chapter 7

Sandra met up with Stacey right around lunch time. They walked to the cafeteria with Stacey talking the whole time. It annoyed a lot of people, but Sandra didn't mind it because it kept her mind off other things.

They sat down to eat after shoving their way through the crowded lunch lines. Sandra looked down at her plate and couldn't remember why she fought so hard to get through the line for mystery meat.

"So, anyway, back to what I was saying," Stacey rambled on. "I don't like gym class because the teacher is weird. I think he's a perv. Every time I look at him he's staring at one of the girls. He chose the phys ed uniform and of course he chose short shorts for girls!" she complained, playing with her food. She made a disgusted face. "I hate school lunches."

"Where's Katie?" Stacey asked, realizing she wasn't sitting with them.

"She went to Puerto Rico with her mom for the week." Sandra said, sighing sadly.

"Oh, so we can hang out all week!" Stacey said excitedly.

It was no secret that Stacey and Katie shared a mutual disliking of one another. The only reason they put up with each other, it seemed, was for Sandra. Sandra couldn't understand why they couldn't give each other a chance. Frankly, it annoyed her. It also annoyed her when Stacey acted as if she were better than Katie. Sometimes she'd say things like 'I bet you never have this much fun with Katie.' Sandra always just ignored it, because the truth was she had more fun with Katie than anyone else.

"Actually, I'm grounded this week. So unless you can convince my mom to let me come out, it's not going to happen." Sandra said, sipping her water.

"I'll see what I can do." Stacey said.

Sandra felt better after lunch. She didn't eat very much, but her nausea went away. She fidgeted through the rest of her classes. She kept looking at the clock waiting for 3 o'clock. It seemed like time was standing still. Finally the bell rang and she jumped out of her chair so fast that she almost knocked it over.

Her mom was waiting outside for her to make sure she came straight home. Sandra rolled her eyes when she saw the car. She got in the car and didn't say anything. Of course, her mom tried to act like nothing was going on.

"Hey hun!" She chirped as Sandra closed the door. "I was wondering, have you chosen what you're going to be dressing up as for Halloween?"

"Probably a ghost." Sandra said without looking at her mother.

"Really?" Her mom asked surprised. "But that's so plain, usually you pick something unique."

"Yeah, well I'm not really in the mood for anything unique this year." Sandra said, feeling like she already was a ghost.

"Well, this weekend, do you want to go out shopping for costumes? It can be me, you, Gwen, and Amber. We can have a girl's night and your father can watch Jeff." She suggested hopefully.

Amber was Sandra's older sister. She was twenty two. She got pregnant at Sandra's age. She now lived on her own in the apartment complex across town that only accepted families on welfare.

"Sure." Sandra said, hoping her mom would forget by Friday.

When they got home, Sandra went straight to her room. She told her mom she had homework to catch up on. She was glad her mom didn't pry, otherwise she probably would have figured out that Sandra finished her homework in school, like she usually does.

She went up to her room and spread her books and notebooks out on the bed on one end. Kicking off her sneakers, she laid in bed on her stomach. She picked up her chemistry book and began flipping through the pages, trying to look busy.

After about fifteen minutes, Sandra heard a knock at the door. Her heart pounded as she tried to listen closer. she squeezed her eyes closed hoping her mom would answer. She did. She could hear a conversation going on, but couldn't hear what they were saying. She knew her plan was a success when she heard two pairs of footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Sandra, someone's here for you." Her mom poked her head in the door. Sandra put a pencil and book down, pretending as if she were studying.

"Really?" Sandra asked, feigning surprise.

"Yes, the French exchange student. She says she needs help with her homework. Aimen, I think she said her name was?" Her mom said sweetly.

"Imene, actually." Sandra heard Imene correct her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" She apologized sincerely.

"So are you going to let her in?" Sandra asked, trying not to give away her plan.

"Oh, right. You two have fun!" Sandra's mom walked away as Imene walked in and closed the door.

Both girls froze for a few seconds, listening. They wanted to make sure her mom went back down stairs. When they heard the footsteps on the stairs, Sandra jumped up, pushing all her books to the side.

"So, did you bring the goods?" Sandra asked anxiously.

Imene didn't answer, she just took her messenger book bag and set it on the bed, lifting the strap over her head. She opened the flap and paused, looking at Sandra and adding to the suspense. Finally, she reached in her bag and pulled out her laptop.

"Yes!" Sandra cried quietly. She took the laptop into her lap as Imene jumped on the bed and sat beside her.

Sandra connected the laptop to her parents wireless router. She clicked on the internet and typed as quickly and quietly as she could. While the page was loading, she kept fidgeting and urging the computer to hurry up. Finally, it loaded and she scrolled through all the junk mail to find Katie's email. A smile grew on her face as she found it and opened it. The smile remained plastered on her face as she read.

Sandra,
Heyyy best frannnd! What are you up to? How mad were your parents when you came home late? Our plane came in early this morning, it was a quicker flight than I thought! You'll never guess what happened! (Okay, I bet you've already guessed...) I met a guy on the plane! He seems nice. He's not as cute as Greg, though. It's weird because he's going on a vacation to Puerto Rico, too. Know what's even more weird? He's staying in the same hotel! He's on the second level, though and we're on the seventh. His name is John.
Anyway, how are things with Jimmy? Have you called him yet? Let me know everything!! My mom is already at the pool in her bikini and sarong flirting with the locals. She's such a dork, she has her Spanish-English dictionary and is trying to speak Spanish. I think she's hooked a couple so far! But I don't think it has anything to do with her conversational skills.
Anyway, I heart you and mish you! Wish you were here!
xOx
Katie<3

Sandra read it over a few times, wishing there were more. She smiled as she imagined how Katie acted around this John character. She could imagine Katie's mom with guys around her as she tried, and failed, to speak Spanish.

Sandra sometimes felt that beauty was a curse in some cases. It definitely was for Katie's mom. There were always guys pretending to be the perfect someone, perfect dad, perfect husband, perfect whatever, just to get her to trust them. They were never who they said they were and they always left her heart broken and more damaged than before. Somehow, though, Katie's mom always managed to smile. Sandra paused with her fingers over the keys as she thought about what to write in her reply.

Katie,
What's up girl? I'm glad to hear you and your mom are having fun! Make sure you look out for your mom, you know how naive she is, she's worse than you! I wish I could be there to explore with you!
Not much is going on here. Imene says hi. Technically I'm grounded right now, but she snuck her laptop in telling my mom she needed homework help. I spent most of today at the nurse's office. She's super nice.
I haven't called Jimmy yet. I'm scared to. I don't really know why. I think I'll call him tomorrow night, but that means I'd have to find a way to get my cell phone back from my mom. I don't know what I'm really going to say if I do call. I think I decided what I want to do. I really want the baby, well I want the baby more than I don't. Does that make any sense? I mean part of me is scared like what if Jimmy leaves or what if I'm not a good mom? But as it gets closer to THE DAY, those voices seem to fade more and more. I caught myself laying with my hands on my stomach trying to feel the baby move. I know it's way too early, but I can't help but imagine everything about it! I think I'm more excited than scared.
Anyway, I think I hear my mom coming, gotta go!
Mish you and heart you more!

xOx
Sandra

Sandra pressed send and slammed the laptop closed as footsteps reached the top of the stairs. Her and Imene scrambled around looking for a place to hide it. Sandra slid it under her pillow and Imene grabbed the English book as the doorknob began to turn.

"So, you see here, this sentence is missing the adjective." Sandra said the first thing to come to her mind as the door opened.

"Sandra, dear, I don't mean to interrupt you two, but you have another visitor." Sandra's mom said, emphasizing the word "another" sounding a little agitated.

"Who?" Sandra asked, confused.

"Hey!" Stacey pulled the door open and walked in. "I figured we could do homework together!" She said excitedly before noticing Imene. "It seems you started without me, though." Stacey sounded disappointed.

"Oh, calm down Stace." Sandra laughed. "We've barely started. Pull up a chair." Sandra's mom looked at the girls suspiciously for a few minutes before closing the door.

"So what are we working on?" Stacey asked as she pulled out her English book.

"Honestly, we're not doing homework." Sandra said. "It was just a cover." She explained.

"Oh." Stacey said, unsure of how to respond. "So, what are we going to do then?" Stacey asked, slowly putting her book back in her bag.

There was a brief awkward silence while the three girls looked at each other, not sure what to do. Sandra picked up her remote and put her radio on and made sure the volume wasn't loud enough to attract her parents' attention.

"I have a crush on this guy in our history class!" Stacey tried breaking the silence.

"Tell us about him!" Imene urged her.

"His name is Kyle Kelly." Stacey explained, knowing Sandra would know who she was talking about.

"Ew!" Sandra cried. "He's a jerk!"

The three girls kept talking about Kyle Kelly. Sandra explained why she thought he was a jerk. No matter what Sandra said, Stacey was set on having a crush on him. They made sure to keep at least one book open, in case anyone walked in.

About an hour and three conversations later, Sandra's mom knocked on the door. The girls stopped talking as she poked her head in.

"Would your friends like to eat over? I'm about to start dinner." She asked after looking around the room.

"Oh, I don't think I can, Mrs. Gallagher." Stacey said regretfully.

"I would love to!" Imene said with a smile.

"Well, I guess I can call my mom and ask." Stacey said, reconsidering.

While Stacey was in the hallway talking on the pone with her mother, Imene gave Sandra a curious look.

"What?" Sandra asked with a smirk.

"Does she get jealous of everyone?" Imene asked quietly.

"She's a little insecure. To a lot of people she may seem annoying or whatever, but underneath it all she's really sweet. When she wants to be." Sandra said, adding the last part as an afterthought.

"Must be way underneath it all." Imene said, right before they heard Stacey saying goodbye to her mom.

Sandra laughed as Stacey walked back in. Stacey looked back and forth at Sandra and Imene suspiciously. Imene got up and walked out of the room with the excuse that she needed to wash her hands before dinner. Stacey seemed perturbed.

"What's wrong, Stace?" Sandra asked, genuinely concerned.

"Nothing." Stacey rolled her eyes.

"Really, tell me!" Sandra demanded, furrowing her eyebrows. "Did your mom say no to dinner?"

"I bet you'd like that." Stacey snapped.

"What?" Sandra asked incredulously. "Why would you say that?"

"You practically tried to get me not to come tonight. You said you were grounded." Stacey said, getting more upset.

"I am grounded!" Sandra hissed.

Before Stacey could respond, Sandra's mom came up. She let the girls know dinner was ready. Stacey and Sandra stared at each other for a few moments after Sandra's mom walked away. Stacey glowered at Sandra as Imene walked in. Imene immediately felt the tension in the room.

"I'll be downstairs, at the table." Imene said turning on her heeel and walking out.

"Come on, Stacey. Calm down, let's go eat." Sandra said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm not very hungry anymore." Stacey said, her eyes glistening. She got up and walked out. Sandra sighed heavily. She hoped Stacey would be over it by tomorrow.

After dinner, Imene left. She gave Sandra a hug and kiss on the cheek. She thanked Sandra's mom for allowing Sandra to help her. After giving her mom a hug, she began to walk out the door.

"Anytime, dear! If you need to, you can come everyday this week." Sandra's mom called after her. "Be safe on your way home. Call Sandra when you get home!" She called as Imene waved while walking away.

Sandra went up to her room to get ready to take a shower. She grabbed a towel out of the linen closet and carried it with her to her room. She pulled the elastic out of her hair and brushed it so it would be easier to wash. She was sitting on her bed taking off her socks when her mom came in.

"If you pull a stunt like that again, I'll double your punishment." She said, angrily narrowing her eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Sandra asked, innocently.

"Having all your friends come over while you're grounded. That's what I'm talking about. The French girl can come over, but only to do homework. Do you hear me?" She spoke sternly.

"Yes. I do hear you, mom, but trust me, I didn't invite Stacey over." She walked by her mom as she spoke. "Can I go in the shower now?" She asked, waiting to close the bathroom door until her mom gave her permission to end the conversation.

Later that night, as Sandra sat at her vanity brushing her hair, she started to feel overwhelmed. Putting the brush down on the vanity, she began to cry. She didn't know what she was doing, didn't know what to do. Her mother came to the door, she nudged the door open after lightly knocking on it.

"What's the matter Sandra?" She asked worriedly as she walked over and sat next to Sandra. She put her arm around Sandra as Sandra tried to stop crying.

"I don't know. I'm scared." Sandra cried, leaning into her mother.

"Everyone gets scared when they're pregnant. It's normal." Her mother comforted her, and Sandra actually felt better.

"Really?" Sandra asked, sniffling.

"Really." Her mother said, getting up. "Now, get to sleep."