"Hello?'

"Sure, hold on. Mom! Phone!"

Patty came into the kitchen and took the phone from Angela who had been sitting at the kitchen table trying to finish the last of her homework before going off to bed.

My mom hired this guy, Eric, to replace my father. That sounds weird…to take over for him at the shop. He's nice and he seems to be working out. She said he was a godsend, able to step in and take over without missing a beat. She seems relieved, but she's still staying late at the shop. She can't like, let go. Now that she has Eric, she should be able to go back to her normal hours, but she's still coming home at almost eight o'clock. Sometimes, I think work is like, an escape for her or something. But what does she need to escape from? You know how there's something really uncomfortable going on and everyone knows it, but they don't say anything because it's uncomfortable? That's what it feels like at home, like, all the time.

"That sounds great, Eric. What a wonderful suggestion."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

Patty hangs up the phone and for the first time in a long while, there's a genuine smile on her face, accompanied by a loud sigh. Not the usual sort of lamenting sigh, this was almost a sigh of relief. Angela noticed the difference immediately, but as if there were some code of conduct by which she was bound, she refrained from asking what the 'wonderful idea' had been. She knew Patty was dying to discuss it and for that very reason, she refused to ask about it.

Patty went about the business of tidying the kitchen, although occasionally she would pause and sort of stare off into space.

"Okay, okay, what's going on?" Angela reluctantly asked.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"You're smiling and sighing, and it's really distracting. It's like, so obvious that you want me to ask you about your call, so I'm asking." She spat the words out.

"I'm just happy, that's all."

"I can see that; about what?"

"I'm happy that I found Eric. He's exactly what I needed. He suggested that he run the shop on Fridays, so that I can have a long weekend. He didn't even ask for anything in return, he just thought it would be nice for me to have some time to myself. Isn't that wonderful? I mean, I have no idea what I would do, but that's not the point is it?"

"He's like your Rickie, Mom."

"What?" Patty looked confused.

"That sounds like something Rickie would do for me. He's like your Rickie. That's a good thing. Everyone should have a friend like Rickie. It keeps you sane." Angela let out an abbreviated snort, thinking of all the ways in which Rickie had been there for her.

Patty laughed. "Sanity is good."

"So you have no idea what you would do with your Fridays? Summer's coming; a four day week would be cool." Angela knew exactly what she would do and with whom.

"I really have no idea. I'll have to think about it."

As Angela gathered up her books, placing them into her backpack, she thought to herself what a waste a free day would be for her mother.

She'll probably spend the day reorganizing something or reupholstering something.

Meanwhile, Patty was lost in thought. She considered how nice it would be to get away with Graham, but that was highly unlikely with the restaurant in full swing and Saturdays being prime time. This would really be "me" time for her and she had no idea what to do. She wasn't the hair and nails type and she had never been able to sleep past seven, so sleeping in wasn't even something to put on the list. She thought maybe she'd take a course or do some volunteer work at the church or something. She was sure Camille would have a long list of suggestions, many involving the both of them. Patty decided that she would give Camille a call in the morning and get her input.

They pulled into the parking lot, which was nearly empty save for a few cars that probably belonged to teachers. He'd been early this morning and she was ready when he arrived, so they got to school with more time than usual to kill. Normally, this kind of extra time led to all manner of pawing and panting, but there was something less urgent about their liaisons lately.

Since her birthday, they had been exploring each other with the unspoken understanding that it would go no further than mutual gratification and while she was intensely curious about what it would be to be connected in that way, she somehow couldn't take the next step. He seemed satisfied with the way things were and that put her more at ease as well. She was curious about how his body worked and though she was rarely able to ask a direct question, somehow he knew what it was she wanted to know and would provide her with answers.

She had been afraid that the more physical they got, the less substance there would be to the relationship. Though they weren't having actual sex, she feared that all of their time alone would consist of groping and such. Much to her surprise, they spent a substantial amount of time with their clothes on and in an upright position.

He listened as she talked about the weird vibe she was getting at home, like something was going on, but no one would talk about it and even though she wasn't sure what "it" was, she was sure it wasn't good. As he listened, he was reminded of his encounter with Cynthia Hargrove the week before. Cynthia had said it was as if nothing happened, but that's not how it felt to him. He felt like he'd cheated, even though her kisses and her touches meant absolutely nothing to him. Still, he felt like he had wronged Angela. He'd never tell her what happened and he had no doubt that Cynthia would keep his confidence, but it was eating at him like a lie that hung in the air between them.

They were just sitting together in the backseat of the car together now. She was lying on his chest and they were talking about this and that. Sharon had been on her mind all night and all morning. Sharon and Camille had gone to the clinic the day before. Angela wanted to call, but she didn't know what to say.

"Could you drop me off at Sharon's after school?"

"You're not comin' to practice tonight?"

"I think I should go and be with her. She went yesterday…to the clinic."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."

They were quiet for a moment. He played with her hair; she fiddled with a button on his shirt.

"I wonder if she's okay. I mean, can you be okay after something like that?"

"Did she tell him?"

"No, I don't think so. She didn't see the point, since she isn't going to have it and they're not together anymore, so..."

"I still say he should know. Even if he doesn't care what she does about it, he should at least know that he caused it, y'know?"

"It wouldn't matter if he knew. He's a total jerk. I don't know what she ever saw in him."

"I bet she says the same about me." He laughed.

Angela walked into the Girls' bathroom to find Sharon washing her face.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be home today. I was gonna come by after school."

"Nope. I'm here…barely."

"Are you okay? I mean, how do you feel?"

"Pregnant."

"What? I thought…"

"I couldn't do it. First, I was in the waiting room and there was this girl who looked like she was our age and she was ready to pop. She seemed happy though, even excited. She was talking to the receptionist about how active the baby was and then I went into the room and saw all the instruments and everything and there was this little garbage can-looking thing at the end of the table and I thought, 'that's where they're going to put it when they take it out? Like garbage?' and then I just started crying and I couldn't stop."

"So, you're going to have it?" Sharon sighed heavily as she nodded. "Whoa."

"I know. I'm crazy, right? I should've just done it, but I couldn't. It would be so much easier if I could, y'know just let it go, but I keep thinking, it's like this teeny, tiny person and who am I to say that it doesn't have a right to like, exist? Sharon had unconsciously moved her hand over her belly in a somewhat protective manner.

"What did your mother say?"

"It's my choice and that whatever I decide she'll support me. I don't think she wanted me to do it. She seemed relieved or something when we left."

"What about your dad? Did you tell him?" Angela pictured Andy Cherski as she had seen him months ago, in a hospital bed with tubes going in and out of him, a worried Camille at his side. She was sure something like this would kill a person with a weak heart. As far as she knew her heart was just fine, but the whole ordeal had given her own ticker quite a workout.

"I couldn't. I was too scared. My mom talked to him last night."

"Is he okay?"

"That's the weirdest part of this whole thing. I thought he'd have another heart attack or something and I'd be like, responsible for killing him, but he was fine. I mean, he wasn't happy about it and I think he'd like to see Kyle dead, but he said that it wasn't the worst thing that could happen and that he's just happy that he's still here to support me through it. Then I got a lecture about being irresponsible and breaking their trust."

"I can't believe he didn't flip out."

"I know. I guess having a heart attack made him look at things differently or something. He's much more laid back than he used to be. If this had happened before the heart attack, I think he'd have killed us, both Kyle and me."

"Are you gonna tell Kyle?"

Sharon's posture changed. She seemed to fold in on herself as she began to answer.

"I have to. My mother said that she and my father will talk with his parents, but I think I should give him a heads up. I don't want his parents to be the ones to tell him."

"When are you gonna do it?"

"Today. I just want to get it over with."

Rayanne walked in just as Sharon finished her last sentence.

"Get what over with? Oh my God, did you do Vinovich again?"

Sharon couldn't help but laugh, which made Angela laugh.

"What's so funny?"

The bell rang just as Mr. Katimsky was issuing instructions for their next assignment.

"Ladies and uh, gentlemen, please remember to…cite quotations properly. Plagiarism will not be, ah, um, tolerated."

Jordan and Angela walked to their locker together and were soon joined by Shane.

Sharon walked up from the other direction, visibly upset. Angela stiffened, knowing that there could be only one explanation for her friend's emotional state.

"I'll see you later?" She handed her books to him, knowing that she wouldn't be in her next class.

"Yeah." He nodded, placing the books back in the locker.

She met Sharon part way and turned her in the direction of the parking lot, figuring that they could hide out in the car.

"What happened?"

"He said it wasn't his and he didn't know who else I'd been with, but he's not claiming it. Then he called me a…he said I was a…" She fell apart.

Brian turned the corner and bumped into them. Seeing Sharon in her current state, he assumed that her father was sick again.

"Move, Krakow!" Angela barked.

"What happened? Are you going to the hospital?"

"Why would we be going to the hospital, Brian?" An irritated Angela responded.

"I just figured that her dad was y'know, sick or something."

"Brian, we really can't talk right now, please move." Sharon was trying to pull herself together, not wanting to have to explain to anyone else what had transpired or the nature of her current predicament.

Brian cleared the way, watching as they walked toward the exit.

Angela and Sharon didn't get five feet before Kyle rounded the corner with a teammate, passing by both of them.

"Skank!" He spat the word at her as he passed.

Angela was infuriated and spun on her heels to let him know it.

"What did you say to her?"

"I said skank, 'cuz that's what she is."

Sharon was crying again. Brian watched as the drama played out before him.

"And what are you, Kyle? An idiot? A moron? You have a lot of nerve, you know that? She didn't do this to herself!"

"Who says it was me? She was only with me for the sex, so who's to say she wasn't doin' some other guy too?" He turned to his friend, "Hey, Rob, did you do her? You can tell me; I won't get mad." He and his friend laughed.

Sharon lost it.

"You sonofabitch, you were the only one and you know it!"

Kyle stepped forward, toward Sharon, and Angela took a step toward Kyle. Before he could really think about what he was about to do, Brian got between them.

"Look, uh- the bell rang, so, we should, um, get to class." He tried to sound confident, but suddenly realized that he was standing between the girls and one very angry football player. He backed up just enough so that he felt that the girls were a safe distance from Kyle.

"This is none of your business." Kyle growled and both he and his teammate closed the distance between them and Brian. "Get outta my face, Krakow!"

"I can't do that." He didn't know where this courage was coming from and he was sure it was all going to go very badly for him, but he wasn't going to let Kyle near Angela or Sharon.

Kyle pushed him and his books went flying. Angela advanced.

"Leave him alone, Kyle!" She was seething.

"Or what? You gonna get your boyfriend to beat me up?" He mocked. "Look at me, I'm so scared." He continued to mock her and pushed Brian again. Angela attempted to get between the two, but Brian wouldn't let her and just when he turned from telling her to stay back, Kyle hit him in the face. He saw stars.

"Kyle!" Sharon was screaming "Oh my God, what did you hit him for?"

Angela picked up one of Brian's books and threw it at Kyle's head, barely missing him and just as Kyle was about to advance once more, a teacher emerged from his classroom and intervened, sending everyone to Mr. Foster's office.

Shane and Jordan were coming in from having a smoke when they saw Angela, Sharon, and Brian leaving the principal's office.

"Damn, Brain, what happened?" A bruise was beginning to form on his cheek, the evidence of his earlier encounter with Kyle's fist.

"Kyle hit him! That's what happened!" Angela was fuming and having to say it out loud only rekindled her anger.

Jordan moved toward Brian to get a closer look. Shane moved in for a better look too.

"Popped his cherry, huh?" Shane was sure Brian had never been in a fight before in his life.

"Looks like." Jordan stepped back. "Put some ice on it, you'll be okay." Turning to Angela, "And why were you in there?"

Angela recounted the story to Jordan and Shane who kept looking at each other as if having a silent conversation. The bell rang and the group disbanded with half the story still needing to be told. Angela told Jordan she'd meet him after class, Brian and Jordan headed off to tutoring and Shane and Sharon went their separate ways.

Brian kept touching his face, which was throbbing now.

"Brain, you should go home. You look like crap, Bro."

"I'm fine."

"Did you at least get a shot in?"

"No. I didn't even see it coming."

"Cheap shot." Jordan shook his head in disgust. "Pussy move." It was obvious that Brian was outmatched; he saw no need for Kyle to have hit him.

"Whatever."

"Look, don't feel bad. It happens."

"Can we not talk about this?" Brian could actually feel his face swelling.

Jordan nods.

"Just finish your draft so I can proof it and then we'll be done for today."

Jordan hands him a sheet of paper.

"What's this?"

"Finished it last night." Brian was impressed. "I used the stuff you showed me with the last paper and it wasn't so hard."

"Okay, well, I'm just going to take it home and proof it. I'll get it back to you tomorrow."

"Did your girl see it yet?" He pointed to Brian's bruised cheek.

"No."

"Listen, when she sees it, she's gonna freak out and then she's gonna be all over you; go with it."

"What are you talking about?" They both stood up and gathered their things.

Jordan leaned, in as if telling him a secret.

"They say they hate it when you fight, but it gets them all worked up. Just go with it. Trust me." A sneaky grin formed on his face.

As Brian placed his bag across his shoulder, he very tentatively began to speak.

"So, um, you should like, know something." He hesitated briefly. "I think Kyle was going to hit her."

"Hit who?"

"Angela. Sharon. Both of them."

"Yeah, well lucky for him you were there."

"You mean lucky for the girls." Brian corrected him thinking that Jordan had mixed up his words.

"No, I mean lucky for him. Don't worry about it. I got it." The seriousness of his tone and his stony face made it clear that he had meant exactly what he'd said in exactly the order in which he'd said it.

They met in the boiler room.

"You okay?" He put his arms around her and hugged her. "Your friend took a nice hit for you guys." He said, referring to Brian.

"I know. I can't believe he did that. I hope he's okay." Poor Brian, he was only trying to do the right thing.

"He'll be fine."

"Foster benched Kyle for the rest of the year."

"Football's over." He said, not understanding how this constituted a punishment.

"Baseball."

"Oh."

They kissed tentatively at first and then more urgently. The door open and he shushed her. Getting caught in the boiler room was an automatic suspension and that was the last thing either of them needed. They remained hushed for a few minutes until they were sure the coast was clear.

He went to kiss her, but she turned away.

"What's wrong?"

"This isn't right." She broke free of his hold and moved away from him.

"What isn't right?"

"This. What we're doing."

"We've been doing this for awhile, what's the problem?" He wore a smirk on his face.

"What's the problem? You can't be serious." She looked at him like he had six heads. "Oh, I don't know. I'm making out with you in the boiler room while I'm carrying someone else's child!"

"I guess." He shrugged. "The kid is kind of a third wheel, y'know?"

"Shane, be serious. This isn't funny."

He put his arms around her and whispered into her ear.

"Actually, it kinda is."

She huffed at him.

"So we're making out a little in the boiler room, so what?" He shrugged.

"I'm pregnant!"

"I heard." He giggled again

"I swear, you are the worst." She melted into his hold, realizing that resistance at this point was futile.

"Yeah?" He snickered. "I kinda thought I was the best. That's what you told me the other night." He said as he kissed her neck, which forced a peal of giggles from her.

"Shut up."

"You first." He covered her mouth with his, making it impossible for her to continue.

And while she fully enjoyed what she was doing at that moment, she couldn't help wonder how they'd ended up here, in each other's arms, in the boiler room of all places. Neither of them had told anyone about their relationship, if you could even call it that, and neither had any plans of sharing any time soon. Truth be told, neither of them would know what to say, what to call it. They weren't exactly a thing, but somehow, they kept ending up like this, creeping and hiding, kissing and touching. There were no strings, no obligations. She didn't feel the least bit possessive of him and doubted that he felt any differently about her. It was purely physical. She loved the way he kissed and the fact that he appreciated her curves, without making her feel self-conscious. It was easy and comfortable. When they were together, they were together and when they weren't, they weren't. There were no obligatory phone calls, no explanations. They were free agents, who just happened to enjoy each other's company from time to time. Easy.

Tonight we're meeting with Kyle's parents. He was such an ass when I told him about the baby. I asked him not to say anything to anyone yet. I just needed some time to process it myself, y'know? So, what does he do? Tell all of the other buttheads. Thank God for Angela. If she hadn't stuck with me for the past few days, I don't know how I'd have made it through. So here I am, getting ready to face another day of pointing and whispering.

June can't come fast enough for me. I guess I should've expected it. I mean no one ever talks about the guy; it's always the girl who's a slut or stupid for getting pregnant. Kyle's life hasn't changed a bit. He still gets to play football in the fall and I'll probably be cut from the squad by next week, even though the doctor said I could continue until it becomes uncomfortable or I become a freakin' house.

I'll say one thing; something like this separates your real friends from the posers. It's only been a few days and my cheerleading "friends" have completely abandoned me. They treat me like pregnancy is contagious, like I have the plague or something. And that Cathy Kadem is the worst of them. She acts like this couldn't be her. She's slept with at least two guys on the team and I know for a fact that she didn't use any protection.

Angela and I started this year barely speaking to each other and now she's like my bodyguard. It's funny how dramatically your life can change in just a few days.

"Hey Cherski, did I miss the morning upchuck?"

"No, you're just in time, as a matter of fact." Sharon entered the stall and began her morning ritual.

Rickie walked in just as Sharon emerged from the stall, red faced and disheveled. She rinses her mouth and as she straightens up over the sink she stumbles a little. Rickie catches her before she can do any damage.

"Are you okay?" He walks her to the windowsill and helps her up. "Sit."

"Yeah, it comes and goes. I have to move slowly when I'm getting up or I get dizzy. Sometimes I forget."

"Seems like a lot of trouble to go through for someone you really don't want around in the first place."

"Rayanne!" Rickie snapped at her.

"I'm just saying, it's not like she's happy about it. Her body's been like, hijacked." Rayanne continues as she searches in her bag for a lollipop.

Rickie's mouth drops open and he begins to turn red.

"I heard somewhere if you suck on a lollipop, you won't hurl as much. I know I have a Tootsie Pop in here somewhere. Man, when I was drinking I always had like a dozen of 'em in here. Now, I can't find one. Sobriety sucks."

Rickie looked out of the window as he tried to rein in his anger at Rayanne's insensitivity.

"Ah! Found one. Here ya go. Suck on that." She handed the lollipop to Sharon and chuckled. "If I'd given you that advice a few months ago, you wouldn't be in this fix." And with that she let out a belly laugh. Sharon was too busy trying to fight back the latest wave of nausea to be the least bit concerned with Rayanne's comments.

"Get out!" Rickie lost his temper for the first time in a long time. "I mean it, get out now!"

"Okay, alright, I'm goin'. Don't pop a blood vessel. Geez!"

Rickie turned to Sharon who was just trying to get the room to stop spinning.

"She's like, I don't even know. She's worse than usual. Just ignore her. You have to do what's right for you, Sharon and if having the baby is right for you then that's what you do."

"Honestly Rickie, I don't know if I really want to have this baby, but I just know that I can't get rid of it either, so…" Sharon sat looking defeated.

"I know I can't like, begin to understand what you're going through, but I kinda know the other side of this, the baby's side of it. All it wants is a mom who will love it and protect it and I think you'll be a great mom."

"Thanks." Sharon's eyes fill with tears. "God, I cry for everything."

"It's okay." Rickie gives her a hug. "Let me do something with that hair and we'll get a little color on your face and you'll be fine, okay?"

Sharon nods, unable to stem the flow of tears.

Brian saw Angela standing at her locker alone and considered walking over to her, but thought better of it. Angela was more than civil toward him, but he thought maybe he shouldn't push it. He knew he had a tendency to rub her the wrong way and he was enjoying being on the right side of her for the moment. He wanted to prolong it for as long as possible and the key to that seemed to be interaction in small doses.

Things between them had been great ever since he'd taken a punch for her and Sharon earlier in the week. It seemed that what Jordan had told him applied not only to Amy, but to Angela and Sharon as well. These days, they both regarded him with something akin to respect, a heretofore non-existent dynamic between them.

Jordan had been so right. Amy feigned annoyance and called the whole thing barbaric, but when he winced in pain from placing an icepack on his face, she stopped mid-sentence and began trying to comfort him. She scolded him for being foolish and in the next breath said she was proud of him for standing up for his friends. Before he knew what was happening she was kissing him and touching him in ways he'd only dreamed about.

He went with it, just as Jordan had advised, even though he wasn't exactly sure where or how far it would go. Part of him was elated when she opened the button on his pants, actually several parts of him were elated, but he was also absolutely terrified. He didn't know what to do; if he should touch her the same way or just relax and enjoy it. Eventually, pleasure overtook rational thought and he allowed her to do whatever she wanted, making no attempt to reciprocate. He began to have thoughts as to what it would be like to have her do other things that he'd seen in movies and heard guys in the locker room talk about, but decided that all of that was probably too much to hope for and he should just be grateful that she saw fit to touch him at all. When it was over he told himself that he would never doubt Jordan Catalano again.

As he stood there lost in thought, Rayanne came up behind him and nearly scared him to death. He dropped his binder to waist level, hoping against hope that his reaction had been smooth enough to avoid notice.

"So, Krakow? How's it hangin'?"

"Hey." He replied nervously.

Rayanne stood back and regarded him for a moment, making Brian self-conscious.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

"Yeah…satisfaction." Her eyebrows were knitted together and she spoke slowly, as if she were observing a rare and important event.

"What? I never know what you're talking about, Graf." Rickie spotted them and though he was still annoyed with Rayanne because of her earlier remarks about Sharon's baby, he thought he should probably rescue Brian. He also realized that his anger served no purpose, since the morning's events were probably a distant memory to Rayanne at this point.

"Hey, what are we talking about?" He stood at Rayanne's side, looking between her and Brian.

Rayanne had a gleam in her eye, as she toyed with the Twizzler protruding from her mouth.

"Well, well, well. Rickie, it seems our little boy is growing up." A slow, wide, grin had formed on her lips and Brian knew he was in trouble.

"Huh?"

"Krakow here has gone out and gotten himself some. Look how relaxed he is."

"Rayanne, what are you talking about? Leave him alone." Rickie tugged at her arm in a vain attempt to distract her.

"Isn't that right, Krakow? You've tasted the forbidden fruit and you liked it."

Brian turned at least a dozen shades of red.

"I have to go."

He turned and walked away as Rayanne shouted after him.

"Didn't know you had it in ya! Oh, I guess you don't anymore, do you?"

A/N: Hi Folks. Happy Summer! I have quite a bit of writing to get out during the summer months, so check back every couple of weeks. Thanks to all of you who reviewed my last chapter. I'm looking forward to feedback on this one. Big thanks to GNG23, for her beta-riffic proofreading and excellent suggestions. 'Til next time…