Page 33 of Jain

“You want to be Bonnie to my Clyde, babe? If monogamy is what you want, monogamy is what you get.”

I searched his eyes as I laughed in disbelief.

“Just like that? The great Arden speaks, and I bow down at your feet and accept?”

“No... but you can’t just give this up without trying. I don’t want to.”

I stepped forward, my lips close to his ear as his hand slipped around my waist.

“I gave up already. It’s time you did.”

Arden’s eyes narrowed as I walked away, aware everyone was dying to know what I’d said to him.

I smiled when I pushed through the crowds, so pleased with myself I didn’t notice a teacher slipping back into his classroom, a broad smile on his face.

If I had, then maybe my free period would’ve been much more interesting.

I was walking home some hours later when my phone rang.

It was Kate.

“What? Just because we exchanged some words today, it doesn’t mean—”

“Jain, please just forget that you hate me for five minutes. I need you to come round. Please,please.”

I wasn’t sure whether it was the fear in the voice or the desperation, but something made me stop in my tracks.

“Kate, what’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer immediately, her sobs filling the silence. I waited until she finally spoke.

“Can you come over?”

I sighed with irritation, knowing I was going. Whatever was wrong was severe enough to make her expect me to bypass all the shit we had been through despite what I’d said to her already today.

“Fine. I’ll come now.”

Her house was close to Mr Silver’s, so it didn’t take me long to walk there. When I got there, I was surprised to see Harley standing outside, waiting for me. His face was pale, and he ran a hand through his messy hair.

“She rang me crying. I came over and saw you—”

I nodded before sprinting up the steps to her house. When I walked into the front room, I saw her sitting on the sofa with mascara-stained cheeks.

“Kate, what happened?”

I knelt in front of her as my eyes searched hers. She seemed to be in shock, mumbling something incoherent. Harley shrugged at me helplessly when she whispered something to me.

“I think I’m pregnant.”

I stared at her as Harley demanded I tell him what she said.

“Think?” I repeated as she closed her eyes.

“I’ve missed two periods, and I’ve not done a test yet—I can’t—”

Harley’s eyes widened as he figured it out, holding his hands up and making a face to tell me it wasn’t his fault.

“You need to do a test, Kate.”