Bailey
"Trinity Academy for Supernaturals rule 21. If a student is with child then said student will be expelled from school and their spot with be given to another supernatural unless she is married." Liliana scoffs and throws the rule book one side "I'm starting to think that the founder of Trinity hated women."
"I know right? That's a silly rule."
She hums and raises an eyebrow "Are you going to do it though?"
My face scrunch up "What other choice do I have? I want to keep the baby but I don't exactly trust Eli right now."
"Marriage of convenience then."
I frown "What?"
She sits up on the bed "You can marry your professor but it wouldn't have to be a happy marriage. You can set boundaries with him to keep yourself safe like rules for him to follow."
I tilt my head in consideration "I might just like that."
"Yes and be sure to make the rules good." She winks
I huff out a laugh before saying "He said I'll be safe on campus."
"And do you believe him?"
I shrug "He seemed sincere enough."
"The get your ass back to the dorm because I miss you."
I frown "You see me every week."
She waves her hand dismissively "That's completely different than living with you."
"Are you sure you're not going to miss using your free necklaces pass?"
She groans "I'm going to miss it so much but I'll be living in the same dorm with you again so you win some, you lose some."
I laugh as I shake my head. Mr Robinson gave her a necklace so that she could exist the barrier and drop off my school work. I told him some crap about needing to get away for a while because of my mental health and I think he's okay with it because he thinks he's the reason I don't want to be on campus.
Half true.
Later that day I head downstairs to the living room to find Joey watching TV "Hey, can I speak with you real quick?"
"Sure." He puts the TV on mute before glancing at me as I take a seat on the opposite couch
"I have a confession to make, I haven't been truthful about everything." I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear "I'm pregnant."
He makes a strangled sound "From that fucker who wants you dead?"
"Yes." I shake my head "I mean yes from him but he doesn't want me dead, I thought that was the case but I was wrong."
"No, no if you think someone has it out for you then chances are that they have out for you."
I go quiet as his words sink in and I nod before saying "It's Eli. Eli Matthews."
His mouth falls open in absolute disbelief "You're lying." When I shake my head he asks "But isn't he older than you?"
"He is."
He leans forward looking a bit concerned now "Did he take advantage of you?"
My eyes widen "No, definitely not."
"Good." He sighs "I can't believe you and Eli know each other, what a small world we're living in. I haven't seen him since he was a teenager."
"Speaking of small world." I clear my throat as I suddenly grow nervous "I found out that my mom was a part of The Shadow Sisters. Just like Eli and Natalie's mom."
His expression immediately goes sour "Witch." He says it like it's a curse
I hold my hands up in surrender "I don't mean any harm to you or anyone else, Joe."
"I don't buy that garbage." He stands up "Get your things, I think it's about time that you leave."
I blink in surprise and stand up as well "Believe me when I say I'm nothing like my mother."
He points to the stairs "Take your shit and leave before I make you."
I stare at him absolutely dumbfounded before nodding and making my way to the room to start packing my things. I know The Shadow Sisters did harm to many people but I wish that they wouldn't hold me to the same standards, I guess Cory was right when he said not to let people find out who my mother was.
When I have all my things, I make my way down again and see Joey pacing around the living room "I'll see you around, Joe."
"No you will not. Stay away from me and my daughter." He glares at me "With parents like you and that punk Eli? Your child is cursed."
I twist my lips to the side to stop myself from snapping at him, because I still have the most respect for him and over the past two months of me staying here, I started considering him a friend.
Maybe even a father figure.
So I mumble a goodbye and make my way out of the house, startling a bit when he slams the door shut behind me. I close my eyes and let out a deep sigh before sitting down on the sidewalk as I scroll through my contacts on my new phone. I could call Liliana but she already left earlier so it would be stupid to get her to come back to get me and Tyler and Marcus can't exist the barrier unnoticed. I don't have anyone else's number besides my aunt so I just count how much money I have before deciding to just take the two hour bus ride back to campus.
It's almost sunset by the time I reach Trinity and I spot Eli and Maya coming from the library as I walk to my dorm and a shock of jealousy goes through me. Maybe even a bit of hatred too. I don't know why I thought that they wouldn't be talking anymore because the way he was speaking the other day made it sound like he was done with her.
Silly me.
"Bailey?" I hear Maya ask with surprise before I can even hide away behind the building.
"Maya." I give the sweetest smile I can muster "Always a pleasure."
Her eyes narrow slightly and Eli says "You're back."
"I am."
Maya glances between him and I before saying "You don't need to worry about us trying to steal your powers, we moved on to someone new."
"Surely you can't be serious." I say in surprise and disbelief
"Oh but I am."
Eli suddenly says "Maya, go to your office. I'll talk with you later."
She makes no move to leave but when she sees the look on his face, she sighs before pressing a kiss to his cheek and I grit my teeth as I look away. Growing up I've always been jealous of one type of kid and that's the one who has two parents. But right now? I'm jealous that she gets to kiss him so openly while him and I had to sneak around off campus.
When she walks away, Eli says "Sorry about-"
"Are you still planning to do a magic transformation?" I cut him off as I cross my arms over my chest
He grits his teeth "Bailey, I need you to understand that Maya is beyond desperate to get what she wants and she won't stop at anything until she has it. But if I'm doing it with her then I can keep the damages to a minimum."
I can't believe the audacity of this man "So what? You just going to pretend to like someone else again just so that you can steal her powers? All the while fucking Maya behind her back?"
He rakes a hand through his hair in frustration "That's not at all what happened."
"It doesn't matter!" I yell and a few students walking by glancing at us, I let out a heavy breath before saying "You cannot expect me to be okay with this, Eli because I'm not."
He glances away from me "I don't care what you think."
I almost throw my bag at him in frustration but instead just nod slowly to myself "So all that talk the other day about wanting a second chance and wanting to make things right were all just a lie huh?" I laugh without humour "I can't believe I fell for your stupid trap once again. I'm done with you."
I turn to leave but he grabs my wrist "What about the baby?"
I glare at him "It's her or us."
He stares at me through dark eyes "You can't expect me to choose, Bailey. Maya has been my friend through my darkest times."
And that's all I need to hear. I give a tight smile "Understood" I swat his hand off me before taking my things to my dorm all the while chanting in my head not to cry.
When I walk through my dorm door, I find Tyler taking a nap on the couch in the common area and I hear Liliana blasting 'Bed Chem by Sabrina Carpenter' from her room while Marcus is blasting 'Beware by Big Sean' from his room.
Yeah, maybe it is good to be back.