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Post by Dakota Fox S6 on Jun 25, 2009 18:23:00 GMT
The morning sickness had never died away. In fact, it had only gotten worse, especially after her fifth month. Dakota swiped saliva from the corner of her mouth, open and panting heavily, and struggled to stand up. Her legs shook and she clutched the lavatory seat for support. It seemed as though every time she threw up in the morning all her energy was sapped, leaving her fatigued for the whole day. Dakota had already skived many lessons due to 'illness'. However, despite her deathly paleness and sombre personality that had cost her all of her 'friends', Dakota's ailments had still not attracted the attention of the professors. For to do so would have been a problem, as they could have alerted her parents, and that would not do. So Dakota had been ever so careful in concealing her problems, never giving them enough evidence to suggest her frailty. She couldn't afford to be exposed by the School. Or by anyone in it. It took five minutes for Dakota to make herself look somewhat presentable. Judging herself harshly in the mirror, she felt tears wanting to escape, but blinked them back viciously. No, she ordered. You will not cry. You have Transfiguration now and if you turn up crying for Granger's class you will be outed. You will not be outed. Steeling her mental resolve, Dakota pushed her head up high and left the bathroom for her first class of the day. Over the last three months she had continued to attend lessons as regularly as possible. On the other hand, she limited the people she spoke to - practically none. She avoided those she could not break contact with because of family connections that may alert her parents - such as Pyro Blackfire - but all others Dakota had cast away and ignored, and they blamed her change on all sorts; the rumours had twisted them out of proportion, but none of them had come even close to the truth. No one, not even Stephen Donahue, who Dakota had religiously avoided out of fear, could have guessed what she concealed beneath the clothes she wore - made slightly baggier now to hide the rising bump. Oh, it had frightened Dakota so much at first, to see the physical evidence of her motherhood. However, the scariest moment was, without a doubt, the first time she had felt the foot kick against her womb. It had been during a Herbology class, listening to Professor Sprout drone about plants and their uses, when Dakota had suddenly emitted a light squeak, too quiet to be heard over Sprout's garble. She had almost fainted from shock. Dakota hadn't been eating or sleeping well, though. Not of her own accord, but her stomach couldn't face food; her nightmares wouldn't let her sleep. Both these combined meant little nourishment for her child. Although she knew little about children and birthing, research into the matter in the Library had led her to believe the bump on her stomach was too small to be normal for sixth months. By now the bump should have been obvious, but it was not. Something was wrong. In fact, she looked even thinner than usual in her face, her arms. Yet try as she might, Dakota could not eat that much - she was a small individual. She knew nothing of drugs and medication or spells that could help her. So each morning and night she lay helpless in her bed, feeling the gentle kneading in her womb and half-crying because she hadn't yet given birth and already she was a useless mother. After discovering her pregnancy, Dakota had half given up on her revenge on Stephen. Not that it was forgotten - certainly not. She couldn't forget that night however much she tried, and every kick to her stomach reminded her of his cruelty. Dakota's life's goal was still to eradicate the existence of that disgusting man from the face of this Earth and she would stop at nothing - but only once her child was born. Dakota's hand automatically went to feel her skin, where the baby was encased within, and she felt assured of its safety for now. She hurried along to her Transfiguration class. However, before she could get there a spasm of pain hit her stomach, sending her crashing to the floor as her legs collapsed. It was an empty corridor, devoid of people thankfully. Dakota gave a half growl, half cry of pain and tried to stumble up. However, another shot of pain rendered her body useless, and she lay sitting on the floor, waiting for the ache to subside. It wouldn't be long until someone found her, Dakota knew this, but the pain was immense. She shut her eyes, sweat rolling down her forehead, and clutched her baby for dear life. Please let it be okay, she prayed. Please! |
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Post by Pyro Blackfire S5 on Jun 30, 2009 6:02:29 GMT
Pyro’s back twirled lightly in the around beside him. In fact the only time that his bag had ever been this light was during his first day of school. Now he was nearly graduating and classes were beginning to close to make room for their exams. Pyro had taken to incinerating all of his books at the end of each class as his farewell. A lot of his fellow student’s were appalled at this show of flourish, since destroying his books made it impossible for him to study for the exams, but Pyro hardly cared for the exams or what grade he got. His future was already set in stone, Pyro didn’t have to worry about getting hired or keeping a job, Pyro ran his company and he was already charismatic enough to keep it alive.
Pyro swung and heaved the bag into the air, letting it gain a few rotations before snatching it out of the air and setting it spinning at his side once again. He was heading for his last potion’s lesson ever. Not that he hated Potions, but the subject had lost all purpose for him now. If he ever needed a certain potion that he couldn’t create himself he could always buy it or hire someone to make it for him. Life would be good after school; life would be even better as soon as the revolution had taken place. Pyro allowed a grin to cross his face as he continued on his way. The halls were quite deserted today, a lot of the younger students were already in class, and the other 7th years that didn’t have a class were out studying like madmen. Pyro couldn’t wait to be rid of this place, it was invested with all sorts of filth that wasn’t worthy of sharing a room with him.
Pyro turned a corner in the corridor and paused, his bag’s spinning slowing to a stop. “Odd place to take a seat.” He mumbled to himself as he cocked his head to study the student a few paces ahead of him. Pyro couldn’t recognize the girl from this distance, but it wasn’t the first time he saw the exam jitters drive someone insane. Frowning with disdain Pyro prepared to give the girl a wide birth as he passed but as he came close he suddenly recognized the girl. “Dakota?” Pyro questioned and quickly broke into a run. The site of her quickly brought back memories of their talk in the Courtyard all those months ago.
Pyro had noticed that there was something wrong with her that day, but at the end of the meeting he had seen a spark of her former self in her eyes. He had hoped that she would have held on to that spark and climb back out of the hole she was in. Pyro had been watching her carefully over the past few months from the shadows and he had only seen a decline into this new creature. He quickly slid down to his knees beside her and looked into her eyes. “Hey, are you alright? What’s wrong?” A quick scan of her body revealed no showing wounds, though Dakota was clutching her stomach. “Are you hurt” Pyro asked as he gently placed his hand over her belly to check for any wounds there. He paused suddenly as his hand connected with her belly through her baggy shirt. Dakota was a small person, he shouldn’t have contacted the stomach that soon, was that a bump?
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Post by Dakota Fox S6 on Jul 1, 2009 16:17:53 GMT
Breaths came heavily to Dakota's small frame. She knew she was too fragile to support one, never mind two lives. How could she have thought she could do this one her own? She was incapable of looking after herself, never mind a child! A child who would look to her for food, for love, for life. Dakota could barely stand on her own two feet, she wasn't ready to be a mother. But she had made her choice three months ago; she would have this child. She couldn't bear to abort it, and even if she could now, it was too late. The baby was growing - struggling to, but it fought for its life, as all humans did - and Dakota couldn't go against nature and destroy it now. Then she really would be a murderer. Yet, how could she continue like this? At least her OWLs had finished a few weeks ago, but Dakota had the whole summer ahead of her, at home. How was she going to avoid her family, her father? Giving birth was not easy, and Dakota was alone.
A helpless sob escaped, wracking her frail body. Please, she prayed, someone help me. Dakota had always asked for everything she wanted in her life, and people had always obliged - from her parents to her 'friends'. Not once had she been refused, but Dakota knew now what true help was. True help came in the form of kindness and empathy - both of which she did not have or deserve. What world would her baby be born into? One of hatred and cruelty and selfishness. Dakota was or had been all of these things; she was no different to the rest of them, if not worse. She still harboured a desire for revenge against Stephen that gnawed away at her heart, her conscience, her memories. Even though deep down Dakota knew killing Stephen was not the answer - knew it would not return her innocence, would not change anything whatsoever - she still wanted to feel him tremble beneath her fingers, like she had beneath him.
It was only a matter of time before someone stumbled onto Dakota, lying in the middle of the corridor, half crying and looking like a defenceless child. Of all the people it would be, though, it had to be one of Dakota's closer acquaintances - someone whom she had been so keenly avoiding for the last six months: Pyro Blackfire. Dakota knew the older boy was perceptive, had concluded she had to disappear off his radar in order not to be questioned. If Pyro discovered the truth she didn't know how she would stop the rest of the world from finding out too. When Pyro's blonde hair swam into view, Dakota had to blink back her tears fearfully and pray she was dreaming; that Pyro hadn't just found her lying in the corridor like a broken doll. There would be questions and she would not give the answers. She would not! "I'm fine," she gritted through her teeth, steeling her diminishing resolve and avoiding Pyro's searching eyes. "I'm fine!" Dakota tried to push him away, falling backwards, terrified of him and his stronger hands, of her dominance so like Stephen's; terrified of the truth.
When Pyro's hands touched her stomach, Dakota could not suppress a deep groan of pain. The baby gave a weak kick against her womb and she cried out, choking on a sob but still pushing back the tears. "No," she whispered, shaking her head and flailing arms trying to throw Pyro away, trying to shield her failing body. "No, please, no! Just leave me alone, I'm fine!"
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Post by Pyro Blackfire S5 on Jul 7, 2009 8:54:34 GMT
Pyro immediately noticed that Dakota avoided meeting his eyes. He nearly frowned at the situation as she continued to insist that she was fine, who was she kidding? Dakota was sitting on the floor in a deserted hallway, wracked with pain so intense she couldn’t stand and yet she insisted she was fine? Pyro was about to speak but a sudden impact on his hand caught the words in his throat. The sudden bump and the fresh wave of pain that overcame Dakota spoke volumes to him. It was as if a dam burst open in his mind and all the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Pyro hadn’t heard of any pregnancy in the tabloids or from his contacts, which meant that it was a very well kept secret. The avoidance, the new attitude, the look of fear in Dakota’s eyes, this wasn’t a mere accidental pregnancy.
Pyro was shaken from his flood of thoughts as Dakota made one more last ditch effort to shake him but merely wound up throwing herself off balance. A quick and subtle twist had him at a better angle and he shot his arm out to catch and hold Dakota steady. “Get a hold of yourself Dakota.” Pyro spoke in an un-harsh tone, “Despite what you think I’m here to help.” Pyro’s eyes continued to bore into Dakota but his peripherals were keeping a look out for any new comers. Something bad had happened to Dakota, and Pyro could easily guess as to what that certain something was, the question wasn’t ‘what’, but ‘who’? This situation wasn’t looking good, Pyro wasn’t a doctor and babies weren’t exactly his strong suit when it came to medicine, but Dakota seemed to be in bad shape. Pyro could only see two ways out of this, either Dakota had to go to the hospital wing, which would result in everyone immediately knowing about the pregnancy. Or Pyro had to use Miaka to escape the school grounds and get her some medical attention.
“I don’t know why you’re afraid of my help. Even you should see that I would have no gain in exposing you to you’re parents or the world.” Pyro spoke the truth, in fact outing her secret to the world would probably cause him more grief that joy. Being the only person who knew about Dakota Fox’s secret pregnancy would cause numerous rumors that he would have to waste time shooting down. Pyro sighed and steadied Dakota before standing up and looking down at her. He offered his hand, “So? What will it be? Accept my help or am I going to have to drag you to the hospital wing?”
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Post by Dakota Fox S6 on Jul 9, 2009 17:18:33 GMT
"I don't need your help!" Dakota screamed at Pyro, tears blinking between wet eyelashes. His words that came from kindness were only hurtful stabs for her. A sob escaped her again, a physical wrack of her body, curled in pain. "I'm not scared," she hissed, still stubborn, still resisting Pyro and her reality. "I'm a Fox, I don't need anyone's help and I'm never scared!" However, at Pyro's next words, Dakota felt her emotions stumble, falling into disarray. She fought to keep them together, within her, but they were fast and they wanted to be heard. "So what even if you don't tell them?!" Dakota screamed, unaware of her lack of protest against Pyro's implied accusation. "So what?! It doesn't mean this isn't happening, that this isn't true!" Tears finally burst forth, streaming down her cheeks like the tide had just come in. "People don't need to want to gain something to betray others," Dakota whispered brokenly. "I know that of all people."
She stared at Pyro's hand; a heavenly gift, a hellish curse. Dakota couldn't decide, she was so conflicted within. Reflexively she smacked him away, her head turned in shame. "No, no, I don't need you," she moaned. However, just then another jolt of pure pain ripped through Dakota's body, causing her to arch her back, fall against the floor and scream. Her tears flowed faster. Dakota was more aware than ever through the haze of pain that she was making quite a scene, and that her secret had basically been uncovered by the observant Pyro Blackfire; there was no changing that now. Her priority was to get out of here, stop the pain, make sure her baby was all right... and not to draw attention herself. Breathing heavily and swallowing back choking sobs, Dakota finally said with her eyes closed, "Not... not the Hospital Wing. They can't know. No one must know." She opened her eyes, forcing back the pain; one hand cradled her stomach, the other snatched Pyro's back and gripped it tightly.
"Swear on your life that you won't tell anyone," Dakota pleaded desperately, their hands white in each other's but for different reasons. "No one must know! Not the School, not my classmates, not my parents! Do you understand?!" Dakota's hand fell away as she received Pyro's agreement. "Get me out of here now, I can't be seen by anyone. People will talk." Dakota's eyes were wild. Then, as Pyro moved to help her, her tears were back again and she cried without abandon. "Please, Pyro, please," she choked, "please save my baby! Make sure it's okay, please! I can't do this on my own anymore!"
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