By age 30, only 1.5 percent of women who had a child as a teenager have a college degree.'

Waking up at 7 in the morning is not how I really intend on starting a Saturday morning. Especially to a phone call. Everyone knew I was not to be talked to until at least 8.

I groan as I turn over to reach my phone. Whoever was calling must want me to murder them with my bare hands.

"Hello?"

"Gabriella!" It's my brother, Angelo. His voice was frantic.

"Hi Angelo." I greeted.

"You're pregnant." Angelo stated. "You're having a baby."

I sat up in my bed and rubbed my eyes, "Mom told you?"

"Yeah." Angelo said, his voice sharp. "And she isn't the person who should have told me."

"Look, Angelo..."

"What the hell were you thinking?" Angelo asked. "Gabriella, this is unbelievable."

"Can you please calm down?"

"Calm down?" Angelo chuckled. "You want me to calm down." His voice was vicious. If he was standing in front of me, I'd probably be flinching in fear.

"Yes."

"I won't calm down because my baby sister is having a baby. You aren't even out of high school, yet. Did mom and dad ever tell you what to do to, I don't know, how not get pregnant?"

"They did, but things happen. Condoms are only 98% effective."

"What's going to happen? Are you giving the baby up, and you keeping it, are you an Troy going to get married."

"I'm keeping the baby, and no, Troy and I are not getting married." Gabriella answered.

"He doesn't want to marry you? That's so selfish."

"I don't want to marry Troy." Gabriella corrected. "At least, not now. I'm 17. Is that even legal in New Mexico?"

"What's about school?"

"I might go to community college, and then transfer to a 4 year."

Angelo scoffed, "Wow."

"Can you make you're obvious disgust for this situation a little less apparent?"

"No I can't. If you think I'm going to just roll over and be happy about the fact that my 17 year old sister is having a kid, then you're wrong. You're smart. You're giving up all your options until you're 36. You don't want to stay in New Mexico. You didn't even want children. And it's you, that is going to be making all the sacrifices, not Troy."

"Can you..."

"What if he just decides that he doesn't feel like being a parent? He can leave, and you're going to have the baby."

"I didn't want this, but I'm going to grow up and be a parent." Gabriella said. "And you can either disapprove, but support me, or you can ignore me."

"If you don't want this, don't be a parent. Give the baby to parents who are ready and able."

I hung up the phone. Talking to Angelo was like talking to a brick wall. A complete waste of time.

"Troy?" I turned to Troy and saw him staring at his Biology textbook.

He looked up, "Yes?"

"Am I making a mistake?" I asked. "Doing this whole pregnancy thing?"

"What do you mean?"

"Angelo called me this morning. My mom told him I was having a baby, and he's pissed off."

"He's your older brother. Did you expect anything less?"

"I just want to know if this experiment is worth causing a ton of unnecessary family dysfunction."

"That's not up to me, Montez. That's up to you. It's too late to back out, now. Everyone knows."

"It's still early enough for me to say I got a false positive, or I lost the baby."

"Gabriella, I don't think you should back out. If this experiment is something you are passionate about, then I think you should go for it."

"Really?"

Troy nodded, "Yeah."

"Well what if everyone hates me after the big reveal?"

"Who are you worried about? People like Heather? If people are mad, it'll be because they're guilty."

"What about Lauryn?" I questioned. "She thinks I'm the only person who understands her, when in reality, I have no idea what she's going through. I'm only pregnant outside of this house."

"When she finds out your reasons, she'll understand. You're intentions aren't to manipulate her." Troy explained.

"Honestly, I'm the only friend she has. And when the one friend you have, lies to you, that has to suck."

"Then tell Lauryn the truth." Troy suggested.

I shook her head, "I can't tell everyone I know. People have to be kept in the dark."

"Why are you just now so guilty over this?"

"My talk with Angelo. Not everyone is going to be as supportive as I thought. He was so disappointed in everything."

"You wanted this to be as real as possible, right?"

I nodded, "Of course I do."

"People are going to feel very strongly about this. You remember my mom's reaction?"

I let out a chuckle. Poor Lucille. "Yes, I remember."

"Ok, then, we're just to have to roll with the punches. For the next 5 months. Angelo will eventually lighten up."

I scoffed, "Yeah right. Did you forget how stubborn we Montezes are? We don't forgive and forget as easily as others."

"You're his baby sister. By nature he has to be protective over you. He'll get over his own disappointment to support you."

I played with the laces on my boots. Something I did when I was nervous or confused, "Yeah, but..."

Troy stared at me, "Are you looking for a reason to back out of this? Because if you are, you aren't going to get one from me. Especially since you roped me into this with you."

"We've been doing this for two months, now. I'm just paying closer attention to everything."

"Don't chicken out on me." Troy teased.

"I'm not chickening out." I argued. Gabriella Montez does not chicken out of anything.

"So stop second guessing yourself. You're Gabriella Montez. You're smart and you're going to kill this thing."

I smiled. "Yeah, you're right."

"Is that your way of saying "Hey Troy, thanks for being the best boyfriend/advice giver/confidant on the entire planet. I love you and you're amazing."."

"Wow, you got all of that out of my 3 words?" I teased, flashing him a smile.

"Ok, then."

I wrapped my arms around Troy's neck, "I'm joking. Thank you, Troy. You are amazing."

"Of course I am."

"Ok, we obviously can't give each other compliments, Bolton."

Troy kissed my temple, "I'm always complimenting you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I replied, sarcastically. I looked at my watch. "I got to go." I grabbed my phone and started to get up.

Troy grabbed by wrist, "You're leaving?"

"I'm going over to Lauryn's house." I gave Troy a quick peck on the lips.

"You're leaving me to work on this biology crap all by myself?"

"Troy, it's not that hard."

"Sure, it isn't."

"I'll help you tomorrow." I gathered the rest of my stuff and started walking out of his room, "Bye bye."

"Call me, later." Troy called out.

"If I feel like it."

"You better, Montez."

"This book is really crazy." Lauryn told me. I looked up and she was reading a book all about pregnancy. "It says at 4 months, your baby should be about 4-6 inches long, weigh about 4 ounces, and it is developing eyelids and eyelashes."

"Really?"

Lauryn nodded, "Yeah. If my baby only weighs 4 ounces, why am I the size of a house?"

"You aren't the size of a house." I argued. "That is a major exaggeration."

"Gabriella, you're lucky. When I was two months, my face, feet and hands were swelling up."

I laughed, nervously. "Lucky me."

"Before this, I was tiny. I was a cheerleader. Now all I'm doing is eating, and sleeping, and gaining weight. It says I'll gain about 10 to 15 pounds during my second trimester."

I took the book out of Lauryn's hands, "It says light eating and cardio can keep your muscles tone. Just because you're pregnant, doesn't mean that you have to settle for being fat. Most people use the whole eating for two thing as an excuse to eat unhealthy food and being lazy."

Lauryn laughed, "Honestly, the last time I stepped foot into 24 Fitness was the day before I found out I was pregnant."

"Who was the first person you told about your pregnancy?"

"My mom." Lauryn replied. "I was so freaked out, I just texted it to her. She was back here 5 minutes later with my dad."

"How did they react?"

Lauryn shrugged, "Like any parents would, I guess. My mom started crying."

"Troy's mom started crying, too. She was hysterical, actually. We almost took her to the hospital."

"Oh my goodness! Is she alright?"

I nodded, "Yeah, she's fine now. Troy was able to calm her down."

"How did Troy react?"

"He and I were both shocked. And scared. But we have to roll with it."

"Matthew was livid." Lauryn said. "He was mad at me, like I made this baby by myself, or planned to get pregnant."

"Guys suck."

"And now he has this new girlfriend and I just don't exist, anymore." Lauryn continued. "I understand if you don't want to be with me, but our child deserves to have both parents. It's not fair to him or her."

"He might have an epiphany, and decide he wants to be in his child's life." I was trying to be optimistic. I felt really bad for Lauryn.

Lauryn shook her head, "He's made it clear that he isn't going to be involved. I'd rather my child not be attached, than to get attached to someone and get let down. Then there is no need to get your hopes, only to be let down. I have my parents, but I need Matthew."

I nodded. God, Matthew was a total prick. He deserves to rot in hell.

"If you want, I can have Troy beat him up."

Lauryn smiled. Good thing, because I am not good with people who cry. It makes me nervous. "No, there's no need." She said.

"Are you sure? He'd have no problem doing it."

Lauryn shrugged, "If he keeps being an ass, I might take you up on that offer."

I sighed, heavily, "Well, let's move on. It's bringing us down."

Lauryn wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry. I completely ruined the mood."

"It's alright."

I handed Lauryn a tissue. "Here you go."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." I wiped the mascara off of Lauryn's face. "Now read everything they have on the first trimester."

"What are you doing?" My mom asked, walking into my bedroom. "Homework?"

"Just writing a few things down." I replied. "Please remind me to thank Troy everyday for dealing with me all these years."

"Why?" My mom sat down on my bed.

"I was hanging out with Lauryn earlier and her ex is just a complete ass."

My mom gave me a sharp stare. "Watch your language." She warned.

"Sorry. I couldn't think of any other word to describe him. He just decided to up and leave Lauryn. I know I can be a handful 90% of the time, but I can't picture him leaving me, especially if I was pregnant."

"Oh, poor Lauryn."

"Yeah, it's sad. I mean, she has her parents, but it's not the same. They aren't the ones who should have to help her. It should be Matthew."

Mom sighed, "Some guys just suck, don't they?"

"Yeah they do." I agreed. A yawn escaped my lips. "I'm exhausted. It has been a long day."

"And to think you only have 5 more months of this." I knew my mom was being sarcastic.

"Don't remind me."

Mom got up and kissed my forehead, "Get some rest. I'm going to the store. Do you need anything?"

"Yeah. Apparently, I'm supposed to start swelling and looking bloated. Can you buy me a couple really big bags of Lays?"

"Sure, sweetie. I'll also swing by the local pharmacy and get you some Lunesta to make you look fatigued." She rolled her eyes and let out a snort, "No, I'm not going to feed you sodium."

I rolled my eyes, "Thanks, mom. I love you."

"Love you, too, sweetheart."