Rising Star: Book 3 of The Orion Series

Continued Mistakes

**TRIGGER WARNING** Discussion of abortion and depiction of alcoholism.

I won't push my plight on you

The tide is low along with my conscience

Spread this hope, lay low for awhile

Where is my mother to hold me?

I've fallen down with the day

Seeking advice in your sweet arms

No longer can I stand

Your pale arms wrapped around me

Holding me down in this watery grave

Beautiful brown hair now wisps of green

Floating, extending, yearning

To see the light of day

My water-logged doll

My salt of the earth

What have I done to you my dearest?

My legs were faltering

You should have let me down gently

Into this lush honeyed abyss

Instead of trying to put out my fire

Let me burn, just turn to ash

You've been here too long I fear

Run away with the first chance you get

--The song Flaming Legs, lyrics by Orion Bauwens

I end up not enjoying my break at all. My only reprieve is Christmas itself. But the next day my first thought is, one of my best friends might've accidentally knocked up my other best friend, and what the fuck would they do then?

Matters are made worse by not hearing from Orion. I told him to reach out to me if he needs anything, but it's radio silence. When I go to sleep at night I can't help but stare out my window at Stacy's. Our bedrooms face each other. When we were little, we used to have a mail basket hooked up between the two windows on a pulley system. I picture her pig-tailed young face smiling at me, giggling as we sent each other weirder and weirder things in the basket.

And now that same girl who sent me a live frog in the basket once might be pregnant. She might be a mom. Or she might get an abortion. It was too much for me, so I could only imagine what they were going through.

"Hey," I tell Orion the first day we're back, setting my lunch tray down.

He looks up at me. He then flicks his eyes back down. "Hey."

"No lunch?"

"Not hungry."

I look around in paranoia, and then lean in. "So?"

He sighs and sits up, stretching. He then goes back to slouching. He furtively glances around before answering. "She took some tests and they came back negative."

"That's wonderful!"

"She still hasn't gotten her period..."

"Er--you guys use protection?"

"Of course we do!" he snaps at me.

"Well I didn't know! Damn, dude..."

"Sorry."