Walking into my room, my phone dinged with a text.
*Clyde Lyles:
Hey, Stila! Is it okay if I give you a call?
I reply back with a yes and answer the phone when he calls me, perplexed on why he wants to talk to me at eleven o'clock pm.
"Hey," he breathes.
"Hi," I reply back, smiling when I hear his voice.
"How did your family take the news?"
"Well, at first, my brothers and my father were appalled by the idea. They were so mad. But as the night wore on, I think they became happy for me," I tell him, smiling. "How did yours?"
"My mother and my sister were both thrilled I was having a child, not necessarily thrilled about the circumstances, though," he says.
"At least they were happy," I say, deciding not to ask where his father was.
"Are you doing anything on Monday night?" He asks me, the faint noise of computer keys clicking in the background on his end.
"Not that I know of," I reply, biting my nails in anticipation.
"I hate to do this over the phone, but would you want to go to dinner with me? Not just a friend dinner. But like a dinner to get closer to being something other than a friend," he rushes. "Oh for the love of god, would you like to go on a date with me?"
I chuckle and reply with a lame, "sure."
We talk for a few more minutes, but since he sounds busy, I stop the conversation and tell him that I'll see him Monday night at 7:30. We say our goodnights and hang up the phone.
That night, I go to bed with a goofy grin on my face, with both of my hands around my stomach.
This baby could potentially be the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life.
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CHAPTER ELEVEN DONE!
Song for this chapter: Brave by Sara Bareilles b/c it took a lot of courage for Stila to tell her family.
Now I know this gets repetitive, but PLEASEE Vote, Comment, and Follow! It inspires me to write and I love it. You can criticize me in your comments, I just want something.
IMPORTANT NOTE!: I've added a character chart. I've kinda dropped a huge character bomb on you in this chapter so I think it's time. This will be found in the front of the book!
Xoxo, Cooler_Than_You