Chamberlain, Maine (September, 2010)

Christine Hargensen groaned as her alarm clock blared. The brunette grunted as she pressed the off button.

Today would be the first day of her sophomore year. The first day she would she her friends since…she went away.

Chris had been just fifteen when she had given birth. To a healthy baby boy, she was assured. The result of a one-night stand Chris had at a wild party-with Nicholas Hendley, some fratboy she barely knew.

To say that her father, John Hargensen, one of the town's most prominent attorneys, was unhappy to learn of her pregnancy would be an understatement. However, instead of filing charges of statutory rape against Nicholas, he decided to come to an arrangement with his father, an influential businessman in state politics, for a result that would be beneficial for all:

From the moment she began showing, Chris would go out-of-town until she gave birth, covering the shame to the Hargensen name by telling her friends and peers that she would be gone due to a 'medical emergency'.

Chris only had a chance to see her baby once. Looking down at him in the maternal ward. And that was it.

Her father arranged for the infant to be placed in a setting, chosen by Mr. Hendley, where he would be adopted into a family that was better suited than her to care for his needs.

Chris accepted this as the best option for everyone. After all, she knew she wasn't ready to be a mother. She just couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to the tiny figure she had brought into the world; she hoped her baby would be in a nice home.

Now, Chris had to steel herself for her return to school, hoping that Tina had kept her spot at the top of the social hierarchy warm.

She had just gotten dressed for school when she heard a knock on the door, "Come in."

John entered his daughter's room with concern evident on his face, "Just want to make sure you're doing alright, honey."

Hiding her pain and anxiety, Chris replied, "I am, Daddy."

Placing a hand on her shoulder, John assured her, "It'll all work out, Christine. The baby will be fine."

Chris couldn't help but wince at the disdain in his tone when he added, "And hopefully, no one will catch on your mistake."

…

As Chris was approaching the high school, she heard a yell, "Chris! Over here!"

Turning in the direction of the noise, she saw Tina Blake and Sue Snell on the sidewalk.

Chris took a deep breath. It'll be okay. They don't know anything. She approached her two friends.

"Hey, guys," Chris exclaimed, giving Tina a hug.

Sue stared into the ground and mumbled, "Everything ok with your dad?"

Chris blinked at the question, "Yeah, everything's fine."

As they neared the building stairs, Tina nonchalantly spoke, "How's the baby doing?"

"Wha…", Chris gasped. No…

She turned to look at Sue, who avoided eye contact with her.

Trying to regain her composure, Chris returned her gaze to Tina, "What baby?"

Tina's smile crumpled as her eyes took on a "You think we're stupid, Chris?"

The queen bee was stunned, "Wha-no!", Chris sputtered out, "I just don't have a clue what you're talking abou-…"

Chris went silent when Tina held up her phone, which displayed a photo. A photo of Chris sitting down at a café, her stomach swollen. A photo of her when she was eight months pregnant.

Her face paled as she stared into Tina's all-too-familiar derisive glare, "Can't believe you were dumb enough to carry it to term."

Author's Note:

This is revamp to an earlier fic that I made. There will be many differences, most notably that, instead of set in the 1970's, it will be set in the early 2010's.

This will be the first fic I'll be crossposting with and ao3.