On the Otherside of Town

I'll Be the Baby's Daddy

Chapter 10:

Aurora's POV

She led me outside, away from the hallways full of whispers and the constant buzz of the school. I followed her without a word, my legs still shaky and my mind spinning. I didn’t know where we were going or why she even cared, but something about the way she held my arm felt… safe. Like she wasn’t going to let me crumble in front of everyone.

We stopped near a bench by the side of the school, tucked behind some trees. It was quiet here, just the sound of distant voices and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. She sat down first, gesturing for me to join her. I hesitated, not knowing what to do with myself, but eventually, I sank onto the edge of the bench, my hands clenching the fabric of my hoodie.

She didn’t push me to talk right away. She just sat there, calm and collected, like she had all the time in the world. I stared at the ground, feeling the weight of everything crash down on me. My cheeks were still burning, my stomach twisting with leftover panic from the closet.

After a moment, she broke the silence. “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to,” she said softly. Her voice was even, but there was this edge of strength in it, like she wasn’t afraid of whatever came next. “But… you shouldn’t let guys like him get away with this.”

I didn’t respond right away. I couldn’t. My throat felt tight, and my brain was too foggy to form words. I risked a glance at her, and for the first time, I really *looked* at her. She was flawless in that effortless way girls on the other side of town seemed to be—sleek ponytail, sharp eyeliner, and a perfectly tailored blazer. She looked like she belonged in a glossy magazine, not sitting here with me.

“Why are you even talking to me?” I finally managed to ask, my voice low and uneven. I wiped at my face, hoping I didn’t look as pathetic as I felt. “I’m not… like you.”

She shrugged, leaning back against the bench like it was the simplest thing in the world. “Maybe that’s the point,” she said, giving me a small smile. Not the kind of smirk I was used to from people at school, but something warmer, kinder. “You looked like you needed someone. And honestly?” Her smile widened slightly. “I’ve been waiting for an excuse to put Micah in his place.”

I blinked, not sure what to make of her. People didn’t just… help me. They didn’t notice when I was struggling, let alone step in to pull me out of it. And here she was, this perfect, polished girl, acting like I was worth her time.

I didn’t know what to say, but for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel completely invisible.

“Charlotte what?” I asked after a while, my voice still shaky but stronger now. The silence between us had been comfortable, but curiosity got the better of me. She wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met—not just because of the way she looked or carried herself, but because she’d actually stepped in. People like her didn’t usually notice people like me.

She smiled, tilting her head slightly. “Charlotte Sinclair,” she said, leaning back against the bench like she had all the time in the world. “My dad’s Jonathan Sinclair. Sinclair Shipping? He’s kind of a big deal around here.” She said it casually, like it was no big deal, but the name hit me immediately. Everyone knew Sinclair Shipping—they were *the* shipping company in the region, handling everything from luxury imports to corporate logistics. Old money. Serious money.

“Oh,” I murmured, unsure what else to say.

“Yeah,” she continued, her voice light but tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. “We’re one of those ‘old money’ families people talk about, you know? My great-grandfather started the company, and it’s been passed down ever since. My dad’s the current CEO, which apparently makes me the heir to the whole thing.” She shrugged, like it didn’t mean much to her.

“Must be nice,” I said quietly, though my tone made it clear I didn’t really mean it.

She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “It’s… complicated. My parents are divorced. My mom lives in California now—some fancy house in Malibu. She remarried a producer or something. I split my time between here and there, but I mostly stay with my dad. He’s the one running the company, and someone has to keep an eye on things, right?” She gave me a wry smile. “Not that he listens to me much.”

“So, you’re… an only child?” I asked, trying to piece it all together.

“Oh, no,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’ve got siblings. Lots of them. My dad’s second wife—my stepmother—has three kids, and my mom has a son with her new husband. But I’m the only one who’s technically… legitimate, I guess. The Sinclair heir.” Her tone was dry, and I got the sense it was more of a burden than a privilege.

“Sounds… intense,” I offered, unsure what else to say.

“It can be,” she admitted. “We live in a villa on Grover Street. It’s one of the nicer neighborhoods in town. Actually, it’s the nicest.” She smirked, like she knew how ridiculous it sounded. “Micah lives on the second tier of Grover, where the newer money is. My dad likes to remind me there are *levels* to wealth over here.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

I let out a small laugh despite myself. “Wow. Must be nice to have that kind of problem.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” she said, giving me a sidelong glance. “Trust me, I’d trade the villa for a normal life in a heartbeat. But hey, at least I’ve got a killer wardrobe.”

The way she said it, so casually but with a hint of vulnerability, made me feel a little less small. She wasn’t perfect, not really. And maybe she understood more about feeling trapped than I’d first thought.

“I like you, Aurora,” she said suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’re real. People around here? They’re all fake smiles and backstabbing. It’s exhausting.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded, feeling a strange warmth spread through me.

"I think we're gonna be close friends," Charlotte said, her smile warm and real—the kind of smile that catches in someone’s eyes and makes you believe they mean it.

"Who says things like that?" I muttered, more to myself than to her. Maybe I didn’t know because I’d never been close to anyone before. But Charlotte? She talked differently. Cool, sophisticated, classy. There was something about her that made me want to stay, to share things I usually kept locked up. She was effortless in a way that drew me in, even when I felt like I shouldn’t.

“How old are you?” she asked, and before I could answer, she fired off question after question. Where was I from? What did I like to do? Did I have any siblings?

I hesitated, staring at her to gauge her reaction before giving her the basics. “My name is Aurora Rain Danvers,” I began, swallowing hard. “I’m from the other side of town... the trailer park, rundown junkies-in-the-park part.”

Charlotte didn’t flinch. She didn’t grimace or laugh or do any of the things I half-expected. She just nodded, like she was absorbing every word. Her calm made it easier to keep talking, even if I wasn’t giving her everything. I wasn’t ready for that yet.

After a pause, I blurted out, “Oh, and I’m nine weeks pregnant with the world’s douchiest boy child. You saved me from him, by the way.” The words tumbled out in one breath, and I couldn’t stop even if I tried. “We had this secret... relationship, situationship, whatever. And I know, I know—why do I let him get away with the way he treats me, the rumors, everything?” I huffed, peeking over at her to see if I’d gone too far.

Charlotte just watched me, her expression soft but intent, no judgment in her eyes.

“He wasn’t like that at first,” I muttered, feeling the words catch in my throat. I huffed again, suddenly exhausted. “Forget it. He’s a jerk.”

“You’re right,” Charlotte said, her tone light but sincere. “He’s a total jerk.” She paused, wiping away a single tear that slipped down her cheek. “So, forget him. I’ll be the baby’s daddy.”

“What?” I blinked, taken aback by her words.

“Yes,” she said, giggling softly. “I meant it. From now on, I’ll be the baby’s daddy.”

I stared at her, completely thrown off. “Charlotte…”

“I’m serious,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “I feel like you need someone in your life who has your back no matter what. A good friend to help you through the thick and the thin. And it just so happens…” She leaned in slightly, her lips quirking into a playful grin. “That I’m in the market for a prego bestie.”

The absurdity of it hit me all at once, and for the first time in forever, I laughed. It was small and shaky, but it was real. “You’re ridiculous,” I said, shaking my head.

“Maybe,” she said, her grin widening. “But I’m serious about this. You’ve got me now, Aurora. We’re in this together.”

For a moment, I couldn’t find the words. It had been so long since anyone had been on my side—since anyone cared enough to even try. And here was Charlotte, with her perfect blazer and shiny shoes, ready to stand with me in my mess. Maybe I didn’t have to be alone after all.