Confessions of A Teen Mom

Chapter 8

I'm back in school now from Thanksgiving break. The news has spread around that Ben cheated, and that I'm pregnant. I'm currently in the car with my mom trying to convince her to take me back home. "No Pepper, and that's final. Now get out, you're going to make me late for work." she says. I sigh and get out of the car. I notice some people staring at me and I look away. 

I walk down the hall to my locker cringing as people no doubt whisper about me. Tori pops up beside me nearly giving me a heart attack. "Hey girlie." she pops her bubblegum. "Hey." I say glumly shutting my locker. She frowns, looks around the hall, and then rolls her eyes. "Just ignore them. Who cares what they think." she says. "Easy for you to say. You didn't get cheated on by your boyfriend and then find out you're pregnant with his kid" I say

Tori sighs and loops her arm through mines. "I know I know. But you should still ignore them because it doesn't really matter what they think. Seriously who care what they think of you. Ten years from now you won't even remember half of these losers names'" she says. I snort, "Yeah maybe you're right." I say. "Of course I'm right. I'm always right." "I beg to differ" Gem says walking on the other side of us. 

Tori glares at her, "Shut your pie hole Gem" she says. Gem smirks and keeps walking. "I'd rather not thank you." she says. They start arguing back and forth, I roll my eyes listening to them. Ben walks down the hall and waves when he sees me. I hesitate  a moment before waving back at him. I'm still hurt and a little mad but I'm slowly starting to forgive him. I can tell he's remorseful for what he did. 

I'm not saying we're getting back together anytime soon, but I can recognize that he's sorry and I can try to forgive him. I was raised to be the bigger person and not hold grudges, and I don't plan on holding any grudge against Ben. 

 Later on in second period I hear this girl whispering behind me. "I heard it's not really Ben's and that she's just putting it on him and he's claiming the baby because he feels bad for cheating." "I heard she got pregnant on purpose to try and trap him." the other girl whispers. 

I roll my eyes at their claims. "You shouldn't listen to gossip. Chances are it's all fake" I say the them. The girls flush at being heard and look down at their papers. I shake my head and keep writing down equations. After class ends I head down to the cafeteria. People look up when I walk in. I see some people laughing and whispering while looking at me. 

I look down and start walking. I look up when I sneakers in front of me and see Ben. He smiles and holds out his hand. I stare at his hand for a second before taking it. Ben tugs me over to his table and sits down. "I hope i'm not overstepping but I've been doing a little research.." he slides a tray with fruits and a salad over to me. I smile and sit down, "You're not overstepping. Thank you." I pick up the plum and bite into it.

Ben nods and hands me a water bottle. "So how have you been feeling?" he asks me. I shrug. I still get sick at time. Mom says that won't end anytime soon. And I seem to always be hungry." I answer. Ben nods, "I read that that's natural." he says. "You have been doing research huh?" I grin. Ben blushes a little and nods. "Well yeah. I want to help as much as I can." he says. 

I place my hand on top of his. "Thank you for being here for me. I know we ended on bad terms but... well thank you."I say. Ben nods and turns to me, "Can I just explain what happened?" he asks. "Ben I don-" "Please?" he asks. I sigh and nod. "Go ahead." I say. Ben tells me about his mother's cancer. "Oh my gosh, is she okay?" I ask. Ben nods. "They're doing as much as they can to remove it now." he says. I nod, "I don't understand what this has to do with us though." I say.

Ben continues telling me the events of that day. After he finishes I'm totally shocked. "Wow. I don't even know what to say. Why didn't you just come talk to me you idiot?!" I flick his ear. "Ow!" Ben rubs his ear. "I thought....I wasn't even thinking clearly. I know I should have came and talked to you." he shrugs and looks down at his tray. "I'm sorry about your mom. And I forgive you. I'm not saying we're getting back together but I do forgive you." I say. 

Ben nods and throws his napkin on his tray. "I understand. I just wanted to tell you because you deserve to know." he says. I smile slightly and nod. "Thanks. Well we should get going." I say as the bell rings. Ben stands and grabs my tray. He dumps them and then puts them up. "Me and my mom are going shopping today. She wants to get out of the house and my dad has to work. Do you want to come?" he asks. I nod, "Sure why not. I haven't seen your mom in a while." 

"Okay, do you want to meet us there or do you want us to pick you up?"he asks. "I can meet you guys there. What time?"I ask. "After school"he says. I nod and grab my bag. "Okay I'll see you later then." I walk out of the cafeteria. "So are ya'll back together?" Tori and Gem pop up beside me. I jump and pop their arms. "Stop scaring me like that! No we're not back together, we're just going shopping with his mom." I say. "Why?" Gem asks. 

I pull them into the bathroom and lock the door. I check all the stalls and then turn to them. I start telling them what Ben told me. "His mom really has cancer? That's so sad" Gem says. I nod. "Yeah it is" I say. "I'm gonna find out who that girl was and-" I cut her off. "You're not going to do anything to that girl. Was she wrong for doing what she did? Yes, but violence isn't the answer. What's done is done."I say. 

"How can you be so calm about this?" Gem asks. I shrug and turn to the sink. I splash my face with water and dry it. "I just am. Maybe because it was a while ago so most my anger is gone." I say. "I'd be so mad" Gem says. I shrug again, "That's you though. Not me. I had already partially forgiven him" I say. Tori shakes her head. "You're way too nice." she says. I laugh and reapply my lip balm. "I like being nice. Nice gets you places." I say. "Yeah pregnant" Gem says. 

Gem looks up when she realizes what she said. "Pepper i'm sorry. That's not how I meant it." she says. "Well how did you mean it?" Tori snaps. I grab my bag and walk out. I don't bother going to class but instead head to the library. I sit in the back and start doing my trig homework. 

It's going to be a hard year.