Diary of A Teenage Mom

By Aspen Faraway

When 16-year-old Emma discovers she's pregnant, her life as she knows it begins to fall apart. Saying her mother is livid is an understatement, and Emma soon finds herself shipped off so her mother can sweep the "unfortunate incident" under the rug. Will Emma find the courage to stand up for what she wants instead of caving in to the pressures o

• Language: English
• Publisher: Haven Street Publishing
• Release date: Jul 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781988742564

Aspen Faraway

Aspen Faraway is a Canadian author living in Nova Scotia by the sea.

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Copyright © 2011 Aspen Faraway

All Rights Reserved

Epub Edition

ISBN: 978-1-988742-56-4

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including but not limited to: graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photo copying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the permission, in writing, of the publisher. Infringement of this can and will result in legal action.

This book is a complete work of fiction. No characters, situations, or events are based on real events, situations, or people, living or dead. The entirety of this story is a complete product of the author’s imagination.

Published by Haven Street Publishing

www.havenstreetpublishing.com

Diary

of a

Teenage Mom

Book One

Revised Edition

by

Aspen Faraway

Chapter 1

Ethan and I broke up. Well, we didn’t break up; he broke up with me. Or maybe I broke up with him. It is all such a blurry line.

It happened on Friday—a day, which up to that point, had been my favorite day!

Happy birthday, Em! Katie, my best friend since we’d moved here a year ago, came rushing down the hall of Olsen High to greet me. Happy sweet sixteen!

I smiled but couldn’t get over the annoyance that Ethan hadn’t shown up.

What’s wrong? Katie asked when she saw my frown. You and Ethan have a lover’s spat?

No, why do you think that? I asked in a suspicious tone. I had been feeling a bit suspicious of late. We never fight.

I was just joking, Katie said, looking all offended. Why are you so grouchy?

I don’t know, I shrugged, adjusting my backpack. My books felt heavier than usual and my back was aching. I just wish Ethan had shown up.

Well he’s going to be at your party tonight, right? Katie asked as we fell in step and headed towards the cafeteria.

Sure, I said. I wondered why Ethan had stayed home from school. I’d talked to him on the phone last night and he hadn’t been sick or anything. At least he hadn’t been last night. I’m going to call Ethan.

Okay, I’ll get us a table, Katie agreed and headed into the cafeteria.

I pulled my cell phone out of my bag and called him. It rang six times before he answered. I counted. Usually he answered on the first ring, unless he was working at his father’s garage, and even then, he always answered on the third ring.

Hey, Ethan finally panted into the phone. What’s up?

Hey, Ethan, I said, suddenly not knowing exactly what to say. How come you aren’t in school today?

Oh, I’m just not feeling very good today, he said slowly, his voice instantly dropping from the brightness that always came with him hearing my voice. He cleared his throat and when he spoke again, it was with a lower, depressed tone. I think I’m coming down with something.

Oh, was all I said. I waited for him to say happy birthday to me, but there was just an awkward silence on the phone. We’d been going together for ten months and there had never been an awkward silence before. Well, I just wanted to make sure you’re coming to my party tonight.

Party? Ethan asked. You don’t go to parties!

"I know I don’t go to parties," I said, annoyed that he sounded so braindead. Maybe he really was sick. "I’m not going to a party. I’m having a party!"

"You? Have a party? Ethan was clearly shocked, and his voice had jumped back to its normal cheery tone. Pristine little Emma Chandler having a party?"

Ethan? I was shocked; he was clearly mocking me, not to mention he’d forgotten it was my birthday! He had never criticized me for not drinking or partying in the past, but his voice clearly had a mocking tone to it. Are you mad at me or something?

Em? No! I could never be mad at you, I could hear the smile in his voice. "I’m sorry. I was just kidding around. Why are you having a party?"

"Ethan! It’s my birthday!" I shouted into the phone. How could he not know that? I’d mentioned it four times in the past week. He sounded strange, but I didn’t want to ask if he was drinking. He had stopped drinking since we’d started dating. He’d told me back then that he found my innocence charming. He’d been surprised that I didn’t drink, smoke, do drugs, and I was a virgin. Despite my high moral standards, and fear of my parents, I lost my virginity within the first three months of our relationship. I’m sure my choice was either losing that or losing him, and he was worth it. Ethan was the first boy that ever loved me and didn’t dump me after the first date when I wouldn’t have sex with him. I was glad that I’d waited because for Ethan Frost, going without sex for three months was a clear sacrifice and he obviously really loved me.

Oh hell, I’m so sorry, Emma! Ethan’s voice was sincerely sad. I’m so sorry I forgot! Of course, I’ll be there, Em! What time?

Seven, I said. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least this sounded more like himself now. I’d obviously awakened him from a deep sleep or something, which explained why he sounded so weird at first.

I’ll be there, babe, he promised. I better get back to bed.

Okay, I said. I love you.

You, too, he said and hung up. I fought my suspicious urges about his final words. He usually said, ‘love you too,’ but never just, ‘You, too.’

I got my lunch and joined Katie.

So, what’s up? she asked me as I sat down.

Ethan said he’s sick, I told her. But he sounded weird.

Sick people sound weird, she said nonchalantly with her usual eyeroll.

I don’t know, I said, staring at my food but not even feeling like eating. I just feel like something weird is going on.

Just eat, she said, finishing up her lunch. You always overreact to everything. Lunch time is almost over.

Maybe I should just go over to his place, I suggested, ignoring her usual warning that I was overreacting. I could afford to skip gym. I hate gym. I’m serious; I really have a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach about Ethan.

By the time I was finished eating, I couldn’t handle the strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. I just knew something was wrong. The feeling had grown into a full-blown panic and I just couldn’t take it anymore. There was no way I could handle the last three classes of the day with this feeling. I could skip gym and walk over to his place and then be back for math and everything would be fine. Otherwise, I’d be so distracted by this feeling that I’d fail the math test we were having today anyway!

Listen, I said to Katie as we returned our trays. Tell Mr. Landon that I’m not feeling very good and I’m in the girl’s bathroom. He won’t even care, but if he looks like he might, just tell him that it’s girl problems. I’ll be back before Math class.

Okay, Katie agreed with a shrug. That was one thing I liked about Katie. She always agreed with me, even when she didn’t fully believe I had anything to worry about. I could always count on her. I was fortunate to have made a best friend in my first year in Port Clements.

I made sure there were no teachers in sight and then ducked out the rear entrance and headed out onto King Street, jogging until I was around the corner. I’d never skipped school in my entire life and the nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach didn’t subside until I’d rounded that first corner. I breathed a sigh of relief over not getting caught and walked at a brisk pace the two blocks to Ethan’s apartment. Well, his mother’s apartment, but you know.

The wind had suddenly gotten sharp and I pulled my collar up against the First of March. The harsh wind was a sign of better things to come, I decided. Spring was on its way. The few mounds of dirty snow clumped beside the sidewalk would soon disappear and then, summer. I’ve been told I’m an optimist and I guess that this was proof. The harsh winds made me happy.

I ran up the front steps and then down the hall to their first-floor apartment and knocked. I wondered if he had fallen back asleep when I heard no sound from inside. I knocked again, a little louder this time. I’d come this far, I may as well wake him up, I decided. I knew that he would be happy to see me even if I did wake him up. When I heard no movement on the other side of the door, I knocked again, louder this time, and then gave up and leaned against the wall beside the door.

Now what would I do? I certainly didn’t want to go back to school. And besides, what if something bad had happened to Ethan? What if he was sick with a high fever and couldn’t come to the door? What if he was . . . dead?

Okay, I’ll admit it—Katie might be a little bit right about me! I have an overactive imagination and besides being an optimist, I can also fear the worst. Just as I was deciding to knock again, the door opened, and Ethan stuck his head out into the hallway and looked both ways. A look of shock registered on his face when he saw me leaning against the wall.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, leaving his jaw hanging open.

I came to see you! I said with a smile and wrapped my arms around his neck. I didn’t care if he had something that was contagious. I loved him. Besides, he had even kissed me when I had measles last year. I have a whole hour before I have to be back at school!

I pushed past him and walked into the apartment, surprised that it looked a little messy. His mother was a spotless housekeeper. She was the kind of person that had to be physically forced to remove the plastic off new furniture when it arrived.

But . . . I have to . . ., he hesitated and stammered and made vague pointing motions towards his bedroom. I’m, uh, sick!

That’s okay, I told him. If I didn’t catch it yesterday, I’m sure I’ll be fine today! Come on, I’ll cuddle with you for an hour! I grinned as I reminded him about our after-school make out session the day before.

I waltzed ahead of him toward his bedroom and wasn’t really listening to what he was saying as I opened the door. It wasn’t until I’d opened the door—and saw Natalie Harper sprawled naked in his bed—that his warning not to go in there had registered. Now my jaw dropped . . . and then dropped even lower as the full extent of what I was seeing registered in my brain.

Ethan! I screamed and turned, running straight into him.

Listen, Em, I can explain, Ethan began, following me as I ran towards the door. Listen, it’s not what it looks like!

Really? I said, turning at the door for just a moment, gulping hard to keep the burning tears from escaping. "What is it then? Because it looks an awful lot like a naked girl in your bed!"

Listen, Em, Ethan said, following me as I dashed into the hallway and out the front of the building. Em, it isn’t anything! It was just an accident! That’s all! It’s nothing!

"Oh, it’s something!" I yelled back as I stomped furiously up the sidewalk. "It’s definitely something! I don’t see how a girl can accidentally fall into your bed!"

"I mean, it doesn’t mean anything to me! he said, running to catch up to me. Listen, Em!" He grabbed me by the arm and spun me to face him.

"Well, it means something to me! I said, angry that the tears were already running down my face and he didn’t deserve to even see how much I was hurting over him. My friends all warned me what you were like! They told me to avoid you! They said that you can’t commit and that you always have two or three girlfriends at once, but I didn’t listen! I thought you loved me!"

I do love you, Em! Ethan insisted with a hopeless and helpless look on his face. "Look, Em, I’ll make it up to you, I swear! I’m so, so sorry! It will never happen again!