Misery Loves Company

ONE TWELVE YEARS AGO I huddled in the bathroom stall and waited until the girls left. “Did you see what Bianca was wearing?” They giggled while I did my best to muffle my sobs. “What do you expect from someone living in Parkview.” The Queen Bee has finally spoken. I knew she had followed me in here. “I heard her mother has been working down at the Musty Moose.” They giggled. Tears stung my eyes and I huddled in on myself even more. “Have you seen how fat she has become? Not only is she so greasy and dirty looking but now she is getting fat.” They laughed some more and I felt the shame come over me. It wasn’t my fault. Thomas Langston was the reason I was so fat. He r***d me the night of the Fourth of July bonfire. He had his friends hold me down while he ripped my clothes off. Then his friends had their way with me as well. They then dumped me beaten and bloody outside my trailer. My mother was passed out drunk as I dragged my broken body inside. “I heard she has been giving blow jobs for money behind the gas station.” The girls giggled again and the bell for the next period rang. “See you after school Candace?” The Queen Bee that made my life hell. “Sorry girls, Tommy has a surprise for me!” They all squealed and finally left the bathroom. I waited as the second bell rang. They should be gone by now, it had to be safe. I pushed the bathroom stall open and saw them waiting for me. They were all smirking and standing with their arms crossed. “What is wrong ragamuffin?” Candace sneered at me; her hair was pulled up in a ponytail as she adjusted the skirt on her cheerleader uniform. “Do you like listening in on people’s conversations fatty?” They moved toward me and I backed up into the sink. “Oh look she has gone and peed herself.” I blinked and looked down at the rush of fluid that had stained the front of my tights. “Grab her Kelly and let’s take her out. We should show everyone what a disgusting slob she is.” Kelly grabbed my hair as a shudder of pain tore through me. They dragged me into the hall and I was begging them to stop. There were still a few students standing in the halls, they watched as I was marched past classrooms. “Hey everyone. Look at fatty Bianca Watson, she pissed herself!” The doors to the classrooms sprang open as the teachers tried to maintain control of the students. Everyone that saw me started laughing as I was yanked along by my hair. Another wave of pain came over me and I fell to my knees dragging Kelly with me. “What’s wrong with you whale? Have you gotten so fat that you can’t even walk anymore?” Candace was standing over me with her hands on her hips. I started panting and screaming as more pain came over me. “GET OUT OF THE WAY! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?” I glanced up through teary eyes and saw Mrs. Elliot the French teacher pushing her way through the ring of students. “She just collapsed Mrs. Elliot I don’t know what’s wrong with her.” Candace was all sweet and innocent while the woman knelt beside me. “It can’t be happening now it is too soon!” I hissed as more pain rippled through me. Understanding came over Mrs. Elliot's face. “Someone call an ambulance and clear out of the hallway!” Everyone stood around with their cellphones raised and snickering while I pushed. I screamed as another contraction came over me. The school nurse and a few other teachers were trying to push the students back into the classroom. “Someone help me get her to the nurse’s office!” They helped me to my feet and we pushed through the students who were laughing hysterically at my wet and bloody pants. “So not only is she a fat ass, she is a slut like her mother.” I heard Candace over the gasps and exclamations of the crowd. “EVERYONE BACK TO YOUR CLASSROOMS NOW!” Mr. Reynolds the principal bellowed. The students scattered as I was rushed into the Nurse’s room. Mrs. Elliot and the nurse stared at one another, a look of understanding crossing their faces. “How far along are you?” They were peeling my soiled leggings off and I screamed again as another contraction ripped through me. I panted and gritted my teeth. “Seven months, it is too soon!” I let out another scream and push. “I can see the head where is the damn ambulance?” The nurse was between my legs and I wanted to close them in shame but she put a firm hand on my knee. “Don’t do that darling it is too late now.” I could hear the judgment in her tone and Mrs. Elliot shot her an annoyed look. “I was r***d at the fourth bonfire.” The room became heavy with silence. “Why didn’t you report it?” I pushed again and felt more fluid rush between my legs. “Who is going to believe a girl from Parkview!” I glared at the nurse between my legs who dared to look indignant. “You still should have reported it, sweetie.” Mrs. Elliot shot an annoyed look at the nurse. “What’s done is done. One more push and the baby will be out.” I gave another push and felt as if I were going to black out. There was the wail of sirens in the distance and I looked at the bloody bundle in Nurse’s arms. “Why isn’t it crying?” The nurse and Mrs. Elliot looked concerned. I was cold, why was it so cold? “Bianca, please Bianca stay with me.” Her voice was so far away. The door burst open and there was a crowd of students standing outside. There were flashes from cameras and I saw Candace’s smirking face as the nurse tried to get my baby to start crying. “Look everyone, fatty gave birth! She IS a slut just like her mother!” People started laughing and talking among themselves. EMTs were pushing a gurney forward and the cops were trying to maintain crowd control. It was too late; my secret was already out. There was no coming back from this.