"Hah!  You lost again!" Sarah smiles.

"Hey I'd win if I had my glasses!"

Sarah laughs. "Yeah, yeah.  Hey, you hungry?"

"Yes but everything makes me sick."

"I'm sorry.. Hey I have a question!  Is that why you were peeing so much?"

"Yeah.  Apparently a baby the size of a grape can still really mess up your bladder!"

"That's crazy."

"Yeah.. Now I want grapes."

Sarah chuckles. "Do you have any here?  I'll grab you some."

"Really?" Jessica smiles.

"Sure!"

"Aw thanks.  Yeah, we have some."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

"Thanks Sar!"

"No problem."

**

An hour later.

"So.. do you mind if I ask you something?"

"No.  What is it?"

"What are they gonna do to Mr. Edwin?  What if he does this to someone else?"

"Bill said he's taking care of it.  He went to the police already.  I don't know what will happen to him, but I doubt he'll be working at the school anymore."

"That's so scary.  Jess, I'm so sorry I didn't stand up for you when I should have."

"Sarah, you saved me from him!"

"No, I should have said something when those bitches were bulling you."

"Sarah!" Jessica giggles.

"I should have talked to you.  I should have made sure you had a place to sit at lunch.  If I did you would have never been in that room with that man." Sarah says as she begins to cry.

"Sarah, don't.  It's not your fault."

"I feel like I failed you, Jess."

"You didn't!  Sarah, trust me.  You came into my life at the perfect time."

"I just feel so bad."

"I don't want you to.  If you keep saying this you're gonna make me cry again."

"Please don't cry again." Sarah laughs through her tears.

"Too late, I am!" Jessica jokes.

Sarah laughs and wipes her cheeks.

"I love you, Jess."

"I love you too, Sar."

***

Two days later.

"Good morning.."

"Good morning, Jessica.  Sit down.  We need to talk." Suzanne says.

Jessica takes a seat and asks, "Is everything okay?"

"I spoke with the police just a little while ago." Bill says.

"Oh?"

"They've arrested Edwin."

Jessica's mouth opened, and her eyes slightly widened. "Wow.  They did?"

"I'm not sure how long he'll be in there, but I know it'll be a while.. They found some um.. things at his house."

"What did they find?"

"Pictures of you."

"What?  I-I didn't take any pictures, I promise!"

"We know.  This man has been following your every move, Jessica.  Every time you leave the house he's there."

"What?"

"The school is now being investigated.  He had a camera in the bathroom.. it's just all so disgusting."

Jessica sits there silently as tears slowly roll down her face.

"Are you okay?" Suzanne asks.

"I don't know.  I'm glad he's gone but.. I just feel so.."

"Violated?"

"Yeah." Jessica then covers her face and cries harder.

Suzanne sits beside her and places her hand on her back.

"I feel so dirty.  I still have a piece of him side of me.  I don't understand how he could do this.  Does he know about the baby?" Jessica looks up to Bill.

Bill nods softly.

"Oh no, what did he say?"

"It doesn't matter right now, Jessica.  We need to just forget about him."

"What Did He Say?"

Bill sighs. "He's sick."

"Bill, please just tell me."

"He said he's always wanted to be a father and that he wanted to see the baby."

"Oh God." Jessica buries her face in her hands.

"Don't worry, that won't happen."

"I don't want this baby to ever meet him.  Ever!"

"Jessica, have you thought about what you're going to do?" Suzanne asks.

"Yes." Jessica sighs. "I'm going to find them two great parents.  I can't keep this baby.  I'm a baby myself!  This child deserves a loving home.."

"That's best, Jessica."

"I know.  Plus if the baby looks anything like Mr. Edwin, I'll puke."

Bill chuckles.

"This baby is his.. I don't feel connected to it.  Which is crazy I know since.. well I'm actually connected to it." Jessica touches her stomach. "But I just can't make myself feel a bond.. or any type of love at all."

"That's understandable.  For one, you're twelve.  Having a baby is a very very adult thing to do.  You didn't love the man, so there's that.  You didn't ask for this.  You weren't trying to have a baby."

"No!  Not at all!"

"I'm so sorry this happen, Jessica.... You're already handling this so much better than I would." Bill says.

Suzanne nods. "She's very strong."

"Thank you both.  My only option is to be strong."

***

2 weeks later.

Jessica's tiny bump has popped out a little more this week, and luckily her morning sickness has calmed down a lot.  Besides being exhausted all the time, Jessica is starting to feel a little better.

Today Sarah and Jessica are hanging out at the mall.

"Sarah, are you sure you can't see it?" Jessica asks pulling on her shirt.

"I'm sure!  Jess, you can only tell if you lift your shirt.  Don't worry, you're fine."

"I'm just so nervous.  I don't want anyone to see me like this."

"What are you gonna do when school starts?"

"I want to be homeschooled, but I don't know if my foster parents will let me.  I've already looked it up and there's this program I can do.  They can just let me stay home alone and I'll work online."

"I hope they let you.. though It sucks we can't go to school together."

"I know.. but imagine what those kids would tell me if I showed up pregnant?"

"It wouldn't be good.  This is for the best, and I hope they let you."

Jessica smiles softly. "Thanks."

"Jess, is it okay if we go to a few more stores?  My mom said I need to find something for my aunt's wedding." Sarah makes a face.

"Sure, I don't care.  Though I would love to grab a milkshake first." Jessica smiles cutely.

Sarah chuckles. "My treat, bestie!"

"Yay!"

**

Jessica sipped on her strawberry milkshake as Sarah looked for an outfit.

"I feel something." Jessica stops and touches her stomach.

"What do you feel?"

"I feel popcorn popping."

"Huh?" Sarah makes a funny face.

"Is that.. is that it?"

"What?"

'I think it's moving."

"The baby?"

"Yeah.  Oh gosh." Jessica looks like she's on the verge of tears.

"It's okay, Jess."

"It's not!  I just keep thinking of him still being inside of me."

"Aw Jess."

Jessica shakes her head. "I can't right now.. let's just keep looking.  Look! I like this one!" Jessica grabs a dress.

"You'd look so good in that."

"Oh yeah with this?" Jessica lifts her shirt.

Sarah laughs. "Just go try it on."

"I mean.. Trying it on would be fine, I guess."

"Yeah and I'll try these on too."

The two girls head to the dressing room.

"Jess, come out I want you to see this.  I hate dresses.... Jess?" Sarah panicked and swung open the curtain.

Jessica sat there crying silent tears.

"Jess, what happened?"

"It doesn't fit!"

"Hey it's okay!  Look at this stupid dress I have on!"

"This isn't my body anymore."

"Jess.."

"It's HIS!  He did this to me and I'm the one suffering!  This is a size bigger than I would usually wear, and it DOESN'T FIT!"

"Jessie, that's what's supposed to happen when you're pregnant."

"But I shouldn't even BE Pregnant.. I should be having a fun summer with you!  I shouldn't have to worry about big boobs, a big belly that'll eventually get those ugly marks on them!  I shouldn't have to worry about pushing a kid out of my body!"

Sarah sighed sadly as Jessica continued.

"I hate this, Sarah.  This isn't me.. I don't feel like myself at all.. I'll never feel like myself again."

"Oh Jess.. I wish there was something I could do."

"Me too.."

Sarah hugs her best friend tightly.

".. Sarah?"

"Yeah?"

"I hate that dress."

"Me too."

"Go take it off."

Sarah chuckles softly. "Okay.  You gonna be okay?"

Jessica takes a deep breath. "I'm gonna have to be."