At the beginning of chapter twelve, Devon has a meeting with Dom, in which she tells her for the first time that she never knew she was pregnant. Dom has Devon tell her more about this boy. So Devon tells her the story about where they met: Devon had been babysitting some kids and took them swimming at a swim club, where she met for the first time this boy. He had been swimming and had come to dry off, for his stuff was next to Devon. He noticed the book she was reading and they started to talk about books and other things they had in common. Devon internally reflects things about him-he lives in Denver, his eyes are green. Dom asks her when she last saw him. She doesn't say aloud but she remembers him driving her home, the car full of awkward silence, the night they had sex. She does tell Dom about how he called and texted her numerous times, but she never answered.
In all of this, Devon is reluctant. She doesn't like talking about her sex life, because she doesn't want to become her mother, who has frequent affairs. And then, Devon says it; "I hate her", an anchor that has been tied around her heart is lifted. She resents her mother for neglecting her, for making her raise herself, for causing her fear when she left her alone as a child, for putting expectations on her, for the crappy apartments, for simply not being a mother to her, for not being by her now. Dom makes Devon promise she will cooperate with the psychiatrist later. She obliges.
His name is Conner.
Devon had to give out this bit of information. Dom said he had the right to know. I'm not sure if he will come back into the picture yet.
In the classroom, a guest speaker-Allison- comes in to talk about Growing Up. They talk about adults invading privacy. I think a lot of teenagers feel this way. When an adult monitors your social life by reading your texts or messages. It is an invasion of privacy, even if the adult is only trying to make sure their child is safe. They need to trust their child. If they can't trust them, then they need to get some help. The class makes a list of things that happen when you get to a certain age. When they get to age twelve, someone says you can stay home alone, and Karma whispers beside Devon "Did that when I was five." and Devon thinks so did I. I start to see a connection between these two. Not like they are friends, but they have some similarities. Then, Devon gets called out to see the psychiatrist Dr. Bacon, and Devon tells her everything.
At dinner, Devon is eating lasagna and Karma comes over to provoke her. Karma starts to eat Devon's food, and when she is done, breaks off the end of the sporks and tucks it away in her bra. Devon remembers that she saw Karma's arm once, all cut up and scarred. Karma says that the dead can't bleed and the living can, and sometimes she needs a reminder that she is still alive. Devon watches as Karma walks away, she sees the girl push into another girl-Jenevra- and Jenevra shoves back and they both laugh. And Devon knows what Karma wants. "She just wants someone to push back."
In this next I start to notice Devon having more interaction with the other girls, she can get along with them, which I think she will need, since she is all alone.
It's Saturday morning. A girl named Macee is jumping around telling everyone that her mom is coming. She asks Devon if her mom is coming, and Devon says she really doubts it. Devon has been having trouble not thinking about her mom. She is trying to accept that she will probably never see her again. She spends most of the day reading, but someone calls her name. It's Jenevra, flanked by two other girls. They ask if Devon wants to play basketball. Devon isn't sure if she is cleared by a doctor yet but she goes anyway. Devon has a good time. She has missed being athletic and likes the adreneline and sweat. Though her thighs are aching, she is glad she played. When they break, the girls talk. Devon learns the names of the other girls-Evie and Sam. Jenevra asks Devon if she plays much and Devon says no, but Evie says she plays soccer. Devon has no idea how she knows this, but Evie says she goes to the same high school as Devon. Devon feels with a pang of fear that she is not anonymous here.
They go inside and hear a scream. It's Karma. She is making a fuss, being chased down by some security men. Everybody is sent to Lockdown in their cells.
Devon wakes up, realizing she had fallen asleep in her cell. She sees Karma being wheeled by through her window, strapped to a gurney, her arms bleeding. Just like Devon had bled. Devon sees the black straps tying Karma down. Devon too had been strapped down and confined. Then Devon has another memory.
She remembers That Night. She remembers cutting the umbilicol cord, the screaming little creature, the blood. And she remembers the screaming stopping, swallowed by a black bag.
A woman comes to get her in her cell, saying Dom wants to see her. Devon doesn't want to go. She knows she will have to tell Dom what she remembered. But she goes anyway.
So, now we know that Devon did put the baby in the trash bag. Does that mean she, herself, put the baby in the trashcan? That could have been someone else right? Now, I want to know why this happened.
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