Chapter 10: The Third Person

(Fulton)

"So…" breathes Dwayne as we wander back to my dorm room after a healthy breakfast (meaning everything I could reach that was covered in syrup in my case) "Where did you get to last night? I thought you'd come back…and when you didn't…"

"Yeah" I grinned, "you thought I'd be lying in wait to kill you." He nods. I just punch him lightly on the arm. "Nah I just went back to our dorm room and stayed there."

"Oh." He looks a little put out. Hmm…strange…"Only…That room mate of Linda's, the one I go riding with, she said Linda stayed in our room with you last night." His voice is quiet, tentative. Ahh….he's verging on jealous? Perhaps not. Just cautious I suppose.

"Ah" I sigh, sticking my hands in my pockets, "yeah she was in our room last night. But before you say anything, nothing happened. She needed a friend, and I happened to turn up."

"But she's got plenty of friends she knows a lot better, why you?" He sounds almost petulant. I fight a snort of laughter.

"Well…it was Charlie again." Dwayne tenses; I can see it from the corner of my eye. He's really wound up about this.

"Has he…hurt her again?"

"…You could say that yes." I sigh and pause, wondering if I should tell him what's going on. But then, of course I should. It's Dwayne. We're all in this together; him, me and Linda. "He…he attacked her again and now…now she's pregnant. She doesn't know what to do. She was scared and upset last night so I took her back to our room to calm her down and talk to her. We just fell asleep in the end."

A very long silence.

Then: "He got her pregnant?" His voice is so quiet, a dangerous edge to it. I nod slowly. "What's she gonna do about it?"

"I honestly don't know. We didn't talk about the options much, just that she'd have to tell her parents. She doesn't really know how they'll take it. She's really scared Dwayne."

We reach our room and he heads straight in, flopping down to sit on his bed, his head in his hands.

"He's messed up so many lives Fulton." He mutters. "And now he's ruining hers too. It's got to stop."

"I know man, I know. But what can we do? We can't prove that he's done anything, and Linda doesn't have much of a case against him, they're only dating, not married or anything. He could get an assault charge but that's it. Nothing that would put him away, or keep him out of our lives. Maybe…we just need to wait. It's hard I know but it could be for the best."

"…I guess." He looks so defeated, his shoulders slumped, and his head bowed…a broken man. I'm about to reach out and say something to him when there's a timid knock on our door. Frowning I stride over and pull it open expecting to send the intruder packing when I recognise a familiar scent of vanilla and see Linda standing there, her face once more tear-stained and distraught. Immediately I'm pulling her into the room, into my arms, comforting her and letting her sobs take over, letting her get rid of her anguish before making her talk.

"Linda…what's happened now? What's wrong?"

Between sobs she manages to tell me that she phoned her parents. I'm guessing the outcome wasn't good.

"They…they said they don't w-want me to go b-back" she sniffles "they said either to get r-rid of it or I won't have a h-home…but either way I can't go home n-now! Not after this! They w-wouldn't take me back."

I fail to see how any parent could be so cold to their own child…but then her parents have a very good place in society, with the members of the school board, members of the court and government…I suppose they see Linda as a disgrace, something to be hidden and hushed up.

How very old-fashioned. And cruel.

"You…don't have a home?" Dwayne has come to stand beside me, looking at Linda with pity and sadness. She shakes her head.

"Doesn't look like it." She mumbles, wiping a sleeve across her eyes. Her eyes are shimmering again, swimming with tears. All I can do is hug her tight. There's nothing I can say. I don't have the same verbal proficiency as most guys. There's so much I want to say. So much I could say. If I could make my mouth synchronise with my brain. Stupid brain.

"What are you going to do about…the baby?" Linda glances at Dwayne then at me. I refrain from my brain-bashing long enough to be afraid that she's mad at me for telling Dwayne about that. But then she gives me a look that says it's alright. That I did the right thing. She shrugs.

"I honestly don't know. I mean…it's there because of rape…there because Charlie was vindictive and cruel and heartless…but it's also part of me." She looks down and raises a hand protectively to her abdomen, a strange look on her face. "I mean…I don't know who or what it'll be unless I give it a chance right? Everyone deserves a chance. It could be my last link to my family…could look like my brother, or my aunt…there's so much it could be, other than the child of a murderer…"

I've never heard a speech like that before. I honestly didn't think she'd want anything left of Charlie, especially not his baby. But Linda's always surprised me. I don't know why I should be staggered by her words now.

"So…you're going to keep your baby?" My words touch a nerve.

(Linda)

It was that word. Your. Because it is. It's my baby. Mine. I can't fight the swell of emotions that stir in my stomach. It's something of me, something to love, something that tells me I'm not alone in the world anymore, no matter what anyone does to me. Because now I have someone to love and cherish, someone to think about, to live for. I stroke my stomach reflectively and smile. "Yes. I'm going to keep it. I'm going to do my damn best for it as well." Fulton smiles, blue eyes shining. He looks nothing short of proud. I grin and prod him. "And you can be honorary daddy." Ha! That wipes some of the smile off his face, but only for a second or two. It's Dwayne however who finds the problem.

"Linda…how are you going to keep it? If you can't go home…you can't stay at Eden Hall till the…the birth…and after that you'll need a home, somewhere to stay, a nursery, baby stuff…I don't want to put a downer on this but you've gotta think…"

Oh no…I really hadn't thought…what will I do? I can't get rid of my baby, not now, not ever! But…what other choice do I have? Social Services would take my child away…with nowhere to live, no job, no money…

"I…er…have to go for a minute." Murmurs Fulton, releasing me from his binding hug and almost running from the room.

What's got into him? Did I scare him with all this baby talk? Have I frightened off one of the only friends I have? I sigh unhappily. Dwayne puts an arm around my shoulders.

"Hey…I'm sorry Linda. I didn't mean to…y'know, screw up your plans or anything…"

"I know Dwayne…you didn't really, I just wasn't thinking. I mean…how could I take care of it? You're right you know. It'd be best if I…" I can't say it. I can't voice the thought that I may have to kill my own baby…"I don't want it to hear me Dwayne" I whisper "is that stupid?"

His eyes gleam and he blinks quickly, forcing a wavering smile forward. "No" he mutters in a choked voice "it's not stupid at all. It's the smartest thing I've heard in a long time." And he leans his head against mine, both of us waiting for Fulton to return.

(Fulton)

"Yeah…ok…uh huh…that's awesome! Oh my gosh, thanks so much mom! Oh you're a star! Ok mom, I'll talk to you soon…yeah…uh huh…love you too mom, bye!"

Grinning I replace the phone receiver in its cradle on the hall wall, a lot happier than when I left my room. I practically dance all the way back. Linda's going to flip when she hears what I've got to tell her!