Two weeks Later (Thea)

Okay!  I've put this off long enough.  I have to tell him today, thought Thea as she walked out of her last class for the day.  According to Dr. Becker the babies are healthy and strong. I definitely should tell him and his family.

"Thea! Theadora the adorable," sang a slightly accented voice.

Thea lips twisted slightly as she took in the dusky skinned Hispanic girl.  Her long black hair pulled tight into a bun and triple pierced ears full of dangling earrings.   Thea stopped herself from rolling her eyes as she waited to see what Jocelyn could possibly want.

Joselyn bright pink lips turned upward as she gazed out of honey brown eyes, ”Can I see your econ notes?"

"I don't have them," replied Thea as she bit her bottom lip.  "I have to leave so I'm not late for work,” as she started down the hallway toward the stairs.

Jocelyn's bottom lip quivered as she walked beside her, "Without them I'm gonna fail the test next week."

"You were in class why didn't you take notes," inquired Thea already certain she knew the answer.

"I was texting Leo about our date on Friday," gushed Jocelyn.  "I saw you were taking notes and since we're working on that project together I thought you'd lend them to me."

"And what am I supposed to study with," inquired Thea as she avoided someone as they walked down the stair.

A thoughtful look crossed Jocelyn's face, "You're smart.  You don't need notes to pass."

"Really," laughed Thea as they walked out the building and on Michigan Ave.  "If I didn't need notes I wouldn't take them."

"Don't be so mean," whined Jocelyn as she rushed across the street after Thea.  "Plus if you lend me the notes I won't point out how you've put on weight to the whole class."

Thea arched an eyebrow as she looked into Jocelyn's serious face.  "We're in college and you doing that means nothing.  I'm not ashamed of the fact that I'm pregnant."  Thea rolled her eyes and pressed her lips together to stop from before she said more.

"Oh my gosh," clapped Jocelyn excitedly.  "How far along are you?  Do you plan to finish school?  Have you applied for any public assistance?"

Thea stared up the street to see which CTA bus was coming and frowned, "I haven't applied for anything with the state if that's what you mean."

"You should," laughed Jocelyn.  "I have a two year old and if it weren't for WIC and food stamps we'd both be starving."

Thea looked at the woman that was no older than she was, "You had a son in high school?"

"I got pregnant my sophomore year.  Leo and I were just playing around and wham, bam, thank you ma'am I was pregnant."

"Oh," replied Thea as she nodded her head.  "Where you scared?"  Thea walked on the bus with Jocelyn and inserted her bus card into the reader and sat down next to her.

"I was terrified of my dad's reaction.  I was for sure he'd kill me," confessed Jocelyn as she placed her bag in a vacant seat.  At Thea's questioning glance she laughed, "This is so no one will sit next to me."

Thea nodded, "Yeah I hate when it's really crowded and some body that knows they can't fit sits next to me anyway."

Jocelyn laughed as she pulled out her cellphone.  "Let's swap numbers.  We're classmates and moms.  We should stick together."

Thea laughed as she took out her phone, "Yeah and the first priority is getting me to give you my notes for Economy."

Jocelyn waved a hand and chuckled, "That'd be ice but I'm serious.  As single moms in college we need to stick together instead of trying to beat each other down."  

Thea looked out the window and smiled, "This is my stop."

"You work over here," whistled Jocelyn as she took in the upscale Lincoln Park brownstones.

Thea nodded and pointed toward a large tan stone building, "I live over there.  If you want I have about two hours before work you can copy my notes."

Thea listened to Jocelyn talk about the trial of being a single mother as they walked over to her apartment building.  As they walked into the spacious foyer she watched as Jocelyn's eyes rounded in shock.

"I can't believe you can afford to live here," said Jocelyn in awe.  "This place has to cost a fortune and a half.

Thea made a noncommittal noise as she pointed toward the small antique looking elevator.  "I'm on the third floor do you want to take the stairs or the elevator?"

Jocelyn gave the bass elevator as skeptical look before her eyes rested on the gleaming oak staircase.  "I think the elevator should be fine."

Thea tried to suppress a laugh as she pressed the button and the door opened quietly.  Thea exited and turned right and walked past two large oak doors until she came to the end of the hall.  "This is me," she smiled as she stuck an oversized key into the lock.

Thea pushed the door open and stepped to the side to let her guest in.  As she looked around she tried to imagine the apartment through someone else's eyes.  She looked down at the old oak floors that ran through the whole apartment and smiled as she remembered she'd polished them to a shine the other night.

"You can put your jacket in there."  Thea pointed to a small closet off the entry and smiled as she took off her shoes and coat.  "You can wait in the living room while I go get the notebook."

"This is nice," exclaimed Jocelyn as she walked pass a small opening and looked in.  "What's this?"

"That's a sitting room or den or something," responded Thea as she walked toward a closed door.

"How many rooms does this place have," asked Jocelyn as she walked into the living room and sat down on an overstuffed couch.

"It's a 2 bed," replied Thea as she handed her the notebook.   "I'm about to make me a snack before I start work."

"Okay," laughed Joselyn as she pulled a spiral out of her book bag.  "I still can't believe you live her though!"

"Mmm," responded Thea as she walked into the small kitchen and opened the refrigerator.  She frowned when she saw her almost empty space was now full of food.  "What the hell," she whispered as she grabbed the honey ham and cheese.

Thea made her sandwich and walked into the living room and sat down.  She reached into the armrest of the couch and pulled out the remote control and turned the TV on.  When Jocelyn sighed she turned and smiled, "This is the only time I get to watch TV."  Thea watched Jocelyn shrug before she turned the channel to the entertainment show she loved.  She took at big bite of her sandwich as the rail thin, long haired buxom blond appeared on the screen in a black pants suit and plunging purple shirt.

"You watch this crap," laughed Jocelyn as she flipped the page and continued to copy Thea's notes.

"Shh," hissed Thea as the woman started talking:

"Everyone is talking about the video that has taken the Internet by storm. Everyone's first guess was that it was of an A list movie star, some sports icon or music mogul but it's not.  The tape making waves is of one of the most eligible bachelors, women around the world never knew."

Thea's eyes widened when she saw a full color picture of Gabe standing next to a picture window talking on a cellphone.  Without thought the sandwich fell from her hand and landed at her feet on the floor as the news consultant continued.

"Gabriel August DuPont isn't a name you'd hear every day but he's the heir to the MN multi-billion dollar empire.  The DuPont's are a reclusive family and intimate photos of the family are nearly impossible.  Media Network was able to get an inclusive with the woman from the video."

"Thea are you okay," asked Jocelyn as she bent over and picked up the sandwich.  She frowned as she turned to look at the television.  "What's wrong?"

Thea coughed before she took the sandwich and plate. "Nothing!  I thought I was having a cramp," she lied as she got up and walked back into the kitchen.

"I've never heard of that Gavel person but he's fine," laughed Jocelyn as she pointed toward the screen now showing bits and pieces of the sex tape.  "And the moves he has," she laughed as she pointed toward the image of him with the woman against the wall.

Thea felt sick to her stomach but tried to play along.  "Yeah he's cute if you like that type."  She sat down and went to change the channel.

"Wait!  The woman from the video is about to be interviewed," laughed Jocelyn as she pushed Thea's hand down.  "Don't turn I want to see what she says.  I'm fairly sure she leaked it trying to gain her 15 minutes of fame.  Such a disparate slut!"

"Yeah I'm sure," laughed Thea as she sat the remote down and blinked away tears.

"Cleo Mitchell how did you feel when you found out a private video of you and Gabriel DuPont was leaked online?"

The camera zoomed out and showed a beautiful brunette with olive skin and long legs that wore a figure hugging thigh high black dress.  "I was devastated," she replied with a vivacious smile.  "I'm sure Gabe is just as upset as I am," she continued as she batted her eyes at the screen.  "I want to be a model and with this my dreams are probably crushed."

The anchor stared at Cleo with a disbelieving look before she shook her head and tried to cover with a smiled. "How long have you and Gabriel DuPont been an item," asked a platinum blond with startling green eyes.

"Gabe and I have been seeing each other every time he's comes to New York," replied Cleo before she licked her plump red lips.

"So for years," prompted the reporter as she probed for more information.

Cleo giggled and waved a hand. "We've been seeing each other for years with a 'z'," she purred into the camera.  "I truly feel sorry for the girl he used to always talk about though," she continued.  "Now his little secret is out."

The screen went back to the reporter in the studio as she wore a no-nonsense expression.  "We attempted to contact Gabriel DuPont for a statement but was told by the family's spokesperson that he's currently vacationing out of the country, his return date is unknown."

The report head titled to the side as the music that signaled a commercial started, "Stay tuned for more celebrity news.  Next up find out which celebrity we all love is pregnant for the first time and who the father is!"

"Wow," laughed Jocelyn as she stood up and stretched.  "I'm sure whoever the girl is that he's supposedly seeing and cheating on will be fine.  His money will smooth all that over in no time."

Thea rose and pasted on a smile as she walked Jocelyn to the door, "Money doesn't fix everything.  S"

Jocelyn stared long and hard at Thea before she laughed, "It doesn't but it sure makes things easier."

Thea nodded as if she agreed it took everything in her not to slam the door.   Fuck him and all the money he has."  Thea stormed into her bedroom and changed into a simple white t-shirt and jogging pants as fresh tears streamed down her face.  "I should have known he wasn't anything more than a lying bastard.  Fuck him and every mother fucking penny him and his family has."

Thea walked into the bathroom and peered at her red eyes in the mirror.  "I don't want shit to do with him or his lying as family," sighed Thea as she resolved herself to raise her children on her own.  "I don't need him or that public aid crap she was talking about."  Thea tied her hair into a ponytail and walked out of her apartment ready for her four hour night with Barbara.

********

Author Note

Gabe doesn't get a scene because he's currently at the psychiatric ward.