A/N: Sorry guys! I swear, I edited the chapter and I thought I posted it, but apparently I didn't. So my bad!
A/A/N: Also, I love the reviews and suggestions. Even if I don't use your idea immediately, I love having ideas to play with and a preferred song list for characters to pull from for future reference. Writing this stuff is a definitely a team effort.
A/A/N: Song featured is "Secrets" by Maroon 5.
Emma sighed and rested her face in her hands as Addie and Nina slid into their seats at the lunch table already occupied by the brunette and Annie. "I thought if I knew about her, I'd have a better sense of closure," she confessed unhappily. "Instead, now I just feel worse."
"There was no answer that was going to make you feel better, Boss," Addie told her sympathetically. "If she'd been a floozy, you'd think that he had no self-restraint—which he doesn't—and if she was ugly, you'd think he was pathetic—which he is. The only way you could have possibly felt better about it would have been if it was something completely out of your scope, like if she was into the same kink he was or something."
"Ew," Annie opined.
"Ashwin's not into…kink," Emma contradicted.
"How would you know if you two never—?" the blue-streaked blonde asked.
"He's not," Rhi voiced as she came up behind them and took a vacant seat. "As far as guys go, he's pretty vanilla. Sweet, but plain."
"Can we talk about something else?" Annie pleaded in discomfort.
"I just can't stand it," Emma ranted unhappily. "I always thought he cared about me, but if he really did he'd never have screwed around with Casey the Soccer Whore behind my back—"
"Casey?" Nina repeated incredulously.
"Boss, even the best guys are just a bundle of hormones." The curvy sophomore sipped her coffee and shrugged. "And personally, I think the ones with the mild-mannered exteriors have the most potential for sleaze."
"And you'd know this based on what extensive personal experience, Addie?" Annie scoffed at the lesbian, who merely shrugged again. "Not every guy—"
"Casey?" Nina voiced again, still blinking in disbelief.
Emma brought her face up and stared at the junior. "Yes, Nina—Casey from soccer camp, apparently."
Nina couldn't get the shocked expression off of her face. "Our soccer camp—he told you Casey Lawson? Are you sure?"
"Casey Lawson or Stalin or something or other," Emma waved the question away. "What does it matter? Some girl that he couldn't have known for more than a couple of weeks convinced him that almost two years of our lives was worth throwing away." The brunette sighed. "I feel sick."
"It's going to be okay, Emma," Annie assured her friend. "All of this will fade soon enough."
"Annie." The girls looked up to see Michelle staring intently at her teammate. "I need to talk to you."
The sophomore's mouth went dry as she met the younger girl's worried dark eyes. She glanced nervously to her teammates before nodding and standing. She moved to the tiny freshman and matched her step as she led the tall girl out of the cafeteria and down the hall.
Michelle kept walking purposefully, silently—the latter of which unnerved Annie more than anything. She'd never heard the busybody so quiet since first laying eyes on her, and by the way the girl's eyes darted back and forth along their path, she felt a deep, sinking feeling that the week was getting worse by the moment.
The young Cheerio gave another glance around before making an abrupt turn into the girl's room right before they passed it, dragging her friend inside. She pushed the door shut forcefully, then pivoted to face the older girl.
"Annie, I just found out—" The two paused as they heard a hacking sound echo from the stall, and a flush that preceded the door opening. Annie's eyes widened in fear before she watched—Katie appear next to them.
"Katie?" Michelle piped up. "Are you okay?"
The blonde's head snapped over toward them in surprise, eyes darting over to where she'd just exited. "I think I came down with something," she replied, grimacing as she scooped some water from the faucet into her hands and washed out her mouth. "The stress recently has been…well, I'm just feeling pretty awful."
Michelle glanced at the other girl's muddled reply, but Annie placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Trust me, I know what you mean," she told her. "Let us know if you need anything."
Katie assessed the girls critically. "I'm not the way back to Care's good side," she warned them.
Annie huffed. "We're on the same team Katie," she reminded the freshman. "Don't shut us out because of something stupid. Not now, when we need each other most."
"What do you mean?" Katie asked dubiously.
"Annie's about to be outted as preggo," Michelle spoke up, unable to contain herself any longer and receiving a shocked and livid response from Katie and Annie respectively. "I'm sorry, but I had to tell you. Lindsay warned me just before lunch—I told you doing a test at school was a dumb idea. It's coming out before Friday, so we have to figure out what we're going to do."
"You're pregnant?" Katie whispered.
Annie nodded, but Michelle shook her head, causing the blonde girl to look at them quizzically. "It's not one hundred percent certain, but I'm pretty sure," Annie confessed.
"Which is why I brought this," the Aubrey Hepburn look-alike revealed, reaching into her backpack and bringing out a small paper bag. "It's time to find out for real."
"I don't need another test," Annie stated firmly, though her eyes betrayed her fear. "I just know it." She whimpered slightly.
"Annie—" Katie said, reaching out to soothe the older girl.
A sob escaped from the brunette as she began to cry. "I'm only sixteen," she said miserably. "I saw what Quinn went through—I don't want that."
"Annie, you still don't know for certain," Michelle insisted, pushing the bag into her hands. "I think you should take the test before we really freak out."
Annie sniffed as she nodded, trying to steady her breathing as she slipped into one of the stalls, and Katie watched as Michelle whipped out her phone.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
The tiny brunette glanced uneasily at the closed door. "Calling in reinforcements."
Everett walked into the weight room for the first time since freshman year. He wasn't really the work-out type, and the guys that were tended to enjoy throwing his type into dumpsters or slushies. Yet here he was, doing something really stupid.
He sighed in relief as he saw the room was almost empty, save for the husky boy finishing his reps on one of the machines. His shirtless back was drenched in sweat, and his tawny hair was more disheveled than usual as it shifted in clumps across his scalp. Everett watched him grunt as he strained to finish his set and blushed as he grabbed the discarded gym shirt on the bench beside him and dug it over his face into his hair as he turned, revealing an impressive set of muscles despite the softness of his torso.
Coby pulled his face out of the cloth and finally noticed the curly-haired junior at the door. He broke into a smile as he reached over for his water and called out a greeting before making his way to the other boy.
"So Roger," he continued in good spirits. "What brings you to this neck of the woods?"
Everett was still flushed by the larger boy's physical state, and had to take a deep breath as he focused on his purpose. "I just…" he bit his lip and tried again. "I've decided it's time," he said quietly. "After what happened to Hayley—I don't want that to be me."
The burly boy's face drew concern as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be okay. What happened to Hurricane and Stase, that was awful, but fear shouldn't drive you into this kind of thing. If you're not ready—"
"No, I have to," Everett told him. "I've called some friends from the theater circuit to meet this afternoon and tell them. As for the rest—"
"This may sound hypocritical," his teammate advised him, "but you might consider telling Little Audrey and your dads first. I think they'd really be okay with it, you know?"
The slighter boy's eyes lingered on his crush's before dropping guiltily to the ground. "Actually, I kind of have a confession," he voiced softly. "I've already told them. I actually told them before I told you." There was a pregnant pause, and he finally brought his eyes up to see the confusion in the other boy's gaze.
"Why did you tell me you hadn't told them?" Coby asked.
Everett shrugged as his face flushed brighter. "You were being so nice to me—I liked it. And I was afraid that the more people that knew, the less you'd think you had to be around…" he trailed off in embarrassment so that the next words almost got lost in his hurried mumble: "and I liked having you around."
The room was silent, and the theater geek fidgeted with the buttons on his shirt nervously. He'd rarely seen Coby upset, and he was terrified to see what was happening in his friend's expression.
"I don't like being lied to," the larger boy finally told him. "Just because I look simple and unshakeable doesn't mean I'm okay with being taken advantage of." Everett nodded contritely, waiting for the rest. "That said…"
Suddenly the dark-haired boy felt heavy cloth set upon his shoulders and encasing him. He looked up in bewilderment to see Coby smirking as he looked over Everett—now wearing the jock's letterman jacket.
"I don't want to be too assuming," the larger boy said, "but if you're open, I've got a suggestion for how you can tell the rest of the school…"
While the heated blush that took over Everett's face now represented numerous emotions—shame was definitely no longer one of them.
Watch the sunrise, Coby sang, walking slowly to the door, say your goodbyes, off we go
Some conversation, no contemplation, hit the road
The boys began harmonizing as they started down the hall, Come over please, jump outta my seat
Coby finished, On the side of the highway, baby
The burly boy laced his fingers with Everett's as they both continued, Our road is long, your hope is strong
And the jock continued as he pulled him into the auditorium, Please don't ever let go, oh no
Everett stood in the center of the stage as Coby circled him wolfishly, unable to keep the embarrassed grin off of his crimson-flushed face, I know I don't know you, but I want you so bad
Coby slid up behind him, Everyone has a secret, oh can they keep it? Oh no they can't
The more graceful junior slid out of the other boy's reach, agilely spinning and twisting around the stage as he took on the second verse.
I'm driving fast now, don't think I know how to go slow
Oh where you at now, I feel around—there you are, he continued as he finished a series of spins as Coby raced up to him so they were facing each other at the end
I know I don't know you, but I want you so bad, they harmonized
Everyone has a secret, oh can they keep it?
Oh no they can't
"Another meeting?" Emma asked incredulously as she slipped into the bathroom, Addie and Rhi close behind her. "We've already heard about Coby and Everett, Michelle. You guys realize we were in the middle of—" she looked at the somber Cheerio faces (plus Dylan) in front of her. "What happened?"
"Annie's knocked up," Michelle replied instantly, causing Dylan to roll his eyes in exasperation and Katie to smack her lightly as Annie groaned from her hiding place in the stall.
"May be pregnant," the blonde corrected insistently.
"Oh my god," Rhi voiced, taking a sip from Addie's coffee cup to keep from saying anything else.
"Oh-my-god what?" Nina asked as she pushed her way into the crowded room, Roxie and Dalton hot on her heels.
"Seriously, Chelle," Annie called from behind the door. "Did you call everyone?!"
"This is the girls' room, Dalton!" Addie exclaimed. "And a girl's emergency! No boys allowed!"
"Dylan's here," the sophomore rejoined casually. "And you texted Rox that it was an emergency—what's going on?"
"We texted Roxie because we need her support for Annie's…condition," Michelle told him lowly, turning to Nina and mouthing obviously, "Preggo!"
"Oh my god—Annie's pregnant?" Nina gasped.
"Annie's pregnant?" Caroline repeated in disbelief from her place in the doorway, causing Annie to moan louder in mortification.
"Shhh!" the tiny Cheerio hushed her, pulling her Captain inside and shutting the door.
"Laura Michelle Harrison," the youngest Hudson growled. "I'm going to kill you."
"You can't do this alone, Annie," Michelle insisted. "That's why we're all here for you."
"Yeah, but I don't think she really wanted us all here and now," Katie replied lowly to her best friend as the honey-brunette maneuvered to where she and Dylan stood against the sink.
"What are you going to do Annie?" Addie asked over the stall. "I mean, you're only sixteen—"
"I can drive you out to the Planned Parenthood in Akron," Rhi offered. "I get my pills there all the time."
"I'm not having an abortion!" Annie countered shrilly.
"First things first, Nee," Nina voiced calmly. "You have got to come out of that stall."
Just then the entrance to the restroom swung opened yet again, and the group's eyes widened collectively at the girl who stood in the doorway.
"What part of 'Fuck off' and 'Not my problem' is beyond your understanding, Harrison?" Stassi snapped before realizing the sheer number of people standing before her. "What the hell?"
"Annie's pregnant, Stassi," Nina said quietly.
Stassi huffed. "No she's not," she replied acerbically.
"Yes she is!" Michelle insisted. "And I called you because you're her friend too, and we need your help."
"She's not my friend," the Armenian girl contradicted, eyes narrowed. "I don't have friends. But if I did, I wouldn't bring a rave into the bathroom while she was freaking out over a scare. I'd bring someone that mattered." She reached outside the bathroom and jerked her arm, eliciting a grunt from a puzzled bleach blonde with dark frames covering his eyes as he entered the room. Stassi rolled her eyes. "Now leave me alone," she told them before turning out of the room and striding back down the hallway.
"Apparently this has now become a unisex bathroom," Addie scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Uh, what's going on?" Hayden asked, head tilting this way and that as he tried to gather his wits.
Michelle stepped forward. "Annie's pregnant," she told him. "It's yours."
The blonde boy's eyebrows shot straight up into his platinum hair. "Wait—what?"
Michelle huffed, "You see, when a boy and a girl love each other very much—"
"Or get very drunk," Rhi added with a smirk.
"I don't—Annie can't be pregnant," Hayden insisted, shaking his head as his flustered British inflection began weaving into his words.
"Well, she is," Caroline told him. "And you need to man up and help her, because you're half-responsible for this mess, and she's only sixteen!"
"You wishing it's not real doesn't make it so," Addie told him angrily. "And if you try to ditch her, we'll string you up by your cane and leave you for the buzzards."
"No, you don't understand," the boy told them, his hands defensively out in front of him. "She can't be—"
"He's right," a soft voice informed them as Annie emerged from her stall. Katie and Michelle were instantly at her side, following her tearful gaze as it centered on a tiny square that announced a negative result. She gave a relieved smile as she inhaled sharply to calm herself. "It's negative—I'm not pregnant."
The room heaved a collective sigh and filled with congratulations and embraces. Emma, Addie, Rhi, Roxie, and Dalton all slipped out soon afterwards, allowing the Cheerios (and Dylan and Hayden) to regroup.
"How did you know?" Annie asked him quietly as Michelle expressed her utter relief to Katie for the umpteenth time. "Or was that just denial?"
Hayden chuckled. "Because we didn't…at the party," he whispered to her softly. "Or ever."
Annie watched him quizzically, "We didn't?" she repeated. "But I remember…and we woke up—you know."
"Well, I'm not saying we didn't get a little wild," he told her, kissing her lightly as he slipped his arm around her waist in an attempt to comfort her. "But you said you were a virgin, and as smashed as I was, I didn't want your first time to be drunk on the couch of some girl's party."
"Oh," the tall brunette replied, blushing. "Well, now I feel stupid."
"Hey, let's just write it off as a learning experience," he told her. "And next time—don't tell Harrison first?"
Annie laughed with him. "Definitely," she affirmed.
"Stassi wait." Nina saw the dark-haired girl hesitate as she considered ignoring her call—the former Cheerio'd been doing a pretty good job isolating herself from any and all vestiges of her former status, and she had no reason to consider backsliding.
Somehow, though, Nina's converses caught up with the other girl's stilettos and the Armenian girl sighed impatiently as she slowed to face her. "How did you know?"
"I didn't," Stassi replied curtly. "But I do know that Hudson's an idiot, and regardless, she should have been talking to Mr. Magoo, not the entire team." She rolled her eyes and turned away, pausing as she felt the Cheerio's hand touch her arm to stop her.
"You could come back, you know," Nina told her.
"No, I can't," Stassi answered. "I can't, and I don't want to. Now that we've cleared up that misconception—"
"We're still your friends," the Bulgarian insisted.
"I told you- I don't have friends. It's a relationship, and I'm currently finding all such affiliations completely overrated."
Nina frowned, worrying for the girl she'd known so long purposely cutting herself off from everyone. "Look, I know that Nikki hurt you—"
Dark brown eyes narrowed icily as they fixed on the Cheerio, and she instinctively took a step back.
"Nicole Hardy didn't hurt me," Stassi told her. "Competing at Nationals last year with a torn ligament and a broken toe only to come in third? That hurt me. What happened the other week—she betrayed everything I thought she was, everything that we were together. She was the one person that I trusted, and she wasn't anything like what I thought she was. Hurt doesn't even begin to describe what she did."
Nina watched as the thin girl picked uneasily at her cuticles that pressed against her ruffled pleather skirt enveloping her thin frame. "Some choices are deal-breakers for friendships, and if you'd talked to…you'd just know."
"That doesn't mean that you have to give up on us, you know," the warmer girl tried to encourage her.
Stassi's expression curled into a snarl as she grimaced at her former teammate. "Don't. I know I'm the bitch—don't try to smoothe it over with your Suzie Sunshine approach to life. We aren't going to learn and grow and forgive; and, in case you forgot, we weren't friends before this little masquerade, so let's just stop pretending to give a damn now that it's over." She straightened her knit-wrap sweater tighter around her torso and turned away. "And tell Harrison I'm blocking her from my phone."
Without a second glance, Stassi quickly walked away from the other girl; and this time, Nina didn't try to follow.