Betty's pov
Monday came quickly. I didn't feel at all prepared to tell anyone. Was it really their business? I ask myself doubtfully as I get ready. I mean, yeah, I am their teacher, but I'm due in May. We get out in early June. And eventually, they'll all pick up on it, because soon enough it'll be obvious. And a majority had already picked up on it, for example Lynlie, Sawyer, and Kasyn were the most obvious about it. But I could tell others knew. I could feel all the stares on my stomach all day.
Then I started thinking about how fun it was to make the students guess. Maybe I wouldn't tell them today. Maybe I'd wait, wait until it was obvious and not say anything. And wear clothes that covered it with just the smallest bump visible, to leave them questioning.
That day, I taught as normal. I could see JB looking at me expectantly all class. "Okay, class dismissed," I said, and turned around to erase the board. When I turned back around, JB was standing right there.
"Why didn't you tell us? It's Monday," she asks quietly.
"I wanna keep it a game. It'll be more entertaining that way," I say slyly.
"Oh my god," JB rolls her eyes, and I smirk. She looks like she wants to say more, but instead just stares at me to talk.
"I'm gonna make them think they're seeing stuff. Like, wear clothes that still make it look barely there," I explain.
So I wore flowy dresses or loose sweaters. When something didn't hide the bump as well as I wanted, I would put a thick sweater over that buttoned right over my stomach, which covered the bump.
The next week, though, I started showing even more. I tried wearing the thick sweater, but even then my stomach poked out. It would have to work, I guess. Wednesday I wore a long, black dress that had flowers embroidered on the collar and tassels that fell down over my stomach. The waistband was right above my bump, and it fit comfortably and perfectly accentuated where the baby sat in my stomach. The next day, I wore a pair of jeggings that were recently getting a lot of use with a shirt over and that same black sweater buttoned just above the bump. Friday, the jeggings again with a gray sweater that hugged the bump despite the fact that it was supposed to be loose.
Jughead and I sit in my classroom eating lunch, quietly enjoying each other's company. "We find out the gender tomorrow," I remind him happily.
"I know," he smiles back. "I'm so excited." He stands up, as do I, and we kiss, hands on each other's bodies.
Then the door opens quickly and suddenly. We pull away, but not fast enough. The five teenagers standing at the door all saw.
I open my mouth and close it again quickly. "Uh, hi, guys, what's up?" I ask, running my hand through my hair.
"We just wanted to say hi," Lynlie smiles, and makes her way into the classroom, looking around at everything as if she's searching for something.
"Mm. Where are you supposed to be right now?" Jug asks, raising his eyebrows.
"Lunch. But we all finished," Kasyn says, eyeing the half eaten container of pasta sitting on my desk.
"So, how're you two doing?" Sawyer questions, also scanning the room. JB and Alex are the only two remaining at the door.
"We're good," I reply. "Whatever you guys are looking for, it'll be easier if you just ask."
Kasyn pulls her hand away from yhe bookshelf, looking guilty.
"We were wondering if you wanted to play truth or truth," Lynlie asks, sliding into one of the desks.
"It's like truth or dare except with only truth," Sawyer explains.
I feel sick suddenly, but swallow the feeling and try not to show it. "I think that's a little inappropriate to play with teachers," Jug says,
"We'll use a pen, so we can't target you," Kasyn says, pulling a green pen out of her pocket.
I eye Jughead. "What do I have to lose?" I whisper, and then look at Lynlie. "Where are we sitting?" I ask.
She sits on the ground and we all form a circle, JB and Alex sitting in between Jug and I. "JB, you start," Lynlie says, and hands the pen to JB. She carefully sets it down and flashes me an "I'm sorry" look before spinning the pen. It lands on Kasyn.
"Okay, Kasyn," JB sighs. "Uhm," she drags out, biting her lip and thinking about what to ask. "I know you too well to ask you anything," she laughs nervously.
"Just do a would you rather," Sawyer suggests.
"Okay, would you rather... have to live in the world's hottest desert or the coldest place in the world in what you're wearing right now?" JB asks.
Kasyn looks down at her light jacket and high waisted jeans, thinking it over. "Mm, probably the desert. I'd die of hypothermia in this," she laughs.
"Okay, your turn," JB says, and hands Kasyn the pen. She spins it, and it lands on Sawyer. I can see Lynlie's disappointment.
"Okay, Sawyer. Uh... oh, they asked this in a show I was watching last weekend. Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?" She asks him.
Sawyer's fave gets red. "No," he coughs.
"Oh my god, he has!" Lynlie cries, suddenly interested in the game. "Who is it?" She pries.
"No one, because I haven't," Sawyer lies.
"Come on Sawyer, just tell us!" Kasyn begs.
"I can't," he whispers, looking Alex in the eye, and Alex looks at me, then quickly looks away when he realizes I see him. 'Oh my god' I think. It's me.
"Ugh, come on," Lynlie whines, dragging out the 'n'.
"No," Alex says defiantly.
"You guys are no fun," Lynlie sighs. "Sawyer, your turn".
Sawyer spins the pen, and it lands on Lynlie. "Lynlie," Sawyer smiles evilly. "Lynlie, who do you have a crush on?" He asks.
"Hey, you didn't answer your crush question, why do I have to answer one?" Lynlie asks.
"My question was not who, it was if" Sawyer calmly responds.
"I'm not telling you," Lynlie responds confidently.
"Then you don't get a turn" Sawyer responds, holding the pen out of her reach.
"Fine. I'll give you the first initial," Lynlie gives in.
"Good" Sawyer smiles.
"K" Lynlie says. There are a lot of boys in the grade whose names start with K. Kade, Kohen, Karson, Kayden, Kingston, Knox, and Kyler were just a few. Lynlie grabs the pen out of Sawyer's hands and spins it before anyone can say anything else.
It lands perfectly on me. "Miss Cooper," Lynlie smiles pleasantly. "So many options..." she quietly says.
"Okay, I know you're all here just to interrogate Jughead and I, so just go ahead and ask away," I say.
"What?" Jug asks, but I ignore him.
"Okay, let's see, where do I start?" Lynlie opens the notebook she was holding and flips a few pages in. "Are either of you in relationships?" She starts.
"Uh, yeah, I'm married," I reply.
"Me too," Jug says, looking unsurely at me.
"Really? JB said you weren't married" Kasyn turns to JB. "Were you lying, or is Mr Jones lying?"
JB doesn't answer.
"Continue, Lynlie," I say.
"Okay..." she says, looking at JB. "Do either of you want kids really soon, like within the next year?" She asks.
"I'd be fine with it," Jug says, glancing at my belly.
"Same here," I agree.
"Mm-hm. Why were you guys kissing when we walked in?" Sawyer asks us.
"We weren't aware you guys would walk in," Jughead answers without missing a beat.
"Well, yeah, but why? You guys just said you're both..." Lynlie trails off, realization hitting her face. "Oh my god, are you married to each other?!" She asks.
I eye Jughead, wondering what to tell them. He shrugs, unsure, and the teenagers catch it. "They're married to each other!" Kasyn cries.
"JB, why didn't you tell us?" Sawyer asks.
"They told me not to," JB whispers.
"What else are you not telling us, because clearly you know them?" Lynlie says to JB, suddenly mad. JB looks at me, her eyes big and sad.
"I'll tell them. Everything," I say, taking a deep breath.
"Wha- are you insane?" Jughead asks me, loudly.
I ignore him. "You guys cannot tell anyone. No one, I mean it. And don't be mad at JB, we told her not to tell anyone, so it's not her fault," I tell them.
Lynlie slowly nods, Kasyn and Sawyer staying completely still. "Okay. When I was seventeen, I got pregnant. My boyfriend broke up with me and my mom made me go to tutoring. Jughead was my tutor, and eventually I told him I was pregnant. We got together, and a few months later I had the baby. Julianne Marie. Biologically, she's not Jughead's, but he's raised her, her blood father hasn't even seen her," I explain to them. "So, we got married a few months after Juju was born, bought a house and all. Then... the day before this school year started, I found out I was pregnant. A lot... happened that week," I think back to all of the emotions I had that week, the fear, hurt, and excitement all mixed together and making me almost numb.
"We know," Kasyn breathes.
"Well, that next weekend I told Jughead. And... then my mom and his dad. Then JB... and Alex," I say.
"Wait, Alex, you knew about this?" Sawyer asks in confusion.
"M... maybe," Alex sheepishly responds.
"Oh my god, I can't believe you didn't tell us!" Lynlie shouts. "Wait, did you know she was pregnant when we were all theorizing about it?" She asks suddenly.
"Little bit," JB says, squinting.
"Well, at least we were right," Kasyn shrugs.
"Yeah, that's a plus," Sawyer agrees.
"So when are you due? Do you know the gender? Name ideas?" Lynlie asks Jughead and I.
I laugh before responding. "I'm due May 15. We find out the gender tomorrow, then in two weeks we leave for Hawaii for my brother's wedding. Jug and JB are coming also, to Hawaii. And Jug will be at the ultrasound, obviously," I tell them.
"Okay, you have to send us pictures!" Kasyn says.
"I will," JB laughs.
"JB, wanna tell them about the name?" Jug asks her.
JB looks up at Alex, then nods. "Um, so we get to name the baby," she says nervously.
"Oh my god what?!" Lynlie cries, jumping up and down. "Name her after me!"
"We don't know if it's a girl," Jug quickly inputs, making me laugh.
"JB, what're your name ideas?" Sawyer asks her.
"Uh, I don't know, I need to look at more before I decide on anything. Plus I need to know the gender," JB answers.
I hear the bell ring, signaling class. "You five better go before you're late" Jug says.
"I have you next, though. I was with you, you won't count me late," Kasyn says to Jughead.
"You don't know what I will and will not do," Jug raises his eyebrows, and all five teenagers scamper out of the room.