I waited patiently, but the way my foot tapped on the floor said that was a lie. Still, I waited. The last bell of the day, the bell for those that had been given detention, would soon ring and Anita’s time in detention would be over. I’d made sure mine would be the first face she saw as I waited at the door. I’d left my own class early, after the teacher left when she was called to the office. I had to see Anita, see her face. I wasn’t disappointed. When she came out of the door her face scrunched up in the cutest way and her jaw dropped. I have that effect on people, what can I say? Anita was good though, and the shock was quickly replaced with a grin.The difference from when we first met to now was so huge; I unconsciously smiled back.“Hey,” she said, walking over to me. “What are you doing here?”Her curly red hair was in a pony tail on top of her head, soft, glossy curls caught my attention before I glanced down to see those eyes of her smiling up at me.I grinned at her. “Si
“Would you mind if I came over?”My head snapped around to stare at him. I was strapping myself into the seat, and I froze with the seat belt pulled across my body.“What?” I said, stunned.He smiled. “I’m asking if you would invite me over to your house. If your Mom is there, I’ll just walk you over to the door. I still feel like I should apologize and explain things to her, though, if she was really mad at you.”Mom was never really mad, though, just worried. While the neighborhood we lived in wasn’t the best looking of places, and certainly not at night with a lot of the streetlights gone, it was pretty safe. Still, Mom didn’t like me being out late, especially after dark, which was why I didn’t spend a lot of time on afterschool activities. The walk back alone was pretty long, if I had to do detention or even an after-school club, I’d walk and arrive home late.“I guess it’s okay,” I said slowly.I didn’t know what we could do at my house, but maybe I could just talk him into leav
I sat down on the bed, bouncing a little. It squeaked in protest, but I ignored it. The bed felt hard under me, nothing like my own big, soft bed. I almost wished I could take Anita to my room, but that might not go down well with my parents. I didn’t want her to see what my home life was like, either.“There isn’t much in here.” I’d noted the absence of pictures or the other wall hangings I’d noticed in the bedrooms of others girls I knew. It wasn’t like my sister’s room at all; hers had been covered with ribbons she’d won for a variety of activities, and other mementos from her time in high school. Anita leaned back against the door and crossed her arms over her chest.“I don’t need a lot of stuff, to begin with. All I ever do in here is sleep or study.”“Hmm.”Our gazes met and held, and the small space between us grew charged.“Come here,” I said, motioning with my hand for her to sit next to me.The bed was pushed against the wall opposite the door, but there was just enough spa
I skipped down the steps of my apartment building, humming a tune under my breath. I came to a complete stop when I arrived outside, only to see Evan had parked his car right outside, and his face melted into a wide smile when he saw me.“Morning, Anita,” he called, pushing off his car and walking over to me.“What are you doing here?” I blurted out in shock.He chuckled. “I came to take you to school. I’m just glad I caught you. You have to leave home early because you walk every day, right?”It was true, but instead of answering, I frowned at him.“What about you? Wouldn’t your parents wonder about you leaving home this early?”Evan shrugged, dismissing it. “It’s not a problem. Come on, hop in so we can go.”I’d realized he did that a lot when it came to his family. He didn’t want to go home early yesterday, either, and he’d been waiting out my detention with me to drive me home the past few weeks. The thought was quickly wiped away, though, when Evan opened the door for me with a f
A loud whistle blew, and I looked up just in time to eat dirt, a bunch of other guys falling with me. I wasn’t even sure if I tripped or if someone dropped me because my head wasn’t in the game.All of my attention was on Anita.I hadn't told her I had practice today because I didn’t have time to, but she should have known, right?The other thing on my mind, though to a lesser degree, was my parents. Was it just me, or did the fights seem to get much worse recently? I wasn’t sure, and it wasn’t like I could ask, so I kept out of it, but then it had me thinking of spending a night at Anita’s place. I knew I couldn’t, there was no way her mom would allow it, but the thought was nice.It was that moment of distraction that landed me where I was, on the ground with a lot of weight on top of me that was a little slow to get off.“What are you guys doing!” Coach practically screamed at us. “Get up and start the play again! Everybody focus, or we’re leaving here after dark!”There were groan
Those damn traitors.It was wrong of me to blame the other guys for doing exactly what Coach said, but if there was one thing I didn’t need, it was a pep talk, and that was Coach’s favorite go to when someone on the team was not pulling their weight right.Still, they cleared away pretty quickly while I was marched into Coach’s office and sat down on an old, ratty sofa while he sat comfortably behind his desk.“Now, Evan,” he started, linking his hands together and leveling me with a stern look. “Are you going to tell me what was going on with you out there, or do I have to ask?”I hesitated. “Um… Coach…”“Don’t think you’re getting out of this easy, kid. I wasn’t joking out there when I said I’d bench you. Even if you’re a star player, if your head is somewhere else and I let you on that field, not only will our team lose, you can get yourself injured not paying attention. Football is a contact sport, if you head isn’t there with you, you get hurt.”“I know, Coach,” I mumbled.As if
It was lunch, and Haley and I were seated at our usual table. My focus wasn’t on eating, though, as I kept glancing around the room, looking for someone.Hayley, finally getting fed up with me not paying her any attention, sighed and poked me in the arm.“What’s going on with you today, Anita? Actually, no. What’s been up with you recently because today isn’t the only day I caught you acting weird. Is something wrong?” She looked around before leaning closer and whispering. “Is it the baby?”I winced and quickly covered her mouth. We were alone, and there wasn’t anyone sitting too close, not to mention the cafeteria was as loud as usual, but it would mean hell for me if people found out. I’d have to do something once it started showing, but I thought I should at least tell people—meaning Mom and Evan—that I was pregnant before focusing on other details.“I’m just wondering where Evan is,” I admitted.Her eyebrows jumped up. “Wow. You two did grow close, huh? You’re even looking for hi
There was a knock on my door, but I ignored it. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it today, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.“Evan, can you come out for a minute, please?”My dad’s voice was muffled by the door and the music I’d put on, and I was tempted to turn the volume up until he complained about it, then decided I was too lazy to be that petty.“I’m busy!” I called back.Only, I wasn’t. I was locked in my room because I wanted to be alone. I hadn't even gone to school, and Dad hadn't yelled at me about it, because I knew he at least felt guilty.It wasn’t enough for me.I waited, but there was no word from the other side of the door, so I figured he must have gone back downstairs. I sighed and threw an arm over my eyes, the past few days still seeming unreal.With no more screaming arguments now, the house was silent, too silent, because Mom was no longer there. She didn’t leave home, at least, not voluntarily.She found out Dad had started an affair with another woman, an
I stood in my bedroom staring at my door. I was ready to leave, had been for the past five minutes, but I couldn’t bring myself to open that door and leave just yet.Somehow, four years had passed already, and I was graduating with a university degree. I was so nervous that I was sweating, and I hadn't even put on the robe yet. I would be putting it on once I got to the school.Time to get moving everyone is waiting.I took a deep breath, and with that thought, reached for the door and pulled it open.Evan and I had our place, but today, I was at Mom and his dad’s house so they could help with looking after Sandra since I’d be busy today. It was a big day for all of us and now that Evan had graduated from USC, we would have more time together as a family. Mom was still happy for me, and she wanted to make a big deal out of it because she was proud of me.“Anita, are you ready?” I heard Mom call through the door.“Yeah, Mom! Is Sandra with you?” I called back, my heart a nervous thump
“How are you feeling?” Evan asked worriedly.I smiled. “I’m doing just fine. Both of us are okay.”“You should be close now, though, right?”“Really close,” I agreed, looking down and rubbing a hand over my stomach.After a few hospital visits, I managed to get an estimate of when the baby would be coming out, and it was any day now. I looked back up at the computer screen to find Evan watching me intently. He was at school now but came down every weekend and whenever he could. When he couldn’t be around, he made sure to send me a Skype call every day.“When will you be going to the hospital?”I hummed. “If nothing happens in a couple days, Mom said we’d have me admitted early.”There was some noise in the background, and he looked away before turning back to me with a sigh.“I need to go for now, but I’ll call you tonight before you go to sleep, okay?”I nodded, smiling happily. Before we could say our goodbyes and cut the call, though, I felt something strange, and my expression twi
Since I’d taken a lot of my stuff when I went to stay with Grandma, I still had to go back. Mom and Carl headed for their honeymoon, and Evan went with me back to Minnesota.Evan made plans for someone to head back in my car, then drove me to Grandma’s in his own car. It was easier having someone with me, so I didn’t complain.Grandma wanted us to stay for a few days, but Evan didn’t bring a change of clothes, so we couldn’t stay for that long. He bought a few outfits just, so he could change out of the clothes he’d worn during the long two day drive. We stayed in different rooms, and she kept a close eye on us, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.“Let’s leave tomorrow morning,” Evan said as he helped me pack my stuff up and move them to the car. “I talked to your grandmother already, and she said it was okay.”“You talked to her?” I said, alarmed. “When? I thought she left early.”When I brought him home, Grandma would have figured out that he was my new stepbrother and t
I had a feeling Evan would have kept me locked in the hotel room all day, if we didn’t get a call from his dad that they hadn't left yet and were waiting to see the two of us first. I felt guilty as we showered and got dressed. Evan knew now, but there were still both our parents to tell. I talked myself into postponing it, because they were about to leave for their honeymoon.When I brought it up to Evan, though, he shook his head immediately.“No,” he said. “Absolutely no way. Putting this off isn’t helping anybody. We’re telling them today.”I gaped at his back as he hurried out, and I followed quickly. He waited outside until I closed the door, then he took my hand and led me to the elevator.“We’re going to tell them,” he continued. “I plan to go to college, it’s important to me, but I’ll look for a place close by because I want to be in both your lives. If our parents don’t understand our decisions, then I’ll talk to them, but we have to tell them before they leave.”His voice w
The first thing I was aware of was how warm I felt. Next, was the soft body in my arms. I blinked my eyes open and stared at Anita’s face just a few inches from mine.We’d fallen asleep with the lights still on, but I could tell it was daytime already. A part of me wondered what the hell I was doing. She was holding me just as tight, and I could feel the press of her stomach against mine. She was pregnant, and she’d kept it from me for six months. She approached me at that party, knowing who I was, but I couldn’t blame her for that, because I was the one to initiate it, and I didn’t think about contraception when I chose to fuck a stranger in someone else’s closet.She had lied to me, kept things from me, but right then, all I could feel was relieved that she was there with me, because I’d missed her so badly. I pulled one arm from around her to brush her hair away from her chest, freezing when she flinched a little.“Mm.”I watched as her eyes fluttered, her body squirming in my hol
I looked around. Quite a few people had already left, so while the partying wasn’t entirely over yet, it was winding down. Dad and my new stepmom hadn't left yet, but they were happily lost in each other. No one would miss us if we left now.“Come with me.”I took her hand in mine and pulled her behind me as I headed for the hotel. “Wait, Evan!” She yelped, trying to fight against my hold. “Where are we going? They’ll get worried if we just disappear—”“They’re busy,” I cut in. “Just stop fighting me, Anita. You should have come to me on your own, like hell I’m going to let you just run away.”She struggled a minute longer, before resigning to go along with me. We stopped by the reception desk, so I could get us a room.“I-I already h-have one…” Anita said quietly.“I’ll take care of it in the morning.”I got us the room using my credit card, then I led her upstairs. She must have meant the room her mom was using, or it was one her mom booked for her, and I didn’t want us to be distu
“Everything must be so amazing, there,” Grandma sighed. “I wished I could have come with you. My own daughter’s wedding and I can't even be there.”“Mom understands why, Grandma. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Anyway, I sent you a bunch of photos and videos, and Mom will send you plenty more, okay?”“So, did you meet him there?”I took a little longer to reply this time.When I’d been hesitating about coming to the wedding, Grandma figured out there was more I wasn’t telling her and encouraged me to get everything off my chest. Even if she couldn’t be fit enough to make the trip down, she was determined that at least one of us would be there for Mom on her big day. So, I told her the truth about Evan, and it was her insistence on me talking to him, and going to the wedding regardless for Mom’s sake, that got me off my ass and on the road here.Now that I was here, though, I couldn’t help thinking I’d made a mistake. It was nice seeing Mom all happy, but I was so nervous about Evan th
I arrived with Chanel just in time to get seated before the music came on and the ceremony started. Because we were a little late, we found seats closer to the back. I could have looked for seats closer to the front seeing as I was the son of the groom, and Chanel seemed to want me to do so, but I hung back instead, and I was glad that I did. If I hadn't, I might have missed seeing Anita hurry in to look for her own seat.“Is that Anita?”Chanel’s voice was incredulous, having noticed Anita as well. I didn’t have any intention of moving, everyone had already settled down, but she still clutched at my arm as if I was ready to fly to Anita’s side. I couldn’t follow her, I was left a little stunned because I wasn’t sure if she would make it in time for the wedding, but I did stare at her until she sat down, and I couldn’t see her as clearly. The wedding started then, so there was no way for me to move over to talk to her.“Whatever it is you’re thinking, don’t even dare!” Chanel hissed.
Even though I’d practically waited until last minute to make the decision, in the end, I did turn up for the wedding. Because it was happening by the beach in LA, I had a bit of a drive ahead of me all the way from Minnesota. I knew where I was going, though, and I had a car. It was Mom’s big day, and I didn’t intend to miss it.When I was close to where we were supposed to meet, I parked against the curb to call Mom to confirm. I was supposed to be meeting her at a hotel, but this was my first time in LA and I needed directions.“Anita! Where are you?”I sighed. “I’m close, at least. Can you tell me the name of the hotel and how to get there?”“Sure. Where are you now?”I looked outside and tried to describe to her where I was. After she figured out the street I was on, she gave me the instructions.“Hurry up and get over here,” she said with a happy laugh. “I have a dress waiting for you. It stretches, so I think it’ll fit you, but I can't say it will be comfortable.”“That’s fine,