Chapter 2

My eyes snapped open.

A white ceiling, with a crack running from the light all the way to the corner.

It was my dorm ceiling.

I shot up in bed.

To my left, Lily Carter was bent over her desk, scribbling away.

To my right, Emily Brooks was listening to music, her earbuds dangling.

Across from me, Chloe Summers was folding clothes.

I looked down at myself.

I was wearing that gray hoodie. The one with the cuffs all worn out.

I touched my stomach, which was flat.

My phone was right next to my pillow. I grabbed it and checked the date.

I stared at the date on the screen, kept double-checking to make sure.

There were still three days left until that morning when I'd find out I was pregnant.

I didn't move at all.

Lily glanced back at me. "What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Nothing," I said.

I set my phone down, lay back, and stared at that crack in the ceiling.

All I could think about was the smell of disinfectant, the nurse screaming, and Ryan shouting outside the door, "What's happening?"

I pulled the blanket over my face.

My hands trembled beneath the covers.

I kept shaking for what felt like forever.

Then I pulled the blanket off and grabbed my phone.

I scrolled through my contacts until I found Ryan's name.

My finger hovered over the screen.

But I didn't press it.

I scrolled up through my contacts.

My finger hovered over "Mom."

I tapped the call button.

It rang three times before she picked up.

"Sophie? Why are you calling so late?" My mom's voice was groggy, as if she'd just woken up.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

"Sophie?" Mom called out.

"Mom," I finally managed to say.

"What's wrong?"

"Can you come to school tomorrow?"

"Did something happen?"

"I'll tell you when you get here."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Mom finally said, "Okay, I'll catch the first bus and come over in the morning."

"Don't tell Dad," I said.

"What's going on? You're scaring me."

"It's nothing. I want to talk to you face-to-face."

After hanging up, I set my phone down on the bed.

Lily glanced back at me. "You called your mom this late?"

I replied, "Yeah."

"Something up?"

"Nah, nothing."

She didn't ask any more questions.

I rolled over, facing the wall, wanting to shut everything out.

In my previous life, Ryan was the first person I called.

This time, I wasn't going to make the same mistake.

*****

The next day at noon, Mom showed up at the east gate of the school.

She was wearing the same dark coat she'd worn for three years, carrying a plastic bag holding a lunchbox.

"I brought you some food," she said.

I took the bag from her.

She looked at me, worry in her eyes. "You don't look so good."

"Mom, let's find somewhere to sit," I said.

We found a quiet corner in a coffee shop next to campus.

I set the lunchbox aside, not bothering to open it. "Mom, I'm pregnant."

The cup in her hand hung in midair as she stared at me. "What?"

"About six weeks and twins."

"What did you say?" She bumped the cup against the table as she set it down, and a bit of water splashed out.

"I haven't gone to the hospital to confirm it yet. I want you to come with me."

Mom stared at me, her lips drawn tight in a thin line.

She didn't yell at me or cry.

Mom wiped up the spilled water with a napkin, then clenched it tight in her fist.

"What about the guy?" Mom asked.

"I haven't told him," I said.

"Why not?"

"I don't want him to know."

"Are you sure about this, Sophie?"

"Yeah, I've thought it through."

Mom took a deep breath. "Okay, let's head to the hospital first. Let's go." She stood up and picked up the plastic bag.

She never once asked who the guy was.

She led the way, walking faster than she usually did.

I followed behind, watching her figure as she moved ahead.

In my previous life, I never made that call, not when I was dying.