9 Weeks: Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Rumors

"Well, look what the catfish dragged in." Richard smirked.
I slowly sunk down to one of the empty chairs at his table. I looked at Salmons again and scowled.
"You look like hell." He added. I couldn't tell if he was mocking me, or he was truly concerned.
"Rough night. Not to mention my appearance is the least of my worries lately." I sighed, rifling through my lunch bag.
"As is your attitude." He rolled his eyes.
"You'd be just as irritable if you were in my condition."
"I'm sure I would be, but it doesn't help that you're already an unpleasant fish to be around."
"Heaping on the complements today, aren't we?" I said, gnawing at my sandwich.
"Daniel, I think you want me to be the first person to tell you this…"
"That I'm fat, ugly, and have no friends?"
"I'm being serious."
"What is it?" I asked, setting aside my food.  
"Well, there are some, how can I put this, rumors floating around the faculty." He continued.
"Like what exactly?"
"Baldwin, they know!"
"About my…" I suddenly pieced things together. My co-workers were more observant than I thought. I crossed my arms over my bump self-consciously.
"At least they think they know. They're still trying to put two-and-two together."
"What did you tell them?!" I snapped at him, feeling angered, but mostly embarrassed.
"I swear I didn't breach our trust pact! Honestly! Actually, I think they can tell by your new bodily changes. I'd invest in some maternity shirts if I were you."  
"Dear Cod…."
"Oh, and Daniel?"
"What?"
"Rumor has it you slept through half of your class today. A bit energy deficient, are we?" Salmons smirked.
"So glad I'm here to amuse you." I sighed.
Wanting no more of his belittlement, I began packing up my lunch to retreat to my classroom.
'Maybe I can get another nap in before the next period.' I thought.
Before I could leave, Salmons grabbed my arm, clearly not finished with me yet.
"How can I help?" He asked.
"Let's see, more grim news?"
"What can I do to truly help you?"
"You can't do anything. It's clear I'm on my own for the rest of this process." I said.
"What happened to you last night? What do you mean by 'on your own'?"
I reluctantly sat back down, realizing I had no one else to talk to. More advice would've been a blessing, really.
"Marlene sort of dropped the adoption plan. It seems I'm stuck with this kid now." I said.
"Ouch."
"I'm definitely not looking forward to parenting this…thing."
"Maybe it'll be good for you. It's certainly a life-changing experience." Salmons said.
"Doubt it. Not to mention I only have about four weeks to prep for her arrival." I sighed.
"You never mentioned you're having a girl. How nice is that!"
"It's not. I wanted a boy."
"So you DO want this child!"
"No! I don't! I've just had a life full of girls, and it grates on my nerves."
"Girls ARE harder than boys, or so they say."
"…what am I going to do?" I groaned, resting my head in my arm.
"Have you thought of adoption? Foster homes?" Richard Salmons asked.
"No, and definitely not!" I said.
"Oh right, life with foster families. I'm curious, do you have a support system?"
"I have a healthy relationship with my mother, Anne." I said.
"Real mother?"
"I wish. Adoptive."
"I see. Anyway, I meant more like friends." He corrected himself.
"See, my friends sort of hate me right now. With reason; I sort of pissed them off royally." I chuckled.
"Is an apology needed?"
"They wouldn't forgive me."
I thought about Cora and Marc. How much I'd completely ticked both of them off far beyond any hope of a salvageable friendship.
"If they're truly your friends, they would forgive you. That's just how it works." He explained.
"Well, even if they don't forgive me, you're still my friend, right?"
"Daniel, we're really not friends. In fact, you sort of irritate me. The only reason I give you advice is to hopefully improve the wellbeing of your future child." He confessed, gesturing towards my stomach.
"Oh." I said. At least he was honest.
"My one final tip is this; spend the last month you have trying to stay awake at your job, bridging the gap between you and your friends, and giving your place a good-old-fashioned baby-proofing."
"Thanks for the advice, I suppose." I said, grimacing.
"And, two words; maternity wear. Other fish in the building are noticing your, er, 'growth'. You won't be able to keep this a secret much longer, you know." He smiled.
"I get it, I get it! Just don't tell anyone!"
"I promise. Just make sure to tell your students before they find it out for themselves."
"Oh please. They are way too self-focused to even consider stuff like that."
"I wouldn't be too sure. There was a bit of gossip going around that you had some sort of deadly tumor, and believe me, it didn't come from another teacher." Salmons finished. He then tossed his garbage and floated out of the teacher's lounge.
"Oh dear gosh…" I sighed.
I wanted to talk to my friends more than anything. However, I knew that forgiving me wasn't in their plans.
'Only one way to find out.'
I was going to eat out that night. At Cora's Café, to be exact.