Chapter Twenty-Two:

"So... she just lives with you now? Without your parents knowing?" Gavin asked.

After Gavin got off work, he had told me to come over so we could talk. We surprisingly had a lot to catch up on, despite it only being a month since we last hung out. Gavin sat on his bed with his back against his headboard. He was obviously sore and tried from work, but he insisted Michael stay.

"Yeah... it's surprisingly not that hard. Lindsay is agile enough to climb in and out of the window. We manage to sneak regular showers. And she knows to keep quiet when my parents are home. Besides, she needed me and I needed someone too," I told Gavin. Gavin looked away guiltily and nodded. I frowned, beginning to feel angry at myself for making Gavin feel guilty.

"Have you ever tried getting her help for her addiction?" Gavin asked. I sighed and shrugged.

"Sort of. I feel bad for feeding her addiction but you can't just stop that stuff cold turkey. She needs to be admitted into a rehab facility honestly but she's intent on staying where she is," I told him. Gavin nodded and sighed, leading us into a long silence.

I took in my surroundings for a moment. It was nice being back in Gavin's bedroom. I missed the times that we had hung out in here and I almost wished I could stay. But I knew full well I couldn't ask that. Gavin was tired.

"Hey, I think I'm gonna head home. You look exhausted," I told him, standing up and beginning to walk towards his door. Gavin shot up like a bolt, obviously not ready to say goodbye.

"Wait, I want to propose something," Gavin said. I stopped and turned back to face him, waiting for him to continue.

"Mi-cool, I don't want to lose you again. I want to get back together," Gavin said, nearly pleading me.

"Well, we can't really do that with Meg being pregnant," I reminded him. Gavin rolled his eyes.

"I don't have to date her. All I have to do is provide for the baby," Gavin said as if it were the easiest thing to understand.

"I think your parents and her parents wouldn't be very appreciative if you started dating someone else while Meg is pregnant with your baby," I told him. Gavin nodded in agreement before his eyes lit up with an idea.

"No one has to know then. We'll just have to sneak around. Just until Meg isn't pregnant anymore," Gavin said hopefully. I sighed, uncertain.

"Gavin, I don't know. It's all very risky," I told him. Gavin took another step closer.

"Please, Michael, I don't want to let you go," Gavin pleaded now. I sighed and slowly nodded my head, accepting his proposal.

"Okay. But we need to be careful. Very careful," I told him. Gavin's eyes lit up again, turning back into the orbs I once knew when he and I first met.

"Absolutely," Gavin agreed before hugging me as tightly as he could. I hugged him back, feeling his head rest on my shoulder. Eventually, I let go when I felt Gavin's arms grow limp. He needed to rest.

"Go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow," I promised him. He nodded drowsily and sat back down on his bed, watching me as I walked out.

"I love you," He said quietly, under his breath.

I love you too, Gavin.
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(Gav's POV)

It had been three months since I first found out about the pregnancy. Meg and I still found it hard to be around each other for long periods of time. Or maybe it was just me not liking to be around her.

Michael and I had been secretly dating for two months now. At first, we hardly talked to each other in public, as we didn't want to be accused of anything. But eventually, we gravitated towards each other, and now we weren't afraid to be seen in public together. We never did anything romantic though, unless we knew we were alone.

Like, for example, now, in the bathroom.

Michael nipped my neck, without a doubt leaving a mark. Typically I'd yell at him for it, but now, I was too caught up in the moment to notice. He pushed his leg between mine, pressing hard to the point where I was forced to moan out. Michael smirked, trailing his lips back to mine. He pressed his lips hard against mine, forcing his tongue into my mouth. I moaned once more, sending vibrations through our mouths.

Suddenly, the bell for last period rang and we were pulled from our session. Michael stepped away, blushing a lot after what had ensued. I blushed as well, fixing my shirt a bit before walking past Michael.

"So, after work, I'll see you, right?" I asked in a slightly seductive voice. Michael smirked and nodded swiftly.

I walked into last period, late, as usual. The teacher gave me a slight disappointed look but turned back to their work, seemingly forgetting the situation already. I sat in my usual seat, next to Ray and waited for the bell to ring once more.

That was another thing. After Michael and I got back together, my old friends had apologized and returned to their position as my friends. It was difficult to trust them again after what happened, but it got easier as time went on. My life was finally resuming to its usual self. For now, at least.

When class ended, I said my goodbyes to Ray before heading to my locker and grabbing whatever I needed. Meg met me there, as usual, and I slung her bag over my shoulder. She smiled at me, and grabbed my hand. I tried my best not to pull away.

As we walked out, I caught a look at Meg's belly. I never did have a chance to look at it with my thoughts always being consumed by Michael, or work. She wore a loose fitting shirt, but I could see the outline of her stomach as her shirt swung back.

Surprisingly, her stomach had not grown at all. She seemed to have actually lost weight if anything. Confusion took my body over and I stopped walking, catching the attention of Meg.

"What's wrong?" She asked me, hand still in mine.

"Don't take this the wrong way but... shouldn't you be bigger if you're three months pregnant?" I asked her. Almost immediately, I caught a look of fear in her eyes. However she quickly hid it with a look of offense. Worry consumed me for a moment as I wondered why she'd be fearful, but soon the worry turned into pain as she hit me on the shoulder.

"Don't you dare talk about my stomach like that. I'm sensitive, Gavin," Meg yelled, trying to pull me along.

Typically, I'd let something like that go and I'd continue on my way, forgetting that anything ever happened. But this time, I felt like there was something she was hiding. Something that I deserved to know.

"Meg, what aren't you telling me?" I asked, my voice raising slightly. She flinched, but I couldn't care less. There was something going on and I needed to know.

"Gavin... Come on, let's just go. I'd rather forget that you said anything," She said, her voice becoming shaky. Confusion consumed me once more as the words left her mouth.

I stood my ground, refusing to move until she told me what she was hiding. I was getting angry at this point, an emotion I very rarely felt. I stared at her, narrowing my eyes and picking her apart.

"Gavin?" Meg asked shakily.

"You're not actually pregnant, are you?" I asked, saying the first things that came to mind.

I didn't think she'd actually say yes.

"I didn't want you to find out this way," Meg told me.

Red hot anger coursed in my veins. My arms and legs became shaky as the anger fully took me over. Meg lied to me and made my life a living hell. And she lied about something huge; a pregnancy.

I tried to wrap my head around what she just told me. She wasn't pregnant. But how? You can't be pregnant one moment and not the next. Unless...

"Did you miscarry or... get an abortion and just not tell me?" I asked, my voice ice cold.

"I... I was never pregnant to begin with," Meg whispered. I almost didn't hear her. Almost.

"Wha... wot?" I yelled, watching many heads turn our way. Meg dragged me away, down another hallway. She made sure no one was around before turning back to me, crossing her arms defensively.

"I was never pregnant, Gavin. I made it all up. I figured I could tell you I was pregnant and you'd date me... but it wasn't working how I had planned. I swear I was going to tell you. I just... couldn't really find out how," Meg explained, her voice quickly becoming accusing, like I was at fault for this. My anger continued to boil to the point where I was beyond rational thinking.

So, I pushed her.

I harnessed all my anger. Every little spat of anger I had to suppress because of my personality. I thought of all the hours I had been forced to work, all the late nights doing homework, all my friends and my love interest leaving me, the distrust from my family, and pushed her as hard as I could. She hit the opposite wall, sliding down it. She looked up at me in fear, not knowing what my next move would be. I remembered her backpack, and immediately threw it off my arm, and at her.

"How dare you Meg? You made my life a living hell for three months. You caused me to lose the trust of my family, lose the loyalty of my friends, and lose the only person I've ever felt love for. You ruined my life, and you can't even give me a bloody apology. Go fuck yourself," I growled, using a voice I almost never used. Tears welled in her eyes as I turned my back on her.

Then I turned back, as I realized I had one more thing to say. I saw the hope on her eyes and I relished the feeling of being able to knock her down again, even if it was figuratively.

"Oh, and just for the record, Michael Jones and I have been dating for the past couple months. We do things that you could only dream... no... lie about to everyone," I said, watching Meg's eyes widen. I turned around before I could listen to her choking sobs.

Once I was out of the school, I pulled my phone out, calling my workplace and telling them I was sick and wouldn't be coming in. Surprisingly, they didn't give me a hard time, simply telling me to 'get well soon'. I smiled and started running to my home. I had to tell everyone the great news.

I wasn't going to be a father.
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Hey, so, I'm back. If any of you follow me you've probably noticed I've been working on some of my older stories (mainly revising them and making them look/sound better and make more sense). But yeah, I'm back now. My brother is doing a lot better too, so thank you for everyone who gave him get well wishes.

Well, cool. That's all I really have to say.

(Edit: I forgot to say happy birthday to Michael. Happy birthday! 😂)