IP: 66.208.250.154
Posted on February 24, 2015 at 06:02:52 AM by Torram
"I don't see why we have to get all dressed up," Torram said glumly, tugging at his tie irritably. As single members of the Academy's population, both Torram and his best friend, Danny, had been drafted to participate in the blind date roundup for the (dreaded) Valentine's Day dance. Torram hadn't found out who had signed them up, though he'd suspected a bit of interference on the part of their individual mentors (both of whom seemed to be under the impression that they both worked far too hard and were far too serious for their respective ages). He wasn't sure if it was dumb luck, or if the universe was setting him up to fail particularly hard, because he'd somehow managed to snag the prettiest and most popular girl in the whole Academy; Lani was the kind of girl Tor got all hot and tongue-trippy around, and although it was neat to think they were out on a date together, he was dreading an entire night of trying to be his usually clumsy and awkward self.
"Because it's "fun"," Danny replied with equal enthusiasm, complete with finger quotations. He tugged at the collar of his starched dress-shirt, wishing he was at home with his books. The traded grim looks in the mirror while Min and "played" nearby, which mostly meant Sol was jokingly swiping at Min while the okapi tried her damndest to bite him. "Mandatory fun." Danny abruptly brightened, turning a considering look towards his friend while Torram struggled with his cufflinks. "Hey, I bet we could get out of it!" "Oh yeah?" Torram said, raising a brow and looking rather doubtful. Danny's shoulders almost immediately drooped. "I forgot my bag," he said, sounding even more gloomy than before. "We could have given you a dose of-" "Hmmm, drugging each other to get out of a party, that's a new one," came Birch's amused voice from behind them. The two exchanged guilty looks before peering over their shoulders at her. Even if they hadn't known she was pregnant, both of them would have been able to tell that something about her was different. Birch seemed... a little softer around the edges than she usually did, and there was something in her face. When Torram had attempted to explain that to her, she'd laughed and told him it was just that she was getting rounder, but it wasn't that: there was that infamous glow everyone mentioned about pregnant people, an inner light that came from creating life inside them. She bore only a slight mount, which was usually concealed beneath roomy clothing but was visible beneath her comfortable tanktop today, and seemed to be in a good mood. It had been difficult at first, with her swinging from wildly happy to unbelievably afraid and nervous, but they both thought she'd started to adjust rather admirably in the last week or so. Of course, she still had yet to get up the courage to tell Jac of their impending parenthood, but since a major project had taken his attention she had some time to prepare. "I wouldn't have given him anything harmful!" Danny said hurriedly, but Birch only laughed and straightened his rather charming bowtie. "Don't you both look just handsome!" Birch said, placing a hand on each boy's shoulder and smiling at their grouped reflections. "You could still go, you know," Torram said hopefully. He'd been trying to convince her to go with him instead; it didn't make you very popular, bringing along your (pregnant) guardian, but at least it was better than stuttering your way through such an event. "Not a chance, mister," Birch answered, dropping a hand to her belly. She'd felt a vague stirring from there now and then, something Dr. Gupta called "quickening". It was very minor, like a butterfly beating its velvety wings, but enough to remind her that she was, in fact, making a child in there. "The baby and I plan to stay in with a good book and some tea." "The kinds I brought you, right?" Danny said. He'd made a point to stock their kitchen with various herbal teas, kinds that came without caffeine and that he was certain were safe for them; he'd also made sure to give her kinds that would help with morning sickness. Birch laughed, nodded, and patted down a stray lick of hair that had escaped his brush. Between Danny, Torram, and Dr. Gupta, Birch was feeling very well looked after indeed; her child would be so very lucky, to have such wonderful people in their life. And then, before she could stop it, the tears started to build. These were happy tears, tears of joy and sentimentality, but they sent both boys into a panic. "Oh, don't do that!" Torram said, while Danny hurried to the bathroom for tissues. "It's just... you're both getting so grown up... and I just," Birch managed. "Love you both so much!" "We love you too, Birch," Danny said, patting her head awkwardly. Rather than stopping the tears, this only seemed to make them worse. Birch yanked Danny into a hug, and he mouthed over her shoulder to Torram: "We're gonna be late for sure!". "Come on, Birch, it's alright," Torram said, nodding at Danny even as he rescued him from Birch's overly sentimental embrace. She switched to him instead, trying to keep the tears off his fancy coat. He mouthed back: "Don't let them lock me out!" Danny nodded, and made his escape quietly and quickly before Birch could latch on to them both at the same time. |
Replies:
- Part 2 - By TORRAM February 24, 2015 at 06:03:27 AM
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