Two Weeks Before Graduation. (Part 3)

Considering that her next class was right next door, Michelle took her time getting there. As she sat down more thoughts came to her. "What now? Telling my friends must have been the easy part, what about my mom?" Her thoughts were interrupted as Rudy tapped her on her shoulder.1

"Hey Shell!"2

"Oh, hey, how long have you been standing there?"3

"Uh . . . two seconds?"4

"Oh, okay."5

"You’re so not yourself, but I don’t like being the kind of person that bugs, and bugs and bugs a person until they tell me what’s bugging them, just to stop me from bugging them. Get what I’m saying?"6

"Yes, and you’re bugging, but I’m not telling you anything, not yet at least," she replied, trying to keep herself from laughing.7

"Dang, it used to work!" He said as he went to his seat.8

She took out her notebook and started to write, the words beginning as a poem, but it didn’t get anywhere fast. Once again she found herself daydreaming. She wasn’t ready to be a mom - she wasn’t even 18 yet. ‘Great,’ she thought to herself. ‘Happy 18th birthday for me. By then everyone will know I’m pregnant!’ That wasn’t all that was bothering her though. 9

"Michelle? Michelle! Earth to Michelle!" Her teacher shouted.10

"Oh, sorry about that Mr. Morse"11

"Oh sorry! I’ve been hearing that a lot lately from you. Please step outside, Ill be out there in a minute."12

"Uh oh," said the student next to her as she left the room.13

‘What could I have done?’ She thought - then she heard Mr. Morse say "Class, work on your monologues, Ill be back in 5 minutes!"14

She sat there as the tears filled her eyes. She was so confused. Her teacher walked out and sat down next to her.15

"Tonight is opening night."16

"I . . . I know"17

"Are you alright?" he questioned as she picked up on his genuine tone.18

"I don’t know."19

"Don’t know what? Is something bothering you?"20

"Kind of . . . not really . . . I guess so." She didn’t know.21

"Well?"22

"Ill be alright, I promise." She managed to say, hoping it sounded somewhat like the truth.23

"I’ve known you for a long time and you cant fool me. But, just let me know, are you in any trouble?"24

"No! I mean, I’m not in any sort of trouble . . . just confused I guess."25

"Well then tell me honestly that you’re all right, so we can get back to business!" he said, really hoping she was all right.26

"I’m fine. You have my word." She promised.27

They went back to class where everyone was pretending to be working on their monologue.28

"Michelle, step up there with Kevin, and you two start off from ‘This cant be right."29

She pretended to be okay and the class watched as the two main characters of the school’s last play of the year practiced their lines right before their eyes. It was a play that the Advance Drama class worked on earlier that semester. 30

As they wrapped up, the bell rang for lunch and she headed out of the classroom. then waited for Heather. For once in a long time the tall redhead didn’t take forever to meet up with her. They exchanged hellos and walked over to their lunch table. As usual, they were the first ones there.31

"Who knows?" Heather asked.32

"Knows what?"33

"What I know"34

"Just you and Chris for now."35

"Oh, okay."36

Crystal, Adam, Rudy and Tanya soon joined them.37

"What did Mr. Morse want?" Rudy asked before he sat down.38

"Oh, nothing, he just wanted to make sure that I had my lines down, that’s all." ‘Lies lies and more lies,’ she thought to herself.39

"Oh, well you know we’re all going to be there tonight right?"40

"You all better be," she smiled. "Its the last play of the year and I’m the star!"41

Then there was something that never happened before . . . everyone was quiet and looking at Michelle.42

"What?" She asked.43

"Where’s Chris?" Asked Crystal.44

"He has an interview today."45

"What’s going on with you Shell and why is Heather so quiet?"46

"Okay, I guess Id better be the one to tell you .."47

"Tell us what?" Rudy said, with his mouth half full.48

She lowered her head and tears filled her eyes.49

"Shell whats wrong?" Asked Tanya.50

"Well, guys, I’m . . . well . . ."51

"You’re . . .?" Rudy asked.52

"Im pregnant."53

Questions were flying at her faster than she could think. The bell rang and everyone went their own way to their classes and Michelle and Adam walked over to their American Government class together. She had met him earlier her senior year - he was new to town. Adam was much taller than her and a sweetheart. She trusted him with just about anything.54

"I won’t tell anyone Shell." he said.55

"I know, that’s why I told you."56

"Told him what?" asked a football player who, for some reason, just didn’t like her, or maybe he did and was too childish to admit it.57

"It’s really not your business," she said.58

"Oh, but everything is my business. I’m Josh!"59

"Well, I’m glad you know your name," she answered and walked past him to her desk.60

Once again finding herself just thinking, she wondered, ‘how was she going to tell her mom? How was she going to tell Mike? How is this all going to change her life?’61