Prologue

 

She walked through the town. Her flip flop clad feet moving slowly as she walked pass coffee shops, bus stops, thrift stores, and the old beat up 1980 Toyota Camry with two missing tires and peeling paint that marked the beginning of what most people called ‘the border’. She always wondered why it was there. Was it a getaway car? Maybe the driver ran out of gas and didn’t bother to refill it. Who knows.

 

She walked pass the car and up the hill. The sun was setting and the sound of parents calling their children in for dinner could be heard in the distance. She felt an aching in her chest and tears started to blur her vision, but she quickly brought her hand to her face to be rid of the tears before they came.

 

The small park at the top of the hill came into view and she made her way to the swings. The mulch got in between her toes as she walked, but she didn’t notice. She sat on one of the swings and she looked around the playground. It was old with creaky wooden playsets and the chain of the swings were rusted. There was an old water fountain on the other side next to the seesaw and she felt a sad smile grace her features as she watched a little girl stand on her toes to reach the spout.

 

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” A voice said from behind her and she felt the swing begin to move as two large hands joined her’s on the chain of the swing.

 

“Sorry, I .. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I knew they meant well, but ...” She trailed off and she felt the tears again.

 

“Of course they meant well, they’re our friends.”

 

“It’s just, they don’t understand. There is no way for them to understand. I couldn’t breathe back there. I thought I was having a panic attack. I’m so weak. God, that’s probably why-,” she felt her swing jerk to a stop and suddenly her vision was full of him. His eyes were wet and she could see the hard set of his jaw.

 

He was trying to be strong for her.

 

“Hey. It’s not your fault. There is no one to blame. I never want to hear you blame yourself again. Do you understand? Tell me you understand.” His voice was strong even though he was holding back obvious tears.

 

She looked at him and it was as if her entire body was overtaken with her emotions. She felt the tears flowing freely down her face as she let out a sob. Her body shook as she reached towards him, her arms around his neck as she squeezed as tight as she could. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She chanted.

 

“Stop apologizing. There is nothing to apologize for.” She felt his arms around her and she heard his faint sniffles and she wondered.

 

She wondered if she would ever be strong again.

Sehun sat on the porch, cigarette between his lips, and hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. He watched as the ash from his cigarette fell slowly towards the ground. He sighed when it landed on the top of his red converse instead. He narrowed his eyes as he looked out towards the neighborhood and noticed that the sky was getting cloudy and he wondered if the weatherman predicted rain today. Probably not. They were usually wrong.

 

Most of the homes were one story, sitting so close to each other that two houses basically shared a backyard. They were all made of those ugly brown bricks and the screen doors made too much noise when they were opened, a loud screeching sound that made Sehun cringe. The street was narrow and Sehun wondered how it was two-way especially when there were cars parked alongside the curb of the sidewalk. There were full trashcans in front of every house and Sehun mentally reminded himself to take out the trash when he got home or his mother was going to kill him.

 

The screeching of a screen door being opened sounded right next to him and Sehun looked over to see Jongin walking out of his house. He was dressed similarly to Sehun in jeans and a tank top. The door slammed shut behind him and Jongin raised his arms as he stretched.

 

Sehun pretended not to notice the hickeys on his neck.

 

Sehun took the cigarette out of his mouth and blew the smoke in Jongin’s direction. “Don’t tell me you just woke up?”

 

“I did. Got a problem?” The dark haired male smiled and ignored the smoke in his path as he made his way down the stairs of his porch. Sehun followed suit throwing down his cigarette and stepping on it.

 

“Never said I did.” The two made their way down the street towards the McDonalds next to Henry’s Auto Shop.

 

“I think it’s going to rain today,” Sehun kicked a rock in his path watching as it bounced a few times before stopping in front of his foot again.

 

Jongin looked up, “I hope not. I have a late shift at the gas station and I ran out of money for the bus.”

 

Sehun raised and eyebrow, “Another shift? You’ve been working a lot lately,” he paused, “wait, what do you spend all your money on?”

 

“Believe it or not, Jewels doesn’t pay for our dates.” Jongin laughed and Sehun pretended not to hear his heart sink at the words. “I don’t mind, though. I like spoiling her.”

 

“Aren’t you so sweet,” Sehun teased, “Jewels is so lucky to have you.”

 

“I’m the lucky one.” Jongin replied automatically.

 

Sehun noted the seriousness of his tone.

 

Sehun was about to say something snarky when Jongin’s phone rang.

 

“Speaking of,” Jongin slid the answer key on his phone, “Hello beautiful.”

 

Sehun tried not to listen to Jongin’s side of the conversation. He tried not to hate his best friend for stealing something so precious away from him.

 

She was never your’s, Sehun. She wasn’t. He was never brave enough to confess. He wasn’t brave enough to tell the only girl he ever loved how he felt. He wasn’t brave enough because he knew he wasn’t strong enough to deal with the aftermath if she didn’t want to be his.  

 

“Hey,” he answered, “I’m walking with Sehun to McDonalds right now ... I slept in. Late night ...” Sehun noticed the corner of Jongin’s lips turn up, “... okay, see you then. Bye.” Jongin turned to Sehun as he stuffed his phone is his pocket, “Jewels is meeting us there.”

 

Sehun ignored the feeling in his chest when he heard her name. “Cool.”

 

<<><>>

 

The McDonalds wasn’t busy and Jongin and Sehun ordered quickly. A number one for Sehun and a number two for Jongin. Jongin also ordered a McChicken for Jewels and a sweet tea off the dollar menu. He made Sehun pay, though.

 

“I’m not cute enough for you to pay for?” Sehun had said with an exaggerated pout.

 

“Yeah, no.” Jongin said carrying the tray.

 

The two found a seat in the back next to the door that led to the play area. The tray in between them and they wasted no time before they dug in. The fries were too salty but they hardly cared.

 

“Did you get the letter from the school?” Sehun looked up to see Jongin stuffing his face with fries.

 

“Yeah, I’m trying not to think about it.” Sehun took a sip of his Coke.

 

“How do they expect us to go to school with Breighton kids? They know how we feel about them. It’s ed up, man.” A woman with her son walked past and gave Jongin a dirty look. He ignored her.

 

“I’m guessing it’s the only option. The next closest school is ten miles away.” There town was small and everyone was aware of how Breighton and Whedon felt about one another. They hated each other. Breighton kids with their flashy watches and BMWs. With their high GPAs and crisp uniforms. They looked down on kids from Whedon, and with good reason they believed.

 

Jongin burped before he continued, “This is not how I wanted to my senior year to be. With the uptight teachers at Breighton I doubt I’ll be able to get me hourly naps.”

 

Sehun laughed at his, “You’re so lazy, dude.”

 

“Yes, I’m your lazy best friend.” Jongin said proudly. The sound of someone entering the building was heard and Jongin looked past Sehun. His face broke into an even bigger smile and he waved his arms in the air.

 

Sehun knew who it was before turning around and he suddenly felt hot. He heard her soft footsteps and his heartbeat quickened as she got closer and closer.

 

“Hey,” Jongin greeted Jewels as he slid further into the booth to make room for her.

 

“What’s up, guys?’ She said and took a seat next to Jongin before leaning in and kissing him quickly on the lips. Sehun averted his gaze.

 

“Nothing, just Jongin complaining as usual.” Sehun said as he forced his heart rate to slow and the odd feeling in his chest to go away.

 

“Hey!” Jongin looked offended as he pushed Jewels’ food towards her. She thanked him before unwrapping her sandwich.

 

“Does he know how to do anything else?” She smiled at Sehun and he ignored the way his heartbeat sped up once again.

 

Sehun stuffed a fry in his mouth as he laughed.

 

“We were talking about attending Breighton in like two months.” Jongin swiped Jewels sweet tea and took a sip. Sehun noticed how close they were sitting. Jongin’s arm resting on the back of the booth behind her head.

 

Jewels rolled her eyes, “It’s bull. We’re going to be surrounded by snobby people for eight hours a day. I swear if one of the Breighton es say something I don’t like ...” she trailed off.

 

“I doubt they’ll say anything. They think we’re these thugs who carry baseball bats and knives where ever we go.” Jongin said with a laugh. “They’ll probably just keep to themselves.”

 

Sehun nodded in agreement. “They’ll only talk about us behind closed doors. Cry to their rich daddies and ask for a bodyguard or something.”

 

Jewels laughed and nodded her head, “It’ll be interesting. That’s for sure,” She paused and picking at her food, “but as long as we have each other everything will be great. Jongin, Jewels, and Sehun. The three amigos.” She looked between the two with a bright smile on her face.  

 

“Yeah,” Sehun said with a forced smile, “The three amigos.”

If you were to ask anyone where Michelle was going to be in ten years they would say, ‘Somewhere with Chanyeol happily married with kids and a nice house with a white picket fence.’

 

They have been together for as long as they can remember. Their parents were friends and when they were kids they spent almost everyday together. They had the same nanny and their parents constantly arranged playdates. They know everything about each other. The other’s biggest fear, favorite color, strangest dreams, and scariest nightmares. They’re more than boyfriend and girlfriend. More than best friends. They’re each others other half.

 

They told each other everything. There were no secrets between the two of them and they weren’t going to start now. It took ten minutes for Michelle to muster up the courage to call Chanyeol over. Her voice shaky as she told him that what she needed to tell him was important.

 

It took five minutes for Chanyeol to appear at her door, hat on backwards, and his face full of worry as he took in the distressed sight of his girlfriend.

 

“Babe, what’s wrong?” He reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. She looked at him. She took in the concern on his face. She took in the child-like way his eyes widened, and she took in the way she could almost taste the love he had for her.

 

She wasn’t aware she was crying until Chanyeol maneuvered her out of the doorway so he could close the door and led her to the couch in the livingroom. He sat down next to her and began rubbing soothing circles on her back. “Michelle. You have to talk to me. I can’t help you unless you talk to me. I know people think we can read each other’s minds, but we both know that isn’t true.” She could tell he was trying to ease her mind.

 

She turned to him. This boy who has been a constant in her life. She has never been afraid to tell him anything. She knew he loved her. She knew he would never leave her.

 

With a long breath she closed her eyes and whispered, “I’m pregnant, Channie.”

 

She kept her eyes closed and she felt the hand on her back stop moving. She could imagine Chanyeol’s face. The wideness of his eyes as they searched her face to make sure this wasn’t some type of joke. Oh, how she wished she was joking.

 

“Chanyeol please say something or I’m going to go insane.” Her voice was pleading as she opened her eyes to finally look at her boyfriend.

 

Suddenly he stood up. He ran his hands through his hair and Michelle noticed the way he refused to meet her eyes.

 

“, Michelle. What do you want me to say?” His voice was disbelieving as he paced through her living room.

 

“I don’t know.” She answered honestly. Her elbows rested on her knees and she held her head in her hands. “I don’t ing know, Chanyeol.”

 

“How did this happen?” He said more to himself. “We .. we were so careful, babe.” He looked at her before walking back to his spot on the couch.

 

“Obviously we weren’t careful enough.” She turned to him, “What are we going to do?”

 

Chanyeol didn’t answer her right away. She watched him as he looked down at his hands a serious look on his face and she knew he was thinking. Considering every possible option. Every possible outcome. His bottom lip was pulled between and he was biting it so hard it was turning white.

 

“I’ve known you for as long as I can remember.” He looked up and his gaze landed on her, “I’ve been in love with you for just as long. You know my deepest secrets. I know your strongest desires. I’m going to marry you. We’re going to have a family and grow old together. You and I, we’ve been through everything together and I don’t want to change that. This baby that’s inside of you,” His voice cracked and he swallowed before continuing, “This baby is us. I’m willing do this, babe, but we have to do this together. We have to be strong together.”

 

Michelle was crying again. “Channie ...” She really didn’t know how she was so lucky. She reached out putting a hand on each of his cheeks. “I love you. I love you so much.” She leaned forward and their lips met in a kiss that contained every ounce of love they had for each other.

“I love you, too.” Chanyeol said when they pulled away, “And I promise that I will be there for you,” he paused as he looked at her belly, “and this baby forever. No matter what.”

 

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