GABRIEL. (UNDER CRITICAL EDITING)

Chapter 21

I have a doctor's appointment today, and I'm getting ready to go now. Reggie's not coming, due to the fact that he has to go set up, buy a cake, and etcetera. I throw on some blue Hollister sweats, a gray sweatshirt, and some all gray chucks. My hair's in a super-messy bun, sitting on top of my head, but I don't really care. I grab my car keys, cellphone, and a bag of donut balls, and head out the door.

**

After my appointments, I always go look at all the little newborns in the nursery. When I get there, I see a girl, who looks to be around my age, standing and looking at a newborn girl.

"Awe," I say, walking over to her, "she's so cute! Did you just have her?" She giggled shyly.

"No, I'm just looking." She says. I nod and and turn my attention towards the baby girl, peeking at the girl beside me.

She is so pretty. Her hair's long, thick and black. Her eyes aren't real bright, but they're a light brown color. She has smooth skin, and she's a little lighter than I am. I can tell she's of some other ethnicity.

"Um, what's your name?" I ask.

"Alaya." She replies.

"That's pretty! Well I'm Gabriel and this," I point at my stomach, "is Alexis."

"Well hi, Gabriel, and Alexis." She smiles. I laugh, a bit, checking the time on my phone.

"I'd love to talk some more, but I have a dinner party in a few hours. But I'd like to talk to you again. I promise I'm not gay or anything. You just seem really sweet."

"That's nice. You want me to give you my number?" She asks. I nod and click on 'add contact' on my phone. She recites her number aloud and we go our separate ways.

The doctor's appointment was great, though. He said everything with little Alexis is going as it's suppose to. My belly bump is growing day after day and I swear she's getting so rowdy. Her constant kicking, kneeing and elbowing is getting old. And she's always laying on my ribs. I love her little bad self, though.

Instead of going straight home, I decide to stop at Krystal's and grab myself a few burgers. I guess I can be nice and get Reggie some, too.

"Welcome to Krystal's, how may I help you?" The woman says over the drive-thru speaker.

"Can I get the 24 pack thing? And two Sprites."

"The Steamer Pack? Yes ma'am, will that be all?"

"If that's what it's called, then yes."

"$19.47 is your price, please pull up to the first window."

"Thank you." I get my food and hurry back to the hotel, ready to chow down. I get here, Reggie's sitting in the living room area watching the news. "Want some Krystal's?" I ask.

"Sure. How many you get?"

"24. And I got you a Sprite."

"Good, I'm hungry." He begins to go through the bag, grabbing Krystal after Krystal.

"Wait, how many you think you gettin'?" I ask.

"My half, twelve." I laughed hysterically, then stopped, giving him a stank face.

"Boy you must have tripped over stupid and fell on dumb if you think you bout to get twelve of my burgers."

"Seriously, man? How many you expect me to eat?"

"Like eight."

"You so greedy!" He laughs.

"No, Alexis is." I laugh back, counting how many Krystals I have left. Fourteen, I guess that's reasonable.