Two months later, school had gotten worse for me. People continously stared at me with sympathy and hatred in their eyes. I walked into Mrs. Philips' room and she looked at me, sadness in her eyes. I ignored her and took a seat next to Angela. I stared down at my notebook, trying to be oblivious to the world, when a shadow appeared over my paper. I looked up and saw Sebastian's girlfriend. She stared at me for a few moments and I cleared my throat, trying to appear tough. "Is there something you want?" I asked. She knelt down beside me and touched my knee.
"I heard about what happened. I was at that party you know," she answered. I nodded my head.
"I know. I saw you." The bell rang, cutting our conversation short. Mrs. Philips came in, closing her door behind her. She glanced over at me and whatever her name was.
"Melanie, please find your way to your seat," she said firmly. Melanie stood up and walked back over to Sebastian. She sat next to him and I saw him lean over to her, his lips moving. She nodded her head slowly, and Mrs. Philips began class. She ran her fingers through her hair.
"I know that we've been going over who Jesus was and everything for the past few weeks. You guys probably have holes drilled into your head with information even. I was going to have you guys take a test over the material today, but I don't feel like you guys are really ready yet. So, go over your notes...and...partner up, study for the remainder of the period. I want you guys to be fully prepared. The test will be tomorrow instead. Go ahead and get started," she said, walking back to her desk. She sat down and opened her laptop. She looked so sad, and I felt so sorry for her for some reason.
Angela turned to me and touched my arm. "I am REALLY going to need your help with some of this stuff, Lindsay. I don't understand most of it," she admitted in a low whisper. I nodded my head and forced a smile.
"I'll help you. That's not a problem," I whispered back. The phone rang and Mrs. Philips answered it. I looked back at her, and saw that her eyes were set on me.
"Yes, she is. I'll send her right down," she said back. "Lindsay, Mr. Bratts wants to see you in his office." She hung the phone up and I got up. "Take your stuff with you. He didn't say if you'd be back or not." I nodded my head and Angela knelt down, grabbing my books. She stood back up and handed them to me. I rested them against my swelled stomach and I left the room, heading for the principal's office.
The secretary saw me and she sent me straight in. I walked in and froze. Jeffery sat in a chair opposite Mr. Bratts, his hands in his lap as he stared at the ground. I walked in my legs feeling like lead as I sat down beside him. Mr. Bratts looked from me to him, his face appearing to be set in stone. He sighed heavily, and stared at his clasped hands. "Mr. Higgins and Miss...Hartman, is it?" he asked. I nodded my head slowly, trying to scooch the chair away from Jeffery without either of them noticing.
He cleared his throat again, looking at the both of us again. "I understand that you are both going to be having a baby in what is it...three more months?" I shook my head.
"Four. I'm five months pregnant as of yesterday," I corrected. He nodded his head somberly.
"Alright then four more months. So...have either of you discussed the arrangements for your child?" My heart started to beat rapidly in my chest. He looked over at me and gestured to Jeffery as he spoke. "I understand that you do not wish for Mr. Higgins to be around his child, Miss Hartman?" My jaw dropped and I would've jumped up out of my seat, but being five months pregnant, my stomach made it difficult. Instead, I wrapped my arm around it.
"This isn't any of the school's concern, Mr. Bratts. In fact, I don't even know IF Jeffery is the father of this baby. According to some other people, I apparently slept with five guys, including him. At least that's what I have been told," I replied sternly. Mr. Bratts raised an eyebrow at my statement, and I leaned back, still holding my stomach. "In fact, I don't really peg Jeffery as the fatherly type. I mean if I had a daughter, I'd sure wouldn't want her to be around her sexist, womanizing, woman hating SOB like him." Jeffery jumped up and threw his hands into the air.
