Mrs. Edwards' voice cut through the room like a blade, sharp and demanding.
"What is going on here?" she screamed at all of us, but I could feel her gaze burning specifically into me.
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. I didn't know what to say. My eyes darted away from hers, avoiding the inevitable confrontation.
She shifted her attention to Dom this time, whom spots of blood were stained on his white T-shirt,
hoping someone—anyone—would speak.
I try to scan body, looking for where the blood might be coming from
"She started it,"
Dan finally spoke up, his smirk unwavering despite his broken nose and bloodied lips.
Mrs. Edwards turned to him immediately, her face a storm of fury.
"Go on, then. Explain yourself."
Dan straightened slightly, his voice dripping with casual disdain. "
She came up to me wanting to talk privately. I refused. I didn't want any rumors spreading around school that I got her pregnant—again."
My breath hitched. I turned to him in disbelief.
What the hell had gotten into him?
Mrs. Edwards pivoted to me, her eyes sharp and expectant.
"Is this true, Helen?"
I parted my lips, struggling for words.
"That's not entirely true, Ma'am," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Dan let out a low chuckle.
"Then why don't you tell Mrs. Edwards the whole truth?" His smirk deepened, as if he enjoyed every second of this twisted game.
My pulse thundered in my ears. I clenched my fists, watching as blood trickled from his nose onto the tissue Mrs. Edwards had just handed him. His expression remained smug, infuriatingly calm.
Fine. If he wanted everything in the open, I can also be cool with it, and I was very sure Mrs Edwina must have heard of my lost pregnancy,
I turned sharply to Mrs. Edwards.
"I have always made sure we were careful. But recently, I found out I was pregnant. I tried to talk to him about it, but he kept brushing me off."
Dan scoffed loudly.
"Are you sure it's even mine? Or was it my cousin's?"
Silence hung heavy in the room before it shattered under my scream.
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
Dan shrugged, feigning innocence.
"You've been spending all your time with my cousin. So I have every right to wonder."
Dom, who had been silent since we stepped into Mrs. Edwards' office, finally moved. His voice was cold, filled with barely restrained anger.
"Don't you dare say my name, Dan. Not when you're the one treating Helen like trash."
Dan's smirk faltered for just a second before he scoffed.
"And you want to pin a child on me when the real father's right here?" He gestured toward Dom with mocking confidence.
Mrs. Edwards slammed her hand against her desk, the bang echoing through the room.
"Enough! What is this madness?!"
Her gaze swept over each of us, disappointment deepening the creases on her face. "Each and every one of you will take turns seeing the school counselor," she stated firmly.
Dan rolled his eyes, scoffing again.
Mrs. Edwards turned to me, her expression softening just slightly.
"I won't be informing your parent. You all have been through too much already."
Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly overshadowed by the weight of everything else. I didn't want this to get back to my parents.
Not now. Not ever.
Mrs. Edwards sighed heavily and sat back down, rubbing her temples. "You may now leave my sight, and y'all should check yourselves out in the clinic"
Dan was the first to walk out. I followed immediately. I wasn't done with him.
The moment we were outside her office, I grabbed his arm and turned him around sharply.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I demanded.
Dan chuckled, his smirk returning. "You went low, so I went lower."
"What is all this about? Why are you acting like this?!" My voice cracked with frustration.
He looked at me, then around the hallway like I had just said something unbelievable.
"You seriously don't know? You've been hanging around him—"
He stopped mid-sentence and pointed at Dom, who was standing in the hallway a few feet away. "Every damn day. And you expect me to believe the child is mine?"
I took a shaky breath, my anger giving way to something more painful.
"Of course it's yours. I would never do something like that to you."
A crowd had started gathering around us. Whispers. Stares. Judging eyes dissecting every word.
Dan scoffed, his eyes darkening.
"I told you to stay away from him. I warned you. He was going to hurt you. But you didn't listen."
He turned sharply and walked away.
My brows knitted together in confusion. "If anyone's causing me hurt, it's you!" I shouted after him.
Dan turned back, his face twisted with something close to disgust.
"Then go be with him and leave me the hell alone."
Laughter erupted from the gathered students. My stomach twisted painfully. Right then, all I wanted was for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
Dom approached me, his hand lightly touching my shoulder.
"Helen, don't pay any mind to him. He's just—"
I shrugged him off instantly.
"Can you just leave me alone already?!" I screamed, my voice raw, my tears now free-flowing.
The crowd laughed again, entertained by my humiliation.
I turned and walked away without looking back. Dom didn't follow me.
I didn't understand what was going on with him either. But deep down, I knew the truth.
Dan didn't believe me.
And why should he?
Lately, Dom had been everywhere.
My eyes are already swollen from tears when I see Selena approach me.
She doesn't say anything—she knows better than to.
Instead, she takes me into a hug, and I grab onto her tightly, leaning into her warmth and letting the tears flow like never before.
"How could he say such things to me?" I hiccup, my voice barely above a whisper, struggling to get the words out between sobs.
Selena remains silent, gently rubbing my back in slow, comforting circles.
"I just want to go home," I manage to say, my voice breaking.
Selena nods, understanding without question. She hands me my bag and my phone. "My driver should be here any minute. He'll drop you off."
I nod weakly, still hiccuping. She hands me a bottle of water, and I gulp it down at once, trying to calm myself.
She holds my hand firmly. "Do you remember when you once asked me if you would ever get over all this?" she asks softly.
I look up at her, searching for an answer in her eyes.
"I want you to know—you will," she says with so much conviction, so much hope. Her words feel like a small light in my overwhelming darkness.
We begin to walk out of the school in silence and hop into her car. Neither of us says a word during the ride.
When we arrive, I step out and turn to her. "Thanks," I murmur before closing the door.
As I stand in front of my house, I heave a sigh, hoping Mrs. Edwards has kept her promise and hasn't told my parents.
The moment I step inside, I hear my dad speaking to my mom. I stop in my tracks, just out of sight, listening carefully. They'll stop talking if they notice me coming.
"I don't think Judge Harrison is convinced he's our son," Dad says, his voice tense.
"I don't think she found the evidence substantial."
Mom heaves a weary sigh. I look at her through the gap in the doorway, noticing the tired lines on her face, the weight of worry pressing on her shoulders.
"I heard from the lawyer that a DNA test was done. I'm hoping that will make the judge rule in our favor," Mom replies, her tone laced with concern.
Dad shakes his head, his voice quieter but firm.
"I don't think that judge has ever been on our side. Something about all this feels... off."
Mom sighs again, deeper this time, as though the exhaustion is seeping into her bones.
I take a deep breath, I was tired eavesdropping, I had enough for today,
I step in properly,hoping they won't notice the redness in my eyes as I walk past them.
"Helen, you're back?" Mom says, forcing a smile onto her face.
I flash a brief smile in return, but I don't answer. I hope they won't notice how drained I look.
"Are you okay?" Dad asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
I nod briefly. "I just want to be alone for now," I say quickly, avoiding their gazes.
They don't press further as I quietly climb the stairs. The moment I reach my room, I lock the door behind me.
My limbs feel heavy, my heart even heavier. I make my way to the bathroom, filling up the tub with water.
As I sink into it, I let the warmth envelop me, submerging myself in silence, trying to drown out everything—my thoughts, my pain,
Maybe myself.