The park isn't the same as the woodland back in Edgewater Valley. It's the one thing I truly do miss about my hometown.

Every weekend that I stay with Elle I always make sure I go for a run along the well trodden path in the forest, enjoying the peaceful sounds of the trees and birds.

I haven't dared leave the path and traipse up to the waterfall for five years, only having gone up there once after I knew that Brett had left for New York. I went there, hair falling out of a top knot, hoodie sodden with melted chocolate, tear stained cheeks, with a box of stuff from our relationship in my arms. I buried it all at the bottom of one of the trees as I sobbed, unable to think clearly.

It was a strange idea, one that I barely ever let myself think of. Why didn't I just throw it all in the trash like a normal person?

Making my way around the relatively green city park I take deep breaths in and out, my music blaring in my ears as I struggle to maintain the motivation to keep up the run, wanting instead to slow to a brisk walk. I'm so unfit, having used my pregnancy so far as an excuse to sit around and eat junk food. It's starting to catch up to me, the weight I'm gaining far more than what a tiny little baby can account for.

Turning the corner of the tarmacked path I immediately stop short at the sight of the man running the other way, eyes widening in surprise. Well, this is awkward.

"Brett!" I exclaim, pulling my earphones out.

"Savannah." He greets, a polite smile on his face, "How are you?"

"I'm good." I reply, "You?"

"Good."

"I haven't really heard from you." I comment and he sighs, reaching up and running his hand through his hair.

"I thought that was the agreement." Brett replies and I shake my head.

"No. We're supposed to be friends."

"That's easier said than done." He retorts and I cock my head.

"Why?"

"Because when I'm around you, I want nothing more than to wrap your legs around me." Brett replies with a shrug. I feel my cheeks immediately redden at the admission and tear my gaze away from him, my heart thumping against my ribcage at the words.

"I hear one of your friends is getting married." I exclaim, quickly changing the subject.

"Ryan." He nods. Ah, one of the football friends! "How did you...?"

"Lacey. She came in to get a dress." I cut him off, my reply coming out blunter than I meant it to.

"I needed a date." Brett quickly replies and I raise my eyebrows, interested by his need to justify himself.

"I get it."

"I should..." He gestures behind him and makes a move to turn away.

"We need to talk through this Brett!" I cut him off, "We can't be like this when the baby comes."

"We won't." He replies after a moment of hesitation. "I just need some time to get over not being with you."

"Five years isn't enough?" I retort, knowing full well what the answer is. Hell, it wasn't enough for me either.

"No." He admits before turning to leave once more.

"I know you're the one who keeps sending all the stuff with Alice." I blurt out, not sure why I'm so desperate for him to stay.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Brett replies, his eyes wary.

"Yes you do." I retort and he glances down in defeat.

"It's nothing."

"It's thoughtful." I counter and he smiles slightly.

"I've got to make sure you're feeding my baby well." He smirks and I chuckle.

"With chocolate and junk food?"

"Alright, you caught me!" He laughs, "You've got to keep the Mother happy, isn't that how it works?"

"Absolutely."

"Apparently you didn't like the frozen yoghurt?"

"I appreciated the attempt." I grin and he laughs.

"Alice said it tasted like soap."

"The second one was better than the first!" I counter and he laughs once more.

"I'll avoid it in the future." He grins.

"You don't need to send anything." I argue, smiling appreciatively as he raises his eyebrows.

"Nothing you say will stop me Savannah."

"Are you going to bring it around yourself now that I know it's you?" I grin and he shakes his head.

"Probably not."

"Why?" I ask, "It would be good to see you."

"I told you I need time Sav."

"We don't have too much time left until..."

"I know." Brett cuts me off, a slight hint of frustration laced through his tone.

"If it's not enough now, I don't see what another five months will do."

"You want the truth?" Brett snaps slightly, taking a step towards me, annoyance suddenly clear in his eyes.

"O-of course." I stutter, surprised by his sudden change in attitude.

"I spent a good year and a half after we split beating myself up for what happened." He admits, "Alice yelled at me when she found out what I'd done, hitting me around the head continuously." He continues, "I deserved it."

"Sounds like it hurt." I reply softly, biting my lip as I feel his words hit me hard, straight through to my cold, icy heart that's, undeniably, beginning to melt.

"It did." Brett replies, "But I felt like I deserved it so I let her." He shrugs. "The police came to our house the next day. I begged them to take me away and lock me up." He mutters, looking down at the ground, "They wouldn't. They were only there to tell my Dad they couldn't find the person who crashed into me."

"You weren't over the limit." The words fall out of my mouth before I can comprehend what I'm saying, desperate to reassure him in some way.

"It doesn't matter. What kind of a person even considers doing that when their girlfriend's parents were killed that way?"

"Brett..."

"You were right the other week." Brett cuts me off, standing up straighter and staring into my eyes, "You should never forgive me for what I did." He declares, "I was so caught up in the idea of happy families that I never stopped to consider how you felt." He continues, "When I left the night we argued I thought everything through, reminded myself how I felt after I had the accident. It all came crashing back to me." Brett admits, tearing his gaze away and reaching up to run his hand through his hair as he shakes his head slightly My heart swells at his hurt, urging at me to reach out and convince him that it's all okay. "I'm sorry that I knocked you up." Brett utters as he finishes, stepping back as my mouth drops open, "Your baby deserves a better Father." He declares before moving further away.

He's wrong, my baby is lucky to have him! I can't think of any other guy I'd prefer to be going through this with, I can't...

"See you later Savannah."

"Wait!" I exclaim but it's too late, his ears already occupied with his music. As I watch him jog away from me it's the first time that complete uncertainty floods through me, the first time I truly begin to doubt my decisions.

But I shouldn't doubt it. Even he believes I made the right decision.

Turning away I slowly make my way out of the park, no longer in the mood to even attempt to run. Stopping in the bakery on the street I pick up a box of twelve donuts before making my way back to the apartment.

As I shut the front door behind me Becky emerges from the bathroom, her black hair curled, a tight red dress adorning her figure.

"Bec?"

"I'm going out." She replies quickly, stopping suddenly as if she's been caught. She clearly didn't expect me back so soon.

"With?"

"No-one."

"Bec!" I exclaim and she sighs, turning and grabbing hold of her purse from the side.

"What?" She shrugs, "A girl can go out with no-one!"

"I know." I reply, watching her with wide eyes, "But you don't."

"There is always time for change."

"Are you going out with a specific boy?" I pester as she leans down to slip her stiletto heels on.

"Maybe." Becky admits and I grin.

"I knew it!"

"Please don't make a big deal about this!" She moans.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I smirk, slouching down onto the couch, "Who?"

"I'm not telling!" She retorts and I raise an eyebrow. Why so defensive?

"Why not?"

"It's probably just sex!" She exclaims, pulling her second shoe on.

"And if it's not?" I argue and she shoots me a smirk.

"Then I'll tell you!" She promises.

"We are supposed to be best friends." I whine, playing the card that every girl plays once in a while. I mean, she tears these kind of secrets out of me, why can't I hear them from her?

"I'll tell you." Becky says, "Just let me go on this one date in secret?" She begs, "Please!"

"Wow." I let out, "This guy seems important."

"I don't think so!" She snorts, walking over towards the door.

"Then why the secrecy!" I accuse and she cringes.

"It's embarrassing!"

"Embarrassing?" I furrow my eyebrows. Why would it be embarrassing? Unless... My eyes widen in realization. "So I know them?"

"No!" Becky snaps quickly, a flicker of panic shooting through her eyes before she turns away from me, "See you later."

"Bye!" I call out as she opens the door, "Have fun, use protection!"

"I don't think it's me that you need to be lecturing in that department." She scoffs over her shoulder before slamming the door shut. She's got a point.

Turning back to the TV I turn it on and before long I find myself watching Wonder Woman as I stuff popcorn down my throat. It's Brett who got me into the superhero films in the first place, insisting that they were worth the hours of dedication. Having now watched them all, I have to agree, dragging Becky to the cinema every time a new one comes out.

Roughly an hour into the movie my phone starts ringing and I fumble to pause the film just as Diana shows everyone exactly who's Boss in the bar by throwing the guy across the room. Oh, for superhuman strength...

"Elle?" I say as I answer.

"Hey, how are you?" She exclaims.

"I'm good thanks, you?"

"Becky tells me you have an invite to a high school reunion." Elle says and I grimace. Just great.

"Becky tells you a lot." I retort, rolling my eyes.

"Are you going to go?"

"I don't think Becky is giving me much of a choice!"

"I think you should!" She exclaims, "Get some closure there. Plus, how curious are you about what everyone is doing now?"

"I don't know. I kind of am but also, I left all of them in high school." I mutter. Do I really want to open myself up to seeing everyone again?

"You'll have a good night with Zara and Becky either way!" Elle replies and I shrug, despite her not seeing me.

"Brett will be there too." I remind her.

"You're still not talking?"

"We saw each other in the park today and had a brief conversation."

"That sounds like progress!" She exclaims.

"I did this to us Els." I point out, "I made it awkward."

"Maybe. But he needs to grow up and talk to you. You're having a baby together for Christ's sake!"

"Don't forget, I'm the one who told him we were done." I reply, "I told him I'd message him about anything to do with the baby." I continue before taking a deep breath, "I pushed him away."

"He should have pushed back harder." She scoffs and I smile at her defensiveness. Always the protective older sister.

"I hardly made it easy for him." I chuckle slightly and she sighs.

"You still have time to make it right, both of you."

"Make it right?" I repeat, reaching down and picking at the hem on my blanket.

"Yeah." She says, "Whether that means as friends, or as a couple."

"A couple?"

"Come on Ann. You're lying if you say the thought hasn't crossed your mind." Elle retorts and I bite my lip, still fumbling with the blanket.

"Maybe it has." I admit softly, "But we've done this before."

"Who's to say that this time isn't the right time?" She retorts and I wrinkle my nose up in confusion.

"What?"

"I'm just saying." She exclaims, "Think about what will make you happy!" She orders and I smile before a light knocking sounds at the front door.

"Someone's at the door Els."

"Alright!" She replies, "Have fun! I've got to wrestle with Danny to get him to bed now!"

"Good luck with that!" I laugh and she rolls her eyes.

"Thanks!" She groans, "Bye!"

I pull the phone away from my ear and hang up before sliding off the couch and heading towards the door, curious as to who is outside my apartment at this hour.

Maybe someone's finally got fed up of me and sent a hitman to finish me off. I'm all alone in my apartment, Becky having just left. Isn't this the prime time to do it? Just great.

What the hell is wrong with me? I haven't done anything to warrant being killed, I'm sure it's just someone who's here for Becky.

Oh god, what if it's one of her flings come back because they want more? I can't deal with that tonight.

Grabbing onto the door handle I yank it open, ready to slam it closed immediately if necessary.

My eyes widen at the sight of the tall, black haired boy, a smile lighting up his face as he sees me. It's been over a year...

"Haydon!"

"Hey Sav!" He grins, glancing around to see behind me, "Is Becky in?"

"She's on a date."

"Oh." He replies and I shuffle on my feet, the interaction relatively awkward.

"Come in!" I exclaim, stepping back and gesturing for him to enter.

"Thanks!" He replies, stepping inside as I shut the door behind him, "How are you feeling?"

"I can't stop eating!" I complain and he laughs.

"What's new?"

"That's true!" I giggle, "But believe it or not, this baby makes it ten times worse!"

"Baby?" Haydon furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

"Uh... yeah!" I manage to stutter out. Becky told him, right?

"You're pregnant?"

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Haydon is back!! Is anyone actually happy about this?

Lots of love to all of you who are still reading my incredibly long book! I never imagined I'd still be writing this, but all your comments spur me on and motivate me like hell! 💙

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