Page 11 of You’re Mine

“Where is she?” I can just barely hear him. They must be on the other side of the house, but I know it’s him. I start violently which causes intense pain in my midsection. I almost scream because of how much it hurts. It literally feels like someone’s stabbing me from the inside of my body. Falling back against the bed, I clutch my rib area. As I writhe in agony, unable to utter a peep, the sounds of arguing fade somewhat. Jace, come back! I want to scream, except I can’t breathe from the pain. There really isn’t anything to do except wait for it to pass. I take long deep trembling breaths, holding as still as possible.

I need to get downstairs and to my boyfriend because he’s the only one who can keep me alive. I keep trying to get up, but every time I try, my body resists. Soon I’m gasping for air and gnashing my teeth from the agony. It’s impossible. My body is simply too battered to move on my own. Suddenly, a fresh wave of pain washes over me, and the world starts going fuzzy again. I try calling out Jace’s name, but I can’t get above a whisper. My muscles go limp and my head falls back as the world goes black once more.

4

Haley

The two lines on the indicator stare back at me. It can’t be. I can’t be pregnant.

Yet the two blue lines exactly match the picture on the box. I’m definitely pregnant … with Jace’s child.

Happiness flows over my form. I’m going to be a mother to a baby with the man I love. Granted, I haven’t seen Jace in weeks now, but there’s a reason for that. I was beat up, and my dad locked me in our house. Given my bruises, I could understand why. Herb didn’t want the whole town talking about how Haley showed up at graduation with two black eyes and a limp. As a result, I missed all of that because I was shut up behind closed doors, and my diploma was mailed to the house.

But now, I’m back. I’m able to walk and smile without wincing. The bruises have mostly faded, and the worst ones are now nothing more than a greenish-yellow shadow. I can cover them with long sleeves and long pants, even if my clothes seem a little strange for a summer day.

But for some reason, I haven’t been able to locate Jace. It’s been weeks since I stepped outside, and my boyfriend seems to have disappeared into thin air. I asked a couple people, but no one seemed to know.

“What do you mean?” asked Mrs. Valente, our guidance counselor. “He was at graduation. We missed you, honey, I’m so sorry you were sick.”

I put a fake smile on my face.

“Oh, it’s okay. I came down with a summer fever and it was bad,” I say. “One hundred and two. I would have gotten everyone sick, and then there would have been no graduation ceremony whatsoever, so it’s better that I didn’t go,” I say quickly. “It’s okay.”

Mrs. Valente nods, accepting my story.

“You’re right, my niece over in Pleasantville came down with whooping cough last summer. It was strange, I tell you! In the middle of May with the sun out, she was hacking out her lungs like there was no tomorrow. You made the right choice,” the middle-aged woman says while nodding. “And you look alright now, if a little pale.”

“Oh, I’m completely fine,” I say hurriedly. “Still a little under but not contagious at all. But Jace,” I add. “Do you know where he is?”

Mrs. Valente squints a bit. “No, he walked with the rest of the senior class, but after he got his degree, he disappeared. I assumed he was working construction this summer or something like that. They like him over at the yard. But didn’t he have a plan to go to New York?”

I nod, trying not to look eager.

“Yes, actually we had a plan to go to New York together, but I can’t find him now.”

Mrs. Valente shrugs again.

“I’m sorry honey, but we don’t keep track of students after they graduate. I’ll make sure to keep my eyes peeled though. Boys like that don’t go far, if you know what I mean,” she hints,

I stiffen with outrage. What is she saying? That Jace is a nobody who’s never going to make it because he comes from a poor family? That he has no pride, no work ethic, and nothing that matters at his fingertips? I open my mouth to give her a piece of my mind, but then shut it just as suddenly. It’s not worth it. As long as the middle-aged woman helps me locate my boyfriend, that’s all I need.

“Thank you, Mrs. Valente,” I say politely while giving her a tight smile. “Let me know if you hear anything, okay?”

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