The Choices We Make

Gunther

I looked down at the girl beside me. She was flawless. Absolutely flawless. Last night had been one fo the best nights of my life, and she looked so peaceful while she slept. I didn't want to disturb her. I stroked her hair gently. Last night had been my first time, as well as hers. It was.. amazing. There are no words to describe the pleasure and happiness I felt yesterday. Just then, I felt CeCe shifting around beside me.

She looked up at me. First she looked shocked, and I started to worry, then her face rearranged back into the peaceful state it had been in before. "Gunther..." She shispered, looking into my eyes, "Last night was incredible."

I smiled at her. CeCe was totally worth the pain and heartbreak I'd been through these past couple of weeks. "It was, wasn't it?" I said, and she nodded. "It was incredible. You were incredible. Everythings just... perfect."

I was ecstatic that she felt like that. I mean, it might've been good for me, but there was no telling how she felt unless she told me. And she just had. She sat up in bed, not bothering to cover herself up. I watched as the blankets fell to her waist, exposing her fully naked upper-half. Every part of her was just... perfect. She saw me staring, and spoke, "Um, do you want me to cover myself up? Cus, if it makes you uncomfortable-"

"CeCe, have you lost it? What king of guy in their right mind would stop their girlfriend from going topless?" She thought for a minute, "Gay guys might,"

"They might," I allowed, "But I'm not gay. Obviously."

She nodded, smiling. "Gays are cool and all that, but how do they have children?"

I laughed, "Well, that's randon. I guess they'd use a surrogate mother,"

"How does that work?"

"I don't ... really ... know..." I said slowly, surprised I'd never thought about it before.

CeCe nodded, "They could also adopt," I was almost lauighing at how randon this conversation was, but I went along with it.

"Maybe. But I'd prefer having a baby the normal way - with a girl." CeCe's eyes widened, and I saw her touch her stomach through the sheets.

Oh, she wasn't comfortable talking about that.. I quickly backtracked, "CeCe, I totally get it if you're not comfortable taking about having babies. I mean, you're only eighteen-"

"No, Gunther... That's not it,"

"Then what is it?"

"We didn't... I think..."

"What?"

She suddenly shook her head, her curls bobbing around. "Nothing, nothing, it was just me being silly..."

"No, CeCe, tell me what's wrong."

"Oh, it's just I ... um ... lwft my favourite pair of sunglasses back home."

I raised my eyebrows at her, "That's what had you nearly in tears?"

"Yeah, sure. Anyways, let's go have some breakfast. I'm starved." I nodded, and stood up to get dressed.

Downstairs at breakfats in the hotel, CeCe seemed distant. Jerking when ever anyone touched her or talked to her, barely eating a thing even though she'd said upstairs that she was starving. I just couldn't figure it out. What was going on? After she had about one sausage and half a slice of toast, she stood up. "CeCe, you barely ate anything," Said Deuce. I sighed. As much as I wanted too, I couldn't cut off contact between her and Deuce completely.

"Yeah, I know, mom," CeCe said scowling, "I'll get something to eat later,"

She pulled Rocky out of her seat, and I heard her whisper, "We need to talk." Rocky nodded and got up, following after CeCe. What was up with her? She'd been acting like thius for a while now. Ever since I brought up the subject of babies.

I got out of my seat as well, telling Tinka I was going to my hotel room. I looked dwon and the table and noticed that Tinka and Ty's fingers were interlocked. I raised my eyebrows, but felt too tired to read much into it, and went up to me and CeCe's room to wait. When I'd entered the room, I heard my phone beep. I picked it up. A text from Rocky.

To: Gunther

From: Rocky

Hey, Gunther, CeCe and I are going downtown to find some stores. CeCe just needs to buy something. We took her car, and we'll be back in a half hour. CeCe says she loves you, we'll see you later.

I threw my phone onto the bed. Why couldn't CeCe text me herself? Maybe I was making too much of a fuss about this. Maybe she was okay. I lay on my bed, wanting to take a nap, even though I'd just woken up about two hours ago. As I settled into my bed, fully dressed, I heard a knock at the door.

"CeCe?" I called, "Is that you?" No answer. I got out of bed and went to unlock the door. There stood Deuce.

"What do you want?" I asked, glaring.

"Where's CeCe?"

"Not here. Get out."

"Gunther, I didn't come here to fight. Where the hell is CeCe?"

"Deuce ,when will you get it into your head that she doesn't want to see you."

"Where's CeCe?" He repeated.

I sighed, rubbing my temples, "She's gone out to town with Rocky."

"Town? Can she find her way around?"

"Look, I don't know. Just leave me alone."

"Did you two... you know."

I goraned in exasperation. "How is that any of your business?"

"Just, please, tell me. Did you have sex with her?"

"What's it to you?"

"Tell me!"

"Yeah, we did, so have you come here to congratulate me or what?"

He shook his head at me, "Did you use protection?"

My eyes widened. It all made sense now. When I was talking about babies, CeCe remembered we didn't use protection. She's probably buying a pregnancy test right now. On no, that's why she's gone down to town.

"I'll take that as no," He said, looking at me in disgust. I heard footsteps coming up the hall. I peered out the door. CeCe and Rocky were approching the room. CeCe froze when she saw Deuce and I talking.

"CeCe, we need to talk," I said to her.

"About what?" She asked. Monotone. Her voice was completely flat.

"Stuff... private stuff."

"Youc an say anything you want to say in front of Rocky." She pauses then added, "And Deuce."

I shrugged, it was her choice. "Are you pregnant?" I asked her. She stared at me for a few seconds. "Gunther, even if I was, we wouldn't know yet because I just had sex yesterday. Duh. And anyway, no, I'm not."

"But how do you know for sure? I mean, we didn't use protection."

"You didn't use protection. I was a bit more responsible. I'm on the Pill."

I nodded, not even caring that she was acting like I annoyed her at the moment. I was so relieved. But I needed to be sure.

"Are you sure you're on the Pill?"

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, "What kind of person lies about being on the Pill?" She asked, glaring at me."

"CeCe..." Rocky started to say, but CeCe silenced her with a glare.

I nodded, so did Deuce. "That's good, then." I said, smiling. "Yeah," She muttered. "Now, if you'll all excuse me, I need to go to bed."

I raised my eyebrows at her, "It's only two O'clock,"

"Well I'm tired,"

"Um, a few of us were gonna go to the mall, wanna come?" Asked Deuce.

"Nah, I'll pass. I need a nap..."

"Suit yourself," Said Deuce. He turned to Rocky, and asked her instead, "Do you wanna come?" Rocky looked excited, "Yeah, what time?"

"We'll be leaving in half an hour. Have you got euros?"

"Yup," chimed Rocky, smiling.

"Gunther, if you want to go, then go," CeCe yelled from inside the room, "Don't worry about me." She added, when she saw me staring.

"You don't seem well," I said.

"How so?"

"You're not yourself..."

"I am!" She said, forcing a grin. "Go ahead, Gunther. Have fun. I'm just kind of tired, that's all." I nodded.

"If you're sure..."

"I am. Bye!"

I smiled at her, picking up my shoes and putting them on, I looked over to Rocky, not bothering to speak directly to Deuce, "I'll meet you guys at the parking lot, alright?"

"Sure," said Rocky, smiling. She gave CeCe a worried glance, then walked away, and so did Deuce.

All the way there, I tried to convince myself CeCe would be alright. The girls went the the shops, and us guys stopped by the arcade for three hours straight. It would have been perfect if CeCe was there. I noticed again that Ty was spending a lot of time with my sister. I made a mental note to ask her about it later. I kept telling myself that CeCe would be okay, and she was just tired. I believed myself around the time that we were on out way home. I walked over to our hotel room door with the key in my hand, and by then, I was fully convinced she was okay. But when I walked in, she was lying on her bed, crying.

"CeCe?" I said. "What's wrong?"

"Gunther... I think we need to break up."

And that was when my world collapsed around me.