Three weeks later, my high school softball career ended. I’d pitched every game, winning the championship for the fourth year in a row.

Now I sat in a torture device, otherwise known as a hard plastic chair, in front of my teammates’ loved ones at our varsity banquet.

I hated these things.

The urge to start acting like some type of zoo animal while people gawked at me was strong. These thoughts always came at the worst time. I'd never gone through with the impulse, but like they say, there’s a first time for everything.

I sat next to Renee and four other senior girls from our team. Thankfully the night was coming to a close and the last thing on the agenda was announcing where we’d committed to going to college.

Coach Hamm rattled off the stats of Noel, our second baseman before having her announce the college she picked.

After Noel made her announcement, Coach Hamm turned the mic over to our pitching coach, Coach Rutching, or Bruno as he always wanted the team to call him.

With extreme force I kept my mouth neutral instead of wearing the sneer pulling at it, making my nose twitch from the opposing signals pulling and pushing around it. Renee smacked my leg, giving me her big eyes, silently telling me to cut it out.

Coach Rutching annoyed the ever loving hell out of me. Doc, my private pitching coach, whom my parents paid for, couldn't stand him. Doc made me swear I wouldn't heed any advice Coach Rutching gave me.

It was a double edge sword. My pitching skills harnessed from Doc won championships, yet the school blindly assumed Coach Rutching was a fundamental part of the winning process.

Bruno cleared his throat, a nervous habit that made my skin crawl. Even though I'd been offered scholarships all over the United States, I committed to San Diego State. Coach Rutching was furious when he heard my decision.

San Diego State wasn't a tier one school, and according to Bruno, I was wasting the talent he had "honed" the last four years.

Cue epic eye roll.

He didn’t understand it was my future husband’s alma mater. Obviously Bruno had no idea what he was talking about.

Renee pinched my thigh, bringing me out of my musings just in time to hear Coach Rutching go into his speech about me. "The moment I saw McKenna pitch her freshman year, I knew I’d found my star. She’s one of the most dedicated girls on our team. While the other girls were out being teenagers, you could always find Kenna on the field practicing."

Thanks for bringing up my inability to act like a normal teenager, Bruno.

Jane, our right fielder, let out a light snicker. Renee whipped her head around and gave her one of the meanest evil eyes I'd ever witnessed. Jane averted her eyes to her shoes, thoroughly chastised. My teeth bit into my cheek to keep from letting my tongue slip out to taunt Jane more. I was fairly certain I was on the verge of making a face at her before chanting nanner, nanner, nanner.

"McKenna had offers from all over the US. Some of the top tier schools were calling me night and day to get her to commit. Her dedication to all academic areas makes her even more valuable to any college, as she will be entering having already earned her associates degree. That being said, she's also very dedicated to her family, making her choice easy. McKenna Raine." Coach Rutching looked at me, his eyes flickering over to Renee before landing back on me.

Renee sucked in a sharp breath and pinched my leg again. I raised my eyebrow at her before making the dreaded walk to the podium. It only took six long strides to get there, and I was proud of myself for not busting out monkey moves at every step.

"Hi." I waved at the crowd, wishing the podium had a portal to a wizarding school in it.

My knee hit the solid wood podium, my entrance to witchcraft and wizardry denied. "I have committed to San Diego State after graduation. I'll be studying physical therapy with an emphasis on sports injuries and have been extended a spot in their PT program as long as I continue to meet their requirements and standards."

Coach Rutching clapped me on the shoulder and I took that as the permission I needed to go back to my chair. Coach Hamm stepped up to relieve Coach Rutching since I was the only player he represented.

Before Bruno could step away, Coach Hamm slung his arm over Coach Rutching's shoulder, keeping him at the podium. "Before Renee comes up for her announcement, I wanted to congratulate Coach Rutching."

Bruno's eyes widened, making Coach Hamm let out a soft chuckle. "Don't worry, Bruno, I have permission from your wife to let the cat out of the bag. Or should I say baby? It's with much happiness I get to announce our own Coach Rutching's expecting the next great pitcher with his lovely wife, Anna."

Renee's fingers dug into my thigh as I clapped along with everyone else.

"What is it?" I whispered out of the corner of my mouth.

Anna, the coach’s wife, stood up from her chair in the front row and waved to the people around her. She blew Coach Rutching a kiss, which he reciprocated. Bruno shook Coach Hamm's hand and descended the stairs to join his glowing wife.

"I need to get out of here," Renee hissed in my ear. Her fingers still pinched the fuck out of my thigh.

"Do you have to pee? Are you going to throw up?" My head finally turned to make sure I wasn't going to get spewed on.

"I might," she answered, her face ten shades paler than her normal hue.

Grabbing her hand, I yanked her to her feet. Coach Hamm stopped his introduction of Renee and turned to find out what everyone in the audience was watching.

"I haven't got done introducing you yet, Renee," Coach Hamm teased. He didn't even bother looking at me, already used to my weird behavior.

"I'm not going to college. I'm pregnant and I’m going to marry my boyfriend when he gets back from the marines," she shouted before sprinting out of the auditorium, never letting go of my hand.

 

"I can't believe you announced your baby like, well, me. You've been hanging out with me too much."

My breath wheezed in and out as Renee paced back and forth by my car. Not expecting to run tonight, those extra tacos I ate made it hard to move during our getaway.

"Please tell me I didn't just announce I was pregnant and not going to school. And that I made up some fake boyfriend." She rubbed her forehead as if to erase her actions.

"Do you want me to lie to you? I never understand what people want me to say when they say that. I mean, you know you did it. Unless you had some weird out of body experience and blacked out. Did you black out?"

Renee giggled and leaned against my car. "No, I didn't black out. I just couldn't handle it anymore."

"Is Coach Rutching the father?"

Her chin fell to her chest, admitting defeat. Seeing the panic and anger mixed on her face when Coach Hamm announced Bruno's spawn, it was easy to guess why Renee acted the way she did.

"You can't tell anyone. He doesn’t know. That’s why I made up the fake boyfriend."

"Nene, you're a minor. You're on his high school team. It's illegal. He should have to take responsibility. He should be thrown in jail."

"I know. I know. Please don't say anything. I’m so embarrassed and his wife’s pregnant. What was I thinking? He never had feelings for me. I don’t want him to know ever."

She was pleading with me and I couldn't tell her no. Renee had become my best friend and I didn’t want to lose her.

"I won't say anything. I promise. What are we going to do now?"

"I have no idea."

"Renee," Mrs. Thorne’s voice whisper-shouted as she stomped toward us.

Renee’s father was close on her heels.

"I'm sorry," Renee said when they reached us.

"What the hell do you mean you're not going to school?" Her mother shrieked.

"Didn't you hear me? I'm pregnant."

"You can get rid of it and we can put this whole ugly scenario behind us." Her father's quick words dug deep in my stomach and I couldn't imagine what Renee was going through.

"I don't think I want to get an abortion. I don’t even know if I can. I’m already in my second trimester."

My parents lingered behind, not interfering.

"Of course you want to get an abortion. I’m sure the option’s still available. You want to go to college. Everything changed when you started hanging out with her." Renee's mom pointed at me and I giggled.

It was the worst thing to possibly do, I knew that. But when I was in uncomfortable situations I couldn't help but do the worst possible thing. It was ingrained in me.

"How can you laugh at this?" Her dad fumed.

"Stop, it's not Kenna's fault.” Renee put her arm around my shoulders.

"It can’t be my fault. I don't even have a penis," I argued.

My mom moved next to me and placed her hand over my mouth. "She doesn't do well in awkward situations."

I resisted the urge to lick her palm.

"If you don't abort the baby, you’re not welcome in our house. You’ll go to college and make something out of yourself. You will not be an embarrassment to your family." Her dad reached out for her, but Renee stood firm.

"I'm sorry. I'll come get my stuff tomorrow."

"It’ll be packed and in the front lawn at nine. If you don't pick it up by ten we’ll throw away whatever’s left." Renee's mom curled her lip and turned away.

Her father trotted behind her.

Renee's knees went out and she crumbled to the asphalt sobbing. My mom released my mouth and crouched down, hugging her as my dad came over and put his arm around my shoulders.

"Can I come in?" Renee asked, knocking on my door.

"Of course."

Renee crawled in bed, taking up most of it. I’d learned she was a blanket hog and started putting extra blankets on the side so I wouldn't freeze.

"Your parents are amazing people."

I smiled as I pulled at the blanket slowly creeping off my body. "They are. What did my mom say?"

"It was incredible. She told me she’d stay at home with the baby while I went to school."

"We're going to have a baby." I gave up trying to get the covers from her and wrapped the one on the side of the bed around me.

"I can't take advantage of your family like that. I'll figure something out."

"Stop. My parents are willing to help you. As I see it, you don't have any other option but to take their hospitality and just say thank you."

"Kenna, you have quite the way of pep talking people."

We giggled into the darkness and Renee turned over to face me. "I'm scared."

"Of course you are. Having a baby’s a scary thing, especially as a teenager. The amount of pain you’ll feel during labor." I shuddered.

"Stop," she cut me off before I could go into statistic mode. "Do you think it's okay to accept your parents’ help? I mean, I can go to community college to get my AA and transfer into grad school later."

"I think accepting my parents’ help is the only smart thing to do. I know my dad’s looking for a receptionist at the office. He wanted me to work for him, but with softball and school I won't have any time."

"Your mom mentioned that. Do you think I should listen to my parents and abort the baby?"

My brain scrambled with statistics and I tried to sort through them to find the most logical answer.

"Your opinion. No stats. What do you think in your heart?"

"I think it’s your decision. If you decide to have an abortion you need to be completely at peace with the decision. If you have one, you can still go to college and not lose your scholarship. But, if you can't come to terms with it and end up ruining your college career and your life because you are swamped with guilt, you would have had the abortion in vain.

“I don't think either decision’s wrong. You just need to be fully committed to the one you make and never regret your choice. I also think a lot of girls in your position wouldn't really have the option of keeping the baby.

“My parents, and me of course, are willing to help you. Not everyone has the luxury of support, so if you do keep the baby it would show you're willing to accept what you have around you and appreciate it."

"You should speak without using statistics more often."

"But statistics are facts. Opinions can deceive."

"I can't believe I'm going to raise my baby with you."

"I'm going to be the best aunt ever."

"I know you are. And I'm going to be the best aunt to your kids when you and Trip get together."

I reached up and patted the poster right above my head and smiled.

Darn skippy he’s going to be mine.