Other Intentions 9

Blair stumbled into the cafeteria of the Eastland School for girls. Her black stiletto heels were broken, and her just-below-the-knee length black dress was torn. Her shoulder was cut, and her wrists were turning purple with fresh bruises. Her once gently curled hair in a tight bun was now haphazardly draped down her shoulders. Her dampened face from the tears was now illuminated in the moonlight from the window, and her lip was plump and cut.

"Mrs. Garrett…" she could barely whisper.

"Mrs. Garrett, please…"

She could barely walk, and she used the chairs and tables to guide her to the kitchen door. She bumped a chair causing it to skid, waking Mrs. Garrett and Jo. Then Blair heard a hurried stomping down the stairs.

A light turned on, and Blair's eyes winced from the sudden illumination of the room. She then saw Jo wielding a Louisville Slugger and Mrs. Garrett following closely behind. Jo gingerly walked into the kitchen while Mrs. Garrett began inspecting the cafeteria for the alleged "intruder." Mrs. Garrett then caught sight of a battered Blair Warner.

"Oh my God, Blair!"

Mrs. Garrett rushed over to Blair and took her in her arms. Blair wrapped her arms around Mrs. Garrett's waist, sobbing into her shoulder.

"Oh sweetie, what happened?" Mrs. Garrett asked.

Blair could barely make out the words as she struggled to make her mumbling audible.

"I-I…need- I need to sit…sit down…"

"Okay, honey…Jo!"

Jo came running out of the kitchen in her blue pinstriped pajamas immediately to Mrs. Garrett and Blair.

"Mrs. G? What happened? Is she okay?"

Blair grabbed Jo's pajama shirt and wrapped her arms around Jo's neck. With a look of panic on her face, Jo then swept up Blair into her arms.

"We need to get her to the couch, Jo. Hurry…"

Jo then carried her over to the living room. Mrs. Garrett began stroking Blair's hair. Jo then laid Blair carefully down on the couch and propped her head up with pillows.

"Jo, get some water and a cold pack, also wake Natalie and Tootie. Tell them to get down here right away."

Jo nodded and then sprang into action.

Mrs. Garrett then sat next to Blair and draped a blanket over Blair. Blair immediately sat up and clung to Mrs. Garrett with every ounce of energy she had. Mrs. Garrett wrapped her arms around Blair and began rocking her and patting her back. Blair sobbed into Mrs. Garrett's shoulder.

"Shhh…Blair, tell me what happened."

Blair shook her head and clung to Mrs. Garrett even harder.

"Oh, Mrs. Garrett… It hurts…h-he…"

Blair then stopped on those words, shaking uncontrollably as sobs wracked her body.

"Blair, what did he do? Was it your date? Was it Chad Broxton?"

Blair nodded.

"Blair what did he do?"

By that time Jo came running in to the living room with a glass of ice water, and a bag of frozen peas, closely followed by Natalie and Tootie. Jo placed the bag of frozen peas and the ice water on the table, and stared at Blair.

"I got the water Mrs. G and we didn't have any ice packs, so I got the peas instead." Jo said breathlessly.

"Good girl, Jo." Mrs. Garrett said.

Tootie and Natalie had terror in their eyes.

"Mrs. Garrett, what happened to her?" Natalie asked.

"I don't know yet Natalie. But I need you girls to help me."

All three nodded; eager to help.

"Natalie, I need you to call an ambulance. Jo I need you to run a get the headmaster, Tootie, stay with Jo until you reach Camden Hall and then get the nurse. You girls got it?"

"Yes Mrs. G." the girls said and ran into action.

Mrs. Garrett then returned her attention back to Blair. Blair was wincing in pain.

"Mrs. Gar-….my legs…"

Mrs. Garrett gently laid Blair back down, and rolled the blanket up to expose Blair's legs. Blair's once perfect, porcelain legs were scratched, and Mrs. Garrett noticed a deep cut on the inside of each of Blair's thighs, which apparently stopped at the hem of Blair's black dress. Mrs. Garrett tried to roll Blair's dress up further, but Blair closed her legs tightly and turned away from Mrs. Garrett, and a new set of tears were flowing down Blair's eyes.

"Oh…no, Blair, did he attack you?"

Blair closed her eyes tightly and but her lip, then nodded.

"Blair, did, Chad…did Chad rape you?"

Blair then began to sob harder and rolled the blanket over her legs. That was all the answer Mrs. Garrett needed. Mrs. Garrett then grabbed the peas and placed it on Blair's lip, tears threatening to spill over the seasoned woman's eyes too.

Jo ran over to the headmaster's office/dorm, and Tootie ran hurriedly down the hall to fetch the nurse. Jo pounded on the door to the headmaster's office. When she heard movement, she immediately stopped pounding. After a few seconds, a light turned on and the headmaster was looming in the doorway.

"Ms. Polniacziek! What on earth are you pounding for? It is almost one in the morning!" the headmaster bellowed.

"I know sir, I'm really sorry to wake you but one of my room mates is seriously hurt." Jo said. Detecting the panic in Jo's voice, the headmaster's expression turned from a state of anger, to a state of panic.

"Hurt? How was she hurt? Is she alright?"

"She's conscious, but she's in a lot of pain. Tootie is going to get the nurse and Natalie is calling the paramedics, Mrs. G is with Blair right now."

"Blair Warner?"

"Yes sir."

"Come on, I'll call her parents after we find out what's going on."

With that, the headmaster shut the door behind him and followed Jo across the courtyard to the cafeteria.

Tootie knocked on the door to the nurse's office. After a few seconds a light turned on.

Thank God for Ms. Thompson, she's a light sleeper. Tootie thought.

Then, a petite, blonde, middle aged woman then loomed in the doorway.

"Tootie? What are you doing here so late?"

"I'm sorry to wake you, Ms. Thompson but a friend of mine is hurt really bad. She's all cut up and shaky."

"I'll grab my kit and we'll be on our way."

Natalie ran in from the kitchen to the living room.

"The paramedics are on their way, Mrs. Garrett."

"Thank you, Natalie." Mrs. Garrett said.

Then Natalie looked down at Blair, whose eyes were teary and wincing in pain. Natalie knelt down next to Blair and placed her hand on Blair's shoulder. Blair opened her eyes and met Natalie's. Then Natalie said in a caring tone,

"Help's on the way Blair. Don't worry…you're gonna be fine."

Blair nodded at Natalie and Natalie smiled at Blair.

Then, Jo came running in with the headmaster trailing closely behind. Natalie took that as her cue, and she got up and stood by the phone, out of the way. The headmaster then took Natalie's position, kneeling beside Blair. Jo then went behind the couch. She bent over and took Blair's hand in hers. Jo interlaced her fingers with Blair's cut and scratched ones, and began stroking the back of Blair's hand with her thumb. Blair turned her head to Jo, and Blair's brown eyes met Jo's green ones. Jo smiled down at Blair, and Blair tearfully tried to smile back.

"Mrs. Garrett, what happened to Ms. Warner?" the headmaster asked.

"She was attacked tonight, Mr. Parker."

Then a look of terror flashed across the headmaster's face.

"Did she give you a name?"

"We know who her date was, but we can't conclusively say if he did it or not."

Then Tootie ran in with the school nurse. The school nurse ran over and laid her kit down on the table. She then turned to Mr. Parker.

"Mr. Parker, I'm going to have to ask you to move."

With that said Mr. Parker rose off his knees and got out of the nurses way. Tootie joined Natalie by the telephone.

The nurse began examining the cuts and bruises on Blair's body. She then said to Mrs. Garrett,

"Edna, I'm going to need some rubbing alcohol."

Mrs. Garrett then got up and ran upstairs to get the rubbing alcohol. Meanwhile, Jo still held fast to Blair's hand, and Blair just held Jo in her gaze. Then Jo mouthed to Blair,

I'm sorry, Princess.

Then Blair shook her head and mouthed,

It's not your fault, Jo.

Natalie heard sirens approaching the school.

"I'll go out and get the 'medics." Natalie said.

"I'll go with her." Tootie said, and they both ran out the door.

The nurse continued to examine Blair, and then the nurse noticed the blood starting to seep through the lower half of Blair's blanket. The nurse then rolled up the blanket to reveal the cuts, bruises and scrapes across Blair's legs.

"Blair, how did these cut's get here?"

Blair shook her head intent no to answer.

"Mr. Parker, please leave the room, and make sure no one comes in until I say so."

"Alright, Joanne, what about Ms. Polniacziek?"

Blair's grip on Jo's hand grew tighter. Blair tried to speak.

"Please…Jo stays…"

Jo nodded at Mr. Parker and the nurse, and Mr. Parker left the room.

"Now Blair, I need to prop your legs open so I can see the extent of your injuries, okay?"

Blair shook her head,

"Please, no….don't…"

Jo then released Blair's hand and walked over the other side of the couch and knelt beside Blair.

"Blair, please, it's for your own good. I want to make sure you're okay. Let her check you out, okay?"

Blair nodded tearfully, and opened her legs slowly.

"Just keep your eyes on me Princess, okay?" Jo said to Blair.

Blair kept her gaze on Jo, who smiled gently at her.

The nurse then propped Blair's legs up with pillows and began her examination. Blair didn't have any underwear on, but there was a line worn in at her stomach where the underwear would've been.

Blair had tears running down her face as the nurse probed and prodded. Jo watched as Blair's expression went from nervous to pained, to saddened, back to pained again. This tore at the insides of Jo. She wanted to find the bastard that did this to her Princess, and NOW.

Blair's grip on Jo tightened and Blair arched her back in pain, and Blair began to sob again.

"Please…it hurts, stop…" Blair pleaded.

The nurse followed Blair's wishes and laid her legs back down. Then nurse then rolled the blanket back over Blair's now ice cold legs, and went to Mr. Parker, giving Blair and Jo a moment alone.

"Blair, I'm so sorry this happened. Why did you even go with him to that place at all?"

"He…was a fa-family friend. My mo-" Then Blair choked on her words.

"It's okay Princess, just lay back."

Blair laid back down; she took Jo's hand in hers and then brushed her cheek with Jo's hand. Jo felt the tears from Blair's eyes on her hand, and wanted to cry too.

"J-Jo, please…kiss me, before I go...on the ambulance."

Jo smiled and then gently placed a kiss on Blair's tender and sore lips. Jo drew back and watched as Blair's eyes filled again with tears.

"It hurts Jo…ev-everything…hurts."

"I know, shhh…you'll be better soon."

Then Mrs. Garrett, Mr. Parker, and the paramedics came into the living room. The paramedic wheeled a stretcher over parallel to the couch as Jo got out of the way. The paramedics carefully lifted Blair off the couch and gently laid her down on the stretcher. The medics then hoisted her up, the wheels locked upright, and they began wheeling her out of the room. Blair noticed Jo standing next to Tootie and Natalie with tears flowing down her cheeks, along with Natalie and Tootie. Blair blew a kiss to Jo, and Jo smiled back.

Three days had passed since Blair had gotten home from the hospital. The girls and Mrs. Garrett were glad to have her back, but worried, due to the fact that she wasn't acting like the Blair Warner they knew.

It was three thirty in the morning, and Blair was now sipping down her third cup of cocoa. Mrs. Garrett heard the sound of something being poured and came down stairs to see who it was.

"Blair, shouldn't you be asleep?"

"Sleep is a foreign entity to me nowadays, Mrs. Garrett."

"Have you really talked about what happened yet?"

Blair shook her head.

"I want to…no one knows what happened except me and Chad, wherever the hell he is."

"They'll find him Blair. What he did to you was simply…inexcusable."

"I know they'll find him…"

Blair took another sip of cocoa.

"It was a casual date. We were walking and talking; he seemed like a nice boy. But then h-he pulled me into the alley and started kissing me everywhere…it didn't feel "right" Mrs. Garrett."

Mrs. Garrett was aware of the situation between Blair and Jo and nodded in assurance. She meant wasn't "right" as in it wasn't "Jo." Blair then continued.

"Then he grabbed me by my wrists and dragged me to the ground…"

Blair swallowed back her tears,

"…and the next thing I knew he was on top of me! I tried to scream b-but it only seemed to make it worse!"

Mrs. Garrett moved beside the now sobbing Blair and put an arm around her shoulders, because Mrs. Garrett, the seasoned veteran of the world she was, was also on the verge of crying.

"Then he…h-he reached under my dress and he pulled my underwear down and…he pushed himself into me! It burned, so much Mrs. Garrett! All I wanted to do was go home!"

Mrs. Garrett then pulled Blair into her arms and began rocking her gently. Then Blair regained her thoughts.

"I still ache everywhere, and this whole throwing up bit is getting very old, very fast."

"These things take time Blair."

"But throwing up all the time isn't a side affect of rape, is it?"

"Not as far as I know, then again, I know very little about this."

"I'm only eighteen Mrs. Garrett. Eighteen, and that, slime ball took away one thing that I'll never get back, and it hurts. I was waiting until I was married, like a genuine woman would. But now I'm just dirt."

Tears were falling onto the table from Blair's deep brown eyes. Mrs. Garrett then reached across the table, and said,

"That man may have taken away the most valuable thing you had, and you can't get it back, but that doesn't make you dirty, Blair."

"Mrs. G, it has been almost three weeks since she was attacked and she is still throwing up…I don't get it. Shouldn't the sickness kind of, um leave, by now?" Jo asked Mrs. Garrett.

"Relax, Jo. Blair and I just went back to the doctor's office yesterday and had some more tests run. She'll be fine, I'm sure it's just stress."

Meanwhile in the living room, Tootie and Natalie were sitting on the new couch and Blair was studying in the cafeteria.

Then the phone rang. Tootie answered it.

"Hello Eastland Cafeteria?"

"Oh Blair Warner, sure. Blair! Telephone!"

Blair begrudgingly got up from her chair and walked over to the phone.

"Hello?"

Natalie and Tootie were intently listening in.

"Yes…"

The smile Blair had on her face all of the sudden fell into a look of fear.

"Oh my…yes, I understand."

Natalie and Tootie noticed that Blair's voice was beginning to shake.

"What options do I have?...I see. Yes, thank you, Doctor."

Blair slowly hung up the phone. Blair's face went pale, and her body seemed to stiffen. Natalie quickly rushed to her side and put an arm around her shoulder to stabilize her.

"Blair? What did he say?"

"…g-go get Mrs. Garrett." Blair ordered.

"Tootie go!" Natalie yelled.

Tootie quickly ran into the kitchen and came back with Mrs. Garrett and Jo.

"Blair, what's wrong?" Mrs. Garrett asked as she took Blair by the shoulders to steady her.

Blair just stared into space.

"Blair, Mrs. G asked you a question." Jo said panicked.

"I'm p-…" Blair stammered.

"You're what Blair?"

"Mrs. Garrett…"

"For love of goodness, what is it, Blair?"

"….I'm pregnant…" Blair yelled as she fell into Mrs. Garrett's arms sobbing.

Natalie, Tootie, and Jo all exchanged worried glances as Mrs. Garrett rocked Blair back and forth, while rubbing her back.

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

Jo sat on the edge of her bed staring out the window in frustration. Jo was taking in the silver slice of moonlight draping across the courtyard, which contrasted the darkness. She listened to Natalie and Tootie inhale and exhale in their sleep, and she began thinking.

Blair is pregnant…pregnant. Blair. Baby…

Jo shook her head in saddened disbelief. Then she heard footsteps coming up the hall and Jo quickly crawled under the covers and squeezed her eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep. As the footsteps got closer, Jo noticed that there were actually two distinct sets of footsteps. Then, there were shadows beneath the door. The door opened…

Mrs. Garrett and Blair were in the doorway. Blair walked over to her bed and nestled under the pink covers. Mrs. Garrett walked over to Blair, and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then she whispered,

"It's not over yet Blair. You'll get through this, dear. I promise."

But Blair just turned over towards the wall and said,

"I need all the help I can get, Mrs. Garrett. I'm just so…"

Blair paused as she searched for the word. Then Mrs. Garrett broke the silence.

"Scared?"

Then Blair quickly sat up and turned to face Mrs. Garrett.

"I'm terrified Mrs. Garrett…absolutely terrified."

Then tears began to glisten in the night on her face. Mrs. Garrett guided her back down to the softness of the pillow.

"I know you're scared Blair. You just have to trust that we are going to help you, and that you have the strength to get through this."

Blair nodded, and nestled her head in the pillow. Mrs. Garrett laid another soft kiss upon Blair's forehead, and quietly walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Blair turned over and faced the wall again, attempting to fall asleep. Less than a few feet away, Jo was facing the opposite way, tears flowing across the bridge of her nose onto her pillow.

Jo's eyes fluttered open in the night. Jo rubbed her eyes, and rolled over to see Blair. Jo stared at her for a moment. Blair's back was facing Jo, and Blair's back was shaking, and Jo heard the muffled sobs Blair was crying into her pillow. Jo threw the covers off, and crawled out of bed.

Jo walked over to Blair and laid a hand on her shoulder. Jo knelt next to Blair, and wrapped her arm around Blair's stomach. Then Jo placed a small kiss on Blair's head. With her free hand, Jo then began stroking Blair's hair. Blair's hand then met Jo's and they rested comfortably on Blair's stomach. Jo then removed her hand from Blair's grasp, stood up and then lifted Blair's covers. Jo then climbed into bed next to Blair. She sat up and pulled Blair into her arms. Blair cuddled closer and nuzzled her head under Jo's chin. Blair then interlaced her fingers and Jo's and pulled their hands to rest on her cheek. Jo could feel Blair's hot tears flowing down her fingers.

Blair then felt something at her feet. Natalie climbed into bed with Jo and Blair, and wrapped her arm around Blair's stomach and lay parallel to Blair facing her. Blair was overcome with a mix of emotions and began sobbing even harder. Then Tootie came over and closed the space between Blair and Natalie, and cuddled between the two. Blair laid her hand to rest across Natalie and Tootie's shoulders, letting them know how grateful she was that the three of them were there. Then three cuddled closer, comforting Blair. Then sleep began to take over their eyelids.

Mrs. Garrett, unblessed this night by sleep, too worried about Blair, walked across the hall to check on the girls. She slowly and quietly opened the door, and the sight she saw overtook her; her four girls, cuddled together, sleeping peacefully. Maybe things will work out after all…

Blair was the first of the girls to wake up that morning, due to a sudden pang of illness. She ran to the bathroom, and heaved the remains in her stomach into porcelain of the toilet bowl. After the illness subsided, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve and headed downstairs. When she got downstairs to the cafeteria, she saw Mrs. Garrett sitting at a table reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. Mrs. Garrett felt a presence in the room, and looked up from her newspaper and noticed Blair.

"Oh Blair, I'm sorry I didn't see you…."

Mrs. Garrett pulled out the seat next to her,

"Have a seat, dear."

Blair walked over and took the seat next to Mrs. Garrett. Mrs. Garrett placed her newspaper down on the table and ran her hand over the folds.

"Blair, have you made a decision?"

Blair stared down at the table.

"Mrs. Garrett, I think, I'm going to..."

A look of apprehension was on Mrs. Garrett's face. Blair's gaze remained on the small spot on the table. Blair inhaled deeply,

"I've decided that, I'm going to h-have…"

Blair paused and she looked Mrs. Garrett in the eyes.

"I'm going to have the baby, Mrs. Garrett."

Then a smile grew across Blair's face. The smile was contagious, for soon Mrs. Garrett had a grin on her face too.

"Do you think I'm making the right decision?"

"Blair, that's your decision and yours alone, but I have to admit…"

Blair's smile melted away at the sudden note of apprehension.

"What, Mrs. Garrett?"

"…I have never been more proud of you than I am at this moment."

Blair's smile returned and the two shared a hug. Mrs. Garrett then released Blair.

"You have to tell your mother, Blair. And we need to tell the headmaster."

Blair nodded and scooted back from the table. Then she got up and went to the phone.

Blair dialed the numbers slowly, then put the phone to her ear. Blair bit her lip in nervousness, since she had no idea how her mother would react. Mrs. Garrett listened in from the other room.

"Hi Anita, is my mother there?...Thank you."

Blair nervously tapped the phone box with her finger nails.

"Hello, mother. Yes I'm okay, I'm feeling fine…"

Mrs. Garrett listened intently as Blair spoke.

"Yes, mother listen, there's something very important I need to discuss with you…"

Jo then came down the stairs.

"Mornin' Mrs. G."

Mrs. Garrett motioned for Jo to shush since Blair was on the phone. Jo then quietly sat next to Mrs. Garrett.

"No mother, this can't wait…yes, I know it's a Saturday…I know you have plans but please, just listen for a few minutes…Thank you. Mother, I have some news to tell you…you'll have to be the judge of whether it's good or bad…"

Jo waited nervously as Blair broke the news. Telling her mother that she and Blair were together was hard enough on Blair, but this?

"…are you ready? Okay…mother, I'm pregnant…mother, are you there?"

Those last words made Jo and Mrs. Garrett's hearts sink.

"…What? No I'm not terminating the pregnancy! This is my choice, mother! This baby deserves a chance!"

Jo hurriedly got up from her seat and rushed over to Blair, placing her hands on Blair's shoulders. Blair's voice began to crack,

"Mother, I need your help with this…I'm your daughter!...This wasn't my fault! Don't say that!...Mother…Mother?"

Bottom lip quivering, Blair hung up the phone. Jo began massaging Blair's shoulders and whispered in her ear,

"It's gonna be fine, Princess. I promise."

Blair merely stood there shaking her head.

"No it's not. My own mother doesn't want me having this baby…"

"Blair, this is your decision, and no one else's."

"I'm making a mistake…aren't I? Who am I kidding? My baby is the bastard child of a eighteen year old heiress and a Bates academy rapist!"

Blair began sobbing and brought her hands up to her face. Jo gently turned Blair around to face her, and pulled her into her arms.

Mrs. Garrett and Blair were sitting at a table in the cafeteria of the Eastland school. Blair's deep brown eyes were focused on her neatly folded hands. Mrs. Garrett laid her hand on Blair's forearm,

"Blair, it's going to be alright. Mr. Parker tends to be reasonable in these rougher situations; you'll see."

"Mrs. Garrett, this is bigger than I ever imagined it would be. I just hope that Mr. Parker is more accepting of this, than my mother was.