"Who's better than you?" Tanzie asked earnestly, taking in her daughter's new appearance. An appearance she'd unintentionally taken a heavy hand with...

Just minutes earlier, a package had arrived for Tanzie. She had been looking forward to this delivery, and would finally have the chance to prove to herself that she didn't need help from the experts. Eagerly, she made her way into the kitchen, just moments from realizing her cosmetological destiny.

"Whatcha got there, Mama?" Colby inquired from the far end of the kitchen.

"I ordered a waxing kit," Tanzie said excitedly, slicing through the last piece of tape. "They always get my eyebrows wrong at the salon, and I figured that it can't be that hard."

Colby, unaware of the horrors awaiting her, and piqued with curiosity, found herself digging through the kit alongside her mother. Tanzie skimmed through the instructions.

"Okay, baby," she said. "Hand me the container that's got the wax in it. We've gotta microwave it for a minute and a half."

As the container rotated in an endless circle, Tanzie turned to Colby, her bright blue eyes sparkling. While they were mother and daughter, the bond they shared was thicker than sisters.

"How 'bout we start with you?" Tanzie suggested cheerfully. Colby hesitated, but ultimately agreed.

Retrieving the tub from the microwave, Tanzie placed it on the countertop. They eyed its contents nervously as the green substance bubbled and spit.

"Do you think we should let it cool down a bit?" Colby asked, uncertainty taking hold.

"The instructions say to do it right away, so the wax doesn't get too thick," Tanzie replied. She grabbed one of the application sticks, dipping it into the wax. Without pause, she spread it across Colby's skin.

"Sweet Moses, Mama!" Colby exclaimed. The temperature of the wax scalded her, but the pain was brief as Tanzie massaged a small square of white fabric over the area.

"Sorry, honey," Tanzie said. Her eyes scanned the instructions as she continued applying pressure to the small section. "Alright, one...two...three!"

She ripped the cloth quickly from Colby's face, the sound of hair tearing from its root the only thing Colby heard. The pain registered a short moment later, and she winced, rubbing the battle zone furiously.

It was only then that she saw her mother's face, her hands clasped over her mouth. "I can fix it!" Tanzie yelped, the doubtfulness acutely evident in her saucer-sized eyes as an errant chuckle burst forth from behind her hand.

"Mama, don't tell me..." Colby mumbled. She took off like a shot for the hallway bathroom. Tanzie followed, laughing unapologetically at the terrible mistake she'd just made.

"It's completely gone!" Colby squeaked. She was half amused, and half outraged at the sight of her new face. The spot where her eyebrow used to be was red, swollen and utterly bald.

The girls giggled over the unfortunate incident, and Tanzie retrieved an eye pencil from her purse, hanging in the foyer.

"If you're concerned about Wyatt, know that it won't change how that boy looks at you anyway," she said smiling.

"That's easy to say when you still have both your eyebrows attached," Colby sighed, unable to hide her smirk.

"Who's better than you?" Tanzie said. She'd always asked Colby this question, and Colby knew the answer her mother expected.

"Nobody," Colby replied, smiling. Of course, she didn't believe that, but she knew her mother believed it to be true. What Tanzie didn't know was that Colby saw her mother in the exact same way.

Footsteps approached the door, revealing the face of a befuddled Wyatt. Cliff Byers followed, hot on his heels.

Tanzie hadn't yet had enough time to draw a new eyebrow for Colby. The looks on the girls' faces were those of deer in headlights.

Colby quickly ran her fingers through her hair, attempting in vain to cover their mishap.

"What kind of trouble have my girls been getting themselves into?" Wyatt asked, pulling Tanzie into a friendly half-hug. He watched Colby suspiciously as she hid her face.

"Oh, you know, just waxed my baby girl's eyebrow right off her pretty face," Tanzie replied, beaming at Wyatt. She'd always loved the Matheson family, and like her father Rick, considered them part of her own.

Wyatt planted himself before Colby, tipping her chin toward him and meeting her eyes. Her hair shifted from her face, exposing the freshly waxed brow.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her eyes brimming with tears.

Wyatt examined her face briefly before breaking into laughter. Colby furrowed her remaining brow angrily, until she couldn't contain her laughter any longer.

"You know," Wyatt said, having regained a shred of his composure. "If I have Tanzie wax one of mine off, together we'll make one face. Can't have you walkin' around feelin' awkward all by yourself."

"The wax is still hot," Tanzie said.

"I guess I've got no choice then," Wyatt replied.

Colby smiled, taking his hand and leading him to the kitchen.

...

"And the two faces shall become one," Tanzie joked, taking in her handy work. She'd removed Wyatt's right eyebrow. Now his remaining left eyebrow would be the perfect complement to Colby's right one.

"You're the best," Colby said, pecking her beloved on the cheek. "Let's go, Dodge."

The smitten couple waved goodbye, off to their daily adventures. They were out of earshot when Cliff shot a dark look in their direction.

"That boy's wasting his time with her," Cliff muttered. "He's just a stable hand, and he should know better."

"Some people choose love, others choose privilege," Tanzie replied, casting a frosty glance his way.

Wyatt

"Alright guys, one more touchdown will put this game away for good," Nash says breathlessly, having just rushed for thirty-two yards to put us in the red zone.

We all nod. Our biggest game of the season couldn't be going much better. Nash is killin' it out there, having run for well over a hundred yards already. Even Cole is all in tonight, not pulling any of his typical douchie shit where he'll overthrow me for his own amusement.

Cole, a team player? Has hell frozen over?

He must want to see the surprise Ari cooked up, only to be revealed if we win tonight. I have to admit, I'm a little curious myself. He showed up to school in time for our final two periods, having locked himself away at home doing goodness only knows.

I ain't going there.

"Let's do this," Cole pipes up, his hand extended to the center of the huddle. We all follow suit, smacking our hands down on top of his, having already received the play from the sidelines.

The football's coming my way in the end zone, and this is my bread and butter. The rest is up to Cole.

We line up, and Grant Hurley snaps the ball to Cole. I'm off and running, stutter-stepping my way to success by faking out the cornerback that's riding my ass. I'm in the clear, with nothing but glorious green and end zone before me.

I cut toward the corner, turning to find the ball buzzing toward me. It's high. Really high, damn him, but not beyond my capabilities. I launch myself upward at the last second and feel the triumphant burn of victory in my fingertips as I close my hands around the ball.

The crowd explodes with uproarious applause and cheers, and it's absolutely deafening.

We win.

For only a moment I catch Colby's eye, and the smile on her face might just about melt me into a useless puddle of goo. Half a second later I'm consumed by my teammates, who leap on top of me and pile on until I'm at the bottom of a heap of maroon and navy humanity.

This. This is the life. I may have to be scraped away from the turf, but I'm lovin' every minute of it.

"Get up!" Ari shouts from the top of his lungs. "Get up! Get off this man, you animals!"

I can make out a little pinprick of light that grows steadily as bodies are being hauled away from the stack. Ari manhandles my teammates off of me, until he reaches out alongside Nash to help me to my feet.

"Can't have you missing out on my magnum opus," Ari says, clapping me on the shoulder and guiding me nearer to center field.

We're just in time to watch our Raider mascot, brought to you by reigning State Champion gymnast, Asher Blevins, backflip across the field to the middle of the fifty-yard line.

Where he rips his pants clean off.

Homeboy has boxers on... made from the cloth of South's flag.

Hell.

"Y'all can have your flag back," Ari barks impudently toward the South sideline. "If you can catch Asher, that is." He even has the ever impressive audacity to wink.

Asher wastes no time, flipping, bounding and spinning his way out of the stadium with a gaggle of security and South football players hauling tail to catch up.

"You did that?" Nash asks incredulously, jabbing a thumb in Asher's retreating direction.

"Yup," Ari grins. "Worked all night and all morning on those damn things."

"You're a regular Kevin Klein," I say, impressed by his dedication.

"Calvin, dummy," Nash says shaking his head and snickering. "Calvin Klein. Kevin's an actor."

I shrug. "You're lucky I got any part of that right."

"I need everybody's attention, please," a voice cuts in.

I turn to find Cole standing a few dozen feet behind me, microphone in hand. He would have to ruin the moment. And upstaging Ari never goes over well. Beside me he folds his arms, staring daggers at Cole, who definitely deserves the shit storm headed his way, courtesy of Ari.

"Everybody, please!" Cole continues. "I need a Miss Colby Byers to join me out here!" He smiles his crocodile smile as Colby makes her way uncertainly toward him. My only consolation is when she subtly brushes her fingers over my forearm en route.

He's up to no good, I can feel it.

"We all know tomorrow's a big day for me, being my eighteenth birthday and all," Cole professes, and the crowd dutifully obliges with some scattered applause.

"Well, the whole school is invited, and it's gonna be a heck of a party at Club Groove!"

The applause detonates. Stupid showman. He knows just how to work the crowd. Beside him, Colby shifts. Her eyes meet mine, wide and curious. I think I know where this is going, and I think she knows it, too.

"The thing is, I can't go to my own party alone," Cole adds, eyes cast to the ground, and a groan emanates forth from the gathering. "So..."

Cole drops to one knee, taking Colby's hand in his. "Will you do me the honor of being my birthday date? Without you, there'll be no party." He stares up at her earnestly, having put her on the spot, that prick.

A chant for C-Squared bubbles up from out of nowhere, echoing through the stadium, and Colby's panic breaks me.

Instead of running toward them and putting a fist in Cole's smug-ass face, I nod almost imperceptibly.

It's enough.

"Umm...okay," Colby mutters to the crowds' delight. Cole rises, taking Colby in his arms.

To my right, I watch a figure storm from the field.

Wynona.

...

I roll up to the lakeside after party, pulling to a stop in front of Wynn's car. The lights on my truck illuminate the interior, and I can just make out the top of her head. I'm glad she hasn't left her vehicle for the shindig yet.

Hopping out of my pickup, I head to the driver's side window, tapping on the glass. She crouches further down in her seat, making herself as small as possible.

"You know I can see you, right?" I say, mildly agitated. She's been really weird lately, avoiding her usual routines and even her regular friends. Tonight was the final straw for me.

I whip the door open, and she immediately attempts to pull it closed again. Her hair slips from where it's draped over her face, and I see that she's been crying. I release the door, and it slams shut just like she wanted it to.

"Suit yourself," I say, pretending to walk away, only I don't. Instead, I loop around the back of her car, climbing in the passenger side door while she's distracted with blotting her tears away.

"Leave me alone," she says, preening furiously with the help of the tiny flip down mirror before her. "I need to beautify in peace. My makeup got messed up at the game."

"Yeah, I'm sure this is all about your messed up makeup," I say, indicating her blotchy face with my index finger. "What's going on Wynn? Did somebody hurt you?"

She loses it then, tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she shakes with the force of her pent-up emotions. I hand her a few more tissues, waiting.

"Nobody hurt me," she finally manages, her voice thick. "Really I just hurt myself."

"What'd you do," I demand. My eyes appraise her appearance as much as they can in the dark, looking for signs of anything out of the ordinary.

Wynona snorts. "I didn't hurt myself, idiot. I'm just stupid, that's all. Stupid and about to be forty pounds heavier."

I'm confused for a moment, watching her squirm in her seat. She fumbles through her purse, pulling out three sticks.

Pregnancy tests. I don't need to see them to know what they say.

"Are you sure?" I ask, and suddenly all of her unusual behavior makes sense. "Aren't there false positives?"

"I'm pregnant. Late and all." She laughs humorlessly."I'd ask how this could happen to me, but I already know. I was playing with fire, and I knew it, but I did it anyway."

We sit quietly for a few moments, and I think through any boyfriends she may have had of late. I'm coming up blank.

"Who—"

"You don't want to know," she says, cutting me off. "It'll make you mad."

I instantly have my answer. It's got to be the only guy she spends loads of time with, even though their families are bitter rivals. The guy she attends galas and charity dinners with. The guy she's been friends with for over five years, despite their families' disapproval.

"Cole."

"Yes," she breathes, as if the admission hurts her.

"Damn." I rub her shoulder, hoping to soothe some of the rawness of the moment away. "When will you tell him?"

"Eventually. He's been too busy chasing Colby anyway," she mumbles. "I guess I just need to come to terms with all the staring and gossip coming my way in about six months when I start to show. At least I'll have graduated by the time I'm due." She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes and exhaling sharply. "How am I gonna do this?"

"Not alone," I say smiling. "I'm here for you, like always."

"Like always," she echoes, patting my hand and returning my smile. "Where do I even start?"

"You just keep being you," I say. "We're gonna go down to that bonfire, and celebrate this win like we always do— minus the alcohol. And," I pause, waiting for her to look me in the eye.

"What?"

"You have to tell Cole," I say. "I know he's a bastard, but he still deserves to know."

"I'm not ready. I need some time."

"Well, I guess you've got nine months, but sooner would be better," I add. "You need time to process, but so does he. He's a douchebag, sure, but he might surprise us."

"He's not a bad guy," she returns, reapplying her makeup. "He has a lot going on."

"Sure," I scoff. Poor little rich boy. "You ever gonna be ready to go?"

She gives me a sideways glance, rolling her eyes. "Ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

...

We head for the center of the action lakeside, slowing when we come upon a fallen tree.

"Hold up, I've got this," I say, lifting Wynona carefully over the trunk.

She giggles, placing her hands on her hips when I put her down. "I'm pregnant, not porcelain."

I laugh, realizing I'm being ridiculous. I have no idea how to treat a pregnant woman.

We find our way to a table full of booze, but I also spot a few bottles of water. I pour just enough to look like a couple shots of vodka. Everybody knows Wynn can hold her liquor, so I try to keep things looking as normal as possible.

"It's only water, so drink up," I whisper in her ear. "Can't be gettin' dehydrated in your
condition."

"In my condition," she repeats laughing. "Oh boy, you're gonna be a handful when you
impregnate Colby someday."

"Whaaa— "

"Yeah, sure," she says grinning. "Pretend you don't believe it'll happen. Now, we dance." She pulls me by the hand into the middle of a crowd of dancing classmates.

"I don't dance," I say, feeling intensely uncomfortable in the middle of all the sweaty, gyrating bodies.

"You do tonight!" she yelps, and she has that familiar spark about her once more. Like her pre-life changing news self.

I dance, doing my best to stand there and look good while Wynn moves in graceful circles around me. I take her hand, spinning her gently and she sways. "You're not gonna puke, are you?"

"No, you douche!" she says, grinning. "And if you were a real friend you wouldn't care if I did! Oh, hold on." She reaches into her pocket, retrieving her phone. "Colby. I've been avoiding her all night."

"Wynn— "

"Come on asshole, let's bust a move!" she says, completely ignoring me. These women, I swear. Being caught up in the middle of their shit is a lot to bear.

It's also worth it.

We dance through another song, and I find myself wondering about all the things I ever heard about pregnant women. Shouldn't she be tired of dancing by now?

"Well, hey there, Wynn!" Colby says from behind me. Her voice is syrupy sweet, setting off warning bells in my head.

Danger! Danger! Jealous, fiery female on the loose!

"I've been looking for you all night," she continues. "You two look cozy."

I count my blessings that I'm not the one who seems to be in imminent danger. Wynn on the other hand...

"Hey, B," Wynn says, either completely oblivious or completely unafraid.

And I'm stuck in the middle as the referee.

Hell.