ahl

ked. R

ime believing what was being

tly, I wasn't the only one in shock.

e her life depended on it. I was very aware of t

throw fists. But my body was still in s

mething we could have talked about. Did he really have to humiliate me like

e didn't want the baby, it was something we could hav

kiss and Williams bro

as the first to speak. "Your

oey cut in with that

looking between Williams and me. I didn'

s. My stomach was clenching hard and I

they sat down - more like William sat down a

more cautious now, almost... prot

ars. My legs felt weak. I wasn't e

ked, my voice barely above a whisper

he table. Even Zoe

his eyes trained on the table, jaw clen

" he muttered. "I told yo

pped like bricks on my ches

out of what

g glance. "Little miss perfect here has been fucking around and a

water was poured o

pted, drawing in the attent

s already spreading the news. Of all the p

words not computing i

I asked, even though I'd

y the growing circle of attentio

flickering between me and Williams like he wa

barely

oice was purposefully loud this

all and I felt my world grow

out, camera lights blinking like I was on stage

s point. My gaze was fixated on Williams

g, horror seeping into every syllable. "You told her before we even finished t

didn't look a

You seemed pretty determined to keep the bastar

er his breath, disgust

ce. "So instead of being a man and facing it, yo

d, her voice syrupy and cruel. "He was venting to me because

about this or me, so st

ool, begging him to notice you. I know you're desperate to stay relevant since cheer tryouts are around the corner and freshmen

owd la

f them. B

the ground was split

st hope for a lifeline, for

't say

even

, running a hand through his hai

something in

ing but steadying the longer I spoke. "Fine. Let'

sh f

the test I had shoved in there this mornin

n the table in

And unless one of you was in my bed two weeks ago during that party..."

. Phones went up. I was offici

shrieked, recoiling like it

g, but to me, not to Zoey. "Dahlia,

ed me in front of the entire school, lied about our relationship, and no

le

t have a snide

blow, from somewhere in

s totally g

ght

ugly kind. The kind that burrows into

ed. But I wasn't going to let the

ld glare. "When you're ready to use yo

ed. "Quit acting like a hot shot

etermine who is embarrassing who

falling down my cheeks. I couldn't take it an

pain away and think of the next step to

n even bigger surprise w

until Denise descended the stairs.

ly came home," there was a smugn

pite the fact that she was my big sist

to school today

y myself," she smiled and made her way to the

. I crashed on the bed, thinking of

ck from school, my parents came home. It was unlike them to

r slammed shu

p immed

rough the hallway, and I

he asked someone.

room," Denise replied, and there was a sm

open before I had the

adable, but that was almost worse than anger. Then came

said, holding up her phone like it was some kin

een she shoved in my

m

sch

ng th

about bein

eering. Zoey yelling. Wil

g moment, now immorta

had thousan

ain from my face. H

as going to

or after the entire state knew? Before or after the PTA meeting next week where I have to look

d hard, th

ly spoke. His voice was terr

now. "It was... It's

ds on her hips. "The one we let sleep over here on game

hame heatin

ying it?" my

to say it's not his. T

ng through her hair. "Do you have any idea what you'

ing again. "I'm not some scheming girl trying to trap

ren't liste

the fin

f juice like this was some primetime show. "Why else would she parade the test around sc

shut up!"

rl who got dumped, humiliated, and pregnant in the middle of the cafeteria. Congratulations. You're officially the family disap

" my dad

damage w

aving, tears fa

" I choked. "I swe

ear about love or accidents or whatever fan

o tell you. I

se called sweetly from the hallway.

hem the video. I lunged towar

m. "You're going to call the clinic tomorrow. You're going to

tilted b

ha

getting an abortion. Either th