Chapter 36

Michael.

“I’m pregnant, Michael.”

Those words made my heart skip a beat, even though Claire’s voice was barely above a whisper.

I had just walked out of my father’s room refusing to be his best man despite his empty threats to disown me. The truth was, I didn’t care, I’d rather walk barefoot on hot coal than agree to something preposterous.

Now another problem stood right before me, Claire, her fingers fiddling with the buttons on her shirt, her eyes swollen and red as if she’d just finished crying.

“Is this a prank?” I asked.

She shook her head, her jaw slack, and for a moment I thought I had misheard her and this was nothing more than a bad dream. But then the anger hit me,  it was sudden yet merciless and sharp.

I let out a loud bitter laugh. “Oh! Perfect. First, my father asks me to be his best man against my own will, threatening to disown me over a woman young enough to be his daughter.  And now you are standing here telling me this?”

I shook my head, shoving both hands in my pockets. She looked away biting down on her lower lip in disdain.

“What’s next  Claire?  Are you going to tell me I’ve got a long lost twin living in Antarctica? or you went to a fortune teller who told you we are destined to be together?”

Her lips quivered, “This is not a joke Michael, I’m very serious. I’ve taken three tests and they are all positive, how can I lie about this? I would never do that.”

“Was it a urine test?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, take a blood test!”

“I did!” she yelled, hurling the test results paper at my face. It wasn’t a bad dream, it was real. She was three weeks pregnant.

I ran my hands through my hair in confusion, still refusing to accept I was responsible. “ No, this can’t be real. Even if it is, it cannot be mine. I’ve never  fucked you without a rubber, how  am I supposed to believe I'm the only one you have been with all this time, huh?”

She smiled down at herself before looking up at me.

“I knew it would come to this, but I would not be deterred, you are the only one that has ever touched me and you know that, of course, you wouldn’t know that because you have been fooling around with Heather,” She paused and I looked at her in shock.

“Yes, I know that and I forgive you, I know she is a seductress and you were drunk. I just want to assure you that this baby is yours, I’m going to do a DNA test as soon as I can. I’m not asking for anything right now. I just felt like you deserved to know this.”

I shot her a glare, “Don’t you get it, Claire? I’ll never love you, you’ve been forcing this for a long time. I can't put up with this shit anymore !” I said my voice was rising. “Do you know what I need right now? Some goddamn peace! And it’s very obvious you are the last person  who can give me that.”

I grabbed my jacket from the couch next to me.

“Please don’t walk out on me!”

“You can have the room to yourself now!”

“I know your secret now Michael! How would your father know you slept with his soon-to-be bride?” She asked, her voice laced with threat.

“You are crazy!” I snorted storming out of the room slamming the door loudly behind me. I knew she was probably crying by now but I didn’t care.

~

I found myself in a private room at a brothel, the last place anyone should end up, especially since life has been so cruel to me, all  I needed was some distraction. I downed the whiskey in one gulp wincing hard as the liquid burned my throat.  I couldn’t even remember how I got here, one moment I was just driving around the block drinking whiskey trying to clear my head, and boom…. here I was.

I had no idea when I drifted off to sleep, when I finally threw my eyes open. My head ached crazily, my throat raw. Two naked ladies I didn’t know were sprawled at my side, and the air was filled with sex alcohol, and smoke.

“What the hell happened?” I muttered to myself, forcing myself to sit upright the events of last night were a blur. I staggered toward the bathroom almost puking on the way. A few minutes later, I turned on the shower letting the cold water cleanse my sweaty body.

I slipped into my clothes hastily even though my head felt like it wanted to explode.  I stared at my watch, I was eight minutes late for school. I threw a wad of cash on the bed at the sides grabbed my keys and headed for the grey cybertruck packed carelessly in front of the brothel.

I should be home popping some painkillers for the hangover but instead I forced myself to show up at Crestwood. Maybe I just needed to see Betty, she was the only reason I bothered to even come to school anyway.

I hopped into the car leaning against the driver's seat as the truck engine roared to life, I drove into the campus lot, parking roughly.  I’m about to get out of the car when I spot her.

Professor Betty.

She stepped out of a cab, the cool breeze catching her wavy chestnut hair. No sign  Mr Porsche or his glossy Porsche pulling away.

A smile played on my lips as I wondered if they were finally over, maybe she realised no one could want her the same way I did.

The thought sent waves of excitement through me. I slammed my truck door shut and followed her inside.

~

Class dragged on, boring as always.   Adam of course, spent more time bragging about his achievements than actually teaching, his black eye was healing perfectly too, I chuckled at myself anytime I looked at them, it was one thing I was proud of.

Betty locked eyes with me so many times like she knew I was barely trying to sit still.

After the class she asked to speak to me, something jumped inside of me, I was glad. Maybe I was finally realizing we were meant to be just for her to accuse me of stalking and sending creepy anonymous texts.

I was disappointed, I would never do that, I tried to deny it but she was having it.

She ended up asking me to leave which I did.

That’s when I saw Mr Porsche.

He sat inside his vehicle constantly checking his wristwatch.  From time to time

I took quick strides towards where he parked trying to contain the anger inside me. I thought they were over!

“What are you doing? Chauffeur duty? Or are you just  her security guard?”

He looked up from his cellphone slowly his car glass sliding down slowly revealing his calm expression. He wore a white coat and on his chest  was a name tag that read ‘Dr Ethan.’ Oh, I see. She’d bagged herself a hotshot. I had to admit my competitor was older, hotter, and the perfect match. But I wasn't about to let anyone take her away from me.

“Excuse me?” He asks squinting his eyes.

“Excuse me! Stay away from Betty!” I said in a cool manner.

He grinned. “Hey, you must be her student! I know it’s hard not to have a crush on her she is hot and all but you should focus on your studies instead of chasing after things you’ll never have.”

His words sliced through me like an ancient dagger, but I chuckled bitterly. “Things I’ll never have? Oh! Is it because you’ve got a fancy car and job? “I paused stepping closer my fists clenching ready to hurl it at his face. “News flash, I already have her, ask her how my lips taste. Oh! I bet you are sucking off my cum off her pussy.”

He clenched his jaw I could tell he was trying to control his anger. “You reek of alcohol kid, you need some advice? Try fixing your drinking problems before trying to win Betty!”

That was it.

I punched him hard enough that he had to get out of his car, he punched me back harder.

People had gathered now but I didn’t care.

“You will pay for this!” He yelled.

“You don’t scare me one bit! You think you can buy her love? Well it’s too late, she is in my tangled web. You think she loves you? Women are fake as shit, she is too good for either of us!”

“You are so pathetic!” He retorted grabbing me by the collar hitting me on the face repeatedly for a minute I thought I was going to pass out then I heard her angelic voice.

“Stop it, Ethan!” She yelled running towards us, she pushed him away from me her hands holding my already battered bloody face. “Are you okay Michael ?”

“He came at me first!” Ethan chipped in.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” She barked turning to face him. “Do you want me to lose my job?”

I smile as I lie on the ground, satisfied at the commotion I’d caused.

“Michael. Professor Betty.” Principal Charles called out, he was standing a few steps away. His face cold as steel. And right behind him stood Adam, his eyes shimmering in satisfaction.

“Both of you, see me in my office. Right now!”

I didn’t like where this was going.