One Night Stand With Cedric Hall

SOPHIA...

The sun hovered just above the horizon, casting the campus of Ivry Hall College in a fiery glow as though the heavens themselves were ablaze. Long shadows stretched across the manicured lawns and stone pathways, and the once-bustling university was gradually settling into the peaceful quiet of dusk. Yet for Sophia Cooke, peace was the last thing she felt. The world may have been winding down, but the storm inside her was only beginning to swirl.

She walked slowly along the path toward her dorm, the weight of her blue backpack pressing hard into her tired back. Her feet dragged against the pavement, but it wasn’t the exhaustion of a long day of classes that weighed her down. No, her burden was much heavier than that. It had been a week since she discovered the truth, and it haunted her every step: she was pregnant.

Pregnant with the child of Cedric Hall.

Sophia’s stomach twisted with every step, her chest tight with the knowledge of what lay ahead. Two months ago, during a reckless night fueled by the throes of a college party, she had spent the night with Cedric. One impulsive mistake that now carried consequences neither of them had foreseen. Cedric wasn’t just any guy; he was the guy. The untouchable king of Ivry Hall. Handsome, arrogant, and rich beyond measure, Cedric carried himself as if the world was his playground, and in many ways, it was. His great-grandfather had founded the college, his father was the current vice chancellor, and his family’s name was woven into every corner of the campus.

As she walked, the cool evening breeze lifted her brown curls, brushing them against her face. Her simple, worn jeans and white sneakers were a stark contrast to the opulence that surrounded her. A faded college t-shirt hung loosely on her slender frame. She knew she didn’t belong in the same world as Cedric and his friends, a fact they never missed an opportunity to remind her of.

Up ahead, Sophia spotted a group of boys gathered around a sleek, black G-Wagon parked in front of one of the college lecture halls. Their raucous laughter echoed in the air, and she recognized them immediately. Cedric stood at the center, leaning casually against the car, his tall frame exuding effortless confidence. His sun-kissed skin seemed to glow under the fading light, his chiseled jawline sharp as ever. Brown eyes that often sparkled with amusement or cruelty, whichever he chose to wield, now glinted as he exchanged banter with his friends. His presence was magnetic, and despite everything, Sophia still found him maddeningly attractive. He was every bit as sexy as she remembered— more so, even.

She cursed herself for that attraction.

Her stomach flipped again, but she steeled herself. This had to be done. She couldn't avoid him any longer. As much as she wanted to hide from the inevitable, this confrontation was waiting for her. She turned off the main path and headed straight for them, her heart racing as her fingers gripped the straps of her backpack tighter. Cedric's friends were already noticing her approach.

“Who the hell is that?” Dee, one of the louder ones, nudged Rick with a cruel smirk.

Rick looked up, his eyes narrowing as they raked over Sophia’s figure. “Oh, I think know this one,” he sneered, loud enough for her to hear. “What’s she doing walking over here? Thought this area was off limits for broke bitches.”

The others chuckled, their eyes gleaming with the prospect of a new target for their mockery. As she got closer, the insults started flying.

“She looks like she crawled out of some dirty hole or something...,” Rick continued, laughing. “Dressed like that.”

Dee snickered. “Maybe she’s hoping we could toss her a few bucks.”

Sophia’s stomach churned, but she kept walking, refusing to look at them. She had faced worse.

“Hey, girl, how about you pray that you find someone who’ll take pity on you and buy you some decent clothes?” one of the others shouted, igniting another round of laughter. “Oh wait, with that face, good luck.”

Sophia’s cheeks burned, but she kept her head up, her gaze fixed on Cedric. He hadn’t said a word, but she could see the amusement in his eyes, the way his lips curved into that smirk she had once found irresistible. She felt a wave of nausea, not from fear, but from the realization that this was the man she had slept with— the father of her unborn child.

As she reached them, Rick took a step forward, looking her over with an exaggerated grimace. “You sure you’re in the right place, mate? What's this?”

More laughter followed, and Sophia’s hands balled into fists at her sides. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but she didn’t. Not here. Not in front of them.

Cedric, finally deciding to grace her with his attention, raised a hand, silencing his friends. “Alright, alright,” he said lazily, his deep voice dripping with mockery. “Let’s see what the girl wants. You’ve had your fun.” His eyes flicked over her body, lingering just long enough to make her feel exposed.

Sophia swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing her voice to stay steady. “I need to talk to you,” she said, meeting his gaze head on. “Alone.”

Cedric’s eyebrow shot up, and a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Alone?” he echoed, glancing at his friends as if to share the joke. “Now, why would I go anywhere alone with you, sweetheart?”

His friends burst into laughter again, the cruel sound ringing in her ears.

Sophia’s hands trembled, but she pushed down her fear. “It’s important,” she repeated, her voice quieter but firm.

Cedric seemed to consider her words for a moment, his smile faltering just slightly. He glanced back at his friends, shrugged, then pushed himself off the car. “Fine. You’ve got a minute.” He walked a few steps away, and Sophia followed, her heart pounding.

Once they were out of earshot, she turned to face him. Her chest felt tight, her stomach twisting in knots, but she had to say it.

“Cedric…” she whispered, her voice trembling despite her best efforts. "I’m pregnant."