Here's the next chapter. Enjoy. I don't own Lost.

Chapter 32: Who's To Say

And who's to say that we're not good enough?
And who's to say that this is not our love?
Mother don't tell me friends are the ones that I lose
'Cause they'd bleed before you
And sometimes family are the ones you'd choose
It's too late now, I hold on to this life I found
And who's to say we won't burn it out?
And who's to say we won't sink in doubt?
Who's to say that we won't fade to gray?
Who are they anyway? Anyway they don't know - Who's To Say by Vanessa Carlton

.. ..

TWO WEEKS LATER...

.. ..

They were the most talked about news on campus.

And usually, the fact that her love life was on display for all to scrutinize, would piss her off beyond all Hell, but now, Mallory found she really didn't give a damn.

So what if she was dating Radovan? She would much rather them talk about that then about her pregnancy, but after a well worded threat from Mallory, Radovan and Nadine, Bo decided to keep his mouth shut.

So Mallory ignored the stares of disbelief, the glares that relayed he should be with someone else, who was not a bitch. She just ignored the stares and sat or walked with Radovan, feeling happier than she had in a long time.

At this moment, they were sitting side by side in Biology, taking down notes. Mallory, ignoring the burn she felt on her back from most people in the room staring at them, especially Bo, tore a piece of paper out of her notebook, scrawling on it quickly, before passing it to Radovan.

Radovan looked down at it.

What are you doing later?

He began writing, and she abandoned reading the notes from the front of the room and instead read as Radovan wrote.

I don't know. Why?

I have an ultrasound at 4:30.

She paused and Radovan looked at her questionably.

And I'm scared, she wrote. It was easier to write it down then it was to say it, she realized. So, I'm asking you

She paused again and Radovan started writing, knowing she would never admit it herself.

Do you want me to come with you, Mal?

Mallory paused yet again, and then nodded quickly. He went to actually say something, but she stood up quickly, and whispered one word: "nausea".

She quickly left the room, and although no one cared, everyone noticed. Bo opened his mouth to ask across the room at his brother – Mallory would deserve it, after all – but Radovan shot him the biggest death glare he had ever given anyone, and that combined with bell going for the next class, made Bo shut his mouth.

Everyone left the room, Bo and Radovan being the last two people in there.

'Dude, what's your problem?' Radovan demanded.

'My problem?' Bo scoffed. 'you get with the chick I've been after for years, and I'm the one who is high or something?'

'yeah,' Radovan snapped. 'because all you wanted her for was to sleep with her. I, however, care for her.'

'you wanted her to sleep with her too,' Bo argued. 'seeing as she's knocked up and all.'

'she is not pregnant by me,' Radovan informed him. 'that guy over Christmas, and it doesn't even matter who he is.'

Bo let out a laugh. 'well, that confirms my suspicions once and for all. Four words for you: she is using you,' he said slowly.

'and how would you know this?' he demanded.

'because it's Mallory friggin' Roux!' he almost yelled.

'and what, I'm such a heartless bitch that it's a friggin' miracle that I care about him?'

The two turned to the doorway where Mallory was standing.

'you heard?' the two asked in unison.

'every word,' she actually entered the room and started walking over to them. The twins looked completely scared at what she was going to do.

She opened her mouth but was cut off from another voice in the doorway.

'Rush's and Roux!' Arzt called out. 'what are you still doing here? You should be at your next class and not be using my science room as your personal soap opera drama!'

The three sighed and picked up their books and left in unison.

'the three of us really need to talk,' Mallory stated. And with that she began walking off, hoping the two were following her.

They did.

.. ..

'happy eighteenth!'

Lila looked up as Leo entered the room and smiled brightly at her.

'oh, is it your birthday, dear?' one of the older women hooked up to the chemo asked Lila.

'yes, Sue, it is,' Lila glowered at Leo. 'Leo Pasanda, I hate you.'

'and why is that?' Leo asked as he sat on the armrest of her chair.

He put his arm around her and she shrugged it off. 'you said you'd drive me here, and I had to get Zach to. You lied.'

'yeah, well, I had a good reason,' he said in his defence as he fished around in his pocket. He produced a small box and passed it to her. 'I was getting you your birthday present,' he explained.

'I hate you even more,' she said but begrudgingly opened it. She smiled at what was inside.

'it's a promise ring,' he told her. 'with it, I promise to love you, to always be your best friend, and to always be here for you.'

Lila stared at it before she threw her arms around Leo's neck, hugging him tightly.

'I love you too,' she told him, putting it on. She went to kiss him, but stopped suddenly, turning and throwing up in the basin on her lap. Leo, who had been with her the first time she had cancer, knew the drill. He pulled her hair out of her face and his arm around her shoulder.

'just kiss me on the top of the head,' she said miserably when she finished throwing up.

Leo did so and she sighed, leaning into him. This was going to be a long day.

.. ..

Juliet cautiously walked over to Zach who was glaring at nothing in particular, just angry in general.

'hey,' she sat down next to him. 'what's wrong?' she wondered.

'why do people have to lead other people on?' he asked her.

'I...I guess they don't realise they're doing it?' she left it as a question.

'Juliet, seriously,' he sighed.

'maybe...maybe...I don't know, Zach,' she sighed as she heard a laugh from Sawyer and Maddyson passing the two.

She sighed.

.. ..

'why are we talking in here?' Bo asked as he followed Mallory and Radovan into Mallory's dorm room.

'three reasons,' Mallory began. 'one, my roommates are all at classes, so we're safe. Two, I need to get the taste of vomit out of my mouth. Thr-'

'charming,' Radovan said dryly.

'three,' she continued, shooting him a look. 'I feel like everyone can see my small baby bump, so I am changing my clothes.'

They stared at her.

'moving on,' she said. 'start talking Bo, about why you're so pissed.'

'this whole calm thing you've got going on is freaking me out,' Bo said. Mallory ignored him and they followed her into the bathroom as she began to brush her teeth.

'firstly, what the Hell?' Bo demanded. 'do you really hate me this much that you would choose my brother over me?'

'oh corve I woov,' Mallory's words were muffled.

Radovan suppressed a smile.

'secondly, what does he have that I don't?' Bo continued.

Mallory spat out the toothpaste. 'do you really want me to answer that?' when he didn't reply, she pressed on. 'for one, a heart. A brain. The ability to not be a Manwhore. Shall I continue?'

'...no,' he said.

Mallory walked out of the bathroom, and began searching her drawers.

'so, did I tell that I think she's using you?' Bo said conversationally to Radovan, who rolled his eyes.

Across the room, Mallory threw an ornament – maybe Shannon's? – at Bo and it hit him square in the chest.

Bo let out a string of profanities and Mallory ignored him, taking off her t-shirt and Bo suddenly stopped, staring at her.

'again, with the whole undressing me with your eyes thing,' Mallory snapped.

'well, you've half done it for me!' he exclaimed and Radovan hit him in the chest, hard.

The door of the dorm opened and three people walked in.

'ever heard of knocking?' Mallory snapped, not even bothering to turn around to see who it was.

'what are you doing, giving them a striptease?' Nadine asked sarcastically to Mallory, from next to Levana and Jen.

Bo got a mischievous grin on his face.

'no!' Mallory, Nadine and Radovan exclaimed at the same time.

'she's not giving you a striptease,' Nadine added. 'seeing as you know, you're my boyfriend. And she happens to be your brothers boyfriend. And my sister.'

Bo's face fell. 'it was just a suggestion...' he muttered.

Mallory finished getting dressed and then she threw her arms around Nadine.

'I really need you for this,' Mallory whispered in French, so no one knew what she was saying.

'I know,' Nadine said simply.

.. ..

'okay!' Miss Chandler called out later that day in the auditorium. 'we start tonight, people! But before we start, I would like to announce something else. Ms Mills and the dancers that came with her, Levana, Nora and Menna, have come to their decision on who to give the internship to.'

A hush grew over the auditorium, all the dancers praying, hoping.

Ms Mills took the front of the stage and looked out at them. 'you were all very good dancers, but we only have one place. The person who has gotten the internship, we've been keeping an eye on her for years, watching her grow as a dancer. And she is exceptional. So it is with great pleasure that I award the internship to Jendayi Abdou.'

Groans emitted around the room, they could not believe how the Wicked Witches got everything. Mallory got Radovan and Jen got the internship.

Jen smiled, wider than anyone thought was possible for her, and Mallory put her arms around her friend. Nadine congratulated her and Raz called a begrudging congratulations across the room at her sister.

Ash turned around in his seat, for Jen was behind him and spoke softly to her.

'I bet Min would be proud of you,' he told her.

Jen gave him a smile. 'I think she would be.'

.. ..

Lea nervously sat in the office, waiting for the principal to join her. She had no idea what Mr Alpert wanted to speak with her, but maybe it had something to do with her pregnancy.

'Leanne,' the voice behind her alerted her to his presence. He walked in and took a seat behind the desk. 'how are you?' he asked kindly.

'uh...good,' she settled on, puzzled by the kindness. Many people didn't show her kindness.

'and when's the baby due?' he asked.

'um, two, three weeks,' she placed a hand on her stomach. 'I think I'm gonna have to find a small place just off campus, we can do that right?' she asked.

'that's what I asked to see you about,' he told her. 'your parents called me, expressing the same concern, and at their insistence, it was made apparent that the best choice for you would be to have your own dorm room, for you and your child.'

Lea raised an eyebrow. 'for real?' she asked.

'yes,' he said, amused at her reaction. 'and while we're at it, what are you going to do about classes next year?'

'what, you mean with a baby and all?' she asked.

'yes.'

'um...I honestly don't know,' she confessed.

'well, next week, everyone is going to start picking their subjects for next year, and I'm sympathetic to your case, and if you would like to choose now, you can. There was a girl, a few years ago now, who had a child for the duration of her senior year, and I believe that she only did three subjects as opposed to the six everyone else does.'

She tilted her head to the side. 'thanks, Mr Alpert.'

He handed her a subject selection form, and explained it to her, before she left.

As she left, she accidently elbowed a girl.

'sorry,' they both exclaimed at the same time. The girls eyes skimmed over Lea's huge stomach, and actually looked at her.

'cute jacket,' the girl said.

'thanks. Cute boots,' Lea returned.

'thanks. I'm Jazz,' she introduced.

'Lea,' she smiled back.

'Jasmine! Come on!' a frazzled woman exclaimed, walking into the office that Lea had just left.

The two girls shared another smile and parted ways.

.. ..

Mallory drummed her fingers on the armrest of her chair, nervous. Sure, she had seen her baby before, but that had been a spur of the moment thing, something she had never thought she would have to do.

Radovan gently placed his hand over Mallory's, and she stopped drumming her fingers.

'Mallory Roux?' a doctor called out.

Mallory, Nadine and Radovan stood up in unison and Mallory shook from nervousness.

Here we go.

.. ..

'this is so the best way to spend an eighteenth,' Jen said sarcastically, and Lila looked up to see her sit down in front of them at the hospital, Raz and Ash by her side.

'hey,' Lila said and Raz and Ash each gave her a hug.

'happy birthday, Lila,' Jen handed her a pretty big box.

Lila rolled her eyes at the present, but opened it anyway, to see a few dozen headscarves.

'these are actually yours already, but they're just sent from home,' Jen explained and picked up a hot pink one that was so Lila from the top. 'apart from this one. This one is from me to you,' she said.

'thanks, Jen,' Lila smiled. 'and tell me, why are you smiling so much?'

'yeah, it's freaky,' Leo agreed, and Jen shot him a look.

'she got the dance internship,' Ash explained.

'no big deal,' Jen added.

Lila clapped in happiness and then hugged her tightly.

'as sweet as this is, I have to go, Lila,' Leo told her. 'the blood tests to tell us who the father of Lea's baby is are coming back. I'll be back though.'

'okay,' she nodded. Leo kissed her cheek and left.

As soon as he was gone, Lila turned to Jen, Raz and Ash. 'I really don't want him to be the father!' she hissed.

'really didn't notice,' Raz said sarcastically.

.. ..

'no,' Mallory said firmly.

'please, Mal, please?' Nadine begged.

'no, because if I know the sex, I'll just get attached to this... thing,' she settled on.

'you mean the baby?' Radovan asked, amused at what she had decided to call it.

'yes, the...thing,' she said again.

'why not?' Nadine asked.

'because, I'll get attached, and I don't want to be a mother at sixteen. This...thing... is going to be put up for adoption,' Mallory said.

'what?' the two asked.

'yeah, adoption.'

'that's good,' the ultrasound technician said.

'and why's that?' Nadine demanded, getting defensive.

'oh, it's nothing...I just see a lot of teenage mothers who aren't...'

'aren't what?' Radovan asked.

'aren't equipped to be a parent at this age,' she settled on.

'and what, all older people like yourself are like Mother Theresa? How do you know she'd be such a horrible mother compared to someone with more life experiences? She could be fantastic, but she doesn't want to be. So don't you dare judge her. Stick with what you know, which is obviously nothing or otherwise you would have a real profession instead of one where you put pretty little pictures on a screen, okay lady?' Nadine said.

Mallory bit her lip to keep from laughing.

The technician silently printed off an ultrasound picture and passed it to Mallory before she left the room.

'trying out the whole bitch thing, huh?' Mallory asked Nadine.

'I've been observing your techniques.'

.. ..

Lea gripped Roma's hand and Maddyson's hand tightly, scared at what the doctor was going to say. Scattered across the rest of the room were Darren, Dak, Sin and Leo, who had just slipped in.

The doctor looked at the girls on either side of Lea.

'who are these two?' he asked.

'I am,' Roma began.

'her sister,' Maddyson finished.

'and you?' he asked Maddyson, there was no way Maddyson could pass for being related to the two of them.

'I'm Lea's girlfriend,' Maddyson said and Lea bit her lip to keep from laughing as Maddyson lovingly kissed her cheek.

Around the room, the four guys and Roma tried to keep their reactions normal.

'Miss Shephard,' the doctor began. 'we have determined who the father of your baby is.'

Lea's heart started beating faster, her breath got hitched in her throat and she grabbed her stomach.

'Lea?' her four prospective baby daddy's, Roma and Maddyson all asked in unison, as the doctor said her full name.

She struggled to breathe and clutched her stomach harder.

'I think she's having a panic attack,' Roma said.

'just... tell me!' she begged of the doctor as she tried to remain calm, to steady her breathing.

The doctor looked unsure, but answered anyway.

'the father of your baby is Mr Darren Morgan.'

That was when Lea's water broke.

.. ..

I know, I know. Finally. And Darren's the father! Yay! It was actually unanimous, the vote, and I was going to go against it and make it all angsty, but then I couldn't.

And everyone was at the hospital! Lila, Leo, Jen, Raz, Ash, Mallory, Nadine, Radovan, Lea, Roma, Maddyson, Darren, Dak and Sin.

And Jen got the internship :) maybe she won't hate life so much with it now.

Also, I have accepted a few more OCs:

Giselle "Gez" Koenig – junior. Giselle is from Germany, and she gets angry very easily, a complete bitch.

Elizabeth "Liz" Morgan – Sophomore. Liz is the cousin of Darren, and wouldn't you know it, as bad as him.

Seth Masterson – Sophomore. Seth is a very non-judgemental jock, who seems a good guy. But a chain of bad incidents that he would rather forget led him here.

Lara Colton – Junior. Lara is your typical wealthy popular girl, and like your typical wealthy popular girl, went to a very prestigious boarding school. Unlike your typical wealthy popular girl, she got expelled.

Okay, I need like five more Sophomore males, I don't care if you've already done two. Please?

NO MORE FEMALES!

And I also have a new poll.

Reviews?