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Chapter 19 - Standing My Ground

It was another Tuesday, and the school hallway was bustling with the usual chatter and laughter. But as I walked to my locker, I felt that familiar weight in my stomach. The whispers and giggles seemed to grow louder, particularly when I passed by a group of girls leaning against the wall. I recognized them instantly—Bethany, Ashley, and Nelly—the trio who had taken it upon themselves to make my life a little more difficult.

Their voices dropped to hushed tones, but I could catch snippets of their conversation. "I can't believe she thinks she's ready to be a mom," Bethany scoffed, rolling her eyes. "She's barely even an adult!"

"Right? Just wait until she sees how hard it really is," Ashley chimed in, her tone dripping with condescension. "She'll be begging for help before she knows it."

Nelly giggled, adding, "And how do you think Justin feels about all this? Poor guy is stuck with her."

A wave of anger surged through me. I had tried to ignore them in the past, but something inside me snapped. No more hiding. No more letting their petty remarks slide.

I took a deep breath and marched over to them, my heart pounding but my resolve strong. "You know what?" I said, my voice steady. "I've had enough of your bullshit."

They turned to me, surprise flashing across their faces. "Oh, look who it is," Bethany said mockingly, a smirk playing on her lips. "The future mom of the year."

"Yeah, it's me," I shot back, not backing down. "And I'm proud of it. I'm going to be a great mother, no matter what you think. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Ashley crossed her arms, her expression defiant. "You think you can just waltz in here and act like you're special? Newsflash: You're not."

"Actually, I am," I said, my voice rising slightly. "I'm bringing a life into this world, something you guys wouldn't understand. You're just jealous because you don't have anything meaningful in your lives."

Nelly stepped forward, her brow furrowed. "Jealous? Please. You think we're jealous of you? You're just a joke!"

"Yeah, a joke who's about to be someone's mom," I retorted, feeling the adrenaline rush through me. "At least I'm doing something real with my life, instead of just tearing others down to make myself feel better."

Their faces twisted in disbelief, and for a moment, I felt empowered. I was standing up for myself, and it felt liberating.

"Whatever, Mia," Bethany said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "We're not scared of you."

"You should be," I shot back. "I'm done playing nice."

I could see their expressions shift from amusement to annoyance. They didn't know how to respond to me standing my ground. So, I turned on my heel, feeling a surge of confidence. But before I left, I couldn't resist. I glanced back over my shoulder and flipped them off, the gesture instinctual but filled with defiance.

"Have a great day, ladies!" I called out, a smirk on my lips as I walked away, heart racing.

As I made my way to class, I felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted. I didn't care what they thought anymore. I was going to be a mom, and nothing they said could change that. I was done letting their words dictate how I felt about myself.

Later that day, I met Tara at our usual spot in the cafeteria, still buzzing from my confrontation with the girls. "You won't believe what just happened," I said, my eyes wide with adrenaline.

"What? Tell me!" she urged, leaning closer.

"I finally stood up to Bethany, Ashley, and Nelly!" I exclaimed, my heart still racing from the thrill of it. "I told them I was proud of being pregnant and that I wasn't going to let them get to me anymore."

Tara's face broke into a wide grin. "Yes! That's amazing, Mia! I'm so proud of you!"

"I even flipped them off as I walked away!" I added, laughter bubbling up. "I felt so empowered!"

"Oh my God, that's legendary!" she laughed. "You're like a warrior mom already!"

We both giggled, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I could breathe a little easier. I was no longer the scared girl hiding from judgment. I was a soon-to-be mom, and I wasn't going to let anyone diminish that.

The rest of the week passed without incident. I still noticed Bethany, Ashley, and Nelly shooting me glares in the hall, but I just smiled back, feeling a sense of strength I hadn't known I possessed. I was ready to embrace this new chapter of my life, and nothing was going to hold me back.

With Tara by my side and Rebecca on the way, I was ready to take on the world.