White is for Virgins (7 page)

“
He makes my day; he’s probably the only one I tolerate in this school,” I admitted, tying my apron around my waist.

“Good to know, partner,” Lily murmured.

“Besides you, of course,” I joked.

She shoved me
lightly. “We better get started on this
devilish soufflé
, or your favorite person ever will be very disappointed in you.”

“I can’t afford that right now
,” I sighed, scrunching my nose as I read my portion of the directions.

Lily
giggled. “You’re a funny one, girl.”

I stared at her, and she continued laughing, getting flour in her light brown hair as she pushed the short strands out of her face.

Lily’s not too bad
.

***

I took my sweet old time getting to the center. Seeing as I no longer needed anything from Fox and he annoyed the crap out of me, there was no reason for me to be there on time. Besides, my skinny jeans were a mess. We were out of bleach.

They still had crayon on them, only on my left thigh, though. A mixture of primary colored squiggly lines intertwined down to my knee, and it was extremely visible. Part of me was angry that my favorite pair of pants was destroyed, but somehow, standing in front of my mom’s
full-length mirror it suddenly looked… cool? Like it was done on purpose. The crayon was bright and pretty looking against the white of my jeans. For a two-year-old’s work, they were beautiful squiggly lines.

I decided to wear the pants anyway, and maybe stop by a sto
re on the way home. That was, if Millicent arrived on time to pick up Holly.

Georgina had a serious talk with her about it, and then Millicent apologized with a moving speech that went something like
‘I know she can be a bit of a pain, but you didn’t have to stay with her.’
I almost socked that woman in her pretty face, to be honest. Her own child? A pain? Of course I had to stay with her. She was terrified of everyone else.

I got to the center and was not surprised to find that Fox was nowhere in sight.

Nina came up to me, looking flustered as ever. “Em dear, have you seen Fox?” she asked.

“He was at school, but I’m not sure where he is now, no,” I told her, and she waved it off.

“Well, that boy is in for it next time I see him. Anyway, I wanted to tell you, St. Vincent’s wants us to hold a blood drive. I want you to make flyers, and sprinkle them over the town. Maybe even let your high school know; some of the students and the teachers are old enough to donate.”

I nodded. “I need a date, time, and location,” I told her, and memorized the information as she explained it.

I waited around a little bit, helping Carlos sweep the floors, occasionally looking up at the swinging doors in search of Fox. But he never came, or at least he didn’t come before five. The only visitors we had were people who had brought in a box of cans or clothes, or those interested in taking a beneficial class.

“Listen, Nina, I’m sorry to leave you without any assistance but I have to go to the daycare,” I told her, standing in the doorway of her office and giving her my most sincere, apologetic look.

As bad as I felt for Nina, I was glad that Fox hadn’t showed up.

As horrible as
I was for having such thoughts, I honestly wanted him to get in trouble. And I was also glad that I could leave the center that day hassle-free.

Gliding into the daycare, I got tons of compliments about my jeans. Some parents even asked me where I got them. I nonchalantly told them it was ‘baby art’. Millicent even made a flattering remark, but that was probably only because she was trying to suck up to me. She came to pick up Holly at 7:23. I wanted to tell her off, but she seemed to be really struggling, so I let her go in peace.

That night in bed, I was glad that I had a night to relax. Thoughts of waking up at eight in the morning to get ready for work burdened me, though, and I forced myself to get to sleep.

Chapter 5

“Life is
slightly
messed up,” I concluded mentally.

It was not the first time I had noted this fact, but when placed in a health class with a plethora of perverts and the world’s youngest and sluttiest teacher ever it gets increasingly difficult not to notice.

“Now, class: since this is prevention month and we can all trust each other in this room…” Ms. Tibble began, “I want you all to participate actively.”

She told us to move the desks aside and to join her by the long line of tape she had set up across the floor.

“Now, how many of you have seen the movie Freedom Writers?” she asked. A few raised their hands, uninterested.

“Ok, great. Well this is the game they played,” she smiled before continuing, “I’ll ask a question, and all students that apply will step forward on the line. It’s a way for us all to get to know each other a little better.”

Half the class smirked, but she was oblivious to it.

“Ok. How many of you have ever had protected sex?” she asked, as if it was parallel to asking something like,
How many of you like movies?

What a game…

A good 70% of the class stepped forward, while I stood on the sidelines along with Lily.

“How many of you have ever had unprotected sex?” she asked. Again, a good number of students stepped forward while I simply stood there.

I was surprised to find Lily stepping forward, with pink cheeks and yellow eyes scanning the room nervously.

“How many of you have ever had an STD?” she asked.

No one stepped forward.

“Too personal, huh?” she smirked, and everyone nodded.

“Ok well…” she said, “How many of you have had a pregnancy scare, or known someone who’s had one?”

Everyone stepped forward this time, besides me.

This game blows.

“How many of them were actual pregnancies?” Ms. T asked softly.

A good majority of the students remained up there while I stood alone, arms crossed, chewing on my bottom lip.

“Emery, in this game, everyone has to participate. It’s not fair if you just stand there, while we’re all being honest and sharing our past,” Ms.
Tibble said suddenly, calling me out in front of everyone.

My head shot up, and I saw about 20 pairs of eyes looking at me.

My cheeks grew hot, but more out of anger than from embarrassment.

Why does she assume everyone is having sex?

“Who said I wasn’t being honest?” I returned quietly, and my cheeks enhanced a shade as I heard a few people start whispering.

“Are you saying…
Oh my…” Ms. Tibble began, unsure of herself and the awkward question she was trying to form.

“I’m saying it’s none of your business,” I muttered, and looked back down at my converse.

Mondays are
definitely
not my day…

***

The stares I’d been getting in the hallways and in class had increased dramatically by lunchtime. I thought this whole ‘new girl’ treatment had blown over…

Apparently not.

I grabbed a small bag of barbeque chips and a bottle of water and then took a seat beside Lily. I wouldn’t say we were friends, exactly, but she was the only person I liked so far, and I seemed to be the only person she talked to, as well.

I popped my bag and grabbed a chip while she munched on an apple. We sat there in comfortable silence for a bit.

“Did I miss something?” I wondered out loud.

“Hmm?” Lily mumbled, keeping her mouth closed as she chewed the last of her apple.

“Those Barbies over there seem to have a problem with me,” I muttered, nodding in their direction.

Lily looked over, catching them glaring at me as they waited in line.

“Actually, everyone has a problem with me today, it seems. Is there something on my face or..?” I asked curiously.

“No, there isn’t anything on your face...” Lily replied, a bit hesitant.

“Then what is it?” I whined, resting my chin on my palm as I placed my elbow on the table.

“Well…” Lily started, but stopped herself.

I arched my eyebrow and lifted my head up.

“Lily…” I said, giving her a look that said ‘please just tell me’.

“They know about health class, my best guess,” she said, looking back at her plate of food.

“…Health? Today?” I asked.

What was so epic about health today?

She nodded, wincing. “News spreads at the speed of light at this school.”

“I’m lost,” I shrugged, laughing sheepishly and taking another bite of a chip.

The
Barbies walk past our table again and I hear one of them whisper, “She eats chips, too. What a loser.”

Lily leaned over the table and murmured, “They all think you’re a virgin.”

“But… I am.”

Her jaw dropped and she stared at me, wide-eyed.