The Things We Do for Love

This was going to be bad.

"I spoke to David this morning. He says hes thinking about bagging Stanford. He said--and I quote-- somethings come up. Do you know what that something is?"

Lauren swallowed hard. "Im sure he wont give up Stanford. How could he?"

"How could he indeed. " Mrs. Detlas tapped her pen on the desk while she eyed Lauren. "Naturally, I was concerned. The Hayneses are an important family in this school. "

"Of course. "

"So I called Anita. "

Lauren sighed heavily.

"She wouldnt tell me anything, but I could tell she was upset. So I sent Coach Tripp to the boys locker room. You know how close he and David are. "

"Yes, maam. "

"So youre pregnant. "

Lauren closed her eyes and swore under her breath. David had promised not to tell anyone. By the end of the day, the word would be out, if it wasnt already. From now on, everywhere she went, shed be the subject of gossip, of pointed fingers and whispering.

There was a long pause, then Mrs. Detlas said, "Im sorry, Lauren. More than you can know. "

"What do I do now?"

Mrs. Detlas shook her head. "I cant tell you that. I can tell you that no pregnant girl has ever graduated from Fircrest. The parents tend to throw a fit when the word gets out. "

"Like with Evie Cochran?"

"Yes. Evie tried to stay, but in the end it was too difficult. I believe shes with an aunt in Lynden. "

"I dont have any relatives. "

The counselor wasnt listening. She opened a manila envelope, read the contents. Then she closed the folder. "Ive already spoken to the principal at West End High. You can finish out the semester there and graduate in January. "

"I dont understand. "

"Youre here on scholarship, Lauren. It can be revoked at any time, for any reason. And youve certainly given us a reason. We looked to you to be a role model. That will hardly be true in the coming months, now, will it? We think it will be better for everyone if you graduate from West End High. "

"Theres only six weeks left in the semester. I can handle gossip. Please. I want to graduate from Fircrest. "

"I think youll find it . . . unpleasant. Girls can be awfully cruel to one another. "

Lauren knew about that. Back before Project Geek No More, when shed looked wrong and spoke poorly and lived in the trashy part of town, no one had wanted to be friends with her. In her naivete, shed thought shed changed all that when she remade herself into a girl that fit in. Now she saw the painful truth. It had all been a veneer, a thin, clear layer of lies over who she really was. The real girl was visible now.

She wanted to be angry, to access the ambition and determination that had taken her through Fircrests doors in the first place, but all that fire felt so far away.

And she was cold.

How could she argue with the role model stuff? She was a pregnant girl at a private Catholic school. If she was an inspiration to anyone now, it was as a warning.

Be careful or youll end up like Lauren Ribido.

"Go to West End," Mrs. Detlas said gently. "Finish up the semester and graduate early. Thank God you have enough credits. "

Its where you belong. Lauren heard the words as clearly as if theyd been spoken aloud.

But that was another lie.