Beneath the Surface

Chapter 24

Once I was ungrounded, I had Arnesto drive me home from practice for the rest of January. And yes. Each night , we made wonderful love to each other.

The thought had never even occurred to me that my period was late. It was only a day or two, so I wasn't worried. Swimming does weird things to your body. I know there are girls in the team who don't have a period all season long because of all the exercise.

These things happen all the time, but no. Not in my mother's eyes.

Around the end of the season, my last period starts to run a little late. It always happens. It's always been this way. But every year, my mother freaks out that she hasn't noticed anything in the bathroom trash.

This year her freak out was even worse, since I had a boyfriend. One day, before school, my mother walked into my room while I was getting ready for school. "I know you and the little Mexican boy have been screwing around. I mean I don't know why he would chose you. He could do so much better. But anyways. It's starting to show. You're getting chubby. Are you pregnant.?"

I turn around from my vanity mirror and look at her. "First of all, he's Latino. Second if all his name is Arnesto." I don't know how she hasn't figured out his name yet. We've been dating for like 3 months. "And third of all, fuck you. I ve actually been losing weight, thank you very much. I am in no way shape or form pregnant."

She bends over and puts her face in mine. "Lillian Rose Johnson. Tell me the truth. I'm going to ask you again. Are you pregnant?"

I push her away and stand up. "For the last time mother. I'm perfectly 100% not pregnant! If you don't believe me fine! I'll do whatever you want until you do. But I'm telling you, there is no child within my uterus! now get out of my room!"

At first she stood there, shocked. I don't think my mom knew I could use that tone of voice, let alone against her. She did as I said and left my room with out another word. And that was that.

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

I got home from practice thinking I had heard the end of my mother's whole freak out was over.

Or so I thought.

When I got home from practice, my mother was sitting on my bed. "When I went to the store, I bought you a little something."

She hands me a little Walgreens bag off the bed and hands it to me. I open it up and pull out the contents. "You bought me a pregnancy test...SERIOUSLY?!" I say to her in disbelief.

"Well yes," she responds. "One can never be too sure. I want to see the proof with my own eyes. Go and take it now."

She tries to shoo me away but I just stand there. "I don't even know how to take one.".

My mother just rolls her eyes. "Well you might as well get used to it. You'll probably have to take a lot of them you little whore. You just pee on the stick thing. "

I still stand there with my jaw dropped. "But but I don't have to pee. "

She stands up and starts pushing me towards the bathroom. "I don't care. Go stand in bathroom and drink water until you do. You're not coming out until you take that test."

With that she pushes me inside and locks the door.

I stand there and look in the mirror at myself. I turn on the faucet and start to drink some water. I drink and drink until I finally have to pee. I do as my mother instructed and place it on the counter. I wait for my results.

While I wait, I start to think. I start to worry. What if I actually am pregnant? what if Arnesto doesn't want a baby? What's gonna happen then? Omg I'm a slut. Omg omg om-

I look down at the test to see a negative sign has shown up. I sigh in relief. I pick it up.

I open the bathroom door and hand the end I peed on to my mother. "There's you proof. Happy now?"

I left her standing there with a disgusted look on her face, but at least she was content.

I close my door, but she talks to me through it. "Good thing you're not. Because if you were, you wouldn't be living here anymore."

I considered what she said and bought it over. If it means I get to leave here, then maybe I should get pregnant.