Fighting For Us

Tia

Seventeen years old

Two. Pink. Lines.

These are three words no teenage girl wants to see. Yet it’s the two lines I haven’t been able to stop staring at for the past twenty minutes.

How did I get myself into this situation?

This is Karma for letting Benson stick it in me just once. “Don’t worry. I’ll pull out.” The things we do to get boys to like us. Well, smart girls don’t.Just the dumb, clueless ones like myself.

I tried going to Mama many times to discuss birth control, but my daddy’s religious and wouldn’t allow it. Both my parents believe in abstinence before marriage. If they discovered I gave my virginity to a cocky, arrogant asshole jock like Benson, my father would be whipping me with a belt while shoving his crucifix in my face and shouting for me to repent.

When Daddy finds out I’m not a virgin, and slept with half of the Ashland High football team to gain the attention of their star player. I’m as good as dead.

“Tia, breakfast is ready,” Mama calls from downstairs. The smell of the bacon she’s frying makes me want to hurl. Again. Thankfully, I had already thrown up all the contents of my stomach. This morning sickness is going to be my death.

Tearing a piece of toilet paper off the roll, I wrap it tightly around the test and stick it in my pocket. I’ll have to toss it away at school. I know Daddy will go snooping in the trash and discover it. Eventually, my parents will find out once my belly grows. I will try to keep it hidden for however long I can. Being petite, I don’t think I’ll show for a while.

Mrs. McNeil, my art teacher, is tiny like me and didn’t start showing until her third trimester. I’ll wear baggy clothes. I’m probably going to have to quit the cheerleading squad. It will suck since I’m cheer captain and the reason we get a chance to go to nationals this spring.

My dream is to one day become a professional cheerleader for the NFL. Those dreams I’ve had since I was a little girl are now shattered. Daddy would have never allowed that to happen anyway. If he had his way, I would be married off to a church parishioner the day after I turned eighteen and start popping out a bunch of kids, playing the doting wife.

That’s never going to be me.

Daddy is a local pastor here at our church in Ashland. Everyone knows him. The townspeople think we are the perfect doting family. They don’t know the darkness that lives behind closed doors.

They don’t know their beloved pastor is the devil in disguise.

Before heading downstairs, I fix myself, wash my face, and brush my hair into a pony. I have long, natural blonde hair draping down my lower back. During practice and games, it needs to stay up. Looking in my floor-length mirror, I fix my cheer skirt and place a hand over my belly. Pretty soon, I won’t be able to fit into my uniform. I’ll be sporting a small bump. Hopefully, I’m one of those girls who look cute pregnant, and not like a blimp. That should be the least of my concerns.

Today is Friday, which means it’s game day. Here in our small town of Ashland, Louisiana, football is everything. I’m the head cheerleader for our school’s football team, The Blue Devils. Lena Davis, former cheer captain and sworn enemy, just about pissed herself when coach Cassidy promoted me to cheer capt last spring—demoting her.

Fuck Lena. I worked my ass off for the position, sneaking in as much time in the gym practicing moves. Daddy’s rule at home is no cheer talk. I’m not even able to practice my high kicks in the backyard. I learned that lesson the hard way. One day, Daddy caught me when he came home from the church, and I got whipped by his belt and was forced to recite four Hail Marys.

“Your eggs are cold, dear,” Mama says as I enter the kitchen. My stomach revolts at the smell. Daddy’s sitting at the head of the table reading the newspaper, not glancing in my direction.

“I’m not feeling very hungry. I’ll grab a banana and eat it on the way to school. I gotta be there early this morning. Coach Cassidy wants us to practice our moves for tonight’s game,” I lie. I want to tell Benson my news. He deserves to know that he’s about to become a father.

As I’m about to walk out of the kitchen, Daddy bangs his fist on the table, causing it to shake and Mama and me to flinch. “Your mother said to sit and eat. Do what you are told, young lady. And none of that Devil cheer talk at my table.” Daddy bellows, I have to fight the urge to cry.

“Sorry, Daddy,” I apologize as my body trembles. “But I do need to get to school,” I add.

“Sit,” my father commands, lowering his newspaper. Ignoring him, I kept walking, and his fists shook the table again, halting my steps. “I won’t ask again.” Which is a code word for the next time you disobey me. I get my belt out.

Doing what I’m told, I take a seat across from him. Mama places a plateful of eggs and bacon in front of me. Bile threatens to rise at the sight. “I can heat them for you,” Mama offers.

“No, Charlotte, it’s her fault those eggs are cold. She will eat what’s in front of her. Understand?” His evil eyes pierce right through me.

“Yes, Sir,” I obey.

Wanting to get out of here, I do as he asks and pick at my plate. I’m only able to choke down a few bites. I get up from the table only after Daddy looks pleased with my half-empty plate.

I grab the keys to the family Buick when Daddy reaches for them first. “I’ll be driving you to school today. I’m headed to the church anyway.” There’s no arguing with this man. Kissing Mama on the cheek, I follow him out.

The ride to school is eerily quiet. I go to exit the Buick when Daddy stops me by placing a firm grip on my thigh. Terror runs through my veins at his touch like it always does. “You are to come home right after the game. Your mother or I will be here to pick you up. Do you understand?” I nod—his hand inches up my thigh to the hem of my cheer skirt, giving me chills. And not the good kind. “Now, have a good day and behave.” He says with a sinister smile.

My father is the epitome of evil.

Everyone is dressed in our school colors for gameday: blue and white. Our cheer uniforms match the football players. My skirt ends just above the knees. Something Daddy says is tempting to the boys at my school. I’m pretty sure he would have a stroke and die if he knew his little girl wasn’t as pure as everyone at his church believes.

I am the school slut. Something I’m not proud of. But you tend to gain that label when you have sex with half the football team.

The players huddle in a group, sitting on the stone steps leading to the school’s entrance. Benson is seated at the top of the steps with Amanda, a girl on the cheer squad, perched on his lap. Cheerleaders are Benson’s weakness. He’s with a different one every week. I’m the only one he’s ever gone back for “seconds.” I guess that should make me feel special, right?

I need to find a way to tell Benson. He has a right to know he’s going to be a father, but I have a feeling he won’t take it well. I already know he’ll deny he’s the daddy. That thought makes me hold off on giving him the special news. Today is not the day to tell him all his dreams are over.

When the news of my pregnancy gets leaked, it will ruin whatever was left of my reputation. The cheerleaders already view me as the Ashland High slut. And all the Blue Devil football jocks want to fuck me.

Except for one.

Rocko Robinson.

He’s one of the good guys. I’m blessed to call him my best friend. I felt jealous when I spotted him laughing with Sydney Atkins at a picnic table near the entrance. She’s his tutor and is secretly in love with him. I have no reason to hate her.

Then why do I?

Like all our football players, Rocko has an amazing physique. But that’s not what makes him unique. It’s his soul.

Rocko is one of a kind.

He’s the complete opposite of his brother—minus the looks. The two could be twins with blonde hair and green eyes. Only Rocko has shorter hair, whereas his brother Tommy has hair reaching his shoulders, making all the girls swoon.

Tommy Robinson is Benson’s best friend, and I’m ashamed to admit one of the guys on the team that I fucked. Several times. Something I regret immensely. I would never want Rocko to find out. It would undoubtedly hurt him. That’s the last thing I ever want to do.

Ignoring Sydney and Rocko’s flirt fest, I walk over to the group of football players. Lena has an arm wrapped around Tommy, staking her claim. He looks disinterested. Her desperation for the star quarterback is embarrassing.

“Looking kind of pale, Tia,” Lena taunts. “You sure you’re ready to lead us tonight?”

“Oh, I’m ready,” I sneer at the bitch. Then, I focus on Benson, whose eyes rake down my body. A body he knows all too well.

“Hey, Tia,” he gives me that sexy smirk that makes girls want to drop their panties. I know because that smile got me into my current situation—knocked up.

“Um,” I say nervously with all eyes on me. “Can we talk sometime today?” I ask him.

The bell rings, and he stands to his feet, causing Amanda to stumble. Benson steps up to me, bringing his lips to my ear. “Find me after lunch, and we’ll sneak inside the locker room. You can ride my dick on the bench again,” he whispers, nipping at my earlobe. My breath hitches at his nearness. Why does he have such a strong effect on my body?

Benson spanks my ass, and without another word, he stalks off with Tommy and the other guys in tow. I’m about to follow them inside when I look at the picnic tables and see Rocko watching me with gritted teeth.

Rocko has always hated how his teammates treat me. Like a whore.

I’m walking to my morning AP English class when I’m hit with a wave of nausea—damn morning sickness. Running to the nearest restroom, I make it just in time.

Hovering over the disgusting toilet, I throw up the breakfast Daddy forced down my throat. Standing to my feet, I compose myself and step out of the stall, where I’m met with piercing green eyes.

“You okay, T?” Rocko asks, using the nickname only for me. It’s the same name that makes me weak in the knees.

Rocko’s the one person I can confide in. That notion has me spitting out those dreadful two words.

“I’m pregnant.”

Rocko

“I’m pregnant,” Tia cries. Words no seventeen-year-old can comprehend. I’m not sure what hurts more. Seeing her in tears or hearing that the girl I’m secretly in love with is pregnant with another guy’s baby.

Since I first laid eyes on her light blue ones, I was a goner. She consumed me then, just like she does now. I’ve known Tia Kane most of my life. Being from a small town, we attended school with the same kids. I remember chasing her around the playground in kindergarten.

It wasn’t until we hit middle school that I started seeing her in a different light. Tia was no longer the cute girl with the pigtails I used to chase. She was a walking bombshell with all the right curves. We started hanging around each other in school, and then it turned to after school. When we hit high school, and her eyes began to wander, I was stuck in the friend zone.

See, I’m the guy you bring home to Mama. The guy girls turn to when the asshole they’re with hurts them. I’ve been Tia’s shoulder to cry on for the past few years. And it’s damn tiring. Seeing her now, before me, her tear-stricken face, fucking guts me.

It makes me want to find Whitaker and beat him to a bloody pulp. What she sees in that asshole, I’ll never know. All he’s done is use her. I have to listen in the locker room while he brags to all the guys about how tight her pussy is. I grit my teeth every time.

Tia isn’t the only girl Benson screws. He’s got a particular taste for the cheerleaders and went through the entire squad except for one, Lena Davis. Tia happens to be cheer Captain, so she’s his favorite.

Like Benson, my big brother has a taste for cheerleaders. Unfortunately, he got to have a taste of Tia. Twice. One in which I had the pleasure of witnessing.

The flashback of that night still fucking haunts me. “You want a beer, brother?” Kenny, one of my brother’s best friends and teammate, asks as I search the backyard for my best friend, Tia. I knew she would be coming to Benson’s after-party. We just beat the Golden Cougars by ten points. With Benson’s parents being out of town, this is where the party is at.

“Earth to Rocko,” Kenny calls, breaking me from my trance. “Do you want a beer, man? I’m headed inside?”

I wave a hand. “I can get it, bro. I gotta take a piss anyway.” I don’t tell him I’m going to find Tia and confess my love for her. For the last six months, I’ve pushed my feelings aside to be the “friend” she needs. But I can’t fucking do it anymore. I want her more than my next fucking breath.

Tonight’s the night I make her mine.

My palms are sweaty, and bile rises at the back of my throat as I enter Benson’s crowded house. I drank a few shots of Crown Royal earlier, hoping it would ease my nerves—no such luck. If anything, I’m even more on edge.

I’ve always been shy when it comes to girls. Something my brother Tommy has no issue with. Shit, all he has to do is smirk, and the ladies kneel for him.

Lucky fucker.

I’m not like him, though. We may be brothers, but we’re nothing alike. I know how to treat a woman. I’ve never been in love before Tia Kane. She’s not the girl I should be falling for.

Tia isn’t the girl you bring home to Mama. She’s the girl your mama would get her cross out and pray for.

I’m about to head up the stairway when Sydney intersects me. She’s been a good friend to me for years. But lately, she acts like she wants more. I can’t give more than friendship.

Unless you’re Tia Kane.

“Hey, Roc,” Sydney greets me shyly, leaning against the railing. She’s dressed differently tonight than her usual attire. She is standing there in a shimmery black top that accentuates her breasts and tight as fuck jeans with fuck me heels. Her hair is down in curls, but she still wears black-rimmed glasses.

It screams, “trying too hard.” And I’m not interested. The Syd I know never would step foot at one of Benson’s parties. “Hey Syd, what are you doing here?” I ask, a little annoyed she’s distracting me from finding Tia.

Sydney shuffles her feet on the staircase. “I heard you would be here, so I figured I would show.” She bites her bottom lip as she speaks; if Tia had done that, my dick would be hard as steel.

“I’m actually on my way to take a piss, but after, I’ll look for you.” I lie. I have no intention of looking for her. I’m hoping to feel Tia’s lips against mine tonight. I’ve dreamt about what it would be like to kiss her. What they would feel like wrapped around my…”

“Well, I’ll be waiting,” Sydney says with a smile. Leaning in, she kisses me on the cheek. Again, I feel absolutely nothing.

Finally, after getting rid of Sydney, I go up the stairs. Where could Tia be? I’m praying I don’t open one of these doors and see her riding Benson’s dick. I might want to kill the fucker. I already know the two fuck. I don’t want to see it with my own eyes.

When I reach the fourth door on the right, I brace myself before opening it. That’s when I hear the moans and know my earlier premonition will come true. Only as I inch the door wider, It’s not Benson’s dick Tia is riding.

It’s my brother Tommy.

“Fuck, Benson wasn’t kidding. Your pussy is tight.” Tia’s bare back is facing me, so I get the perfect visual of my brother’s hands on each one of her ass cheeks as she grinds down on what I assume is his bare hard cock. She’s completely naked while Tommy’s still fully dressed with just his jeans around his ankles.

Bile starts to rise from the sight in front of me. The girl I’m in love with and my brother. It’s too much to take.

I run down the stairs. Waiting for me is Syndey, with two beers in her hands. “Hey, what’s wrong?” She asks, taking in my disheveled appearance.

Without thinking, I entwined my fingers with hers. “You want to get out of here?” She happily agrees. Twenty minutes later, Syd’s on her knees with my cock stuffed in her mouth. It was my first ever sexual experience, and it wasn’t with the girl I’m crazy about.

No, she was just with my brother.

Tia’s sobs break me out of that terrible flashback. One I wish I could erase from my mind. When I woke up to my brother throwing a football around in the yard the morning after, I pummelled him, and he never saw me coming. He was caught off guard. I made it look like it was playful wrestling, so he didn’t get a hint about my feelings for Tia. But deep down, I wanted to kill him for hurting me like that—my blood.

“Rocko, what am I going to do?” Tia asks with a tear-streaked face. Even with mascara running down her cheeks, she’s so goddamn beautiful it almost hurts to look at her. I hold my arms out and let her fall into them. All the rejection and hurt I’d felt over her faded, and at that moment, I knew what I needed to do.

I blurt out the words.

“Tell everyone the baby is mine!”