I race down the hallway and stand outside his first period classroom…
Waving my arms, trying to get his attention.
He asks his teacher to go to the bathroom…
And meets me in the hallway.
Simon
What are you doing?
Maura
I need to talk to you.
Simon
You are talking to me…
I grab his arm and drag him into a nearby bathroom…
I make sure it’s empty before pulling him inside.
Simon
Is everything okay?
Maura
It’s Leon’s obviously.
Simon grimaces, and my eyes tear up.
Maura
He dumped me when I told him.
Maura
I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Maura
I can’t raise a baby right now!
I put my head on his shoulder and break down in sobs.
Maura
I need your help, Simon.
I expect him to wrap me in a bear hug, and tell me it’ll all be okay.
I expect him to start problem-solving, like he always does.
His face drains of color…
Simon
What were you thinking?
I blink through the tears, shell shocked.
Simon
Why weren’t you more careful?!
Simon
You just ruined your life!
I can’t believe the coldness I hear in his voice.
Maura
We were being careful!
Maura
The condom just…broke.
Simon
Spare me the details, please!
Simon
Our dreams of getting into Stanford together are destroyed.
Simon
I don’t think they admit teen moms.
Maura
I’m not planning to keep it!
He finally looks me in eye, dead serious.
Simon
Maura, you can’t get an abortion.
I feel like I can’t breathe.
Maura
I know, but…there has to be another way.
Maura
You have a car. Drive me to another state!
Simon
If I help you, I’ll be committing a felony.
Maura
We’ll keep it a secret. No one will know.
He frowns and crosses his arms.
Simon
Tell Leon to drive you.
Maura
I told you, he dumped me!
Maura
He won’t even talk to me.
Maura
It’s like I don’t even exist for him anymore.
Simon
Yeah, well, can’t say I’m shocked.
Simon
He treated you like crap…
Simon
Hid your relationship from everyone…
Simon
He never deserved you.
Simon
He has no idea how special you are.
Maura
I don’t want to talk about Leon.
I reach out and grab his hand.
Maura
I need my best friend right now.
He sighs, rubs the bridge of his nose…
Then looks at me with soft eyes.
Simon
You want my advice?
Simon
Take the abortion pill.
Simon
If you can find it you can avoid traveling.
Maura
That’s a good idea.
Maura
But where would I find it?
Simon
I guess I can help you look into it.
Simon
Might be something I can find online.
I pull him into a swift hug.
Maura
I don’t know what I would do without you.
He just gives me a sad look…
Then leaves the bathroom.
I stay back and splash cold water on my face.
When I look up and into the mirror…
I don’t recognize the person staring back at me.
Just yesterday I had everything.
But somehow, I’ve lost everything.
Someone suddenly enters the bathroom…
Interrupting my pity party.
I watch as she walks over and tapes something under the sink.
It’s a little baggie full of pills…
Paige “The Pill Girl” Presley.
Maybe she can help me get what I need!
I’ve never talked to her before…
I rush over to her just as she’s about to exit the bathroom.
Maura
Paige! I need your help.
Maura
Would you happen to have—
Then presses a finger against my lips.
She pulls out a business card from her back pocket and hands it to me.
Paige
Call me after school.
I slog through the rest of the school day…
Unable to focus on anything.
By the time I arrive home…
All I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry.
But when I walk in the door…
My mom nearly tackles me.
She holds up a large envelope with big red letters on the front that say…
She pulls me into a tight hug.
Mom
Oh honey, I’m so proud of you!
Mom
You worked so hard for this!
Tears fill my eyes as her words sink in.
I’ve been dreaming of this moment my whole life.
What if I can’t get the abortion pill in time?
How will I go to Stanford with a baby?!
And before I know it, I’m crying hysterically in her arms.
My mom pulls back to look at me.
Mom
Isn’t this what you always wanted?
For a split second I wish I could tell her the truth.
But it scares me to imagine how she might react.
I stop crying and look her in the eye.
Maura
They’re happy tears, mom.
Smiling, she wipes my face and then turns to grab her keys.
Mom
Just wait until I tell everyone at church!
Mom
They’re going to be so proud!
She rushes out the door before I can respond…
Leaving me feeling like the world’s biggest fraud.
And I should be studying.
But instead, I’m watching reruns of Teen Mom on my phone.
I’ve been unable to focus on anything all morning.
Between Googling things like…
“How long does labor last?”…
And “Does an abortion hurt?”…
I’m completely overwhelmed.
And to make matters worse…
And everyone keeps bombarding me with questions.
Just as I have that thought…
Tara Lewis approaches my table.
Tara
What the deal with the security at prom?
Tara
Are they going to be searching bags?
Tara
Because Brenda just got a handle of Vodka—
I push back from the table, cutting her off.
Maura
Sorry, I’ve got to go.
I can’t pretend like everything is okay.
I gather my things and escape to the bathroom…
I lock myself in a stall…
Then curl up on top of the toilet seat.
What the hell am I going to do now?
It’s then I notice a familiar baggie taped to the back of the door.
I forgot to call her yesterday.
I quickly pull out my phone and dial her number.
Luckily, she answers on the first ring.
Paige
How can I help you?
Maura
Um, I was wondering if you carry the abortion pill?
Paige
Maura Murray pregnant, huh?
Paige
Who would have thought?
I close my eyes as a wave of shame washes over me.
Feeling as if I don’t have any other choice.
Maura
Can you help me or not?
Paige
Can’t get those pills anywhere these days.
I hang up, feeling dejected.
It takes me a few minutes to gather myself and leave the stall…
But when I do, things go from bad to worse.
And to my horror, Justina is at the sink putting on makeup.
And from the look on her face…
I can tell she heard everything.
She glances at me, smiles…
Then puts a finishing touch to her bright red lips.
Panicked, I rush over to her.
Maura
Don’t tell anyone what you heard.
She laughs, then admires herself in the mirror.
Justina
Wow, pregnant huh?
Justina
Everyone would totally freak if they knew Ms. Goody Two Shoes was knocked up.
My heart falls into my stomach
Maura
I don’t want anyone to know.
Maura
Please, tell me you’ll keep this between us.
Justina smiles, putting her lipstick in her purse.
Instead of answering, she makes me even more nervous.
Justina
I can’t control the flow of information, can I?
Justina
Great job planning prom, by the way.
Justina
And here I thought it would be boring…
