Summary: Continuation of 180. Kirsten comes out of that bathroom stall 8 minutes later.

Disclaimer: It might be over but I haven't managed to somehow steal it!

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So yeah…turned out I couldn't just leave it like that!

Relax. Enjoy. Forget the math; this fic isn't meant to fit into any particular time line. And I for one definitely know the hell that is the O.C. timeline.

For Em.

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TGI Friday

She took a deep breath, and another. This was, perhaps, the second hardest thing she'd ever done. This time was definitely worst than the last. Little things like last week's calculus test, even big things, namely breaking up with Jimmy, paled to insignificance. There was only one thing she knew was worse and the idea of hitting that low a second time filled her with molten fear which solidified inside her, rising up like sickness and choking her throat. Steeling herself for the worst yet desperately trying to block out the thoughts of what the hell she'd do if it came to that, Kirsten screwed her courage 'to the sticking post' and glanced at the test stick.

II

Two lines.

What the fuck did that mean?

She scrabbled for the wrapper. There was a moment of complete silence as Kirsten frantically tried to focus on the symbols, breathing forgotten. She was sure her heart had stopped beating out of fear; she couldn't even hear that. The images were jumbled and she had to shake herself before they were legible.

T error I positive II negative
T error I positive II negative

II negative

Negative

Negative

Suddenly her heart was thumping again, loudly. A veritable tattoo in her chest. Lungs screamed for air, there was a prickling behind her eyes and tensed muscles began to relax, sinew by sinew. Kirsten sank back onto the toilet seat, breathing slowly and rhythmically against the nausea that threatened to engulf her for no reason now. She quashed worried with each breath.
It was okay. She'd taken it correctly, she'd waited long enough and not too long (that was past 10 minutes, not the 6 it had taken her to look). They were highly accurate. It had been so unlikely anyway…

It was okay.

When her legs felt strong enough she stood up and bundled the test paraphernalia into the trash. The corner she'd torn off the packet she slipped into her purse, a small, unidentifiable reminder. Squaring her slim shoulders, Kirsten unlocked the cubicle and stepped out into the bathroom she'd barely seen when she entered. She washed and freshened up at the basin, quieting the whirlpool of emotions evident in her eyes. The orbs blue and green with relief, happiness, receding fear and surprisingly, a hint of sadness. She fluffed her hair and managed to crack a smile at her reflection. The Newpsies would freak if they saw her like this. Of course, her makeup was still flawless but it was more minimal than ever, her nails, painted but only with clear polish, had been done herself, the perm had nearly grown out of her hair so it hung in only its natural waves and she planned to keep it that way.

Plus Sandy liked it.

Sandy

Sandy. Simply her boyfriend again and not the father of the potential baby. She liked that too. Kirsten glanced at her watch, he'd be nearly done with his last class of the day and if she hurried she'd make it in time to meet him outside… She hesitated, what if he had plans? Or was with all his friends and didn't want her hanging around? Sometimes it was damn hard dating a senior.

She'd just go she figured; it was his loss and plus, she'd been lucky one today! Decision made Kirsten left the bathroom without looking back.

.

Outside the sun was shining. Kirsten had either forgotten or not noticed what a nice day it was and the weather was a pleasant surprise, the warmth welcome after the chill of the AC inside the mall. Sometimes she really loved California. Especially Berkeley, where the fact it actually rained more than once in a blue moon made the sunshine even better. She blinked in the brightness and set out across campus, footsteps as light as her heart.

The quad was empty when she arrived. It might be five to five but the professors weren't letting classes slack off, even if it was Friday. The senior law class didn't emerge until 10 after, Sandy kidding about with some of the guys in the centre of the stream of students. His law text books were held loosely under one arm, his free hand gesticulating wildly, the story or joke that she was too far away to hear making his friends crack up. His hair was standing on end where he'd obviously run his hand through it repeatedly during the last hour or so. No doubt it had been a dull lecture. Poor Sandy, but he did look damn cute like that. Kirsten saw him glance about and her heart gave a little jump, was he looking for her? She didn't meet him after class that often; they'd only been together a few weeks and she didn't want to push the boundaries, plus it was rare their schedules matched up. Fridays however she was free from eleven and meeting Sandy was a good way to start the weekend. Kirsten watched as he scanned the crowds of students, delighted by the instantaneous grin on his face when his eyes fixed on her. She felt a rush of things she couldn't quite place mingled with affection and desire. A lot of that. It had been a long and stressful week and she wanted her boyfriend. What was wrong with that? Nothing other than the irony that lust was what had caused all that stress in the first place. Well fuck it, it was over and she was happy.

Sandy took leave of his friends and sauntered over, Kirsten meeting him halfway and flinging her arms round his neck. They kissed in the courtyard, not an unusual occurrence in itself but it was rarely so obvious or lengthy. But hey, she was in that kind of mood today. They broke apart to wolf-whistles.

'Good afternoon to you too,' Sandy said appreciatively.

Kirsten blushed slightly. 'Hey.'

'I think we passed that point,' he teased.

She stuck her tongue out at him and they began walking in the direction of his mailtruck. Sandy kept giving her sideways glances as they made their way along the streets and through the park, obviously her mood was catching. His eyes burned and the hand he trailed down her shoulder to rest lightly at her waist, fingertips grazing the bare skin between her jeans and polo, made her shiver. She eyed him back, rewarded by a quickening in pace. The walk had never seemed so long.
At long last they were in the street behind the college gym and it was Kirsten's turn to tease; winding herself around Sandy as he fumbled with the padlocks on the back of the van and then lingering on the steps, admiring the sky when he finally had the door open.

'Get in,' he growled.

She laughed and obliged, clambering up before turning round and raising an eyebrow at Sandy who was rather obviously admiring a rather different view.

'How did you know?'

'I know,' she told him, pulling him in after her, his lips already closing in on hers and his hands wandering before the door was barely closed.

Definitely a good start to the weekend.

.

'Sandy,' Kirsten murmured later, not really thinking but feeling like she had to tell him, if only to prove him wrong. The things he'd said were nagging her. The secret felt heavy in the air between them and she didn't like it. There were bigger things to hide, this she could reveal.

'Mmm?' he asked sleepily.

'I took a pregnancy test today.'

Sandy sat up so fast she thought he was having some kind of seizure. '…!...?...!' read his expression as he turned to look at her, mouth moving but no sound coming out. His disbelief that she could drop such a bombshell and yet remain snuggled peacefully underneath his blanket was evident.

Kirsten realised what it must have sounded like and put him out of his misery; 'It was negative.'

'Oh.' His breath came out in a raspy rush and she knew she'd given him a fright.

'I just…wanted to tell you… I didn't mean to scare you…sorry.'

'No,' he said, lying back down beside her. 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have freaked. I just wasn't expecting that!'

She looked away, tears prickling at the back of her eyes. 'I shouldn't have said.'

Her boyfriend sighed, audibly, and she felt worse than ever. She was only trying to prove she trusted him and she'd managed to screw up. She felt his fingers pressing firmly against her chin, drawing her face back to him.

His eyes were soft, deep, blue and completely focused on her as he spoke. 'I know why you did and I'm touched. I love you. Pregnant or not you should never be scared to tell me anything.'

'I love you too,' she whispered back, blocking out thoughts of one thing she really couldn't tell him. She had barely swallowed the lump in her throat before he was kissing her and they began celebrating the start of the weekend again!

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So I lied when I said the fic was only a one-shot. But you know me. Never 10 words where you could have 10000, never a one-shot when you could have two! Not sure when I'll manage to post something new up but I am doing bits of things when I can so don't give up on me yet. Thanks for reading and please R&R

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