It’d been nearly a week since she’d told him about the baby, and she still couldn’t believe his response. She didn’t know what to do. How could she be responsible for another human being when she could barely get her own shit together?

Kristen took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She’d have to. That’s the way it was.

Her hands moved down to her stomach. There was no way she would give her baby up.

“It’s just me and you, kid. We’ll figure this out.”

It was funny, but she hadn’t said anything out loud about Grant in the last week. He was a fucking asshole and hadn’t even come by to check on her or tried to call her again. But she wouldn’t talk bad about her baby’s father. Not now. Not ever.

They didn’t need him. She would figure it out. At the same time, it felt like her world was falling apart, but the baby gave her hope she could do better, be better.

Failing her baby wasn’t an option. It hadn’t asked to be brought into the world.

She hadn’t tricked Grant, no matter what kind of bullshit he’d conjured up in his mind. She’d taken her pill, had checkups. She took all the precautions, other than him coming inside of her, of course. But it’d felt so right in the moment.

She’d thought about what would happen plenty of times, if she did happen to get pregnant by him. This was the last way she’d envisioned things going.

It was always a passing thought, though—dismissed as impossible due to his age and her being on birth control.

In her own little fantasies, she’d thought about different romantic ways to give him the news. Maybe at a nice restaurant, like the one he’d taken her to, or with a card in the place where they’d made their little miracle.

Each time she pictured the scene, it was full of happiness and love. He’d lift her up and twirl her around, kiss her, and promise to be the best dad in the world.

Sure, she thought he’d be shocked, and maybe a little concerned. He’d ask questions and what not.

But she never dreamed he’d react the way he did. Never would she have thought he would blow her off for a week or accuse her of lying and trying to manipulate him.

The man she’d fallen in love with had completely changed. Or maybe he hadn’t. Maybe he was showing his true colors and really was a self-centered asshole who only thought of himself.

He hadn’t acted like his usual self as he’d driven her back the night of their date, either. Something was going on with him. Was there something else?

The old Grant never would have accused her of making up a pregnancy.

Various thoughts ran through Kristen’s mind, and she wondered how much of it was panic and how much was her seeing the situation more clearly.

Was he seeing someone else? Did he have multiple girls like her on his arm? Booty calls? Was it another girl in the class? Did he find out something that scared him away from her? Was it Bailey?

That bitch.

Maybe she’d gone to him and made threats or scared him away, just to be a dick. She wouldn’t put it past her.

Perhaps there was something that she’d done that threw him for a loop, but instead of talking to her about it, he decided to break it off completely.

The pregnancy was making her an emotional basket case. She’d never felt so many emotions rip through her body at once. One minute she’d be fine and the next want to tear someone’s head off. She’d forget things she’d just done or where she’d just put her phone. She’d already spent most of the morning crying, something she never did. The tears started up again and streamed down her cheeks.

She shoved her hand against her mouth, stifling a sob. It was the best she could do just to sit up in bed, let alone try to eat anything. It was three in the afternoon, and she hadn’t moved in hours.

Stefani walked in the room. “You all right?” It looked like it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light, but once they did, she saw Kristen still lying in bed looking miserable. “You sick?”

“I need to leave.”

Stefani stared and then set her purse down and flicked on a light.

Kristen’s hands shot over her face.

“Are you crying? What happened?” Stefani ran over to the desk and grabbed the chair, then pulled it up to Kristen’s bed.

“We broke up.” She didn’t mean to be so dramatic, but she couldn’t stop. She’d thought about an abortion a few times, but there was no way she could ever go through with that. She couldn’t bring herself to get rid of a life she’d created. The baby was still half her, even if it was half of the man who’d broken her heart.

“I’m so sorry.” Stefani always knew what to say, and how to comfort her, but at the same time, Kristen saw there was almost a flicker of relief in her face. She knew Stefani never approved, but she hadn’t said anything more about it after their conversation a month ago.

“I loved him s-s-so much.” Kristen sobbed.

Stefani shook her head, trying to cheer her up. “He’s the last thing you need in your life right now. It’ll get better. I promise. Just focus on school and getting your life together. You don’t need some professor to make you happy.”

“You don’t understand.”

Stefani sighed. It was going to be difficult getting through the breakup but even harder without the support of her roommate. She wanted someone to tell her it was okay and that he’d come running back, however stupid that was. She just wanted some assurance everything would work out.

“I’m pregnant.” Her words came out mumbled.

Stefani gasped, then quickly schooled her features.

More silence.

Finally, she nodded. “Are you sure?”

“Look at the test.”

Stefani walked to the bathroom, and then came back in the room. “Did you tell him?”

“I texted him last week. And he called right back.” Kristen waited for Stefani to say something, but she said nothing. She looked up, and Stefani was looking out the window, her eyes darting back and forth like she was lost in thought. She didn’t ask what Grant had said. Didn’t ask what Kristen was going to do. She just stood there.

“You must think I’m an idiot. Look at me.”

Stefani still just stood there, staring. Finally, she spoke again. “I hate him.”

Stef didn’t look back at her, but for some odd reason, Kristen felt the need to defend Grant.

“It wasn’t his fault. I should’ve been more careful. I should’ve known better.” Kristen put her hands over her eyes, closing out the world.

Stefani sighed once more.

She thought Stef was going to call her an idiot. Tell her how stupid she was. Scold her for only blaming herself.

“Have you eaten anything?”

Kristen didn’t answer. She didn’t uncover her eyes.

She heard the sound of the fridge suctioning open and a lid popped off a container.

“I made macaroni and cheese last night. It’s not the greatest, but you should eat something. The baby needs nutrients.”

Kristen said nothing. She heard the sound of pasta being scraped into a bowl and buttons on the microwave. Stefani might not have the right words to say, but she was doing her best.

When the microwave chimed, Kristen sat up in bed, her heart heavy and her eyes red. Stefani was still silent and handed her the bowl on a napkin with a fork. She sat down, and Kristen stabbed the macaroni.

Stef put a hand on her forearm. “I’m gonna miss you.”

Kristen didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. She hadn’t realized how close she’d grown to Stefani over the past few months, and now that her decision was made, she knew she’d have to say goodbye. Tears rolled down her cheeks again. She sat the pasta down and jumped out of bed.

The two girls embraced, and Kristen broke down and didn’t want to let go of her.