"Pumpkin, are you ok?" James asked tapping on her room's door.

"I am fine, Papa." Sherlyn answered as she turned around to throw up again.

"I heard you running, so I was worried." James explained.

"I was in a hurry to go to college." Sherlyn answered.

"Okay, the breakfast is ready." James said and Sherlyn splashed water on her face standing infront of the mirror.

She raised her T-shirt and looked at the still flat abdomen.

"I couldn't believe that there is a baby in here." Sherlyn said rubbing her hand over her abdomen.

Her phone rang loudly making her rush back into her room.

"Hello Ardeth." Sherlyn spoke.

"Hey Sherlyn, How are you feeling today?" Ardeth asked concerned.

Sherlyn lied to him that she wasn't feeling well the last day, and skipped the college.

"I am feeling good." Sherlyn replied, "I came back from Marcie's home just this morning." She lied further.

"Okay, I will pick you up near your home in twenty minutes." Ardeth informed.

"No." Sherlyn shook her head, "Marcie is here, she is driving me to the college." Sherlyn said not wanting him to see her fall sick, and get suspicious. She wasn't ready to tell him about the baby yet.

"Okay, I will see you at the college."

"When are you telling him?" Marcie asked as she drove them into the college parking lot.

"I am still shocked with my pregnancy, I have to come to peace with myself, before I can tell anything to Ardeth." Sherlyn said, "I want to figure out, what I wanted to do with the baby."

"Are you thinking of abortion?" Marcie asked carefully.

"I for sure can't do that." Sherlyn shook her head, "I can't think of killing a innocent life."

"Good." Marcie smiled, "Talk with Ardeth, and figure out what to do further." She said nodding towards Ardeth, who was leaning against his car, looking in Sherlyn's direction.

Sherlyn nodded and walked towards Ardeth.

"You look a bit off-colour." Ardeth pecked Sherlyn's lips.

"Just some weakness, I will be fine." Sherlyn assured.

"I am going to Soccer practice." Ardeth informed.

"Okay, I have to study for the exams, I am heading to the library."

"Can we catch some coffee, after the college?" Ardeth asked Sherlyn, making her remember her new found distaste to coffee.

"Umm... I have plans with Marcie." Sherlyn said nervously, "We are planning for group study, I can't come with you."

"It's just a coffee." Ardeth requested.

"Sorry, Ardeth but I promised Marcie." Sherlyn shook her head in No.

"Okay, I love you." Ardeth kissed her forehead.

"Me too." Sherlyn replied.

"Hey Sherry, are you following some weightloss plan?" Nick asked sitting beside Sherlyn in the cafeteria.

"No, why did you ask so?"

"You have been eating only fruits, and you lost weight." Nick stated as he eyed the fruit slices on Sherlyn's plate.

"That..." Sherlyn trailed off not knowing what to answer. True she was eating nothing but fruits from past two days, since every other thing made her want to throw up, so she stuck to the safest option.

"Here, I ordered some steak, eat it." Nick said pushing the steak infront of Sherlyn.

"Excuse me, I remembered something." Sherlyn excused and ran towards the restrooms.

Sherlyn walked out of the restrooms after throwing her guts out, she didn't feel like going back to classes, and she doesn't want to go to Soccer field either, that only added to her anxiety. She decided to go home.

"Sherlyn." Ardeth called as she jogged towards Sherlyn's car in the parking lot. "I was searching for you."

"I was in the cafeteria." Sherlyn replied.

"Yeah, I went there and Nick said you left just a few minutes before I arrived." Ardeth answered. "Anyways, let's go and dine out today."

"No." Sherlyn said making Ardeth frown, "I am sorry, but I want to go home, I am not feeling well."

"What happened?" Ardeth asked concerned.

"Nothing, just feeling tired." Sherlyn said with a assuring smile. "I need to rest."

"Okay, take care." Ardeth nodded, and watched as Sherlyn drove away.

"Papa, pass the ball." A little boy shouted as he kicked the ball near his father.

"Here, you go buddy." His father said kicking back the ball, making the boy laugh as he managed to score the goal

"Papa, look I scored a goal." The boy announced with pride in his eyes.

"That's my boy." His father said throwing him up in the air, and catching him.

Sitting at a distance in the park, Sherlyn watched the kid and his father, with a smile on her face. She rubbed her belly.

"I am planning to tell your father about you, I don't know how he would react but I want to do it, because I can't hide you from him, and deprive him from the joys of parenthood, if he wants you." Sherlyn spoke with her hand on her belly. "No matter, what your father's decision is, you will always have your mother."

Sherlyn turned around to look in the direction of the kid, as she heard laughter, and saw his father running around with the boy on his shoulders. She smiled looking at them.

"When you are going to tell us about the baby?" The sudden voice startled Sherlyn.

"Collin." Sherlyn breathed out looking at the intruder.

"When are you planning to tell us?" Collin asked taking the seat beside Sherlyn.

"Am I that obvious?" Sherlyn asked.

"Yes, you are sitting here alone, speaking with a hand on your belly, isn't that's what most of pregnant women do?" Collin raised his brow.

"Do they? I don't know, I never been close to any pregnant women." Sherlyn shrugged.

"Does Ardeth know?"

"No, I am planning to tell him tomorrow." Sherlyn answered, and Collin nodded.

"You don't have practice today?" Sherlyn questioned.

"Coach gave us an off today." Collin informed, "I was on my way to get some snacks in the cafe across the park, when I saw you."

"I was feeling nauseous, so I came here for some fresh air." Sherlyn explained.

"Are you feeling good now?"

"I am good, but hungry." Sherlyn smiled, "I wasn't able to keep down anything lately."

"Poor you, want to join me to get some snacks?" Collin offered.

"Sure, let's go." Sherlyn said and they walked to the cafe.

"Hey Ardeth, everything's okay?" Nick asked as he watched Ardeth sitting down on the couch with a forlorn look.

"I don't know." Ardeth sighed.

"Is it about the game?" Nick asked.

"No, it's about Sherlyn."

"What about Sherlyn?" Nick furrowed his brows.

"She has been acting indifferent since past two days." Ardeth sighed.

"Yes, I observed that too." Nick affirmed.

"She is not spending time with me like she used to, and whenever I ask her to come out with me, she is making excuses. Even today, when I asked her out, she said she wants to go home, but I saw her sitting in the park." Ardeth sighed.

"Did you speak with her about it?"

"No." Ardeth shook his head. "I am scared."

"Why?"

"I don't know." Ardeth sighed and looked at Nick, "Do you think she is..."

"Cheating on you!" Nick said cutting off Ardeth, "How can you even think of that, after knowing about Sherlyn." He snarled.

"No, you moron." Ardeth furrowed his brows.

"Do you think she is ashamed of me?" Ardeth asked sadly, "because I am constantly failing in the matches."

"You should know better than that about Sherlyn." Nick rolled his eyes, "She would never do that to you."

"I know, but still..."

"You know what? You both should speak." Nick stated.

"She is not taking my calls, and whenever I try to speak with her she's running away." Ardeth sighed.

"You go take a shower, clear your body and mind, while I make a quick phone call." Nick said grabbing his phone and stepping into the balcony.

"Did you like the cupcakes?" Collin asked Sherlyn.

"They are yummy." Sherlyn said taking a bite, "Feels like heaven, this is the real food I am having in past two days."

"Good then, should I order more?"

"No, I am good, thank you." Sherlyn said pulling out her mobile, which was ringing non-stop. "It's Nick." She said to Collin and attended the call.

"Hello Nick."

"Sherry, where are you?" Nick asked as soon as she spoke.

"Umm.. in the cafe across..."

"You need to come to my apartment right now,  it's about Ardeth." Nick said frantically.

"What happened to Ardeth?" Sherlyn panicked.

"You come here, I will explain." Nick said and disconnected the call.

"What happened Sherry?" Collin asked looking at Sherlyn's panicked face.

"I don't know, something is wrong with Ardeth, I have to go." Sherlyn said as her voice broke.

"I will drive you there, come." Collin said leading Sherlyn to his car.