TheSecretsWeBury
1562 Words
“Bella, say something! He shouldn’t tell me what?”, Ms Bale persists, eyes narrowed at Bella and the doctor.
Bella’s quivering lips are glued shut as her tearful eyes beg the doctor. Her hands grasp the hospital sheets tightly in anxiety. The man sighs, clears his throat and then turns to Ms Bale.
“Your daughter is fine. She’s just…umm…”
“Malnourished! Yes, u—uh…severely…”, Emily pipes in, stepping forward.
Feeling all the attention being drawn to her, Emily’s eyes fall to the floor as she nervously rubs the back of her neck. Bella grabs unto her mother’s wrists, willing the woman to face her.
“Mom, I’m okay. The doctor said it’s nothing to be worried about. I just need to eat a lot.”, she assures, praying that her mom doesn’t catch on on her lies.
Her mom shifts her gaze to Dr Lee, who had been wide eyed since Emily’s claims, for clarification. It’s impressive how Bella is able to switch up so quickly to save herself. He wonders how long the act will last. However, it’s not his problem how she deals with revealing the pregnancy.
“ She is fine, yes”, he shrugs.
“Are you sure, doctor? She doesn’t need any medical help?”, Ms Bale pushes.
Bella glares at the man, pressing her lips into a flat line. Her expressions tell him to zip his mouth shut and although she has no power over him, he feels the need to be quiet.
“Yes, I’m sure. She’ll be discharged right after the IV drip in her arm runs out. Don’t worry, ma’am. Your daughter’s health is our priority.”, Dr. Alex places a reassuring hand on Ms Bale’s shoulder.
His gaze shifts to Bella, brows raised as he silently conveys that they have an unfinished business. He gives Ms Bale a soft smile and then exits the room without a word. Bella looks down, avoiding her mother’s gaze as she crumples the bedsheets in her palm.
“I’m sorry, mom. I didn’t mean to worry you”, she says, her voice coming out in a whisper.
Ms Bale, turns to Bella, her concern still vividly etched on her face. Her expression softens when she meets her daughter’s apologetic eyes.
She cups the girl’s face, scanning her for any signs of discomfort or bruises. A relieved smile makes its way to her lips and she lets her hands fall slowly to her side.
“Why would you let this happen, Bella? Do you know how worried I was? Especially when I couldn’t get my boss to let me leave early?”, she voices out, making herself comfortable on a chair by the bed.
“I don’t know, mom. I just fainted and then I woke up here”, her shoulders sag, as the weight of the untold truth sits heavy on her heart.
“That’s not all, is it? The doctor was about to tell me something. What is it that you’re not telling me, Bella?”, Ms Bale presses on.
Bella’s heart races and her eyes immediately shoot up. She gulps hard, her eyes shaking as she struggles to find her words.
“Mom, please. Let’s drop it. I’ll tell you everything later, I promise”
Disappointment flashes in Ms Bale’s eyes but she decides against pressing the matter furthermore. If Bella thinks it’s wise to tell her later, she better not pressurize her. She believes that it’s nothing serious but she’ll soon hear of it.
“Fine, Bella. But you know you can trust your mom, right? I’m here for you, no matter what”, Ms Bale gives her an assuring smile.
She turns to Emily, who had been watching the scene unfold before her with curious eyes. A nervous smile spreads across her face, her wide eyes looking for clarification from Bella.
“Oh, and you must be her friend?”, Ms Bale grins.
“Yeah, I’m Emily. We’re in the same grade”, Emily smiles back, feeling the need to relax.
“Bella has never talked about any of her friends before.”, she chuckles nervously, her keen smile now wearing off.
“She’s never had any”, she says softly, looking down at her fidgeting hands.
“Mom…”, Bella whispers.
Hearing her daughter’s sad tone, Ms Bale returns to her jovial self. She tries to lighten the mood by laughing off the awkwardness. However, the tension only increases. The uncomfortable silence is interrupted by the doctor making a timely entrance into the room again.
His ever radiant smile is playing on his lips as he walks to Bella. A nurse follows after him. She removes Bella’s IV drip needle, efficiently covering the needle wound with a gauze.
“Bella, you’re all set to leave. “, the doctor grins, writing down a few things on his clipboard.
Bella gazes out of the window as their car zooms away, the silhouette of the hospital fading out of view. She rests her head on the headrest of her seat, watching cars as they drive past.
“Thanks for coming to get me mom. We still have the graduation after party. I wanna go back”, she says softly, breaking the silence.
Ms Bale is about to object to her request but decides not to as she sets her eyes on the girl’s face. She glances at the rear view mirror,where Emily’s bored expressions reflect her exhaustion as she looks out of the window too.
“It’s okay, honey. I’m so glad you’re feeling better, sweetie”, she sighs softly.
After a short drive, the car pulls up in the school’s driveway. Bella’s stomach churns in fear and anxiety of having to face Connor. He definitely has something to do with her pregnancy. If not, then he probably knows something about it.
She exhales briefly, echoing in her head the need to stay calm despite her raging thoughts. Then slowly, she pushes the door open and steps out.
Inquisitive faces greet her as she steps down, their running lips unable to conceal their feelings. The murmurs intensify as she steps into the school. Emily is right on her heels, ignoring the stares their presence earns them.
They navigate the school, walking down hallways and passing by empty classrooms. Bella is set on finding Connor, however, the boy is nowhere to be seen. This longer pursuit adds to Bella’s anger. Frustrated, she resorts to asking around.
“Excuse me.”, she approaches a passing student.
“Do you know where Connor is?”, the boy nods.
“Third floor, room 12C”
Bella thanks him and heads towards the stairs. Her body is on the verge of giving out, however, she’s not willing to give up just yet. He’s responsible for all her troubles.
She begins to make a slow ascent, each step harder than the other. Reaching the third floor, Bella abruptly stops in her tracks and turns to Emily.
“Emily, wait. I’ll confront him myself”, she says. Emily nods reluctantly, concern evident in her eyes.
“Be careful, Bella”, she whispers after her.
With a heavy sigh, she paces down the hall, towards room 12C. Upon finding the room, she reaches out, and grasps the door handle. However, before she can open the door, she hears voices. Connor’s voice is especially distinctive, carried across the room followed by laughter and giggles.
“Dude! That was one crazy dare!”, one voice says and Bella hears Connor groan.
“You guys should never make me do that again! She’s not even hot! It was embarrassing begging her all around school!”, the others laugh at him.
Bella’s heart shatters into tiny pieces, as her stomach drops into her guts. A few weeks before, she would’ve never believed that she would hear him utter those words. Listening to him, it’s like she forced him to be with her.
“Everything was a lie?”, she asks herself.
The sweet words, the romantic dates, the thoughtful gifts. Everything was all for a dare?!Tears well up in Bella’s eyes, blurring her vision. She stands frozen as she continues to listen to their twisted conversation. It was all just a game.
“Yo! Hold on! We don’t know if you did it or not! How do we know you’re telling the truth?”, one pipes up.
Connor wiggles his eyebrows, laughing at his friend’s reasoning. As if he’s expected his friend to make that move, Connor whips out his phone for his back pocket.
“I got pictures!!”
“Woaaaahhhhhhh”, they all sing in unison.
Bella’s heart skips a beat. Not only did he take advantage of her but he also took photos?! Of her?! How can she not remember doing any of these things with him?!
“Wait, she took these with you?!? Willingly?!”, one shouts in disbelief. Connor falls silent. He puts his phone away, and sucks in his bottom lip.
“Of course not. I had to do what I had to do. You guys won’t let me breathe if I lose this dare”
“And I, Connor Fitch, never loses”, he smirks.
- Writer
