/Sawyer POV/

"And, then I just blurted it out! Right in front of everyone. We are so officially over. I hope to never see that creep ever again. I'm gonna have such a better life without him. I will be free. I'll see other guys. I won't be tamed." I stand in Logan's kitchen, ranting about my night as I eat on an apple.

"Sounds like you should have broke up with him a lot sooner. Well, sooner than he could have got you pregnant. How do you plan to be free and tame-less with a baby?"

"I actually was thinking about finding the baby a family."

"Like?"

"Yeah. I don't think that I properly give the care he or she needs. Plenty of couples want a baby but can not have one. It will be the best chance. With two parents." Suddenly my apple doesn't seem appetizing.

"That seems very honorable of you. Very considering."

"I guess." Here comes that tight feeling in my stomach again. The one associated with talking about giving him/her away. I hope that goes away.

"What if it's twins?" He points his ice cream spoon at me.

"Don't even joke about that." I slap my palm to my forehead, then take his spoon and dip it in his frozen treat.

"Uh, excuse you."

"I'm with child. I need nourishment."

"Oooohhh. Then get a banana or peach or some grapes."

"I want your ice cream though." I smile and take another bite.

"First to get a brain freeze wins?" He raises an eyebrow to interest me.

"Not tonight. I kinda need to prepare for work tomorrow. It's not going to be pleasurable." I toss the apple core in the trash and the spoon in the sink.

"You don't have to go in. Why not take the day off?"

"And, have people talking about me behind my back? To let Cyrus have another day to spin a web of lies? I don't think so. I am so gonna own this. Plus, my friends will have my back. I can count on them."

"Well, in order to prepare for tomorrow, I say that we should watch Zac Efron movies until we can't handle any more and gorge on M&M, Sweetarts, and Strawberry-Kiwi Snapple."

"Sounds great." While Logan and I have our bad spots, we really know each other better than anyone else. I hug him from behind then go off to gather my hair curlers and Zefron movies. He comes into my room with snacks.

"How did I know HSM would be first?"

"Because, we need to duet. We just need to let loose."

I take the Sweetarts.

"Of course. Of course."

Yes, we do enjoy our duets and even the second movie too, then we move to Hairspray. I get so distracted that it takes all three movies to get my curlers in. As the night passes, we tire and switch to Lord of the Rings. Making commentary scarcely, but there is something that has been on my mind.

"Hey, Logan."

"Hmm?" He is nearly asleep.

"Has mom or dad talked to you about me?"

"Yeah. Mom asked if you were okay."

"That it?"

"She asked if you were eating right and stuff." His body is desperately trying to shut down.

"Thanks. Go to bed. Get some sleep." I push at his shoulder and he groans until he's up and off the bed. He leaves and so does my consciousness.

/Next Morning/

Oh my-. Ugh. I've just sat up and feel nauseated.

"Uh." I hold my head. Not throwing up this morning would be great. Terrific, really.

"Logan." I call out.

"Logan."

"You awake?" I hold my stomach and get out of bed. On the bathroom door, there's a note. I pull it off.

"Went to the studio early today. See you tonight, Bug." Well, I guess that answers my question. I sit on the edge of the tub, waiting to grab the toilet bowl and yack. I don't know which I prefer, not throwing up and feeling nauseated or throwing up and getting it over with.

I moan and finally give up, having to get to work. Pants, shirt, hair, teeth, make-up, and shoes. The daily routine, but a bit slower seeing as I'm not supposed to have caffeine. No coffee. How does one go about life without coffee? Miserably, that's how.

You know the routine. Get in the car, turn the music on, get to work, avoid everyone. Today, that probably wouldn't be possible. In the bench area, a herd of shouting and excited teens and slightly older folks buzz.

"Wow! Look! She's here!"

"How can she even show her face?"

"Make room! Big Mama coming through!" An uproar of laughter.

"Is she really showing?"

"Girls, quickly. Grab your guys. She may take them as her own." Cyrus mocks in the midst of them. I glare over at him.

"Well, at least they couldn't get her pregnant. Someone already did that!" Eric fist bumps Cyrus. How can he be so cruel? He is partially responsible for this baby too. It wasn't an immaculate conception.

"Oh, no! Someone! Call an ambulance! My water broke!" Claire pours her water bottle over into the plant, making another wave of hysterical laughter. I hold my upper arms and continue to walk.

"What not gonna stand up for yourself?"

"Too chicken?"

"Emotions already getting the best of you?"

"She can keep her mouth shut. That's not the problem."

If he makes one more smart comment, I probably won't be able to keep my tears in. I settle into the store, try to busy myself, but they are so loud. I wish opening time would come so they would get lost.

"I wanna know who get her do that. She's always been so strict."

"Whoever it was apparently wasn't that smart. I mean, she did end up with a kid."

"She gonna end up with his paychecks!"

"She most definitely is not." Cyrus inserts.

"Why do you say that?"

"Who knows if she even knows who the father is."

"Oh, Bro. I couldn't imagine being in your position. It must be so hard." Eric clasps his hand on the liar's shoulder.

"How did she break it to you? What happened?"

"Were you upset?"

"I never knew that I could hurt so badly. I was so good to her." A few girls sigh sympathetically. My eyes roll.

I make my way through work. James texts me on my break. Have to manage a few returns and frustrating coupon situations. Nothing interesting really happens worth mentioning. Well, that is until I am walking out. If I had been in a group, I would not have noticed him. The old man sitting on the sidewalk. He has a cough that suggests possibly it has been there too long and that the mucus has settled in his chest. Suggesting; bronchitis. The clothes on his back are awfully worn out, the tiny bit of hair he has is unkempt. I have seen him before, digging in the dumpsters.

I couldn't leave him there without helping him. This is the reason I decided to become a nurse, to help the helpless. A small family walks by him as if he isn't even there.

"Excuse me, Sir." I walk up and touch his shoulder. He jumps.

"I'm sorry. I was just resting my legs. I'm going."

"Oh. No. No. That's not what I was going to say." I smile to show I mean no harm.

"Well, then what can I do for you."

"I was gonna ask you to wait right here. Do you mind to sit right there until I return?"

"I don't understand."

"Don't leave until I get back. Wait for me. Promise?"

"Promise?" He questions, but I take it as a confirmation. I take off to my car and to the nearest drug store. I purchase a throw blanket, cough medicine, tissues, two new tee shirt, a pair of sweat pants, a pack of socks, gloves, assorted food items, a few sweet treats, a small package of bottled water, and then a backpack for it all to fit in. I'm pretty sure that the clerk thinks that I am running away.

I get to the car and repackage the items into the backpack. I drive back to where I left the homeless man. He sits there faithfully, probably scared out of his wits. If I were him, I would ditch if a crazy lady asked me to stay. After parking the car again, I approach him with the backpack. He looks me over.

"I didn't catch your name earlier." I stand a few feet away.

"Stanley Alacir."

"Hi, Stanley. I'm Sawyer."

"I still don't know what you want from me."

"I don't want anything from you. I just want to help you."

"Help me?" He asks. I extend the backpack towards him.

"Merry late Christmas." Stanley just looks at me.

"It's for you. Take it." I set it by him then step back again. He unzips the pack and may have started crying. His smile is what catches my attention, then through a hole in his shirt, dog tags fall out.

"Why?"

"No reason."

"You mean, you're not scared of me?"

"I don't see why I should be."

"Everyone else is. They laugh and make fun. I'm just a freak to them."

"Me too, Stan. We're not that different." I shove my hands in my back pocket.

"Are you an angel?"

"Far from it, I'm afraid."

"What other explanation is there?"

"We're both freaks. I'm a pregnant single woman, whose boyfriend and the baby's father told our entire friend network that I cheated on him so that he would have to be tied down. But, that's fine. He don't deserve me." I smile.

"I don't know how to repay you."

"I didn't ask you to. I'll see you around. It's been nice to meet you, Stanley."

"It has been a blessing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

"No problem. Good evening." I smile and turn away, feeling a sense of well-being.

Chapter Song: Don't Laugh At Me - Mark Wills