It had been a few weeks since the start of the fall semester at Blackwell, and Kate really wasn't expecting any visitors. So, naturally, there was a gentle knocking at her door that caught her off-guard. She shrugged apologetically at Alice before setting her back in her cage, then went to open the door.

Max would have been a reasonable assumption. Maybe Chloe or Rachel. But she wasn't really expecting to see Dana of all people standing there. Not that she considered this a problem. Unlike Victoria or her friends, Dana was a popular girl with a heart of gold. She always had a kind word or a clothing tip for anyone who wanted it.

But what was she doing here now? Well, obviously Dana was ahead of her on that. She put her hand against her belly in the least-subtle example of body language since the middle finger, smiling bashfully. "Kate? Do you have a second to talk about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?"

The Christian girl blinked a few times in disbelief, trying to deal with Dana's terrible joke. When it still didn't make sense, she just smiled her best Kate Marsh smile and stepped aside, letting Dana into her room and closing the door behind her. "You always have time for me. What kind of person would I be to not return the favor?" Dana happily made herself at home, sitting on Kate's bed, so she joined her, noticing that the girl's hand still hadn't left her stomach. It was as though she was resting it there like some kind of charm to protect herself. "What's on your mind?"

Given her bizarre behavior, Kate half-expected Dana to try and circle around the issue. But she was never one for unnecessary conversation and launched right into it. "I did something really stupid, and I need the advice of someone I can actually trust."

Kate's heart gave a little flip, not entirely certain why Dana was coming to her then. She had Juliet, or even Max maybe. She was friendly with just about everyone! But here she was, slumming it with Jesus-girl. "I'll do my best..."

"I'm pregnant." She had said it so straightforward, so business-like that it caught Kate seriously off-guard. "This would only be marginally huge if it weren't for the fact that it's not Trevor's. I know you're not official or ordained or anything, but I just need you to play pastor for a minute and offer me the rite of confession or whatever."

"Those are priests, Dana, and I'm not Catholic. But I'll help in any way I can." Kate took in a slow breath, wanting to center herself before she just started talking off-the-cuff. "First, you have to talk to the, um, involved parties."

Dana gave a ragged laugh, for just a moment letting Kate see just how much pain she was actually feeling. Slowly, she reached over and placed her hand over top of Dana's. It seemed like she needed it. "Well, step one is taken care of then. Trevor freaked and I haven't heard from him in a couple days. And the father wants to play baby daddy, but I'm not having any of it. The reason I came to you is because..." Dana paused, collecting herself as best she could, but it wasn't super successful. "I'm a cheerleader and a Vortex club member. I'm in high school for Christ- f-for crying out loud! There's no way I can have a baby. But I don't know anything about morality or what's right. So I just want to know if the mistake I'm choosing is the best one."

Oh dear. This was supposed to be a boring Thursday afternoon, just her and Alice. Kate didn't have the experience, the knowledge, or the strength of character to really make the call here. But Dana's hand was now gripping hers tight and it was clear that Kate didn't really have an option here. She could only pray that she would give her friend the peace she needed.

"I-I-I think that... you already know what it is you want. So if you felt compelled to do something other than that..."

Dana's grip loosened just a touch and she urged Kate to actually look at her. "You don't have to sugarcoat it, sugar. Just tell me what's on your mind. Or your... heart or whatever."

Right. Duh. "Whether you try to have the baby and raise it yourself, or even put it up for adoption, that experience will shape both you and it. There will be a degree of resentment there, a... a spiritual scar? I guess? Some people might say that getting an abortion is murder. I don't know what I believe, but I do find it hard to think that removing tissue is somehow that much worse than bringing a life into this world that would never get a proper childhood." It all sort of spilled out, and it felt honest, but that didn't mean Kate felt good about it. There were certain things you were supposed to believe, and not believing them made you a heathen. Was she betraying her faith by being so honest? Ugh, and why was she turning her friend's crisis into her own problem?

All drama aside, Dana seemed genuinely happy for the advice. She threw her arms around Kate and squeezed the life out of her. "Never let anyone tell you you're not brilliant or destined for greatness, Katie! That was fabulous, thank you thank you thank you~" Kate heard the sound of a telltale sniffle as Dana pulled back and stood up from her bed. "I owe you majorly for this. We should hang out some time." The two said their goodbyes, and Dana returned to her dorm, leaving Kate to snuggle with her rabbit again and contemplate her existence.

The moment in her room had initially seemed like the beginning and the ending of things. But apparently Dana really meant it when she said she trusted her.

Kate generally didn't expect to spend her Saturdays out partying and going crazy. But she also never imagined it would be spent hanging out with Dana while her friend went through the effects of the meds she'd been given.

Normally she was such a bright and peppy girl, but she had sent Kate that urgent text asking her to come by and check on her. Kate found Dana stretched out on her bed, groaning softly. Kate had missed the worst of it, but she still seemed to be less than pleasant currently. Seated in Dana's desk chair, she held her hand and watched Disney movies with her as the cheerleader occasionally complained. "Ugh, I thought 21st century medicine was supposed to fix all this stupid bullshit – sorry Kate. These fucking – sorry Kate – cramps are killing me. I'm never having sex ever again as long as I live..." Suddenly Dana went from groaning to giggling, slightly delirious. "Hey, at least you got a new abstinence club member, huh Katie?"

Kate attempted to laugh along, but the other girl's giggles soon gave way to soft whimpers. "Guess this is my punishment for killing a kid like a godless heathen..."

"Don't say that!" Even Kate was surprised by the passion in her response. "We're all just teenagers. A-Anyone who expects you to act like a saint is a jerk who doesn't... who doesn't know how the real world works!"

Dana looked at her with wide eyes before turning on her side and patting Kate's leg. "...said Katherine the Good, the literal saint of Blackwell."

"I-I'm not a saint, and I don't let anyone call me Katherine. I'm just... Kate." She really didn't need to bog down the suffering brunette with her self-esteem issues, but it just kind of slipped out.

Even with all the pain she was dealing with and her own mental stuff, Dana still managed to sit upright and look at Kate more seriously. She winced, but appeared to be powering through it. "You've been a saint to me, anyway... In a hellhole like this, that's enough." That was all the energy and strength she had as she stretched out on her back once more with a long, impressive sigh. "Guess I owe you twice now..."

Kate gave the hand holding her own a quick squeeze, turning her attention back to the movie, unsure why this Moment had her blushing like she was. "Friends don't really have to keep track of that kinda stuff. Just don't forget about me when things go back to normal."

"Pretty sure that's impossible, Katie..." Dana said with another labored sigh, enjoying the music even if she couldn't see the screen.