The Lies We Tell

A/N Hello! New chappie! Enjoy!:)

Chapter 3

Catherine stared at the test. One word kept beating through her brain. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. She gripped the test in her hands, and fought against the truth.

Vincent...she had to tell Vincent. He needed to know. Gathering herself together, she ran out to her car, and drove to his house. Along the way, she started to construct a conversation in her head...

You know that night we said we were never gonna talk about? Well, now we have to...

Guess I'm giving you a kid before Alex...

Are you ready to be a father?...

Before long, she had pulled in his driveway. His car still sat in front. Instead of a formal church wedding, Alex had wanted a beach wedding. Gathering her courage, she knocked on his door.

A moment later, it swung open to reveal Vincent in a suit. He was working on the tie. "Catherine!" he exclaimed. "I didn't think I would see you before the wedding! Come in!"

Catherine walked past him, trying for deep, even breaths. No point in passing out. She made her way to his couch and sat down. He followed, and sat beside her. "So, what's going on?"

"I...um...I had to talk to you...before the wedding," Catherine stated.

"Okay. Well..um...I actually need to talk to you, too," Vincent told her.

"Okay, uh...you go first." Something told her that after he heard her news, he would forget whatever he was gonna tell her.

Vincent rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh...I, umm...I told Alex. About us. What happened that night. I didn't want to lie to her."

Catherine's eyes widened. "I see. That's...probably for the best. How did she take it?"

"She was angry. She, uh..wanted to cancel the wedding. But, uh...I told her why it happened. I told her about what Marks did to you. She was still angry, but...she forgave me. Forgave us."

"Oh. I'm...I'm glad. That's great for you."

"There's more..." Vincent said quietly.

"What?"

"You know Alex's dad? The surgeon? He lives upstate."

"Yeah?"

"He...uh...he got me a job in his hospital."

"Oh...Ohhhhhh. I see. Um...when would you have to leave?"

Vincent's eyes dropped. "After we get back from the honeymoon. They need me there as soon as possible."

"Uh huh. Well, that's great! I'm really happy for you. This is a great opportunity for you. Truly!" Catherine put fake enthusiasm into her voice. Inside, she was dying.

"I didn't want to wait till today to tell you, but I...really didn't know what to say."

"Oh, no! It's fine. You don't owe me anything."

Vincent looked at her funny. "You are my best friend. Of course I do!"

Catherine stood up. She started walking toward the door. "Well, I won't hold you up anymore. You need to finish getting ready."

Her hand had just turned the handle when she heard, "Wait! What did you want to tell me?" Shit! Turning back around, she forced a smile.

"It's...nothing. It can wait. Honest," Catherine stuttered out. Vincent eyed her.

"Come on. Just tell me," he urged.

Catherine took a deep breath. I'm pregnant. Two words. Just say them... "I broke up with Evan."

Vincent raised his brow. "Well, I'm glad about that. But, is that really why you came all the way over here?"

I'm pregnant. "Yep, that was it."

"I don't believe you."

I'm pregnant. "No, that was all I wanted to tell you."

"Catherine..." he said, his voice deepening.

"Okay, that wasn't all I wanted to say. I'm..." Catherine stopped. Vincent stared at her.

"Your...?" he asked.

"I'm..." Catherine couldn't do it. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't ruin his happiness. So, she opened her mouth, and lied. The first of many she knew she would be telling. "I'm so happy that you found that special woman to spend your life with. You deserve it, that happiness. Hold on to it. Cherish it."

"That's what you wanted to tell me?" Vincent asked, incredulous.

"Look, we have been best friends for 17 years. But now, she is going to be your best friend. The one you share everything with. I've had you to myself long enough. I just realized that now I have to share you."

"This doesn't change us. It doesn't change the way we feel about each other."

"No, it doesn't. But, can you look me in the eye, and tell me that...marrying her isn't going to change everything else?"

"You are still my best friend. You always will be. That will never change."

"Yes it will. You'll start a family, and they will be more important. And, that's the way it should be."

"This sounds like you're saying good bye."

"In a way, I am. I'm saying goodbye to our youth. And, I'm saying good bye to sleepovers and movie nights. I'm saying goodbye to the memories," Catherine said, as she wiped tears from her eyes. Damn hormones!

Vincent saw the tears. He wanted so badly to hold her in his arms. But, she was right. In a couple hours, he would be a married man, and everything would change. It didn't matter that he was desperately in love with Catherine. He had committed himself to another woman. He would need to honor that committment. "We'll still talk on the phone."

"I know. But, it won't nearly be the same. But, it shouldn't be."

Vincent said the hell with it, and approached Catherine. He pulled her into his arms, and kissed the top of her head. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into his chest. He grabbed her face, and kissed her swiftly on the lips. She pulled back, surprised. "Just saying goodbye to my own memories," he told her.

"I love you, Vincent. That won't change. Ever."

"I love you too, Catherine..."

"Be happy, Vincent. Just be happy."

A/N Well...*hides under table* Just so you know, I never meant for him to find out in this chapter. Next chapter jumps forward a year. Review!