I had to put this story on hiatus for a while since I lost all of my notes. I found them last night and knew I had to update this right away. I already had the next few chapters outlined, so I figured you guys deserve more than one chapter today since you've all been so patient and are still with me after all this time.

Sunday afternoon Esmeralda woke up in an unfamiliar place.

At least, it seemed unfamiliar at first. Once her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight coming in through the windows and the grogginess faded, she remembered she was on the couch in Holli Would's apartment. Holli was a dancer like Esmeralda. The two of them met over the summer and became fast friends.

Esmeralda realized that after what Jasmine did, Holli was probably her best friend now.

"Afternoon, sleepyhead!" Holli greeted. She walked into the living room from the adjoining kitchen. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head in a bun and she was wearing a white cocktail dress. Despite being dressed up, she looked like she just woke up.

"Afternoon," Esmeralda grumbled, sitting up. "You look like hell."

"Then I guess we're twins."

Esmeralda laughed and shook her head. "I just woke up. What's your excuse?"

"I just got home from Tzipporah's party."

Tzipporah was the one who gave Esmeralda her start at the beginning of the summer. She was a choreographer who worked on concerts and music videos. She hired Esmeralda to be in a couple of music videos and that's where she met Holli. Despite working in New York this summer, Tzipporah and Holli both lived in Los Angeles, not far from Andalasia.

"I'm surprised you're here," Holli continued. "You're always welcome here, of course. I just never expected you to just show up here."

"I had a bad night. I caught my boyfriend cheating on me with my best friend."

Holli gave her a pitying look and came to sit down next to her. "I'm sorry. That sucks."

Esmeralda fought back her rising anger. She didn't want to take this out on Holli; her only real friend, as it were. "Yeah, it does."

"I don't know why you even bother hanging out with those 'regular' people. You should be spending your time with important people; people in your own league."

"Actually, Jasmine is the daughter of The Sultan of Hollywood." Esmeralda said Jasmine's dad's nickname in a mocking tone, but really he was actually a big deal in the movie industry.

Holli stared at her with wide eyes. "Are you serious?"

Esmeralda nodded. "She lives a regular life during the school year, though."

"I can't believe you never told me you have those kinds of connections."

"Well, I don't anymore. She stole my boyfriend and she can drop dead for all I care."

"Couldn't you play nice just a little bit longer? Long enough to introduce me?" Holli pouted playfully.

Esmeralda rolled her eyes. "Fine. She's going to be at a party tomorrow; I guess we can go so I can introduce you."

Holli scrunched up her nose. "A high school party?"

"Do you want to meet her or not?"

Holli sighed in defeat. "Fine, we'll go to a party hosted by public school kids. Maybe you and I can liven it up a bit."

XXX

Sunday night, for the first time in what felt like forever, Ariel had the house to herself. Her dad had gone out bowling with some friends. And with tomorrow being Labor Day and no one having work or school, Ariel's sisters all had plans and went out tonight. Ariel was grateful for the quiet and being alone.

She was curled up on the couch, watching a movie. When someone knocked on the door, she groaned out loud at the interruption.

When Ariel answered the door, she was more than a little surprised to see Urchin on her front porch. He seemed just as surprised to see her.

"You do still live here," he said.

Ariel nodded. "All my life."

Urchin looked nervous. "I was hoping you still lived in the same house from when we were kids. I want to talk to you, but we never exchanged phone numbers and I didn't want to have this conversation over DM."

"Is everything okay?"

"That's what I came here to find out," Urchin said. "About what that girl said last night-"

"Look, I'm not in the mood to listen to anymore judgement from anyone else, okay?"

Urchin held up his hands in surrender. "That's not why I'm here," he said. "I came here as your friend to check on you. That's all."

Ariel bit her lip. "Really?"

Urchin nodded. "I just wanted to make sure you're all right. And I'm here if you need talk and have someone actually listen to you."

Ariel opened the door wider. "Do you want to come in?"

"Yeah." Urchin gave her a smile as he walked inside.

Ariel led him into the living room and they sat next to each other on the couch.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Urchin asked.

Ariel told him about getting pregnant and having the abortion. She told him she had done it because she didn't want to ruin hers and Eric's lives by having a baby in high school. She told him about how devastated and betrayed Eric had been when she told him and about how she feels guilty, but doesn't regret it. Surprisingly, Ariel didn't cry when she told him. Once it was all out in the open, Ariel felt more relieved than sad.

"That's a lot you've been dealing with," Urchin said after she finished.

"My dad was angry and disappointed in me when I told him I was pregnant and then had an abortion. He always told my sisters and me that if we're not ready to have a baby, then we're not ready to have sex. He told me the baby was a consequence for my reckless actions and I should have had the baby and accepted my responsibility. He's forcing me to see the school's guidance counselor once a week to deal with this."

Urchin put his arm around Ariel and pulled her closer to him so her head was resting on his shoulder. "I think you're brave, Ariel. You knew everything you'd have to face after going through with the abortion, but you were still courageous enough to do what was best for you- and Eric. I think you did the right thing."

Now Ariel did start crying. Urchin was the first person to say that to her.