This One Thing

Chapter Three

*January 8*

"Ma'am, you have to get off the bus." The bus driver yells back to me. I'm sitting in the very last seat on the bus, not ready to get off. My parents took my car after they found out about my disappointment, and I had no one to drive me to school. I didn't want to get off the bus, to go into school for the first time after the birth. I didn't want to face everyone, and their hateful words.

"Listen kid, I don't care why you don't want to leave, just leave." She pulled me up by my sleeve, then practically pushed me down the steps. I just stood on the sidewalk, frozen. I hadn't been to school in over a month. Last time these people saw me I was fat and they made fun of me every day.

Just then, the bell rang. Instinct must have kicked in, because I started walking up the sidewalk and to the doors.

*

I walk in the doors, dried tears on my cheeks. I had been dreading this day by staying home for the last week. I'm sure the word has already gotten out. People noticed I was showing a day before Mom and Dad noticed. I tried wearing loose clothing, but it didn't work. I had to wear a dress for a debate in Government, and that's where it all started.

"Slut."

"Skank."

"Preggers."

Everyone I walked by called me something. I eventually got to my locker, trying not to let the words get to me. They don't know what really happened. I put my combinmation in, and when I lifted the latch something didn't seem right. There was something sticking outside of the door. I opened it and dozens of little packets fell out and onto the ground. I bent down to see what they were. Condoms. Dozens of condoms. And in the middle of them all, a note.

Next time keep your legs closed. Or at least be smart enough to use one of these. Thought you were smart, right? A "good girl"? Guess not, have fun these next nine months, SLUT.

More tears. I sat there, watching kids stare as they walked by. Amber, the head cheerleader and president of selibacy club, came up to me and knelt down.

"Don't cry, baby. There will be enough of that soon enough. Not so good now, bitch. You thought you were head of this school, but guess again. You are at the bottom now, and no one will help you up. Not even you're "baby daddy" Alex. He told us you cheated on him. How could you blame this on him? Trying to bring him down with you? I think not." She stood up and walked towards her laughing friends.

I thought this would be bad, but nothing like this. The bell rang, but I made no effort to move. The tears kept coming as my body started shaking involentarily. I threw my hands to the ground to try to grab anything to find comfort in. Instead, all I got were two handfulls of condoms. I threw them against the wall across from me and screamed.

Standing up, I slammed my locker door and left all my things. I started running, trying to get anywhere but here. Suddenly, something grabbed my arm. I turned to see Alex staring at me.

"What." I glared. He said nothing, instead he just looked at me with sad eyes. He looked like he had been crying, or drinking. "Leave me alone. You deny me, I deny you. How could you? I really thought you were better than this. You saw me on the floor while Amber tore me up, but you couldn't say anything? You are a coward Alex. Why don't you hit me? Trip me down the stairs. Then you would get what you want. I wouldn't be pregnant anymore and you would be off the hook. I really thought you were different..." Tears swelled up again, and I could feel hormones coming on. I turned and started running to the bathrooms.

"Damn it, Aerie! I'm sorry.." Was all I heard before I got into the bathroom. Morning sickness had kicked in.

*

 "Hey stretch marks." Someone pulled me from my flashback. Wait, how did I get to my locker already? I had managed to keep my scheduale, somehow, I guess. I turned to see who it was.

Amber.

"Like I said, hey stretch marks. I see you had your bastard child. And since you are back at school so early, I'd say you gave her up. Good thing, you couldn't raise a kid. Certainly not without the baby daddy. I've been waiting nine months to do this, and now I finally can. Unless you got yourself knocked up again."

I didn't say anything. My face got hot from anger and hot tears formed in my eyes.

"Hmm, good." Just then she whipped he hand up and slapped my face, in front of everyone. People started laughing and I fell to the ground, not even trying to get back up. The tears slipped from my eyes as she walked back to her friends. They laughed and walked away just as the bell rang. Nothing had changed. Just because I had Grace, I was still going to be made fun of.

"I can't do this.." I whispered as I got up. I'm going home and never coming back to this hell hole. My parents already hate me, there isn't much more they can do.

Then, the door opened abruptly. Alex came walking in, and saw me. He walked up to me with a confused look.

"Aerie, what's wrong? Your face is red and you're crying again." He brushed his cool hand over my cheeks and wiped a stray tear away. Although this felt good, I turned and walked away.

"Yet again, you missed it. Amber slapped me. And you weren't here. This really is your fault. Everyone makes fun of me and you take no heat. The easy life of a high school boy." I stormed out the door to who knows where. I didn't have a car, and I had no friends to take me home.

"Aerie, where are you going?! I'm sorry I wasn't here. Do you want me to go in there and beat someone up?"

"No." I scoffed. "I'm leaving. I am not going back to school here. I will be home schooled or just not graduate, I really don't care."

"Wait, there has to be a way to fix this. I'll tell everyone I am the dad."

"Fix this? Can you make everyone forget I was pregnant? Because that is the only way I can think to fix this. And no, don't tell everyone. I wouldn't wish this feeling on anyone, not even you."

I turned away, my white dress blowing in the wind. The water falling from my eyes increased.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" he asked, trying to find any way to help.

"No, drive me anywhere but there."

*