A bad day.

I hadn't had a bad day- a day like this, in what seemed like forever. I'd learned to appreciate the good days, and when I wasn't having one, I felt like my entire world was falling apart.

"Well, you can talk about it," Amelia said, gently floating her fingertips across my forehead.

"It's fine," I sighed, rubbing my hands down my face.

"I don't think it is," she softly said.

I rested my hands on my abdomen, my jaw taut. My head was resting on her stomach, and I felt like I could hear every move the baby was making.

"Is everything going okay with, like, your eating and stuff?" She asked.

I bit down on my lip, nodding. "Yeah. It's alright."

"I'm always starving," she said, and I could hear her head hit her pillow.

"Well, you're feeding you and a kid," I said, "I can see why."

"You know, all I've wanted is a burger. Just a big, nasty burger."

I laughed, looking back at her. "You're fucking with me."

"I swear I'm not," she giggled out, propping herself up on her elbows, "it's literally all I've wanted."

"I don't think I've ever seen you eat a burger," I chuckled, keeping my head in her lap as she sat upright.

"Yeah, because they're gross," she said, and I just simply looked up at her.

She looked different from this angle. Her jaw was a lot more boney from beneath her, her long eyelashes curving over her eyelid.

"You've got a pointy chin."

"I hate it," she said.

"What?" I asked, gently touching it with my index finger.

"Seriously, I hate my chin. It's one of my biggest insecurities."

"Your chin is one of your biggest insecurities?"

"Hey, don't judge."

I held up my hands. "No judgement here."

She smiled down at me before grabbing the neck of her sweatshirt and pulling it over her face. I chuckled and sat upright, rubbing my eyes.

"We should go get a burger," I said, standing up. I stretched and looked back at her, earning a disgusted look on her face.

"What? You just said you wanted one."

"I don't think it's me that wants it, I think it's this child," she said, looking down at her stomach.

"Okay, well, gotta listen to it," I said, shrugging.

"How long has it been since you've had a burger?"

I froze at that question, standing in front of her mirror. "Uh, it's been a while. For sure."

I lifted my shirt, trailing my hand down my side as I stretched. My obliques were coming back in, but I looked bigger than I had. I realized that I'd never be able to only notice something good without countering that with something bad.

"You look great, Hero," she softly said, looking at me through her mirror.

"Mm," I muttered, dropping my shirt. She gasped, making me immediately turn around.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Hero, come here!" She exclaimed, holding out her free hand, her other resting on her stomach.

I grabbed her hand and she pulled me on her bed, firmly pressing my hand against her bump. We sat in silence for a second, making me lift an eyebrow.

"Feel that?" She exclaimed, "Hero, did you feel that?"

"No," I chuckled, "wh-what are you talking about?"

"Here," she said, scooting closer to me, making me place both hands on her stomach.

I smiled at her, shaking my head. "I-I don't feel an-woah!"

I let out almost a proud chuckle, my jaw slack. "Did the baby just fucking kick?"

"I think so!" She giggled, "I-I swear it's too early, but I swear-"

"No, I swear it's kicking," I laughed out, "dude."

She let out a laugh, looking down at her stomach. She covered my hands with hers, her eyes meeting mine.

And in that moment, everything stood still. It was just the three of us, and nothing else.

She smiled a sweet smile, wrapping her hand around mine. "That was insane."

I chuckled, clearing my throat. "Y-yeah. It was awesome."

She bit down on her lip. "I don't know, I'm thinking we should go get those burgers now. Celebratory burgers."

"Celebratory burgers," I laughed out, and pulled her up off of her bed.

~*~

"Alright, you make a mean PB and J," Brian said, falling on his back with a heavy sigh, "geez."

I smiled down at him, pushing myself up off of my back. I propped myself up on one elbow, grabbing a strawberry from our picnic basket. "Want one?"

He opened his mouth, keeping his eyes closed. I giggled and placed the strawberry between his teeth, making him bite into it. His plump lips wrapped around the top so nicely, making me completely zone out.

What's gotten into you lately, Fran?

"Man, that was juicy," he chuckled, "are they, like, in season or something?"

"U-um, I'm not sure," I said, dropping the stem in the box, raking a hand through my hair shortly after.

He opened one eye, peeking over at me. "Hey. Have I told you that you're really pretty?"

"Only three times today," I softly said, looking down at him with a smile.

He chuckled and pulled me into him, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "I definitely have the hottest picnic date around. For sure."

"I don't know, my date might have yours beat," I said, earning a gasp from him.

"Okay, comeback," he chuckled, making me giggle, "I see you, being all smooth."

I leaned up, crossing my legs. He followed, looking over at me. "We're unfortunately gonna have to wrap this up in, like, fifteen minutes. I've got to be clocked back in by three."

"Right," I said, biting down on my lip.

"I'm so tired," he said, "literally so tired. My body hurts."

"Well, why don't you go get a massage?" I asked, squinting over at him.

"Yeah, your dad's tip could definitely cover one of those," he said, nodding.

I smiled. Brian still hadn't spent a single dollar that Dad had given him, which was... odd to me. Everyone I'd ever known acted like money was burning a hole through their pocket when they had it- definitely kids our age.

"Hey, can I talk to you?" I asked, angling my body to face his.

He nodded, obviously dedicating every ounce of his attention to me. "Of course."

"Okay, I don't really know how to, like, tip-toe around it, so I'll just ask you."

He nodded, picking up another strawberry.

"How come you haven't, like..." I trailed off, looking away from him, "like, you know?"

He knitted his brows together. "If you'd like to, you know, explain-"

I cut him off with a laugh, earning a chuckle from him.

"You haven't tried anything," I said, shaking my head.

I could see his jaw clench, his smile fading a little as he hung his head. "Oh. That."

"Yeah," I softly said, biting down on my lip.

He shrugged, his eyes meeting mine again. "I don't know. I've honestly been forced to grow up so fast and keep myself so busy that I really don't have time to be a horny teenage boy."

I nodded, tucking a chunk of hair behind my ear.

"And you're, you know," he said, shaking his head as he threw his strawberry stem in the box, "you're innocent. You're good. I like that about you."

If only you could see inside my head, you probably wouldn't find me to be so innocent.

"And I don't know, it's nice," he said, shrugging, "building off of something other than just sex."

I nodded. "You answered that really well."

He smiled, winking at me.

"I'm just not used to guys like you," I said, shaking my head, "I've never really seen that. Hero, you know how he is. And Henry, and Eros. You know."

He nodded. "Yeah, I know. I'm glad I could change up the scenery for ya."

I matched the smile on his face, reaching across the blanket for his hands. He grabbed mine and I scooted closer to him, gently grabbing his jaw as I pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

"I wish I could just stay here with you, all day," he muttered.

"Well, you've got cars to go fix," I whispered, rubbing my hands down his abdomen, "bigger, better things to do."

I stood up, holding out my hand to help him up.

"There is nothing better to do," he said, shaking his head as I helped pull him up.

I smiled and bit down on my lip, leaning in for a kiss before Dad cleared his throat, from what seemed like a mile away.

"Cute little picnic," he yelled, waving at us from the patio doors.

Brian chuckled, leaning down to grab the blanket after I grabbed our basket.

"I was just heading out, sir," Brian yelled back.

"Mm hmm," Dad said, as soon as we got close enough to hear him.

"Hey, Fran makes one heck of a PB and J. She had to learn that from somewhere."

"What can I say, I'm a jack of all trades," Dad said, roughly patting Brian's back as we walked inside.

"Hi, Mrs. King," Brian greeted.

"Hi, Brian," she said, "did you enjoy your picnic?"

"Yes ma'am, it was exactly what the doctor ordered," he said, making me smile and wrap my arms around his middle.

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, grabbing his keys from behind us. "Well, I'm about to head back to the garage. Have a good night."

"Call me when you get home," I said, my voice muffled by his chest as he pulled me in for a hug.

"Of course," he said, pressing one last kiss to my forehead before letting go of me.

"Bye," he said, shooting me a wave as he opened the door and walked out.

Mom smiled, resting her chin in her palm. "I love him."

"Yeah, he's a good kid," Dad said, "you did well."

"Didn't I?" I boasted, smiling an accomplished smile as I realized Brian Baker was genuine perfection.

~*~

"One more bite, Amelia," I laughed out, "I swear you've got it."

"Hero," she whined, laughing as she looked over at me, "I-I really don't think I can. I swear I don't have the room in my stomach to finish this thing."

"Do it for me," I said, "come on."

"Hero," she laughed out, leaning her head back as she cradled her stomach.

"Alright, do it for the baby," I chuckled, folding my arms on the table.

"Oh, dangerous game you're playing there, 'cause I'd do anything for my kid," she said, picking up the last bite of her burger.

I laughed, watching as she struggled to place the last bite in her mouth. I laughed and held up both of my hands when she finished it off, making her slap both of them and laugh.

"That's my baby mama. Right there."

She shook her head as she laughed, reaching for her water. "Stop."

"Hey, I'm proud of you," I said, "you did that shit."

She took her straw in her mouth, smiling at me as she took a long sip of her water. She let out a relieved sigh as she placed her glass back down, rubbing her stomach. "Well, that was a lot. How many pounds do you think I gained?"

"I don't think that matters," I said, "you enjoyed yourself."

"Yeah?" She asked, a smile tugging at her mouth, "who says I enjoyed scarfing down a, like, twenty pound burger?"

I smiled and waved our waitress down, asking for our ticket. Amelia leaned forward and folded her arms on the table, dropping her head. "You're gonna have to carry me out of here, Hero. I swear."

I chuckled, and the waitress placed our ticket on the table. Amelia went to grab it but I got it before she did, shaking my head.

"At least let me pay half," she said, "please."

"Nope," I said, "not gonna happen."

She smiled, rolling her eyes. "Well, I guess I'll just have to take you out for a nice burger and pay for it myself one of these days."

"I'll be waiting," I said, "impatiently."

She smiled, biting down on her lip. After paying, I stood up and chuckled down at her. She was seriously struggling.

"It's really not funny," she grunted out, standing up.

I nodded towards my back. "Come on. Piggyback time."

She clapped her hands together and jumped up on my back, making me skillfully catch her. I wobbled a bit- I'd definitely lost a lot of my strength.

We walked out of the restaurant and into the busy sidewalk, making her rest her chin on my shoulder. "Where'd we park?"

"Hell if I know," I said, shrugging, "we'll find it. Eventually."

She giggled, wrapping her arms tighter around my neck.

"Thank you," she said, and I felt her eyes boring into me.

"Hey, pleasure's mine," I said, "I mean, how else would I spend my Saturday night? Besides paying for a pregnant girl's big ass burger?"

"No, thanks for all of it," she said, "the laughs, the food, you know."

I sniffled, shivering at the cool Chicago night breeze. "Yeah, of course."

"You're not what everyone thinks you are," she softly said.

I spotted my car a few steps away, making me lift an eyebrow. "Yeah? How's that?"

"I thought I knew you before," she said, "but I didn't. I had no clue who you were."

I felt the same way about her. I'd always assumed that Amelia was just quiet, and honestly, a little bland. I'd never really gotten much personality out of her, until these past few days of really getting to know her.

"Well, I hope you're pleased with what you've found out," I grunted, letting her down from my back.

She looked up at me, nodding. "Yeah, you're alright."

I smiled, looking away from her. "And you're pretty okay, too."

She looked down at her belly, poking it with her index finger. "Definitely looking a little pregnant."

I smiled down at her small, yet noticeable bump. I gently rubbed my hand across it, clearing my throat as I opened her door for her.

I walked around to my side and slipped inside the car, rubbing my hands together as I turned it on. "God, it's cold."

"You know, I love the cold," she said, "a lot better than hot weather."

"Really?" I asked, "I figured you definitely preferred warmth."

She shook her head. "You?"

I shrugged. "I like both. I prefer transition seasons."

She smiled over at me. "Hmm."

I backed out of my parking space. "Alright, let's get you home, so you and that baby can get some rest."

She didn't look away, just simply sighed. "Hero?"

"Hm?" I asked, looking over at her for a split second as I began driving.

I knew she had something to say- and it almost came out. She stopped herself just in time, though, and shook her head as she looked towards the window. "Nothing. I had a great time tonight."

"Yeah, me too," I said, looking over at her again.

She'd done something not many people could ever say they'd done- she made one of my bad days better. She made all the bad thoughts go elsewhere, she made everything just disappear.

I looked towards the road, letting out a breath as I realized things were getting significantly more complicated, and I didn't know what to do with them.

~*~

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