Stolen Innocence (Evergreen) [Student/Teacher Love Story]

forty three

A few hours later as we're walking out of Planned Parenthood, my heart heavy and feeling numb, I text Hayden and Bianca and ask if they can come over.

My mom and I exchange no words as she drives us home.

"I'll, um, I'll let the Barretts know what's changed," Is all she says to me as we both exit the car and I nearly feel my heart stop at those words.

I completely forgot about Sage and Asher. After they left that day, we all talked that they would be the best option for adoptive parents. I called them back only minutes later with the news. They were ecstatic.

Sighing, I nod at her, and we make our way wordlessly inside. My dad isn't there when I get in and I'm thankful for that as I make my way to my room. My phone is buzzing like crazy and I throw it on my bed as I curl up into it.

"Iris?" My mom's voice at the door.

"Yeah?" I look up to see Hayden and B's faces peering curiously around the doorway. I glance down to my phone, realizing I never responded to them. It's been about 30 minutes since I texted them to come over; I must've fallen asleep.

"Oh, hey guys," They shuffle into the room and my mom shuts the door quietly behind them.

"What's up?" B asks first and I sigh, sitting up but clutching the blankets closer to myself, trying to ignore the cramps in my stomach.

"It's um...it's over," I cry, doubling over, everything from the past few hours flooding in.

"What's...what's over?" Hay grabs my hand, rubbing comforting circles into it. I sob, glancing down at my stomach.

"It's gone. He's gone," Their eyes are both wide as they exchange a glance.

"You got an abortion?" Hay clarifies, and I nod, sniffling. They say nothing else, grabbing hold of me and letting me cry for the next who knows how long. I didn't know I had anything left to cry.

After meeting with Adaline, everything came crashing down on me. About what I was doing, who I was doing it for. I was holding on to this baby because it was my last tie to him. And, as painful as it was, I needed to let him go.

He'll still always be a part of me, this much I know, but I couldn't have his child.

"I would've been just like Rory's mom..." I sigh and they both shoot me a confused look. "Long story," They nod, going back to comforting me in silence.

"I love you guys. Seriously, I love you both so much," I wipe my eyes and Hay presses a kiss to the top of my forehead.

"And we love you. Now...why don't we watch something stupid and try to get our minds off this?" Hay offers, before B grabs my laptop and puts on some random sitcom.

The events of the day allow me to drift off within minutes.

—-

When I wake up, they're both gone, the sky is dark and I'm left alone again with my thoughts. I glance at my phone to see Adaline has texted and called a few times.

Sighing, I skim through the texts to see it's nothing urgent. She just wants to pick up where we left off...apologizing for scaring me off...wanting to talk again soon before the trial...I put the phone down when my eyes start to swim.

My mind wanders to what transpired earlier and as much as I want to move on from it, the cramps in my stomach won't allow me to forget so easily.

My mom had said nothing when I told her what I wanted, she simply nodded and drove us straight there. Whether she's happy with this decision or not, I'm not entirely sure.