Two days had passed. It was late morning, at the apartment above "The Torra's Toss 'N Torn Tavern", when the young female hyena awoke from deep slumber. Only to bolt up, for an unpleasant and unexpected thing... A half an hour later, she shakily, stumbled downstairs, where the young male caracal was waiting for her. He greeted her, with a rather sceptical look. "-Well, well... Sleeping Beauty has come to at last!" She scowled at him. "-Well, aren't we the 'fuckin' comedian, this morning..." Donavan raised an eyebrow. "What's up with YOU, cuz??" What side of whose bed, did you wake up on, huh??" Candy fingered him, as she walked by. "Get bent, cuz." Donavan snorted. "Let me guess... it's that 'time of the month' again." Candy whirled around, her eyes blazing. "-Donavan, I'm NOT kidding!" SHUT-UP!" The smile swiftly disappeared from his face. "-Holy hell... Candy, seriously... you're starting to freak me out... just WHAT is your problem?" "-What's YOURS?!" she snapped. She sat down on a stool, leaning over the table. "-Oh FINE!" You wanna know what my problem is??" Well this is it; I woke up late this morning, only to find myself hanging my face over our toilet, after trying to stand up for a couple seconds!" Her cousin looked outright confused. "-Huh?" "-I threw up!" Okay?!?" She buried her face in her hands. "-I'm sorry... I'm just... feel like crap, since yesterday... I don't know what's wrong with me." Just... seriously, Donavan... don't start with me." I'm NOT in the mood for this." Donavan immediately looked concerned. "-Candy... wh... if you weren't feeling so good, then why didn't you tell me sooner?" She shrugged, feebly. "I thought it'd be gone by today." I figured it was just one of those twenty-four hour bugs... but I guess it isn't." The caracal slowly nodded. "Yeah... guess so." Well... maybe if you took tonight off, you'd get time for some 'r&r'... that might do you some good," he suggested. Candy shrugged lightly. "-Maybe." I might feel better later on... who knows." "Hey, come on... it's okay to take one night off!" Donavan insisted. "You've been working awfully hard, anyways." I think this would be a break well deserved!" The hyena shook her head. "-I... I'll 'think' about it," she finally agreed. Her cousin nodded. "Fair enough." No use in forcing you to do something you don't want to." So.. with that outta the way, is there anything else I can do for you, cuz?" Candy thought for a minute. "-Well... now that you mention it... I 'am' rather hungry." Donavan paused for a minute. *Hungry.* That wasn't exactly an phrase or expression that she used very often... Candy had never really been a big eater. At least once a week, she always skipped a meal or two, and the ones she DID eat, were rather small and sensible. So it wasn't too surprising that Donavan was a little baffled by this comment. He then replied, "-Oh... okay." I was just making myself some scrambled eggs... want some?" "-Sure." That'd be great." "Toast too?" "Yeah, the whole works." Load me up." Now THAT was definitely a NON-Candy-thing to say... But Donavan was too polite to comment to that. "-Right on, then." It sounded stupid, but he really didn't know WHAT the heck else to say. Sometime later, Candy still shocked him further. When she had said she was 'hungry', she hadn't been exactly kidding. She practically wolfed her meal down. Donavan, who was the bigger eater, was actually slightly intimidated by her, for the present. He spoke out, nervously, "-So... I guess you weren't joking back there." Candy stopped eating for a minute. "-Huh?" "-You... you said you were 'hungry'... see, I didn't know you actually MEANT that you were... "hungry"." He shrugged, trying to take some of the pressure off. Candy swallowed. "-Well... I DID throw up, remember?" I mean, when that happens, you pretty much... 'empty' out your entire stomach contents." So ya, I was "hungry"." Donavan nodded, uneasily. "Ya... sounds about right, I suppose." But after trying to eat some of his own food, with her devouring hers within sight and sound nearby, Donavan himself, felt tempted to 'hurl', after not too long...
Unsurprisingly, awhile after she had finished eating, Candy once again, felt nauseous, and ended up vomiting again, upstairs. This time, after throwing up, and flushing 'it' down, she sat on the bathroom floor, dazedly. She felt so strange. And what was even stranger, she had this feeling of deja vu, that she'd felt this odd 'sickness' before... But it was not totally brought back to her memory, until she was looking in a cabinet under the sink, for something, and stumbled upon something else. She pulled it out. It was a box, with some small object in it. She read the package... and immediately wished she hadn't. She dropped the box, putting a shaking hand to her mouth. *Oh no...* she thought, wildly. *No, no, no... I CAN'T be... CAN I??* She warily looked at the box again... It was a home pregnancy test.
Candy paced the bathroom floor, anxiously. These two minutes the test was taking, was torture. It made her think. Like, about the other times... Sadly enough, this pregnancy scare here, wasn't her first. It had actually happened, not once, not twice, but THRICE, before... The old, familiar ache in her heart, rose up. Three times in the past, this had happened. Each one, was a tragedy. The first two, since she was so young (about fifteen) she was forced to have an abortion, to terminate the pregnancy. The third one, since the painful loss of the first two was more than unbearable, she tried to keep. But before she was even over a week far gone through, the baby died inside her, from some unknown case... A miscarriage, to be precise. Candy couldn't figure out which situation was more horrible... But either way, at the moment, she was deathly afraid. What if the result was a positive?? If so, what was she going to do?? Two abortions were enough for her, she decided, firmly. She couldn't bear to (purposely) destroy the innocent life of another one of her unborn children... So she would have to try and have the baby. But what if she miscarried again?? Or if not, and the baby survived, what was she to do with it?? Keep it? Or give it up? Millions of unanswered questions, swarmed her mind, unyieldingly. Then she remembered. She looked at the clock. It had been nearly three minutes. *-It's time...* she thought. She took a deep, uneasy breath, and looked at the pregnancy test. There was a line. And it was a distinct color...
Several minutes later, Donavan peered into the washroom. "-Candy??" Are you still-" Then he saw her sitting on the floor, against the wall, with her head between her knees. He was quite startled. "Candy!" He rushed to her. "-Candy?" Are you ok??" Donavan slowly touched her shoulder. "What's the matter??" His young cousin, finally lifted her head, shamefully. Her eyes were misty. "-It's pink," she croaked, hoarsely. Her cousin looked confused. "-What's 'pink'?" Candy sniffled, clutching her soggy tissue. "-The line." The line on the goddamn pregnancy test... it's pink!" With that said, she began to cry again. Donavan's mouth fell open, and his ears lowered. "-Oh man... aww shit..." ...Candy-" He put his arms around her, trying to comfort her. She shook violently, as each sob escaped her throat. She clung to Donavan, miserably, yet slightly relieved to have a shoulder to cry on... literally. The caracal stroked her back, soothingly. "-Shhh... it's ok, Candy." ...You're gonna be ok." Candy gulped, squeezing to him, tighter. How she wished she could believe those words... But in truth, in her mind and heart... she knew they weren't true. Whatever decision of this, that she chose, wouldn't have a good outcome. This she knew... from experience.
After all the tears had been shed, and he'd gotten her upstairs, in her room, Donavan faced her. "-Well... so we know what's wrong with you." The question now is... 'what' are we gonna do about it?" Candy stared blankly, and painfully. "First question and most obvious question would be, do you wanna go through with the pregnancy.. or have an abortion?" The very word 'abortion' made her ache inside, and she shuddered, clutching her arms, as so to hold herself, as it seemed. She slowly shook her head. "-When I had the second one... I made a promise to myself, Donavan." I swore it... on my life... that I'd never do it again." Believe me... ONE is bad enough... but TWO, Donavan?" 'TWO' abortions?" You have NO idea, how horrible it is... to know you've just killed an innocent life... that they never had a chance... all because of YOU." Donavan, it's... something NO ONE should have to feel." Her cousin gazed silently, and then spoke, "-So, you don't want to do it." Wordlessly, Candy shook her muzzle. Donavan let out a huge sigh, of neither distress or relief. "Well then... that means you're gonna have to go through this whole ordeal." His cousin nodded, quietly. "-But then that means this brings another set of questioning to answer." The female raised her head, waiting to hear it. "If you're keeping this baby alive... then you have to decide something else, once it's born.. do you want to give it up, for adoption... or keep the baby and raise it, yourself?" There it was. The forbidden question. Candy chewed her lip so hard, she though it'd bleed for sure. "-I... I..." She lowered her face, shaking her head. "-I just don't know." The male twisted his mouth, taking it in. Finally, Donavan told her, "-You know what... you don't have to make this decision right now... I think you've been through enough today." In fact.. about this... you've got plenty of time to make up your mind about that." But right now... just... rest a bit, okay?" You look like you need it." His cousin nodded, not seeming to care. Donavan went over to her bed, which she was sitting on, and eased down beside her. He put his arm around her, reassuringly. "Take tonight off, cuz... don't worry, we'll be alright down there," he added, as she was about to protest. With a slight reluctance, Candy sighed. "-Okay." Donavan gave her shoulder a squeeze, and a quick, friendly kiss on the forehead, so as to let her know he cared. "Take care of yourself, cuz."
Later on that day, into the night, Candy was still hiding up in her room, lying in bed, in shock, numbing shock. She wasn't to be alone though... a little after twelve, she had two visitors. They were her best friends, and fellow workers at the bar, Tanya Korsan, a female wild dog, and Eliza Payne, a female jauguar. Donavan had told them about her, and of course, as Candy was their dear friend, the girls came up as soon as they could, to talk, listen to, and smoother her with some t.l.c. (tender loving care), that any true friend would offer. And that's what they did for her. All night, Tanya and Eliza petted, stroked, held, hugged, and cried with the emotionally torn Candy. Which for the moment, was all that anyone could give her...
Donavan gave Candy another day or so to collect, and get ahold of herself, before prodding into another sensitive area. Even though it sounded like a mean thing to do, it was an important question that HAD to be asking in this situation...
Donavan cleared his throat. "-Well, you've had pretty much all day yesterday and last night to think this through... now, I think it's about time you told me." Candy looked confused. "-Tell you 'what'?" He looked at her, sternly. "-Who's the 'father'?" A dark feeling crept in the pit of the hyena's stomach. *Oh no...* Her mouth went dry, and she couldn't speak. Her cousin stared on, expectantly. "Well??" Candy licked her lips, and lowered her gaze to the floor. "-I... I can't tell you." "Why NOT?" "Because... I just... I couldn't." "That's ridiculous, Candy.. you CAN." Just tell me his name," insisted Donavan. Candy sighed to herself. *If only you KNEW what I know...* she thought to herself. "-I'm sorry Donavan... I won't." Her cousin protested, "-But Candy... this guy is the one who got you pregnant in the first place!" Which means that HE has a responsibility to TAKE responsibility for his actions!" So since he's the father of this baby, he has to-" "-God, Donavan, you just don't get it!" Candy cried out. "-Don't get 'what'?" The hyena shook her muzzle. "Donavan... even if we told him... he still wouldn't help." Her cousin raised an eyebrow. "-How do you know?" "Because he doesn't want this baby!" Donavan blinked. "-Once again... how do you know this??" "-He said so," responded Candy. "He told me he doesn't want to be a father... ever." "-He doesn't??" Why not?" "Because he HATES kids!" The caracal's eyes widened. "What??" "He despises them Donavan, trust me... he can't stand them... and he lives in a place that is FULL of them!" Those were his words, along those lines, I swear to God!" Donavan tightened his jaw, taking in the words. Then he looked back to Candy and spoke, "-Fine... so you're saying that we SHOULDN'T tell the father about this?" The hyena slowly nodded. "Yes." That is exactly what I'm saying." Her cousin twisted his lips, decidedly. "-Alright then... let's say that's what we do... and about, oh, four or five years later, your kid asks you who it's father is." Now tell me... WHAT are you gonna tell it?" Or WHO is gonna tell it the truth??" "I'll TELL it!" When the time is RIGHT." Donavan's jaw just fell in disgust. He thought Candy was losing it. "'When the time RIGHT'??" What the FUCK, Candy?!" You... would you LISTEN to you??" Have you lost all common sense, and any ounce of dignity you have left?!?" I mean... GODDAMNIT!!" Look what you're doing to yourself!" You're carrying the baby of a guy who doesn't want it, and left you to fend for yourself!" WHY do you want it??" "-WHY do I want it??" she echoed. "Because I certainly don't want to KILL it!!" Plus Bullseye-" Donavan's ears shot up. "-BULLSEYE??" You mean that warthog guy??" Candy's mouth fell, at her mistake of letting it slip. The caracal gawked at her. "-I don't believe it... you're telling me HE'S the father??" That fifteen year-old little son of a-" "SHUT UP!" the hyena yelled. "-Just shut up!" Don't you talk about him like that!!" You don't KNOW him like I do!" Donavan rolled his eyes, sceptically. "You were with him for ONE NIGHT!" And you think you KNOW him??" Candy glowered deeply. "-More than you'll ever know him..." And let me tell you, he might look like not much to you, but I've seen him in a different light, and he's worth more than that." And whether you like it or not... I CARE about him." And believe it or not, I'm willing to have his child." So SHOVE IT for all I care!" Her cousin just stared at her for a minute, quite taken aback by her words. Then after a couple seconds silence, he started speaking quietly. "-Candy.. I... I'm sorry." We... I shouldn't be yelling at you like this... this whole thing.. it's not your fault..." Candy stared. "Not my fault??" Hello!" It's not like he RAPED me!" I was there, 'fucking' him, right back, for your info!!" Donavan went a shade of red in the face, at this comment. "-Well... HE should've known better and used a fucking condom!!" Candy gawked at him. "-Oh for God's sake Donavan, didn't you SEE him??" He was a shy, virgin, fifteen year-old!" You REALLY think he just happens to carry 'condoms' around with him, wherever he goes??" Donavan threw up his hands, and started to yell, "-FINE!" ...Well then YOU should've known better, Candice Torra!" There's machines in the restrooms, or a pack in that drawer in our upstairs bathroom... you could've gotten one of those!" Why DIDN'T you, goddamnit??" This broke through Candy's defense wall. Instead of arguing on, she just bowed her head, as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "-You know what... FINE!" I'll ADMIT it... that there was MY fault!" It was MY bad!" And I just WASN'T thinking...!" And I SHOULD've known better, because I've only gotten into this.. 'predicament' THREE other times!" Candy was bawling a river of tears now, burying her face in her palms. "-Don't worry Donavan... you don't think I've learned my lesson??" Well I HAVE!" I HAVE!" I think about it everyday... I suffer inside slowly, feeling like the worst person in the world.. and wake up every morning, wishing I'd just DIE!!" Donavan was horrified by now. "Candy!" Stop that!" I mean... no... just... just calm down-" He knelt down, and held her in his arms, gently nuzzling her shoulder. "-Cand... it's okay... shhh." Just settle down... you shouldn't be getting yourself so worked up... not like this-" He rubbed her shoulders, as she cried on. "-Oh Don..." she sniffled. "...I... I wish my mama was here now." Her cousin's ears sank lower, at the mention of his dear (late) Aunt Jeanie, who had been like a mama to him too... Candy was right. If she were here now, she'd know what to do/say. But thanks to a cancer inside her... she wasn't. He let out a soft, mournful sigh, and replied, "-I wish she was too."
It had been a week. Things were rolling along, slowly, for Candy. But for the moment being, she was thankful. She was now over a week pregnant, and everything was still okay. No pains or bleeding, like the last one (that had lead to the miscarriage). But since everything was going along normally, she WAS experiencing normal pregnancy 'quirks', like the sensitivity in the front area, mood swings, and nausea. It wasn't much fun, obviously, but Candy knew she HAD to deal with it. Speaking of raging emotions, someone else was about to come back into her life. And because of the current situation, the results of this reunion would be explosive...
Through the front entrance of the tavern, along with the crowd of other people coming, a young male marguay strode in. He was hauling a suitcase with him, wearing a slick pair of sunglasses. As he entered the dim hall, he reached up, and slid them off, into his front pocket. An eager expression seemed to cover his features, at the sight of the place. *Home, sweet home!* he thought to himself. To the marguay, the tavern really WAS like a second home...
His name was Fredrick Jackson. But to everyone else here, he was known as 'Flash'. He was about eighteen and a half, and he worked for the bar. It was his job, and also, like an excuse to hang out with friends, which everyone who worked there, was to him. They were like a big family, themselves. Especially... Candy. Only a year or so ago, she and Flash had been a steady couple. They'd had true feelings for each other, since they had a foundation from before, of a few years... But then, something had happened, that had changed them forever. For the third time, Candy had discovered that she was pregnant. But not with just any baby... it was Flash's baby (of course). She managed to work up the nerve to tell him, and for once, it didn't seem like such a terrifying thing. Flash was shocked at first, naturally, but after collecting himself, he'd told her that he was there for her, and that, even though they were young, that they should have the baby, anyways. For awhile, they were very happy about it. But then, tragedy struck. Not even a week gone, Candy was taken with strange pains, and started bleeding. They'd rushed her to the hospital, but it was too late. After several hours, the doctor had come out of the emergency room, to the waiting room, to give Flash, Donavan, Eliza and Tanya the grave news. The baby(fetus) was dead. Candy had suffered a miscarriage. It was a horrible time, everyone was so sad. At first, Flash was there for her, trying to offer what comfort he had, for this time of grieving. But as the weeks rolled on by, things between the couple had grown cold. They now felt awkward and uncomfortable around each other. Their unborn child's death had torn a piece of them apart, that could never be repaired. At last, the two had finally sat down and had a long talk, and came to an agreement. Their relationship was over. They'd been through too much, and what they'd once had together, was no longer there. It was a hard blow to take, but the others accepted it. At least Flash didn't quit the bar or anything. After sometime, he and Candy reached the point where they could talk to each other again, as friends. And over the months, bit by bit, they'd managed to make their friendship solid again, into one piece. But in the back of their minds, deep down... they'd never be able to forget about before then...
Donavan was organizing the glass set, when from behind him someone called, "-Yo Donny-Boy!" The caracal whirled around, to see the marguay standing there, with a cocky look. "-Miss me?" he smirked. Donavan grinned. "-Flash!" You little bitch!" he exclaimed. Flash and him slapped hands, as he continued, "-Whatcha doin' here?" I thought you weren't supposed to be back 'til Tuesday!" The gang and I were all gonna pick ya up at the airport... a 'surprise', ya know?" Flash snickered. "-Well... guess the tables turned then, 'cuz.. 'surprise'!" Here I am!" Donavan shook his head. "You always were the early one." His pal nodded, "-Got that right!" Who was the one who had his first 'drink' at a two years younger rate, than the 'famous' Donavan Torra?" Grinning, the bigger male gave him a jestful smack. "-Hey, keep it down, I'm on the job here!" Flash laughed outloud. "Man, it's good to be back!" "And it's it good to have ya back," agreed Donavan. "The girls were starting to get too 'rowdy' for me to tackle alone!" Flash raised his eyebrows. "-Really?" Heh!" Looks like I came back just in time, then!" he chuckled with amusement. "-Oh yeah.. speaking of the girls, where's the Candy-girl?" How's she doin'?" Donavan froze for an instant. *Candy...* he remembered. Realizing that if he didn't give a response right then, Flash would get suspious. "-Oh... Candy!" Yeah... umm, she's doing fine!" "-That's good," commented Flash. "So where would she be then?" Isn't this her working hour?" Donavan chewed his lower lip. "-Right... well, see.. she's.. she's not feeling too good tonight." Poor girl's a bit... 'under the weather'." It wasn't totally a lie. After all, she HAD been throwing up earlier... "Awww.. really?" said Flash, sympathetically. "-Poor Cand..." Then he had a thought. "Hey, maybe I should go up and see her?" Bet it cheer her up-" His friend gulped. "-Uh, maybe you shouldn't!" he blurted out a little too quickly, then cursed in his head for doing so. Flash looked confused. "Why not?" "-Well..." stammered Donavan. "-She's... just kinda in that state that she doesn't really want anyone to see her, you know?" That "Ah! I look horrible! Don't look at me!" thing!" Flash cocked his head decidedly, as Donavan stared intensely, hoping he'd buy it. Finally, the marguay shrugged, "-Well... females DO tend to get that way when they're sick, eh Donavan?" Only God knows what triggers it!" Donavan was grateful for the little joke, it had saved him. He laughed along with Flash, thinking, *Wheeew!* That was TOO close...* Just then, behind them appeared two females, a wild dog and a jaguar. "Flash!!" they both squealed at the same time. Flash beamed at them. "Tanya, Eliza!" Hey gals, 'sup?" They both hugged him tightly, and started chatting him up. The caracal nearby sighed, with huge relief. Saved again. Just then, he heard a whisper in his ear. It was Eliza, herself. "-Donny... maybe you better go upstairs and tell Candy... the 'news'," she advised. Donavan nodded. "-Yeah." That way she can brace herself... for when she tells HIM 'her news'..." Eliza solemnly nodded back in turn, and went back to talk to Flash and Tanya.
Later on, after being assured that Candy was cool with it after all, Flash went up to the apartment, to see her. She was sitting on the couch, when he walked in. Her head lifted up, as the door shut behind him. She softly smiled. "-Hey Flash." He smiled back at her. "-Hey Candy..." He went up and hugged her, gently. "-I missed you," he told her. Candy held his shoulders, swallowing hard. "-I missed you too." The marguay stiffened. From the tone in her voice, and the way she hugged him, Flash could tell that something about/in her had changed. He slowly let go of her. "-Uh.. wanna sit?" he gestured to the couch. Candy nodded, "-Sure." They both sat, in a momentary silence. Then Candy finally spoke, "-So... how's your grandmother now?" Glad to be presented with a topic, Flash responded, "-Oh, she's doing much better, now, thanks." In fact, that's why I'm back a few days early... she was doing good, and she insisted that I'd been there for more than I needed to be, and that she knew I was 'homesick'." Candy slightly grinned. "Were you?" Flash shrugged, shyly, "-Well... eh, I guess I kinda was." He chewed on his lip for a minute. "-So... what've you been up to?" Anything new and interesting?" Candy felt her throat go dry. *Oh God..* she thought. She was absolutely petrified. HOW was she supposed to tell him 'this'(her condition)?? What if he was upset? Would he cry? Would he yell? Would he hate her for life? Would he hit her? Noticing that she was taking a rather long, odd pause, Flash asked her, "-Candy... you okay?" She snapped out of her daze. "-Wha?" Oh my.. oh geez, I'm sorry, I just..." "-Hey, hey, it's okay!" Flash assured her. Candy's ears lowered, as she replied quietly. "-No... it's not okay." Flash looked confused. "-What's not okay?" Candy took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "-Flash..." "-Yeah?" She closed her eyes, and opened them again. "-What I'm about to tell you... is NOT easy for me... in ANYWAY... and I just want to let you know, that no matter what, you still mean everything to me, as a friend... I'd never want to hurt you, or-" Flash looked rather nervous. "-Okay... you're really starting to freak me out here-" What's happened to you?" She breathed out, heavily. "-Before I tell you... you have to keep this one thing in mind... it might some screwy right now... but it won't in a minute." "What's that, then?" he questioned. Candy forced herself to choke up the cruel words. "-Flash...it ... it's not yours." A look of despair and loss came over Flash. He barely managed to get out, "-Candy... what are you trying to tell me?" Candy slowly turned to face him. She looked at him with her piercing eyes. "-I'm pregnant, Flash."
Several minutes later, the young marguay stumblingly, made his way downstairs. He was still in utter, and complete shock. Candy was pregnant. Again. But this time... with another guy's baby. Flash's mind still spun and hammered wildly at the thought. He could barely recall just a few minutes ago. He'd told her something, apparently reassuring, that he'd be there for her if she needed a friend during this time of 'struggle'. Then, he'd made an excuse, that he had to leave. So here he was now, at the bottom of the stairs, wandering towards the bar. Donavan saw him coming, and was immediately concerned by the look on his friend's face. "-Flash... are you okay, man?" Flash snapped out of his daze long enough to say, in an abnormally loud tone, "-I'm fine!" I'm just going out back!" Need some air!" That was it. And he walked out the backdoor. The chill of the night air, sept past his fur, into the skin, as he stepped out, onto the cool, concrete ground. He shuddered violently, in response to the cold he felt. Still, there was an even deeper numbness inside... Then his brain awoke again. Candy... HIS Candy (he still seemed to think at some points)... she was pregnant. She was with child... and the child... was someone else's. Not his. Another guy's. The thought was almost too much to bear. It was tearing him up, boiling his blood, blackening his vision, burning his brains... All at once, he had the overpowering urge to destroy something. He cast a quick glance in every direction. To his right, he found an answer. A case or two of about a dozen empty beer bottles. *Perfect* He picked one up, flicked it in the air, and caught it. Then as hard as he could, he swung his arm behind his head, then thrust it forward, releasing the bottle. It flung into the air, and into a brick wall. It broke into thousands of tiny pieces, like a sparkler lit off. Somehow, something inside Flash seemed to loosen. And so, to blow off the rest of his steam, he threw a couple more bottles at the hard brick-walled alley, the explosions of shattering glass, offering him a (stress) reliever of some sort, and make him feel slightly better. But later on that night, Flash would remember what had gotten him so riled up. And at recalling this, he would do something that he hadn't done for so long... cry himself to sleep.
Unsurprisingly, awhile after she had finished eating, Candy once again, felt nauseous, and ended up vomiting again, upstairs. This time, after throwing up, and flushing 'it' down, she sat on the bathroom floor, dazedly. She felt so strange. And what was even stranger, she had this feeling of deja vu, that she'd felt this odd 'sickness' before... But it was not totally brought back to her memory, until she was looking in a cabinet under the sink, for something, and stumbled upon something else. She pulled it out. It was a box, with some small object in it. She read the package... and immediately wished she hadn't. She dropped the box, putting a shaking hand to her mouth. *Oh no...* she thought, wildly. *No, no, no... I CAN'T be... CAN I??* She warily looked at the box again... It was a home pregnancy test.
Candy paced the bathroom floor, anxiously. These two minutes the test was taking, was torture. It made her think. Like, about the other times... Sadly enough, this pregnancy scare here, wasn't her first. It had actually happened, not once, not twice, but THRICE, before... The old, familiar ache in her heart, rose up. Three times in the past, this had happened. Each one, was a tragedy. The first two, since she was so young (about fifteen) she was forced to have an abortion, to terminate the pregnancy. The third one, since the painful loss of the first two was more than unbearable, she tried to keep. But before she was even over a week far gone through, the baby died inside her, from some unknown case... A miscarriage, to be precise. Candy couldn't figure out which situation was more horrible... But either way, at the moment, she was deathly afraid. What if the result was a positive?? If so, what was she going to do?? Two abortions were enough for her, she decided, firmly. She couldn't bear to (purposely) destroy the innocent life of another one of her unborn children... So she would have to try and have the baby. But what if she miscarried again?? Or if not, and the baby survived, what was she to do with it?? Keep it? Or give it up? Millions of unanswered questions, swarmed her mind, unyieldingly. Then she remembered. She looked at the clock. It had been nearly three minutes. *-It's time...* she thought. She took a deep, uneasy breath, and looked at the pregnancy test. There was a line. And it was a distinct color...
Several minutes later, Donavan peered into the washroom. "-Candy??" Are you still-" Then he saw her sitting on the floor, against the wall, with her head between her knees. He was quite startled. "Candy!" He rushed to her. "-Candy?" Are you ok??" Donavan slowly touched her shoulder. "What's the matter??" His young cousin, finally lifted her head, shamefully. Her eyes were misty. "-It's pink," she croaked, hoarsely. Her cousin looked confused. "-What's 'pink'?" Candy sniffled, clutching her soggy tissue. "-The line." The line on the goddamn pregnancy test... it's pink!" With that said, she began to cry again. Donavan's mouth fell open, and his ears lowered. "-Oh man... aww shit..." ...Candy-" He put his arms around her, trying to comfort her. She shook violently, as each sob escaped her throat. She clung to Donavan, miserably, yet slightly relieved to have a shoulder to cry on... literally. The caracal stroked her back, soothingly. "-Shhh... it's ok, Candy." ...You're gonna be ok." Candy gulped, squeezing to him, tighter. How she wished she could believe those words... But in truth, in her mind and heart... she knew they weren't true. Whatever decision of this, that she chose, wouldn't have a good outcome. This she knew... from experience.
After all the tears had been shed, and he'd gotten her upstairs, in her room, Donavan faced her. "-Well... so we know what's wrong with you." The question now is... 'what' are we gonna do about it?" Candy stared blankly, and painfully. "First question and most obvious question would be, do you wanna go through with the pregnancy.. or have an abortion?" The very word 'abortion' made her ache inside, and she shuddered, clutching her arms, as so to hold herself, as it seemed. She slowly shook her head. "-When I had the second one... I made a promise to myself, Donavan." I swore it... on my life... that I'd never do it again." Believe me... ONE is bad enough... but TWO, Donavan?" 'TWO' abortions?" You have NO idea, how horrible it is... to know you've just killed an innocent life... that they never had a chance... all because of YOU." Donavan, it's... something NO ONE should have to feel." Her cousin gazed silently, and then spoke, "-So, you don't want to do it." Wordlessly, Candy shook her muzzle. Donavan let out a huge sigh, of neither distress or relief. "Well then... that means you're gonna have to go through this whole ordeal." His cousin nodded, quietly. "-But then that means this brings another set of questioning to answer." The female raised her head, waiting to hear it. "If you're keeping this baby alive... then you have to decide something else, once it's born.. do you want to give it up, for adoption... or keep the baby and raise it, yourself?" There it was. The forbidden question. Candy chewed her lip so hard, she though it'd bleed for sure. "-I... I..." She lowered her face, shaking her head. "-I just don't know." The male twisted his mouth, taking it in. Finally, Donavan told her, "-You know what... you don't have to make this decision right now... I think you've been through enough today." In fact.. about this... you've got plenty of time to make up your mind about that." But right now... just... rest a bit, okay?" You look like you need it." His cousin nodded, not seeming to care. Donavan went over to her bed, which she was sitting on, and eased down beside her. He put his arm around her, reassuringly. "Take tonight off, cuz... don't worry, we'll be alright down there," he added, as she was about to protest. With a slight reluctance, Candy sighed. "-Okay." Donavan gave her shoulder a squeeze, and a quick, friendly kiss on the forehead, so as to let her know he cared. "Take care of yourself, cuz."
Later on that day, into the night, Candy was still hiding up in her room, lying in bed, in shock, numbing shock. She wasn't to be alone though... a little after twelve, she had two visitors. They were her best friends, and fellow workers at the bar, Tanya Korsan, a female wild dog, and Eliza Payne, a female jauguar. Donavan had told them about her, and of course, as Candy was their dear friend, the girls came up as soon as they could, to talk, listen to, and smoother her with some t.l.c. (tender loving care), that any true friend would offer. And that's what they did for her. All night, Tanya and Eliza petted, stroked, held, hugged, and cried with the emotionally torn Candy. Which for the moment, was all that anyone could give her...
Donavan gave Candy another day or so to collect, and get ahold of herself, before prodding into another sensitive area. Even though it sounded like a mean thing to do, it was an important question that HAD to be asking in this situation...
Donavan cleared his throat. "-Well, you've had pretty much all day yesterday and last night to think this through... now, I think it's about time you told me." Candy looked confused. "-Tell you 'what'?" He looked at her, sternly. "-Who's the 'father'?" A dark feeling crept in the pit of the hyena's stomach. *Oh no...* Her mouth went dry, and she couldn't speak. Her cousin stared on, expectantly. "Well??" Candy licked her lips, and lowered her gaze to the floor. "-I... I can't tell you." "Why NOT?" "Because... I just... I couldn't." "That's ridiculous, Candy.. you CAN." Just tell me his name," insisted Donavan. Candy sighed to herself. *If only you KNEW what I know...* she thought to herself. "-I'm sorry Donavan... I won't." Her cousin protested, "-But Candy... this guy is the one who got you pregnant in the first place!" Which means that HE has a responsibility to TAKE responsibility for his actions!" So since he's the father of this baby, he has to-" "-God, Donavan, you just don't get it!" Candy cried out. "-Don't get 'what'?" The hyena shook her muzzle. "Donavan... even if we told him... he still wouldn't help." Her cousin raised an eyebrow. "-How do you know?" "Because he doesn't want this baby!" Donavan blinked. "-Once again... how do you know this??" "-He said so," responded Candy. "He told me he doesn't want to be a father... ever." "-He doesn't??" Why not?" "Because he HATES kids!" The caracal's eyes widened. "What??" "He despises them Donavan, trust me... he can't stand them... and he lives in a place that is FULL of them!" Those were his words, along those lines, I swear to God!" Donavan tightened his jaw, taking in the words. Then he looked back to Candy and spoke, "-Fine... so you're saying that we SHOULDN'T tell the father about this?" The hyena slowly nodded. "Yes." That is exactly what I'm saying." Her cousin twisted his lips, decidedly. "-Alright then... let's say that's what we do... and about, oh, four or five years later, your kid asks you who it's father is." Now tell me... WHAT are you gonna tell it?" Or WHO is gonna tell it the truth??" "I'll TELL it!" When the time is RIGHT." Donavan's jaw just fell in disgust. He thought Candy was losing it. "'When the time RIGHT'??" What the FUCK, Candy?!" You... would you LISTEN to you??" Have you lost all common sense, and any ounce of dignity you have left?!?" I mean... GODDAMNIT!!" Look what you're doing to yourself!" You're carrying the baby of a guy who doesn't want it, and left you to fend for yourself!" WHY do you want it??" "-WHY do I want it??" she echoed. "Because I certainly don't want to KILL it!!" Plus Bullseye-" Donavan's ears shot up. "-BULLSEYE??" You mean that warthog guy??" Candy's mouth fell, at her mistake of letting it slip. The caracal gawked at her. "-I don't believe it... you're telling me HE'S the father??" That fifteen year-old little son of a-" "SHUT UP!" the hyena yelled. "-Just shut up!" Don't you talk about him like that!!" You don't KNOW him like I do!" Donavan rolled his eyes, sceptically. "You were with him for ONE NIGHT!" And you think you KNOW him??" Candy glowered deeply. "-More than you'll ever know him..." And let me tell you, he might look like not much to you, but I've seen him in a different light, and he's worth more than that." And whether you like it or not... I CARE about him." And believe it or not, I'm willing to have his child." So SHOVE IT for all I care!" Her cousin just stared at her for a minute, quite taken aback by her words. Then after a couple seconds silence, he started speaking quietly. "-Candy.. I... I'm sorry." We... I shouldn't be yelling at you like this... this whole thing.. it's not your fault..." Candy stared. "Not my fault??" Hello!" It's not like he RAPED me!" I was there, 'fucking' him, right back, for your info!!" Donavan went a shade of red in the face, at this comment. "-Well... HE should've known better and used a fucking condom!!" Candy gawked at him. "-Oh for God's sake Donavan, didn't you SEE him??" He was a shy, virgin, fifteen year-old!" You REALLY think he just happens to carry 'condoms' around with him, wherever he goes??" Donavan threw up his hands, and started to yell, "-FINE!" ...Well then YOU should've known better, Candice Torra!" There's machines in the restrooms, or a pack in that drawer in our upstairs bathroom... you could've gotten one of those!" Why DIDN'T you, goddamnit??" This broke through Candy's defense wall. Instead of arguing on, she just bowed her head, as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "-You know what... FINE!" I'll ADMIT it... that there was MY fault!" It was MY bad!" And I just WASN'T thinking...!" And I SHOULD've known better, because I've only gotten into this.. 'predicament' THREE other times!" Candy was bawling a river of tears now, burying her face in her palms. "-Don't worry Donavan... you don't think I've learned my lesson??" Well I HAVE!" I HAVE!" I think about it everyday... I suffer inside slowly, feeling like the worst person in the world.. and wake up every morning, wishing I'd just DIE!!" Donavan was horrified by now. "Candy!" Stop that!" I mean... no... just... just calm down-" He knelt down, and held her in his arms, gently nuzzling her shoulder. "-Cand... it's okay... shhh." Just settle down... you shouldn't be getting yourself so worked up... not like this-" He rubbed her shoulders, as she cried on. "-Oh Don..." she sniffled. "...I... I wish my mama was here now." Her cousin's ears sank lower, at the mention of his dear (late) Aunt Jeanie, who had been like a mama to him too... Candy was right. If she were here now, she'd know what to do/say. But thanks to a cancer inside her... she wasn't. He let out a soft, mournful sigh, and replied, "-I wish she was too."
It had been a week. Things were rolling along, slowly, for Candy. But for the moment being, she was thankful. She was now over a week pregnant, and everything was still okay. No pains or bleeding, like the last one (that had lead to the miscarriage). But since everything was going along normally, she WAS experiencing normal pregnancy 'quirks', like the sensitivity in the front area, mood swings, and nausea. It wasn't much fun, obviously, but Candy knew she HAD to deal with it. Speaking of raging emotions, someone else was about to come back into her life. And because of the current situation, the results of this reunion would be explosive...
Through the front entrance of the tavern, along with the crowd of other people coming, a young male marguay strode in. He was hauling a suitcase with him, wearing a slick pair of sunglasses. As he entered the dim hall, he reached up, and slid them off, into his front pocket. An eager expression seemed to cover his features, at the sight of the place. *Home, sweet home!* he thought to himself. To the marguay, the tavern really WAS like a second home...
His name was Fredrick Jackson. But to everyone else here, he was known as 'Flash'. He was about eighteen and a half, and he worked for the bar. It was his job, and also, like an excuse to hang out with friends, which everyone who worked there, was to him. They were like a big family, themselves. Especially... Candy. Only a year or so ago, she and Flash had been a steady couple. They'd had true feelings for each other, since they had a foundation from before, of a few years... But then, something had happened, that had changed them forever. For the third time, Candy had discovered that she was pregnant. But not with just any baby... it was Flash's baby (of course). She managed to work up the nerve to tell him, and for once, it didn't seem like such a terrifying thing. Flash was shocked at first, naturally, but after collecting himself, he'd told her that he was there for her, and that, even though they were young, that they should have the baby, anyways. For awhile, they were very happy about it. But then, tragedy struck. Not even a week gone, Candy was taken with strange pains, and started bleeding. They'd rushed her to the hospital, but it was too late. After several hours, the doctor had come out of the emergency room, to the waiting room, to give Flash, Donavan, Eliza and Tanya the grave news. The baby(fetus) was dead. Candy had suffered a miscarriage. It was a horrible time, everyone was so sad. At first, Flash was there for her, trying to offer what comfort he had, for this time of grieving. But as the weeks rolled on by, things between the couple had grown cold. They now felt awkward and uncomfortable around each other. Their unborn child's death had torn a piece of them apart, that could never be repaired. At last, the two had finally sat down and had a long talk, and came to an agreement. Their relationship was over. They'd been through too much, and what they'd once had together, was no longer there. It was a hard blow to take, but the others accepted it. At least Flash didn't quit the bar or anything. After sometime, he and Candy reached the point where they could talk to each other again, as friends. And over the months, bit by bit, they'd managed to make their friendship solid again, into one piece. But in the back of their minds, deep down... they'd never be able to forget about before then...
Donavan was organizing the glass set, when from behind him someone called, "-Yo Donny-Boy!" The caracal whirled around, to see the marguay standing there, with a cocky look. "-Miss me?" he smirked. Donavan grinned. "-Flash!" You little bitch!" he exclaimed. Flash and him slapped hands, as he continued, "-Whatcha doin' here?" I thought you weren't supposed to be back 'til Tuesday!" The gang and I were all gonna pick ya up at the airport... a 'surprise', ya know?" Flash snickered. "-Well... guess the tables turned then, 'cuz.. 'surprise'!" Here I am!" Donavan shook his head. "You always were the early one." His pal nodded, "-Got that right!" Who was the one who had his first 'drink' at a two years younger rate, than the 'famous' Donavan Torra?" Grinning, the bigger male gave him a jestful smack. "-Hey, keep it down, I'm on the job here!" Flash laughed outloud. "Man, it's good to be back!" "And it's it good to have ya back," agreed Donavan. "The girls were starting to get too 'rowdy' for me to tackle alone!" Flash raised his eyebrows. "-Really?" Heh!" Looks like I came back just in time, then!" he chuckled with amusement. "-Oh yeah.. speaking of the girls, where's the Candy-girl?" How's she doin'?" Donavan froze for an instant. *Candy...* he remembered. Realizing that if he didn't give a response right then, Flash would get suspious. "-Oh... Candy!" Yeah... umm, she's doing fine!" "-That's good," commented Flash. "So where would she be then?" Isn't this her working hour?" Donavan chewed his lower lip. "-Right... well, see.. she's.. she's not feeling too good tonight." Poor girl's a bit... 'under the weather'." It wasn't totally a lie. After all, she HAD been throwing up earlier... "Awww.. really?" said Flash, sympathetically. "-Poor Cand..." Then he had a thought. "Hey, maybe I should go up and see her?" Bet it cheer her up-" His friend gulped. "-Uh, maybe you shouldn't!" he blurted out a little too quickly, then cursed in his head for doing so. Flash looked confused. "Why not?" "-Well..." stammered Donavan. "-She's... just kinda in that state that she doesn't really want anyone to see her, you know?" That "Ah! I look horrible! Don't look at me!" thing!" Flash cocked his head decidedly, as Donavan stared intensely, hoping he'd buy it. Finally, the marguay shrugged, "-Well... females DO tend to get that way when they're sick, eh Donavan?" Only God knows what triggers it!" Donavan was grateful for the little joke, it had saved him. He laughed along with Flash, thinking, *Wheeew!* That was TOO close...* Just then, behind them appeared two females, a wild dog and a jaguar. "Flash!!" they both squealed at the same time. Flash beamed at them. "Tanya, Eliza!" Hey gals, 'sup?" They both hugged him tightly, and started chatting him up. The caracal nearby sighed, with huge relief. Saved again. Just then, he heard a whisper in his ear. It was Eliza, herself. "-Donny... maybe you better go upstairs and tell Candy... the 'news'," she advised. Donavan nodded. "-Yeah." That way she can brace herself... for when she tells HIM 'her news'..." Eliza solemnly nodded back in turn, and went back to talk to Flash and Tanya.
Later on, after being assured that Candy was cool with it after all, Flash went up to the apartment, to see her. She was sitting on the couch, when he walked in. Her head lifted up, as the door shut behind him. She softly smiled. "-Hey Flash." He smiled back at her. "-Hey Candy..." He went up and hugged her, gently. "-I missed you," he told her. Candy held his shoulders, swallowing hard. "-I missed you too." The marguay stiffened. From the tone in her voice, and the way she hugged him, Flash could tell that something about/in her had changed. He slowly let go of her. "-Uh.. wanna sit?" he gestured to the couch. Candy nodded, "-Sure." They both sat, in a momentary silence. Then Candy finally spoke, "-So... how's your grandmother now?" Glad to be presented with a topic, Flash responded, "-Oh, she's doing much better, now, thanks." In fact, that's why I'm back a few days early... she was doing good, and she insisted that I'd been there for more than I needed to be, and that she knew I was 'homesick'." Candy slightly grinned. "Were you?" Flash shrugged, shyly, "-Well... eh, I guess I kinda was." He chewed on his lip for a minute. "-So... what've you been up to?" Anything new and interesting?" Candy felt her throat go dry. *Oh God..* she thought. She was absolutely petrified. HOW was she supposed to tell him 'this'(her condition)?? What if he was upset? Would he cry? Would he yell? Would he hate her for life? Would he hit her? Noticing that she was taking a rather long, odd pause, Flash asked her, "-Candy... you okay?" She snapped out of her daze. "-Wha?" Oh my.. oh geez, I'm sorry, I just..." "-Hey, hey, it's okay!" Flash assured her. Candy's ears lowered, as she replied quietly. "-No... it's not okay." Flash looked confused. "-What's not okay?" Candy took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "-Flash..." "-Yeah?" She closed her eyes, and opened them again. "-What I'm about to tell you... is NOT easy for me... in ANYWAY... and I just want to let you know, that no matter what, you still mean everything to me, as a friend... I'd never want to hurt you, or-" Flash looked rather nervous. "-Okay... you're really starting to freak me out here-" What's happened to you?" She breathed out, heavily. "-Before I tell you... you have to keep this one thing in mind... it might some screwy right now... but it won't in a minute." "What's that, then?" he questioned. Candy forced herself to choke up the cruel words. "-Flash...it ... it's not yours." A look of despair and loss came over Flash. He barely managed to get out, "-Candy... what are you trying to tell me?" Candy slowly turned to face him. She looked at him with her piercing eyes. "-I'm pregnant, Flash."
Several minutes later, the young marguay stumblingly, made his way downstairs. He was still in utter, and complete shock. Candy was pregnant. Again. But this time... with another guy's baby. Flash's mind still spun and hammered wildly at the thought. He could barely recall just a few minutes ago. He'd told her something, apparently reassuring, that he'd be there for her if she needed a friend during this time of 'struggle'. Then, he'd made an excuse, that he had to leave. So here he was now, at the bottom of the stairs, wandering towards the bar. Donavan saw him coming, and was immediately concerned by the look on his friend's face. "-Flash... are you okay, man?" Flash snapped out of his daze long enough to say, in an abnormally loud tone, "-I'm fine!" I'm just going out back!" Need some air!" That was it. And he walked out the backdoor. The chill of the night air, sept past his fur, into the skin, as he stepped out, onto the cool, concrete ground. He shuddered violently, in response to the cold he felt. Still, there was an even deeper numbness inside... Then his brain awoke again. Candy... HIS Candy (he still seemed to think at some points)... she was pregnant. She was with child... and the child... was someone else's. Not his. Another guy's. The thought was almost too much to bear. It was tearing him up, boiling his blood, blackening his vision, burning his brains... All at once, he had the overpowering urge to destroy something. He cast a quick glance in every direction. To his right, he found an answer. A case or two of about a dozen empty beer bottles. *Perfect* He picked one up, flicked it in the air, and caught it. Then as hard as he could, he swung his arm behind his head, then thrust it forward, releasing the bottle. It flung into the air, and into a brick wall. It broke into thousands of tiny pieces, like a sparkler lit off. Somehow, something inside Flash seemed to loosen. And so, to blow off the rest of his steam, he threw a couple more bottles at the hard brick-walled alley, the explosions of shattering glass, offering him a (stress) reliever of some sort, and make him feel slightly better. But later on that night, Flash would remember what had gotten him so riled up. And at recalling this, he would do something that he hadn't done for so long... cry himself to sleep.