I roll my eyes.  It’s been a week of nonstop gossip.  When will the rumors end?  “Really?  Because I heard that I was having an affair with a married man here in town and just claimed to be a virgin before as to not raise any suspicion.”  I tell her.
                          
She shakes her head, linking our arms together.  “Where do people come up with these crazy ideas?  I swear, if the whole school got together, we could create an amazing lifetime movie.” 
                          
“Ooh, we could make the girl have an affair with a polygamous family and she runs away with him to become a sister-wife!  Also, we should totally have the setting be an Amish farm.”  I tell her enthusiastically, laughing at the end. 
                          
Haley nods, “Sounds good, but don’t forget that she needs to stray from her marriage and bring up her bastard child with a Latino drug dealer who beats the shit out of her.” 
                          
Biting back my grin, I agree, “That would be quite the twist, especially if the baby comes out to be the spawn of Satan.” 
                          
We both shake our heads and hug quickly before I walk into French and she heads to Spanish.  Unfortunately, even in a foreign language class, the rumors still follow me.  Alyssa Creet leans forward in her seat to whisper into my ear, “Is it true that you’re pregnant?”  She asks.
                          
I roll my eyes, “As far as I know, it takes longer than five days to figure something like that out.  I’ll keep you posted though.”  I say sarcastically before opening my binder and pulling out the homework.  Pregnancy really isn’t something that I’m worried about since Tyson had the good sense to use protection. 
                          
As the day progresses, I feel myself getting a major headache.  I groan as I sit down beside Haley in the cafeteria.  “What’s up, Buttercup?”  She asks, digging into her sandwich.
                          
I sigh and start picking at my the same salad I have every day.  For some reason, it just doesn’t look appetizing right now.  “Nothing really, I just have a headache.  I think I might be coming down with something… I just don’t feel like myself.”  I explain, frowning.  I hate being sick, so if this is the beginning of a cold, I’m going to be unhappy.
                          
“Do you want some Tylenol?  I have some in my bag.”  She says.  I nod gratefully, thankful for anything that might help me at this point. 
                          
“You’re a lifesaver, Hales.”  I tell her, swallowing the pills down with my water.  For the rest of lunch, I don’t touch my food, opting instead to lay my head against the table and sleep.  Haley wakes me up for our next classes and I can’t help thinking how amazing she is to me.  I’m lucky to have her as a friend. 
                          
At home, I start scrounging the cupboards searching desperately for a certain box of crackers.  “Mom!”  I call out, hoping I won’t have to walk through the house to talk to her.  Yes, I’m being lazy and rude, but I just don’t care right now.
                          
“Yes?”  She asks, chuckling at me as she enters the kitchen. 
                          
“Do we have any Cheeze-Its?”  I ask, rubbing my stomach.
                          
She frowns, “No, you don’t like those.”
                          
“I want them more than anything in the world right now.”  I pout, “Are you sure we don’t have any?”  I ask again, hoping for a different answer.
                          
“You can drive to the store to get some if you want them so bad.”  She offers.
                          
I smile and nod quickly, “Please!  That would be great.” 
                          
She shakes her head with an amused smile before digging into the depths of her purse to hand me a ten dollar bill.  “Drive safe.”  She says, kissing my cheek.