2 Lines

Chapter 26 - Ethan's News

The school hallway buzzed with the usual chatter as students shuffled to their next classes, but I felt detached from it all, my mind still on Rebecca and the conversation I'd had with my parents. I was still trying to process how things were slowly falling into place when I spotted Ethan walking toward me, his expression tense. I knew something was wrong before he even opened his mouth.

"Mia, I need to talk to you," Ethan said, his voice low as he approached me.

I felt a flicker of anxiety. "What's up?"

He glanced around, making sure no one else was listening, and then leaned in closer. "You're not gonna like this, but you need to know. Justin... he's dating Bethany."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What?" I stammered, my heart pounding in my chest. "Bethany? As in Bethany Bethany?"

Ethan nodded, his jaw tight. "Yeah, that Bethany. I saw them together earlier today—holding hands, kissing... you know, the whole deal. I didn't want to believe it at first, but it's pretty obvious."

I felt my stomach churn, and it wasn't just the pregnancy. Bethany. Of all people, Justin was with her. Bethany was one of the girls who had been giving me dirty looks and snide comments since I started showing. She was part of the group that thought I was just another teen screw-up, and now she was with the father of my child?

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it. "No, that doesn't make any sense. He can't—he wouldn't—"

Ethan sighed, his eyes full of sympathy. "I know this sucks, Mia, but I didn't want you to find out some other way. You deserve to know the truth."

I blinked, trying to push back the flood of emotions rising inside me. "Why didn't he say anything to me?" I muttered, more to myself than Ethan. "We're having a baby, and he's out there hooking up with her?"

Ethan placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. "I don't know what's going through his head, Mia. But you deserve better than this. He's not stepping up."

A surge of anger rose in my chest, burning hotter than my hurt. I wasn't going to let this slide. I wasn't going to let Justin pretend like he didn't have any responsibilities while parading around with Bethany like nothing was happening.

"Where is he now?" I demanded, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

Ethan hesitated, but then he nodded. "I saw him heading to the parking lot. Probably skipping class or something."

Without another word, I turned and marched down the hallway, my fists clenched at my sides. I felt Ethan trailing behind me, but I didn't stop to talk. I didn't want to calm down. I didn't want anyone to tell me to let it go. This was too much.

By the time I reached the parking lot, I spotted Justin leaning against his car, Bethany practically draped over him. They were laughing, and it made my blood boil. Without thinking, I strode up to them, my heart hammering in my chest, adrenaline coursing through me.

"Justin," I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. He looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to annoyance as he saw me.

"Mia, what are you doing?" he asked, straightening up, but he didn't push Bethany away.

"I should be asking you the same thing," I shot back, glaring at him. "What the hell are you doing with her?"

Bethany rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by my outburst. "Wow, calm down, Mia. We're just hanging out."

I ignored her, focusing on Justin. "We're having a baby together, Justin. You're supposed to be part of this. You told me you were going to step up, and now you're out here playing games with Bethany?"

Justin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Mia, don't make this a big deal. It's not like we're together or anything."

My heart dropped at his casual dismissal. "Not a big deal? Not a big deal? We have a daughter on the way, and you're out here acting like none of that matters!"

Bethany smirked, clearly enjoying the show. "Maybe you should chill, Mia. It's not like he owes you anything."

I turned to her, my voice shaking with anger. "This has nothing to do with you, Bethany. Stay out of it."

She just shrugged, crossing her arms. "Whatever. I'm not the one acting like a psycho."

That was the last straw. I turned back to Justin, my hands shaking. "I thought you were better than this, Justin. I thought you actually cared about Rebecca."

Justin rolled his eyes. "I do care, Mia. But that doesn't mean I have to stop living my life. Look, I'll be there for the kid, okay? But we're not a couple. You need to get that through your head."

His words felt like a slap in the face. All the hope I had—the small part of me that thought maybe he'd come around, maybe we could figure this out together—was shattered. He wasn't going to change. He wasn't going to step up the way I needed him to.

"Fuck you, Justin," I spat, my voice low and venomous. "You think you can just pick and choose when to be a father? This isn't a game. You don't get to act like Rebecca doesn't exist just because it's inconvenient for you."

Justin looked annoyed, like he wanted the conversation to end. "Look, Mia, I'm not doing this with you right now. I told you I'd help with the baby. That's it."

I felt the tears prickling at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wasn't going to cry over him. Not anymore. "You don't get it, do you? Being a father isn't something you can turn on and off. And as far as I'm concerned, you're already failing at it."

Bethany snickered, and Justin just shook his head. "Whatever, Mia."

I stood there for a second, letting the weight of his indifference settle in. Then, without another word, I turned and walked away, the anger still simmering in my chest but the hurt even deeper. Ethan was waiting for me at the edge of the parking lot, his expression grim.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

I nodded, even though I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. "Yeah," I said, my voice hoarse. "I will be."

And as I walked away from Justin, Bethany, and everything I thought I could count on, I realized that I didn't need him. I had Rebecca, I had my family, and I had people who actually cared. And that was more than enough.

4o