Today marks the beginning of a four-day weekend for me, a day I'd like to spend catching up on two weeks' worth of All My Children episodes but will probably use to run boring errands like finally updating my driver's license to reflect my married last name and visiting the dentist to take bite-wing x-rays of a tooth most likely infected with a cavity. Luke and I were there just last month for cleanings, during which I scheduled a post implant to replace the molar I had pulled two years ago. I would've had the bite wing taken then if my period hadn't been a week and a half late, causing me to think I was pregnant, but of course it came the next day and I was a little sad but mostly pissed about having to make the thirty-minute drive to the doctor's office before my January 12th appointment. The things I do to avoid radiation exposure to my future children.
But what about Kayla's and Jenna's little rug rats? That's the real question of the hour.
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CHAPTER FIVE - JENNA
I walked out of St. Joseph's Hospital feeling like I could fly. My doctor, Dr. Foremann, had given me an excellent report. "Your little girl's doing great. The next time I see you, young lady, will be in the delivery room." [Because women who are seven months pregnant could never benefit from a doctor's watchful eye. Frema, M.D. strikes again!]
I had really hoped David could be there, but he had to work. Poor David. He seemed so stressed out. I decided to stop at McDonald's and let him know the good news about Mary Katherine.
When I got there, business was slow. David was slipping on his jacket. His face paled as I walked over to him and gave him a kiss. "Jenna, what are you doing here?" he asked. "I just got back from my appointment. The baby's doing great," I said, smiling. David just stared at me. "We have to talk."
"Sure. About what?" He didn't answer, only led me outside to where his car was parked. "First let me tell you that I never wanted to hurt you," he began.
"What are you talking about?"
"It all started last month. One night I was with Mike, and we had a few beers. You and I had a little arguement that day, and somehow..." he bowed his head. "I went to Kayla's house. We talked about my mom, you, the baby. She listened to me. Old feelings were brought up. Jenna ... we made love."
I felt dizzy. David noticed and tried to put an arm around me, but I pushed him away. "Don't touch me!" I yelled. "You bastard! Don't ever touch me again!"
"Jenna, I'm so sorry. I feel terrible." He took a deep breath. "Today Kayla called me at work and said she was pregnant with my child." [Oh, that would've been a fun scene to write! How could I have let that gem slip by?]
That did it. My fist went smashing into David's jaw. He stumbled a few steps backward, but managed to stay on his feet.
I was crying. My eyes blinded by tears, I ran to my car. David was right behind me. "Jenna, wait! Let me explain!" [I think you covered just about everything but positioning, buddy. She gets it.] I started the engine and rolled down my window. Throwing a glass car ornament at him [do these even exist?], I screamed, "Take your explanation and shove it where the sun won't shine!"
I managed to get home without killing anyone. I ran into my house and picked up the phone, punching in Kayla's number. She answered on the second ring. "Hello?"
"Kayla, you slut! This is Jenna. [Ya think?] I'm just calling to let you know that if you want the asshole who slept with you, take him. He's all yours." I slammed the receiver down.
"Calm down," I told myself. "Don't do anything that would hurt Mary Katherine."
That was the only reason I didn't go kill David. The stress of killing him could hurt the baby.
I needed to talk to someone, or else I'd go crazy. So I hopped back into my car and drove straight to Michael's house. As soon as he opened the door, I collapsed into his arms. "Jenna! My God!" [If this were a TV script, this would be a perfect place to fade to commercial, don't you think?] He scooped me up and carried me to the couch. [How muscular must Michael be to sweep a pregnant woman off her feet? Pretty muscular, ladies!] "Are you OK? What's wrong?"
"It's David. He's..." My voice cracked with emotion. "He's gotten Kayla pregnant." I couldn't say anymore.
My best friend was silent as I sobbed in his arms, his hands running through my hair. [I'm surprised they're not on her boobs. News flash, Michael: Groping isn't part of the traditional BFF package!]
After a while, I was OK. I told Michael everything. When I was finished, he looked like he would spit nails. "Jenna, he's a jerk, an idiot and a fool. He doesn't deserve you or that beautiful baby you're going to give birth to."
"What am I going to do?" I wailed.
"You're going to forget about him. He's not worth the effort."
"But he loves the baby. He wants to be in her life."
"So he takes her to the park once in a while. Listen to me," Mike said, cupping my chin in his hands. "I will help you get through this. I'll ALWAYS be here for you. You can depend on me for anything." [Except to support the role your baby daddy hopes to play in your daughter's life.]
"I know." I smiled through my tears. "Tell me: what did I do to deserve such a wonderful friend?"
He hugged me. [Geez, he can't keep his hands off her for even a second!] "Dollface, it's the other way around."
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When my girlfriends at school got to this point in the notebooks, they always sighed over Michael's outlandish yet noble display of affection. It even seemed sweet to me at the time, and I wrote the damn thing, but you all know better, don't you?
I have a few thoughts about the story's progression so far. Despite David's superhuman baby-making abilities, I feel for the poor guy, who really has worked hard to do the right thing. Sure, he fucked up a little, but he's also admitted his shortcomings and taken responsibility for his own actions. Most adults in his situation wouldn't have stepped up the way he has for Jenna and the baby, and there's no reason to think he wouldn't support Kayla and her child as well.
My opinions are probably clouded by the fact that I often hoped Nick, who received the best of my heart during my teenage years, would act in a similar manner if I ever "fell with child." I never would have tried to get pregnant on purpose, but I secretly wondered if such a life-altering change of events would inspire him to take stock of his life and realize the wonderful future we could have had if he put forth the effort, because as dysfunctional as our relationship was, we did have amazing chemistry and we really cared about each other. I realize now how naive I was, how lucky I was to be spared the pain of learning my lesson the hard way; Nick didn't have the ability to be the father figure I romanticized about for my babies or the partner I longed to have for myself. But back then I thought about it all the time. What a dreamer I was.
Also, if I were Kayla, and the love of my life came to me one night and wanted to hold me and kiss me and make love to me, I would've had my clothes off faster than you can say "Your mom." For real, peeps.
Luckily Jenna is already with child, because I feel her relationship with Michael is about to take a turn that would put these incredibly fertile teens at even more risk. Dun dun dun! Also, props to Jenna and her right hook. David deserved it, as honest as he may have been about the whole thing. I suppose next he'll want to call the babies Irish twins and give them rhyming names-- Mary Katherine and .... Larry Appleton? No, wait-- that was a character from Perfect Strangers... Anyways...
I have to wonder, if Jenna had failed to identify herself when she made her cryptic phone call (holla AMC) to Kayla, if Kayla would have panicked and become paranoid, only to to run off and hide in some cave, returning to the world 9 months from now carrying twins wrapped in sheep's wool... Something to think about.
The only other thing this story is missing is a raging case of herpes. That must be where Cassie's story takes off. No?
Anyways-- I'm so glad TLF came early, because I couldn't wait another 8 hours! Nice writing young Frema, Agnes Nixon would be proud:) See you on New Year's Eve!
Posted by: Sant | December 29, 2006 at 01:20 AM
You go Jenna! I'm glad she called Kayla. And seeing as how she'll have her final two gestating months free of doctor visits, maybe she can settle things with her baby daddy otha baby momma and they can dump the loser-boy and raise their Irish half-twins in peace and harmony.
I also just realized that I picture David looking like Zach from Desperate Housewives. http://www.wisteria-lane.net/Personnages/zach.jpg
He is actually supposed to be hotter than that, and not so creepy, right? What do you picture these characters to look like?
Posted by: Molly | December 29, 2006 at 02:32 AM
Molly: David is definitely hotter than that dweeb! A better image would be Eric from That Seventies Show.
Jenna: Finola Hughes from her All My Children days. LOVED her golden brown hair.
Kayla: Think early nineties Carrie Brady from Days of Our Lives, but with blond hair.
Michael: Dean Cain from The Adventures of Lois and Clark. Glasses and all.
Cassie: Jo from Melrose Place.
If only TypePad offered linking options in the comments section! Maybe I'll post cast pictures in next week's TLF.
Posted by: Frema | December 29, 2006 at 02:49 AM
You totally have to post cast pics, even though I know everyone you mentioned. Dean Cain huh? Yeah, if he's that hot, why in the hell has Jenna not slept with him already? Or has she? Could he really be her baby daddy? Is it possible? I called it from the beginning. Mikey totally has the hots for Jenna.
"We made love."
"Don't touch me! You bastard."
And then she punched him and drove away in tears. Yeah, I would have NEVER guessed in a million years that you were a young soap opera addict. I just knew when she got in that car crying though that the death you spoke of was right around the corner. I'm amazed she made it home "without killing anyone."
The last thing I have to say is....when in the hell do you people (you, Molly, and Sant) sleep? Seriously. But I was delighted to see TLF posted first thing this morning. You made my day. Happy New Year.
Posted by: Silly Hily | December 29, 2006 at 09:41 AM
OK, I totally LIVE for TLF!!! I can't wait to see who dies!!!
Posted by: Jessi | December 29, 2006 at 11:43 AM
Gah. Fabulous, Frema. Another compelling installment...I'll be eagerly waiting for next Friday's episode!
Posted by: Stacey | December 29, 2006 at 11:05 PM
I love your creative writing! ;)
Posted by: samantha | December 30, 2006 at 02:13 AM
I just can't wait to hear what happens next! I can't believe he got two women pregnant, how Jerry Springer. I'm really feeling for these characters. My teenage full of angst self is especially feeling for them. I love how the parents are barely around. My imagination always ignored the parents too, not because I don't love my parents, but out of yearning for everything that adulthood would one day bring. Funny, it isn't at all as I imagined it.:-)
Posted by: Lindsey | January 01, 2007 at 06:05 PM
No seeing the doctor for the final two months of pregnancy? Can you get me her doctor's number for my next one?
I'm so loving TLF, can't wait until Friday... woo, only 3 days left!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 02, 2007 at 10:14 PM
If David does look like Eric from that 70's Show, I would have done it with him also. In fact, I might even do it with him now. And I'm married. I love Eric.
That being said...what in the crap is a glass car ornament? I love that!
And also, I hope to see you use the word "slut" more often. It's so dramatic!!
Posted by: Isabel | March 17, 2007 at 06:11 PM
Dollface?? Love it.
Posted by: Pink Herring | March 20, 2007 at 12:54 PM