I quickly relieved myself and sighed while doing so. I hated going to the toilet so often, but I had to admit that peeing was the only relief I felt lately. I was now twenty-one weeks and four days pregnant, and all the little things I used to take for granted were starting to catch up with me.
My feet for example: I never had any problems with my feet. I never went jogging, but I did walk a lot and I never felt any pain, but now they were swelled up at the end of each day and hurt like a motherfucker. I didn't know how much weight I gained so far, but I was sure it was a lot more than experts would say was healthy. I knew that much.
I also knew, thanks to Google images, that I had a big bump for almost twenty-two weeks. This scared me because I didn't want to have a big baby-my vagina wouldn't be able to handle it.
It was like my body had an allergic reaction to being pregnant. My feet swelled, my back hurt, my boobs hurt, I couldn't sleep very well at night, and I was always hungry. It fucking sucked.
I finished up in the toilet, then washed my hands and dried them at the sinks. I exited the bathroom and walked back into the pub, but when I opened the door I walked into a tall man and stumbled backwards. The man grabbed my arms and stopped my impending fall.
"Whoa, there!" the man said, his tone panicked.
I blew out a big breath. "Omigod! Thank you."
"No problem, honey. Jesus, you're pregnant, are you okay?" he asked with an alarmed look.
I looked up and noticed he was the man I met in the hospital a few days ago. He didn't seem to recognise me, and I was little embarrassed to remind him that we already met just in case I was mistaken. I was sure I knew him though, I remembered his facial scar.
I didn't have the chance to take him in when we last met, but this time I did. I noticed was an older man with a thick head of black hair, except on his left side were his facial scar ran into his hairline. He looked near the same age as my father, which would put him in his fifties. I smiled when he let go of me and pushed his glasses further up his nose.
I bobbed my head. "I'm really fine..."
"Philip."
I smiled. "Philip. I'm Aideen."
Philip winked. "You take very good care of yourself, Aideen. Watch where you put your feet."
I chuckled. "Nice advice, I'll remember it."
Philip tipped his head forward, glanced over his shoulder then turned and walked towards the bar. I blew out a breath and shook my head at myself.
Watch where you put your feet.
That was really good advice for me; it was advice I'd have to put into immediate use because I couldn't afford to be as clumsy as I usually was whilst being pregnant. It was too dangerous.
I glanced around the pub and decided I need to go home. I knew everyone was out celebrating my pregnancy and new apartment, but a pub was no place for a pregnant woman. It was a hazard, a pending accident waiting to happen.
It was also hot as hell with all the bodies packed in there and the heat made it difficult to catch my breath.
I needed to leave.
Without a single thought, I turned and walked towards the exit of the pub. When I walked through the doors and made it outside, the cold air wrapped around me like a blanket. I deeply inhaled.
That felt better.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't me forever disappearin' ex-girlfriend."
I cringed when I heard his voice, but plastered on a smile as I slowly turned myself around. "Heeeeey, you. What's up, homie?" I asked Skull as he stood before me with his large arms fold across his chest, and a grin stretched across his mouth.
He laughed, "What's up, homie? Really? Where the hell have you been? I've been tryin' to get in touch with you for ages. Did you change your number?"
I instantly felt shitty for not calling him for a chat like I usually would. I was a bad friend.
"No, I've just been busy."
Skull playfully winked. "I thought you might've been avoidin' me."
I frowned. "Avoidin' you? What for?"
"The last time we were together we decided that we were done for real, so I figured you wanted me out of your life when I couldn't get in touch with you."
My face fell. "That's the furthest thing from the truth, Trevor. I love you, you know I do."
I never used Skull's real name unless I was serious, and I was being deadly serious right now. I wanted him to know I would never try to cut him out of my life. Ever. He was a huge part of my life.
Skull's face softened. "I love you, too."
I smiled and relaxed my features. "What are you doin' here?"
"I work weekends so my drinkin' nights are weekdays. I'm here with some lads from the club."
I bobbed my head but said nothing.
"Are you okay?"
I snorted, "Depends on what you mean by okay."
Skull stared at me, hard, as he waited for me to explain.
I sighed, "I'm fine. Things are just a mental for me right now."
"Let's go back inside, and I'll buy you a drink. We can talk about it."
"I would, but I can't drink."
"Why not?" Skull asked, perplexed.
I didn't know how to tell my ex-boyfriend, who at one point was my world, that I was pregnant with another man's child. So I decided to make a joke out of it. I placed my hand on my stomach, rubbed it around in circles and smiled wide.
Skull looked down my hands and then back up to my face. "Why are you smilin' and touchin' your stomach like that? You hungry? Wanna get some food?"
I burst into laughter. "Not hungry. I've a human being to think about in there now so no more drinkin'. Not for another few months anyway."
Skull chuckled but stopped when I made no motion of telling him I was joking. He stared into my eyes and when he saw no traces of a lie he gasped, "I don't believe you!"
I shrugged. "It's true."
"Shut the fuck up!"
I again burst into laughter, "Now that's just rude."
"You're pregnant?" Skull asked, his eye bugging out his head. "For real?"
Could he not see my big belly?
I nodded my head. "Yep."
"For who?" he asked worriedly.
I chuckled, "It's not you, don't worry."
Skull relaxed. "Sorry, it's not that I don't want kids, I do, but you know. Wow."
I giggled. "I understand. I was pretty shocked when I first found out, too."
"I can't believe it," Skull said dumbfounded. "You're really havin' a kid?"
"I am." I beamed.
"Fuckin' hell. Me little baby is havin' a baby," he laughed. "Congratulations, sweetheart!"
I squealed when Skull stepped forward, wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up off the ground. I latched my hands onto his shoulders, closed my eyes and laughed.
"When are you havin' the brat?" Skull asked when he set me back on the ground a few seconds later.
I held onto him because I didn't fully feel steady on my feet.
"January," I said, smiling up at him. "I'm due on me ma's birthday."
"No!" Skull gasped and beamed. "That's incredible."
He gave me a big kiss on the cheek that made me laugh. I was about to step back away from him now that I had my bearings, but I remained put when I heard the commotion from my right.
"Kane. No!" I heard Nico's voice bellow.
Kane?
I looked at my right and widened my eyes when I spotted him storming towards myself and Skull, his face was twisted in rage, and I had no clue why. All I knew was he was pissed, and his focus was completely on Skull.
Fuck.
Time slowed down then as I stepped backwards just as Kane collided into Skull, taking him up off his feet and spearing him to the ground. The noise of Skull hitting the ground struck me like a physical slap, and I heard my ear-piercing scream before I realised the sound even left my mouth.
"Stop!"
I stupidly rushed forward to try and stop Kane from hurting Skull, but Nico was on me in a second. "I don't fucking think so!" he snapped at me. "You're pregnant, stay back!"
I blinked my eyes and nodded at him.
He was right, and I hated that it took another person to remind me not to rush into a fight. I should have already known that-I was the one who was pregnant after all.
"Eejit," I hissed at myself.
I lifted my hands to my face and covered my ears with my palms to block out the sounds of all the chaos around me. I could hear Skull trying to get through to Kane, as well as Nico. I widened my eyes when Nico jumped on Kane's back and wrapped his arm around his neck. For a few seconds nothing happened. Kane continued to hit Skull, but then ever so slightly his movements slowed and I realised why.
Nico was suffocating him.
"Stop!" I screamed. "You'll kill him."
Kane rolled off Skull with Nico still attached to his back like a monkey, and it was only when his eyes closed that Nico released him and pushed himself up off the ground. Kane wheezed a little as he caught his breath back and blinked his eyes open. He stared up at the night sky and laughed like a crazy person.
I stared at Kane then Nico.