Some Things Just Can't Be Understood

Pheobie nodded slowly.

(She's going to be rumor bait now isn't she?)

(more or less)

Maple woke up from his much-wanted nap to find the medical wing strangely abuzz with whispered talk. He could've swore they were giving him suspicious looks. Then again, he was also known to be paranoid. Besides, he should be used to it. He was known as one of the crazier professors around.

Pheobie was still curled up on the cot. It was like she was in a trance. She had stopped being sick a while ago, but she was still pale

Smith came in later to check on Pheobie. He found Maple first.

"Professor! What happened?" he asked, upon seeing Maple with his bandaged arm.

"GS blew up," Maple replied simply. "Looks horrible, but it's nothing I won't survive."

Pheobie hadn't spoken since she got the news. She had barely even moved

The doctor came back in. "How are you feeling?"

Pheobie curled tighter into her ball. "A little better" she mumbled quietly.

The doctor sat down nearby. "I'm not going to blame you for this. It happens more often than people care to realize. Even here."

"I don't want to talk about it..." Pheobie mumbled.

"Was it rape?" the doctor asked.

Pheobie blushed deeply. "No, I just don't want to talk about it."

"One or both of you had too much to drink that night?" asked the doctor.

"I don't drink" Pheobie replied "And I still don't want to talk about it."

"I see," replied the doctor.

"I really don't want to talk about it, okay? I hate being made a spectacle of."

"Honey, if you choose to keep the baby then you're going to be attracting attention, especially in the later months," said the doctor. "Sorry, I'm not trying to be rude. I've just been there before."

"I-I" Pheobie sniffled and curled up into a tighter ball. "I don't know what to do."

"It's alright. It's a big thing to get used to," said the doctor.

Pheobie gave another sniffle in response.

"Do you want to have the child?" the doctor asked.

"I don't know." Pheobie replied softly.

"It's a big decision, so I understand if you need to think about it," said the doctor. "Babies change lives."

Pheobie sniffled again.

"Do you want to stay here longer, or do you want to go back to room?" asked the doctor.

"I'll stay here a little bit longer..." Pheobie mumbled