Author Note – Oh my god! I am so sorry about the long wait. I have been sick, doing school projects, and studying for end of the year tests. I promise to have one up soon. I do have good news though, and I did not save a bunch of money, by switching to geico, lol. The end of the school year is coming up, and I will have more time to write the story, how great is that! Also, CILESTIAL WARRIOR I would like to thank you for the great title. I am not a good title maker person, --' Thank you so much for reviewing. This chapter is in your honor, for everything. Well… I will let you read now… XD
Chapter Six – Keeping Secrets
"Oh my god." Hay Lin finally whispered.
"When?" Will asked.
"The first day, you guys left." Irma said, in between sobs. An uncomfortable silence lingered in Irma's bedroom, the only sound was the sorrowful sobs of Irma. Soon, even her sobs diminished, as Irma's sobs put her to sleep. Hay Lin and Will placed her down on her bed, as they left the room, to discuss what the heck had just happened.
"Please, tell me I was dreaming." Hay Lin murmured.
"I don't think so." Will replied.
"We HAVE to tell Taranee and Cornelia." Hay Lin, said, biting her bottom lip.
"I think Irma would be mad." Will answered, "There must be a reason she only told us."
"The reason is we are the coolest. Anyways, the person she should be mad at is that dunce Martin." Hay Lin said, grabbing a phone in Irma's hall.
Will hesitantly nod. "Save her parents for another day, though. And don't tell them on the phone, have them come over."
Hay Lin nodded, as she quickly dialed Cornelia's number first. "Cornelia? Get your butt over here… Oh, you are on a date with Caleb? Then get over here. Bring him if you have to…" Will heard Hay Lin say, as she headed back to Irma's room. Irma was still sprawled across on her bed, when Will entered.
Irma's usual pouty face, had been wiped away, and had been replaced with one Will had never seen before. Her face expressed fear and pain, was there also, a hint a panic. Suddenly, Irma let out a small whimper. Will bit her lip, as she contemplated on whether or not to awaken her from the nightmare she was having. Guiltily, Will looked away. If she woke Irma up, she would stop them from telling the others, and it was important for all of them to know. So Irma knew she wouldn't have to face this alone. She would have all four… or five counting Caleb, of them to help her along her terrible situation. Will began to wonder if Irma was even going to keep the baby.
Will could hear the doorbell ring, and Cornelia's voice grumbling, "This better be good, for you to disrupt a perfect date."
"Where is Irma anyways?" Cornelia snapped.
"What is the bad news?" Taranee asked, as she walked through the open door.
"That Hay Lin decided to ruin a great date." Cornelia said, before Hay Lin could answer. Hay Lin just glared at Cornelia.
"Can you stop worrying about a stupid date? This is Irma is going through something terrible, and all you can do, is whine about stupid date. Well Missy, I do no care about your date, and neither should you." Hal Lin snapped, her temper rising. Cornelia just rolled her eyes.
"Is Irma moving?" Taranee asked, worriedly.
"Worse!" Hay Lin said. Taranee began to fidget.
"Well instead of yelling at Cornelia, could you tell us what happened to Irma?" Caleb asked, calmly.
Hay Lin nodded. "Sit down." She said, motioning towards Irma's sofa. The three sat down, and looked at her nervously. "It is about Martin… He…" Hay Lin started.
"Oh let me guess! Irma has finally fallen for him. Yea, that is such a terrible tragedy." Cornelia said, cackling.
Hay Lin stood up, glaring at Cornelia. "SHUT UP! What is your problem? Martin is a stupid monster who deserves to rot away for what he did. He…" Hay Lin shouted, angrily, but then her voice dropped to a whisper. "He… raped our poor Irma. Now she is being forced to carry that fiend's baby." The room fell silent the only sound was the soft bubbling of Mandy's fish bowl. Not even Cornelia had anything to say. Finally, the silence was broken, when Hay Lin said, as she saw Caleb's confused face, "You may no understand this Caleb, but…"
"No, No. I know what it means…" Caleb said, "It is just that in Meridian, a man knows when a girl doesn't like him, and won't press her into these kinds of situations. Especially, when he plans on marrying the girl."
Hay Lin sighed, "Yes, we all know how Meridian is perfect, and Earth is a flawed planet." Hay Lin then glanced out the window, wondering how Irma was doing.
Upstairs, Will was watching with guilty as Irma whimpered in a nightmare. "No, stop please." Irma muttered, in her sleep. Will decided she had seen enough, she could not let her friend live in a nightmare, she shook Irma's shoulder, lightly. Irma slowly returned to reality, and blinked, glancing around the room. She quickly sat up, and wiped the sweat on her head, away. "Where is Hay Lin?" Irma asked.
"She is in the bathroom. She left two seconds ago." Will said, hastily. Irma nodded sadly, and sighed. The two sat in an uncomfortable silence, until Will finally brought up the courage, to ask the question she had been wondering. "Are you going to keep it?"
Irma didn't answer right away and just sighed. "I… I think I am." Irma murmured, sadly. Will nodded, understanding. "I am sorry." Irma added, looking away from Will.
Will looked at Irma shocked. "For what? It is me who should be sorry."
"I let you down. I don't deserve to be the water guardian." Irma muttered.
"Yes, you do." Will said, softly. The room was silent for a minute, when suddenly Will demanded, "Give me you arm."
"What?" Irma asked, quizzically, looking at Will. Slowly, Irma out stretched her right arm. Will took Irma's arm, and rolled up Irma's sweater. Will inspected Irma's arm, looking for any self-inflicted injuries. She found none, and motioned for Irma's other arm, and Irma let her examine her left arm, still looking at Will quizzically. "Oh, good." Will muttered. "You haven't done anything stupid, like cutting."
Irma caught on, and rolled her eyes. "I may not be smart, but I am not so stupid to go off, and cut myself. That is just plain stupid."
Will sighed, and gave Irma a slight smile. Irma looked back out the window, and Will could see sadness in her eyes. Will couldn't help but ask herself, what do you do, when the cheerful, joking friend, was depressed and needed the cheering? Will sighed, and looked out the window. Suddenly, Will's stomach lurched, she remembered what Irma said. She was keeping the kid! And Irma was only fifteen! Will looked at Irma sympathetically. This was going to be a long and sad eight months.