Every Tuesday, Mom and I would go to Ashley and Lewis' apartment for dinner, as a way to "keep the family ties." This Tuesday, however, was one of those days when I wish that I could hear everything from the vent so that no one could get to see my expression. But not everything in our lives happens the way we want it to, and this moment certainly didn't.

"Mom," Ashley began, like she did all important moments; slowly and surely. "Haven. I'm pregnant!" Mom immediately started screaming, getting up from her seat to hug and congratulate them. I sat staring at my plate, filled with some random thing that Ashley had tried to cook. I refused to look up. Was I happy for Ashley? Yes. Was I scared? Heck yes. Was I thinking back to the summer in Virginia Beach where Sumner had kept our family laughing? You better believe it. It was times like those when my mind drifted back to my few months with Sumner. Everything seemed to make so much sense with him around, like he pieced me together. Two years later, I still felt like I needed him every now and again. I finally forced myself to look Ashley and Lewis in the eye.

"Congratulations," I stated blandly, as though the words weren't from my own mouth. What happened to the Ashley with a million dreams? Was she really giving them all up for a baby? The shrieks and hugs continued for another full five minutes before Lewis suggested that we let Ashley get some rest. We were at the front door when a question struck Mom.

"How far along is she?" Mom asked, a concerned looked upon her face, as though the couple was keeping something from her. Ashley squirmed under her gaze, but Lewis answered firmly.

"About three months."

"Three months?" Mom exclaimed angrily. "How could you not tell me, Ashley?" Lewis put an arm around Ashley's shoulder protectively.

"Well…" she took her time picking the best words. "We sort of didn't know…" she admitted. "Lewis made me go to the doctors today for a physical, and that's when they found out I was pregnant." Mom's hardened face fell, and she immediately went back to hugging Ashley. I took a deep sigh, making my way back to my chair.

"Haven, don't be so melodramatic," Ashley insisted. "It's not like Lewis and I are that bad." I scoffed sarcastically, taking a look at the two of them together. They looked picture perfect, as they always did, as though they were trying to hide their flaws and any moment they'd break character and start beating the crap out of each other. So, just to spite me, Ashley continued the conversation for another five minutes. Finally, Mom and I were headed out the door, but I couldn't escape this baby business. Mom continued with her whole "I'm gonna be a grandma" crap all the way home. It's not that I wasn't happy for Ashley, it just reminded me that things were changing, as if Senior year wasn't enough of a smack in the face.

Once home, I listened to the messages to find one from someone I hadn't talked to in two years. Casey had left a message saying that she thought we should grab dinner sometime since, when we'd moved, I'd been moved to a different school, and she and I had drifted apart. We were different, you know? She was getting into her skin by having guys put their hands all over it, and I got into mine by simply living. I called her back, and set up a time for dinner the next night. The next message, however, was from one of Mom's co-workers had called. A male co-worker. Mom was still best friends with Lydia, but apparently she'd been doing some sneaky flirting without her knowledge.

"Mom, some Dave guy called for you!" I called down the hall, where Mom was getting ready for bed. I could hear her squeal from her room as she rushed to the living room. She stopped dead when she saw that I was pressing the play button on the machine. "He left a number," I explained as I walked towards my room. Once locked inside, I could hear Mom on the phone with him, with a more cheery voice. Obviously she was flirting with him. I decided to shake it off, I'd done the same with Dad and the Weather Pet, hadn't I? Besides, it'd been years since the divorce, and she had a right to start searching for a guy who could give her what she wanted. I'd be at college soon, and all she'd have would be her dinners with Ashley and Lewis every Tuesday. Suddenly, Mom became quiet.

"Haven?" she called towards my room.

"Yeah?" I could hear Mom's footsteps coming down the hallway, and suddenly my bedroom door was opening.

"Delia's on the phone for you," she informed me. "But could you make it quick?" She didn't say it, but I knew that Dave was on the other end. "Oh! But don't hang up!"

"Got it," I assured her as I took the phone from her, placing the receiver to my ear.

"Haven?" Delia sounded exasperated on the other end. "Macy can't work tomorrow, can you cover?"

"What time?" I asked, looking at the post it where I'd written the time and place for my dinner with Casey.

"It's eight to around ten. I know it's a school night, and if you can't-"

"Don't worry, Delia, I can do it," I told her, hoping that I sounded reassuring.

"Thank you, Haven, really. You have no idea how much this means to me." Delia continued.

"Don't worry about it, I'll be there, but I've gotta go. See ya tomorrow!"

"Oh, alright. Bye!" I handed the phone back to Mom, watched her make sure that Dave was still on the other end. It was a little depressing, I'll admit. That I was 17 and still hadn't been on a date. Even my mom could get a date, but not me. 5' 11" (and a half), skinny as a stick, with a completely psychotic family. If I had nothing else going for me, I was under six foot.