CHAPTER FOUR

Cloe was lying in bed. She couldn't believe that this would be her life for the next eight months. She hadn't planned this pregnancy; she didn't even want the baby, but she knew that the father wouldn't approve of her rejecting the child, so it looked as though she was stuck for now! If only it hadn't happened! They both knew how much her pregnancy upset Ellie, but she couldn't have controlled her ever growing feelings for Jack, and considering that they weren't a couple anymore, there was no reason why Cloe and Jack shouldn't have been together.

For Cloe, too, the impact of carrying Jack's baby was enormous! She had truly believed that she and Jack were the real thing when they had slept together, but seeing the devastation and hurt caused not only to Ellie, but to Ved too, she had realised that she was in love with Ved, not Jack. If only the baby was Ved's…!

There was a thud outside of the mall and a lot of muffled noise that sounded like angry shouts. Cloe, being the curious girl that she was, got up to investigate the source of all the commotion. She knew that she shouldn't be getting out of bed, but she needed to stretch her legs, and she wanted to know what was going on. Still feeling weak, she struggled out of the room, grasping onto the nearest object, and pushing one leg before the other.

"CLOE! What are you doing? You should be in bed! Your blood pressure's hardly gonna go down if you're walking around, and doing strenuous exercise!"

"Ved," Cloe exclaimed, practically falling into his arms. "I thought I was here on my own! I heard a noise, and I was…well scared, I guess!" she replied sheepishly.

"I'm gonna take you back to bed and then I'LL go and see what's happening!" Ved answered masterfully.

Ved helped Cloe back to her room, and back into bed.

"I'm gonna go and let you rest!"

"No, wait Ved!" Cloe begged. "Don't leave me! Stay here and keep me company!" she said, placing her hand on his arm, as he turned to leave.

"I'll only bore you, Clo. I don't have any news really!" Ved responded.

In a quiet voice, still with her hand on his arm, she replied, "You could never bore me, Ved! Please don't leave me alone! Barely anyone comes to see me, and I miss their company…I miss you!"

Ved sat himself down, uncomfortably, on the chair next to the bed. She was so beautiful in spite of her bed hair, and her teddy bear pyjamas. But she also looked so vulnerable; as though she needed someone to protect her. That used to be his job, and he had loved it! He loved having her on his arm, so that everybody could see that she was his girl. And God he loved her so much; but things would never be the same again between them. She was carrying someone else's baby, and not just anyone else, but Jack's! Jack, his best friend!

As though she could read his thoughts, Cloe asked tenderly,

"Is there no way that we could be together again?"

"Cloe, you're having someone else's baby! I think that says it all!" Ved thundered.

"We could raise the baby as yours! I still love you, Ved!" Cloe said timidly.

Ved couldn't believe the nerve of her, and declared incredulously, "No, Cloe! It's over! You can't pretend you never cheated on me with Jack! Every time I look at the baby, it would be a constant reminder of what you did, and it would only destroy us in the end!"

Ved walked slowly to the door, determined not to let her see how much she had gotten to him. At the door, he paused and turned to face her, adding, "And if you love me, as you say you do, why did you sleep with Jack? Why, Cloe? You never told me, and I think I have a right to know!"

"I don't know the answer to that! I really don't! I wish that I did, because it was the worst mistake of my life! You're everything to me! I love you with my heart and soul! You are my life!" Cloe replied, tears rolling down her cheeks, her eyes all blotchy from crying.

Ved exited the room, leaving Cloe there in a numb state. She had really lost him, and it was all her fault. He only just made it to his room, pushing past Mouse, Sammy, Trudy and Brady, and Siva, on the way, before he eventually gave in to his emotions.