AN-Well, this chapter is the major one here and the hardest to write.
Katie lay on her bed, eyes wide, heart racing. Fear was building up inside of her, fear no girl her age should have right now.
Maddie exited the bathroom. "I'll see you later Kat, I'm going to go hang with Dean.''
''Mads.'' Katie whispered.
''What?''
"Please, don't go.''
Maddie looked carefully at her friend. She looked like she might break into tears at any moment.
''Kat, are you okay?''
"No, I'm not. I don't know if I ever will be.''
''Kat, you and Charlie had a fight. It's not the end of the world.'' Maddie soothed.
''No, Mads. You don't understand...I'm late.''
"Late for what?'' Maddie asked.
Katie began to cry and Maddie realized.
''Oh my God.'' she whispered.
Guy, Connie, Adam, Julie, Portman, Fulton, and Charlie were lounging around in the common room, watching the hockey game. They all looked up when Maddie bounded downstairs.
''Hey Mads, come sit.'' Dean said.
''Maybe later Dean. Connie, can you come upstairs for a moment.''
''Sure.'' she kissed Guy and followed Maddie upstairs.
''Wonder what that's all about.'' Adam mused.
"Katie's up there too. What do you think they're doing, Charlie?''
Charlie shrugged, his eyes on the T. V. Truthfully, he had no idea. He hadn't talked to Katie since their many fights last week.
''No clue.'' he said.
''Are you absolutely sure?'' Connie asked.
Katie hugged her pillow tighter and nodded. "I realized it this morning. I'd been so distracted, but I should have started a couple days ago.''
''It could just be stress. It might not be what you think.''
''But what if it is?'' Katie cried. ''What am I supposed to do?''
Connie sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her. "Then, you'll be ok. We'll be here for you. Charlie will too.''
''Charlie and I have barely spoken for a week.''
"He'll still be here for you. Adam will make sure of that.''
"Oh God, I have to go get a test. They sell them at the Drug Store, right?''
''You are in no condition to go buy one. I will.'' Connie said.
She stood up and walked towards the door.
''Thanks Cons.'' Katie murmured.
Connie nodded and left the room. Maddie took her seat on the bed and comforted Katie.
"It will be alright, Kat.''
Connie walked downstairs to see the boys in the same seats they were when they left. Guy looked up and noticed her.
''Hey Cons, what's up?'' he asked.
Connie gave a tight smile. ''I just have to run to the store. Be right back.''
''Why did Maddie call you up there?'' Adam asked.
"See you later.'' Connie called, leaving.
The boys stared after her. "Anyone else get the feeling she was keeping something from us?''
"No duh, Banksie.'' Charlie muttered.
Connie entered the corner store and went immediately down the pharmaceutical isle. She scanned the shelves and found what she was looking for. Package in hand, she made her way to the counter.
Then she ran into Julie.
Julie went on a quick chip run for the game and was surprised to see Connie there.
"Hey Cons, what's up?'' she asked.
"Nothing much.'' Connie said, reaching for the package she dropped.
Julie couldn't help but eye the package curiously, her eyes widening when she realized what it was.
''I'll see you later Jules.'' Connie said, straightening up and heading for the checkout counter.
Connie made it back to the dorms in record time, sprinting right by the boys in the common room. Julie came in, a few minutes later.
''Hey you. Did you happen to see Connie while you were up there?'' Adam asked, as Julie sat down next to him.
"Jules, you forgot the chips.'' Dean said, impatiently.
"Guy, can I talk to you in private?'' Julie said, ignoring Dean.
"Can't it wait until the next commercial?'' he whined.
She glared at him, silently.
"While you two fight, I'm going to go buy some chips. You coming dude?'' Fulton asked Portman.
"Uh yea, let's go.''
The Bash Brothers left, and Julie was still glaring at Guy, who began to get uncomfortable.
"Fine, what is it?'' he finally asked.
''I ran into Connie at the drug store. Guy...she was buying a pregnancy test.''
All the color drained immediately from his face, his eyes going wide in shock.
''Guy?'' Charlie asked.
He shook his head. "No...no we were safe. We were always safe.''
"Condoms only work about 98 percent of the time.'' Julie said.
''Oh God!'' he exclaimed.
Then, he fainted.
"So, you have to pee on it, and then wait ten minutes.'' Connie said.
She held the package out to Katie.
''Good thing I didn't go this morning.'' she said, trying to make a feeble joke.
"It will be ok, Kat. We're here for you.'' Maddie said.
"Mads, this is gonna take ten minutes. Why don't you go find Dean. I can see it in your eyes how badly you want to.'' Katie said, as she began walking to the bathroom.
''You're my best friend. I'm sticking with you.'' Maddie shouted at the closed door.
''Maddie, if you're still here when I get back, I'll kill you.''
''Bye Cons.'' Maddie said, leaving the room.
''Why did you make her leave?'' Connie wondered.
"Well, Maddie is my best friend...but you're like my big sister. And as much as I love her...right now, I just need you. And not her crazyness.
Connie smiled, touched.
She made her way downstairs just as Dean and Fulton were walking back in. Her eyes found his and his found hers and it was all that mattered.
"Hey, wanna go for a walk or something?'' she asked.
Dean nodded. "Yea, I'd love to.''
''What about game?'' Fulton asked their retreating figures.
''Who cares.'' Dean shouted, wrapping an arm around Maddie.
Fulton shook his head and went to sit down.
"So, Portman ditched us to hang with Maddie...what the hell is wrong with him?''
Guy was sitting on the couch, hyperventilating and breathing in and out of a brown paper bag.
"Connie bought a pregnancy test and now he's freaking out.'' Charlie said.
''Whoa.'' Fulton muttered. "Poor guy.''
Julie's eyes flashed angrily. "Poor guy? What about Connie? Huh, did anyone stop to think about her? What she might be going through. Pull yourself together, Germaine, she might need you.''
Adam wrapped his arm around her, sending her a silent plea to be quiet. She reluctantly listened, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly.
Katie and Connie sat, waiting to hear the timer ring.
"I can't do this.'' Katie murmured.
''Yes you can. You have to be strong. If it's positive, you have to be strong for the baby.''
"What if I can't Connie? What if...a baby is not what I need right now. What if I take a different road.''
Connie shook her head. "Kat...there's adoption. There's so many thing. Plus, you might not even be pregnant. Please, don't go down that road.''
Katie nodded softly. "I wasn't really thinking about it. I couldn't...it's so wrong. But the idea crossed my mind.''
''I'm sure it crosses a lot of people's minds. But you have us...you have Charlie. You'll be ok.'' Connie assured her.
They both turned their heads toward the bathroom door as they heard the timer go off.
Maddie and Dean walked hand in hand through the mall.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into coming here.'' Dean muttered.
Maddie smiled, softly.
''You ok? You've been kinda quiet.'' he said, looking at her carefully.
"Can we talk? Like a serious talk?''
Dean nodded and Maddie led him over to the fountain. They sat down.
"Alright, what's up?''
"I know you've been physical with your girlfriends of the past.''
Dean looked down in embarrassment.
"I'm waiting until I'm married.'' Maddie said.
He looked up, slightly surprised. "Really?''
She nodded. "My mother always taught me that it's a special gift, to share with your husband. My Gran felt that way too.''
He smiled.
"I need to know that you're ok with that.'' Maddie told him. "I need to know that it doesn't matter. That you still want to be with me.''
Dean tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and leaned in.
"Mads, this isn't about sex. I have never felt this way, about anyone before. It doesn't matter, and I still want you. I still want an us.''
Maddie smiled brightly and leaned in to kiss him.
Connie walked downstairs and everyone looked up at her.
"Hey guys.'' she said.
Guy stood up and ran to her, embracing her. "Oh, Connie.''
"You ok, Guy?'' she asked.
''Connie, I know you must be so scared right now, but you don't have to worry. I'll be here, ok? I love you, I'm not going anywhere.''
"Are you feeling ok, sweetie?'' Connie asked, confused.
"I've been thinking. We were always meant to be. No reason we can't bring the plans forward.'' Guy pledged. "We can get married.''
''Guy, what the hell are you talking about?''
"Jules saw you with the pregnancy test. It's ok, I know.''
Connie smiled. "Guy, I'm not pregnant."
''Wha?''
"Guy, I'm not late. I'm not pregnant. The test wasn't for me.''
''Are you serious!?'' he exclaimed.
Connie couldn't but laugh at the expression on his face. She hugged him and he hugged her back.
''So, who was it for?'' Adam asked.
Katie walked downstairs. "Charlie, can I talk to you for a minute.''
It was as if a bomb went off. The moment she uttered those words, Adam's face turned red with rage. Guy was just barely able to hold him back.
"You. I'm going to kill you, Charlie. I'm going to fucking kill you!'' he screamed, trying to reach around Guy.
Charlie's eyes never left Katie's as he nodded and followed her upstairs.
They sat in her room, the silence ticking by. Finally, he spoke.
''Kat, I'll be here you know.''
''I know.'' she said.
More seconds passed before she spoke again. "I'm not pregnant Charlie. The test was negative.''
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief.
"What happened to us. We used to be so happy...so in love.'' she said, quietly.
"We just hit a rough patch, Kat. We'll be fine.''
"Charlie, we haven't been fine since the cabin.''
"You can't blame this on sex.'' Charlie said.
''Oh come on, Charlie! Ever since we came home we've been fighting. First it was about sex. Soon, it was because of hockey practice. Then because I was hanging out with Cade. Finally, you were late to my birthday dinner.''
"I thought you understood why I was late.'' he muttered,
"I do. That's another reason, I mean, our parents are dating. People keep making jokes. Now this? Charlie, I'm only sixteen, I can't handle all this.''
''What are you saying?'' he asked, fearfully.
"I think we should break up.''
There was a silence after she spoke, and Charlie swallowed hard.
''Kat, we can try to work around this...please...''
''This is tearing you apart too. You're doing worse in school. We're both suffering.''
By now, tears were sliding down her cheeks as her body racked with quiet sobs. Charlie quickly sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her.
"I hate what this is doing to you.'' he murmured.
Katie wiped her tears away. ''Charlie...''
''It's over...isn't it?''
He looked at her, and she looked at him. Memories of the past year, and the year before ran through both their minds.
Finally, she nodded.
His eyes closed as if in great pain and nodded as well. He stood up, and walked to the door. His hand on the knob, his body frozen.
''Goodbye, Kat.''
Then he was gone. Katie sank down onto her bed, sobbing openly now.
Charlie walked downstairs, and at that moment, Adam was in his face.
''Is she pregnant?'' he demanded.
''No.''
Just then, Maddie and Dean walked in. Maddie's smile faded as she saw Charlie.
''Is Katie ok?''
''Fine. She's not pregnant. She's single, but she's not pregnant.''
''You dumped her?'' Adam asked, angrily.
''No, she dumped me.''
Maddie ran upstairs to comfort her friend. Adam sighed, his angry demeanor deflating.
''Charlie.''
Charlie held up a hand to stop him, and shook his head. Without a word he was gone.
AN-And that's the end...please don't hate me for breaking them up...please.