I was the first one in the classroom as I sat twiddling my thumbs at my desk. Yesterday seemed like a huge blur, except for the news that I was pregnant. No one knows yet except for four people, and maybe more of the spirits.
I sighed, Mr. Barrett's class was today and he had ears like a dolphin so I wouldn't be able to tell Leonel, unless I waited until after class. But even so, it would be better to just get it over with. I ripped out a simple piece of notebook paper and scribbled down what I had to tell him and folded it a few times. I'd give it to him when he gets here.
Tick tock tick tock. The clock seemed to be ticking at me in a mocking way, and after what seemed like forever the classroom became filled with my classmates, each taking their seats as Mr. Barrett walked up to the teacher's desk.
"Time to start class." He announced in his usual tone of voice as I glanced over at Leonel for a second, before darting my eyes back towards Mr. Barrett, impatiently waiting for him to turn around and jot notes on the board. Which seemed to take forever as he flipped through his teacher's book, looking for the next chapter we needed to discuss.
"Today, class." He said, finally turning around to write on the chalkboard as I quietly placed the note on Leonel's desk; he looked down at the folded paper and blinked a few times before glancing over at me. I gave him a nodding gesture that the note was for him. He then, fretfully, took the paper under his desk and began to unfold it; that is until Mr. Barrett's yardstick whacked Leonel's desk, causing him to jump from the sound. Our other friends' eyes widened as they noticed the note in Leonel's hands, knowing what was going to happen next. Mr. Barrett held out his hand as my heart began to race. Leonel obediently gave his father the note. No! Please don't read it! I prayed in my head as he gave us stern looks.
"You know there is absolutely no note passing in my class. And as punishment I'll be reading it out loud to the class." He continued to unfold the paper, my heart began racing, No, please, no! He cleared his throat.
"I'm…" There was a long pause as he scanned the letter several times before he folded the note back, "I'll see you two after class." His voice was cold and cruel as he threw the note in the desk drawer, slamming it shut before continuing to write the lesson's notes on the board. My classmates blinked in confusion at what could have possibly made Mr. Barrett so upset.
I had just finished the last of my notes when the bell rang. I looked at my work and noticed it was sloppy from my nervous, shaky hands. What was Mr. Barrett going to do or say? What was he going to do to Leonel? To me? I felt my heart racing as I nervously walked up to his desk; Leonel looked a little nervous, since he had no idea what that note said. He would know soon enough through Barrett's ranting words.
"Pregnant?!" Mr. Barrett exclaimed, as I saw out of the corner of my eyes Leonel's eyes widen and dart towards me, "So, that's why it actually took you so long to clean up after the party! I can't believe I took that lie!" his cold eyes felt like they were burning through my skin, "I haven't been this angry since I left my hometown! In fact, I'm not angry! I'm furious! What the hell were you two thinking?!"
Leonel was slowly taking all of Barrett's words in, I could hear him trying to catch his breath in an anxious way. My eyes were burning with tears; Barrett just sighed and massaged his eyelids and the bridge of his nose.
"Answer me, please." He had calmed down a little but I couldn't, I just stood there sobbing, and Leonel was still in shock to where it seemed that he didn't know how to answer his dad's rage; Barrett sighed again.
"Does anyone else know?" he asked, annoyed as I nodded and said in-between sobs, "The Sylphs t-told Or-Orland, Jake Ce-Ceci-Cecilia, and Egan." He exhaled noisily and looked up as if an answer to our problems would fall from the ceiling; no such luck.
"Sheesh, Leonel, you have no idea how disappointed I am with you. And your mother is going to be furious when you tell her." He laced his fingers together, putting them over his lips in a thinking manner.
"I suggest you tell your parents, too, Clara." I pushed back my tears with the palm of my hands and nodded.
"I can't believe this." He mumbled, and a little loud too for I could hear him clearly, "Go on home, you two. I still need some time to recover. And be sure to tell your mother, Leonel." he said the last part with sternness as Leonel and I obeyed his command leaving the building; Leonel stopped me at the door and pulled me aside.
"Are you sure?" he asked as I nodded. My tears came out faster; he wiped the tears from my cheeks before giving me a big hug.
"It'll be okay." He reassured me, I shook my head, it wasn't going to be okay, it just wasn't! We were too young, and unprepared. We weren't in love like people who have a baby should be!
"I'll see you around." Leonel whispered, breaking the hug. "You're not in this alone." And with that he began walking back towards his house as I slowly made my way towards the farmhouse.
I slowly opened the front door of my house as my mom smiled at me.
"Hello. Good afternoon!" my mother chirped, then seeing my red puffy face, she asked in a concerned voice, "Clara, baby, what happened? Did someone say something inconceivable about you?" I blushed and lied.
"It's nothing. I sorted it out!" My mother just smiled compassionately before asking.
"What would you like to eat?" I pondered for a moment…I was so hungry but now was not the time for food, but then again…I did want another apple pie…I shook my head and lied.
"I'm not hungry now. M-maybe later?"
"Oh…O-okay." Mom said, not taking my lie, but knowing I wanted to be alone as I rushed upstairs into my room flopping onto my bed, lying down, and looking up at the ceiling. How was I going to tell my parents about this without feeling their fury like I felt Barrett's fury? I knew my dad would be the most angry about this, and I didn't want him to be ashamed. I placed both of my hands on my bulging stomach, feeling the stinging tears arouse my eyes. I blinked them away to feel stronger, but they just kept coming back. I had a hard time wiping them from my eyes as I had a difficult time erasing all of the terrible images my parents would do to me once they find out.
