After class Emery found Roman leaning against her locker. He grinned.
"I would have thought that you would have been happier to see me?"
She rolled her eyes and kissed him softly. "I am surprised. Gloria didn't tell us that it actually worked. When did Teri get back?"
"Last night. They held her in the crate for over a month. She's still pretty shaken but at least she's safe now."
Emery nodded and started walking with him. "I bet you were about to go nuts being cooped back up in the sector?"
"Pretty close. Sophia snapped worse then the rest of us."
"Ah one good meal at The Bug and she'll be back to normal."
He chuckled. "Probably."
Just then Drake came up behind them grinning. Emery also noticed that he had lipstick on his neck.
"Not really your color Drake."
He looked at her confused and then wiped at his neck. "Taylor and I had a good homecoming."
Emery smiled. They walked into their next class together. For one amazing day Emery forgot about her pregnancy and just enjoyed Roman being back.
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By the time Friday rolled around Taylor's prediction had come true. She was so sick she couldn't move. Michelle Whitehill walked into her daughter's room and looked at her.
"Sweetie you're going to be late for school."
Emery shook and Michelle grew worried.
"Emery you're as white as a sheet." She felt her forehead. "Maybe I should call Dr. Michaels?"
"No I think I just caught the flu. It's going around at school."
Michelle looked unsure. "Okay. I'll bring you home some chicken soup for dinner."
Emery waited until she heard her mother's car leaving the driveway and then her dad's. She then grabbed her phone and called the only person who could help.
"Taylor can you come over?"
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Roman looked around in chemistry and then spoke to Julia.
"Hey where's Emery?"
Julia spoke concerned. "I haven't seen her today. And Taylor skipped out after homeroom."
Lukas shrugged. "Maybe they're sick or they could just be playing hookie."
Julia shook her head. "No way Em never skips school."
Sophia looked at them. "Well can't we go by her house after school?"
Roman nodded. "Yeah we should."
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Taylor held Emery's hair while she threw up.
"I promise as soon as I find that herb i'll get you some. It is a lifesaver."
Emery gasped and laid back against her vanity. "Maybe I should just tell Roman. I mean he would know what to do."
"But they just got out of the sector. The more people who know about the baby the greater the chance that the Red Hawks find out."
Emery sighed and pulled herself to her feet. Just then the doorbell rang. She went downstairs and opened it to reveal Sophia. She smiled at her.
"I was sent to check on you after you weren't in school today."
Emery smiled. "I caught some kind of flu. I should be better by Monday."
"Well if you feel well enough can you come to The Bug for a minute? Teri wants to fill all of us in."
Emery thought for a minute and nodded. "Let me get Taylor. She came over to make sure I didn't die."
Sophia laughed. Taylor came down fully briefed and ready to cover. When they walked into The Bug Lukas whistled under his breath.
"Wow Em you look terrible."
She rolled her eyes. "Thanks Lukas."
She slid into the booth next to Roman. He looked at her concerned.
"Can I get you anything?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine."
He nodded. Teri leaned in so no one else could hear.
"So my mom used the suvek to guide my father here. They have been developing some kind of herbs that they want to use to change Earth's climate."
Eric raised his brows. "Elaborate."
"They can make it a water climate. To where only the Atrians can survive."
Julia spoke up. "That sounds sufficiently terrifying."
Emery found her voice. "So how do we stop them?"
Teri shrugged. "I guess we have to get to the herbs and destroy them."
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Roman walked up behind Emery at school on Monday and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Hey Beautiful."
She shrugged out of his arms and kissed his lips. "Morning."
He smiled. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah I guess."
He nodded and started walking with her towards homeroom. She felt so incredibly guilty for not telling him. She hated it. He was the person who could help her the most. She hesitated before walking inside and whispered in his ear.
"Meet me in the supply closet before last bell."
He nodded and looked at her curious. At lunch Emery told Taylor her plan. Taylor sighed.
"I say bad idea. Wait a few more weeks until you can see a doctor."
"He is going to start noticing. He's not stupid. Besides I need his help and I hate keeping this from him. It's his baby too."
She nodded. "I get it. But he is going to freak out."
"Maybe. But I think that is a chance that I am willing to take."
"Well you may want to prepare yourselves for a hole lot of ugly."
"I know."
"No I don't think you do Em. Things are worse for The Atrians then ever before. People are not going to take kindly to a half atrian baby."
Emery went quiet. She knew Taylor was right. She had seen it herself with her dad. He was taking even more precautions before going into the sector. Then there was her mother who was terrified of the atrians. Not only did she not trust them but she didn't want them going to school with her daughter. Emery knew her parents would not take her pregnancy well.
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Emery was shaking all through her last class. She tried to focus on her trig but it wasn't working. All she could think about was the little baby growing inside of her and how she was going to tell Roman. When the bell rang she gathered her things and made her way to the supply closet. She opened the door and Roman pulled her inside and captured her lips. He released her mouth and began kissing down her neck and collarbone. She was gasping trying to speak.
"Roman I need to talk..."
He recaptured her lips and slid his hands up her shirt. The baby started to leave her mind. Roman groaned when the bell went off. Emery snapped to attention.
"You need to get on the bus."
He nodded and kissed her cheek before running out the door leaving her breathless. When she walked outside Taylor was waiting for her by her car.
"So how did he take it?"
Emery sighed. "He didn't. I didn't tell him."
"Why?"
"Well we were kissing and my mind just went a little blank."
She sighed. "So are you going to try and tell him again?"
"Soon."
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When she got home Emery set her bag down on the stairs and walked into thee kitchen. Michelle was busy cooking. Emery smiled.
"Smells good."
"Thank you. Could you do me a favor and chop that onion?"
Emery nodded and did as she was asked. Michelle smiled.
"So how was school today?"
"Good. Eric asked Julia to prom."
"Oh that's nice."
"Who are you going with?"
Emery quickly lied. "I don't really know yet."
Michelle nodded. "Well it's just going to be you and I for dinner tonight. Your dad has to stay in the sector. It looks like someone set a bomb off in the sector."
Emery turned and looked at her mother. "What?"
"I don't know why you're surprised. I've been telling you for years that those people can not be trusted. Oh my God Emery!"
Emery looked at her mother confused and then looked down at her hand. There was blood gushing from her thumb. Michelle wrapped her daughter's hand in a towel trying to stop the bleeding. Emery started feeling the pain and accidently allowed a few tears to fall. Michelle looked at her daughter's face stunned.
"Emery you're eyes."
Emery wiped her face with the other hand and shook it off. "It's nothing mom."
"No it isn't why are you glowing like some of those...those tatties."
Emery pulled away. "Don't call them that!"
"It's that boy isn't it? Did he do something to you? I'll call the police."
Emery grabbed her mother's cell phone away from her reach. "Roman didn't do anything to me!"
"Then why are you glowing?"
"Because I am pregnant!"
Emery regretted the words as soon as she said them. Her hand was still gushing out blood but her more pressing concern was the look on her mother's face.
"You're what?"
"I'm pregnant. And it's Roman's."
Michelle had a look of both disbelief and anger. "That...that boy he took advantage of you. I need to call the police. They'll know what to do. Then we can get that thing out of you before anyone finds out."
Emery looked at her mom in horror. "No way! I'm having this baby."
"Emery be reasonable. This thing inside of you will not be accepted."
"Only because of people like you."
"What is that suppose to mean?!"
"You hate the atrians only because they are different. Most of them are kind and gentle people who just wanted a safe place to call home."
"They don't belong here."
Emery's anger overpowered her. "Then maybe I don't either."
Emery ran out of the kitchen, grabbed her backpack and out the door.