Pregnant For My Bully
Chapter 30

The video had been taken down. That I was certain of, because I'd personally gone on Leila's vlog in search of it, but couldn't find it. Coach Hens had kept his word, and for that I was grateful. And by the looks of it, it seemed like he was already enforcing the punishment he'd meted out to Jason. This morning, after I arrived at school, I spotted Jason leaving the coach's office, a deep frown etched onto his face. He'd probably gone to beg so he didn't have to write the letter but had been turned down.

Good for him. That'll teach him.

Aside from spotting him earlier, I'd also had two classes with him today, Geometry and English, and all the while, there'd been no spitballs or chewed gum. Throughout the classes, he'd done nothing but sit crossed armed, staring at the teacher, obviously not comprehending a word from the look on his face.

What did Jason really think? That he could just do anything he liked to me and go scot free? That I was some sort of dumb kid who couldn't stand up for herself once in a while? Well, jokes on him.

I was a hundred percent sure that I'd shocked him out of his wits yesterday with my reaction, and I'd do it again if I had to.

At the moment, classes had come to an end. The second the bell went off for the end of class, I grabbed my backpack, stuck my notebook under my arm and stood up, making my way out of the class even before Miss Danielle, our AP Biology teacher, could finish reading out homework.

I didn't want to be caught up in the rush as students tried to cram and force their way through one small space, knowing the stigma of yesterday's event still followed me around.

It hadn't been all chill since I arrived at school. I still got odd stares, although a little bit less than yesterday's, and I still occasionally heard people murmuring nasty things about me.

I tried to ignore them, after all, in due time my scandal will pass. Scandals always did. But deep down, I just couldn't. The humiliation from yesterday was still hovering in my mind, drifting from one corner to the other, so much so that it'd made me feel uncomfortable while I was having lunch today. I felt like everyone was watching. Watching me eat. Watching my every move. Judging me. I knew I was only being paranoid, but I just couldn't shrug off the feeling no matter how much I tried.

And I was going through all these solely because of Jason. The hate I had for him kept festering, burning brighter and brighter, and with every prank, every bully done to me, more fuel was added to fire.

I told myself one day I'd eventually snap, and yesterday, I did. But that was only a bit. If he kept up with the act, I didn't know what next I'd do, but one thing was for sure. It was going to be drastic.

Getting to my locker, I quickly entered the combination, swung the door open and buried my face in the open space, not exactly in the mood to entertain any more weird glances.

I placed the notebook under my arm in the locker and emptied my backpack of unneeded texts before taking out my earpieces, then I shut my locker and turned to go, only to slam right into a sturdy chest borne by a six footer. Stepping back at once, I looked up, a peculiar jolt in my heart at the thought that it might be Jason.

"I'm sorry I was standing in your way unannounced," Adrian said, holding a hand to his chest where I'd bumped into him.

Releasing a sigh of relief, I shook my head. "No, I'm the sorry one. I didn't see you there."

"How are you feeling today?" He asked suddenly, throwing me off guard.

Apart from Benson, no-one else had cared to know. Bothered to ask how I felt after being used and victimized, but here was Adrian, concerned, non judgemental and sensitive, wanting to know about my wellbeing even after seeing the video. I couldn't admire him any less for being friends with an arrogant bully but still having such a wonderful personality.

"I'm fine," I smiled mildly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Thank you."

"That's good to know. Look," he sighed, touching a hand to his neck. "I just wanted to apologize on behalf of Jason. What he did was wrong, so wrong, I admit. And I'm sorry that he did that. Hell, I can't even believe he did it, but Jason can be too much. Sometimes. I mean, he's angry and stuff, although that doesn't make it right to bully others, but, deep down, he's really a nice guy. He just has to overcome all that anger. And hate."

Sometimes? Jason can be too much sometimes? Jason was always too much! And I understood Adrian trying to paint Jason in a new, better light, after all they were friends, but Jason was well aware of his actions while carrying them out. No way in hell was I ever going to pity him for his unstable family situation or fall for him again, for his lies and deceit. Hell would freeze over before that ever happened.

"So, all I'm saying is, don't take it too personal. Don't hate him. He's going through a hard time," Adrian concluded.

"And I'm not?" I looked up at him. "Jason's going through a hard time, and I'm not? Three years ago I lost my parents. Watched through the window of the hospital door as they struggled for their lives but eventually gave up. Watched them die, right before me, but you don't see me venting my anger on anyone. Why does Jason get to have a pass? And why does it have to be me?"

"I heard about your parents," Adrian said, after a short while of silence. "I mean it's a kinda small town, so I did, and I'm sorry about what happened, but that wasn't what I meant."

Then what exactly did you mean?

In order not to drag the conversation too far, seeing as it was already pissing me off, because clearly, Adrian had no idea about the other stuff Jason had been doing to me, I said, "OK, I get you now. Thanks for your concern, once again, but I gotta be at the library." Turning away from him, I took a step towards leaving when he held my arm.

"Hey, wait a minute," he said. "I'm sorry if I upset you."

I looked at him. "No. You didn't."

He dropped my arm then. "Sorry once again, about Jason."

I offered him a brief smile. "It's fine."

And then I turned and left, heading down to the library to finish up my assignment before going home.

Just as I got to the base of the staircase, someone grabbed me roughly by the arm and yanked me to the side before shoving me into the janitor's closet at the corner of the stairs, shutting the door behind him with a subtle click.