DIGGY's POV

~A few days later~

Julie didn't show up again for class. I kind of don't care because it's not like we're friends or anything. But after the online rumors about us, I can't say that I wasn't a little concerned about how she'd handle everything. I assume part of the reason she's been skipping class is because of the rumors. She's really been on and off; some days I see her in class or in the hallways and she's perfectly fine, then other days she's like a ghost. I don't really talk to her at all these days but... I can't shake this weird feeling that something's going on. I genuinely hope she's doing okay. Maybe I'll ask Becca if she knows what's up with her. Or maybe Dana knows; we've been talking a bit more, so I'm sure she would tell me something.

Anyway, another school day full of the same ole stuff. To make it worse, our teacher Mrs. Raymond decided to throw a group assignment on us. Yay me. As soon as she announced it, the entire class groaned. Our groups would be made up of the people sitting in the same row going left to right, and there'd be four people in each group. Well, since Julie decided to play hooky for the second time this week, guess who I gotta be in a group with? Sam and Jake.

I glanced at the both of them sitting next to each other, smiling and joking about random stuff like best friends. It's super weird how close they've gotten over the last month. I've been playing on the basketball team with Jake since Freshman year, but we've never been that close. So to see him chop it up with someone that was one of my best friends... man, it's weird.

Regardless of my feelings, I shake the thought off and try to remain focused. No matter how I feel about their relationship, no matter what tension is still between me and Sam, this is strictly business. We gotta complete this assignment just like any other assignment. Ain't no time to fail today just because I feel some typa way.

The assignment was to create a "how-to" on a particular subject or activity, writing the directions in Spanish. We decided on writing directions for a cooking recipe which seemed simple enough. Now we just gotta figure out what kinda recipe we wanna choose.

"Maybe a meal that most people like... something simple," Jake suggests.

"Aight. Any recommendations?" I ask while steadying my pencil above the lines of notebook paper, ready to take notes. I wait for his response.

"Maybe like pizza, or a sandwich..." Jake says with a shrug as he looks to Sam for her opinion.

"A sandwich would be super easy. Let's go with that," Sam says with a shrug.

"Alright... any particular kind of sandwich?" I ask, twiddling my pencil between my fingers.

"PB&J," Sam replies.

Jake chuckles, "Okay, I'm down for a good PB&J sandwich, but that's a little too simple. We have to think of something that people would need to use recipes to make. You don't need a recipe for that."

I nod my head in agreement. "I second that. That's a bit too basic... let's think about other types of sandwiches," I say. As I begin to brainstorm, I hear Sam suck her teeth.

"Man... I was just trying to think of something easy for this assignment so we don't have to work so hard. We're seniors. We deserve to take it easy a bit..." Sam complains as she frowns and rests her chin on the palm of her hand.

I sigh at her logic. "Yeah, well, sometimes the easy way ain't always the right way. I'm not tryna slack for this class or any other, so..." It could've ended there, but of course she always gotta have a comeback.

"Well, excuse me, Mr. Can-Do-No-Wrong. Didn't know I was partnered with the assignment police," she says in her dramatic ass way.

I sigh and reply, "Why do you always have to make something outta nothing?"

"Me? Why do you always have to break the fun?"

"Okay, guys. Come on..." Jake interrupts as he looks between us with disappointment.

***

Towards the end of class, Mrs. Raymond let us know that our group assignments will be due at the end of the week and there will be no other homework. That's a relief, I guess. We just gotta flush out this recipe. We decided to split if up in thirds and each translate a part of the recipe to combine tomorrow in class. Thanks to Jake's ability to calm Sam down, we could actually agree on something.

"Mr. Simmons..."

I turn my head to see our teacher Mrs. Raymond walking up to our group.

"Yeah?"

"I know Julie is usually your seat partner. Do you know where she's been or what may be going on with her since she's been missing several days of class lately?" Mrs. Raymond asks with a look of frustration.

I glance at Jake and Sam before answering. "Uh, not really. We don't really talk that much anymore..." I would've brought up the rumors as a reason why she was absent, but it just didn't seem like a thing a teacher should get involved in. It's gossip anyways.

Mrs. Raymond nods while scrunching up her face. "That's too bad. She's a decent student; she just has attendance issues. Anyway, I just wanted to assure you all that your grade won't be affected by her absence. And if she ever comes back, she'll have to do the assignment herself."

"Sounds good to me..." Sam chimes in with a look of annoyance.

"Alright," I reply to our teacher.

"Keep up the good work, you three," Mrs. Raymond replies before walking back to her desk. I share a look with Jake and we both shrug, not having any words to say. Pretty soon, the bell for the next period rings.

***

JULIE's POV

I rummage through the fridge for something to eat for the fifth time today. I don't feel like cooking, so I settle for leftover pizza and a jar of peanut butter. Yummy! My food cravings have been a bit wanky lately and I've also managed to gain 5 pounds in the last week. I've also noticed that I haven't had to use tampons in a good month or so...

I think it's official. I think I'm about two months pregnant now, but I'm not sure of the details because I haven't been to the doctor for a checkup. It's really impossible to go in secret since my parents keep tabs on everything. They'd see the doctor's bill and wonder what's going on. I'm kind of curious to know what's going on in my uterus though... to be able to have physical proof that something -- someone -- is growing inside of me would be insane. The thought is fascinating and scary at the same time.

I let out a deep sigh and shake those thoughts from my head. Let's not worry about that today. Let's continue to relax the rest of the day and take advantage of the quiet time I have left before my parents get home from work. I skipped school again today because I wasn't feeling it, so I've just been eating and watching TV. It was already 3pm. Suddenly, I hear someone unlock the front door and open it.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" I ask with a look of shock on my face.

"Hey, Julie. I was just swinging home quickly to grab some different shoes before my conference call in an hour. How was school?" She asks while quickly closing the front door and dashing past me and through the kitchen towards the stairs. She must have a limited break.

"Oh, uh... it was school," I respond while looking down at my plate of cold pizza. I clear my throat and follow my mom upstairs as I head towards my room for another round of Disney movies. She walks briskly down the hall where she and my dad share a room as I enter my own room. I find a comfy spot on my carpet and rest my back against the foot of my bed, cuddling my snacks as I search the TV channels for another movie. A couple of seconds later, I hear her voice again.

"Hey, Julie! Since you're here..." My mom appears at my door, a pair of black flat sneakers in her hands and a tired look on her face. "Your father and I were meaning to have a talk with you later."

I notice her body language; she looks uneasy. "Okay? About what?"

She sighs and takes one step into my room, folding her arms with a helpless look on her face. "Well... we've received emails from your Spanish teacher saying that you've missed more than three classes already this term, which will count against your attendance record and overall grade. Is this true? Have you been skipping class?"

My mouth becomes a bit dry, so I gulp. "Oh... um..." was all I could muster out. My silence was a dead giveaway for my mom.

"I don't know what you've been doing or why you're skipping class, but it really doesn't matter. There's no excuse for skipping school!" She sounds agitated suddenly.

"I..."

"Between this and deadlines at work--" She lets out an exasperated breath. "I just wanted you to be aware of what's going on and what to expect when your father and I return from work this evening. Figure out what you're going to tell him. I'll see you later," and she was gone as fast as she arrived.

"Wow... thanks for the warning, mom. Love ya, too."

***

"...bottom line is, I'm not paying your school fees and investing in your future for you to not be in class. What's going on with you? You've never had these attendance issues. Are you... stressed? Are you bored? What is it?" My dad practically shouted out questions at me with that crazed look in his eyes. I haven't seen him look like this since middle school when I accidentally backed his car up into a light pole and scratched the bumper when he was teaching me how to drive. He'd usually only get this worked up about work problems, car issues, politics, or if my mom nagged him too much after a night out with his college buddies. 

I was sitting at the dining room table, arms crossed in front of me as their words attacked me and I just sat there with no shield. I don't know why they're making such a big deal about this. It's not like they truly cared how I was feeling before... they just want me to look good on paper. Forget what might be happening on the inside.

"Do you really want to ruin your chances of Julliard? You're a senior, Julie, which means every single minute counts. Even if you think you're a shoo-in for college, you still need to get good marks for your last semester!" My dad reminds me. As if I don't know this already.

I chew on my bottom lip while thinking about life after high school. I've dreamed of going to Juilliard practically my whole life. I've known that I wanted to go further with dance, but things are different now since... I mean, I don't know what I'm gonna do with this baby. Keep it or give it away? I mean, I can't be a dancer with a baby. Going to classes and trying to take care of a little human? No way it'd be possible. And once I start showing, I'm gonna eventually have to tell my parents. Oh, how I loath that day. They don't deserve that. They've pretty much created this path for me and I'm screwing it up. I don't want to disappoint them... I really hate when they're made at me, but life happens.

I can't tell them all of these feelings, so I just say: "I'm sorry..." But I try to think of an excuse that might evaporate their anger. "I guess I'm just antsy about graduation. What if..."

"Yes?" My mom asks in a surprisingly sweet tone as my dad paces the room.

"What if... Julliard isn't for me?" I ask while looking up at my mom.

"What do you mean? You've already been accepted, we paid the fees, and everything is set. We've been talking about Juilliard since you were a little girl--" she says. 

"I know. I know we've been talking about this for years. I'm just saying... things change," I reply as a thousand thoughts fill my head. My dad stops pacing and takes off his suit jacket, flinging it over a dining room chair before slipping his hands into his pants pockets.

"Do you not want to be a dancer? Are you afraid of changing your major? Because that's fine," my mom tries to assure me while taking a glance at my dad. "I'm sure we can get behind that. We just want you to go to college, which is why attendance is very important. You need to have the very best marks even if Juilliard is a guarantee!"

"I know, but..."

"But what?"

"W-What if college isn't for me?" I ask... feeling like I'm letting a few of my vulnerabilities show for the first time to my parents. I've always been sure of myself, but lately, that has changed.

"Like hell, it isn't. You're going to college. That's not even a discussion--" My dad barks from a few feet away.

"Javier--" My mom chimes in.

I bite my tongue and hold back my tears as they argue about my future.

"Whatever the issue, whatever distraction you're having... I need you to clean it up, Julie. It's not just your future that's at stake..." he continues, but I ignore him while standing to my feet.

"You're right, dad. It's not just my future at stake... not anymore..." I reply in a somber tone before walking out of the room.