Author's Note: Like the last chapter in the last book, this chapter takes place during the episode "Foolin'" (Season 5 Episode 4) and is named after the song Cold by Crossfade.

"I'm pregnant."

Those two words repeated over and over in JT's head as he tried to make sense of what was happening. A sense of fear and shock ran through his entire body. Liberty was relieved that she finally told JT, but took note of his silence.

"JT..." she said softly and quietly, trying to catch his attention, but he was still keeping his eyes on the ground.

"You two may wanna get to class before you're late," Mr. Simpson said as he walked by. This snapped JT out of his thoughts. Liberty glanced at JT for a second and then started walking to class. JT followed a few seconds later. They walked into class and took their seats just as the bell rang.

"Okay, everybody partner up for the project we started last class," Mr. Simpson said.

"How long have you known?" JT asked.

"A while," Liberty replied, avoiding eye contact.

"A while? What's a while? Days? Weeks?"

"Try months. Three."

"You've kept this from me for three months?!"

"I didn't know how to tell you. I-I was scared," Liberty stuttered.

"Liberty..."

"I don't want to be pregnant. Okay? Morning after morning, I wake up, and guess what? I still am."

"Well, uh... have you ever though about maybe..." JT struggled to find the right words.

"An abortion?" she asked. JT nodded. "I don't even wanna think about that."

"Are you sure that you're really pregnant?" JT asked, even though he knew the answer to that question.

"Do you need proof?" Liberty asked. JT nodded. "Go buy a pregnancy test then. And bring it to my house after school."

"You haven't done one yet?!" he asked.

"I have. But I threw it away right after I looked at it." Liberty answered. "I'll be right back,"she said after feeling the usual sickness she felt everyday. "Mr. Simpson may I please use the restroom?" Mr. Simpson nodded. JT stared at Liberty's stomach as she stood up, not wanting to believe what was really happening.

"JT, did you find out what's up with Liberty?" Emma asked that day at lunch?

"No. I still couldn't get her to tell me," JT lied. Toby looked over at JT, knowing he wasn't telling the truth. "I'll tell you later," JT whispered to Toby.

Right after school, JT headed to the pharmacy. Once he was there, he nervously stepped inside, and then hesitated before heading down the family planning aisle. He could feel the other customers inside judging him as he picked up a test. As he was picking it up, another one fell on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, but stood up to see a man with a baby. JT felt the fear rushing through his body again, and checked out and left as fast as he could. On the way out, he noticed a 'Help Wanted' sign.

When he arrived at Liberty's house, she was already waiting for him.

"I got it," JT told her, holding up the bag. He handed Liberty the bag and she went to the bathroom to take the test while he waited outside in the hall. He was only waiting for a few minutes, though it felt like eternity. Finally, Liberty came out of the bathroom, holding up the test for JT to see.

"It's positive?" he asked. Liberty nodded. Liberty went into her room and threw away the test in her trashcan, then sat on her bed. JT sat next to her. "So, um... h-how far are you a-actually?" he asked.

"About four months," Liberty answered.

"Does anyone else know? Like your parents or Danny?"

"No. You're the only one."

"Have you seen a doctor yet?"

"No."

"Liberty..."

"I will. Just... when I'm ready," she said.

"Okay. Is there any way that I can help now?" He asked.

"I just wanna be left alone right now, okay?"

"Alright. I'll pick you up tomorrow," he replied.

"Okay. See you," Liberty replied as he hugged her.

"Bye," he said as he left.

"You missed it! Heather Sinclair auditioned with a dangler! She had a booger hanging from her nose hair!" Toby told JT when he and Liberty walked into the video announcement auditions. "You okay enough to do this?" Toby asked JT.

"Yeah. I can do this," he replied.

"Okay. I'll point to you and that's when you start," said Toby. "You ready?" he asked. JT nodded and then Toby pointed to him.

"Hello, I'm JT Yorke with your morning announcements. I... okay. Good morning. Congrats to our senior girl's relay team who knocked up..." Liberty glared at him. "Uh... knocked off rival Carson Hill and are now guaranteed a birth... um... a birth in..." he paused. "I'm gonna be sick," he said before leaving. Liberty followed him.

"That went great," she said sarcastically. "I'll just have to notify Heather Sinclair she has the job."

"I can do better, okay?" JT tried to convince her.

"I told you not to audition. Entertainment is not a practical career path for you," Liberty argued.

"Will you stop? Just stop trying to control me. Please," he begged.

"Fine. I'll focus on controlling other things. Like my vomiting."

"Liberty, we need to get you a doctor and get you checked out."

"Actually, I'll take care of that. Medical concerns, telling parents, all the practical details," Liberty said as she walked away.

"While I just stand around and watch?"

After school JT went over to Toby's house.

"So you gonna tell me what's up? And what happened with your terrible audition?" Toby smirked.

"Yeah... That was pretty bad. But I can do better," JT insisted.

"Okay, okay. So what were you gonna tell me yesterday?" Toby asked.

"Tobes... Liberty's pregnant," JT told him.

"Wow," Toby responded.

"Yeah," said JT.

"Okay, um... They have support groups... and... You can talk to Ms. Suave at school and tell your parents..." Toby said, trying to help.

"Actually, there's a bigger problem," JT said.

"A bigger problem than Liberty being pregnant?" asked Toby.

"Yeah. Her. Liberty. Everything she used to like about me, she now hates. She treats me like crap, Tobes," JT explained.

"Talk to her. Tell her to quit it," said Toby.

"It doesn't work. Nothing works. What am I gonna do?"

"I don't know," said Toby.

The next day before school, JT found Liberty in the library before school.

"Liberty, can I do the morning announcements? JT asked.

"No," she replied, not even looking at him.

"Okay, then I'm gonna ask again," he said.

"JT, we're not talking about this."

"Liberty, if we can't talk about this, then how are we gonna deal with the fact that you're pregnant?"

"We're not, I am," Liberty replied coldly.

"Well that's good to know," JT replied sarcastically.

"Just like you to make a joke," Liberty retorted.

"That's what you used to like about me. That I made jokes."

"But everything has changed now. I don't have time for jokes. This is serious. I can't trust you to deal with this," Liberty said.

"Fine. Then I can't deal with you. That's it Liberty. I'm done," JT said, then started to walk away.

"You're breaking up with me? Now?" Liberty asked, starting to panic. JT stopped, but didn't turn around. He paused for a second, and then started walking again. Liberty could feel her heart drop as she watched him leave. Her chest felt heavy, and her body ached all over. Tears threatened to fall from her hazel eyes, though she fought back the tears.

Liberty tried to focus in her next few class periods, but she couldn't. She just lost who she thought was the love of her life, and she realized it has been all her fault too. She has pushed him away and controlled him, and she wouldn't let him help her. She was all alone again.

"Liberty, are you okay?" Toby asked her that day in math, noticing her lack of focus. She nodded, even though she wasn't.

"Toby, did JT tell you about..." Liberty started to ask.

"Yeah, he told me yesterday," Toby answered, knowing what she meant.

"Did he tell you we broke up this morning?" she asked.

"No. Don't worry, though. He's not gonna leave you to deal with this on your own, trust me. He's not that kind of guy," Toby assured her. "And if you ever need help, I'll be here for you too."

"Thanks Toby," she replied.

"No problem. It's what friends are for."

"JT, where were you at lunch today?" Toby asked during their last class.

"I was out. Getting a job," JT replied. "It's the only way I know how to help Liberty."

"She told me you guys broke up."

"Yeah. I didn't know how to handle the situation. I'm kinda regretting it," JT told Toby honestly.

"Then tell her that," Toby said.

"I can't. She's probably so pissed at me right now. She probably doesn't wanna get back together with me," JT replied sadly, looking over at Liberty, who was on the other side of the classroom. "I messed up, Tobes."

"You both messed up. Don't be so hard on yourself." Toby said as the bell rang.

"Thanks Tobes. I gotta go talk to her, and tell her I got a job. I'll see you later," JT said as they walked out of the classroom.

JT found Liberty at her locker.

"Liberty, I got a job. At a drugstore," he told her.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"Because I wanna help. It's the only way I know how. And I didn't need your permission. That's a plus too," he said.

"We're not back together," she said.

"I know," he replied. "But I'm not gonna abandon you. And I'm not gonna abandon this baby."

"I-I've never... needed help on anything..." Liberty said. JT just nodded.