PATRICIA
"Joy… what?"
"Prom night. Jerome and I… we slept together. And I guess… I guess I wasn't careful."
"Have you told Jerome yet?" I ask.
"No. I can't. No one can know until after graduation."
I bite my lip. Jerome has to know. But I'm going to honor Joy's wish and not tell anyone. This is huge.
"Joy, do you realize how important this is? I feel like Jerome has a right to know. I mean, it is… his," I say, not sure of how to address the situation.
"I know. Can it just wait a few more days? Besides, after graduation, it won't be such a huge deal. No one else will have to know if they're all going off to college.
I buzz my lips. "Do you want to tell a counselor, maybe? I bet one of them would help you out with… you know, future plans." I try not to show it, but I am scared out of my mind for her. She's taking it better than I would have presumed. But I want her to tell someone, someone who can help her.
"No. They'll tell my parents, Mr. Sweet, the teachers - word will get around. I can't let that happen. Not yet."
I can barely make my mouth form words. I just don't know how to respond to this. Joy ushers me away for some time for herself to process.
"Fine. But I'll be here. I promise." I hesitantly press my hand against the door, stand for a moment, then leave.
Outside, I run almost right through Eddie.
"Eddie? Why are you outside the ladies lavatory?" I ask suspiciously. Then my eyes widen; how much did he hear?
"I saw you walk in," he says. "I needed to talk to you." His eyes are red and glassy. Has he been crying? We haven't spoken properly since prom night, and I'm terrified I may have missed something.
"What's going on?" I ask.
Eddie sniffs. He folds his arms across his chest and a solemn expressions lines his face, as if he is trying to lock me out. Eddie is never one to keep me away; he is always open to me.
An Eddie I do not recognize flickers across this Eddie's eyes.
Eddie mumbles something inaudible. A tear streams down his face.
"Eddie, what is going on?"
"Yack-er, Patricia, we…" he begins to cry. "We need to break up."
I stare at him. "Eddie, what?" I attempt to process what he has just said. Did I hear him correctly? "Break up?"
Eddie opens his mouth in an attempt to say something, but instead he lets out a sob and runs in the opposite direction.
I stand in outside the bathroom, confused and saddened. Did Eddie really just break up with me? What could have happened? And why was he so hesitant to do so?
Across the hall, Fabian peers at me. I march over to him, tears blurring my vision.
"Fabian," I cry. "Did you know about this?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
"Don't lie to me," I cry.
He sighs. "Fine. I did know. But it isn't why you think."
"What?"
"I can't tell you. But Patricia, you have to believe me. Eddie loves you. But for the time being… you can't be together. Not right now. It just isn't safe."
"Isn't safe to be with my boyfriend? What kind of sick joke is this?" I demand.
"It isn't one. I promise. You have to believe me. Eddie hates doing this. But he has to."
I peer into Fabian's eyes. The boy is terrible at lying; I can always tell when he is. But he isn't. Not this time.
"Fine. I believe you." And that is all I say before turning around.
"Hey," Fabian calls as I turn to continue down the hallway. "He does love you, you know. This shouldn't last long. After graduation, it will all be over… I think."
I stare at him and a tear rolls down my face. What is Eddie hiding?