by S Cinders
“What if she doesn’t want anything to do with me?” Colt voiced his deepest fear.
“I can’t predict how she will respond. Katie is young, her heart hasn’t mended from the loss of her parents. I am more than willing to bet she is punishing herself for the partying and the pregnancy. What she needs right now is a good friend. Who will be there no matter what. And will help her through the rough times ahead. And now that she had named the father, there will be rough times. Are you ready for that?”
“I don’t know,” Colt answered shaking his head. “But I want to be.”
“She needs you, Colt. So, be there for her if you can.”
“I will always be there for her, Mom,” Colt vowed.
Mrs. A smiled, “That’s all anyone could ask for.”
CHAPTER 18
Colt’s face looked better the following Monday. For those who asked what happened, and there were quite a few, he made up different stories. By third period the gossip was that he intercepted a drug deal and barely made it out alive. Others argued that he had been drag racing in his jeep, and crashed it. This theory was supported by the absence of his vehicle. The last excuse was the least credible, that he got into a fight over another girl. Everyone knew that Colt was dating Katie. What they didn’t know was why he didn’t walk in with Liam and Katie that morning.
Colt had given Katie some space, but he fully planned on joining her and Liam at their regular lunch table. Mitch was nowhere to be seen. Colt didn’t know what to think of that.
When lunchtime came, Colt walked into the cafeteria. He immediately spotted Katie. She was sitting alone.
He walked up and sat beside her, “Listen, Katie-cat…”
She turned to look at him, despair written clearly across her face.
Whatever Colt had been about to say, flew out of his mind.
“Colt, I’m falling in love with you.”
Surprise and hope leapt into his eyes, “You love me?”
“I couldn’t stop loving you, even if I tried. And I have tried,” Katie winced, “That doesn’t sound right, but hopefully you know what I mean. I am sorry that I didn’t tell you about everything. And I am really sorry about your face.”
Colt laughed as he pulled her into his arms. “I would take a beating a million times in the face just to hear you say that you love me.”
Katie curled into him, this was right, being in his arms. She hated the time that they had spent apart.
He smelled incredible and she could feel his muscles against her soft breasts. Leaning up Katie kissed the underside of his chin and nuzzled against his neck. “I don’t want to fight with you. But Colt, I don’t want to hold you back either. That’s why I tried to push you away.”
Colt stilled, “Katie, you do not hold me back in anyway. I don’t feel like I should be with you, I want to be with you. That includes the baby, in case you were wondering. We can make it work. I have talked to my mom and she said she would support whatever I decided. I choose you. I will always choose you.”
Katie didn’t want to cry, not here in the middle of the cafeteria. It was difficult to maintain her composure though with his declaration.
“Promise me that we will talk about any university offers that come your way. I don’t want you turning things down without me knowing.” Katie looked him in the eye, “I am serious Colt, I want to know.”
Colt nodded uneasily, “I promise.”
Secure in his arms Katie closed her eyes and leaned against him. All thoughts of her turkey sandwich and apple slices, that she had packed for lunch were forgotten.
They stayed like that through most of lunch. Anyone who looked their way, Colt would stare right back at them. He wasn’t going to take shit from anyone about his relationship with her.
A few minutes before lunch was over, Principal Owens came up to the table.
“Katie,” his gruff demeanor never changing, “I need you to come with me.”
Colt went to stand as well, but the principal stopped him, “Just Katie, Mr. Andrews.”
“Is she in trouble?” Colt asked, not liking where this was going.
“She’s not,” the principal huffed, “But her brother might be.”
Katie’s eye widened, “Take me to him.”
Colt stood anyway and followed Principal Owens and Katie to his office. Sitting there with bashed-in battered faces of their own, sat Liam and Mitch.
“What happened?” Katie raced to Liam. Glancing around frantically at the other occupants of the room.
“That bastard happened,” Liam’s tone was deadly.
Mitch hung his head.
“Got nothing to say?” Liam taunted. “You had plenty to say earlier. Why don’t you tell Principal Owens about the bet?”
Mitch looked up. His left eye was nearly shut and the right was bloodshot. He also had blood smeared on his face from a cut that was still bleeding on his lip. He sighed heavily, “I told you the truth Liam. I didn’t know the baby was mine. Although I kind of suspected it might be. But I wasn’t the only one to bang…”
“Watch it, young man,” Principal Owens warned Mitch.
“Sorry,” Mitch flushed, “I wasn’t the only one Katie slept with during that time.”
Katie spoke up for herself, “Why would you say that? Mitch, I might have partied too much and tried things I shouldn’t have. But I didn’t sleep with that many people. And that night of the party I hadn’t been with anyone for over a month.”
“That’s a lie!” Mitch looked flustered, “Lexi told me that you were trying to sleep with all the guys on the baseball team. It was some bet that you and she had going. I was just another notch on your belt, admit it!”
Katie was bewildered, “Why would she say that? There was no bet. I haven’t slept with anyone on the baseball team except you. Why would Lexi tell you that? She was my best friend!”
“Your best friend that hasn’t had anything to do with you since you fell out of popularity.” Liam gnashed his teeth. “I should have known. I never trusted her. She came on to me all the time. And would get angry with I refused.”
“I just can’t believe it,” Katie looked around the room. She saw Principal Owens ask his secretary to fetch Lexi. Mitch just sat there bleeding, with his head in his hands. Liam looked murderous. The only one that held her gaze was Colt.
“It’s going to be okay, Katie-cat, I promise.” He whispered.
“Okay?” Mitch’s laugh did not hold humor, “I can’t have a kid right now, I am a senior in high school! You must give the baby up Katie, I can’t do this. I have my whole life in front of me. I won’t have some snot nosed kid ruining that.”
Liam growled menacingly at Mitch, “You had better shut the hell up.”
“Nothing will change in your life,” they swung around to hear Katie speak up. “I have no intention of forcing anyone into his baby’s life. Least of all, a father who doesn’t want her.”
“It’s a girl?” Mitch asked.
“We won’t know for a few weeks,” Katie answered, “But I have never wanted anything from you, Mitch. I am not going to start now.”
Colt’s next words shocked everyone, “I have lived most of my life knowing that my dad didn’t care about me. This baby will never know that feeling. Don’t worry about your precious future, Mitch. This baby doesn’t need you.”
He wrapped his arms around Katie, “We don’t need you.”
CHAPTER 19
At first Lexi denied everything. But the chips were stacked against her, and as her lies began to unravel, so did she.
“Katie had it all. Everyone loved her and everyone wanted to be like her. Do you know how it feels to be second best at everything? I was sick of being in her shadow. I was tired of guys trying to chat me up just to talk about my best friend. Katie isn’t that great. She and her brother are both snobs, neither one knows what it is like to work for what you have. So, yeah, I told Mitch and a few other guys on the team that we bet on who could sleep with the most players
. And I left her at Mitch’s house, on purpose. But I didn’t force anyone to sleep with her. Nor did I have anything to do with them not using protection. So, the way I see it. There is nothing that you can do to me.”
Principal Owens shook his head, “That’s where you are wrong. You not only spread rumors about the baseball team, but you have admitted to trying to ruin Katie. We have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying. Lexi, I will be calling your parents and discussing your expulsion.”
“I am being expelled? Just for spreading some rumors? That is a load of crap!” Lexi fumed.
“You will be lucky if the McCannon’s don’t decided to take you and your parents to court for wrongful defamation. This is not a place for that type of behavior.”
Lexi’s eyes were wild, “I didn’t do anything more than any other girl in this school does. That bully policy is a load of shit and you know it!”
Colt spoke up, “Looks like that load of shit, just got you expelled.”
Principal Owens’ lips twitched, “Language, Mr. Andrews.”
“I am sorry, sir,” Colt wasn’t in the least bit sorry.
“Well, at this point it looks like I can let the rest of you go. Liam and Mitch, you will have detention for the rest of the week. Regardless of the circumstances, fighting is not allowed on school grounds. But I do understand that emotions were high, so consider this your final warning. I will not tolerate this type of behavior at my school. If it happens again, you will be joining Lexi. Do I make myself clear?”
Liam nodded his head, “Yes, sir.” And Mitch did the same.
The principal excused everyone except for Lexi.
As they filed out of the office Mitch turned to Katie, “I am sorry, Katie.”
Katie pushed back against Colt, and his arms automatically came around her. “Don’t worry about it, Mitch. We were both drunk. I promise not to bother you.”
“That’s the thing,” Mitch rubbed the back of his head, “Are you sure that you won’t give the baby up? There are literally millions of families that want a child. You could have more later, when we are actual adults.”
Katie shook her head, “I don’t know if it was just the circumstances or what, but when you asked me to give up my baby I knew right then that I could never do that. I know that there are people out there that want a child. And I wish them luck, but they can’t have mine.”
Mitch nodded slowly, “I guess I understand. I will be talking to my parents, and they might have some questions. Can I call you later?”
Colt’s arms tightened around Katie.
She looked up into his face, noting his tight expression. “Sure, you can call or text me later. But I won’t be changing my mind, Mitch.”
Mitch turned to Liam and Colt, “So, I guess this mean that you both hate me?”
Colt growled at him and Liam still had that deadly look in his gaze.
“I think they are going to need some time,” Katie said in the dead silence. “Go home, talk with your parents and we will take it from there.”
Mitch smiled at her and walked away.
“I hate that stupid bastard,” Liam whispered.
“At least you got to beat the shit out of him. I didn’t get to lay a finger on him.” Colt replied. “I want to rip his balls off and shove them down his throat. Who does he think he is?”
Katie turned in his arms, “Thank you, both of you.”
Liam looked surprised, “What are you thanking us for, Bug?”
“For being you,” Katie smiled at them. And then with a laugh pulled Colt’s arm, “Come and walk me to class. That is what boyfriends do, right?”
Liam smiled at them, “It looks like you two made up.”
Colt smiled, “She loves me.”
Katie flushed, “You don’t go telling that to my brother!”
Liam grinned, “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“Oh my… Liam is that you?” Heidi rushed up behind them. “What happened to you? Were you in the accident with Colt?”
Katie looked at Colt, “Is she talking about the accident we got in?”
Heidi turned in surprise, “You were in the car, too? It must have been terrible!”
Colt’s crooked grin set Katie’s heart fluttering, “Liam was in a fight.”
Liam glared at his best friend, “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“But your jaw is all purple and bruised. Who were you fighting with?” Heidi reached a hand up to curve it around Liam’s injured jaw.
“He was fighting with Mitch because of a lie that Lexi told,” Katie saw no reason to hide the truth.
Heidi looked confused, “What lie?”
“That I was trying to sleep with the entire baseball team,” Katie muttered.
“That’s not true?” Heidi blurted out.
“Not even remotely true. Lexi has been spreading gossip about me. I guess she was jealous or something.”
Heidi nodded slowly, “She told me some awful things about you. I am sorry, Katie. I am afraid that I judged you by what Lexi had said. I figured that since she used to be your best friend that she would know. I am sorry, I hope you can forgive me.”
Katie was impressed that Heidi apologized and she knew by the look on her brother’s face that he would never forgive her if she threw this apology away.
“It’s okay, Heidi, we don’t know that much about one another. I can see when you add in me being pregnant, everything she said about me looked to be true.”
Heidi bit her lip, “I have another confession. I didn’t want to be mixed in with all the gossip, that’s why I insisted we study at my house, Liam. I am sorry. I know now that you are a great guy, and your sister is cool as well. I never should have believed the rumor mill. Do you want to study again, maybe at your house?”
Liam looked like he had won the lottery. Katie giggled and motioned to Colt that they should leave. These two love-birds didn’t need an audience.
CHAPTER 20
“Here is the spine, and then here are the major organs. Of course, you can see the rapid heart beating on the monitor. Now, do you want to know the gender of your baby, Katie?” Dr. Williams smiled kindly.
Katie’s eyes were glued to the monitor, it was a miracle that this little person was living in her belly. “Yes, please, Dr. Williams.”
The doctor moved the sonogram wand around a bit more before settling. Do you see there? There is no penis, so you my dear have a little girl.”
Liam was choked up, “You are having a girl, Bug, can you believe it?”
But that was nothing compared to Colt who was mesmerized by the screen. “I can’t believe that we can see her fingers and toes. She is the most perfect baby. Isn’t she Dr. Williams?”
Dr. Williams smiled, “Most new daddies feel that their baby is the most perfect.”
Katie was about to tell the doctor once again that Colt wasn’t the father when he spoke up first.
“Yeah, but this time I am right. My little girl is the most perfect baby. How could she be any different? She’s just like her mom.”
Katie could feel her lips trembling, Colt really was in this for the long haul. She hadn’t let her heart believe that he was really to take on this kind of responsibility. She didn’t want to set herself up for the fall after he walked away, because in her mind he would walk away.
“Are you okay, Katie?” Dr. Williams asked gently.
Katie nodded, her eyes bright, “I am just damn lucky, that’s all.”
****
Katie texted Brianna and Heidi as soon as they got back into the car to head home. And it dawned on her that before when she had hundreds of friends, Katie hadn’t had someone she could confide in. She never trusted any of them to help her with her grief, not even Lexi.
Now that she had far fewer, only enough to count on one hand. Katie knew that she could trust any one of them to help her. Regardless of whether it was to celebrate something, or if she needed a shoulder to cry on. And it felt good.
Katie didn’
t feel the need to party or drink away her life. She had finally realized that when you were with the ones that love you for who you are, that is enough. They would be there when life turned sideways which it would invariably do, it always does. But through the highs and the lows, a true friend is there for you every step of the way.
“You are awfully quiet back there, Kat. Is everything okay?”
Katie looked up to see her older brother looking at her through the rearview mirror. The concern was clearly etched on his face.
Katie smiled at him, “I love you, Liam. I hope you know that.”
Liam looked embarrassed, as he smirked back at her, “Of course you do, I am the best big brother ever. But for the record, Bug. I love you too.”
Colt grabbed her hand, and Katie glanced up. He mouthed the words, I love you.
Katie snuggled up against him as best as she could with the seatbelt in place. “I love you too, Colt.”
He then put a hand over her rounded tummy, “And you too, Peanut. We love you most.”
Liam shook his head, “You both are nauseating, I don’t know why I put up with you dating.”
Katie laughed, “Things seem to be getting more serious with Heidi. I could say the same with you.”
Liam and Katie bantered back and forth as siblings do until they pulled into the driveway. Mrs. A was waiting on the porch with a letter in her hand.
“Well, tell me!” Her enthusiasm was just what Katie needed to launch herself into the older woman’s arms.
“I am having a girl, Mrs. A!”
Mrs. A hugged Katie, “That is wonderful, I am so excited for you!”
As they pulled away Colt noticed the envelope she was holding, “What do you have there?”
Mrs. A flushed, “It’s nothing.”
“I don’t think it is nothing,” Colt approached his mom, “Can I see it?”
Mrs. A sighed, “You are going to think that I was meddling and I really wasn’t. I was only looking at options for you.”
Colt wrinkled his nose, “This is from the housing authority at Yale. I thought I told them I wasn’t coming.”