"Hailey." a sudden banging in my door jolted me awake. "Darling, wake up."

"Uumhnpth." I stretched, all my muscled melting under the heat of the duvet. I could tell out of it it was way colder and I was just too good in here- My mother banged my room's door again and urged me to wake up. "M'up..." I babbled, yawning, too tired to mouth properly and heard her laughing.

"Come on, sleepyhead. It's late already."

I heard the foggy dizziness of dreamland faded more and more as I heard her footsteeps retreating from my door, assuming I would be getting up or she'd be back in the next five minutes. She never let me sleep in too much. Even now, on weekend, eleven was my top. She claims it would alter my inner schedule otherwise.

I groaned and snuzzled into the warm, comfy pillow but got startled at the sudden cold suface against my cheek. My eyes flew open, detatching my face from it and relaxing again when I saw it was just my phone, some random numbers staring back at me and I relized I pressed them with my face.

I delated them and as soon as they were gone the screen showed there was a call going on. My heart picked up and the remaining sleepiness thawed as I saw Nate's name on top and the time the call had been going on.

11 hours, 23 minutes and 41 seconds.

42 seconds.

43.

44-

I smiled to myself, a warm feeling curling in my chest when I realized we'd fallen sleep on the phone. Again. And it only increased when I brought it closer to my ear and hear the faint deep breathing at the other end.

Nate was still sleeping. Surprising, considering I was the late sleeper. Yet, he had the game last night, and then they went out to celebrate. He didn't called me until almost midnight and still stay awake long time then before my memory began to blur with sleep. He must had been exhausted.

Grinning to myself I took a screenshot and hanged up the call before opening our texts and sent it to him.

: Our new record :)

There, when he'll wake up he'll answer. And I couldn't wait. Tiredness tugged me in and my lids fluttered close, allured by the sleep once more... until my door barged open startling me.

"Hailey!" there stood Shane, his hair messy and his eyes still glossy. I guess he didn't wake up far before I did. "Mom's said up."

"Uh." I threw the duved over my head. "Go away."

"Nop." he peeled the thick coth off me and I shivered as the december coldness that slipped in the room filled me. Shane grinned at my glare. "If I can't sleep in you're not that special either."

"You're a little bully."

"Whatever sis. Come on." he practically dragged me off the bed and I groaned standing on my feet. "Teddy is down already and I'm not in the mood to deal with him and mom on my own."

Of course, the twins were always on each other's throat's, and now that Matt was gone again for his exams they call off the weird truce they made on his return.

"What have you done now?"I wondered suspiciously and he shrugged.

"Nothing. I just dont want to endure his murderous glares along with mom. She always takes his side."

"Well, you're always bothering him."

"So? He makes it too easy!"

I rolled my eyes, opening my drawers. "Whatever. Let me shower and I'll be down in no time."

"You're making me go on my own?" he gasped as if I was asking him to cut a limb off or something.

"Shane." I shut the drawer, my arms filled with a clean towel and a set of undergaments. I forced a smile, too tired to deal with him right now. "I'm showering now. See you down there."

"Such a bless to have a supportive sister." I heard him whine behind me as I made my way in the linked bathroom and closed the door.

The warm water helped me get rid of the remaining tiredness, and relax my muscles into another bright Sunday. It was 11 by the time I came back to the room and Shane was gone. I picked up my dark washed jeans and a simple tee, throwing on a woolen pullover, comfy yet nice enough since in an hour I had agreed to meet with Kimberly.

I know, shocking.

Last week it came into conversation that neither of us had a dress yet for the ball so we agreed to go together. I know, I was neglecting it, but it wasn't like I had done it on purpose. I went a couple times with Vickie and Taylor and another on my own, but while they found the perfect gown I remained dressless. Now the Snow Ball was in a little over a week form now and the thing was becoming urgent.

Pulling my hair into a pony tail I lowered the stairs and found my family on the dinning room. Honestly, I got no clue why Shane would complain so much, when I arrived the three of them were there, having a nice smooth chat with mom. If it wasn't for the few glares Ted sent Shane when she wasn't looking one would had thought they were perfectly fine. But even with that, all Shane shot in return were his smug smirks. I knew he was taunting him even without hearing what they were talking about.

"Good morning." I grabbed a mug from the kitchen and headed to my chair by the crude alarm clock and across from Teddy. When Matt was here his spot was across from me and mom on the head of the table.

"Morning sweetheart." mom eyed me amusedly. "Did you get glued to the sheets? I been calling you down for over an hour."

"Was tired." I shrugged, snatching the Oreos from Shane, smirking at his whiny complain. That's for the rushed awaking.

Mom roller her eyes at us but didn't comment, instead she eyes my clothes, noticing I wasn't in homewear like her and Shane. "Are you going somewhere?"

"To the mall." I nodded, nibbling at the cookie before taking another. "I won't lunch here. We're going to the mall and see if we could find ourselves a gown for the Winter Ball. Remember I told you?"

"Right." but for the way she touched her forehead I could tell she had completely forgotten. "Right, you told me. But be here in time, okay? Your father's calling at six."

I nodded, excited at the idea of talking to him. Now it's been a couple weeks since last time he contacted us. It'd would be good to see him. Hopefully in one piece. I munched down my breakfast as the twins bickered some more. Once done I glanced at my wrist watch and clicked my tongue.

"Well, the company was rather lovely, but I'll be going." I stood, taking my things and leaving them in the sink and go back to table, smiling down when she met my eyes. "Can I borrow the car?" her eyebrows rose and I pouted. "Please?"

Ted gulped down the rest of his food when she agreed and stood as well. "Can you drop me? I'm meeting, uh, someone." he covered quickly but we all noticed his sudden nervousness.

"Someone, uh?" mom perked a brow, her fingers tracing the hot mug absentmindly. "In the mall as well?"

"Yes..." but there was a cute blush climbing up his neck even if he play like he wasn't embarrassed at all. "She want to get some stuff and then we'll go to the Arcade."

"She?" mom hummed, as I rose a brow. As far as I knew Ted didn't have girl friends, and the way he was fiddling in his spot, awkwardly as hell, I could sense it wasn't just that. And so did our mother. "Mhm. And who would that she be?"

"His girlfriend." mocked Shane in a singing tone and Ted blushed all the more, glaring him.

"Shane." he lauched but Shane was at his feet and to my other side in no time, laughing.

"What? Am I wrong?"

"It's non of your business."

"Oh please. Our whole course has seen you drolling and giving each other heart eyes and being all mushy and pathe-"

"Enough." mom stepped in cutting Shane's provoking and turned back to Ted. "A girlfriend?"

Cornered, instead of answering he pointed his finger at me. "Hailey has a boyfriend!"

"I don't!" I blushed, stunned I was so suddenly dragged into the conversation. Mom then turned to look at me and Ted's eyes widened, as if surprised himself by the sudden betrayal and mouthed 'sorry'. Sorry! Yeah, thanks a lot for throwing me under the bus! "I don't have a boyfriend." I repeated much calmer now, yet my heart pounded harshly into my ribs.

"And I don't have a girlfriend."

"Right. Am I all surrounded by liars now?" Shane laughed at the both of us now. He found this funny, uh? I nudged him from behind me, refusing to be his shield as he enjoyed our quarrel.

"Shane." warned mom, pinching the bridge of her nose, but she looked amused rather than annoyed. "So what? Are you both meeting with your partners now?"

"No!" I waved my hands. "I'm going with a friend."

"Yeah, me too. I mean not the same. I'm meeting my friend. Just that, a friend. And that's it."

Shane and mom shared a knowing look and the former chuckled into his fist lamely concealing it and scurried away. But at least he wasn't spiking more the fire.

It wasn't like I didn't want her to know about Nate... it was that I didn't really had something to tell her. Nate wasn't my boyfriend. And what was I supposed to tell her? About our kissing deal? As open minded as she was I doubted that was something a mother wanted to hear about her daughter. So it was safer -for her and my own shake- to keep her oblivious of our pact.

Things would be different if it eveloped... but Nate's animosity to anything further that what we were already doing twisted my guts every time I thought if it. We were exclusive, weren't we? That should count as well, actions were louder than tags. Right?

By my side, tho, I could see that Ted was far from comfortable with the topic and I had to bit my inner cheek. This friend, probably was his first something. I could tell he like her, whether he wanted to share it or not, and it didn't take a genius to notice the hint of colonge he'd put on. You don't try to impress your friends.

Mom must read all this right through, and yet she surprised us when her only reaction after some seconds of her piercing gaze was an eye roll.

"Your father is calling tonight." she reminded us once more, gulping down her tea and closing the topic. "At six. Make sure to be here in time."

"Of course."

Not daring to push it further, we kissed her goodbye and slid into our jackets on our way out. As soon as we were outside I feel the cramping anticipations of her questions loose and I turned to glare at Ted, smacking the back of his neck.

"How could you?"

"I'm sorry." he pouted brushing it. "I freaked out."

"Yeah, don't tell." I scoffed but ended smiling, not being able to be mad at him when he was this flustered. "Whatever, just get in the car, Casanova."

She stood me up.

Kimberly stood me up when I was already nearing the mall. I just got a glimpse of the brunette girl waiting for Ted in the main entrance before he quickly tugged her inside and out my sight. He was so shy it was cute. But then I got a text from her saying she wasn't feeling well and that we should leave it for another day.

I got a bad feeling about this. The worst kind of feeling. Like a scratching at the back of my mind telling me something about this was off. I knew she'd been ill earlier this week. She missed a couple days and Nate told me he was worried for her, but once she was back I assumed that was a good sign. Maybe she relapsed?

I didn't know, and having nothing else to do and her not answering my last text asking if she was okay, I decided to try luck and dropped by at her place and see if she was alright, because canceling plans at this short notice... I didn't know. Something about it all felt odd.

It took me a couple rounds more than necessary around the neighbourgood to find her three story house since I'd only been her a couple times, fleetingly as Nate dropped her. Only when I get off the car and stood in that impressive façade, with columns and a fence around, I felt intimidated and had second thoughts. What if she didn't want me here? What if I was overstepping my boundaries?

Well, I'd face her known wrath then. But what if she was sick or something? Maybe I could at least entertain her? I wiped the sweat from my palms against my jeans and rang the doorbell. My heartbeat drummed harshly as I heard it echoed inside.

A middle age kind looking woman opened the door. She was short and a little chubby, her dark hair pulled up in perfect bun and her uniform showed off she was probably the housekeeper. At the pressure of her eyes one me for an agonizing second I wondered if I got the direction right. The woman tilted her head. "Yes?"

"H-hi." I inwardly cursed my wavery voice, clearing my throat and forcing out a smile at the woman. "Does Kimberly Thander live here?"

"Yes. You know the miss?"

"Sure, I'm, uh, a friend?"

"Really?" her expresion softened in a grin at that and stepped aside. "Oh dear, so lovely to hear. Come in, come in." I did, again feeling like I was overstepping and fiddled with my fingers as the woman closed the door behind me and guided me forward through the magazine-worthy lobby and big salon. "I'm Naomi, at your service. Pardon me, but I can't remember your name, have you came before?" she laughed a bit embarrassed and I grinned back reassuringly.

"No, mrs. I'm Hailey. Kimberly and I go to the same school."

"Lovely." she repeated, smiling and seeming pleased somehow. She must noticed because she scoffed a shy laugh and waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, pardon my prying. It's just that she's always around those jocks and... they're adorable, don't get me wrong, but it's good to know she has girl friends as well. It's so good." my heart ached for her and I bit down the little remark that I didn't even know if we were that much of friends. We got along. But well, considering she was Kimberly Thander, that alone was an achievement itself. "Can I offer you something?"

"I'm fine mrs, really-"

"Oh, please, just Naomi."

"Naomi." I repeated, torned between relief and pressured at such an intense welcome. I liked that she was happy I was here, but at the same time, it was overwhelming.

"I have to warn you, she wasn't feeling that well earlier.." she sighed, confirming what her texts had said. "She's having a weird week, or month... months. Do you know if maybe she's got a little boyfriend? Young love could be really messy."

"Oh, I-I'm not sure..." I stuttered, starled by the question.

"Me neither." Naomi gave me a sad smile. " She won't tell us anything anymore." I gulped. Well, I wasn't even sure we were friends to begin with so my bond with Kimberly wouldn't go that far as to gossip about boy troubles. "Are you sure I can't offer you anything?"

"No, thank you, really; but can I see Kimberly?"

"Oh, silly me, of course. Here this way." she brought us to some beautiful stairs that curled over themselves elegantly up the next floor. "Up and to the left. The miss' room is the last on on the corridor. Let me know if you need anything."

Yeah, that's why I was here in the first place. But I grinned back at her and follower her instructions. The place was so beautiful I was gawking my sorroundings like a moron, surpassing a couple maids as they exited what looked like a bathroom. How would it feel like to live in such a estate? I mean, the farm was good and enough for me and my family, but this place seemed like pulled out some magazine.

Yet with this amazing place she was never one to host parties. Maybe her parents were strict and wouldn't allow that? My mind drifted back to what Naomi had said and how happy she was she had girl friends. Weird fact; Kimberly wasn't that much of a bitch once you assume all the rudeness wasn't actually coarseness but her sharp ways. In fact, other than that, she's been probably the most supportive on Nate and I ever since we started this. And the times I spend with her she was fine. Her fame was totaly unjustified.

My nervousness came back once I stood before her door. Okay, the housekeeper liked me here, but will she? Hesitating another second, I decided there was nothing left for me to lose since I was already there, and knocked on her door lightly.

Her voice came muffled, husky. "Naomi, I'm not hungry."

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and guarding myself just in case. "It's Hailey."

"What?" there was shuffling from inside and the door slid opened just enough so she peaked out. Her eyes were bloodshot and it was pretty clear she'd been crying. I also couldn't unsee how pale she looked, and thin. I mean, she's always been but maybe it was the lack of make up of her current sour mood but her cheeks' hollows seemed more pronounced and her collarbones stick out before she readjusted her robe and wiped under her eyes. "Gracie?" for once I couldn't bring myself to care she was using the awful nick. No when she looked so miserable while opening the door some more with a confused frown. "What are you doing here?"

"I-I text you, because you cancel so sudden- Are you okay?" I finally asked, not having expect this kind of don't feel well. I expected her ill, but not like this, and it made me feel completely useless because there wasn't a single thing I could do when her lip trembled and gestured me to come in.

As soon as the door closed she hugged her middled and broke in a sob. "Kimberly, hey." My first instinct was to hug her but again, were we that close? Oh, fuck it. I wrapped my arms around her. "What's wrong?"

"I fuck up." for a second she leaned closer, and I felt her shaking, she felt so weak right now, like I could break her if I squeez more. She let go brushing her tears as she stepped backwards to held on the wall instead, as if recomposing herself a bit but silent tears kept pooling down. "I f-fuck up big deal."

"What do you mean?" I asked softly, worried and follow her gaze as she silently glared something laying on the desk.

I approached it and my stomach clenched painfully as I recognized a pregnancy test.

No.

The last steps were rushedly as I took it carefully from the end wrapped with a paper towel, helding my breath as I brought it closer to read the result. "Kimberly, look, it's... it's all good. It's negative." I reassured her, feeling my chest loosened but that only made her cried harder.

"I've lost it." again her words made the pounding in my head multiplicate and stunned me with horrific disbelief.

I breathed out hushedly, my throat so tense processing everything I couldn't speak louder than a whisper. "The baby?"

"My p-period." she sobbed. "It's been gone f-for months now!"