The Pill
by Kayla Parent
I’m about to hook up with the hottest guy in school.
He’s in my bed…
With his shirt off…
Kissing my neck.
We’ve been dating for a few months…
And the fact that he’s mine still gives me butterflies.
I’ve had a crush on him for years…
But I never thought a popular guy like him…
Would notice a nerdy girl like me.
But he did, and since then…
I’ve been living the dream.
I open my eyes and smile up at him.
Just remember to be quiet…
My mom’s downstairs.
He starts unhooking my bra.
Mmm, sneaking around is so hot…
I want you so bad right now.
His lips crash against mine.
But as I start kissing him back…
I realize there’s more than butterflies in my stomach.
Horror fills me and I jump out of bed.
Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick—
I cover my mouth and run for the bathroom.
I lock the door behind me…
Turn the faucet on high…
And empty tonight’s dinner into the toilet.
But I don’t feel better once it’s over.
Because now I’ve officially got all of the symptoms.
Missed period…
Swollen boobs…
Heightened smell…
Crippling nausea…
Am I pregnant?!
I drop my forehead to the toilet.
I can’t put it off any longer.
I stand up, walk over to the sink and grab the test I bought earlier from the cabinet.
I follow the directions and pee on the stick…
And start praying while I wait for the results.
Please, please, please be negative.
I can’t be pregnant.
I just can’t!
As the seconds tick by…
I try to explain away my symptoms.
I’ve been really stressed planning prom…
Maybe that’s why I missed my period.
And the chicken tonight did taste a little funky…
Maybe it’s just food poisoning?
I’m pacing the bathroom when Leon calls my name.
Yo, you okay in there?
Fine!
We still doing this, or what?
Sorry, I’ll just be another minute!
Hurry it up!
I barely hear what he says…
Because my eyes are now glued to the pregnancy test.
Specifically, two little pink lines.
Two lines means…
Pregnant.
I’m pregnant.
The news takes a second to sink in…
But when it does…
Panic floods me hot and fast.
My hands start to shake…
My breathing gets heavy…
And when I walk out of the bathroom…
There are tears in my eyes.
Leon takes one look at me and frowns.
You look awful.
You sick or something?
I shake my head…
Then before thinking better of it…
I blurt it out.
I’m pregnant!
He blinks at me…
Then slowly sits up from the bed.
What?
I hold up the test.
I just took a pregnancy test…
And it’s positive.
I start pacing the room.
I can’t believe it…
I mean, we’ve always been so careful…
Maybe it was that time the condom broke?
I force myself to stop talking and look at him.
He’s staring at me, his eyes as wide as saucers.
You’re kidding, right?
Of course I’m not.
I would never joke about this!
He slowly puts his head in his hands.
Crap. Crap, crap, crap!
I walk over and sit on the bed next to him.
I’m scared too…
But let’s both take a few breaths and calm down.
He nods, and sucks in a breath…
But a moment later, he jumps up and grabs his coat.
Where are you going?
We need to talk about this!
I can’t do this.
I need space.
Space?! Leon, I just told you I was pregnant!
I know that.
But right now, I can’t even think straight.
He heads for my bedroom window…
So I run over to him and grab his arm…
Please don’t leave.
I’m freaking out here.
I can’t deal with this alone!
He surprises me by pulling out of my grip.
Look, I’m sorry okay?
But this is the last thing I need right now.
He looks away for a moment, and when he turns back to me…
His expression is blank.
Maura, this has been fun, but….
I think we should let things between us cool off for a while.
I stare at him in shock.
Are you seriously breaking up with me?!
We’re about to graduate.
And let’s face it, we won’t even see each other next year.
Leon, no!
Let’s talk about this.
Please, don’t go—
— I’ve got to get home.
Whatever you want to do about the…thing, do it.
I just really can’t be involved.
He crawls out the window before I can say anything else.
I run to the sill and call his name…
But he doesn’t even look back.
A loud gut-wrenching sob tears from my lips.
I’ve lost him.
He’s gone…
And I’m pregnant with his baby.
What the hell am I going to do?!
My mom’s voice suddenly calls from downstairs.
Maura, honey, what was that?
Are you okay?
Yeah, just watching a movie!
Everything’s fine!
But as I sink to the floor…
I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever be okay again.
The next day
I show up at school all puffy-eyed.
I was up all night crying…
Wondering what the hell I’m going to do about this pregnancy…
And trying to think of how to fix things with Leon.
I search the halls for him…
Desperate to talk things out…
But I keep getting stopped by my excited classmates.
Can’t wait for prom, Maura!
It’s going to be sick!
Only two days to go!
For the first time ever…
I regret my decision to run for student council.
I did it because I knew it would look good on my college applications…
But that’s the last thing I care about right now.
I’m pregnant.
Who knows if I’ll even be going to college?
I finally spot Leon over by the East side lockers.
It’s where all the popular kids hang out…
And not somewhere I was welcome before I started dating Leon.
I approach slowly with my heart in throat.
Once I’m behind him, I tap his shoulder.
Leon?
He turns around…
And when he sees me, he frowns.
What do you want?
His friends snicker…
But I ignore them.
I was hoping we could talk.
I don’t think there’s anything for us to talk about.
He snaps his fingers.
Oh, there is one thing I wanted to tell you.
I got another date to prom.
I blink at him…
My heart splitting in two.
What? W-who?
Me.
My eyes cut to Justina West.
She’s the most popular girl in school…
And also the meanest.
Worst of all…
She’s Leon’s ex-girlfriend.
She stalks toward me with a wicked smirk…
Then scans me from head to toe.
Got a problem with that?
I swallow thickly.
But before I can respond…
The bell rings.
Justina shoots me one more amused glance…
Then walks off hand-in-hand with Leon.
I’m never late to class…
But there’s no way I can concentrate right now.
I need advice…
And there’s only one person I can trust.
My best friend, Simon.
App