chapter 5
1036 Words
*Roman Hale*
The shower was too hot. But Desiree didn’t realize it until her skin turned pink, and even then, she didn’t adjust the temperature. She stood still under the stream, letting it beat down on her shoulders while her fingers gripped the edge of the wall. Her thighs ached, reminding her every time she shifted her weight.
When the water started to go cold, she shut it off and stepped out, wrapping herself in the nearest towel without looking in the mirror. Her hands moved mechanically as patted herself dry, and slipped into fresh underwear, pulling a hoodie over her head. She wanted to disappear inside the fabric.
Anything to make her not exist.
She felt like s**t!
Back in her room, she sat on the edge of the bed with her phone in her hand, the screen still black, she finally unlocked it, opened the browser, and began typing out question after question. The important ones that bothered her the most.
*Can you get pregnant from a one night stand?*
She stared at the results, skimming through a few, her heart climbing into her throat with each different result. She held her breath and typed out another question, which was more of a solution to the first question, because the results weren't looking funny or promising.
*Safe Plan B after one-night stand.*
*Side effects of morning after pill*
Okay, maybe no.
*Natural plan B*
Fuck!
*How long before Plan B stops working?*
*Symptoms of pregnancy in first week.*
Her expression changed with each question and results. She reached for her water bottle and took a large gulp before going back to testing.
A new notification popped up almost immediately cutting off her research.
Missed call — Mom
“Can she f*****g not?”
She almost ignored it but then sighed and hit call back. It rang twice before she picked.
“Desiree?” Her mother called from the other end.
“Hey, Mom” she said, her voice hoarse. She cleared her throat. “Sorry, missed your call.”
“I figured. I was just checking in. You haven’t responded to my last few texts.”
“I’ve been… studying.”
“Mmm.” A pause. “Everything okay with classes? How's your friends? You sound tired.”
Oh! Thanks for noticing.
“I Uh..didn’t sleep much.”
“You’re not running around with that boy again, are you?”
“No,” she said flatly. “We broke up.”
“Oh.” She paused. “Was that your decision, dear?”
She frowned. “Seriously? Does it matter?”
“I’m just asking.”
Desiree closed her eyes. “It was mutual. We weren’t working.”
“Well, better now than later. Nothing worse than wasting your good years on the wrong person. You’re not…” Her mother trailed off. “You’re being safe, aren’t you?”
Desiree pressed her palm to her forehead. “Can we not f*****g do this right now? I have studying to do and I haven't had breakfast”
“I’m not judging, I’m just reminding you to use your head. Mistakes at your age follow you longer than they should. I'd prefer you keep clean until your father finds the right man for you.”
“Yeah, thanks a bunch Mom, at least I don't have to get married to someone I love.” She replied sarcastically, growing impatient by the minute.
Her mother sighed softly. “I’ll let you go now. Don’t forget your cousin’s birthday is next weekend. You’re still coming, right?”
“I’ll let you know.” she took the phone off her ear and ended the call before anyone would try to persuade her to come to a stupid party when she has bigger things to worry about.
She tossed the phone on the bed and curled onto her side, pulling her knees in.
Her mind drifted back to Rebecca as she glanced at the boot near the door. There was still no text from her, Blake did say he talked to her which meant she was safe and online , so why? There was no, “Where are you?” or “Are you okay?” Not a single ping.
She picked the phone and called once but it went straight to voicemail. She kept calling and calling but it all went straight to voicemail. She sighed and ordered Chinese noodles.
~
Desiree stared at the ceiling for hours, late into the night, mind spiraling, body frozen until her alarm buzzed sometime around six the next morning.
She dragged herself out of bed. Dressed in clean jeans, a black sweater, and the only pair of boots that didn’t look like she was going to a club.
Ugh, club...
She applied a little foundation to hide the eye bags and the old hag look. Whatever happened, she has to keep her image. There's nothing else more important than that.
Her first class of the day was psychology—an elective she wasn’t passionate about, but it filled the schedule and got her advisor off her back. It did its job. She walked in just as the last seats were filling, choosing one near the middle but close to the aisle. Her notebook sat open on her desk, pen in hand, but her mind wasn’t really there, Rebecca wasn't in class.
They both take psychology so why isn't she in class?
Is she avoiding her?
She was too lost in thought to notice the man walking to the front of the room prompting the the room to fall quiet except the few murmuring and giggles from the female students. Wondering why a hottie was in their class. He stood near the board, a lanyard with a guest badge hung around his neck.
“Good morning, class” he greeted, his deep voice reverberating around the hall.
The sound dropped like weight in the pit of Desiree's stomach as she looked up.
Oh, s**t!
“My name is Roman Hale...” he continued. “...and I’ll be your guest lecturer this semester.”
Her heart punched the inside of her chest and with each second it beat, her ribs jabbed faster and sharper.
- Writer
