July 7th, 1991

It was around four-o-clock when Daniel got the phone call. He had been lying in bed for some time now, and he couldn't get his mind off her. He was anxious. Was she okay? Still alive, that is? Even though she was only sixteen at the time, last night had still been a huge mistake.

His phone rang. Immediately, he answered it, desperately hoping that it would be her.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Daniel." He breathed a sigh of relief. It was her. Lucinda was alright…for now.

"Yes?" he said.

"Daniel," she repeated. He thought he heard her voice crack a little. Or maybe it was just this crappy phone. "There's something…I need to tell you."

There was something she had to tell him? What could that be? His heart pounded in his chest.

"Don't freak out, ok?"

Don't freak out? This was sure to be bad, then. "Uhm…ok." He said slowly.

Lucinda hesitated. "You promise."

No promises, Daniel thought, but he said, "Yeah. Sure. I promise."

"Alright." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "Daniel…"

He braced himself. But nothing could've prepared him for what was coming next.

"…I'm pregnant."

"You're what?" Daniel shouted, his voice rising an octave. He couldn't help it. He was freaking out.

"I'm pregnant," she sobbed into the phone.

"No way!" Daniel yelled. "That's not possible! It's just not! It can't be!" He had leapt up from the bed was and now pacing the floor.

"Well, it is," Lucinda cried. "And I told you not to freak out!"

Daniel took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. This was not happening. This couldn't be real.

"Are you…sure?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm sure!" Lucinda shouted at him. "I took five pregnancy tests and they all came out the same! How's that for sure?"

Daniel suddenly felt dizzy. He sat down on the edge of the bed, unable to say anything.

"My parents don't know yet." Lucinda whispered. "They're going to be so mad when they find out." She paused. "What do I do, Daniel?"

Why was she asking him this? He had no earthly idea on how to handle this! But when he heard her sobbing into the receiver, his absolute shock faded and his heart ached.

"Lucy…" he murmured. "Lucy, we'll figure something out. I'm sure we will."

"Don't leave me, Daniel," she whispered. "Please don't ditch me."

"I would never do that!" he said fiercely, willing her to believe. "I love you, Lucinda."

"I…I love you too," Lucinda said hesitantly. "Look, Daniel, I have to go. Talk to you later?"

"Of course," Daniel said. A few minutes later, the line went dead.

Daniel buried his face in his hands. What had he done?

At that moment, Cam burst through the door. He was staying in the hotel room over. "Hey, what's going on in here? I heard shouting."

"You're awfully nosy, Cam," Daniel muttered, glaring at him.

Cam grinned. "Alright. So, are you going to tell me?"

"Nope." Daniel snapped. "Get out. I don't want to talk to you."

Cam frowned. "Geez. What's got your panies in a wad?"

"If you must know, she's pregnant."

"Come again?" Cam asked. "I can't hear you. You need to stop mumbling."

"SHE'S PREGNANT!" Daniel spat.

Cam looked shocked. "What? Who's pregnant?"

"Lucinda!" he shouted. "God, you can be so dense, Cam!"

"And she's not dead?"

"Not yet!"

"Then why are you pissed off?" Cam asked, crossing his arms. "You're going to be a daddy! You should be happy."

Daniel shook his head. "No, Cam, it's not that simple."

"Of course it is. She turned sixteen yesterday. She can't blow up until seventeen." Cam said. "What I mean is, you've got plenty of time."

"A year isn't a lot of time." Daniel said glumly.

Cam crossed his arms again. "Well, you're just going to have to deal with what you've got, then. It's longer than what you usually have."