Predator

Chapter Fourteen

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"Please turn your textbooks to page 203."

I do as he says, not needing to look up to know that he's blatantly avoiding my desk, as he hovers around the classroom. Frankly I couldn't care less. What's the point of worrying about some unspoken tension when I'm actually happy for once?

I don't know how the ultrasound yesterday managed to completely alter my outlook on life. Isn't that strange? I've known for so long about this baby, dreading the thought completely. After actually seeing it, I'm...glad, for the very first time in two months. But is it wrong to feel happy? I'm not even sixteen and I'm pregnant! And I mean, two days ago I was attempting suicide over it all. Now, I can only think of how it's such a beautiful thing to come out of something so awful. Maybe I should've been thinking this way the whole time. That might've prevented a lot of turmoil.

I snap out of my thoughts for a moment and realize that Will has been talking for a lengthy period of time. Damn, what did we just learn? I don't know how I manage to keep my grades up, I always space off like this.

He's talking about conjugating verbs, thankfully nothing new. We make eye contact for a brief moment before he looks away again. I still have an inclination to thank him. Given I'm not going to forgive him, not for anything, but if it weren't for him I wouldn't be here. And worse, I would've murdered my own child.

A worksheet is passed to me. Wha- did I seriously just space off again? This might be worse than right after the ordeal first happened. At least then I wasn't even making an effort.

"You guys have the rest of class to finish," Will says. "Work individually. This is due Monday."

The class is unusually quiet except for the sound of papers shuffling. I reach under my binder to get a pen, but something else catches my eye. The corner edge of my sonogram sticking out from beneath a few papers. Oh, I haven't looked at it in what...an hour? It's just going to distract me even more if I don't take a little peek...

Pulling it out onto the desk, I feel a smile spread across my face. There they are! It's a weird feeling to know that this little blob is inside of me at this very moment. I read an article that said it's the size of some fruit called a kumquat, and they can now bend their arms and legs. It also said I should be starting to wear maternity clothes, but for some reason my body hasn't really changed yet. Mostly I'm just bloated and my boobs hurt all the time.

Suddenly I feel a presence by my shoulder and I look up. Will is standing beside my desk, obviously seeing the sonogram. When I look up at him, he clears his throat and fidgets awkwardly.

"That's. That's the baby, huh?" he asks quietly, as to not draw anyone else's attention.

For once I don't give him a nasty look. "Yeah," I answer. "I went yesterday."

Will presses his lips together and forces a smile. Why is he acting so weird about this?

"That's...great," is all he says, barely above a whisper. "I, uh...s'great." His voice tapers off in an unnatural way.

I think he's about to squeeze my shoulder but decides against it; lets his hand fall slack to his side. He walks away somewhat hastily and sits down at his desk, right as the bell rings. Wait a minute, is he actually scared of me now? What a twist. I gather my things and wait for the room to filter out.

"Um, hey," I start, approaching his desk. Will looks mildly panicked, confirming my theory. I try to mask my satisfaction. "I never said thank you," I tell him. "I don't know what was going on in my head the other night. If you hadn't stopped me, I would be-"