Page 80 of Stay Dangerous

“Turkey said there’s a pop quiz in biology. I can’t miss it, Wyn. I’m barely passing as it is.”

“What do you mean barely passing, Auty?” I struggled to keep my voice low and leveled. “I thought you had a B.”

Auty bit the corner of her lip before averting her eyes. “I’m trying. Mr. Hartman puts most of his grades on these quizzes and I get stuck.”

“But he doesn’t change the quizzes. I gave you all of mine from last year. What the hell are you doing if you’re not studying–”

“I hate when you act like my mom. You’renot,” she hissed, standing up and shouldering her canvas bag. “Turkey’s picking me up from around the corner. I’m sorry I can’t stay. Maybe you can call the dad–”

“Bye, Auty.”

The nurse called my name, thankfully, and I shouldered past my sister to the back. My eyes stung, but I didn’t let them fall, not from this. I was surprised Auty didn’t flake before.

After taking a piss to make sure I was all clear down there, we did a blood test to make sure I was actually pregnant.When it was confirmed, against my better judgement, I got an ultrasound, too.

Hearing the heartbeat broke the dams. Tears poured out of my eyes as I tried to convince the doctor I still wanted an abortion, and that I wasn’t here against my will, and that I wasn’t being abused at home.

But she didn’t budge when I said I was alone. Since I was getting the procedure, I needed someone to make sure I was okay after.

I had to call someone.

I bit my lips instead of revealing the embarrassing truth, and she left me alone for five minutes to make a call I didn’t have to.

My womb mate couldn’t be here. My parents were in the wind. And if I called Fredo, who knew what would happen next?

My phone chimed in my pocket, and all the breath rushed from me. If that wasn’t a sign, I didn’t know what was.

Trippy: Freckles cuz ! I kno u in skool rn but hit my line when u out . Made this fyre beat that wuld b perf 4 u .

I called him immediately. He answered on the second ring, laughing.

“Aint you–”

“Trippy,” I sobbed, cupping my mouth to get it together.

“Where you at?” he asked, all humor gone.

“Family Clinic in South East. They won’t let me do it without someone here. Please, don’t tell–”

“I’m on the way.”

He clicked in my face, but I knew he was coming. The doctor smiled when she came back, and began to prep me for the procedure after I told her someone was coming for me.

The recovery room was small, with a bed and a chair. I lay on my side, tears still in a steady stream onto the pillow.

Trippy looked as if he’d break the small chair next to me. Brooding and intense, but not angry.

Disappointment covered his face. That was worse.

There was saran wrap on his neck from a fresh tattoo. He was covered in them, adding more and more since I met him. His hairline was receding, and he told me he thought about getting head tatts when he finally went bald.

I wanted to ask him about it now. Anything to lighten the mood, so he could smile at me instead of glare, like he’d been doing since I was brought into the recovery room.

But I couldn’t open my mouth. I could only lay there, slightly shaking from the pain coming from between my legs.

“You remind me so much of my sister. Mindblowing,” he said, leaning forward.

My eyebrows twitched, and thankfully, he kept going.