Honoured with love novel Chapter 9

Sixteen years of age...

Seven months +2weeks+ 3days pregnant....

I'm standing at the bus stop with the sun harshly beaming down upon me. Her torturous rays of light are relentlessly expelling sweat from my tensed body. I feel dirty, like a sweaty pig. It's only eight o'clock in the morning. And already. I feel the sudden urge to drown myself in a cold shower. I'm standing here patiently waiting for my queen to walk around the corner. It isn't an easy task to do so this morning. Yet, here I stand. Tall and eager as ever. I always make sure I leave home thirty minutes earlier than Celeste. This very bus stop is our chosen destination to meet up. Just so we can walk hand in hand to school together. I leave early making sure her mother sees me exit the house. If I don't, she will escort my Celeste to school and embarrass her. Seventy per cent of the time she does not show and it makes me wild. Knowing she's being kept home, missing out on school. Just because Mrs Maddison doesn't want me near her. Like, coming to school with a full and rounded belly isn't mentally and physically hard enough. I know my Celeste puts on a brave face even when she's dying on the inside.

I look up and watch as she rounds the corner sporting a baggy hoodie and maternity tights. She looks more ravishing with every passing day. I walk up to her and place my hand firmly on her swelling belly. 

"Ciao figlia mia," I say in Italian.

"Hello, my daughter." I translate in English looking into Celeste's eyes.

She places her hand over mine and smiles.

"You are adorable, you know that Gio?" She giggles, patting my hand. 

"Come on, we need to go if we're gonna make it to class on time." She groans as she rubs the small of her back, sighing.

"You sore Caro mio?" I take her backpack from her and swing it over my shoulder. 

"Just a little." She sighs again, looping her arm through mine. 

"Mama said she can order you a baby bump belt if it will help."  

"My mum would only question me where it came from and it will only end up in the bin." She breathes heavily.

"You just say the word and I'll let mama know. I can get papa to write you out a prescription for some ibuprofen?" I say walking. Trying to keep a slow and steady pace for her. 

"I don't feel comfortable taking that stuff. I'm young and I don't know the risks it will have on our baby." There's a tinge of worry lacing her words.

"Papa wouldn't prescribe it if there was a slight chance of hurting either one of you," I say, scowling at the footpath. 

"I know.." She sighs. "I'm sorry. I'm just really tired and sore. Things are getting a bit difficult to do on my own and homes the last place I want to be. If it wasn't for Nessa I would have left a long time ago." 

My blood starts to simmer, I hate hearing her say, she no longer wants to be at home. Home is supposed to be your safe haven. If it can't be your safe haven, then what is it?

"How is little Ms Nessa?" I ask out of curiosity. 

I'll inform Luca of her well being later this evening. I know he has a crush on her, even though he denies it repetitively. But, I do love to tease him on a daily basis. It's one of my favourite pass time activities...