He knows it's a really bad idea. He knows that. But he's already seen three articles (with photographs!) speculating on who the father of CeCs's baby could be, and it's only been four days since TMZ leaked the news. It's so – it feels so invasive, to see CeCe's surprised face in the paparazzi shots, to see zoomed in photos of her stomach which just looks like how her stomach normally looks, only now Gunther knows that it's not normal, that there is a baby in there.
A baby that is not his.
It makes him weirdly achy and wistful and angry, all at the same time. It's not like he wants a baby; Gunther isn't ready for a family, he isn't ready to settle down. He should be relieved that he isn't the father, but all he can feel is…disappointment. Disappointment, rejection, and this all-encompassing jealousy. He never thought of himself as a jealous person but apparently that is a lie, because there is nothing else this awful, angry, yearning emotion can be. And he's beginning to understand it's because he loves CeCe, like, for real love, like, get married and raise a family and grow old and dance and fight and make love and do stupid, cheesy, romantic things for each other love. He hates the idea that anyone else has even been near CeCe, hates even more the idea that someone got to see her flushed and panting and wanting, got to be inside of her and possess her and make her cry out in passion, because all of that? Should be Gunther's and no one else's.
He knows how irrational he's being, how grossly possessive and immature it is to want to own CeCe like that when they never defined their relationship in the first place, but – he's in love with CeCe Jones. He can't change the way he feels.
His palms feel hot as he dials and he wonders why he's doing this in the first place. It's just – those magazines? There were so many options for who the father could be. And sure, he was in a lot of them, but the speculation was wild and he couldn't – it had to be someone and, okay, maybe Gunther is torturing himself, but he wants to know. He understands why CeCe would want to keep it private but damn it, it's not right for her to go through this alone. He's just – making sure. (He pushes the sick feeling away as the phone rings, and takes a long, slow breath.)
"Hello?" Nolan answers and, yeah, this is so not going to go well, considering the way Gunther's hand tightens on the phone just from hearing his voice.
It's not – it's just a chance, he knows that, but one article said something about how Nolan getting fired from Shake It Up Chicago just a few days before the whole pregnancy thing came out was pretty suspicious and they were really close and they worked on routines together everyday and sometimes Nolan would smile at CeCe like, like – Gunther had seen pictures, okay, and it's impossible to not smile at CeCe, but still. (Clearly the green-eyed monster has raised its ugly head and isn't backing down. Rational thought is out the window.)
"Hey it's Gunther Hessenheffer," he says, the tension already coiling up in his gut. "Listen man, I – sorry to hear about, you know, you leaving the show."
"Yeah it sucks. I liked performing there – it's a nice gig, you know?" I do know, Gunther thinks, and chokes it down. "It'll be fine. I'm still dancing might find a new gig – I'm not sure yet."
For a minute, Gunther doesn't know what to say. He's not sure how to bring it up. So, finally he just – says it. "Listen, I – about CeCe… Do you – I mean, are you the – CeCe's pregnant." He feels stupid, and his tongue feels thick in his mouth and this was a terrible idea.
"Oh shit, I know. I don't even – wait, what?" Nolan sounds confused. "Are you – are you asking if I'm the father?" Gunther makes a noise in his throat – sort of a yes. "Jesus Christ! I'm seventeen! I'm in high school! What – are you not the father?"
He – wasn't expecting that. "Listen I just – what? I – no. No, I'm not the – that's not the point – you definitely aren't, uh, you know, involved?"
"Fuck, no, Gunther, I never was. And I just assumed it was yours. I mean, you and CeCe were always so close, and it just seemed like the logical choice…"
"Well I'm not. I don't know who is. I thought maybe – it doesn't matter. She wants to keep it private, it's her business." Gunther is somehow even more agitated now that he was before. It would have sucked if the father was Nolan but not knowing still sucks more. Fuck, he's completely lost his mind. "I'm sorry I'm just – going a little crazy. I – worry about her."
"I understand. I still can't believe you thought it was me but, whatever. It's not me. And apparently it's not you."
"Apparently," Gunther mumbles, and covers his eyes with his free hand. "Listen Nolan, I'm really sorry. Hey, uh, good luck with the career and all that. CeCe's gonna miss you. She really liked you."
It's a little awkward now, but Nolan acts like Gunther didn't just accuse him of an affair with a nineteen year old dance star. "Thanks. I'll see you around, Gunther. Don't go calling too many guys, okay?"
Fuck. He hangs up. Worst idea ever and he's exactly where he started out – with no fucking clue about who it could be or what do to now or how to deal with these fucking emotions.