It's Terribly Perfect.

22. It's Terribly Perfect: Was it All Just a Dream?

I wake up in my bed at home, the morning light flooding into my room just as it did the day Drew announced that I was raped. I squint, tossing the big blue blanket off of me and swinging my legs off the side of the bed to stand up.

As I stretch, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror across the room and synch my brows together. Slowly stepping over to the body length mirror, I raise the polka dot shirt I’m wearing and put a hand on my stomach.

No bump.

My stomach is flat. Well, it’s a little pudgy, but not in an I’m-pregnant way. It’s more like an I-ate-too-much-cheesecake way.

I start to panic, fast short breaths replacing the steady ones. What’s happened to Bentley? I rush out my door and down the stairs into the kitchen where my mother is flipping over an omelet – just like the morning of when my secret was exposed.

“M-mom,” I stutter, my heart racing. “Listen, yesterday, my stomach was huge okay? Well, maybe not huge, but a lot bigger than this. I’m supposed to be seven months pregnant! What do you think is wrong? Do you think-“

“Kasynne, dear,” my mom stops me, giving me a look like I’ve just grown another head and four million more eyes. “What are you blabbing about? You’ve always been this thin. You’re not pregnant,” she narrows her eyes at me and points the spatula in my direction accusingly. “Or are you?”

“Yes! Eight months so!” I exclaim, waving my hands around like a loon. “It’s a boy, named Bentley Lane. Don’t you remember? Mom you went to the appointments with me except one. Ryan took me-“

“Who’s Ryan?” she questions, her face still warped with confusion.

“What do you mean who’s Ryan? The guy that I love, the one I’m dating, my boyfriend? Six foot something, dark brown hair, teal eyes? Come on you go all cougar when he’s around.”

“I thought Luke was your boyfriend?” She puts a hand on her hip, her expression turning judgmental. “Kasynne Marie Santiago, are you cheating on that boy?” She turns back around to finish her cooking.

“Is that supposed to be a joke? Luke is dead, Mom. You were at the funeral!” I throw up my arms in disbelief. “Where’s Marcus? Maybe he’ll know what’s going on with you.” She freezes, putting her hands on the cabinet to steady herself.

“None of us know where your father is. We haven’t seen him in nine years. Why would you ask such a thing?”

“What? No, he’s been living here for the past two or three months. You guys made up, you’re together again. We’re a family again. Why don’t you remember? Are you just pulling my leg or did you hit your head-“

“Stop,” she demands. “That’s not funny, Kasynne. None of this little story of yours is funny.” A honk sounds from outside of the house. She peeks threw the blinds out the window before turning back to me. “And I highly doubt Luke’s dead considering he’s waiting for you in his truck. Go to school,” she finalizes, stamping past me and up the stairs. I turn around, heading to the door before I see Tyler staring at me from his spot at the table.

“What?” I inquire as he continues to eye me.

“Are you going crazy?” he sincerely questions.

“No, I’m just confused. I’m- wait, where’s Abelle?”

“Who’s Abelle?”

“The little white kitten I got for Christmas, from Ryan.”

“Who’s Ryan?”

“You are no help,” I say, pacing past him and out the door. I stop in my tracks as my eyes lay upon the black Silverado that once belonged to Luke. I step along to the vehicle so slowly I could make a turtle look like a cheetah. I can’t see through the dark-tinted windows so I’m forced to open the door.