Her parents came to visit. Scotty had gone home for the weekend, so she could only introduce them to Gabby. She dragged the sophomore over to Elena and William. "Mom, daddy, this is my good friend, Gabrielle Hightower. Gabby, my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey."

"Hello, Gabrielle," Elena said holding out her hand. Mandy and Gabby were still holding hands and Elena raised a brow. Her friend shook her mother's hand and then her father's. "Miranda just can't stop talking about the girl who helped her on her first day."

With her face turning red, Mandy waved at her mother. "Don't, ma, please."

Her parents just grinned as Gabby asked: "What are the Bailey's getting into?"

Mandy smiled and shrugged. "Maybe some dinner later? Want to join us?"

"You're sure?"

"Yes, join us," William replied.

"Thank you."

After leading her parents on a tour of her campus, Mandy, her parents and Gabby went to eat. Mandy kind of wished Scotty was with them to enjoy the nice dinner they had on her father's dime, but it was a lot of fun with just the four of them. William and Elena went to their hotel and Gabby came over to Mandy's place. Which was their usual spot seeing as how she still didn't have a roommate. They got comfortable on her bed eating leftovers from dinner and watching and singing along to "The Five Heartbeats". By the end of the movie, Mandy had fallen asleep. She didn't see Gaby clean up their mess or pull the covers up to her shoulders. In the morning, she met her parents for breakfast. "Where's your little friend?" Elena asked as they ate their cafeteria pancakes and eggs.

Mandy pretended like she didn't know who her mother was talking about. "Who?"

"The… the…" She lowered her voice. "The lesbian."

"Mom!" She screeched and glanced at her father for assistance. But he was digging into his omelet.

"What? Is that not right?"

Her head shook in her hands. She stood up and grabbed their trays and ushered her parents toward the exit. "Why do you think she's a lesbian?" Mandy questioned as her heart began racing.

"She's not?" William responded.

"I… I don't know. I haven't asked because I don't plan on judging her."

"No one is judging her," Elena said. "And why are you getting so defensive?"

"I'm not! I just—" Looking up, she saw Scotty happening by. "Aisha? Uh, what are you doing here? I thought you went home."

Scotty licked her lips, wrinkling her forehead. "I'll tell you later," she whispered. "Are these your parents?"

"Yeah, my mom and dad. Mom and dad, this is my friend, Aisha Scott, but everyone calls her—"

"Scotty!" Elena smiled hugging her. "I'm glad Miranda has such great friends like you and Gabrielle."

"Would you like to get dinner with us tonight?" William asked. Scotty just nodded, her face showing a forced smile. Mandy was ready to interrogate her friend but wanted to wait until her parents were out of earshot. "Well, we're going to go exploring the city, so we'll leave you girls to it."

They strolled off. Mandy turned to Scotty. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. Nothing."

"Is it Kevin? Your parents? Is everything okay?"

Scotty started crying and Mandy's breaths got deeper, getting scared. "I'm pregnant."

"Holy shit."

For some reason, Mandy couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that her best friend was pregnant. "And do not ask me how," Scotty said as they went into her room.

"I know how. I just don't understand how."

They shared a light laugh. "My mom is going to hit the roof. And m-my…" She sighed, "my dad is going to kill us. All of us. That includes you." Mandy tried to hold in her laughter, but it exploded out of her. "It's not funny."

"So, you've just been in your room and not at home."

"I'll probably never go home ever again," she said softly.

Mandy hugged her. "You'll be able to go home. It will be fine. I promise."

"You'll come with me?"

"Yes, of course."

"And don't tell anyone." Mandy swallowed down another secret. She blew air from her mouth.

Someone knocked on her door. Looking to Scotty for confirmation, she said: "Come in."

Gabby breezed in. "Hey."

"Hey," Mandy and Scotty responded together.

"What's going on?"

Speaking in unison once more, the freshmen said: "Nothing."