Drama Queen by La Jill Hunt

washed her hands and read Kayla’s chart.
    â€œI wish it was them rather than me. I can’t believe this.”
    â€œBelieve it. Well, let’s check you out. Lie back.” Kayla lay back on the table and Karen began her examination. Kayla closed her eyes and tried not to think about why she was there. For a moment, it felt like a regular exam until Karen pulled out an odd looking probe and said, “Now, how about we take a look and see what we’re working with?”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Kayla almost began to panic.
    â€œI’m gonna do a vaginal ultrasound and see exactly how far along you are. It may be a little uncomfortable, but no pain.” She could see Kayla was worried.
    â€œI been on the pill for years. How did this happen?”
    â€œWell, even the pill isn’t one hundred percent foolproof. Women get pregnant on the pill too, Kayla.”
    Karen wasn’t making Kayla feel any better. She didn’t know what she wanted to hear, but she knew that it wasn’t what Karen was saying.
    â€œHow far along am I?” Kayla asked. She figured that she had been with Geno about three months ago.
    â€œWell, the ultrasound puts you at around ten weeks. That would give you a due date of about November twenty-first. Thanksgiving Day. I guess that would give you a conception date of, uh, February Fourteenth, Valentine’s Day,” Karen said matter-of-factly as she calculated.
    â€œDear God, no.” Kayla sat stunned and could not move.
    Kayla went home, called both her jobs and took the rest of the week off. She turned the ringer off on her phone and climbed into bed. She thought about the baby she was carrying and what she should do. Here she was single, not even able to make ends meet while working two jobs, and now she may have another mouth to feed. And she didn’t even want to think about the father. That bastard couldn’t even commit to a movie date, let alone a baby. She had barely even talked to him in a few weeks, now she was gonna call him and tell him she was knocked up? Be for real. Kayla didn’t even want to think about her parents’ reaction. Everything she had worked so hard for could now be ruined by a fucking one-night stand. There was no way she was gonna keep this baby. It made no sense.
    I can’t have this baby, she thought as she drifted off to sleep. She woke to the sound of her doorbell ringing. “Hey, girl,” she said and opened the door for Yvonne.
    â€œI see you’re not feeling better.” Yvonne followed Kayla into her bedroom and watched her climb back into bed. “I tried to call you but you didn’t answer. Mrs. Warren just left a message that I would be subbing for you the remainder of the week, so I decided to come by. Did you go to the doctor?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd?” Yvonne sat at the foot of the bed.
    â€œShe said I have a virus and it has to run its course.” Kayla slid deeper under the covers. She wasn’t ready to share the truth with anyone, especially after she decided to have an abortion. She knew that would be one decision she’d take to her grave.
    â€œI figured you did. You know it’s been going around the school. I’m surprised I haven’t gotten it yet,” Yvonne told her.
    â€œThis is one virus you don’t want to catch,” Kayla murmured.
    â€œLet me get you something to drink.” She took Kayla’s empty glass off the nightstand and went into the kitchen. When she came back, she gave Kayla a cup of tea and a bottle of water, then filled her in on her students. “Do you need me to do anything else while I’m here?”
    â€œNo. I just wanna sleep.” Kayla managed a weak smile. “But can you let Tia and Roni know that I am okay? I turned my ringer off and I don’t want them to worry.”
    â€œDone.”
    â€œThanks, Von.” She sat up and took the saucer holding the steaming