38

Sky and Ela looked at Grey as if she had a screw loose. She puked her guts out hours ago, fainted and found out she was going to start swelling with the child of the man she loved the most. She might be a little overwhelmed but she wasn’t crazy. Maybe a little, but her facts made sense to her.

“She knows all of us. Before Patty died we all spent time together. It’s logical for her to know Mia’s secret. They were close.”

“And yours?” Ela asked.

Grey shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The only person who knew was Ela and she would bet her left leg Ela wasn’t the one who outed her. She didn’t speak about it either. The school records were the only place that kept that information. If she was being paranoid she would have thought someone bugged her phone and listening in to her conversations with her mom.

“I don’t know. She is hiding something though. Remember the factory? I called her the day you were in the hospital. She practically denied being with you that day.”

Sky’s eyes went wide. “What? She and Becca practically ambushed me.”

“Well, that’s not what she said. I’m not sure where she was but I am convinced she was at the factory. When I went there I heard something, something I heard when I was on the phone with Porsha.”

“So… what we go there? Check out what’s inside? We could find something.” Sky suggested.

“I don’t know. I don’t want to go anywhere spooky. What if what you heard was just ghosts? I don’t want to become one.” Ela shivered as she spoke.

“I think we should. After we go to the hospital.” Grey rushed to her room to grab her bag.

She was feeling better they weren’t going to keep her bound to the bed. If she stayed here locked with the sound of silence and the illusions in her mind. She would lose it. This was a welcome distraction.

They got the hospital and were told Connor was being checked by a doctor but Lewis was awake and receiving visitors. A couple people from their year were in the hospital waiting rooms. Grey didn’t want to catch their eyes. Everyone knew already she was a liar. The one person she walked to talk to had walked out of the hospital room. He looked over his shoulder. Their eyes meet. Grey opened her mouth to say something, but West was already walking away.

Sky placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

“Thanks.” She mumbled.

“Come on.” He took her hand in his and led her to the hospital room.

“Ugh, I need a drink.” Lewis moaned.

“You’re in the hospital because of alcohol you idiot. Don’t you think you should take a break?” Ela said as they walked in.

The smell of hospital supplies and medicine filled their nostrils as they stepped in. Lewis looked up to see his friends. He was pale, but he still held mischief on his face. He’d been in a coma for so long.

“Ela babe. I didn’t think you’d come to see me.” Lewis said.

“Don’t be stupid, why wouldn’t I?” Ela asked.

He shrugged but smiled. He nodded at Sky. “Sup man? Life been boring without me?”

Sky chuckled and folded his arms, “You have no idea.”

“Sky was poisoned too.” Grey said.

“What? Who the hell did we piss off?” Lewis asked, he winced when he moved too quickly.

“We were hoping you knew. Sky can’t go to the police because he thinks he sounds stupid.” Ela said.

“I didn’t say that.”

“It’s what you implied.” Ela said before turning back to Lewis.

Lewis looked at his friends then scratched his head. “I don’t know either guys.”

“What? Who did you go out drinking with?” Grey asked.

“Oh come on. I went drinking with Porsha you know how she is. You don’t believe Porsha tried to kill me. Nah, I don’t believe that.”

Ela’s eyes went wide and she spoke out before anyone. “Oh my gosh I was roommates with a killer! What if she tried to kill me next? What if she finds out I gave two seniors blowjobs when I was a freshman? Everyone will know.” She shrieked.

“News flash. We already knew that.” Sky grumbled.

“Oh my gosh!”

“Guys, this isn’t a coincidence.” Grey started.

Sky shook his head, “We have to find out what’s in that factory.”

Grey agreed. Her friends went on talking about what to do. Lewis couldn’t believe someone he’d known all his life tried to kill him. Porsha was still on the loose. Grey couldn’t understand what caused this, maybe it was her sister’s death. Then she felt lightheaded. She hadn’t had anything other than a sip of milk. She had to think about the little person growing inside her now.

“I’m going to grab something to eat in the cafeteria.” She mumbled to her friends then dashed out.

She took the elevator down. Coming here never did she think she would be in this situation. Pregnant and suspecting her former roommate of being a killer. She got to the cafeteria and suddenly she was starving. She hadn’t eaten in two days. She practically ran to the counter and ordered two cream doughnuts. She paid for them and instantly took a bite when the money left her hands. She scanned the quiet space for a place to stuff her face when she spotted a West’s silky curls.

“West.” She didn’t think he was still around.

“Grey.” He said softly.

He looked tired. He had bags under his eyes and his shoulders slumped.

“Mind if I have a seat?” She asked.

He shrugged, “I couldn’t stop you if I wanted to.”

“Right…”

She was shaking just from being this close to him, but it didn’t stop her from stuffing her face. She had them finished within two minutes. She wanted another one. When she looked up to look at the man behind the counter who possessed all the creamy doughnuts, West was reaching across the table to rub red cream off her lip.

“Oh… thanks.” She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

He shrugged a response. It would be a good opportunity to tell him they were expecting a baby.

“Are you… still mad at me?” She asked.

He chuckled but it didn’t come from a place of humor. It came from a place of spite.

“I’m not mad. I don’t want anything to do with you Grey.”

Another blow to her heart. Discretely her hand went to wrap around her belly. She didn’t want her baby to hear that. She looked at him, fire burning in her now.

“Got the DNA test results back? I’m sure you knew going in the baby was yours.” Grey spat.

West straightened his spine, “Of course I knew. When I heard it was Harley’s baby I knew it was mine.”

“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

“I don’t owe you or anyone else explanations.”

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Don’t do that Grey.” He warned.

“No, what’s wrong with you? How can you show no emotions? Are you so dead inside? You’ve left me for keeping a secret, but you had a tone of your own.”

“She killed me!” West spat. “She told me she was pregnant. She came to laugh in my face. Harley didn’t even know who the father was. Then she comes back after the baby was still born. Said it was a girl and she was mine. The baby was already dead!”

Grey brushed away her tears. She blamed her hormones for he tears or maybe she just needed to cry.

“Would you even have taken her back after you found out it was yours?”

He looked away, “Who knows?”

She didn’t have the heart to tell him now.

“I won’t be home tomorrow when you come to pick up your things.” He pushed back his chair.

Grey let out a shaky breath when he was gone. All she wanted was to stuff her face with more cream doughnuts.