Chapter one

Devon

Have you ever been in love? That heart racing, breath taking, butterflies in the stomach in love? No? We I have and it was taken away from me by a psychotic bitch. She ran my girlfriend over after she pushed me away, pregnant with her child. Yes, my girlfriend was an intersex woman.

It's been two weeks and I can't bring myself to look at her. It's her first day back and the psychotic bitch has been all over her, rubbing it in my face. I ran to the one person in this school who knew my secret. She has a free first period and I really needed her. She's been there to comfort me the last few weeks and I'm grateful for her.

Her classroom door was open and I walk in as she looks up from her session plans for this week. One look at the tears rolling down my cheeks and she knew why I was here. The whole school knew Jennifer was coming back today. The other teachers knew Jennifer and I were dating and lost her memory of me, but only Miss James knows about the baby.

She closes the classroom door and takes me in her arms without a word. My shoulders shook violently as uncontrolled sobs filled the empty classroom. I feel her rub my back in comfort and kiss the top of my head. The smell of her perfume was calming and I shutter a calming breath.

The bell rings for my first period, but I don't let go. She tries to step back, but I tighten my arms around her. She goes back to rubbing my back and I let out a content sigh. It stays quiet as the minutes pass before her classroom door opens and Miss Clark walks in.

"I thought you'd be in here," she says in sympathy.

She knows that Miss James was there when it happened and that I've been turning to her for comfort while at school. The entire staff knew and they let it go. "Would you like to go home for the day," Miss Clark asks with understanding.

I gingerly shake my head and step back from Miss James. I look teary eyes to Miss Clark and ask in a choked whisper, "Can you change my schedule, please? I don't want it to match Jennifer or Jessica."

A strong wave of nausea hits me and my stomach twists. I dash to the trash can next to Miss James's desk and feel the unwanted bile making it's way up my throat and into the bin. Miss James is there in an instant, holding back my hair and offering tissues. "Are you pregnant," Miss Clark asks with concern.

I fall slack against Miss James as uncontrolled sobs escape my lips. I tune out as she explained to Miss Clark about everything. She gently rocks me as I calm from my sobs and I close my eyes, feeling emotionally exhausted. "Devon," Miss Clark asks in sympathy and I look at her. "Do you think you can handle your schedule for today?"

I give a slight nod and ask quietly, "Can I stay in here until next period? Please?"

"Of course and I promise not to say anything about the baby," Miss Clark says in sympathy and I let out a relieved breath.

I was getting emotional and hug Miss Clark. "We're on your side Devon. I know about Jessica and her family. I know she's behind what happened because of the video footage but the police confiscated it. I'm sorry," she says in sympathy. "I can only suspend her. Her parents pay donations to the school and the school board refuses to let me do anything more than that."

I step away from her, hugging my stomach and look between the two women. "What happens now," I ask quietly. "I don't have anyone here aside the two of you."

"You can come to either of us if you need to," Miss Clark says with a light smile.

I look at Miss James and she smiles lightly, "My classroom is open whenever you need to get away."

"Thank you," I choke with relief as tears roll down my cheeks.

"And you can always come sit in my office," Miss Clark says with a light smile.

The bell rings for the end of first period and startles me. Miss James places her hands on my shoulders and I let out a breath of relief. Realization hits me as I remember I have Miss James's class now, with both Jennifer and Jessica. My eyes widen as I meet hers and my breaths quicken as I panic.

She quickly comes to realize the same thing. "Go sit with Miss Clark in her office. You can stay after school for the lesson," she says and raises a brow at Miss Clark.

She nods with understanding but before we could leave, Jennifer and Jessica enter the room. Jessica gives me a sinister smile and looks at Jennifer. "Babe, sit with me? We're switching lab partners and I want to be yours this time instead of that thing," she says gesturing towards me.

"Jessica Adams, I will not tolerate bullying in my school," Miss Clark bellows and Jessica scoffs. "Detention the rest of the week. Keep it up and I'll gladly convince the board to expell you."

"Good luck with that. My father will have you fired," she sneers.

"Jessica," Jennifer says sternly and Jessica flinches. "Enough. I'm not going down for you. Maybe I don't want to be your lab partner and get stuck with all the work."

"Whatever," she scuffs and sits at a table in the back right corner.

Jennifer cocks her head, looking at me confused. She steps closer to me and asks, "Didn't you visit me in the hospital?"

Not knowing what to say, I nod lightly. "Why?"

Tears flood my vision and I briskly walk around her and out of the room. I push through students talking to each other in the halls until I make it to Miss Clark's office. The secretary tries to stop me but Miss Clark dismissed her.

I collapse to my knees as she closes the door and sobs tear through me. I pull the ultrasound photo from my backpack and wish her memory would return before the baby is due. Miss Clark's office door opens and I look up to see Miss James. "I want to go home," I say between broken sobs. "My mom is working and I don't want to be alone."

Erica

"Take her home, I'll get someone to cover your classes," Julie says looking at Devon in sympathy.

I hold my hand out towards her and help her to her feet. I grab her backpack before she could and place my arm around her back as I guide her out of the school. Teachers look at her in sympathy knowing I've been taking her home the last two weeks and all know what happened at spring fling.

I get her to my car and help her in the passenger seat. As I walk around to the driver's side I notice Jennifer walking out the main school doors. She looks in pain, sighs and walks to her car. I get in the driver's seat and head to Devon's house.

I glance at her periodically throughout the drive and she's staring at the ultrasound printout. I've developed feelings for her in the last two weeks, but I keep it to myself. Reason one, she's pregnant. Reason two, she's still recovering from Jennifer losing her memory. Reason three, I'm her teacher.

I hear sniffles and Devon was hiding her face in her hands. I park in her driveway, turn off my car and turn in my seat. I gently take her hands from her face and she vigorously shakes her head. The pain her eyes held tore my heart to pieces. It wasn't physical pain, it was emotional pain.

I get out, walk over to her side and help her out. I get her inside and sat her on the couch. I kneel in front of her and my heart breaks seeing her like this. She lays facing the back of the couch, sobbing uncontrollably. I pull my cellphone out and call her mother. "God bless you Erica. I don't know what she'd do without you, teacher or not," she chokes with relief.

"She needs support right now and I want to be here for her," I say quietly as tears fill my eyes.

"You have feelings for her, don't you," she asks with understanding.

"Yes," I say in a barely audible whisper.

"Don't give up on her. Irene mentioned Jennifer's condition is looking permanent," Lucia chokes quietly and I felt my heart tear for Devon and their baby. "Give her time Erica and she'll come around."

"Yeah, I can stay until you end your shift if that's okay," I say quietly as Devon continues to sob in the other room. "She didn't want to be alone."

"Of course, you're always welcome," Lucia says and ends the call.

I walk back in by Devon and she had her arms hugged to her stomach. I ignore the fact I'm a teacher and she's a student and lay behind her. I caress her stomach and feel her shutter a calming breath as she holds my hand in place. "Thank you," she chokes quietly and looks back at me. "You've been there through it all and there were times I pushed you away. So thank you, thank you for not leaving me."

"I don't plan on going anywhere," I say quietly and she smiles lightly.

Her smile fades and asks with tears in her eyes, "Do you think she'll get her memory back?"

I hate to be the one to break her spirit so I knew I had to lie. Lucia also said not to give up on her and I won't. I'll wait however long it takes. "I don't know," I say quietly and she lays back down.

"Promise me something," she asks in a choked whisper, looking back at me and I nod. "If she doesn't regain her memory, will you raise my baby?"

Did she really just ask me that? I guess I took too long to answer her because she shook her head in disappointment and faces the back of the couch, pushing me away. "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you to ask me that," I choke quietly, thinking about Alexis. "I told you I wasn't able to get this far with my wife. She was killed in an accident last year. So if anyone knows how you're feeling right now, I do. Yeah Jennifer may still be alive, but her memory isn't and I can't imagine how that must feel.

"I'd be honored to raise your baby, but only if it comes to that," I say in a wavering whisper as tears roll down my cheeks. I stand to leave and she still faces the back of the couch. "I'll let your mother know you wanted space. I understand if you changed your mind about your baby."

I was opening the front door when I felt her grab my hand. I look back at her and got lost in her hazel eyes. I haven't felt this since Alexis, but I know she doesn't feel the same. I watch tears roll down her cheeks and wipe them away. She shutters a calming breath and pulls me back to the living room.

She pushes me down on the couch, pushing my shoulders for me to lay against the arm of the couch. I watch her, confused of what was happening. My heart was racing and the butterflies in my stomach were making me nauseous. She lays on the inside of the couch with her head on my chest. I wrap my arms around her, rubbing her back in comfort.

I feel her shaky breaths slow as she starts falling asleep. She moves her head over the best of my chest and lets out a content sigh. I stroke her hair and before long, she was sound asleep. I'm reminded of doing this with Alexis when she was upset. Doing it for Devon now only makes me fall for her more. I wish I could just tell her how I feel, but she might just push me away.

I woke to someone shaking my shoulder. I try to sit up, but there was a weight on my chest. I open my eyes and immediately met with Devon's face pointed up towards me. She had hair in her face and I tuck it behind her ear. She looked to peaceful compared to before she fell asleep.

A throat clears and I whip my head in the direction of Lucia. She has a knowing smile on her face and I felt my cheeks burn, looking away from her. "What time is it," I ask quietly.

"School just ended and Enrique let me leave early when I told him Devon left school upset. I've been home since lunch and you were already sleeping," she says with a smile and looks at Devon. Her smile fades and says quietly, "I know she's still hurting bout Jennifer, but I see the way she looks at you. Give her time Erica, she'll come around."

"You don't mind," I ask in a choked whisper and she looks at me confused. "I'm her teacher Lucia, I could lose my job and go to jail."

"Has anyone said anything yet?"

"No, they know I've been taking her home. This is just the first she's asked me to stay with her. She asked me to raise her baby if Jennifer doesn't regain her memory," I choke quietly as tears fill me eyes.

"Will you," she asks as tears fill her eyes and looks at Devon.

"Of course I will, even if it means I don't get to be with her," I choke quietly and Lucia looks at me with sympathy. "She asked me about Jennifer getting her memory, I told her I didn't know. I couldn't crush her like that."

She nods with understanding as Devon stirs next to me. I quickly wipe my eyes as she stretches next to me. She looks at me, disoriented from sleep but lays back on my chest. "Thank you for staying," she says in a husky whisper from her sleep.

God that was the most beautiful sound I've heard since Alexis. Her latina accent was heavy and I found it cute. I rub her back gently and say quietly, "You're welcome."