Chapter 2: The Betrayal Scene

I stared at Tasha's text through the rain-blurred screen, the smiling emojis mocking the absolute wreckage of my current reality. I had nowhere else to turn, and swallowing the bile in my throat, I reluctantly typed back three words that tasted like ashes: “please help me.”

Twenty minutes later, Tasha's mom's SUV pulled up to the control. Tasha immediately jumped out with an umbrella in her hand, and her face a show of fake concern. She rushed to where I was standing and wrapped her hand around my shoulder.

"O my God, Oma! What are you doing out here in the rain? You are soaked!" She escorted me into the warm leather interior of the car and her mother was also in the car. I greeted her and tried to make myself as comfortable as I could even though I was wet all through.

Tasha's voice brought me back to the present. “Oma, you didn’t answer my question, what happened? Why were you in the rain?” She asked again, feigning sympathy and concern.

I told her what happened, I explained to her that I just discovered that I was pregnant, and my dad threw me out of the house threatening that I must not return until I have found the man responsible for it. As I spoke, tears rolled down my cheeks afresh.

Tasha gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "What! that monster! She exclaimed. “Why would he do that? Don't you worry, I’ve got your back babe. But why didn’t you call earlier instead of getting so soaked? Anyway, that’s not a problem, you're staying with us. Right, Mom?" she said turning to her mother who was at the back seat.

Mrs. Davis, who is a very kind woman but perpetually distracted, nodded. "Of course, my dear, we have the guest room and you are welcome to stay as long as you want." She said, giving me a reassuring smile.

Thank you very much for your kindness ma’am, I said forcing a smile, and feeling a little bit relieved. Turning to Tash I responded to her question. "I wasn’t even thinking straight Tasha, but thank God for your text message, it was timely."

The guest room was warm and cozy, sheltering me from the cold. I took a hot shower, changed my clothes and arranged a few of my belongings that I brought.

When had settled in, my instinctive mind wandered to Tasha's message about going to the movie with Franklin. I decided to ask her about it.  "Tasha, you said you were going to see a movie with Franklin,  how come? Are you now an item?"

"Come on Oma, are we not friends? What is the big deal about going to see a movie  together?" She responded flippantly. Her body language said more than she was ready to spill out though.

I wasn’t satisfied with her response so I asked further.  Why did you consider me a third wheel with you my best friend and Franklin my boyfriend,  is there something more you are not telling me?

"Relax Oma, and take care of yourself.  Going to the movie with Franklin should be the least of your worries at the moment.  Tasha said. 

My heart was heavy with doubt but I let it slide and decided to watch. 

 That night was the longest for me as I tossed and turned. The event of the day was playing in my head like a horror movie; I imagined my ambition of becoming a corporate lawyer shattered with this baby growing inside of me without a father. I sobbed myself to a weary sleep.

For weeks, I lived in the fawn reservation of Tasha's guest bedroom, drowning in gratitude and guilt at the same time, and feeling like a parasite in another person’s house. While. I spent my days vomiting quietly into the guest room toilet and at the same time, desperately searching online for jobs for pregnant teens with no experience.

I tried to be useful while staying with Them. I cleaned the house, folded laundry, and tried to ignore  the way Tasha's sugary sweetness seemed to have a brittle edge to it lately, like someone who has some skeletons in her cupboard.

 I sensed that something was wrong but again I said to myself; I’m just hormonal and being paranoid, these people were my saviors in this time of distress; they were the only people who loved me, my only family for now. If anything, I should be grateful for having a roof over my head.

One Tuesday afternoon, I came home early from a failed job interview at a café, looking tired and unhappy. The house was unusually quiet; Franklin had secretly visited and was in Tasha's room. They didn’t hear the sound of the door when I entered. As I walked past Tasha's bedroom door, which was slightly ajar, I heard a soft giggling from inside, then Franklin’s voice, low and smug, saying-

"You know Tash,I still can't believe the plan actually worked. With her scrupulous moral sense, I thought she’d chicken out at the party, if she did, there is nothing we would have done; but you were very insistent though and she kept gulping the drinks" he said laughing.

I froze on the spot, I didn’t know whether to go forward or run out, to laugh or cry. 

"Pleeease!" that was Tasha's voice, dripping with venom I had never heard before. " I guess little “Miss Perfect” was desperate to fit in. All it took was three vodka cranberries and she was anyone's for the night. Besides, we won the pool. Five hundred bucks is five hundred bucks. That’s something" She said giving Franklin a triumphant tap on the shoulder. They both laughed heartily.

My blood ran cold, my heartbeat became faster, my legs were weak, and the floor seemed to tilt beneath my feet. Hot sweat rolled down my eyes from my forehead; I closed my eyes and opened again, I suddenly became dizzy, and  I asked myself -am I dreaming, what did I just hear?.

"Yeah, that was it,” Franklin continued, “but now she's pregnant and living right here in your house. Did you ever think that part through? I guess not, so you will have to deal with it"

"Whatever.” Tasha said, flinging her hand nonchalantly. “It's not like it's your kid, Franklin. Why are you even bothered? And you know that we just needed her to be side-tracked so we could hook up without her grumbling. Who knew the random guy we pointed her to, didn't believe in protection? We didn’t plan for it to end this way but then again, it’s not my circus, not my monkeys." She said dismissively.

I released the breadth I was holding with a loud, strangled gasp escaping my lips before I could stop it. Inside the room, the laughter cut off instantly. The grounds squeaked, and Tasha pulled the bedroom door wide open. Her eyes went wide, her face paling as she saw me standing there, trembling with the shattering realization of what they had done.