"Hi, Liza," Mike called, parking his Suburban across the street. "Too bad about last weekend."

"Yeah, sorry." I scratched the back of my head and looked down. "I was in the hospital." I spoke quietly, hoping he wouldn't ask what put me in there. I felt awkward enough without having to mention my pregnancy.

He walked up the walk and jumped up the steps. "What's wrong? I didn't say something inappropriate, did I?"

I crossed one arm over my chest and gripped the other arm. "No. It's nothing." I shook my head. "You know, I think I'm going to sit this one out." I looked at Bella and silently mouthed the word 'sorry.' "I think I need to to sleep."

Mike stepped down. "All right. Do you want me to hang out with you?"

"I think I need to sleep," I repeated in a whisper. I felt cold suddenly.

Both Bella and Jacob nodded as I turned back to the house. I went upstairs, grabbed Bella's purple comforter and went back to the living room. I sat on the couch and pulled it around me.

Charlie brought me a glass of ice water and sat down beside me. "Here, baby."

I took the cup and took a sip. "Thanks, Daddy," I whispered.

"What am I going to do with you?" he questioned, wrapping his arm around me, gently.

I started to cry. My legs were tight and suddenly bent. The shock caused to me to whimper. I hadn't had a major spasm since my birthday, nearly six months before. I tried to force them to straighten, but even pressing down on my knees with my hands brought no relief.

Charlie helped me lay down. "I'm calling Renée. Can I tell her?"

I nodded as he stepped into the hallway and dialed the phone. "Hello, Phil, I know it's late, but I need to speak to Renée. It's about Liza."

I could almost imagine my mother running to the phone, worried and forcibly prying it from Phil's hand. "She's pregnant, Renée." I could imagine her hyperventilating. In fact, I could hear her say 'What' from the ear piece. "Breathe," I heard Charlie command. "She's just having leg spasms and there's a stomach bug going around. Do you want to talk to her?"

I took another sip of my water and tried to stand. I fell, crashing onto the floor. "Dang, that's cold!" The water slashed over my head.

"May-May!" He lifted me back onto the couch. "You okay?"

"Fine, Dad. Just being a klutz." Or at least, that's what I tried to say, it probably came out all jumbled up.

"Do I need to come over there?" I heard Renée say from the phone in Charlie's hand.

I held my hand out. "Let me talk to her." I took the phone in both hands, holding it right on my ear. "Mommy?"

"Oh, Liza!" Renée cooed. "Are you being careful? Have you started taking vitamins? Who's the father? When are you due?" She rambled on, asking various questions. She began repeating some.

"Mom, stop it," I whispered. "I just found out, okay? I'll call after every appointment, I promise. You'll be the second to know everything."

"Who's first?"

"The person who goes with me to my appointments. Dad, Bella, Titus, whoever."

"Titus? Is Titus a boy? Is he the father? What about that Jake boy? Have you had multiple partners?"

Hearing her say Jacob's name gave me the chills, especially under the circumstances. "Mom—"

"You need to know. I mean, you could have an STD. Do you know what they can do to a baby? Have you had all the tests?"

"Mom—"

"What about school? Are you going to drop out? Have you considered all your options? Adoption?"

"Mom, please. I know who the father is. I do not have an STI. Stop talking!"

She fell silent and Charlie raised his eyebrows.

I took a deep breath. "I'm still thinking about what to do next." I told both my parents. "I promise I'll consider everything. I'll get a job; try to find my own place."

"You're a junior in high school," Renée said.

"I'm eighteen. I need to take responsibility for my actions."

"You're in high school," Charlie said. "Do you honestly think you can do this alone? Parenthood isn't easy and you're young."

"You guys were young."

"We were married."

"So, you want me to get married? I don't think I'm a Mrs. Lyons."

"We don't want you to get married, Liza," Charlie said.

"We want you to think about what's next."

"I'm trying to!" I gave the phone back to Charlie, forcibly slamming it into his chest. It hung up with a click. "It's not like I have a bright future!" I took a deep breath. "Hell, it's not like I'm not Isabella!" I stood.

Charlie struggled to hold in a gasp. "May, I know you're scared, but listen to me: 'It's going to be okay.' Alright? We're going to be okay." He spoke slowly. "Just sit down and take a breath. We have time to work this out. I'm not going to kick you out. We all make mistakes."

I didn't want to listen to him. Rage was running through my veins like a drug. My face was burning red and tears were falling, hot on my cheeks. I yelled in frustration and stormed out of the house. My hands were burning and I pulled off the gloves with a scream. I ran to the Greens' house, without meaning to.

----*----

"Thanks, Mrs. Green."

The thin blonde woman handed me a mug of re-heated coffee. "No problem, you're the last piece of Nathan I have. I'll do whatever I can to help." She pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Do you mind?"

A small smile came to my lips. "I would kill for one of those," I groaned.

Mrs. Green held out the open pack. "You can take one if you want." She lit one and breathed in.

I automatically took one and reached into my pocket. It was empty. "Got a light?"

Mrs. Green tossed me a lighter. "Sure, toots."

I lit up and breathed in. As I exhaled, my smile widened. The edge I had been feeling for the past few weeks melted away. I sighed. The nicotine raced through my veins.

"Been trying quit?" Mrs. Green inquired. "God knows I've been trying my hardest."

I took another drag. "Charlie doesn't want me to smoke." I exhaled. "But old habits die hard. Plus, there aren't many jobs in this town. I can't afford them." I started coughing.

Mrs. Green raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason you shouldn't be using smokes?"

"Same ones as everybody else, Mrs. Green." The woman didn't look like she believed me, but she didn't push the subject. We slipped into an uncomfortable silence, until I said, "Well, I'd better get home. Bye, Mrs. Green."