She made it to school on time, her head drooped, and shoulder slumped. It wasn’t how she envisioned her entrance after the previous day’s banter with Hunter. She had planned to lift her chin up, and raise her head high. She had planned to smile until her chin hurt, and to pretend Hunter never existed even if they shared most of the school periods, and breathe the same air.
“Hey, Bri. Wait up,” Flo yelled. Bri slowed her pace. Flo caught up with her. Bri glanced at her sideways.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi. Why were you walking so fast?” Flo asked.
“Didn’t you notice everyone staring at me?”
“No. Even if they did, it must be because you look a little different today.”
“How am I different?”
“You’re wearing bright colors. Pink sweater, nice pink slip on….”
Bri glanced at herself.
“By the way, happy birthday.”
“Thanks, but don’t remind anyone about my birthday,” she said with gloom.
“Why?”
“I don’t want the attention.”
“Too late. Your color sold you out, besides Steve remembers. I guess he must’ve told a handful of his friends.”
“Why would he do that?” Bri said.
“Because he has a crush on you,” Flo said, and then playfully nudged Bri with her shoulder. “I wish you’d give him a chance.”
“Have you seen Hunter today?” Bri said, changing the subject, even if Hunter’s name was the last thing she wanted to mention.
“Yeah! By the way, why didn’t you call me back yesterday despite blowing up your phone with missed calls?”
“I’m sorry. I thought to return your call, but fell asleep.”
Flo glanced at her with the I know you’re lying look, and looked ahead.
“Well, look who comes bearing gifts,” Flo said. Bri glanced up. Coming towards them was Steve, with a bouquet of flowers. She spotted a little card sticking out of it. She looked up at the flowers and beheld a dimpled, smiling face.
“O my God!” She murmured.
“For you, ma Cherie,” he said, handing her the flowers. Bri glanced around. Everyone had stopped moving and stared.
“Take the flowers, and smile,” Flo whispered. Bri faked a smile, mumbled a thank you, and hurried off to her locker.
“She’s shy,” Flo said to Steve.
“Well, she shouldn’t.
Bri opened her locker with lightning speed and shoved the flowers in it, before throwing in her backpack. She reached for her binder containing her notepad for the first period, Maths, and sighed.
She disliked anything calculations. English was more like it, or AP Geography.
She enjoyed learning about the world, and her surroundings. Rocks wasn’t a topic that bored her. She slammed her locker shut and turned around. Down the hallway lined with red lockers was Hunter, conversing with a group of friends. He looked even sleeker than before. Bri gulped and turned the other way.
“Hey, Bri,” Casey yelled, hurrying toward her.
“Hey.”
“Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
They walked in silence.
“Have you seen Flo this morning?” Casey asked, breaking the awkward silence. Usually, they had enough to chatter about, but since learning about Bri’s pregnancy, which was only a day old awareness, Casey hadn’t called as she used to.
“Yeah. Saw her at the school entrance.”
“Have you two talked?”
“About what?” Bri asked, looking at her sideways.
“About the…um…pregnancy?”
“No. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Well, as your best friend, I think you should.” Bri was silent at first.
“Did you tell anyone about it?” Bri asked.
“No! Why?”
“Because, everyone was staring at me.”
“You’re just being self-conscious because you know what’s going on with you.”
“I don’t think so,” Bri said and entered her first class. She headed to a set of desk and chair at the end of the classroom and dropped in it. Hunter walked in and searched the room. Bri gasped. Her heart thumped faster, but she braced to him. He spotted her and glared at her. Bri glared back at him. He looked away. So much for having the same period with him. She thought, wondering how she could get by the next two periods with him constantly at her tail.
She looked forward to the fifth period—lunch period— and wished she had thrown, at least, a few red grapes in her mouth, or a glass of orange juice, before bolting out the door.
Without turning, she felt Casey staring at her and wondered what it was all about.
Math class was a bore. She felt the need to fall asleep, but wouldn’t dare, for fear of Mrs. Trimble asking a question she couldn’t answer, so she pretended to jot whatever the teacher wrote on the whiteboard.
At a point during the lecture, she glanced at her scribbles, and then stared at it. On her notebook was written, help me, O God. Then desks and chairs began to scratch the floor, indicating the first period was over.
Slowly, she rose, picked up her binder and headed to the door in time to see Hunter walk through it. The next class would be AP Geography, and she looked forward to seeing Flo.
She tried as much as possible to not attract any attention to herself as she eased her way through students rushing to their next class. A few steps to the classroom, she spotted Flo coming toward the classroom and stopped.
“Hey, we meet again,” Flo joked.
“I’ve something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I think everyone knows about it.”
“I don’t think so. I haven’t heard anything, yet, from anyone.” She placed her arm around Bri. “Are you being paranoid?” Bri nodded no.
“I want to see Hunter’s mom.” Flo stopped before the classroom door and turned to Bri.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“She won’t believe you.”
“I don’t expect her to believe me.”
“Then what’s the purpose?”
“So she knows what her son did to me.”
“And then, what?” Flo asked.
“I don’t want to abort the baby.”
Flo sighed. “You— the teacher just walked in,” she said, and, like a zombie, walked into the classroom, Bri followed after her. They sat beside each other but said nothing, both pretending to concentrate.
Time ticked ever slowly. Bri needed to continue her conversation. Flo didn’t want to hear about it. She avoided Bri the rest of the next period. When it came time for lunch, Bri dove for the cafeteria hoping to find her there, but she hadn’t surfaced, yet. Bri waited. When Flo eventually walked in, she came with some friends Bri wouldn’t associate with.
Bri sighed. Guess am beginning to lose my friends. She bit into her sandwich. After a few bites, she lost her appetite, emptied and returned her tray before walking out of the cafeteria.
She headed to the headmistress office, expressed she was sick and needed to go home, and then left.
7
⸙
Bri panted as she climbed the hilly sidewalk leading to Hunter’s house. At a point, she stopped to catch her breath, watching every passing car in hopes her mother wouldn’t leave work and find her wandering the streets, rather than be at school, studying.
Her breath increased as she got closer to the familiar house. She’d only been there once but could remember as Hunter described it to her. It wasn’t far from home, a plus for Bri as she hoped to finish and return home on time.
She raised her hand to knock on the white door with sidelites when a familiar voice stopped her.
“She’s not home.”
Bri Shuddered, and then, like a robot with weak batteries, turned around to face the last person she expected to welcome her.
“Um….”
“What are you doing here?” He asked.
Bri stared at him, transfixed on his porch. A car drove by. Hunter turned around sharply. Bri could see the apprehension on his face despite he tried to hide it. He Pushed his chest outward. Bri stood tall and braced herself. She wouldn’t be intimidated by him. Not anymore.
“Have you come to destroy me before my parents, my family?”
Bri gulped. “No. I was….”
“Then what are you doing at my doorstep? You’re not my girlfriend, anymore.” Bri took a moment to absorb that before replying.
“I came to tell your mother that you and I are having a baby soon.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Try me.” Bri raised her hand to the door and knocked. It was a faint knock. Probably because she knew a member of the household was standing right behind her, possibly thinking of a way to choke her to death.
After what he did to her without remorse, anything was possible. But what Hunter hadn’t known was that he had transformed her internally.
She’d thrown all caution to the wind since the worst event in her life occurred. The one before it was losing a loved one.
Hunter rolled his eyes and then walked up the three stairs. Bri heard the door keys jingle in his hand and turned around. Their eyes met. He walked to the door and unlocked it.
“Come in let’s talk, “he said. Bri took a step back.
“Is your mom home?”
“No.”
“Then I'll pass.”
“Common, “he said, his eyes darting to a particular house across the streets. “My nosy neighbor is watching us and might tell my parents.”
Bri glanced across the street, searching for the nosy neighbor. She saw nothing and turned to Hunter who nudged with his head towards the entrance door.
“I don’t trust you— not anymore.”
Hunter sighed. “Okay. Let's take a walk.”
“Where are we going?”
“Anywhere but here.” He paused and then ran his fingers through his shiny, greasy hair.
“But I came to see your mom.”
“She's not home!”
Bri shuddered from the sudden outburst.
“I'm sorry,” he said, in a low tone, taking Bri by surprise, again.
“Why are you being Jekyll and Hyde on me?”
“Because this is frustrating.”
“What about me?” Bri said, her voice betraying her. “I am the one whose life you ruined out of your selfish desire to have sex with me. You made a bet on me, and foolish me fell for you.”
Hunter gazed at her, speechless.
“You probably thought I would never hear about that, too.” He said nothing. And then, suddenly grabbed her hand.
“Let me go,” Bri struggled, but her strength was no match for his. He pulled her into the living room and shut the door behind them.
Bri twirled around, searching for something harmful to defend herself.
“Calm down,” she heard him say in the voice she loved to listen to before falling asleep, that was, before everything fell apart. That soothing voice that deceived her into trusting him with her heart.
She turned to him. The anger had drained from his eyes. What was left of it was a sad face. He wasn’t standing in that bravado stature anymore. He looked— deflated.
What happened to the most popular guy in school, whose shoulders rose higher than his ears, and his ego taller than Mt Logan?
Bri watched as his height reduced right before her eyes. Her eyes would've bulged bigger had she not concealed her disbelief.
Bri,” he said. “I'm on my knees. Please, I'll find a way to tell my mother.”
Bri raised her chin and cleared her throat.
“What exactly are you going to tell her?”
“That I got you pregnant.” Bri waited for more. “And we are keeping the baby.”
Bri gasped, and then a warm smile spread on her face. She opened her mouth to say something but thought it wise to listen and not jinx the new transformation in Hunter.
He rose and stood a distance away from Bri. Her eyes fell on his broad chest. How she wished she could run into his arms, and he would smother her fears away. She caught herself quickly and refocused on her surroundings.
“But—,” he started to say. Bri frowned. “In return for my compliance, I'd like you to delete the conversation we had the other day.”
“Of course,” Bri said with relief, thankful he didn’t ask for it because she didn’t have it in the first place. “I'll do that after the baby is born, and the dust has settled. When everything returns to normal.”
He said nothing. Just looked away.
Bri knew nothing would be normal for a sixteen-year-old single mother. She glanced around the familiar room, and let her gaze fall back on him.
I'd like a hug, was what she prepared to say, but that'd make her needy and clingy.
“I have to go,” she said and walked past him to the door. She placed her hand on the cool doorknob and then felt a soft touch on her shoulder. She turned around her heart racing. Without a word, Hunter pulled her into his chest, hugging her. Her brow creased as his grip around her tightened.
“What are doing?” Bri said, her hand on his chest as she pushed him away from her.
“Nothing. Just giving you a hug.” Bri backed off one more step.
“Okay?” She said as if asking a question.
“I want to make up for my past unkind behavior.”
Bri rolled her eyes.
“I have to go,” she said, and then turned the door knob.
“Wait.” Bri spun around.
“You don’t need to… you know… be celibate anymore.” He shrugged. Bri’s eyes widened.
“Are you kidding me?”
“It’s just not worth it… I mean… you’re no longer a virgin. Why not explore? Flo and Casey are having fun with their boyfriends.” Bri sighed.
“You are right, I’m no longer a virgin, but you’re not my boyfriend. Even if you were, I wouldn’t sleep with you.” He glared at her.
“Is that it?”
“Goodbye, Hunter.”
“Yeah. Goodbye. And good luck taking care of that kid by yourself.” That stopped Bri in her tracks. Hunter smirked.
“I was hoping we could work things out together, you know, tell my parents about the pregnancy, and ask for financial support from them, but you’ve chosen to be a single mother rather than work with me.”
“By sleeping with you?”
“Is it too much to ask for? After all, I’ll be the one providing diaper and the rest of them, or do you have a job or the means to provide for the baby?”
Bri gulped.
“Hunter….”
“Wasn’t that the reason you came to see my mom? To play the victim, and ask for financial support?”
“I am a victim.”
“How? When you showed up in your skimpy jeans short, what did you expect? That we would sit together and pray the Hail Mary?”
“Wow!” Bri said, surprised.
“You played me. You wanted to have sex with me, only you couldn’t tell me. But, Casey told me that you wanted me.”
“What!”
“Oh, please. Stop playing ignorant because you’re not.”
Bri struggled to keep the tears from falling, but they betrayed her. Hunter threw his arms in the air.
“Now you’re crying. So, I’m supposed to come to you and wrap my arms around you.”
Bri wiped the tears off her face, her eyes soft.
“Hunter,” she said, her voice wobbly. “I don’t want your money, and I don’t want you, but you must know this, when your child….”
He nodded his head. “That’s not my child.” But Bri ignored him.
“When your child is born, be prepared to have a DNA test.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Not necessary? Wouldn’t you want to clear your stupid name?”
“I don’t want you to be embarrassed,” he said, as a matter of fact.
“Please, don’t. For your sake.”
“You’re a jerk,” Bri said before storming out of his house, tears blinding her eyes. The burning midday sun hit her skin and stung her eyes as she fought to keep them open. She searched in her bag for her phone, found it and dialed.
Flo stopped in the middle of her conversation and peeked on her phone. On a second thought, she let it go into voice mail.
“Flo, I just wanted to say, thanks for having my back,” Bri said before dropping the call and head home. She had wondered how Hunter knew of her coming to his house and then remembered she’d told Flo of her plan to visit his mom. Only Flo knew of her plan, although, she had intentionally omitted the day set to hatch her plan, Hunter had thought it safe to come home.
The house was empty and quiet as usual. Bri ambled to the fridge and found a half bag of red apples. She washed and bit into an apple as she leafed through the pregnancy and birth book she had borrowed from a library near home before heading to Hunter’s house. Amidst reading, she fell asleep on the couch.
8
⸙
A few hours later, her phone rang jolting her out of sleep. Disoriented, she searched for her phone like a mad woman, hoping the caller wouldn’t drop before she found and answered. She trained her eyes on the phone, trying to decipher the number.
It was an unknown number, but she answered anyway. And listened to the female voice at the end of the line. That was nice of him, she thought of Hunter as she said her goodbye to his mother. At least, it was the first unselfish thing he had done in a while.
His mother promised to support whatever decision she made but begged she protect her son by keeping the unfortunate event between her and them, his family. She requested Bri and Hunter stay as friends, as he was the link to providing for the child when it was born. She would send her a private number to reach her should Bri want to talk.
Bri wrinkled her nose as a whiff of smoke blew past her. She became highly alert and rose off the couch. She’s back. Her eyes darted to the wall clock, and her heart fell when she spotted the pregnancy book lying face up on the table, and the pages closed. She reached for the coffee table and yanked the book of it, shoving it in her bag, but it was too late.
Still Breathing Page 3