I fold up the paper and shove it in my backpack. My eyes widen and I get up, and grab a hall pass off the wall. As soon as I'm in a bathroom stall, up goes my breakfast. Fabulous.
When I go back to the classroom, there's a mint on my desk. I flinch. And so it begins
Lunch
I find Paul and sit down next to him silently. "Hey Esmie." He says, smiling down at me. "Hi Paul." I say quietly. He hands me a piece of paper, "Happy birthday." "Thanks." I say, smiling slightly.
I will be completely content with a box of candy for my birthday.
~Esmerelda Valdez
My smile disappears. I said that maybe thirty minutes after we had sex. I was gonna tell him now, but I think I'll wait. Yes, I'm being very chicken.
He sits a huge gift box in from of me with an emerald bow. Wen I open it, I see my favorite candies. Tons of it. Starbursts, Skittles, Jolly Ranchers, boxes of Mike and Ike's, bags of gummy things, and candy bars. I force the smile back on my face, "Thanks Paul." He grins and kisses me sweetly on the lips. "Pleeeeeeaaaaaasssssseeeeee stop! Spare my eyes!" Jared whines. "Love you, Esmie." "Love you too, Paul."
Next Period.
Paul and I met at a party. He was wasted and I had found out that beer made me sick. And I'm glad about that because it was disgusting. He was flirting and I was ignoring him. He persisted the whole party and somehow got my phone number out of one of my friends. He persistently flirted and talked to me for the next week or so, until I answered one of his phone calls. He was actually really sweet. He is really sweet. Yes, a lot of people warned me, "He's a man whore." They said, "He only wants you for sex." They said. But I gave him a chance and we gradually formed a relationship built on love, not sex.
I start to feel sick again, and get up and go to the front of the classroom. The teacher looks at me over her glasses. I didn't really realize she was teaching. "Can I go to the bathroom?" I murmur. "Right now?" I nod, "Right now." She sighs, then signs my passbook and I quickly leave the classroom. I go to the bathroom, and yep, up goes my damn lunch. Okay, so no more pop tarts and pizza. I get it.
When I come out of the stall, I pop a Jolly Rancher in my mouth. Maybe it'll make my breath smell like blue raspberry. It better.
I've been told I'm pretty. But I'm not really sure. I'm Hispanic and I have large brown eyes, short eyelashes, a long nose and pink lips. My black hair goes to my elbows, and it won't curl for anything; all I can get are weak waves. I have dark green, purple, and blue highlights and an asymmetrical bang that covers my left eye. Ear piercings. Helix, forward Helix, industrial, rook, daith, you name it, I got it. Just not gages. I have six eyebrow piercings and two nose piercings. Leah talked me out of a tongue piercing. There's a jade green dragon tattoo on my arm, and the mouth opens above the palm of my hand. On the palm, there's flames.
I'm an A student, and I've been called a teachers pet. The teachers say I have potential for a scholarship. Through basketball and academics. My chances are temporarily gone for basketball, but what about academics? Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm stupid or insignificant.
When I come out of the bathroom, the bell rings. I sigh and go get my backpack. People shoulder me, and step on my feet, yeah, I know, I'm going in the opposite direction of everybody else. Eighth period is gym. For everyone.
After I retrieve my bag, I walk to the gym slowly. I knock on the coach's office door and she looks up, "Come on in, Esmerelda." I come in and close the door behind me. "Um I can't do gym, I've been sick and throwing up all day, I just don't feel good." I ramble; I refuse to say morning sickness. She looks concerned for a moment, then says, "Alright, sit out." "Thanks." I murmur and leave the room. I sit on the bleachers and look around the gym, bored.
Leah and Paul come towards me from different sides of the gym, and when they see each other, they scowl. Leah gets there first. "Hey, Ez, did you tell him yet?" I shake my head no. "Tell me what?" Paul asks. "Nothing asshole." Leah mutters, rolling her eyes. "Hey!" Paul says through gritted teeth. "I have a really bad headache." I whisper. They close their mouths and glance at me, then each other. "Sorry." They say simultaneously, then glare at each other. "Hey, Leah!" Someone yells. Leah glances over her shoulder, then turns back towards me. "I'll talk to you after class, alright?" I nod, and she jogs off. Paul sits down next to me, "So I'm gonna take you to your favorite place after school." He says. I cock my eyebrow. "I'm gonna take you for frozen yogurt." He says. "Cool." I murmur. "You alright?" He whispers. I nod, "I'm fine, Paul." He takes my chin gently in his hands and turns my face towards him. "I'll tell you later, alright?" I say, avoiding his eyes. He smiles, "Alright, don't eat the whole box during gym."
