Heather was miserable. She hardly got any good sleep the past week, thanks to morning sickness—that, coupled with the fact that Bruiser wasn't there anymore, destroyed her mental health.

She felt so alone. Even when Courtney came back and told her all about her date with Scott, she still felt alone. She noticed Courtney seemed to adore Scott. She spoke about him differently than she did with the other guys. At least Heather had that to focus on instead of wasting away in the depths of despair.

But of course, Courtney fell asleep, leaving her with no one to talk to for a distraction. She found herself picking up her phone and clicking Alejandro's contact. She hesitated before texting, afraid he would have some other girl over there again. She couldn't get that scene out of her head. It bothered the hell out of her in so many ways. She didn't think she could be this jealous. She felt as if something was building up inside her that would explode at any given moment.

Nevertheless, she texted him. A couple of text messages later, she headed over to his dorm.

Heather had no idea why she found it harder to talk to Alejandro than let him make out with her against the wall. That was exactly where she ended up with him again, even after all that with the blonde girl the other day. She felt kind of hostage to her own emotions. She knew he was very capable of hurting her, yet she still let him do whatever he wanted with her.

Alejandro kissed her neck wildly. Every time he did this with her, he felt closer and closer to breaking. He didn't know how much longer he could hold back about his feelings for her. "You're so beautiful," he mumbled against her skin.

His words infuriated Heather. She suddenly pushed him off her. "Oh yeah? I'm beautiful, huh?!"

"Uh, yes, I do not understand what your issue is with that."

"I can't even believe you have the NERVE to put your hands all over me and tell me I'm beautiful when you do the same thing to every other woman!"

"What else would you want to hear, Heather?"

"I literally cannot believe I'm still doing this shit with you! I mean, what is wrong with me?!"

"I don't know. You are the one who freaked out."

She glared at him. "You know exactly what you're doing to me. Can you just please do me a favor and never agree to have sex with me again?"

He blinked. "Wait...are you implying that you're falling for me?"

"As if!" She blushed. "I'd never fall for a jerk like you! I heard you talking to Justin yesterday about how hot Courtney is!"

"But I forgot to mention that you are hotter, señorita." He was telling the truth, but he made it sound like flirtation.

"You can cut the act." She kept picturing every girl in the world's hands all over him, and she would never admit it, but it killed her.

"I think I finally got you, Heather. It took a little more time and effort, but I got you to fall for me."

"I didn't-I... didn't fall for you," she choked on her own words, bowing her head in embarrassment.

"Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. I have this effect on every woman, no matter how long it takes." It really hurt him to say that to her. He felt like he was forcing himself to break her heart.

"Well..." she thought of everything they've ever talked about together - well, the small talk - and all the times he made her feel like she was in heaven with his holy touch. And then there was the baby. He's good. Too good. Terribly good. "...Congratulations then. Tell me, Alejandro, what number am I on your stupid body count?!" She angrily shoved past him, tears blurring her vision as she walked out the door.

Heather didn't waste any time getting out of the fraternity, making sure none of the other guys saw her like this. She ran across the street and behind the sorority to the gym. She slid against the wall, hugging her knees and bursting into tears once she made sure no one was there. No one likes you, Heather.

Her heart could not handle this anymore. She spent way too much time crying in private, never telling anyone why she was upset, keeping secrets, telling lies...it was becoming too much for her. And so much of it had been cooped up for so many years.

Meanwhile, Alejandro was speechless when she ran off. Absolutely speechless. He was beyond upset he said that to her. The hurt look on her face was a look he'd never forget.

You know what? Fuck this stupid bet. She's more important.

He ran out of the fraternity and knocked on the sorority doors. "I need to see Heather," he immediately told Sierra when she opened them.

"Um...why?"

"I just need to see her! Where's Courtney?!"

As if on cue, Courtney came up. "Oh, hey Alejandro-"

"Where's Heather?" He cut to the chase.

"I have no idea, but she has this spot at the gym behind the sorority. She likes going there to practice ballet. Why?"

"I need to talk to her."

"...Alright then?"

"By the way, nothing personal, but I think we should stop seeing each other."

"Wait, what do you-?" He left before she could finish. I'll deal with Courtney later.

He ran to the gym and peeked through the door to see Heather bawling her eyes out. He frowned, his face softening. He opened the door and walked in.

The moment Heather heard him, she immediately started wiping her tears. "L-Leave me alone, please."

Alejandro didn't listen, coming closer. He sat down next to her. "Heather, it's me."

She clenched her jaw hard. "Who the fuck do you think you are?! Following me around now like a crazy stalker?!"

"Heather! Heather, calm down," he said softly.

"Don't tell me to calm down, you piece of shit asshole jerk face!"

"Whoa, what an animated vocabulary you have." He couldn't help but tease, but she wasn't having it.

She sniffled. "I hate you."

"Heather, look at me," he said firmly but gently at the same time.

"W-What?" She turned towards him, tears still trickling down her cheeks. When Alejandro looked into her eyes, he saw a broken person. He could already tell this wasn't the only time she's ever been hurt this badly. With her tears, he could see her walls slowly being stripped away.

"I know I've played many women. And that was my intention with you at first. But that is no longer the case, because recently...I've come to realize that you have stolen my heart. I am in love with you, Heather. And it scares me to death, so I hid it by pretending I was still trying to use you. But I can't...I can't see you hurt like this. I just can't."

Heather looked at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "...What? No, stop lying!"

"I am not lying. Not at all. This is real. I promise. Heather..." he looked into her grey eyes. "I love you. I have never said those three words to another woman. Ever." His heart raced with anticipation, and his own eyes watered with tears of joy and relief. Relief that he finally got it off his chest. He never knew how great it felt to say that to someone in a romantic way until now.

"You love...? You really love me? Me?"

"Sí," he whispered, stroking her face. "You. I want to get to know every single part of you."

"Even the bad parts?" She sniffled.

"Yes, even the bad parts. All of you, mi amor."

"...I don't think you'll want to." She bit her lip.

"Heather, when I say I want that, I mean it. I mean it with all of mi corazón."

Her face flushed dark red. "Alejandro, I... I think I love you too. And I'm going to be honest before this goes any further. I don't know what love is, so I'll probably screw it up." She fiddled with her hands.

"Why is that mi ángel?"

"It's so pathetic."

"I doubt it."

"My own parents don't even love me. They never did. My dad hardly paid any attention to anything I did, and my mom..." her voice cracked as more tears came out. "Sh-she always did terrible things to me."

Alejandro noticed her body was shaking badly. "Come here," he held out his arms for her. She scooted over and let him hold her. She immediately tensed up once her head hit his chest. "It's ok. You can tell me whatever you want. This is a safe place." He soothingly rubbed her arm.

"She...she..." Heather could hardly speak through her sobs. "When I was eleven years old, she convinced my dad that it would be a good idea to try electroshock therapy on me to make me a nicer person. Since I had no other treatment, we couldn't get it done legally. So, we went to some back-alley person. They didn't put me to sleep for it."

"Qué?! Heather, oh my god...no." He held her tighter. "That must have been so painful." He squeezed his eyes shut to keep from breaking down in front of her.

"It was. They told me it was ok that they were doing it this way, and that it would fix me. I-I thought it was normal until I took my first psychology class senior year of high school. You're supposed to only do it when the patient is under anesthesia. My mom said I could never be helped. I-I don't really know how to be better."

"You said you were not given any treatment beforehand?"

"No, I wasn't," she shook her head. "I talked to one therapist. One. She gave me anti-depressant medication, but my mom wouldn't give them to me to take. She just told the therapist it wasn't working."

"Did you ever tell your therapist?"

"No. My mom said if I told the truth, she'd stop buying me things. And eleven-year-old me loved getting spoiled."

Alejandro furrowed his eyebrows in deep concern. "That is...so messed up."

"Yeah, I know. I'd rather get everything I want than tell someone the truth."

"What? No, I wasn't talking about you, Hermosa! I want you to know that absolutely none of this is your fault. Your parents want to know what's wrong with you? Well, they're the base of the problem. No one should be treated the way your parents treated you."

Heather legitimately could not fathom that someone cared about her this much. She sat up out of his arms. "Alejandro...I'm scared."

"Por qué?"

"I'm terrible at keeping relationships with people. I don't want to fuck this up for the both of us. What if it ends worse than it started?"

"Heather, you can't worry about that," he said, holding the back of her head. I can tell you desperately need to be loved. And I need it too." He gently lifted her chin. "Haven't you already been hurt enough? Let me love you, beautiful."

She blushed, not able to hold back her feelings for him anymore. She kissed his lips passionately, pressing herself against him. Alejandro kissed back with no hesitation. The bet no longer mattered to him anymore. José could say what he wanted. All he cared about was her, which was very different for him. He went from caring only about himself to being willing to do anything for this woman. Only she could make him change this drastically.

"Heather," he breathed. "I want to make love to you."

Her cheeks flushed red. "I'm all yours then."

"The same goes for me, mi Amor."

She stroked his face. "Should we go back to your place? Or is Duncan the idiot boy there?"

"No, he's at his parents' house for the night."

"Perfect."

Alejandro took her hand and helped her up before they headed over to the fraternity. Once they walked into the dorm room, he scowled. "Ugh, I apologize for the mess he left on his side. I wish we could do this in a more romantic setting."

Heather smiled. "It's fine. Maybe some other time."

"Sí. I'm with you, and that is all that matters right now." He held the back of her neck as he kissed her with passion. "I want to go slow this time. I want to memorize every inch of you."

She smirked, unbuttoning his shirt, and placed her hand on his chest. "Then let's get started, amor."

"Mmmm, I love that word coming from your gorgeous lips." He stepped closer and continued to make out with her. She took off her shirt and bra, allowing him to feel all over. She never wanted his hands off her.

He planted kisses from her neck all the way down her stomach. "Your skin is so soft, my love." He looked up at her lovingly as he gently began to rub the area between her legs. "I can't wait to taste you again." She shut her eyes, shakily breathing in and out as he unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. He ever so slowly pressed his lips to her womanhood, tenderly kissing there.

Heather started panting like crazy, immediately feeling pleasure build up in her stomach. Alejandro stopped and picked her up. He couldn't help but make out with her as he carried her to the bed. He got right back down between her legs and carried on eating her out.

She threw her head back, moaning at the sensation. Alejandro licked faster and more intensely, beyond ecstatic that he was making her feel so good. He kept going, getting her favorite spots repeatedly until she climaxed.

"You're so amazing at that," she breathed, massaging the back of his head.

"I know exactly how you like it," he whispered, kissing her with love and affection.

"Want me to do the same to you?"

"Not tonight. I don't think I will last another second," he chuckled, crawling on top of her. He never took his eyes off hers as he got undressed.

Heather pulled his body down onto hers once he was completely naked, desperate to be as close to him as possible. Alejandro moved her legs apart and slowly entered her. They both gasped in unison. The experience felt so much better already because they both had confessed their love for each other. He nibbled on her lower lip as he began to slide in and out.

"G-god, Heather...oh, Heather...baby."

She soothingly rubbed his back, panting with him. The look of pleasure on his face gave her an indescribable sense of euphoria. She kissed him intensely, thrusting in rhythm with him.

"Ahhh, mi Amor," he groaned. "You're so perfect...muy beautiful."

"Alejandro, oh my...yes..." Heather whimpered, her whole body trembling with every movement.

After no more than a couple of minutes, they reached their edges together. Alejandro stayed inside her for a moment, breathing her in and focusing on how amazing she felt. She traced circles on his back while he kissed her bare shoulders repeatedly.

"Alejandro?" Heather asked after a moment of blissful silence.

"Hmm?"

"Why did you play all those women?"

He swallowed. "I...my brother José and I had this stupid competition to see who could sleep with the most girls. And of course, he's slept with more women than I," he retorted, pulling out and laying next to her, still short of breath. "He always has to win at everything. I'm so sick of it. The competition was all I could think about until recently." He kissed her neck.

"You know, you don't have to be better than him at everything."

"I want to be better at at least one thing. When I'm around him...I feel like I have no power. I guess when I played those women, I felt like I was in control."

She scooted over and laid on his chest. "Have you guys always been competitive?"

"Oh yes," he nodded. It all started when I came home from kindergarten with my first report card. I had almost all A's and two B's. José got mad that I was getting all the attention and showed my parents his second-grade report card, which had all A's. My parents were overly excited and had a celebration for him. He always overshadowed me." Alejandro clenched his jaw as he bitterly reminisced. "Always the smarter one, the more handsome one. He acts like an angel around everyone except me."

"I remember how he acted when we were working on the project." Heather looked up at him. "If it's any consolation, I think you're so much better than José. And smarter and sexier."

A wide smile appeared across his lips. "Really? You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"

"No, of course not." She tenderly kissed his collarbone. "If I thought otherwise, I wouldn't be laying here with you right now."

He wrapped his arms and legs around her naked body, holding her as close as possible. She felt like home.

"I don't wanna lose you," Heather whispered. She had never felt so close to someone in her life. "I... I'm so afraid that-"

He kissed her. "Shh, don't be. I am new to this as well. We'll learn together, ok?"

"Together," she repeated. Heather was so used to doing things on her own. But being with Alejandro made those things easier. She poured her heart out to him, and he didn't judge her. He loves me, just the way I am. Wow...

Then she remembered.

I'm pregnant. Oh no... I'm pregnant! If I didn't already chase him away, this will surely do it!

Alejandro noticed the distressed look on her face. "Heather? Whatever is the matter, mi ángel?"

She nervously bit her lip. "I have to tell you something."

"Anything." He rubbed her back.

"...I'm pregnant."

Alejandro froze in place. "...Qué? How is that possible? We used protection!"

"I don't know. The condom must've broken!" Her eyes watered. "I'm sorry. I-"

"What? No, don't apologize for that, Heather! It was the both of us." He took a deep breath, taking it all in. She's pregnant?! Oh my Dios...

"I-I don't know what to do." A tear trickled down her cheek.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Well...in the end, it's your decision. What are you thinking of doing?"

"Um...I was thinking adoption. But I'd also like to have your input. Are you going to want to leave me if I continue with the pregnancy?"

"No, no! Of course not! I will take on any responsibility. I love you so much, and I already love this baby." He kissed her forehead.

"You...love the baby?"

"Sí. We made him or her together."

She blinked. Wow...we did. We made a human together. That's kind of amazing. "I don't know if I'd want to be a mother...especially this young."

"There's no pressure. But if you decide you want to keep it, I am more than willing to be a father."

Heather felt more relaxed now. "Thank you, Alejandro." He is way too good to be true.

"Of course, Hermosa." Alejandro was freaking out on the inside, but he kept it together for her. He couldn't imagine what it must've been like finding that out and being afraid of how others would react.