21.

Jack found Charlie talking with Daniel in the hall outside the music room.

"Hey," he said as he walked up.

"Ey," Charlie said as he played with the zipper on his jacket.

"How was class, Daniel?" he asked.

"Oh," he said quietly, "It was good."

They stood awkwardly for a few minutes before Charlie acted like he was going to walk away.

"Well, if you blokes won't be needing me anymore. I've got some practicing to do," he said as he started to turn.

"Charlie, wait," Jack called, "Do you know where Claire is?"

He tried to act nonchalant about it, but even Daniel could tell something was up, "Oh, I believe she has Latin, last hour."

"Ok, thanks."

Jack began walking back down the big hallway towards the other wing of the school.

"I don't mean to just follow you around, Jack, but I'm not exactly sure where I'm supposed to be going."

"Right," Jack said. "Are you going home with your mom?"

"It's possible,"

"Well, her classroom is right down those stairs," he said, pointing.

"Thanks for everything, Jack," he said as he walked away.

Jack resumed his march towards Latin, his backpack slung across his shoulder. Without paying attention to where he was going, he ran right into Kate.

"Oh," he said with a smile, "I'm sorry, I didn't even see you."

She smiled and tossed her wavy hair behind her shoulder, "No harm, no foul."

"Um, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked.

"Sure," she said with a smile, "I bet you will."

Jack pulled on the strap of his backpack and wondered why every time he was around Kate every possible thought flew out of his head. As he walked down the hall, he began scanning the place for Claire. He found her talking with Hurley by a locker.

"I'll see you dudes later," Hurley said, as he shut the locker and slung his book bag over his shoulder.

"Later Hurley," Claire said in her innocent little voice.

"Hey, Claire," he said nicely, "Did you still want to hang out?"

"Jack," she said happily, "Of course. You ready now?"

He thought about the fact that he still didn't have his car.

"Did you by any chance drive to school?"

She nodded.

"Would you mind driving?"

She laughed, "No problem,"

"I don't have my car right now."

Raising an eyebrow she sensed a deeper story but didn't pry, "There's an ice cream shop down the street. I'm really craving some ice cream right now."

He smiled, "Lead the way."

It was a quick drive to the little shop. Claire took ten minutes to decide what flavor to get because everything sounded amazing.

"You wouldn't happen to have pickles, would you?" she asked sweetly.

The teen behind the counter gave her a weird look and shook his head. She didn't really feel pregnant, but she could tell something was off. Every morning she stood in front of the mirror, staring at her stomach to see if she could tell, but so far, she couldn't. And if she couldn't, she was sure no one else could yet either. Jack paid for them both and grabbed hers too so she wouldn't have to carry it.

They sat at a table across from each other. Jack with his double dip of chocolate and Claire with her massive banana split.

"You haven't gained very much weight," Jack said, concerned, "Have you told your doctor?"

"I haven't really been to the doctor yet," she confessed.

"Claire," he said, using his future doctor tone, "You really need to go to the doctor. They'll be able to tell you what the healthy growth is, give you extra vitamins and make sure nothing's wrong. You've already fainted once and-"

"That was from the heat," she interjected.

"Whatever it was from, you really need to make sure everything's alright."

"Okay, dad," she said sarcastically.

"Really, Claire," he remained stern.

"I will, I promise."

He took another bite of his ice cream which was melting quicker than he could eat it.

"Are you giving the baby up?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said after a long pause, "I just want someone to talk to about it. You're the only one at school that knows."

He nodded as he took another bite, "What do you think would be best for the baby? Can you go to school and have someone watch the baby?"

"I don't know."

"Have you thought about abortion?"

She shook her head, "I can't. A part of me wants this baby. I know that everything happens for a reason. Don't you think?"

He debated on what best to say, "Honestly, not really. I think sometimes, things just happen."

She watched him closely, "I think you're wrong, Jack."

He laughed, "So do a lot of people. The important thing is you do what's best for you. Do your parents know?"

"It's just my mom," she said softly, "My dad has never been around."

"I'm sorry," Jack said, unsure of what to say next, "Maybe you're lucky, though. No dad is better than an awful one."

"Maybe," she said as she spooned in some ice cream with a smile. "I haven't told my mum yet."

"Oh."

Jack had finished half of his cone, and was trying to eat it quickly before making a mess everywhere.

"You know," he ventured, "Charlie sure does think a lot of you."

Claire tried not to blush, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know," he said with a laugh, " I nearly got attacked just asking what your last class was. If he knew we were hanging out, I'd have to watch my back."

"Jack!" she said, "knock it off."

Jack laughed, glad he could get her onto lighter subjects.

"He asked me to prom, but I told him I didn't want to go."

"Do you?" he asked between bites.

"Maybe just a little. But I thought he would think prom is stupid."

"He's the one that asked," he said, this time with a mouth full of food.

"Well," she said a high pitched squeak.

"Maybe you could casually bring it up sometime."

She nodded as she took a big bite, "We'll see."

Jack finished his cone, "You might have a good time, who knows."

"Are you going to prom?" she asked, with a smile.

"Probably," he replied.

"With who?" she drew out the whoooo.

He laughed, "I don't know."

"I'm probably not supposed to say anything," she said as she looked down at her ice cream, "But rumor has it that the new girl doesn't have anyone to go with,"

"I'll keep that in mind," he pointed at her ice cream with his napkin, "Eat up."