I knocked on Fran's door, using my knee to hold up the tray of food in hopes of not dropping it.

I'd requested Mom help me make her breakfast- I'd gone to hibernate in my room in hopes of avoiding her yesterday.

But today was a new day, and I wanted to make things right.

"Come in," she sweetly said, making me nervously reach for her door handle.

I opened her door, my eyes meeting hers. I was nervous- I was terrified that my best friend in the whole world hated me.

"Hi," she greeted, crossing her legs as she sat upright.

"H-hey," I greeted, "I-I brought you breakfast."

She looked up at me as I walked over to her, chewing on her lip. She grabbed her glasses and slid them on her face, smiling down at the array of food in front of her.

"I'm gonna put my money on the fact that you didn't make all of this."

"I helped," I softly said, shooting her a smile.

She smiled, reaching for the glass of water first. She gulped down a few sips and wiped the corner of her mouth, looking up at me as she placed it on her nightstand.

"I'm sorry for making you cry," I said, "I-I never, ever want to make you upset."

She shook her head, drizzling some syrup across the waffle in front of her. "Hero."

"No," I said, "you know what, I can lose it on everyone else in my life, but not you. I can't do that."

"Okay, well, it also wasn't my place to tell Amelia. Anyone, for that fact. It wasn't my business to tell."

"But you were right, she deserved to know."

"Well, not from me," she said.

I looked over at her, sighing. "Do you hate me?"

She looked up at me, shaking her head. "I could never hate you, Hero."

"I'm so sorry," I muttered, bracing my elbows on my thighs.

"It's okay. I'm sorry, too."

"I-I'm gonna try to get some new medicine," I said, "that's not ever going to happen again."

"Hero, stop beating yourself up," she said, "okay, I was in the wrong."

"Okay, that doesn't matter," I said.

"It does," she muttered, lifting an eyebrow as she took a bite of her waffle.

She cautiously slid the tray towards me, nodding down at the food. "It's a lot, I can't eat it by myself."

"I've actually already eaten," I said, chuckling, "my appetite, it's been crazy."

"That's good," she said, smiling a hopeful smile.

I bit down on my lip, clenching my jaw. "W-well, I'll-"

"Hey, is there anything else you need to talk about?" She asked.

"Why?" I asked.

Have you already made it obvious that you knocked up a girl and you're stressed out about it?

She shrugged. "I'm just trying to be there for you. More than I have been."

"You've been there for me," I said, "since day one."

She smiled up at me as I stood up.

"Hey, how are things going with Brian? Is he treating you right?"

She nodded, taking a sip of her water. "Very much so."

"Good. Let me know if he stops, I know how to shoot."

She laughed, wiping the corner of her mouth. "I will be sure to let you know."

I smiled down at her, clenching my jaw. Fran had grown up. She was no longer this clueless teen I had to protect at all costs- she could hold her own.

I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her head, wrapping my arms around her for a hug. She rubbed my back, sighing against me.

"You're doing so good, Hero," she softly said, "I'm proud of you."

"And you're growing up," I whispered, gently rubbing her shoulders, "stop it."

"You first."

~*~

Zach and I couldn't stay away from each other.

I'd thought that when I'd met Cordelia when I was sixteen, that was it for me. That was the craziest I'd ever be about a human.

But Zach- Zach proved that theory wrong with each day that passed.

"Come up for air," Zach muttered against my lips, smiling.

"You first," I whispered.

He pushed himself away from me, rolling over on his back. "Dad's cheating on Mom."

I leaned up on my elbows, clenching my jaw. "That fucking sucks."

"Yeah. And she knows."

I looked over at him, lifting an eyebrow.

He shrugged, folding his arms behind his head. "I guess she's afraid of not having the financial stability. I don't fucking know."

"I'm sure your mom could make it as a trophy wife elsewhere."

"No, Henry, you can't have her," he deadpanned, looking up at me.

I laughed, shaking my head. "I have looked at your mom once."

"She's beautiful, man," he mocked, "oh, that's your mom?"

"I was being nice," I said, "and not to mention the little flirty comment you made to my mom yesterday."

"BFD," he said.

"The fuck does that mean?" I asked, watching as he sat up.

"Big fucking deal," he said, "God, what is wrong with you?"

I leaned over, pressing a kiss to his neck. "You said I had to return the favor."

"I said I expected you to," he said.

"Well, I always live up to expectations," I said, smiling at him.

He smiled, grabbing my chin. "You're a whiny little sub, you know?"

I slapped his hand away, shaking my head. "No, I'm not."

"Okay, you were yesterday."

"Th-that," I said, shaking my head, "that was because I haven't been touched in, like, forever. By someone else."

"Right," he said, grinning as he looked towards the water.

One thing that I loved about Zach and I is that we never stopped taking adventures. If we weren't in school or practicing or studying, we were out, exploring. He'd shown me places I never even knew existed.

"I wonder if anyone else knows this place exists," I said.

"Oh, yeah," he said, "they do. This is a known hookup spot."

I looked over at him. "Zach, what's your past?"

He looked down at me as I leaned back, chewing on his lip.

"You can tell me," I said.

"I've experimented," he said, "that's all I'll say."

"With how many people?"

"Five."

I knew my reaction was loud. My eyes went wide and I leaned my head back. "Damn."

He looked over at me. "Now you get to tell me yours."

"Two."

"You're a fucking liar."

"Swear on my life," I said, "two."

"I don't believe Henry King has only ever had sex with two people."

"Well, sex is more to me than," I said, shaking my head, "you know. Just that."

"Well, that's sweet."

"Have you been with guys before me?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah."

"How many?"

"One," he said, "the rest were girls. They just didn't do it for me I don't guess, so I ended up on you."

I chuckled, looking up at him.

"Was it Cordelia?" He asked, looking over at me.

I shook my head. "Never had sex."

"You and Cordelia never had sex?" He chuckled, "man, that's sad."

"How did you even know we were together?" I asked, laughing.

"Henry," he said, "everyone knows you. Whether they want to or not. I've known you for ages. Your business spreads fast."

"I'm sorry I was such a dick to you," I said, "I feel like I always was."

He shook his head. "You, actually, never were. You were always one of the nicest popular kids."

"You think so?"

"Yes, despite all the bros," he said.

I smiled.

"You know, I remember the first time you actually looked at me," he said, "and I actually felt like you saw me. You were wearing your varsity jacket. Crowded around all those guys you hang around."

I looked over at him, a smile still on my face. I didn't think Zach really cared if I saw him or not.

"And you have this million dollar smile," he said, "and you were laughing, or something. And you looked at me. And you didn't look away for a few seconds."

"Why did you act like you hated me?" I asked, looking over at him.

"Because I didn't like you," he chuckled.

I laughed, nodding. "Fair."

"And now, I'm like, making out with Henry King every damn day. Can I go back in time maybe?"

"Shut the fuck up," I said, "you know you love me."

I froze, my lips parting. I stumbled over my words, shaking my head. "I-I meant- I didn't mean that. I'm sorry."

He smiled and stood up, stripping off his shirt. "Hey, I might just."

He ran and jumped into the lake, making me smile and follow shortly after.

~*~

I knocked on Amelia's door, biting down on my lip as I waited on her to answer.

"Please, answer the door," I whispered to myself, gripping my hips.

The door flew open, making me let out a relieved sigh. My eyes went wide at the sight of who I was assuming was her father.

He knitted his eyebrows together, lifting one shortly after. "Are you Fred King's boy?"

"U-uh, Josiah's my dad," I said, "I'm-I'm Jo's boy."

He held out his hand with a broad smile. "Your old man's a good man, son."

I forced a chuckle and shook his hand, nodding. "Yes, sir."

"So what's Jo King's boy doing at my door?"

"U-uh, Amelia and I, we're study buddies."

"Oh, is that what we're calling it now?" He asked.

"Sir-"

He chuckled, roughly patting my shoulder. "I'm kidding. Come on in."

I bit down on my lip. "Actually, I was hoping Amelia could just, you know, meet me out here really quick. I've gotta run."

"Oh, sure," he said, "I'll grab her for you. Amelia!"

I smiled an uncomfortable smile as we waited on her, looking all around the perimeter.

"Beautiful yard work," I said, nodding.

"Thank you, I wish I could take credit for it," he chuckled, "but with schedules like mine and your dad's, we don't really have much time for that, do we?"

"No, sir," I said, smiling, "d-do you work with my dad?"

"I've been in the same room as him and your uncle, and that was an honor."

I couldn't help my confused expression- Dad and Uncle Fred really were worshipped, even in a city like Chicago.

"Yeah, Dad?" Amelia sweetly asked.

As soon as she saw me, her expression immediately changed. She bit down on her lip and stood at the door, smiling a tight smile. "Hey."

"Hey," I said, "I wanted to talk about that test next week. Really quick."

She pushed past her dad, closing the door behind her.

"Hero, you can't just show up-"

"Please think about it," I pleaded, "Amelia, please."

"Hero," she muttered, her hands in her hair as her eyes went wide.

"I don't want to just get rid of it," I said.

"Hero, that's not your choice to make," she said, shaking her head.

"Okay, I understand that," I said, "but don't I get some say?"

"You know what, if we'd planned this, then sure. You could have a say. But we didn't. We were stupid and reckless one night and ended up with this."

She jammed her finger into my chest. "You were stupid and reckless."

"Pretty sure you asked me to fucking cum in you," I spat, looking down at her.

"Oh, my God," she laughed out, shaking her head, "Hero, since when do we take things said during sex literally?"

"That's beside the point," I muttered, "just, please. Don't jump into it so fucking quick."

"Hero, I don't even know how far along I am," she said, "this isn't quick. I'm months now. I'll start showing soon enough."

I let out a sigh, shaking my head.

"I can't change your mind, can I?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No. Not when you're the one who isn't carrying the child. Not when you're the one being affected the least."

I clenched my jaw. She wasn't wrong- I was being affected the least.

But this child, who I'd never even met, who I'd never even seen, was what was keeping me going. So maybe I wasn't being affected the least.

"I called today," she said, wrapping her sweater around herself, "they can't get me in for weeks."

"You told your mom?"

She nodded. "Yeah, she can't even look at me."

I bit down on my lip. "I'm sorry."

"So you know what, use these next few weeks to fantasize about this child," she said, "because after that, I don't want it brought up again."

"Amelia," I softly said, watching as she opened her door and disappeared inside.

~*~

"Leave his sorry ass," I deadpanned, earning Eros's concerned eyes.

I averted my attention from my nails and to him instead, holding up a finger. "I'll tell you in a second," I mouthed.

He shot me a thumbs-up, looking back down at his book.

"There's more to it than that, Josie," Cecilia laughed, "I wish it was that easy."

"Okay, Lily's young," I said, "she won't even remember it."

"She will," Cecilia said, and I could hear her let out a heavy sigh.

"Cecilia, you're perfect," I said, "Luke's, like, a six. On a good day."

Eros chuckled a small chuckle, making me sit next to him.

"You're like, my mini best friend."

"I'm not mini," I said, "I'm almost a legal adult."

"Emphasis on the almost."

"Well, friendship has no limits when it comes to age," I said, smiling as I leaned back against my headboard.

"I'm gonna visit," she said, "I miss Chicago."

"Chicago misses you," I said, "please come visit. We'll shop. Buy you some confidence-boosting lingerie to get over Luke and his sorry ass. Did I mention that he's just sorry?"

She laughed. "I believe you did, yes."

"Well, come on," I said, "bring Lily. Mom's got, like, grandchild fever. I think."

"I highly doubt that," she laughed out.

"Okay, well, Lily will get spoiled while she's here. Please, just come on. You need the break away from your everyday life. Don't wanna be reminded of it all the time, do you?"

"I'll take a look at my schedule, okay?"

I clapped my hands, holding my phone between my shoulder and ear. "Awesome. I can't wait to see you. I love you."

"I love you more," she said, "talk to you soon."

I hung up and placed my phone on the bed, looking over at Eros.

"Spill the tea," he said, smiling up at me.

"Cecilia's just going through it," I said, "family problems."

"Who are you and what have you done with my Josie?" He asked, gripping my face, "because my Josie would've spilled all of the tea without respect for someone's privacy."

I laughed and shoved his hands away. "Shut up. I'm working on it, okay?"

He smiled and pressed a kiss to my lips. "I know you are. I love it."

"I love you," I whispered, falling on my back.

"I love you."

"Yo, Eros!" Dad yelled, knocking on my door, "come on. You're up."

"Where have you guys been going?" I asked, watching as he stood up.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "It's a secret."

He opened the door and Dad smiled, blowing me a kiss. "Be good while we're gone."

"Mm hmm. Hey, can you maybe get out of the midlife crisis?" I asked, nodding at him.

He scoffed, holding out his arms. "This is what all the cool kids are wearing."

I examined his outfit, stopping on the backwards hat sitting on top of his head. "I really don't think that's what it is. Just because Henry wears it doesn't mean it's, one, fashionable, or two, something you need to wear."

"You're just jealous," he muttered, "come on, we're burning daylight."

Eros blew me a kiss and I waved goodbye, smiling as I sat upright.

Henry watched the pair walk past, leaning against my doorframe. "What have they been up to?"

"I literally have no clue," I said, "neither one of them will tell me."

"It's definitely a surprise for you."

I shrugged. "Surprises don't last long for me, so if that's the case, I'll know soon enough."

He chuckled, folding his arms over his chest. I smiled and looked at him, tilting my head over. I knew when my twin had something to tell me.

"What's going on with you?"

He lifted an eyebrow, a smile still on his face.

"I mean, you're way smiley. Like, sixteen year old Henry smiley. What's that about?"

He looked down and chuckled. "Nothing."

"No, it's someone," I said, climbing to the edge of my bed, "do tell. Please."

"Uh, no."

"Henry," I said, "come on. You're my twin. We have telepathy. I'll probably figure it out within the next, like, two seconds."

He let out a heavy sigh, nodding. "Okay. Yes, it is someone."

I gasped, clapping. "Who?"

He placed his tongue in his bottom lip, hesitating telling me.

"Come on, Henry."

"Z-Zach," he meekly admitted, his eyes slowly meeting mine.

"Zach?" I asked.

He bit down on his lip, making my jaw drop.

"Henry, no fucking way," I said.

"I'm bi," he said, "emphasis on the b-"

I stood up, giving his arm a rough slap. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He laughed. "I didn't know how."

"Dude!" I screeched, "I'm your twin!"

"I-I wasn't sure how you'd take it."

I looked up at him. "So, you're, like, totally into both, right?"

"Totally," he repeated, matching my tone.

I rested my hands on my hips, nodding. "Well, I can't say I saw it coming, but I'm happy for you. Zach's cute. Kind of a jerk. But cute. And smart."

"Is everything different?" He cautiously asked.

"What?" I asked, "no, not at all. I wish you would've told me sooner. We could've talked boys together."

"See, this is where I stop you-"

"I was kidding!" I yelled, scoffing as he walked away from me.

"No, you most certainly weren't," he said, stopping at his door.

I smiled, chewing on my lip. "Has it, you know, happened?"

"Alright," he said, "bye."

"Henry, come on!" I yelled, leaning against my doorframe.

"Nope!" He yelled.

"So it hasn't happened?" I asked, tilting my head over as I awaited his response.

He peeked his head out of his room. "That's for me to know, and you to never find out."

"So it totally has."

"Oh, my God," he muttered, disappearing into his room yet again.

~*~

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