I'm Right Here

Chapter Five

A week passed since Annie found out.

She still didn't know when to make a move. She had been seeing a lot of Jake's face recently, and most of the time, she would catch him looking at her.

That doesn't mean anything, Annie always told herself. Maybe he's just spacing out and it just so happens that he's looking my way.

The morning sickness didn't help either. She's thankful though that Cassandra never noticed. But it's only a matter of time before she does.

"Finish up, sweetie," her mother said. "You might be late for school."

"I don't think I can finish this anymore," Annie said looking at the half eaten pancakes, all three stacked together, drowning in maple syrup.

Cassandra was shocked. "I thought this was your favorite? You usually get seconds after this serving, and now you couldn't even finish this?" She walked over to Annie and placed a hand on her forehead. "You're not sick, are you?"

"Change of appetite I guess."

"If you're getting conscious about your body, you shouldn't worry. You're not that fat." Her mother joked.

Annie tried to fake a laugh and it sounded awful. "Anyway, can I go now? I really can't afford to eat more."

"Of course," she said, planting a kiss on her daughter's head. "Take care, sweetie. I love you."

-----//-----//-----//-----

"I brought you this!" Camilla said, placing a plastic container on the cafeteria table.

"What is this?" Annie asked.

"It's a salad. It's a better shit than what they're serving here in school. It's good for you and...you know."

"Oh. Thank you."

"You don't like it, do you?" Camilla said supresing a smile.

Annie shook her head. "Not one bit. No."

Camilla chuckled softly. "Well, whether you like it or not, you have to eat it because it's healthy."

"And so is meat."

"Relax. I'm not going to make you eat salad for nine months. I looked it up on the internet on what foods you should eat and avoid, and I wrote it all down in my journal."

"Wow. Thanks, mom."

"Knock it off." Camilla said as she started digging through her mac and cheese.

"You're really good at this," Annie said opening the plastic container. "I think you should be the one who's pregnant. You're more careful than me."

"I'm only doing this because I care for you. You have your own way of taking care of yourself, I know. But it's not just you anymore. There's two of you now and he—"

"—or she," Annie said.

"Or she," Camilla repeated, "Won't survive in your old habits."

"Such as...?"

Camilla rolled her eyes. "Such as staying up late," Annie was about to protest but Camilla held up a finger. "Even if it's school related."

"And?"

"And putting junk in your body when you have nothing to eat."

Annie rolled her eyes took a bite of her salad. "What the hell..."

"What?" Camilla said nervously.

"This...is good!" She took another one and chew with delight. "Are all salad this good?"

Camilla laughed. "I'm glad you liked it. It's Caesar Salad. It's my favorite too."

"You have to bring me more of this!"

"Only if you are a good girl."

"Deal!" Annie took a forkful of the salad.

-----//-----//-----//-----

"Fuck!" Jake shouted as he found his release.

"Ugh," the girl moaned in exhaustion. "That was...wild."

Jake moved back to remove himself from her and slapped her behind before removing the condom. The girl winced at the sudden sting and dropped stomach flat on his bed.

It was already noon and Jake decided not to go to school. He stayed up late last night, wasted and with a stranger around his arms. He didn't even know this girl's name, but Jake wanted the pleasure before she left.

Once the girl was fully dressed, Jake gave her the money and walked her to the door. "See you around," she told him and he just winked at her.

He was taking a shower when his phone rang. Damn it, he said. Jake turned the shower off, wrapped a towel around his waist, and checked the caller I.D. It was Kevin.

"What's up?" Jake said.

"Dude! Where the hell are you?" Kevin shouted over the phone.

Jake snorted. "Who's looking?"

"I am! Well, me and the guys. But dude, we just learned something today during lunch."

Jake took a seat on his bed. "Hit me."

"Okay, do know the girl that hangs out with Dom's ex?"

"Dom's ex..." Jake thought for a moment. "What about her?"

"Well it turns out she's not as innocent as we thought she was! Jason Green said that they fucked at Bryan's party." Kevin burst out laughing on the other line.

Jake felt heat rose to his head. He gritted his teeth and swallowed hard before responding, "Do you believe him?"

"Does it matter? That gossip is the shit, bro! Who knew she would be a bitch underneath all that simplicity façade she got going on." Kevin laughed again.

"Kevin," Jake growled but Kevin ignored him.

"Besides, you should've seen her face! Her reaction says it all. She ran—"

Jake ended the call before Kevin could finish. His grip tightened around his phone and it might just break if he exerted more pressure.

Pissed, Jake stood up, got dressed, and drove to school with his motorcycle.