Chapter 2 I swallowed a watermelon seed

It felt like the rest of the weekend raced by. It was already Monday and I was not looking forward to classes. And I definitely wasn’t in the mood for Mandy. But, some things were just inevitable.

I dressed in one of my band tees and my ripped blue jean shorts. I felt like putting on makeup for once. Dee of course helped me. She stayed with me all weekend and was only going to return home this afternoon after she gives me a ride to work.

“You know Mandy is going to hate on you even more because you look hot.” Dee said after she got done braiding my long auburn waves.

“I honestly don’t care. I don’t think she can ruin my mood.” It was true. After Saturday night I had been smiling like an idiot. I felt so confident and like I could handle the world.

But.. There was this nagging at the back of my mind. The feeling that I should see Jesse again. It was like an itch that needed to be scratched. It got worse as the hours ticked by. I told myself it was the fact that he was my first and your first will always be special. You’ll never forget it.

I was right. my day at school didn’t dampen my mood in the slightest. Even Mandy’s insults couldn’t touch me. The strange thing was… It’s like all of a sudden, the guys in school kept coming up to me. I had several numbers written on my notepad, my backpack, even my locker. It was starting to get a little weird. Even Miles shot me a smile in calculus this morning. I didn’t know if I had my experience plastered on my forehead or if it was the makeup. Strangely enough, Dee had a similar experience.

We chalked it up to our confidence. Maybe it gave us a pheromone boost or something.

For the next few days this habit seemed to repeat itself. The unwanted attention from boys, mandy having her fun and work as usual. On Thursday Dee waited for me outside of the girls restroom while I dressed in my work uniform. I worked at Shaky’s Café. It was a cute little diner right outside of town. I’ve been working there for a year. Shaky was a great boss and took care of his employee’s. Sadly, I was closing tonight with Bree. Luckily, she was a nice person and we always got along, but we both hated closing. It was creepy walking home at 11 at night. Luckily, I only lived two blocks away, but I had to walk through the alley behind the café.

I finished my side work and helped Bree close up. I waved bye as she walked to her car. I watched to make sure she made it safely then turned on my heels and prepared to walk. I was strangely on edge. Every sound made me jump, even the low whistle of the wind made my skin crawl. I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to rid myself of the gross feeling hindering in the back of my mind.

Then I heard a sound that made a cold chill slip down my spine like a snake. It was a whistle.

I slowly turned, my eyes instantly going to the shabby clothed drunk stumbling down the alley behind me. My heart thudded viciously against my ribcage. I didn’t know what to do. Running would probably have been the best solution but I was frozen solid by fear. He was too close.

I scanned the alley looking for something, anything to defend myself. I saw a broken piece of glass to my left. I dove for it, skinning my knees. I grabbed the sharp glass shard in my hand and whirled around, pointing it at the man.

“Oh baby you don’t have to worry, I promise you’ll enjoy it.” The creeps voice even sounded slithery like a snake. I backed up slowly, only realizing afterward that I backed myself against the brick wall.

“Come any cl.. cl.. closer and I ..I .. I I’ll stab you!” I stuttered helplessly.

The cruel smile that twisted his lips made my stomach roll with nausea. I was in real trouble and there was no one to help me.

I slashed the shard outward as soon as the man got close enough. I don’t know if it was because he was drunk or just really determined to have me, but he acted as if I only scratched him despite the violent red seeping out of the large gash across his chest. He charged at me, slamming me against the brick wall, causing me to drop my glass makeshift knife.

He was ridiculously strong for a drunk. He pinned my legs with his and grabbed my wrists shoving them above my head. I spit at him and all he did was snarl. He forced his leg between mine and violently started ripping my shirt. I head butted him, causing him to hiss like a demon. Next thing I knew I felt a metal edge pressing into the side of my throat. I gulped realizing it was a knife against my throat. I debated whether letting him kill a part of my soul was worse or was dying?

Before I could decide my eyes started blackening around the edges. Everything was becoming hazy and my legs were trembling. I was on the verge of losing hope, knowing that once I fainted there was nothing stopping him.

As soon as I began to slump, I heard him cackle wickedly. Before my vision went completely black I heard the most comforting and frightening sound I’ve ever heard. A deep rumbling growl vibrated through the brick walls. I’d prefer to be mauled by a beast than have a part of my soul shattered beyond repair. I would welcome the ripping and tearing of my flesh as long as the creature took care of the creep first.

I had this strange sensation of rocking on a boat. Is that what heaven was? The endless sea and drifting into the empty peace? But every now and then my eyes would weakly open, and I’d see flashes of a sturdy chest. I smelled the most intoxicating mix of mint, man, and sandalwood. That scent was familiar... I knew it but I couldn’t place it.

I woke up at 2 am wondering why I was laying in my bed. My clothes were still torn, and I had blood on my ripped shirt. I felt like I was about to throw up. The lights were off, and a flash of bright gold shaped like eyes lit in the dark. I gasped, flicking the light on. But there was no one there. I must be losing my mind. How did I get here? How am I not dead or worse... ravaged beyond repair?

There was something teasing the edges of my mind. I knew it. A scent that still tickled my nose and made my stomach flip. I tried to go back to sleep... but, last night just kept replaying in my head repeatedly... I groaned, dragging the pillow onto my face. I wanted to scream into the soft fabric, release the anxiety and frustration that lingered in my lungs. I decided there was no way I was going to get any sleep. I slid out of my bed and made my way to the shower.

It was now six and I felt like the walking dead. There was no way I was going to function enough to pay attention at school. I was sore all over and nauseated. I felt like if I had opened my mouth I’d throw up. A sudden wave of dizziness struck me and I had to grip onto the wall to keep myself upright.

“Honey, are you okay?” My foster mother said walking into the kitchen. She poured herself a cup of coffee. When she was finished adding a little coffee to her heaps of sugar, she leaned against the counter and scanned my face. She watched me so intently that I felt like she had me under a microscope and she could see every single thing in my soul. I swallowed, uncomfortable with her assessment.

“You look pale. Are you feeling sick?” She arched her brow.

I nodded. There was no point lying to her, I was going to ask her if I could skip school anyway.

“You’re not pregnant are you?” She asked scrutinizing me.

A laugh bubbled out of my throat. There was little to no chance of that. Even if that had been possible it would take longer than five days to feel the effects of a pregnancy.

“No. I think I might have the flu.” I said, wiping the sweat off my forehead.

I felt even weaker than before. I took a seat at the table before my legs gave out. Rebekah walked toward me, placing her palm on my forehead. I didn’t feel feverish, but anything is possible.

"I'll call the school. You get some rest and I will see you when I get off." Rebekah kissed my cheek.

I made my way back to my bed and flopped onto it, shoving my face into the mattress. I was on the brink of falling into a deep restful sleep when I heard my phone ring. I lifted my head and peered at the screen flashing on my bedside table.

"Dee. How can I help you?" I yawned.

"Where are you your not at school?." She grumbled with worry.

"I'm out of commission. I feel horrid." I rasped.

"Be there in five."

Dee had a key to my house so I didn't have to get up to let her in. She marched into my room carrying a plastic bag. I sat up with my legs crossed and raised a brow.

"What's in the bag?"

Dee bit her lip and her face turned red. Instead of answering she handed the plastic bag to me and I opened it. A manic giggle busted out of my mouth.

"You can't be serious. It's been five days chick. There's no way." I chuckled, tossing the box on the bed.

"I know.. but just hear me out. I had this weird feeling and I went with my instinct. Also, I'm not sure if you had any weird instances but there was something really strange about James. Like his eyes glowed and he growled while we were.." Dee murmured and sat on the bed next to me.

"Okay and that warrants a pregnancy test?" I scoffed.

"I don't know.. just humor me? It's just a feeling I have." Dee said sighing.

I swallowed. I highly doubted it was possible but to give my friend a peace of mind I would do this for her.

We went into the bathroom and I peed on the damned stick. I sat it down on the counter and waited for what felt like an eternity.

"You ready?" I asked Dee, suddenly feeling my nerves for the first time.

Dee nodded and we both stepped forward to look.

The two pink lines staring at me made my world spin. There was no possible way. My eyes glanced at Dee and my stomach churned. She was even paler than before if that was possible.

Suddenly her body went limp and I lunged forward to catch her head before she hit the ground.

I sat on the cold floor with my best friend's head in my lap. I don't know how I didn't follow suit and faint right beside her. but I only sat there, running my fingers through her hair.

I was starting to worry when after five minutes Dee hadn't moved an inch. Suddenly, her eyes opened and she sucked in a sharp breath. She sat up, headbutting me in the process.

"Ouch!" I growled, rubbing the throbbing spot on my forehead.

"Lala what are we going to do?? that can't be right. It's only been close to a week! We have to make you an appointment or you can go to the free clinic." Dee said, her sentences ran together and I was jealous of how she was able to keep talking without taking a single breath.

"Calm down. We'll go to the clinic that way Rebekah won't hear about it." I assured her, rubbing her arm.

It was strange. I was the one affected by this but Dee was handling it alot worse than I was.

Dee and I sat in the waiting room, waiting for me to be called to the back. I requested that Dee would go in with me, the receptionist seeing our state of shock agreed.

"Daniel's?" A young man with dark skin called out of the back door.

Dee and I got up and followed the man we assumed was a nurse.

"I'm Dr. Carter. Everything will be fine. If you would Ms. Daniel's, could you lie on the bed for me?" The young doctor said with a reassuring smile..

"Sure." I said with more confidence than I felt. I shot Dee an unsure smile. She mouthed a thank you and sat beside the bed I laid down on. There was a strange screen sitting next to us and the doctor clicked it on. He lifted my shirt and put a ridiculously cold gel on my stomach. He took a weird looking wand and rubbed it between my navel and pelvis. A strange thudding sound like a hummingbird's wings filled my ears. I gasped, my eyes snapping to the screen to see a little peanut with a strange glowing spot that kept the tempo if the sound.

"I'd say your five weeks along. Congrats momma/" The doctor said smiling. When he noticed the horrified look on my face his smile dropped.

"How did this happen?" My lip quivered and my eyes became blurry with tears. I grabbed the napkins the doctor offered me and wiped my lower belly clean.

Dee was in a state of shock, her mouth hanging slightly ajar.

"I'm gonna be an auntie" She murmured sort of stupified.

Dee couldn't hold back her tears. She looked at the image that was still stuck on the screen like a picture and sobbed even harder.

My overwhelming emotion was numbness.

The doctor seemed kind of taken aback by Dee's over whelming response and my lack of.

After that Dee stood beside me and wrapped an arm around me, I did the same.

The doctor told us the importance of prenatal vitamins and folic acid. He also let me know that I did have options. Dee and I just nodded absently.

Twenty minutes later and Dee and I were at the park. We sat on the park bench both silently staring out into the distance. Dee had expressed her freakout externally while I fell apart internally. I had to tell Jesse. Would he believe me? I wouldn't. It was insane.

"I should tell him.. Right?"

Dee shook her head violently.

"No. No way. He won't believe us. This is insane I have never heard of something like this. You are already a month along yet you only slept with the guy last weekend. Am I the only one who see's how bizarre that is?" Dee started sounding hysterical.

"Your the one that said James seemed kind of strange. Your gut was right, I'm sure they both will know something about this." I reasoned.

Dee shrugged.

"We'll go to their club. It's a crowded place, it's not like they can hurt us." I offered feebly.

Dee sighed in defeat.

Dee and I got as presentable as we could manage and took off to the club. When we arrived the closed sign hung on the door. I knew they were there. I could almost feel Jesse.

I pounded my fist on the door every few seconds until finally the door popped open.

"Can you read?" Tio, the bouncer said.

"We know that. I have something very important to tell Jesse." I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes.

The guy's lip twitched and he shrugged.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He chuckled darkly.

Dee and I exchanged a wary look.

Tio lead us to the office and knocked on the black wooden door.

"Let them in." I could hear Jesse yell.

When we walked in Jesse was sitting behind a huge black desk that had a glass surface. He was leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.

"We need to speak privately." Dee said, approaching James.

James's nose flared and his eyes took on that strange glow. He nodded sharply, offering his arm to Dee. I mentally wished her not to leave me but I sucked it up.

"Sit." Jesse demanded, pointing his finger at the chair.

I obeyed his order, sitting with my legs crossed and my hands folded.

"I thought I told you to never step foot in here again. Your breaking your promise." Jesse said, leaning forward and planting his elbows on his desk.

"I wouldn't have come if it wasn't important. I thought you should know." I murmured. I slipped the sonogram picture out of my pocket and slowly slid it toward Jesse.

His brows shot up and his face paled.

He stared at the picture, analyzing it. Finally he let out a deep exhale and slid it back toward me.

He leaned back, sighing.

"How much money do you want?" He snapped.

My mouth fell open. I tried to speak but no words would come out.

"Or do you want something else? Just name what you want." He stated matter of fact.

I felt my blood boil. How could he? Is that what he thought of me? Some gold digging tramp.

"No." I hissed.

His mouth twitched. I'm not sure what he found amusing about this situation, but I was about to lose my crap.

"I don't care how this baby came and how it might mess up your plans but this is a baby. It is my baby and I want him or her. I don't want your money or anything else you might think you can buy me off with. If you don't want to be in the picture fine, But this will be the only chance you get to change your mind. The minute I walk out of your door everything will be set in stone." I said, standing. I covered my lower stomach with my hands protectively.

Jesse's eyes did that weird glowing thing and he planted his gaze where my hands were. His nostrils flared. I'm not sure why that aroused me but it hit me in the stomach like a wrecking ball. I squeezed my thighs, trying to soothe the ache I felt.

Jesse slowly walked toward me, I took a step back every time he took a step forward until I was pressed against the door.

He grabbed a fist full of my hair and pulled until my neck was bared to him. His lips slowly skimmed my throat until he reached my ear.

"If you want to keep my child, then you are mine. You will belong to no one else but me. Do I make myself clear?" He growled.

My heart raced sporadically. I was ashamed at how much his little caveman performance turned me on.

"I belong to myself. No one else." I hissed through clenched teeth.

He let my head drop, his eyes glowing that strange gold.

"That's where your wrong. Pack your bags I'll swing by your house later." He said, backing up.

What the frick? I know he didn't just command me to uproot my life.

"Um.. Excuse me? I'm not moving in with you. You could be some psycho!" I screeched.

Jesse cocked his head to the side, sizing me up.

"You don't have a choice. I have enemies that would kill to take that baby from your womb. I protect what's mine." He shrugged nonchalantly.

I shook my head, dumbstruck.

"First you act like I'm some gold-digging tramp and now you just decided I'm moving in with you, no discussion?" I asked in disbelief.

Then my eyes widened, I was just reminded how sudden this was and he didn't seem like he was in disbelief.

"Why aren't you denying this?" I arched my brow skeptically.

"What's there to deny? I was your first. I know you haven't been with anyone else." He held a blank stare as if he were drawing a curtain on his emotions.

I rolled my eyes and that seemed to trigger his annoyance.

Jesse smiled and it wasn't nice.

"Tio!" Jesse shouted his dangerous eyes not leaving mine. Within seconds Tio poked his head through the door.

"Take Ms. Daniel's to her home and make sure she packs whatever she needs."

Tio nodded.

"Come Ms. Daniel's" Tio said, touching my arm. The minute he touched my arm Jesse let out a menacing growl.

"Do not touch her. I said to make sure she packs, not grope her." Jesse sneered at tio.

Tio shrugged unconcerned, I however, was very concerned. He can't do this, he can't MAKE me move in with him.

"No. No one is touching me and I am NOT moving in with you. Forget I was here." I snapped, yanking the door open and stomping down the hall.

Tio followed me outside and frowned. I shot him a glare, daring him to get within arms length of me.

"I am waiting for my friend. You can go now."

Tio grinned.

"Your friend has already left with James." Tio said, gesturing to the empty parking space that dee had been parked in.

I huffed, crossing my arms. Now Tio would have to give me a ride home.

"FINE. but you are only giving me a ride home I am NOT going anywhere else." I said through gritted teeth.

Tio ignored me and got into the huge black suv. He gestured for me to slide in beside him.

"I thought you were driving?" I said petulantly. I frowned, staring out the window.

"That is Arrow's job." He nodded toward the sharply dressed driver.

He was bulky and his face was as hard as marble. I shivered, realizing I had no clue what I had gotten myself into.

We reached my home and I wasn't surprised to see that my foster mother's car was parked in the drive way. A jolt of hope mixed with uncertainty swirled in my chest.

Tio got out and opened the door for me. I shot him a glare and straightened my clothes.

I tried to close the door before tio could reach me but he was too fast. I growled in annoyance. This was going to go over wonderfully with Rebekah.

As if my thoughts summoned her Rebekah stepped into the living room, her eyes wide and crinkled in concern.

"How dare you come in my house." Rebekah said, appalled. My mouth fell open, why did it seem like she knew them?

"He demanded it so. You will say your goodbye's tonight." Tio said, crossing his muscular arms.

Rebekah huffed out a long exhale and slumped against the door frame.

My jaw hit the floor. She just accepted what this psycho said and that was it?

"Umm... What the hell?" I stared at the woman who has been my mother for twelve years.

Rebekah shot me a tired smile.

"I knew this would happen eventually. Come, I'll help you pack your things."

She avoided my gaze as we walked to my room. I pulled out my suitcase from under the bed still rocked to my core. Nothing was making sense.

"You'll visit right?" Rebekah's voice trembled and my hands dropped to my sides.

"Why are you letting them take me?" I choked.

Rebekah sighed and faced me. She stuck a piece of hair behind my ear and gave me a sad smile.

"You were never mine darling. You have always been his." And with that she pressed a soft kiss to my cheek and walked out of the room, leaving me to pick up the pieces of my heart that just shattered on the ground.