"Wait, didn't you say you had an older 'big brother' out there? You two aren't, you know, doing anything, are you?"
"You'd better be careful. If you get pregnant at our age, how are you going to finish school?"
The color drained from Vera's face.
"H-how do you know about that?"
All those rumors about Claire were just gossip, no one ever had proof. But Vera's situation was different. She'd been feeling off for days, and her period still hadn't come this month. She might really be pregnant. She'd been scared out of her mind, planning to sneak off to a clinic that weekend. No way she'd go to a real hospital, not with her parents watching her every move. Now, with Claire saying it out loud, Vera's first reaction was pure panic. She had no idea how Claire found out, but she couldn't let anyone else hear about this.
Claire looked at her, eyebrows raised. "You're pretty gutsy. Two months along and you still haven't done anything about it? Are you seriously thinking of keeping it?"
“Liar! Shut up, Claire! If you keep making things up, I'm calling the police!"
Vera remembered how the cops had come to school for Claire not long ago. That's right, she'd threaten her with defamation. That had to scare her.
"Scared now, aren't you?"
That was all? Claire smirked. “You're all talk. You really think you can spread rumors about me? Go ahead, call the cops right now. Let's see who's telling the truth."
“Instead of talking behind people's backs, maybe focus on your own mess.”
Claire turned to leave. Vera reached out to grab her, but Claire slipped out of the way.
"Don't touch me. In your condition, if anything happens, I'm not taking the fall."
Vera's face went sheet-white. "You can't go! You're slandering me, you have to apologize!"
Claire just laughed. "You know if I'm lying or not. Would an apology really help you sleep at night?"
"My advice? Mind your own business. And maybe figure out who's actually spreading rumors around here."
The other girls went dead silent, too intimidated to say a word. Vera tried to act tough, but she was shaking inside. She'd demanded an apology, but now she was too scared to even er head was
way.
block Clang Claire's words
spinning
about her being pregnantover and over.
Once Claire walked off, the others couldn't help staring at Vera.
"Vera, is it true? Did you really hook up with your older 'brother'?" one of the girls asked, her eyes glinting with barely-hidden glee.
Vera had always acted like she was better than everyone. Just because she had that older guy on her side she'd constantly brag and threaten to beatup any girl she didn't like. Now, it looked like she was the one in troubles all thanks to Elwood. Even if the pregnancy part was a stretch, everyone had seen how sketchy things were between her and that guy. One of the girls even had pictures of Vera and Elwood heading into a hotel together.
But she and Vera were still on good terms. Vera's family had money, and just getting close to her meant you'd get a little of that, too. That was the only reason she hadn't spilled everything.
Everyone else was staring at Vera, their curiosity obvious. They loved gossip, and it didn't matter who the target was. Vera had always been the queen bee but if this was twe none of them would ever really respect her again.
"Of course not! She's making things up," Vera said quickly.
"Elwood's just a friend. Why would I ever be with him?"
"You all know who I actually like, right?"
"Claire just wants to ruin my "
Suddenly, Vera gagged, clapped a hand over her mouth, and ran for the bathroom stall.