Why Don't You Come With Me?
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and unyielding. Cedric blinked, his expression unreadable at first, then his brows furrowed in disbelief. “Pregnant?” he scoffed, stepping back as if her words had physically pushed him. “For who?"
"You’re lying." Cedric exclaimed.
“I’m not,” Sophia said, her voice trembling now. “It happened after that night… you know… two months ago.”
Cedric’s face twisted in disgust, his voice rising. “One night. We slept together one time. You can’t be pregnant from just that.”
Sophia opened her mouth to respond, but Cedric wasn’t done. He shook his head, stepping closer to her, his face inches from hers. “If you think for one second that I’m going to let you ruin my reputation with this bullshit, you’ve got another thing coming. This—” he gestured to her belly, though it was still flat, “—this isn’t my problem. It’s yours.”
He spat the words like venom, his voice harsh and cutting. “If you’re trying to extort money from me, you’ve already failed. And if you think you can use this to drag my family’s name through the mud, think again. Nobody would believe a lowlife like you.”
Sophia’s hands shook, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not trying to extort you, Cedric. I just thought you should know…”
“Know what?” Cedric sneered. “That you’re a liar? Get lost.”
Before Sophia could react, he shoved her. She stumbled backward, hitting the ground hard. Pain shot through her palms as she caught herself on the gravel, but the physical pain paled in comparison to the humiliation burning in her chest.
Cedric spat on the ground near her, his voice cold. “Don’t ever come near me again.”
His friends, still gathered by the car, burst into laughter at the sight of Sophia on the ground. Their laughter echoed around the park, mixing with the fading light of the evening, making the moment feel like a cruel joke played at her expense. Cedric turned back to them, shaking his head in disbelief. “Can you believe that? Some nobody trying to claim she’s pregnant with my kid.”
Rick clapped him on the back, still laughing. “Unbelievable, man. Girls these days, huh?”
Dee chimed in, “You’d think she’d have the decency to at least dress better if she’s gonna make up lies like that.”
They all piled into Cedric’s G-Wagon, their laughter still ringing in the air as the car roared to life. The engine revved, and within seconds, they were gone, leaving Sophia alone in the park, sitting on the ground with dirt smeared on her hands.
She stood up slowly, her knees weak, her heart heavy. A few students in the distance had stopped to watch the scene unfold, their curious eyes following her as she brushed herself off, but no one moved to help. No one spoke. She was utterly alone.
TWO MONTHS AGO...
The evening sun was low on the horizon, casting warm amber light through the small, square windows of Sophia’s dorm room. The room itself was modest, with two single beds placed on either side of the room. A thin brown carpet covered the floor, worn out in places from years of use. Sophia’s bed was neatly made, the soft blue comforter folded precisely at the edges, while her roommate Mary’s bed was a contrast of chaos— blankets, clothes, and books strewn haphazardly over it. Posters of musicians and TV shows adorned the walls above Mary’s bed, giving the space an energetic, slightly messy vibe.
Sophia stepped inside, her legs aching from the day’s classes. She barely had the energy to close the door before she collapsed onto her bed, sprawled motionlessly, still wearing the simple jeans and gray t-shirt she had worn all day. Her curly brown hair fanned out over the pillow as she lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to summon the energy to change into something more comfortable. She could feel the exhaustion in her bones, and for a moment, it felt like the bed might swallow her whole.
Suddenly, her peace was shattered by the sound of Mary’s voice— loud, joyful, and almost too much for the small space to contain.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! You won’t believe it, Sophia!" Mary exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement as she danced around the room, hopping from foot to foot like a child on Christmas morning.
Sophia turned her head slightly, watching as her friend bounced around, unable to sit still. Mary’s long black hair swirled behind her as she twirled, singing some pop song Sophia didn’t recognize.
"Mary, what in the world are you so happy about?" Sophia groaned, her voice muffled by the pillow she half-buried her face in.
Without hesitation, Mary jumped onto Sophia’s bed, flopping beside her. The mattress creaked under the impact, causing Sophia to bounce slightly. Mary grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Sophia, you’re never going to believe it!" she squealed. "I got invited to Cedric Hall’s birthday party!"
Sophia blinked, momentarily stunned as she sat up on her elbows. “Cedric Hall’s party?” she repeated, the shock evident in her voice. Cedric Hall was the most famous— and perhaps infamous— student at Ivry Hall College. His father practically owned the university, and his parties were the stuff of legends. It wasn’t just a party; it was the party.
“Wait, how did you even manage to get an invite?” Sophia asked, sitting up fully now, curiosity piqued despite her exhaustion. “And what time is the party? How are you even— what are you wearing to the party?”
Mary sat cross legged on the bed, her excitement not dimming one bit. “Okay, okay, it’s a long story, but basically… a friend of a friend of another friend got me an invite,” she explained, waving her hands in the air as if that made everything perfectly clear.
Sophia stared at her, incredulous. “And how are you getting there?”
“Oh, I’ll figure that out later,” Mary waved off the question, brushing it aside like an afterthought. “But, Sophia, it’s at this state of the art glass penthouse in the staff quarters, deep within the woods on campus. Can you imagine? I’ve only heard about that place in rumors. Apparently, it’s where all the famous kids hang out.”
As Mary spoke, she suddenly jumped off Sophia’s bed and darted across the room, rummaging through her suitcase. Clothes flew everywhere as she dug deep into the pile. Finally, with a triumphant yell, she pulled out a stunning blue dress, adorned with intricate floral designs. She held it up in the air like a prize, the fabric shimmering in the fading light of the room.
“And this,” she declared, “is what I’m wearing tonight.”
Sophia’s eyes widened at the sight of the dress. She’d never seen Mary wear something like that before. “Where did you get that?” she asked, her voice tinged with envy.
“I bought it last summer,” Mary explained, still admiring the dress. “I’ve been saving it for the right moment, and this is definitely it.”
Sophia felt a pang of jealousy twist in her chest, but she quickly shoved it down, trying to keep her expression neutral. She wanted to be happy for her friend, but the opportunity felt like something out of reach for someone like her. “Wow… a once in a lifetime chance,” she muttered, unable to stop the words from slipping out. “Why don’t opportunities like this ever come my way?”
Mary, noticed the change in Sophia’s tone. She dropped the dress on her own bed and turned to face Sophia, her eyes softening with empathy. Without a word, Mary climbed back onto Sophia’s bed, sitting beside her and grabbing her hand.
“Sophia,” she said, giving her hand a firm squeeze. “Why don’t you come with me?”