Dallas' Dorm (now vacant)

[Dallas Kennedy]

fuck yeah.

[Esme Russel]

Esme was a little more wasted than she had originally believed that she was which made sense.. She'd drinking from six in the morning when she woke up to well she was still drinking even as she drove from her bottle of red wine.. What was she thinking? She was literally taking drinks straight from it as she drove to campus at two in the morning to talk to Dallas Kennedy about how they couldn't be friends anymore because his girlfriend believed that she was a whore... Not just a whore but apparently such a whore that she didn't even want her saying Dallas's name. She didn't even know that her and Dallas had dated! Why was she so fucking angry about this? She and Dallas were well past their issues that they'd had at homecoming and now they were best friends.

God she was going to miss him... He wasn't someone that she wanted to be romantic with but he was someone that she genuinely felt like she needed in her life. He was a major part of her support system so losing him was kind of heartbreaking but this was for the best. He and Kat deserved a chance to be a real couple and possibly get married or have children one day but that could never happen if she was in the way like this. She was a fuck up.. Like Avery and Kat were saying and Jonathan clearly agreed. He might love her but he had to resent her.

She had ruined his life! She was a stupid immature sixteen year old girl who didn't think about anyone but herself and now there was an innocent life involved in this who didn't ask to be born. Cici had done nothing wrong! She was just born to two teenagers with more drama than anyone could ever need in their lives. Sweet baby.... She shouldn't be treated like she was a mistake because she really wasn't. She was a beautiful little girl who deserved the world.

The walk to Dallas's dorm room was so familiar that Esme almost lost herself in the memories.. She would always sneak over to spend the night when they were dating even if they couldn't have sex because her period. Her bottle of wine was almost empty so she was just trying to get the last drops out as she knocked on his door... Here goes nothing.

[Dallas Kennedy]

Dallas couldn't help but pace the floor in front of his bed. He had been walking the same short path since he hung up with Esme. What the fuck did she mean when she said they couldn't be friends anymore? She was his best friend, his go-to person, his rock! He could tell her anything and trust that she wouldn't judge him. And now, just suddenly she wanted to end all of that? No. That wasn't going to happen. He wouldn't let that happen.

He had gone over every argument he could think of at least twice in his head. He glanced up to all of the pictures hanging on the wall above his bed. Pictures of him and Esme, some even from when they were dating. There was one from when they went to the zoo and fed the giraffes, another from a school field trip to a cavern. There was one with Esme in the back of his Chevelle, blowing the camera a kiss. There was even the ones from Maine. The two of them sitting at the top of the lighthouse at dawn.

Why would she want to end a friendship like that? There was a knock on his door and he figured it was no one else but Esme. Dallas was only wearing sweats and a black tank and smelt faintly of Axe Phoenix. He opened the door to find a very intoxicated familiar face. "Jesus, Essy, you drove here like that?" He asked, pulling her inside and making her sit on his plush bed. "If I would have known that I would have come and got you." Wine? She was really drinking wine? "And what is this?" Dallas asked, taking the empty wine bottle from her hand. He gave her a look like she should know better.

"This is shit. This is what children drink." He rummaged through a hidden compartment in his small closet and pulled out a half-full bottle of Jack Daniels. "This is for grown ups." Without thinking, Dallas twisted off the cap and took a long swig from the glass bottle. It burned as it went down, but it was okay. At least he knew he was somewhat alive. "Grow a pair and take a shot." He offered her the bottle, which in actuality probably wasn't the best idea seeing how she was already looking plastered.

Dallas sat down next to her and became quiet for a moment. After a short while, he asked the question that he didn't want to ask. "Why are you abandoning me?" What the fuck kind of way of putting it was that? Abandonment? Is that what it was? In a way, that's what he kind of felt like was happening.

[Esme Russel]

Esme wasn't surprised that Dallas immediately knew that she was drunk... He knew her better than most people aside from Jonathan, of course, so he would obviously be able to tell that she'd gotten completely plastered; she actually hadn't been drinking solely because of this situation. She'd been feeling stressed one night when she was studying so she had one teeny tiny glass of wine and she realized that one glass made her feel good and two glasses made her feel really good. "Dallyyy~ I'm fine to drive! See?" She slurred her words so heavily that she wasn't sure that he was going to be able to understand her but it didn't matter.. Nothing mattered to her right now. She let him sit her down on his bed like an obedient little puppy though she rose a brow when he took her bottle of wine.. "I wasn't done with that!" She was actually near tears when he pulled out the bottle of Jack Daniels.

It was only half full which was disappointing but at least it was something, right? She took it with a scoff before taking a long drink. She didn't care that it burned her throat or that she was going to have a monster hangover in the morning because she knew that this was going to be a hard night and she needed all of the help that she could get. She glanced around the walls at all of the pictures of them even though she'd seen them several times in the past.. She recognized each one and could remember the moment that it was taken like it was yesterday. There was one of them sleeping curled up together on the hammock at her dad's house that made her smile because it was really a nice time in her life. It was from the beginning of their relationship at her birthday party with her dad which was a barbecue and pool party so she and Dallas had swam and ate which left her tired so she pulled him onto the hammock with her and somehow they both fell asleep. her stepmother had taken the picture and had copies made for each of them because he believed they looked good together. Hell, there was a copy of it still framed in their living room not because of the romantic connotation but because it was just beautiful - the lighting, the innocent look that she got whenever she slept.. their sweet position.

It was quiet so she let her mind wander back to those days.. A year well a year, four months and three days to be exact. How could she not have fallen in love with him when she spent over a year of her life as his girlfriend? She was taken out of her thoughts when he spoke.. Whoa, abandon him? "Do you remember our one year anniversary?" It wasn't nearly as random of a question as it appeared and she didn't wait until he answered before continuing her train of thought. They'd gone down to Los Angeles which was a long as fuck drive but she wanted to go to Hollywood.. She'd always wanted to go to LA and they managed to entertain themselves in his car listening to music and talking. She'd fed him so he wouldn't have to move his hands off of the wheel to eat and moved the stray towards his mouth which still made her giggle to think about.. They were just two kids back then, huh? A wild, young and free couple with a car was not exactly a good combination but they made a lot of really good memories.

They had spent most of the day shopping and exploring with a star map to try and found where their favorite celebrities lived which wasn't the most romantic thing in the world but it still made her smile to think about even now when she was ending their friendship. Towards the end of the night, they went to a hotel room and ordered every kind of takeout that they could think of since they hadn't had dinner and somehow got to the topic of the future. "Um.. You probably forgot this because it's not important but I remember.. I remember everything. We were talking about how we'd always be in each other's lives even if we broke up and I said that I'd always be there for you if you needed me no matter what if you promised to do the same and we did so I will always be there for me if you need me but you don't need me. You have Kat and I have Jonathan and Cici... I have a family now, Dallas and I don't need drama with your girlfriend and Jon's ex in my life." She couldn't handle that kind of stuff anymore - she wasn't a kid like that.

"You're always going to be my family, Dallas... I mean we spent a year together and that's special but at the same time, we're growing up and it's not healthy for you to be so close to your ex-girlfriend. Look at the wall! And I have your pictures up and ... I know that it's hard to understand but I don't want to be a complication. I ruined Jonathan's life.. Ask Avery or Kat or him or anyone and they'll agree and I won't let myself do the same thing to you." She was really just trying to look out for him in some twisted way because his happiness was important to her. It was more important to her than her own and that was how she knew that she really had loved him.. Not in the way she loved Jonathan where she knew that he was her soul mate and she was his but in a special best friend way.

She looked over to him before taking another long drink and deciding that it was time to actually tell him what brought all of this on. She told him everything about the party and every single word that Kat had told her along with the Avery stuff and how she felt like they ganged up on her and how Jonathan hadn't come to her defense or even their daughter or relationship's defense which led her to believe he also thought that she had ruined his life. She also told him not to be angry with Kat because she was right.. everyone was right. "I'm a nothing, Dallas... I asked you last night why Kat and I know now... It's because I'm a nothing and you deserve someone like her." She didn't sound like herself.

She sounded terribly empty like a shell of the happy go lucky girl in the pictures.

[Dallas Kennedy]

He thought back to that day, that day that would always be branded into his mind. He remembered it very well seeing as it was one of the happiest days he had before Kat had come into his life. It was bittersweet, the memory. He would feel everything he felt that day washing over him like a rip tide. "I remember." He said quietly.

His mind wondered back and soon he was smiling at how stupid they were. It had worried their parents and friends sick, his own thinking they were eloping. Dallas couldn't help but feel some kind of satisfaction that it worried them so badly,they hadn't cared before so why start?

He remembered their pact, too. And he was still going to stand by it, no matter what anyone said. And then Esme let him in on everything that Kat had said to her.. that Avery had said to her. He was seriously going to have to talk to Kat about it. "Essy, you're not nothing." You're not nothing. You're everything. You're Jon's everything. Dallas thought to himself. He couldn't say that, even though he knew that it would probably make her feel better. But this wasn't about Jon. This was about Kat and Esme and how Dallas was going to resolve this.

"You can't just end us." He started. Wow, that sounded like a couple breakup. "What I mean is.." He looked to her and then to the bottle of dark whiskey in her hand. With a little bit of a fight, he took it back and took a few swigs of his own. "Esme I need you, you're my best friend. You and your friendship mean a lot to me and I don't know what I would do if I lost that." Maybe he was just being selfish n saying so but he just went with his gut. "You're my rock, Esme."

[Esme Russel]

This all felt like it was happening so fast... too much too fast and she didn't know how to handle it so she did the only thing that she possibly could do - she cried. She cried so hard that she couldn't catch her breath so she moved to bury her face into Dallas's lap. "I'm sorry...." She didn't move her head off of his lap, despite her apology. What was she suppose to say? I'm failing and I need help? I'm overwhelmed by everything and everyone? "I'm just going to ruin your life! Jon thinks our baby was a mistake and I feel like I'm doing a horrible job being a mom because I don't know what to do! I don't .... I...."

She had to stop to calm down before she could continue, "I'm working all the time and stripping and I hate it. I hate how I feel like I'm nothing.... I hate how I'm working so hard and Jon is working yet we're struggling. I don't even have the money for rent last month and it's overdue. I'm scared, Dallas and I have too much going on in my life to deal with your girlfriend." She didn't want to do this but it felt like her only option.

What if he yelled at her for becoming a stripper? She reached around and stole the bottle of Jack Daniels back... what did he care if she got even more wasted than she already was? It wasn't like he had to take care of her or even drive her home. She was perfectly capable of doing both of those things alone. "Should.... should I go?" She stood up and actually had to grab onto his shoulders for balance. She seriously almost fell! If she left this dorm than she was basically rape bait.

[kat]

Kat was trying to wiggle into a pair of jeans she left in Dallas's room a few weeks ago since she spent the night the night before, and she didn't have any other clothes with her. Sadly, these Hollister jeans weren't wanting to button.
She laid back on the bed trying to snap them shut, but eventually gave up and looked over to Dallas who was still seemingly half asleep.

"Dal," she said, shaking his leg. "It's 8:50, wake up. We're already late for school, and your girlfriend is having a crisis."
She pulled the jeans off of her and starting opening his drawers looking for a pair of sweatpants or something. She already had on one of his zip up jackets over her white tanktop, and now apparently she was going to be wearing his sweats too.
This past month had been hell. She was supposed to get her period on September ninth and it was now October first and still nothing. Not even spotting. She'd been checking her panties every half hour hoping God would take mercy on her soul and make her uterus bleed. But no. Nothing. And now she was gaining weight. In her lower belly. And she'd been throwing up for the past week. She was too scared to go to the doctor to find out what was wrong, so she'd just been eating saltine crackers and drinking ginger ale by the gallon.
But it was getting harder and harder to avoid talking about. She couldn't even get into her jeans — and they were fives! Normally she was a three, and she only ever wore those when she was feeling fat. But they wouldn't even button. She didn't want to think she could be pregnant...it just wasn't an option. Yeah, she and Dallas had unprotected sex once, but she took the morning after pill the next day! Wasn't that supposed to work?

She sighed and pulled on a pair of grey sweats and walked back over to the bed. "Babe?" She brushed his hair out of his face. "You need to wake up. We have to talk." She was scared of what his reaction would be, especially with him being mostly asleep, but this could be serious. She just hoped she was freaking out over nothing.

[Dallas Kennedy]

He was having quite the dream.. It was fun and silly and plenty warm. He and Ket had gone on a deep sea fishing trip which was really just them fishing from the beach line in the Caribnean. They were catching all kinds of nothing but water and an empty line. The sun was blaring down but it was just the right temperature. In the background or maybe somewhere in the sky there was a soundtrack playing with cute, fun music. Dallas had gotten tired of fishing and tossed his reel to the side before wraping his arms around his Latina beauty and carrying her into the water.

He could feel something brushing his leg that wasn't her. He looked down and smiled at the little fish that were swimming around his knees and ankles. But then he heard Kat's voice and he grunted awake. "Hm?" He asked as his partially opened one eye. "Crisis?" His voice was deep and hoarse but he had been told that was when it sounded the sexiest - when he first woke up.

He momentarily slipped back into his sleep state until Kat was running her hand over his face. The feel brought a small crooked smile to his lips and he raised his arm to pull her closer to him. He rolled from his chest to his back and pulled her face into his neck. What the fuck did he care if they were late? He could stay like this all day. He could call in sick for work too, they wouldn't mind. He hadn't called in but once about three months ago. He could do it, right? "What about, babe?" He groaned out as he stretched his legs.

[kat]

"I'm getting fat," She said simply, and it wasn't a total lie. It was true that she'd gained some weight, and it was enough for her to not fit in her clothes...
She sighed and leaned up so she was kneeling on the bed, straddling his waist. It may have looked like she was trying for morning sex, but that was far from her mind.

She started playing with the zipper on the jacket she was wearing as she spoke. "You know how like...a month ago we hooked up in the back of your car? And um...I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't actually remember using a condom and..." she bit her lip. "I'm not on anything. And I didn't say anything before because...well, when I hung out with Esme, you know? She bought me the morning after pill, and I thought everything was going to be fine cause like, that's supposed to work, but..."
She sighed again and looked at him, "Dallas, I haven't gotten my period and...I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant." She looked away from his eyes, feeling like she was about to cry. "I know you're mad, and I'm sorry...I'm sorry." She wiped away a little tear and moved off of him because she felt like she was the last person he wanted touching him right now.

"I...I'll take care of it. I don't mind, really. Nana sends me money every month for food, I'll just...I'll use that, and make Kegan feed me. It's fine, seriously." She looked up at him so he could see that she was being serious. She began searching for the answer to this whole situation in his face, but getting nothing. He seemed just as shocked as she was...and maybe a little scared, too.

[Dallas Kennedy]

Dallas scoffed at her 'I'm getting fat comment.' What was she, crazy or something? He tucked his bottom lip in when she straddled his waist.. wasn't this a lovely wake up call? He stuffed his pillow under his head so that he didn't have to strain his next to look at her. Kat had to be joking or dilusional to think that she was getting fat because he hadn't noticed one bit.

"Yeah?" He added at the mention of their back seat love time. Dallas remembered the feeling he had when he noticed that he hadn't used a condom. The same feeling struck him hard in the chest and made him stomach flop. No, no, no, no, no, no.. Kat, don't say- he thought to himself as she mentioned hanging out with his previous best friend and the Plan B.

I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant.

Dallas could feel the stomach bile rumbling in the pits of his esophagus and swallowed hard at her comment. His heart felt heavy and he was definitely feeling like he was about to vomit everywhere. He sat up with his back leaned against the wall and he dragged Kat with him. He wasn't mad or even disappointed with anyone but himself. He didn't even know what to say back to that or if he even could say anything right now. She moved away from him, which he didn't like, and crossed his legs on the bed.

He had to say something. How bad was it looking that he was just silent and staring at his fingers? After a long silence, Dallas looked up to her, searching for some way to comfort her. "I... I'm not mad at all. It's my fault, not yours." He admitted quietly. "Have you-" He paused and looked at the clock, "Have you taken a test or anything?"