SWNOVELXO Chapter 7: CHAPTER SEVEN: THE SHIFT
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Basketball Court — Late Afternoon
Anissa wiped sweat from her brow, her chest heaving as she dribbled past Nelly. Mary lounged on the bleachers, shouting playful insults between laughs.
NELLY
"Girl, you better stop before you catch a cramp!"
ANISSA
"Better a cramp than your sorry defense."
They burst into laughter.
And for a rare, beautiful moment, Anissa wasn't the girl drowning in debt, watching her mother slip away, or hiding a scandalous secret.
She was just Anissa — wild, untethered, alive.
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Library — Early Evening
Books sprawled across the table. Nelly, Mary, and Anissa huddled over a battered laptop, anatomy notes everywhere.
MARY
"Okay, someone explain why anatomy's harder than actual surgery?"
ANISSA
(laughing, shaking her head)
"Because they want us to memorize every artery and nerve before we even hold a scalpel."
NELLY
"Mm. Who needs nerves when rent's due anyway?"
They all laughed.
But Anissa's smile slipped, her fingers tracing the edge of her notebook.
ANISSA
"Speaking of... I got a call from Terry. Mum's getting worse. Cancer's aggressive. The doctors say she needs stronger meds, but the money..."
The table went silent.
NELLY
"You know we've got you, right?"
MARY
"Whatever you need. Say the word."
Anissa nodded, swallowing hard against the lump rising in her throat.
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Steven's Mansion — Night
Her phone buzzed.
TEXT FROM STEVEN: "Come over. Now."
Without a word, she grabbed her bag.
NELLY
"Where you off to?"
ANISSA
"Just… something I need to handle."
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The mansion was dimly lit. Soft jazz hummed from hidden speakers.
Steven met her at the door — shirtless, expression unreadable.
STEVEN
"You took long."
ANISSA
"I came straight."
He pulled her inside without another word, and this time… it felt different.
In the bedroom, there were no rough hands. No clothes ripped away in anger.
He undressed her like she was glass, lips grazing every inch of her skin.
She gasped when his hands found her waist, his mouth tracing the slope of her neck.
STEVEN
(softly, against her skin)
"Let me show you something else."
The world slowed.
He kissed her — long, deep, lingering.
Fingers laced with hers, guiding her onto the sheets.
Every touch was patient. Every movement deliberate.
For the first time, it wasn't about control.
It was about presence.
Afterward, she lay against his chest, his hand lazily tracing circles on her bare back.
STEVEN
"Stay."
And she did.
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Morning — Steven's Mansion
Anissa slipped out of bed as nausea crashed over her.
She bolted to the bathroom.
Steven leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching.
STEVEN
"Bad food?"
She rinsed her mouth, avoiding his stare.
ANISSA
"Must've been. Something oily from school."
He stepped closer, eyes narrowing like he could read through her skin.
STEVEN
"Come shower."
She hesitated… then nodded.
Under the warm spray, he pressed her against the cold tiled wall — no hunger this time.
Just lips brushing lips, water trailing down their bodies.
He kissed her like she was more than a secret.
And she clung to him, battling the war inside herself.
ANISSA
(whispering)
"Don't make this harder."
He didn't reply. Just kissed her again.
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Later — School
Steven's driver dropped her off.
Her phone buzzed.
$7,000,000 RECEIVED.
Her stomach twisted.
In the middle of a lecture, nausea hit again.
She rushed out, hand clamped over her mouth. Nelly followed close.
NELLY
"Yo, what's going on with you?"
Back in class, Anissa returned pale, trembling.
NELLY
(sotto)
"You need to take a test."
Anissa's heart pounded as she stared blankly ahead.
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Dormitories — Afternoon
A message from Terry.
A photo attached.
Their mother, frail, eyes barely open, oxygen mask strapped over her face.
Anissa's throat tightened.
ANISSA
(texting back)
"I'll come."
NELLY
(peering over her shoulder)
"Come on. Let's go."
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Hospital — Evening
The nurse led them in gently.
NURSE
"What symptoms, love?"
ANISSA
"Fatigue. Nausea. Vomiting in the mornings. Dizziness."
The nurse arched a brow.
NURSE
"How long?"
ANISSA
"About a week… I thought it was stress."
NELLY
"You always think it's stress."
The nurse chuckled softly, handing her a cup.
NURSE
"Let's be sure."
Minutes later, the nurse returned with a sealed envelope.
She sat beside Anissa.
NURSE
(softly)
"You're pregnant."
Anissa's ears rang.
Nelly gripped her hand.
NELLY
(softly)
"Is it Steven?"
Anissa's lips quivered, a single tear slipping down.
ANISSA
"I… I don't know what to do."
NELLY
(steady)
"We're gonna figure it out. Together."
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TO BE CONTINUED…
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