Chapter 7
Calista Glee
Swiping sweat from my forehead, I looked both ways before walking to my sister’s car.
Four hours into my drive, I had to stop for gas.
I’d already paid at the pump, but I still had to go inside the gas station to buy bottled water, some gum, and a bag of my favorite chips, jalapeno Baked Lays.
I also had to use the restroom and was thankful the RaceTrac had been clean.
Opening the door, I placed the black bag on the center console and pressed the button to open the gas door.
I was floored watching the numbers go higher and higher to fill Glow’s Lexus.
My Sentra would have still been almost half full by the time I reached my destination, but Glow’s car needed the extra stop.
Seeing sixty dollars on the pump screen instead of the usual thirty dollars it took to fill mine, I scoffed.
This Lexus only took premium gas, and her tank emptied too quickly.
Closing the gas door, I made a mental note to never get a luxury car unless I was making a mid-six-figure salary.
It was seven in the morning, and the sun had already risen, making it hot and humid outside.
It had only taken a few weeks for me to forget how unforgiving the sun could be in Georgia.
There had been many days of walking from building to building at Blake in this very heat, which was why braids and ponytails had become my best friends.
Climbing back into the car, I locked the doors and picked up my phone.
My mother and sister had already called me several times, and by the time I was an hour into my drive, my mother decided that me driving to school alone was a bad idea.
Her suggesting I turn around and let her take me was typical of my overprotective mother, but my mind was already made up.
Glow, on the other hand, had pushed me out the door, eager to spend time with her niece-baby, as she’d been calling her for the last few days.
She insisted I take her car since her tires were brand new and it had been serviced just last month.
I wasn’t turning down the chance to drive the Lexus, so I practically ran out of the house.
Mommy
Are you okay? Have you been doing the speed limit right? You haven’t been texting and driving? Have you pumped? If you don’t stay consistent, your supply will drop.
I smiled because I’d already pumped three hours ago. I’d learned that if I waited four hours to drain my boobs, they would get painfully hard and soak through whatever shirt I was wearing, especially if I wasn’t wearing nursing pads.
Yes mommy. I pumped three hours ago at the rest stop. There wasn’t a gas station that looked safe nearby so I pushed it out until that RaceTrac right off the state highway. I just filled up and now I’m headed out.
Swiping out of my mommy’s text thread, I went to my sister’s.
Cool air blasted from the vents, tossing around all the hair I’d straightened last night like an idiot.
My sandy-brown strands had grown like crazy and naturally brightened from the sun, but humidity and straight tresses didn’t mix.
I was sure my roots would start shriveling up in no time.
Sissy
I was tracking your location. What happened? Are you okay?
Yes. You know how these small towns can be. By the time I get to the school, I should be fine. But don’t panic if I don’t have service. It’s iffy here. I just gassed up.
A bubble appeared, and then an Apple Pay payment of $120 came through.
I still had money in my account, so I didn’t necessarily need the funds, but now that I had a child, I wasn’t in a position to turn down anything given to me.
Driving my sister’s car hadn’t been my original plan, so I was thankful she’d replaced the gas money.
Between gas and food, I’d told myself that I wasn’t going to spend more than eighty dollars on this trip, but that plan was unrealistic in this car.
Driving the Lexus was fun, but it was also expensive, and I knew that now.
Thank you! You didn’t have to send this. I appreciate you so much for everything. I promise not to burden you with Baby Leader.
My sister and I had made amends, but I was still treading lightly.
When I walked into that hospital in the worst pain of my life, I saw hurt, disappointment, and anger on her face.
For her to discover my pregnancy in front of all her friends was embarrassing.
She’d been bragging about me to everyone, including her followers, not knowing I was stuck on Leader like white on rice at school.
Being the smart, driven girl who got pregnant the first time she had sex was something from a Lifetime movie.
I hadn’t given Glow all the details because I didn’t want to trigger her.
I still hadn’t shown Baby Leader on the internet, and I’d been a mom for three weeks.
I didn’t think I’d ever tell the internet, especially since her daddy knew nothing of her existence.
I wasn’t ashamed of my baby, although I was at first. Those first few days, I felt overwhelmed and confused about my life.
One day, I was a college student on summer break, and the next, I was a mother.
It was still mind-boggling to even admit the shift in my life to myself.
Talking to the nurse, Pearla, and her friends made me feel so much better about being a mother.
I still hadn’t spoken to Blayke since she was taken from the hospital.
I tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail.
I knew she didn’t have me blocked because I called from *67 and got the same result.
I was scared, confused, and needed my friend, but I also knew how her parents were.
I couldn’t do anything but hope and pray they would forgive me and let Blayke back into my life.
However, judging by how religious they were, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Sissy
You’re welcome, Glee. Again, I’m sorry, and you know I got you forever. No matter what. I’m still kinda mad, but my beautiful niece is making up for it.
Bubbles appeared, and soon after, there was a picture of her holding a swaddled Baby Leader.
I’d been having trouble swaddling her with the swaddle cloths.
The nurse had shown me how, but I still wasn’t doing it correctly.
After hours of Glow and me watching tutorials, we gave up and ordered some pre-made ones with Velcro from .
Baby Leader loved being swaddled and was less fussy that way.
I love you.
Sissy
I love you too. Buckle up.
Sissy
Oh! I meant to ask, you still not bleeding?
That’s why I’d stopped and used the restroom at RaceTrac.
I hadn’t been bleeding all week, and after two weeks of heavy bleeding the first week and lighter spotting the second, it had completely stopped.
Yet, while I was driving, I felt something rush out of me.
When I checked, it was just clear, odorless discharge soaking my panty liner.
After removing it and washing my hands, I did a quick Google search while standing in line.
According to the internet, some women only bleed for five days after giving birth.
Still, I had pads in my purse just in case.
The air conditioning was starting to make my eyes water, so I turned it down before texting Glow back.
Nope. Still no bleeding.
Sissy
Okay. Make sure you get on birth control at your six weeks check up!
Rolling my eyes, I texted her “bye” and exited out of the text messaging app.
Turn left at the stop sign.
Siri startled me, continuing to give me the directions to Blake’s financial aid office.
Looking straight ahead at the green mass of land, I turned and looked at the only two ways I could go.
No matter which turn I took leaving the gas station, the destinations were the same distance from here.
I had stopped in the small, rumored-to-be-racist town of Elmet.
I’d heard horror stories from many of my peers at school about Elmet, and how it was common knowledge to not be caught in the small town past dawn.
The people at the gas station seemed friendly enough, but I had no plans to stop here or anywhere else once the sun set.
Instead of following Siri’s directions to the school, I let my fingers swipe around until my social media page appeared.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and wince at the physical pain.
I was no longer bleeding, but I was still very sore from the birth of Leader.
I opened my direct messages and scrolled to the message I’d received and accepted over a week ago.
I had read it maybe a thousand times, and the words still made me heated.
The sender’s profile picture was a solid black circle, and at first, I ignored it because the username was unfamiliar.
Number_1. I hadn’t thought much of it, but then it clicked.
I nearly dropped the freshly made bottle when I realized who was requesting to send me a message.
I remembered how my hands grew moist as I ignored the alarm bells ringing in my head—it was the same bells sounding off now.
The cold knot that formed in my stomach didn’t halt my thumb from tapping on the “approve” button.
Number_1: I’m putting you on my visitors list. Visitation is Friday from 7-11. This ain’t a request, Pretty Mama.
The message ended with him sending the prison’s name and address.
Reading it again, I looked up from my phone at the intersection.
If I went left, I’d be heading to the school to start my transfer process.
Blake University had been the only school I imagined for myself throughout high school.
Cove City had always been a dream, but the dream was over, and I needed to make something shake in Jagoda Bay for my daughter and me.