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Chapter 22 - The Truth About Justin

The rumors had been swirling for weeks now, but I had done my best to block them out. I didn't have the energy to care about what people were saying anymore. My focus had shifted entirely to Rebecca and preparing for her arrival. But no matter how hard I tried to stay away from the drama, the truth about Justin had a way of finding me.

It was a Thursday afternoon, and the halls of the school felt more suffocating than usual. Tara and I were walking to our lockers, laughing about something dumb when a group of girls passed by, giggling and whispering. Normally, I'd let it slide, but one of them, Bethany, made sure I heard her loud and clear.

"Wow, I guess Mia's just another one on Justin's list," she sneered, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "I wonder if he even bothers to tell her about the others?"

I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart sinking. I had already suspected there was more to Justin's behavior, but hearing it out loud, with so much certainty in her voice, made my stomach turn.

Tara grabbed my arm. "Ignore her, Mia. She's just trying to get in your head."

But I couldn't shake it. The pit in my stomach was growing, and I felt my blood start to boil. I spun around, glaring at Bethany and her group. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Bethany looked at me with fake innocence. "Oh, you haven't heard? Wow, I guess Justin hasn't told you then. Classic."

I took a step forward, my fists clenching. "Told me what?"

Her smile widened, clearly enjoying the attention. "That you're not the only girl he's been seeing. He's been hooking up with people this whole time, Mia. Did you really think he was going to change just because you're having his baby? Please."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stood there, my mind racing, trying to process what she was saying. The flashes of Justin's behavior—the late texts, the vague promises, the party photos with other girls—it all started to fit together in a sickening way.

Tara stepped in front of me, her face fierce. "Why don't you back off, Bethany? You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about," Bethany said, crossing her arms. "Everyone does. Justin's been messing around with Ashley, Nelly, and who knows who else. You're just the one who got caught up in his bullshit."

I felt like the air had been knocked out of me. The hallway around me seemed to blur as my heart raced. Was this true? Had Justin really been lying to me this whole time? Pretending to care while still fooling around with other girls?

"I can't believe I ever trusted him," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.

Tara turned to me, her face full of concern. "Mia, don't let her get in your head. Justin's been trying lately. He's been coming to appointments—"

"But has he really changed?" I cut her off, the realization dawning on me. "He's been doing the bare minimum. Every time I think he's stepping up, I find out something else that makes me question him. And now... now this?"

Bethany's mocking laughter echoed behind me as I stormed off down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. Tara hurried after me, but I was already in a daze, trying to figure out what to do next.

That night, I couldn't get Bethany's words out of my head. I tossed and turned in bed, Rebecca's little kicks reminding me that I wasn't just dealing with my own heartbreak—I had her to think about now, too.

I needed answers. I needed to know if what Bethany said was true.

The next day after school, I confronted Justin. I texted him to meet me at the park, the same place where we'd had our last serious talk. I arrived first, sitting on the same bench, my stomach in knots.

When Justin finally showed up, he looked casual, like nothing was wrong. "Hey, Mia. What's up?"

I didn't waste any time. "Are you seeing other girls, Justin?"

The question hung in the air between us, heavy and accusing. Justin's face froze for a second, but then he tried to laugh it off. "What? Where's this coming from?"

"Just answer the question," I said, my voice hard. "Are you hooking up with other people behind my back?"

Justin's smile faltered, and I could see the lie forming in his eyes before he even spoke. "Mia, come on. You know it's not like that."

"Do I?" I snapped, feeling my hands shake with anger. "Because I've heard that you've been with Ashley, Nelly, and probably others, too. So why don't you stop lying and just tell me the truth?"

Justin's face darkened, and for the first time, I saw the truth in his eyes. He wasn't going to deny it anymore. "Okay, fine. Yeah, I've been with other girls. But it's not like it matters, Mia. We weren't really together or anything."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you kidding me right now? I'm having your baby, Justin! And you're going around screwing other people like none of this matters?"

He threw up his hands, defensive now. "What do you want me to say, Mia? I'm not cut out for this! I never wanted any of this, and I'm just trying to figure things out!"

"Figure things out? While you lie to my face and pretend like you give a damn?" I couldn't stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. "I thought you were starting to change, that you were finally stepping up. But I guess I was just stupid to believe you'd ever take this seriously."

Justin ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "Look, I'm trying, okay? But I'm not perfect. I've got my own shit to deal with, and I can't just be who you want me to be overnight."

"I don't want you to be perfect, Justin. I just wanted you to be honest," I said, my voice breaking. "But you can't even do that."

There was a long silence between us. The truth of what he had done, of who he really was, hung between us like a wall I couldn't see past anymore.

Finally, I stood up, wiping away the angry tears. "I'm done, Justin. You've made it clear where your priorities are, and it's not with me or Rebecca. I'll raise her without you, because we don't need you. Not if this is who you really are."

He looked at me, his face hard, but I didn't care anymore. I turned and walked away, my heart breaking but feeling strangely lighter at the same time. I didn't have to hold out hope for Justin anymore. I knew the truth now.

Rebecca and I would be fine. We didn't need Justin. We just needed me.