The prettiest smile hides the deepest secrets. The prettiest eyes have cried the most tears, and the kindest hearts have felt the most pain.

-Unknown.

*********

Thursday

6: 32 AM.

-Luke-

"Luke! We're leaving in five minutes. Make sure you have everything honey!" I sighed and grabbed the very last box from my now vacant room. This wasn't a lingering moment for me, where I stand at the door and take one last look at all the memories I had in here the way you see some people do in movies.

This would be the seventh time I move houses and schools today. My dad works for a business that requires him to move different places once in awhile for bigger projects, and decided he wanted mom and I with him instead of only seeing us for awhile until he needs to head off somewhere else.

Here I am now, getting ready to follow my parents in my car while they drive the moving truck for the next forty hours. My mom has me roll down my window before she gets in the truck with dad, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"This is the longest drive we've done so please stay awake. We'll be able to take a break at the hotels dad's work got for us, okay?" I nodded my head and watched her walk off to the truck, then we were off.

"Goodbye Florida, hello California." I mumbled to myself.

This should be interesting.

************

Friday

-Maggie-

I woke up to the sound of crying. Five more minutes was all I was hoping for, just five more than yesterday.

"What's wrong? What has my baby crying?" I cooed tiredly, pacing around the room. The smell of whatever he had waiting for me already reached my nose, making me walk to the changing pad.

"Ew. That's the last time mommy feeds you carrot food, yes it is. Oh yes it is!" Graham's crying starts to calm into a quiet fuss as I talk to him and change his diaper.

I pick him up again and head to the rocking chair, watching him like a hawk and hoping he falls asleep soon before I do and accidentally drop him. Graham's eyelids began to close slowly as I hummed while rocking him, making his green eyes disappear.

"Baby back in crib," I whisper to myself. "Momma back in bed." I bury myself under my blankets, happy to close my eyes, when my alarm on the phone goes off, which I have under my pillow to avoid waking up Graham like last time.

I pull out my phone after silencing it and check the time, letting out a groan before I stand up again.

"Momma back out of bed."

The next half hour I spent getting ready for school, and standing behind the wall at the bottom of the staircase, trying to find a way to avoid being seen by my family in the kitchen. As I peaked, my dad was sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper while Sarah was reading a book, and my mom was cooking breakfast.

There were only two options right now. One, grab an apple from the kitchen island and jump out through the window. Two, go get some McDonald's but getting late to school, which would lead to a detention since I'm at my last straw.

I walk in the kitchen, choosing option number one sans window.

"Good morning." I greeted. My mom looked up as she heard me before mumbling the same in return and looking right back at the pancake she was cooking. Dad didn't even spare a glance at me. Sarah sighed when she noticed and stood up to give me a hug.

"Don't worry about them. They're still adjusting." I nodded my head and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket.

"I have to go to school now. I'll see you guys later." Sarah gave me a bright smile while my mom just waved, not saying a single word. Dad stayed in his same position, sipping his coffee like it's none of his business. I bit my lip and looked at Sarah.

'It's-all-okay' she mouthed.

My parents didn't take it well when they found out I was pregnant. My dad hasn't spoken to me ever since and my mom only does when it's necessary. I parked my car in the student lot and made my way inside, keeping my eyes glued to the floor.

I've settled into a routine for my life now. Everyday it's these whispers and rumors about me which at some point I'm used to, but and no point will ever be able to ignore. It'll be either I threw away my future for a hookup, or that I majorly let down my parents by putting this on them. Teachers, students, even strangers have their opinions and I just watch and listen.

The voices cut off as soon as I shut the door behind me in the classroom. I managed to get four minutes of silence after sitting down before the bell went off and other stuents started filing in the classroom, each one giving me a dirty look.

It's all okay, it's all okay, it's all okay.

***********

"I'm home!" I yelled as I walked through the doorway. I went upstairs and saw that the room to Graham's door was open, revealing my mom playing with Graham.

"Can you say lion? Li-on. Li-on." I watched as she picked up Graham's stuffed lion and extended it to him. He started to cry as he looked at it, pushing it away. My mom chuckled and set him on her lap.

"It's okay, it won't hurt you. Grandma's here." She scrunched up her nose after saying that.

"Actually, call me aunt so I can feel young again."

I laughed, making her look up. "Oh, you're here." She said. I nodded and walked further inside the room as she stood up.

"Yeah. How was he today?" I asked. Once Graham saw me he instantly leaned forward with his arms out. I smiled and carried him, resting him on my hip.

"He was really good. Listen, I have to go run errands and buy the groceries for tonight's dinner. I should go." I nodded and placed a kiss on Graham's cheek. "Say bye bye grandma! I mean, aunt." I teased.

Mom rolled her eyes and walked out of the room. I headed to my own and sat with Graham across me on the bed. We played a few rounds of peek-a-boo, Graham's all time favorite, when eventually Sarah came in.

"There's my favorite nephew!" She exclaimed. I rolled my eyes as she plopped down on my bed and blew a raspberry on Graham's stomach.

"He's your only nephew." I stated. Sarah puts a hand on her chest and feigns relief.

"Thank god, this is just fat, not another child." I gasp and slap her hand that was now on my stomach. She laughed and squished his cheeks. "I'm kidding. One day though you'll get married and have more, but this one right here will always be my favorite." I laughed and crossed my arms.

"One is enough for now, thank you."

"How was school?" She asked. I shook my head.

"The same ever since people found out I got knocked up."

"I'm telling you, if we were in the same school then I would've killed every single person that gives you a dirty look." She grabbed both of Graham's arms and moved his arms around as she spoke in a baby voice.

"Yeah mom! I'll kick booty all day if I have to." I stood up from my bed and put on some sports clothes. "Could you watch him while I go on a small run around the block?" I asked.

"Go ahead."

I smiled and slid on my tennis shoes before heading outside, immediately going into thinking mode. Sarah once asked me that if I had the chance to go back in time and avoid getting pregnant would I have taken it or not. My answer was an immediate no.

Yes, I might have to ditch my scolar ship to Yale go to a community college instead, but if that's what keeping Graham in my life means then I would never choose to avoid getting pregnant. I've always wanted a child of my own, but I never expected it to get one at eighteen. Still, Graham is part of me, he's what fills the majority of my heart.

I remember my mom sitting me down in the living room to suggest adoption, but I refused. Oh, and when I heard the word abortion come out of the doctor's mouth the day I went to make sure my baby was healthy for the first time, I ended up walking out before the appointment came to an end.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't even notice the car driving down the street. The driver slammed on the breaks and I stayed rooted in my spot from shock.

"Bloody hell. Are you okay?" I looked up at the driver as he got out of his car and saw concern mixed with a little bit of anger sketched on his face. Once I confirmed that I was fine the anger took over.

"You're absolutely crazy! I could've killed you!" He exclaimed, running a hand through his hair.

I furrowed my eyebrows and pointed to the nearby sign. "The speed limit in this neighborhood is five miles per hour." I stated, watching him roll his eyes.

"Just be careful next time, yeah?" He asked sincerely. I nodded and turned around.

"Sure."

I started to run as fast as I could back towards my house. Once I made it I locked the door behind me and went upstairs to shower.

"You got here earlier than usual." Sarah said once I was dressed in clean pajamas. I waved it off.

"Took a short cut. Anyways, thanks for watching him Sarah." I replied. She nodded her head.

"No problem. I'm starving." She mumbled.

As if on cue, mom called us from downstairs for dinner. I carried Graham and put him in his high chair. Dinner with him goes the same every day; me giving him baby food, watching him keep it in his mouth and get excited, and then getting that baby food spit on me.

"Graham, why don't you like the baby food? Mom, babies usually stop breastfeeding at his age, should I be worried?" I asked. My mom looked up from her plate and shook her head.

"Nonsense Maggie. Sarah didn't stop breastfeeding until she was three!" Sarah glared at mom while I wiped the banana off my face with my napkin.

"Well, he started teething a little, and I don't want those teeth anywhere near my nipple." I looked at Graham and I swear, he gave me an evil laugh.

"Well, it was your choice to be irresponsible so you have to deal with whatever consequences you receive. If you can't make up for your mistake then I don't know why you went off acting like some slut."

I looked straight at my dad, making eye contact with him. Mom and Sarah stared, not moving a finger as I stood up and began taking Graham out of his high chair, speaking over his fussing.

"Let me tell you something, dad. Graham, is my son. He is a child. You can call me a slut, an irresponsible person, any word that comes up to your mind and you don't have to pay any attention to me as long as I am here, but you do not get to call my son a mistake. You don't want him, or you don't want me? That's fine, but you shaming him isn't."

I took Graham upstairs with me and put him to sleep after breastfeeding him. Sarah didn't come to check if I was okay and I was grateful. As soon as I got in bed I let go of every tear I held in today until I fell asleep.

************

-Luke-

I stepped out of the shower and plopped down on my mattress, completely exhausted. My mum made my dad and I move every single heavy piece of furniture six times before making us put it exactly how it was the first time.

I have no idea why she hates me.

I sighed as my mind flashed back to the girl I almost hit. What was she doing running across the street without checking anyways? I shook my head and closed my eyes. Tomorrow I had to grab paint to put some color in this room, so I expected to get as much sleep as possible since it was already midnight.

"Luke! Can you come down and help move the couch one more time?!" My mum called out.

I groaned and stood up.

Kill me now.

****************