Chapter 3: I Need You

KC Guthrie walked home as fast as he could, feeling more stupid than ever. I can't even walk right without bumping into people, and Clare of all people, KC thought angrily.

He entered the apartment building and forcefully pressed the elevator button. The elevator seemed to be taking forever. Ever since KC found out about Jenna's pregnancy, his newly stable world came crashing down, and he had no say in anything. How can Jenna not want an abortion, KC thought. Doesn't she know that a kid would ruin our lives?

It's not like KC wanted to harm Jenna by having her go through the abortion. He just believed that it's worth the risk if it would help them in the long term. She had her dreams to become a singer, and KC wanted to make it through high school in one piece, and a baby would send them both on a detour. All of this could have been prevented had Jenna not been so irresponsible and gone to the freaking doctor when she first started feeling the symptoms, KC was thinking, beginning to fume again.

Yes, KC felt angry, and he knew that he was being a jackass by abandoning Jenna, but what he mostly felt was helplessness. He couldn't go through one day of school now without feeling ashamed and lost.

KC pulled out his house keys and opened the door to his apartment.

"Heyyy honey!" his mom yelled from the kitchen. She walked over and gave KC a kiss on the cheek. "How was your day?" As she was waiting for an answer, she continued chopping carrots.

"Oh, you know. Same old, same old," KC answered quietly, just wanting to go to his bedroom and think things out on his comforting bed.

"Fine, be a teenager and give the answer every parent hates!" KC's mom teased, smirking at KC. "How's Jenna doing? I haven't seen her around here lately," his mom noted. KC hadn't told her about the break-up, and he certainly didn't tell her about the pregnancy.

"She's doing just great mom," KC answered, getting nervous at the topic of Jenna.

"Well, you should invite her over for dinner sometime. She's a great girl, I really do like her," she said, putting the knife down and looking at her son.

"Uh-huh, hey mom, I'm really wiped out from school and football practice. I think I'm gonna crash for a while." KC replied, wanting more than anything to put this downhill conversation to an end.

"Okay, I'll call you when dinner's ready," she smiled.

KC entered his bedroom, dropped his backpack and duffle bag, and practically fell onto his bed. As soon as he had quiet, his thoughts rushed back into his head.

He began thinking about the pregnancy again, knowing that these thoughts had been running into his mind over and over again, and yet he still felt like crap. Heneeded a support system. Jenna wasn't the only one who was alone now, plus, she has her brother to support her. KC had nothing. He couldn't tell his mom or any of his friends, because they would automatically judge him for abandoning Jenna. But he knew one person who wouldn't judge him. Clare couldn't judge anyone. She was the nicest, most pure-hearted person he knew. And yet he acted vile towards her. She didn't deserve what he did to her. But now she seems to be happy, and I'm miserable, KC thought. I had it coming.

Maybe it was fate that I bumped into Clare, KC mused, his hands behind his head as he lay on his bed. Of all of the people at Degrassi, Clare was the one standing there. Now, thinking about Clare made his heart feel empty, because he knew he had messed up with her, but all he wanted was for them to be friends again. Right now, he needed Clare more than ever.