The Artist- One

"Did you see it?"

I had to ask, as much as I didn't want to. I was nauseous, absolutely ripped to shreds by our discovery in Chancellor Lawson's office. As much as I wanted to run, to hide from reality and pretend Joel and I were safe from any of it's ugly consequences, I knew I'd be forced to face the music eventually.

I pulled my legs up to my chest, peeking at Isaac beside me, but his eyes told me his answer, apologetic with a hint of poorly buried amusement.

He shifted his legs atop the wooden coffee table, placing one arm over the backing of the sofa so his fingers could brush my shoulder in comfort.

"I did." My face flushed, and I buried it in my hands.

"Christ. How could you still look at me after that?" He chuckled, moving his hand down to my knee to pat.

"Please, Jen. You don't gotta be so embarrassed. I've recorded and posted things that would earn that blush. If it wouldn't land me in the hospital, I'd show you. What you did wasn't even sex. I mean, it's fucked up that someone did it without permission, don't get me wrong. But it could've been worse, you know?"

"So, you don't think I'm a slut?" I asked, still processing his words. He snorted, shaking out his shaggy blonde hair.

"Fuck no, Kitten. You have got to be the furthest thing from a slut. Never once did that word cross my mind. Shit, if anything, I was jealous of the lucky bastard. Looked like he was having a great time." I gasped, swatting at Isaac as a disbelieving laugh escaped, but he just laughed louder, grabbing my hand and using it to pull me into a hug. "There's my girl. See? It's not that big of a deal. So they saw you going down on Joel? Bet whoever posted it was just jealous it wasn't them on their knees."

"Except that it costed Joel his job. Isaac, I feel like shit. Not only did I give him a baby to worry about, but now he's unemployed!"

"Hey, slow down. First, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Joel knocked you up because of his own inability to remember a condom before sticking it in. The guy was convinced he couldn't have children, so it isn't entirely his fault, but it sure as hell isn't yours either. Second, I doubt you seduced him into fooling around in his office. He knew what he was doing, Jen. He's a grown ass man. You can't blame yourself for everything. It's bullshit, and I know Joel would agree." His fingers began to comb through my hair, and I relaxed against him. He was right, but I couldn't fight the guilt.

Maybe it wasn't directly my fault, but if it takes two to tango... Whatever fucked up sequence of events that led to this was partly my doing.

"Okay, I get it. You're right. I just… I feel like I ruined his life just by being in it. Does that make sense?"

"I can see what you mean, but trust me when I say that's far from true, Kitten. I've known Joel since diapers. I lived with the guy for four years. He has never been as happy as he is right now. And when you left… Well, let's just say I had never seen him more fucked up. Not even after his divorce, and shit, that was brutal. With Callie he was always obsessing over what he was doing wrong, because she basically programmed him that way. He was trained to serve her sorry ass. With you, he just… lives. Happily. It's like you fixed him or something. So whatever the hell you think you've done to ruin his life, it's bullshit. You've mended it."

Mended it? I sighed, splaying my hand over my still churning stomach. Adding to that, my restlessness was unreal. I had to get up and move to take my mind off of Joel's absence. He said he would be right home after his meeting, but I wasn't even sure what all they had to talk about.

He was fired. Surely they weren't going to have a friendly pow wow for the next hour. I mean, he literally had a video posted to the internet of him getting head by his student in his office.

I groaned suddenly, remembering how I called him 'professor.' Shit, bet that didn't help his image.

"You okay, Kitten?"

"Yea, I just... Do you want something to drink?" I offered, only half-there as I furthered my train of thought. He released me and I clambered to my feet, fighting the rush of vertigo threatening to take root.

"Nah. You sure you're good, though? I can get you anything you need."

"I'm okay." I brushed him off, placing a cool hand on my forehead.

"Jen, this all seems a little too familiar to me. Just saying. If you say you're okay then proceed to collapse on me, I'll be irked." With comedicly poor timing, I started to sway and he latched onto my elbow. "Damn it, woman, what did I just say? No, you know what? You're going to sit. Right here." He stood, lowering me to his spot on the sofa before lifting my legs onto my previously occupied space. For a moment, one small moment, I heard his carefree persona replaced by something commanding and strong. Laughing to myself, I considered the fact that his dom came out when the risk of my sudden death surfaced.

Okay, maybe I was not well.

"Be right back, babe. I'm gonna get you some water. Don't move."

I leaned back against the throw pillow, shifting until I was comfortable again while I tried to get my head to stop spinning. When would the doctor be calling with my blood results? And back to my previous thoughts, when would Joel be finished speaking with Chancellor Lawson?

Lawson… June. I let out a small, barely audible gasp.

I'd completely forgotten about June!

Did he see it? God, of course he did. He couldn't even look me in the eye. I didn't blame him, either. I lied to him, so many damn times. And now he probably thought I was some floozy who fucked around with their professor, just like everyone else. In my attempts to spare Joel his job, not only did he lose it anyway, but I lost the respect of a friend.

I stretched out, claiming my cellphone from the coffee table. I could hear drawers opening and closing in the kitchen, but paid it no mind as I hunted for my text string with June. The last text received from him read: 'We really ought to talk more. Maybe I'll bump into you at work on Monday. This time not so unintentionally. Goodnight, Jen. :)'

"Shit!"

Isaac crossed through the dining room quickly, a bottle of water in one hand and a pink bendy straw in the other. "Jen?"

"I'm fine, I just forgot that I have work! In," I checked the time. "Thirty minutes! I have to go!" I started to stand, but Isaac cut me off, pushing the bottle towards my chest until I laid back down.

"No way. Hell no. You just almost fainted two minutes ago, not to mention you've had one hell of a day. You can call in."

"I can't, Isaac, I have to work! Joel just lost-"

"Enough." I clamped my mouth shut, in awe of how my body obeyed purely based on the tone of his voice. Noticing my shock, Isaac smiled, softening his features like a sociopath. "Joel is fine on money. Trust me. He has something planned for that. Go on. Call your boss." He nodded to the phone in my hand, sitting on the table and setting my water beside him.

"Yes, master." I grumbled sarcastically, rolling my eyes as I flipped my screen back open. He chuckled darkly.

"You're lucky."

"Yea? Lucky how?" I mumbled, pulling up my boss's name.

"Your feisty little ass is protected." My eyes shot to him as my finger hit call, but he just seemed amused by my horror. If I ever considered Joel a sadist before, I was sorely mistaken. This man was the definition. He showed me just enough to warn me, while still maintaining a friendly smile. Blonde demon still fit, though now I actually trusted the guy. I was officially insane.

The phone rung twice before Mrs. Graham's soft voice greeted me.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Graham! It's Jen. I was calling to let you know that I can't come in today. I'm not feeling too great." I explained, giving Isaac a, 'happy now?' sneer. He nodded in response, popping the pink straw into my drink.

"Oh. Darling, I'm confused."

"Huh?"

"I thought you resigned." My stomach dropped and even Isaac's eyes snapped to attention, his head cocking at the latest discovery.

"Wh… Why did you think that?"

"Well, I received your letter in the mail box. I have it right here." I heard papers shuffling. "I found it in the slot on Saturday. It says you're pregnant and won't be able to work while carrying. I was pretty shocked, but I understand if you have health concerns, darling." I was dumbstruck. I wanted to tell her that I didn't write that letter, but at the same time, I needed to find out who did before begging for my job back. Besides, depending on the news from the doctor, I might end up having to resign anyway.

"Right. Must be pregnancy brain." I mumbled.

"Oh, I remember that with my kiddos. You take care, okay? And let me know if I can do anything for ya. You know you're like a granddaughter to me, sweetie." I couldn't help but smile at her sentimentality.

"Thanks. Really. You're a wonderful lady, Mrs. Graham." After that, we said our goodbyes and got off. Isaac was searching my face, trying to gauge my reaction, but I wasn't sure how I felt.

A letter. Given to my boss. Saying I resigned. Due to my pregnancy.

Was it Joel? To be frank, I wasn't all that slighted by the action, but it would upset me if he had done that behind my back. I knew I was complaining on Friday about not wanting to go back to work, but I didn't want this. And what if it wasn't Joel? Who the hell would do something like this? My first thought was Callie, but how the hell would she know where I worked? Sure, she was crazy enough to have me followed, but what's the point? And was it related to the video, at all?

Was someone actively sabotaging my life?