When I Met Her....

Blackmail

Blackmail

Laurel's POV

    What am I going to do? What am I going to do?! I think to myself as I'm sitting in my hospital bed once again. I got up and walked around the hospital to stretch my legs, but I was back here again in the same exact place I'd been for nearly 3 days now. I really want to tell Steph about Julia and I, but how could we ask that of her? To keep a secret so big. She could lose her job! She doesn't deserve that because she was covering for us.

"Penny for your thoughts." Melony says, painting her right thumb with nude nail polish.

"Amanda walked in on me and Julia." I sigh nervously.

"Wait what?" Melony coughs, after sipping from her Starbucks cup.

"Yeah." I say, rubbing my temples.

"Tell me everything. Like what happened." Melony says, capping the nail polish.

"We were in here on the bed. We were kissing and we didn't hear the door open. Next thing we know Amanda is yelling and screaming."

"What did Julia do?"

"She was so calm and polite and Amanda was being so rude to her. She even offered to leave, of course I wouldn't let her. I kicked Amanda out instead."

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"I have to tell Steph before Amanda does. Maybe if I do Steph won't hate me as much for putting her in this horrible predicument." I whisper, wiping away a tear that started rolling down my cheek.

"It's not that bad." Melony tries to assure me.

"It is!" I insist. "Once she finds out she's at risk of losing her job! That is if she doesn't report it."

"She's not going to report it."

"I don't know. I've laid a lot of stuff on her, but this might really be it."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I just have a feeling this is going to end badly." I say, trying to calm my racing pulse.

"It's all going to work out." Melony says, laying her head on my shoulder.

    I hope so.

******************

"Knock, knock." A voice says.    

    It's my mother. Just my luck she'd walk in right after Melony left. I don't say come in but she does it anyway. I don't say anything. I just wait for  whatever ridiculous conversation she's about to start and that she thinks that I'm about to particpate in. I would never after the way she treated Julia.

"Hey." she says.

    I attempt to smile, but it doesn't work. I'm sure from the outside it looks like a grimace because that's how if feels on my face.

"So I have a proposal for you."

    I nod, for her continue.

"Well, we can't have a conversation unless both people talk with more than motions and one word answers."

"I honestly don't have anything to say." I say, trying to remain calm.

"I'm sure you do."

"I don't." I state firmly.

"I guess I should just talk then."

"That would be best."

"Okay." she says, rubbing her hands together, "Well, I think you should reconsider you decision on coming to live with me."

    I look at her like she's insane.

"Why?"

"Because of the recent incident that's conspired between us." My mother says, making an attempt at innocence.

"What about it?"

"I don't think your new family is going to want anything to do with you after they figure out that you're a lesbian."

"Steph knows I'm a lesbian, so nice try." I roll my eyes.

"Does she know that you're sleeping with one of her subordinates?"

"What?" I ask, trying to keep a poker face.

    How does she know Julia works under Steph?

"Yes, I know your little toy is a teacher at Knightingale High School."

    I don't say anything, I just wait for her to continue.

"If I were Stephanie, I don't know if I would be able to handle that. Some love only goes so far." Amanda says, almost teasingly.

"That's not true." I shake my head. "Steph will always love me."

"That's what you think." My mother says, "The two of you aren't connected by blood like you and I. There's nothing to hold her to you."

"You're lying." I say defiantly, trying not to let her words take root in my mind or heart.

"Oh, but honey I'm not. And you know I'm not." Amanda says, reaching to touch my face.

    I snatch away, causing myself a little dizziness.

"Just think about it. I would hate for Stephanie and Julia to have to suffer the consequences of something you should have never allowed to happen."

"Are you blackmailing me?" I ask her, in horror.

"Don't think about it like that." my mom says, "I'm really helping you. You'll thank me some day."

"I won't."

"You will." My mother says confidently, "That's why Stephanie could've never really been your mother. She can't make the hard decisions like I can."

    I just stare at her, my mind and heard clouded with pure hatred for the woman who gave birth to me.

"And she most certaintly will never be able to love you like I can."

"Oh, I hope not." I say, regaining my ability to speak. " Now please leave."

"If you say so." She says, backing towards the door. "But really think about what I said. I would hate to have to be the bearer of bad news."

"No you wouldn't." I say, barely above a whisper.

"Regardless of what you think Laurel, I do love you." My mother says solemnly.

    She sounds so honest for a second I almost believe her. Until I remember how much pain I'm about to put Steph and Julia in. And I know there is no way she could be telling the truth.

"Leave." I say.

"Alright." my mother finally gives in.

    She walks out the door and tears immediately start streaming down my face. It's so hard to acknowledge the fact of what I have to do.  What I have to do to protect the ones I love most.