Lily's POV

"Alright," the lecturer announces, snapping his textbook shut with a definitive thud. "That'll be all for the term. See you all next year and have a lovely Christmas holiday." His words are met with a chorus of relieved sighs and the rustling of backpacks being slung over shoulders.

Kam and I exchange a knowing look as we gather our things and make our way out of the lecture hall, joining the steady stream of students eager to start their break.

"Finally, Christmas break!" Kam exclaims, stretching her arms above her head as we step out into the crisp December air. Her breath fogs in the cold, her smile wide and full of relief. "This semester has been dragging on forever. I swear I didn't think it would ever end."

I nod in agreement, feeling the tension in my own shoulders start to ease. "You're telling me. I've been counting down the days since midterms." I laugh, but it's true. This semester has felt like a marathon, every week stretching longer than the last. Now that it's over, I feel a lightness in my chest, a sense of freedom I've been craving.

Kam nudges me playfully with her elbow. "So, what's the plan? Heading back home, or staying in the city?"

"Actually, Finn and I might be going to his for Christmas." I say, "You?"

"I'm heading to America to see my folks," she says, her grin widening. "And Shawn's coming along, too."

"Seriously, you've been dating for what, a year now, and he still hasn't met your parents?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"He has met them!" Kam protests.

I give her a look. "FaceTime doesn't count, especially when he's lurking in the background, barely visible, while you gush about him to your dad."

Kam sighs, her shoulders slumping. "Yeah, okay, point taken."

We walk into the campus café, our usual hangout spot. The smell of fresh coffee and baked goods hits me, and I take a deep breath, letting the warm, familiar scent wash over me. "I'll grab a booth, you get the food?" I suggest, already eyeing our favourite spot by the window.

"Deal," Kam agrees, heading toward the counter.

I make my way to the booth, sliding into the cushioned seat. From here, I have a perfect view of the courtyard outside, where students are rushing between classes, heads bent over phones or chatting in small groups. I spot Rachel walking across the grass, looking lost in thought. Shawn told me she's been acting off ever since Finn's birthday party a few months ago—aloof, dodging people's questions, just plain weird. Not that I care about her drama. As long as she stays out of my way and, more importantly, away from Finn, we're good.

I'm watching her with mild disinterest when Kam slides into the seat opposite me, balancing a tray of coffees and pastries. "So, what's on your mind?" she asks, handing me my usual.

"Nothing much," I say, taking a sip. "Just wondering how long it'll take Rachel to stop being a weirdo and move on from whatever hang-up she's got going on."

Kam laughs. "Maybe she's still hung up on Finn."

"Not my problem," I shrug, but inside, I feel a spark of irritation. Finn is mine, and I don't need some drama queen complicating things.

Kam picks up on my mood, smoothly steering the conversation in a different direction. "So, are we still on for tonight? Shawn's confirmed he's coming over, and I think Jen mentioned that Kai is in too. Looks like it's shaping up to be a triple date night."

I grin at the idea of a triple date night. "Sounds like a plan. It's been a while since we all hung out together."

Kam nods, taking a sip of her coffee. "Yeah, and I think we could all use a fun night, especially with how crazy things have been lately."

"Tell me about it," I mutter, thinking back to all the drama that's been swirling around us. "A chill night in sounds like just what the doctor ordered."

******

"Alright, the snack table looks pretty damn good, if I do say so myself," Jen says, admiring the spread she set up on the coffee table. Chips, cookies, and candy are perfectly arranged in a colorful display that screams 'binge-worthy.' She reaches for a handful of Doritos, but Kam swats her hand away before she can grab more.

"Hey, save some for the rest of us," Kam scolds, raising an eyebrow.

Jen just grins, already crunching on the chips she managed to sneak. "Call it a tax," she says with her mouth full.

I can't help but laugh. "You're ridiculous—" But then, without warning, my stomach churns violently, and I barely have time to think before I'm sprinting to the bathroom. I drop to my knees in front of the toilet, vomiting up everything I ate earlier.

Before I can catch my breath, I feel a hand lifting my hair back, another rubbing gentle circles on my back. "You okay, girl?" Kam's voice is soft, concerned.

Jen appears in the doorway a moment later, holding a glass of water. "Here, drink this," she says, her usual humour replaced with worry.

I take the glass, rinsing my mouth and taking a small sip. "I'm fine, really," I insist, even though my legs feel like jelly. "It must have been something I ate."

Jen and Kam exchange a glance—one of those silent conversations that best friends have—and then Jen looks back at me with a more serious expression than I've ever seen on her face.

"Lily, when was your last period?" Jen asks cautiously.

I blink, caught completely off guard. "You've got to be kidding me," I laugh nervously, shaking my head.

Kam sits down on the edge of the bathtub, folding her arms. "No, babe, think about it. Seriously."

The room suddenly feels smaller, and my heartbeat picks up, thudding in my ears. I mentally rewind through the last few weeks, trying to remember. When was my last period? I realize with a sinking feeling that I can't remember.

Seeing the panic start to flicker across my face, Jen doesn't waste a moment. She stands up and says, "Hold on, I'll be right back." Without another word, she leaves the bathroom.

Kam gives me a reassuring smile, but there's a tension in her eyes that doesn't quite match. "It's probably nothing, but you know we just want to make sure."

Moments later, Jen returns, holding a small, rectangular box. I stare at it, my stomach twisting again, but this time not from nausea.

"I keep a few of these around, just in case," Jen says, holding out the pregnancy test to me. Her voice is steady, but there's an undercurrent of concern. "You never know when you might need one."

"Guys..." I begin, my voice barely audible. "I can't be...pregnant." The word feels foreign in my mouth, like it belongs to someone else's reality, not mine.

Kam leans forward, her gaze soft but unwavering. "Lily, we get it. It's probably nothing. But it's better to be sure, right?"

My head is spinning. This can't be happening. There's no way. I shake my head, trying to ward off the anxiety creeping in.

"I mean, I'm careful," I murmur, more to myself than to them. "Finn and I are ... we're always –"

Jen cuts me off gently. "We know. But sometimes things happen. Let's just check, okay? Then we can all stop worrying."

I take a shaky breath, my eyes darting between the test in Jen's hand and the worried faces of my friends. The air in the room suddenly feels thick, almost suffocating, like the walls are slowly closing in on me. My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat, and I can't quite tell if it's from fear, anxiety, or something else I can't name.

I nod, swallowing hard. My mind races, a jumbled mess of thoughts and what-ifs. I know they're right—it's better to know than to let my imagination run wild. With a deep breath, I reach out and take the test from Jen's hand, my fingers trembling slightly as they close around it.

"Alright," I whisper, trying to summon the courage I don't quite feel. "Let's get this over with."

Jen and Kam both nod, their faces softening with relief. I turn toward the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The quiet feels almost too loud in my ears, and I stare down at the test, my mind going blank for a moment.

I close my eyes for a second, trying to gather every ounce of courage I have left. My hands are still trembling as I unwrap the test, the crinkling sound of the plastic echoing in the small bathroom. I follow the instructions mechanically, my brain on autopilot while my heart continues to race. It's like my body knows something my mind isn't ready to admit yet.

Once I'm done, I set the test on the edge of the sink, the small screen face down, like that's going to make a difference. I let out a shaky breath, staring at the tile floor for a few seconds longer than necessary, hoping the tension in my chest would dissipate. But it doesn't. I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of something monumental, and I'm terrified to look down.

I finally push myself up from the floor and take a step toward the door. My legs feel wobbly, like I'm learning how to walk again. When I open the door, the air outside the bathroom feels colder, almost like it's charged with electricity. I glance back at the test one more time, still lying face down, then force myself to look away. It'll be a few minutes before the result shows up. A few minutes that feel like a lifetime.

Jen and Kam are waiting for me in the living room, their faces a mix of concern and encouragement. I walk over, trying to act like my world isn't hanging in the balance, but they can see right through me. Kam pats the spot next to her on the couch, and I collapse into it, feeling drained and more anxious than ever.

"How long?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands are clasped tightly in my lap, my nails digging into my palms as I try to keep myself from falling apart.

"Just a few minutes," Jen says softly, sitting on the armrest beside me. "We'll get through this together, okay?"

I nod, but I can't speak. My throat feels tight, like it's closing up, and I swallow hard, trying to breathe through the wave of panic threatening to overtake me. Kam rubs my back in slow, comforting circles, and I lean into her touch, grateful for the comfort.

"It's going to be okay, no matter what," she murmurs. "We've got you."

I know they're trying to be supportive, to keep me calm, but my mind is spinning with a hundred different scenarios, each one scarier than the last. The waiting is the worst part—the not knowing, the wondering if everything is about to change forever.

Jen checks her watch, and I see her glance toward the bathroom door, then back at me. "Almost time," she says softly.

My phone buzzes loudly on the coffee table, making all three of us jump. I see Finn's name flashing on the screen, and my heart skips a beat. My eyes go wide, and I instinctively pull my knees up to my chest, hugging them tightly.

"I don't want to answer," I mumble, my voice barely audible. I'm not ready to talk to him right now, not with everything swirling around in my head.

Kam glances at the phone, then at me, and nods understandingly. "I'll handle it," she offers, picking up the phone before I can protest. She taps the screen and places it on speaker.

"Hey, Finn!" Kam greets him cheerfully, her voice a little too bright, trying to sound casual.

"Hey, Kam," Finn replies, his tone cautious. "Is Lily there? Is she okay?"

Kam throws me a quick look, a reassuring smile on her face. "Oh, she's just in the bathroom," Kam says with a light laugh. "You know long she takes in there."

I force a weak smile at the lie, grateful for the cover. I don't think I could handle talking to Finn right now, not when I'm so close to unravelling. My stomach twists as I think about what I'm doing, what might happen if that test turns out positive. I can't let myself go there yet.

There's a brief pause on the line, and I can almost picture Finn frowning on the other end, his concern evident. "Okay, just checking. I thought I'd call and let you know we're picking up some pizza on the way. We'll be there in about ten minutes."

"Sounds perfect," Kam replies, keeping her tone light and breezy. "See you guys soon!"

"See you," Finn says, still sounding unsure, and then the line goes dead.

Kam hangs up and sets my phone back on the table. "Pizzas on the way," she says with a small smile, trying to keep things normal.

I nod, the corners of my mouth twitching upward in a faint smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. "Thanks for that," I murmur, grateful she was there to cover for me.

"No problem," Kam says, squeezing my shoulder gently. "We've got your back, remember?"

I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, Kam."

Jen looks toward the bathroom, then back at me. "It's time, Lil. Let's go see what it says."

I feel a wave of nervousness wash over me, but I nod and stand up, ready to face whatever's waiting for me on the other side of that bathroom door.

With every step toward the bathroom, my heart feels like it's climbing higher and higher into my throat. Kam and Jen follow closely behind, their presence a comfort even as my mind spins with a million thoughts, none of them good.

When I reach the bathroom door, I pause, my hand hovering over the knob. I can't bring myself to open it. My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, I wonder if I might just stay here, suspended in this moment of not knowing, forever.

Jen steps up beside me, her voice soft but firm. "We're right here, Lil. Whatever it says, we'll handle it together. You're not alone."

I nod, swallowing hard as I gather the courage to push the door open. The bathroom is exactly as I left it—small, plain, and now feeling more like a pressure cooker than ever. My eyes land on the test, still lying face down on the edge of the sink. I stare at it, willing myself to move, to just pick it up and look.

"Do you want me to check it for you?" Kam offers gently, seeing my hesitation.

"No," I whisper, my voice barely steady. "I have to do it."

I take a deep breath, step forward, and slowly reach for the test. My handshakes as I pick it up, flipping it over in one quick motion. My eyes lock onto the screen, and it takes a second for my brain to register what I'm seeing.

Pregnant.

*********

Author's Note 

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So I announce when I update and it's easier for you so you don't miss a chapter xx