(Daniel Powter - Bad Day)

"Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness."

Mac remembered the words Grandma Mackenzie had said explaining how she'd learned of her Papa's affair in the earlier years of their 40 year marriage. She wasn't sure there would ever be any forgiveness now… some consequences were too life altering.

"They can't do this!" Parker exclaimed furiously as the RA Courtney winced after delivering the news. The two had been arguing since the taller girl stopped them in the hallway on the way back to her dorm.

"Look, I'm sorry. I can only tell you what I've been instructed by Dean Ashwood." Pausing as if thinking something through. "I think you can spend the night but if you haven't made arrangements by tomorrow then student services will be sending maintenance to clear out the room." she sighed, handing over the eviction notice.

"But the students ethics council haven't even made their decision!" Parker snapped.

"I honestly don't know if that would make any difference." the RA said, her cool hazel gaze looking over the two girls. "The key was issued this afternoon."

They hadn't even waited until her room was empty?

"We have to be able to do more." Parker protested.

"I don't want to seem like a bitch… but there's nothing I can do." Courtney shrugged.

Eventually Parker must have seen the resignation on Mac's face because she just looked back to the taller girl and nodded.

"Good luck." Courtney said turning to Mac, her hazel eyes heavy with sympathy before she walked away, the door to her office clanging shut behind them.

Mac had to swallow before finding her voice. "I haven't even told Mom…."

Parker looked as her roommate placed a hand protectively over her stomach. "We should get you back… once you're rested up we can track down whoever is on that ethics committee and then we will Piz to call them out on the radio. Someone will understand they can't get away with this."

Mac was ragged with exhaustion, heading towards the stairwell. After her conversation with Professor Stevens about her scholarship, Mac had wanted nothing more than to come back to her warm, clean and comfortable bed and sleep this horrible week away. Now they wanted her to empty her dresser, pack up her meagre belongs and slink on out the door.

Parker fell into step beside her shorter friend. Their lives would no longer be intertwined. Mac had been the only thing that stopped her from falling prey to the self-destructive decision to drop out and go back home, she'd been there helping her after the attack by Mercer Hayes and soon their small dorm room was more comfortable than she'd ever been at home. That photograph Veronica had snapped of the two of them on the beach was pride of place on her dresser… how could she do nothing to help Mac after everything she'd done for her?

Was it selfish of her that Parker was terrified to be alone in this dorm?

The thought of being here with a stranger was suffocating. She just hoped Mac couldn't see that concern, it was selfish, and their friendship meant so much more to her than that.

"I'm sorry…" Parker said looking her way, blinking away the tears.

"I have a friend who works at Radio Shack, he offered me a job if I found myself in need of a summer job." Mac said quietly. "I could give him a call."

Would they even hire a pregnant girl?

God… if she wasn't a student anymore, was she even eligible to be on her parents Medical insurance?

She mentally tallied up what was in her savings, and that wouldn't stretch very far. She might be able to afford a night or two at the Camelot or Serenity Inn to buy time before she broke the news to her parents.

Wallace's Mom had a small apartment for rent… maybe she could ask if it was available?

She needed a plan…

Mac looked up at her friend, knowing what she probably saw, the pale skin, the dark hollows below her eyes… a short girl who didn't even look like herself anymore.

Her phone buzzed for the hundredth time this morning.

Wally: I'm going to fix this.

Veronica had sent it after Parker called Wallace to find out from his friend on the basketball team was on the student ethics committee.

There had been several from Dick too but since oversleeping and her meeting with Professor Stevens Mac hadn't found the time to respond.

Now… she wasn't sure she ever wanted to speak to him again. She didn't need any more encouragement to make more bad decisions.

A sharp cramp in her side was a painful reminder that she had a time limit on that plan, they still hadn't discussed the legal papers that Cliff McCormack was reviewing for her.

She didn't doubt Veronica would be pulling out her best cerebral sleuth tricks to work an angle to help but right now she just felt overwhelmed with grief for her carefully planned future that was now slipping away.

Tears filled her eyes. It was so dumb to cry, this wasn't going to solve anything. Parker pulled her into a hug, a simple act that made her shudder as silent tears rolled down her face. She didn't resist. Her hands were soft and gently on her hair.

When Parker released her finally they moved towards their room, mumbling something about her friend from Lilith House organizing a protest.

"This new roommate better not get too attached… this is a temporary status." She continued, her eyes had gotten redder.

"Parker, I don't want you to risk your place here." Mac reasoned, the cramping in her stomach becoming more insistent. Parker's family was comfortably middle class but she doubted that they would willingly fight their daughter's case if the administration decided she was a problem.

She watched as Parkers expression clouded over but she didn't say anything else. Mac couldn't think of anything more useless than her friend losing her place here too. Her romance with Dick Casablancas had changed her trajectory and playing Eye Candy discovering Tim Foyle's secret had changed the genre, now the disaster was everywhere.

At this point, a zombie apocalypse wouldn't be beyond her expectations.

How was they supposed to move forwards if the strings were pulled so tight they couldn't breathe?

Parker opened the door, bristling in the doorway, her fingers gripping the handle so hard the knuckles were turning white.

Mac peaked her head inside to see what had caused her to stop.

Standing in the centre of their room was a girl she recognized, admiring an oil painting that had been laying on the dresser.

Gia Goodman turned and greeted them with a smile while holding the Dick pic in her slender fingers.

"Hey Roomie!"