Chapter Twenty Five
"Mitchie, a word outside please," The Spanish teacher called once she'd set the work for the lesson. I groaned, knowing what was coming after my silent admission about my pregnancy. After following her outside of the classroom into the deserted halls I leaned against the wall, waiting for any questions she had to ask.
"You're pregnant?" She asked bluntly. I nodded to confirm and she looked at me suspiciously, prompting me to lift my shirt and reveal my bump to her. Señora Chrone gasped slightly, signalling for me to re-cover my bump since she'd obviously seen it. "Now you know that I have to report this, don't you?" She asked. Unbeknownst to her the principal and my mom both already knew. "The school will have to get in touch with your parents and let them know. I can't keep this one to myself."
"Ms. Munroe is my mother, she's fully aware and so is the principal but I totally understand that you'll have to inform them now that you know, I didn't get through my entire life with a teacher for a mother without learning a few things about your rules and regulation." I told her, making it obvious that I was fully aware of the conversation happening.
"Ms. Munroe? That rings a bell…" She trailed off, expecting me to inform her of who my mother was.
"She's a member of the English department."
"Oh yes, of course, Sonny, right? I'll just go and speak to her during my lunch period, it seems more appropriate than getting the principal involved when you say he's already aware. I… forgive me for succumbing to the rumours that I heard but from the day I moved here, I have been under the impression that you were uhm… well…" She trailed off but I knew where she was going.
"Gay?" I asked bluntly. "You can say it, you know? I'm not offended by it and it's not infectious. That's true." She got a look of pure confusion but brushed it off, probably not wanting to divulge into my private life. Or maybe she wasn't allowed to. "May I go and get on with my work now, please?" I asked her, not wanting her to ask any more uncomfortable questions.
"Yes, you may,"
We were around halfway into the class when Bethan finally spoke to me. I thought she was just being quiet and not making an attempt to talk to me because she was doing the work but apparently not.
"How could you not tell me?" She didn't sound angry, she just sounded hurt.
"What?" I asked her, trying to buy some time.
"You know what," She whispered back, looking down to my stomach and attempting to keep her tone low since the class was pretty much silent. "How could you not tell me that you're pregnant and clearly far along enough to be that big,"
"Gee, thanks." I replied sarcastically before taking a shaky breath. "I didn't tell anyone, I've only known for three weeks." I admitted quietly, instinctively resting my hand on my stomach.
"How could you possibly have only known for three weeks?"
"I guess I just didn't want to believe it. If I admitted it to myself then it was true, if I stayed in blissful ignorance for a little while longer then it wasn't really happening." I told her quietly, desperately trying to prevent anyone else from overhearing. I was certain that the girls behind us and possibly the boy in front could hear us but there wasn't much that I could do about that. I knew that Beth was thinking like everyone else, she probably thought that I cheated on Alex.
"Silly of me, I kinda thought we were best friends." She responded slowly, as if trying to decide on her words.
"I thought you'd probably hate me when you found out because of Alex."
"I don't think you cheated on her," She whispered back after a quick glance to the teacher to ensure that she wasn't listening. Clearly she noticed the shock on my face and continued to elaborate on her statement. "You love her; I don't think you're the type to cheat. But now I have to ask… Did you?" She seemed nervous, like she was trying not to offend me.
"No, I didn't cheat."
"So… Well, there's only one other reasonable solution to this…" She trailed off. "Were you raped?" She asked in barely a whisper. I nodded silently and waited for her to continue, trying to hide the tears in my eyes. "Who was it?"
"I'm not allowed to tell you," I admitted honestly. Although, there was nothing said about dropping hints. "All I'm going to say is that I know exactly why Mr. Douglas was arrested and promptly replaced a few months ago."
"Holy shit, Mitch… I'm so sorry, that must have been really awful for you." She breathed out, looking clearly shell-shocked. I nodded in agreement, not really wanting to go any further into it. "I'm here if you ever want to talk or need anything, you know that right?" She asked to make sure. I turned to face her and smiled weakly, reaching for her hand and placing it gently on my stomach.
"I actually have something to ask you, since you're my best friend…" I trailed off, moving my hands to pick at my long fingernails. There was no point in keeping them short since Alex and I basically didn't have a sex life, although filing them down soon wouldn't be a bad move considering our recent talks about it. "Alex and I… Well, I've mentioned it to her and she thinks it's a good idea. We were wondering if you'd consider being the godmother. You totally don't have to, I understand if it's a no but, like, yeah, I'd really love it if you would just think about it."
Beth broke out into a face eating grin and nodded rapidly. "I don't really think there's anything to think about… I'd be totally honoured. Do you know what you're having yet?" She asked excitedly. I nodded, smiling, and pulled the spare scan photo that I'd got to give her before the hospital incident from my bag.
"She's a girl, you can keep that, I got that a few weeks ago. I figured you might like a copy after I asked you to be godmother." I told her with a soft smile, staring in awe at the photo alongside Bethan before it was ripped forcefully from her hands.
"Hey look, the slut has a photo of her baby!" Carlie announced from behind us, holding the photo up to show it to the class.
"Carlie Martin - that is enough! Give it back to Mitchie and get along with your work, now." Señora Chrone ordered strictly, looking up from the desk of the student that she was helping with the assignment. A few people laughed and I watched helplessly as my ultrasound photo was passed from person to person, ignoring the demands of the teacher for them all to stop. I was having a major deja vu of my last school when the photo of Alex and I kissing was spread round.
"Hey, so was one girlfriend not enough and you had to go get the nearest cock that was willing to go near you?" Was the final snide question that was asked before I finally snapped, turning around and snatching the photo back from the girl that had it.
"Do you know what? I don't have to take this fucking shit. How about you spread this one round? I love Alex and I would never cheat on her. I didn't fucking choose to sleep with someone else; I was fucking forced so how about you call me a slut after that one? Yeah, laugh if you want, I don't care. Jesus fucking Christ, my life has been fucked up enough because of that asshole over the past few months; I don't need any more shit." I blew at them before handing the picture to Bethan and walking out, grabbing my bag along the way and slamming the door shut behind me.
I heard Señora Chrone shouting after me but I blanked her and went straight to my mom's room, not wanting to distract Alex from anymore of her work after she stayed off school for nearly two weeks with me.
"Mom, can I have a word, please?" I asked her, anger evident in my voice. She looked up from her desk and noticed the redness of my eyes and nodded slowly.
"Give me two minutes, just wait on the steps." She instructed me professionally, choosing not to call me out for calling her 'mom' instead of 'Ms. Munroe.'
I nodded in compliance and did as she told me, taking a seat on the steps outside the room, the ones that Alex and I had sat on shortly before she sent us home because Alex was 'sick', the day of our first time.
After I explained what had happened, my mom hugged me tightly to her chest whilst I cried and rocked me back and forth in an attempt to console me. "Baby, you knew that this was going to happen. I'd love nothing more than to send you home and let you stay off school until it's all blown over but we both know that you have to be here for that to happen because as soon as you return it'll all blow up again. Just bite the bullet and get on with it and remember that you'll be out of here soon, okay?" She tried to reason with me but I just started to sob even harder at the thought of another five and a half weeks of this.
"I don't know how much longer I can do this for, Mom."
"I know it's going to be hard, baby. Remember I had it similar in college." She reminded me with a small smile. "I promise that it'll be worth it when you hold your little girl in your arms for the first time, okay? It all seemed worth it for me when I had you."
"Thanks, Mom." I replied genuinely with a small smile. Just as I said it the warning bell sounded for us to get to second period, my mom's freshman class flooding out of the classroom before she'd even had a chance to go back in.
"Uh, excuse me? Did I dismiss you? No. Go back inside." She ordered them firmly, throwing in the use of a rhetorical question to prove her point. I smiled slightly despite the stares that I was receiving from the kids in front of us. "Stop staring, yes, I'm fully aware that she's not wearing uniform." She told the kids, sensing my discomfort.
"That's not why we're staring, Miss." A young girl said, not even bothering to hide her obvious gaze at my stomach.
"I'm also fully aware that she's pregnant. Back inside, now. Last one back in gets detention." She threatened. "I'm serious. I'll answer any questions that you have when we're inside." She added when people didn't make an attempt to move. The halls suddenly started to flood again and I stood to leave for my second period Biology class. "Anything that you don't want me to tell them? I mean, it's pretty common knowledge around the school that you're pregnant and my daughter. It's probably better if they have any questions answered by me rather than rumors." She told me informatively. I shook my head softly and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
"No, Mom. Just don't tell them who the father is, after I announced that I was raped last class you may as well do that too if they ask about Alex and I. That one will spread like wildfire during this next period anyway." I told her as if it weren't obvious.
At break I met Alex at my locker, having already learned to ignore the stares and whispers from people since my last school. "You okay, beautiful?" She greeted me with a quick kiss to my cheek, erupting even more whispers from people in the corridors. It was common knowledge around the school that Alex and I were dating; I couldn't understand why more people started talking when she showed a little PDA.
"I'm fine, considering. Actually, I wanted to talk to you." I told her quietly, trying to keep our private conversation just that.
"Okay, your mom's room?" She asked knowingly. I nodded and she led the way, holding my hand tightly to prevent anyone from grabbing me and pulling me away. "She's not here," She stated the obvious after knocking the door and receiving no response.
"I know, she has a meeting." I said, unlocking the door with the spare key that she gave me for emergencies only. "So, you know how I got three copies of my scan photo? One for all of us, one for Beth and a spare?" I asked her although I knew that she knew what I was talking about. She nodded to confirm and I continued. "I was thinking that maybe you'd like to choose another godparent, considering that she's your daughter too." I proposed shyly, unsure of what she may think of the idea.
"I actually have the perfect person in mind but if you don't want me to ask her then just say because you might think it's a little weird…" She trailed off nervously, scratching the back of her neck which was one of her nervous traits, whereas mine was picking my fingernails. "I was thinking maybe Ms. Sutton. I mean, she's been nothing but great to us, she's always been my favorite teacher. If you think it's weird then just say."
"I had a feeling you might suggest her, I think it's a great idea. I was actually considering asking her if you decided to choose someone else." I admitted with a broad smile. "Shall we go and find her now? She should be in the PE office since you have her for class next." I informed her sweetly, making a move to leave my mom's room again.
"Just one thing first," She quickly said, leaving no space between her words and grabbing me, pinning me tightly to the wall. Her lips instantly found mine and her hands gripped tightly to my waist, despite its sudden enlargement.
I moaned softly when I felt her tongue slide against my bottom lip, then I realised what she was asking and gladly granted the access that she required. "Mmm," She moaned, not unlike my own as my hands moved to cup her considerably-smaller-than-mine breasts. They used to be similar in size but much like my stomach, my breasts were growing. Thankfully I had purchased a new bra a couple of weeks ago, just before I was hospitalised.
"I love you," I whispered against her lips before pecking them again softly. I felt so naughty making out with my incredibly hot, rebellious girlfriend in my mom's classroom, knowing that she could walk in at any point.
"I love you back." She replied without hesitation.
"She's in there," I told Alex after peeking discreetly through the window of the PE office to see Ms. Sutton sitting in her large, comfortable chair eating a sandwich. She nodded in response and gently tapped on the door with her fist, causing Ms. Sutton to turn around and grin when she saw that it was us through the window, ushering us in with her hand frantically.
"Oh, girls, it's so good to see you back! Mitchie, is everything okay with you and the baby?" She asked caringly, automatically confirming my suspicions that she would be perfect for the other godmother.
"Yes, disregarding the news of me being a slut spreading like wildfire around the school, I'm fine and so is she." I told her, a slightly fake smile finding its way to my face gradually.
"…She? You're having a girl?" She asked with tears building in her eyes. I nodded enthusiastically, happy about how much she cared. "Oh wow, I'm sure that she'll be beautiful, just like her mothers." She cooed as she began rummaging through her desk drawers and then pulled the third copy of my scan from the top one. "Here, you left this here before… your accident." She trailed off, probably unsure of what to call my potentially fatal to the baby fall.
"You can keep that, Alex actually has something to ask you." I said, causing Alex's head to snap up at my words.
"Me? Are you sure?" She asked uncertainly. I nodded quickly to ensure her that I was certain and she turned to Ms. Sutton.
"She's your baby too, Lexi," I told her in an almost breathless whisper due to my breath hitching in my throat when I caught a glimpse of how beautiful she truly looked in that moment of uncertainty.
"Ms. Sutton, we were wondering if maybe… You'd like to be her godmother," Alex scratched the back of her neck again, not making eye contact with the shocked teacher. Before she could give her chance to respond, Alex spoke up again. "Ms. Sutton, you've always been like another mother to me, you're the only other person aside from my own parents until recently, Mitch and Sonny that I actually respect so it would really mean the world to us if you'd like to be our baby girl's godmother." She added with an air of gentility about her that made me honestly just want to slam her against the wall and take her right then and there. Damn hormones.
"Oh, girls, I'm so touched…" Ms. Sutton trailed off, her hand resting on her heart as if she was trying to prove her point. "My partner and I have struggled to have children over the past ten years and it just hasn't happened… I would love to be your baby's godmother. Thank you so much for this opportunity." She told us as the tears that had been building in her eyes flowed freely down her barely wrinkled cheeks.
"So that's a yes?" I asked excitedly, not giving Alex the chance to.
"That is absolutely a yes." She agreed with an excited smile. "Oh, I'll have to get a frame for this, it can go on the fireplace; ooh it can have pride of place!" She exclaimed happily as she stood up from her seat and unexpectedly pulled both Alex and I into a tight embrace, my stomach bumping against hers, causing me to blush. "Oh wow. For now though, it can go on my desk. Wow… I can't believe that my student is carrying my goddaughter… that was never anything I expected to say… I can't wait to tell my partner." She seemed so excited, it was actually kind of adorable. "Wait, are you girls going to college?" She asked, suddenly seeming downhearted.
"We are… well we're going to try at least. If it doesn't work out then we'll be back." Alex answered for the both of us with a small smile, wrapping her arm tightly around my waist and pulling me close to her. "But we're going to NYU so it's kinda local, we'll probably be back every weekend to see Sonny and maybe my mom. We'll probably need Sonny to babysit a lot for us during weekends, give us a chance to get our work up to date and stuff." Alex explained gently.
"I'll babysit for you any time that you want me to, just say the word." She offered quickly, probably not even thinking about her words. "Here…" She trailed off, writing something down on a piece of paper and handing one to me, one to Alex. It appeared to be her cell number. "Please, just keep me updated on anything whenever it happens, if you don't mind." She pleaded hopefully. I nodded eagerly and so did Alex. "Any ultrasounds or anything, could you get me an extra copy of the photo? I'll pay you for the extra copies and stuff, I just… I'm so excited!" She exclaimed happily, looking longingly at the photo of the baby.
It was strange; she never seemed like the maternal type. She was kind of butch and I definitely didn't think she'd be the type to want children but I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover.
"Absolutely, of course… I'm due on September fifth, if you'd like to be there. Obviously I can't promise you that that will be the date but it'll be around then. I don't know whether or not you'll be allowed into the delivery room but you can be one of the first people to meet her." I offered kindly, glad to be able to help a woman achieve her dreams. Although this baby wasn't hers, it would be nice to allow her to be as close as she wants to her.
"Wow I… I really don't know what to say… I'd love to…Thank you, girls. It really means the world to me that you want me to be her godmother." She said, slightly exasperatedly.
"You're more than welcome, Ms. Sutton. I should go, I have to go and study for English, my mom's getting pissy about how much I've missed. Have a good PE lesson, Alex." I said softly, kissing my girlfriend's cheek gently. "And I'm sorry about you and your husband, Ms. Sutton. I hope that maybe someday you'll be able to have a baby with him." I told her genuinely, wanting her to know that I cared.
"Oh… No… Not my husband, Mitchie… She's my wife." The look on Alex's face in the moment was absolutely priceless.