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In the season finale of "16 and Pregnant," Allie struggles to deal with a careless boyfriend and his mother's drug-fueled abuse. And after she breaks the news to her father (her mother inexplicably lives in New Jersey), he tells her to put the baby up for adoption -- or get out.
So Allie ends up at Joey's house, the last place a pregnant girl should be. Joey's mom, Yolanda, is a pill-popper with a sharp tongue and violent temper.
And that worries Allie. She's not only concerned to be around that stress while pregnant, but she's terrified to bring her son into the situation once he's born. But for the time being, she has no choice.
With no parental figures to turn to in Texas, Allie talks daily to her mom Lauren, who promises her daughter that she will travel from New Jersey when she's in the hospital, although she may miss the birth.
Even though she's so far away, Lauren tries to do what she can. She sends Allie a check to buy things for the baby. But it doesn't get them very far -- she only sends $20! (a paltry amount considering she later takes a limo to the airport).
Things aren't much better back at Joey's house. His poor excuse for a mom has been on-edge and abruptly decides she wants to be alone all weekend -- even though she also has a husband and younger son -- so she sends them to her mother Belen's house to live.
While there, Yolanda asks Allie to get her a banana. The seven-months-pregnant teen is too exhausted to get up and bring it over to her, so she tosses it onto the couch -- launching World War III with an already agitated Yolanda.
"Why should I take care of you?" Yolanda spews. "You ain't my daughter! F*** you, bitch! Get the f*** out!"
When Allie doesn't respond, Yolanda charges at her -- but luckily Joey steps in before she reaches his girlfriend.
"I'll f*** you up and I'll f*** her up too," shouts Yolanda. "I don't give a f*** that she's pregnant!"
Realizing her daughter is unstable, Belen tells Joey and Allie they can stay with her for up to a year if they need to -- and they gladly take her up on the offer.
Suddenly two weeks later, Yolanda starts calling her son non-stop, telling him to come over because she has big news: she's going to rehab. After a 10-year addiction to opiates, she's finally seeking help so they can have a better relationship. Joey and Allie seem incredulous -- because she has said the same thing before.
One week before she's set to give birth, Allie's mom calls to break the news you could tell was coming: she can't get off work after all and will miss her grandson's birth. Not only that, but she won't be able to come visit until the second week of January (it was mid-December at the time).
Luckily, Yolanda is fresh out of rehab and sincerely trying to be there for Allie as she lays in the hospital bed about to give birth.
The same can't be said for Joey. The teen sleeps as Allie fights through contractions and having her water broken. When he finally wakes up, the labor is kicking into high-gear -- and so is reality. He seems petrified and one point and thinks he's going to pass out.
Once little Aydenn pops out, Allie excitedly texts her mom the good news. Her response: "Get him circumcised! OMG!"
She also texts a photo to her estranged dad, who couldn't care less.
Once back at home, Joey takes on the same aloof attitude as everyone else around Allie. She stays up with the baby all night, while he sleeps.
After a few weeks, Joey returns to high school -- and his regular life of football practice, homework and video games. No where in his schedule does he attempt to add in fatherly duties.
"He doesn't seem interested in the baby," Allie tells a friend. "He's not ready for the responsibility and it's a little late."
Allie's mom Lauren finally arrives in Texas to visit her daughter -- the first time she's seen her in a year.
And the first time she's met Joey. When Lauren asks him about his plans after high school, he replies, "Probably like fast food or something."
Rightfully so, Lauren is concerned with Joey's lack of ambition and desire to be a father and implores her daughter to come back to New Jersey -- which Allie says she may consider if things don't change.
As Allie prepares to head back to school, she tells Joey he's going to have to help her more with Aydenn, especially at night, if she's going to graduate. He promises to pitch in a little more -- but of course, it never happens.
When she confronts him a few days later, he says shamelessly, "To tell you the truth, I'm kind of lazy."
That's putting it mildly. Nine weeks after the birth of their son, Allie says things have gone from "bad to worse" with Joey, who now sleeps on the couch as she gets up with Aydenn all night.
Then he starts sending her ridiculous text messages while she's in school, like "You never have time for me."
At that, Allie realizes she doesn't need two babies and decides to end things once and for all with Joey. As she packs her bags, he sobs. "I tried to feed him, I tried to change him."
But trying just isn't enough.
Allie goes to stay with a friend nearby until the end of the school year, when she will then move back to New Jersey to be closer to her mom.
"I don't think Joey was ready for a baby," Allie muses.
Unfortunately, she has to be -- while he gets to continue being a carefree teenager.
kperricone@nydailynews.com
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