Mercy: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Montlake Prep Book 5)

by Nora Cobb

  Troy steps in front of me, blocking Jacob. “Natalie, he needed to know. So we could make a decision.” Troy runs a hand through his head, leaving it a mess. “I would have liked the option of marrying you and taking care of our baby myself, but I know how you feel about the three of us. And we had a talk.”

  “A talk?” I shriek. “Without me?”

  “We agreed to act together and share our relationship with you, until Jacob pulled this stunt.” Troy gives Jacob a dirty look, then turns back to me. “Why did you say yes?” he asks, his voice urgent and desperate. “Were you scared I would abandon you?”

  “No,” I shake my head furiously. “I don’t know. Maybe I am scared, and I just want to be sure. It was a relief to hear those words.”

  I turn and face Lucas, who’s eyeing Jacob, and standing an equal distance away from Troy. Too late, I wonder if they will fight over me. I don’t want that. I’ve never wanted that. I pray for calm.

  Beth has gotten into her car. No doubt to avoid witnessing this scene.

  I walk to the center of the triangle that they form, choosing not to stand near either of them. “I need more time to figure it out,” I explain.

  Lucas scoffs, but Troy is the one to speak.

  “Sooner or later, you’re going to have to make a choice—no matter how difficult or hard it may be.”

  I hadn’t realized it, but I am rubbing my stomach.

  Troy’s gaze softens, but my intent wasn’t to gain sympathy. I want understanding.

  “Whatever you decide,” he replies, “I’ll accept it.”

  Troy’s expression is self-assured, and the way he used to look at me when he thought I was easy, and I would cave in to his charm. He believes that the baby will change my decision.

  I turn to look at Lucas. And I regret not telling him myself. His expression is unreadable as he stares at me. For a time, he doesn’t speak, and the only noise is a cacophony of birds chirping as the sunlight slowly illuminates the deck.

  Lucas sighs. “I’ll accept your decision, whatever it is.”

  He walks to the car, but I run and grab his hand. The touch makes him hesitate. I hope it gives him reassurance that I’m not heartless and that I care. Lucas turns toward me, and his hardness softens as he cups my face in his hand.

  “I didn’t think I would risk losing you so quickly,” he whispers.

  “Lucas, I should have told you. I would have told you. But I’m not even sure.”

  He frowns. Maybe they didn’t tell him everything.

  “I took a test,” I explain. “I’ll know soon.”

  He nods and takes his hand away. I shiver from the coldness. He gets into the Camaro and waits for Troy. I watch as the car leaves the deck and heads for the school gates. The sunlight is too weak to see the car clearly. I watch the headlights move swiftly until they’re gone.

  Beth jumps out of her car and waves Jacob over. They speak in low voices, and he hesitates. Jacob is uncertain, but he gets into the Hummer and leaves.

  “I told him I would drive you home,” she says. “We agree you need alone time. And as soon as the drugstore opens, I’ll get you a pee test.”

  I can’t answer her as the world starts to sway in wild ellipses. I grab my stomach and run to the far edge of the parking deck into a dark and isolated corner. I throw up. Beth rubs my back and holds my hair away from my face as I heave again. She hands me a pack of tissues from her clutch, and I wipe my mouth. My tears streak my face as I wipe the snot off my nose along my cheek. I’m a mess. Totally and completely.

  “I can’t even explain why I accepted Jacob’s proposal, but I couldn’t have said maybe and left him hanging in front of the entire senior class. People know that he’s been cut off by his father. How could I turn him down with the whole senior class watching?”

  “Maybe you were scared,” replies Beth. “It’s not easy being a single mother with a high school degree. Jacob may not have his family’s money, but we all know he’s going to be a star. He threw you a lifeline, and any sane girl would have grabbed it.”

  “Thanks,” I look at my messy hands, and I spit over the low wall. “I need water.”

  “Come on.” Beth hugs me, unconcerned with the puke on my dress, “I’ll drive us to your house, and I’ll hang out. Make sure you’re okay.”

  I buckle myself into the passenger seat as Beth starts her car. I think back to my first week at Montlake when Beth picked me up and drove me home, so I would fit in. She came to my rescue then, and she is still there for me now.

  I start to cry again, harder, not caring that my puffy face is a snotty, wet mess.

  “I was so close,” I gasped, “So close to the end. I really thought I was going to leave Montlake scot-free.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Natalie

  “Natalie, can I see your engagement ring?”

  Tabby saw it at prom, but a group of junior girls who haven’t yet surround her. I’m so tired of hearing that question that I stuck the ring in my dresser drawer before I left for school this morning. And it’s only Tuesday.

  “I’m having it sized,” I reply, “maybe when I get it back.”

  Tabby pouts like I ruined her life. “Okay, but remember, please.”

  I’m the queen of Montlake, so why do I want to hide in my car like the bad old days when people hated me? I lean my forehead on the cold metal of my locker, and will my mind to go empty. I just need a mental break for a minute or two. Since Monday morning, Jacob’s proposal has been the talk of the school. The gossip gauge has gone completely in the opposite direction. Instead of being badmouthed and scorned, I’m now being admired for scoring a wedding proposal during prom. And double bonus, he’s a football captain that’s expected to go pro someday. I sigh.

  A hand touches my shoulder.

  “No,” I moan, “I can’t show you my ring. It’s at the jeweler.”

  “Been there, seen that.”

  I raise my head off my locker and turn to face Beth. “I don’t know if I can do this all day,” I moan pitifully.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t,” she frowns. “You’re looking awfully pale. How are you feeling?”

  Without thinking, I put my hand on my stomach, and then, I snatch it off. God help me if any of these kids figure out what’s really going on in my fucked-up personal drama. I can handle them knowing about my engagement, but if they knew about the pregnancy, I’d be socially screwed. Not that I care about being the queen, but if being the queen means I’m not bullied, then I’ll rule over them.

  “Thanks for staying over this weekend,” I say to Beth. “I really appreciated it.”

  Beth leans in and whispers in my ear, “Look, ready or not, you need to know, and you know what I’m talking about. You look a wreck from not knowing. Meet me by my car at lunch, and we’ll go and buy that thing we’ve been talking about. Okay?”

  I nod. Because I really don’t think I can go through another day of not knowing. I check my phone, and I haven’t received any messages from the doctor’s office, and even if they had the results, they would still require me to go in.

  ***

  Beth has balls bigger than any bully in either Montlake or the tristate. “You wait here. I’ll go in and buy it.”

  “Are you sure?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “What difference does it make if they spread a rumor about me buying a pregnancy test? Let the losers spread a false rumor about my imaginary love life. It might be more exciting than anything I could’ve thought up.”

  Beth returns in a few minutes with the plastic bag wrapped tightly around the small box inside. She opens the bag, hands me a bottled water, and I drink it down. It’s almost time for lunch to end, but I really need to know. We don’t have time to go to either of our houses, so we return to school.

  “We’ll go to the library bathroom, and you can take the test there. Then we’ll get late passes from East Hall.”

  ***

  I moan, squeezing my eyes shut.

  “Natalie, it
will be okay. Even if you’re pregnant, Jacob is willing to marry you, so you won’t have to do this alone.”

  “No, Troy just sent me a text, and he wants to talk.”

  Beth pauses and stares straight at the empty road. There’s hardly any traffic, and she doesn’t need to concentrate on her driving so hard. “What do you think he wants to talk about?”

  “The baby, of course. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s his.”

  “So, what does that mean for you and Jacob?”

  “I don’t know except that Troy wants to be involved in the baby’s life.”

  Beth doesn’t speak again until after she parks her car in the deck. “Okay, so you didn’t ask for my opinion, but as always, I’m going to give it to you anyway. I know you have a thing for Lucas, Troy, and Jacob, but you have to choose one … and if it were me, I’d go with Jacob.”

  I frown, gulping down the last of the water. “Why would you pick him?”

  “Because if it’s Troy’s baby, you’re going to have to deal with his scary mother.”

  “But Jacob’s father is hateful,” I explain. “He hates the world and all of its inhabitants.”

  “Yeah, but Jacob’s father probably will leave the two of you alone, whereas Troy’s mother will probably be hanging around like a vulture in a tree, watching over the three of you.”

  I grimace at the visual. “And what about Lucas?”

  Beth narrows her eyes on me as if I’m clueless. “Even though Lucas might want to marry you, he’s been married. And it wasn’t fun for him. He may not want to do it again so fast. He’s like a kid who touched the hot stove and got burnt, and now he might not want to go near fire again for a while.”

  “But he loves me.”

  Beth sighs as she shoves the test kit in her book bag. “Girl, marriage and love are two different planets in the solar system, okay? You can love somebody, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should marry them.”

  “You don’t think I should marry Lucas if he asks?”

  “I would just pick Jacob.” Beth shoves her car door open with her foot. “Plus, he wasted no time facing up to responsibility. There was a hard decision to make, and he didn’t hesitate. He had the ring. The boy comes prepared.”

  We head out of the car, and I think a little bit about what Beth has said about the captains. She’s right. Troy wants to take care of the baby, but that could mean anything. And Lucas just ended his marriage to Arielle. Even if he wanted to marry me—how would that look in court? Could the Blackwaters go after the Bellmans again if we waste no time running to the altar?

  “You know, Beth. I never really gave marriage much thought.”

  She slows her pace. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, I’m in a panic, but do I even want to get married now?”

  “That’s the smart question, but one dilemma at a time. Do you need more water?”

  I shake my head. “Let’s do this. I have to know now or go crazy.”

  Stiff-lipped and determined, we march across the campus lawn, heading toward the library. I keep my eyes focused as the few stragglers run past us to get to class before the second chime. Beth flings the door open, and without a word, we head for the women’s room in the basement. Hopefully, we’ll have some privacy, and there won’t be a freshman girl sobbing in the stall. Unfortunately, at Montlake, that sight is a common occurrence.

  “Empty,” says Beth after checking the two stalls in the small bathroom. “You’re good.”

  I throw the bolt on the bathroom door, and I head toward the last stall. I pause as Beth grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug. Resting my forehead on her shoulder, she rubs soothing circles on my back in the small, tiled room where my fate is about to be decided.

  “Don’t worry, Natalie,” she says. “You’ll be all right. I remember the first day I saw you dressed like an Amish farmer in your ridiculously long skirt. You’re now the queen of Montlake.” She pulls away and looks at me with tears in her eyes. “You’re a strong woman, and you will rule your life.”

  I wipe a tear away from my lashes. “Thanks. You’re my favorite sassy bitch, and I’ll love you for being that way.”

  “Someone has to be the voice of reason,” she smiles, pulling the box out of her bag and handing it to me. “Now, woman up, and go pee on that stick.”

  Awkwardly, I manage it and come out of the stall holding the stick in my hand. I place it on the other sink before washing my hands. Beth and I stare at it intently. A baby would be a wonderful thing in the future. So many other things would be better, right now. And the more I think about it, the more I don’t want to have to get married. I want to get married, but I don’t want to have to get married.

  A line appears through the window, but we wait to see if the second line will appear. We don’t touch or disturb it, just in case handling it will mess it up.

  Beth shakes her head. “If only one line shows, that means you’re not pregnant.”

  “What if it’s torn? Should I try again?” I ask. “How do you even know?”

  “Look, the box says so. If you’re pregnant, the first line would appear, and then the second. Line one reacts to the hormones. The second line is a control. If the strip is damaged, it won’t appear. See?”

  I clutch my chest with my hands spread out and look to the ceiling for thanks. The relief washes over me like a calm breeze, and all the tension and strain drains out of me. It was only a false alarm.

  “Are the tests one hundred percent accurate?” I ask, to be sure.

  Beth shakes her head as she tosses the box away. The lid of the can swings back and forth. “Ninety-nine percent. No word from the doctor yet?”

  I frown. “No, it’s like he went on vacation and forgot about me.”

  There’s a tap on the door, and we both jump. I grab the stick and toss it in the trash can before Beth unlocks the bolt. A freshman steps in, and I recognize her as one of Arielle’s latest followers. I can barely hide my disapproval while I scoot past the girl and exit without a word.

  “Why’d you have the door locked?” she asks Beth.

  Beth scoffs. “Do you really need me to tell you why you lock the door when you use the bathroom? You look toilet trained.”

  The girl sharpens her gaze on Beth but doesn’t respond. The door shuts, and then the soft click indicates that she’s locked us out. I guess that will teach us some manners.

  “See that,” Beth nods. “Now everyone will be locking the doors.”

  “Do you think I should have taken the test with me?”

  Beth screws up her face in disgust. “I hope that little hamster doesn’t go picking in the trash.”

  “You’re right. I’m being paranoid.”

  We head over to East Hall for our passes. I open the door half expecting to see the hallway covered in balloons, but there’s no indication that anything out of the ordinary ever happens here. I run my hand over my stomach. Thankfully, there’s no indication there either.

  My phone chimes before we enter the office. I check the screen. It’s the doctor’s office requesting that I call.

  “That’s a good sign,” says Beth, “if you were pregnant, they’d make you come in.”

  I look at her, hesitating outside the door. “I want to know now.”

  We run back outside, and I make the call. When Beth sees my smile, she knows the news.

  “Ninety-nine percent accurate,” she smiles.

  My lips curl into a slight frown. “If only I could solve all my other problems so decisively.”

  “Are you still going to marry Jacob?” she asks.

  I shrug. “I want to, but now, there’s no rush.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Jacob

  The end result of my proposal is that it was the game changer. It leveled out the playing field the second I knelt down in front of Natalie during prom. I could’ve done it in private, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it was also a power play. Troy and Lucas are pissed to the point of hating me.
I knew they would be, and I didn’t care. They were both getting a bit too cocky for my comfort. Sneaky Troy staked a claim to Natalie by getting her pregnant, and I didn’t want him to think he’ll win her by default. And it isn’t going to be that way after I had my say. I want her as much as Troy and Lucas, but I’m willing to prove myself to get her.

  After the prom, Beth suggested that I just leave Natalie with her. She assured me that everything would be okay. I trusted Beth, and reluctantly gave Natalie some space. I meant what I said when I told Natalie that I’m okay raising another man’s baby. And I really meant it when I told her that I will love the baby because it’s a part of her. It makes no difference to me whether I got Natalie pregnant or Troy did. To me, the baby is hers, and I want them both.