Ava had a twisted stomach as she drove to the house of Riley. She could not go back home yet. Not after the events of last night and not after the mayhem at the birthday party of the Bella. Each step towards the door of Riley seemed to be heavier, as though the weight of all this should be upon her chest.

She knocked lightly. Riley opened the door and was rubbing her eyes and looking tired. "Ava? What's up?" asked she, with her still sleep-thick voice.

"I... Come with me, I need you to come with me," Ava said with her hands trembling a little. She did not want to go home alone.

Riley nodded slowly. "Of course, I'll come. I have only just woken up, and must have a quick bath first."

Ava looked at the living room and nodded. "Okay. I'll wait."

Riley ran off into the bathroom and Ava was left alone. She sat down on the couch her thoughts whirling. She repeated all that occurred, Mark cheating on her, the way she reacted at the birthday party, and the one-night stand with Marcus. She was not able to tell anybody about Marcus yet. She forced that thought aside, and had to concentrate on surviving the day.

After some time, Riley emerged from the bathroom, dressed and looking fresher. Ava rose and was a little steadier with her friend at her elbow.

"I must tell you what happened last night," Ava said to Riley as they prepared to get going. "Mark cheated on me with Bella. I ended things with him. I attended the birthday party of Bella too and... I revealed to everyone what they have been doing behind my back."

Riley's eyes widened. "Very good. The next time I run into that fuck, I will give him my two cents."

Ava scowled and tried to smile. She never said anything concerning Marcus. It was her secret, that part of last night, and she did not propose to reveal it at this time.

When Riley was ready, they got in the car and drove off to Ava's house. The nearer they got, the tighter Ava felt her chest getting. As they arrived, she looked through the front door and saw the familiar figures of her parents. And there was Marcus, calm as though nothing was ever the matter.

Ava took a deep breath. She had to act normal. She followed Riley inside.

They made Patricia brighten up when she saw them. "Marcus and Elena are not divorcing anymore!" she exclaimed with all the excitement and relief in her voice.

Ava froze. Her stomach tightened. She closed her lips and tried to smile. Great, terribly great, she thought to herself.

Riley followed her closely and could see the tension, but she did not say anything. Ava walked behind her mother and Marcus into the living room with her mind whirling. She experienced all the looks, all the movements around her as though her heart could betray her.

The next hour was spent by the family assisting Elena in returning to the house. Boxes were transported, the furniture was rearranged and everyone helped out. Ava kept to herself and only moved when she had to. She assisted where she could and she avoided eye contact with Marcus because, she was well aware that any kind of interaction would attract attention. She felt a pain in her heart seeing Marcus and Elena collaborate. They were smiling, laughing lowly, and brushing little, easy touches that had to remind her how she had crossed the line last night.

At last, the work was quieted down and it was time to eat. The table was properly set, and everyone sat down. Ava sat next to Riley who gave her a comforting nod. Marcus was sitting across, detached but alert. There was a heavy atmosphere. Ava and Marcus did not address each other. There was a heavy silence that was their silent secret between them.

Patricia broke the silence, and her voice was gentle. "It is a huge relief that Marcus and Elena have chosen to get things straight. It is nice to find them so glad to be together once more."

Ava's chest tightened. She felt used. She would have liked to say something, to complain that she was injured and that she had emotions that no one could know. But she made no reply, and had to lower her eyes to her plate. As she watched Marcus and Elena laughing at minor jokes, glancing at each other, and caressing each other, her stomach ached with envy.

She chewed her food in silence. She was holding her fork tremulously. Every bite felt heavy.

Marcus looked at her once, but only briefly, with a neutral expression. Ava turned her head away and concentrated on her plate. She did not want him to observe how ambivalent she was. She could not allow him to know that she had been hit more by last night than she could take.

The dinner table discussion was generally civil. Daniel and Patricia were talking of their day, of Elena settling down, of small domestic schemes. Ava quietly listened and nodded ever so often. She was aware that Riley was looking at her, though not saying anything, just being there, providing support by being there. That little assurance made Ava keep herself together.

The thoughts of Marcus and Elena came back to Ava over and over again as she ate. She did not understand how they could behave so normally, so easily in love, and she had a secret that could ruin everything.

After dinner, the dishes were cleared. Ava remained at the table for a few minutes more, attempting to calm down. She was not sure if she would be able to remain in her room permanently, yet she was aware that she would not be able to fight Marcus. She had to wait. She had to be careful.

At last, she rose and took her leave unobtrusively. She retired to her room and shut the door. She put her back to it and drew a breath. Her heart was sore, and her stomach was clenched with anxiety. She reflected on the secret she was bearing, the line she had crossed, and the effects which might follow.

This could not be her permanent state. She had to suppress it at present. She was forced to act like nothing had occurred. But the fear lingered. And how much time would she be able to hold on to it? Until when the truth broke in and everything was different?

Time flew by after  Bella's birthday. The entire Marcus episode became a load on her heart, and eventually, thoughts of him slipped away from her but still a compulsion for her. Always beside her at school, helping her across the awkward bylanes of her social life was Riley. 

Right now, Ava was at her usual place in class, right next to Riley. She just stared, her eyes drawn blank at the notebook just in front of her. The words merged, and none of them made sense. 

There came a thud when the door was slammed open against the wall. Ava flinched with the sound. Mark entered and was a sight of red rage. All heads turned to him in the classroom.

"Ava! You have to listen to me!" he bellowed. His voice echoed along the room.

Ava froze, a pen slipping from her fingers. Her heart raced, while the adrenaline pumped through her body, sending her stomach into knots. At that moment, he was all but impossible to ignore as his looming presence seemed to shrink the room. 

"Uh-huh. I don't want to talk," said Ava in a low voice as she got up. She merely stepped another half toward Riley like somehow this suddenly made her unpopular and so she tried avoiding it.

But that was of no use to Mark. He strode a huge step toward her, thumping a finger onto her. "You have to take me back, Ava! I am begging you! And you owe Bella an apology! You humiliated her at her party, and you wrecked everything!" 

Ava's complexion turned red-hot. She readied her mouth to say something; nothing came out. 

Immediately, Riley had jumped in between Ava and Mark. "Back off, Mark!" she growled. "Ava doesn't owe you or Bella anything. You were cheating on her; this is on you, not her!" 

Mark swiveled his enraged gaze toward Riley. "You're meddling in matters that are none of your business! You don't get to lecture me!" 

Riley squared her shoulders and answered, "I'm allowed to protect my friend. Now listen to her, or get out!" 

It was altogether chaotic. At the lightest provocation, noise levels peaked and Ava felt extremely sandwiched in between. She never thought she would see Mark so rowdy or so loud or so relentless. With Riley standing her ground, saying sharp and uncompromising things, somehow Ava drew her attention and began to feel very small under it. 

And then the ground tilted beneath her feet. All vision before her started to sway, while all sound lost itself in a high-pitched ringing. Her knees betrayed her, and she felt herself falling over. Riley, quick enough to act by instinct, reached out to grab her just before she hit the ground.

"Ava!" Riley cried out screamingly. Out of panic, she grabbed her belongings, threw them inside her bag, and barged out of the classroom. Whispers filled the halls behind them, but Ava was hardly aware of just how much was happening around her. All she felt was this immediate emptiness, this spinning sensation, and, in an instant, the burgeoning wave of unconsciousness crashing down on her. 

Ava sat, trembling, weak, and almost dragged to the floor, in some room at the school nurse's office. "Slow down," said the nurse while helping Ava sit down. Mildly waving the fan as she offered water, she asked, "What happened?" 

"I don't... I don't know," murmured Ava in a tiny voice. "I got dizzy... and just... fell." 

Meanwhile, Riley stood by squeezing her hand. "It's okay, Ava. We'll work it out. Just stay with me." 

"You seem weak and stressed out dear," said the nurse. "How about I give you a referral to the nearest clinic to run some tests so we know what is really wrong with you before it gets out of hand?" she continued. 

"I think that's a good idea." Riley agrees. 

"Alright then, give me a few minutes as I  prepare the referral form for you." With that, the nurse walked out. 

She soon came back with the referral form. 

Riley helped Ava out of the school clinic as they made their way to her car. 

They got into the car and headed straight for the hospital. Ava sat in the back carrying her handbag, mind swirling. While she fought with herself as she tried to think of something else. Every thought, however, so often turned back to the events of the night with Marcus weeks back. New thoughts, however, joined the previous ones, especially on what Mark did. It weighed heavily against her chest, much like a dull complaint flashing in her stomach, and really not about fainting.

While Ava leaned back on the bed, looking a little dizzy, the doctor began to examine her completely. The nurse checked her vitals and glided out of the room with a promise to be back soon with the results. Then she held her breath and forced herself into silence in an attempt to calm herself. Beside her, Riley stayed, clutching her hand and seeking to comfort her without words. 

Finally, the doctor entered there, clipboard in hand. His face turned serious, and without doubt, Ava's heart began to pound in her chest. 

"Ava Thompson?" the doctor inquired while looking directly at the girl. 

"Yes," she managed to push out with a little voice. 

The doctor drew in air; "The results are in... You're pregnant." 

Ava's mind went blank. Blinking several times, she could not fathom the information. Beside her, Riley gasped, squeezing her hand till she thought it would break. Ava's stomach twisted with shock, and fear and disbelief swirled together. 

"I... I'm... pregnant?" she intoned, shaking. 

"Yes. You're a few weeks along now. You should schedule follow-up appointments, and then we can meet and discuss with you and your guardian about your options and next steps," the doctor replied. 

She tried to clutch the little bit of shakiness left in her hands about what he told her; however, her mind was in no way blissful. A dozen wild thoughts loomed large in her mind-all concerning Marcus-rushing to last night, the ordeal she wanted to keep under wraps. Mark, Riley, and the thoughts of her parents came back to her too, and suddenly the world started tilting and crashing down. 

Holding on tight to her right hand, Riley was indeed in her moment of staying alive. 

The doctor took a few steps away to give them some privacy. Buried under her hands, Ava managed to process everything that had happened. 

She was pregnant with Marcus's child!

"Ava... who's the father?" Riley asked softly.

Ava flinched at the question. Her stomach was turning, and her hands were clinging to the side of the bed. The words were not able to come out of her mouth.

Marcus...she was unable to say his name. Not now, not ever. It was his thought of him, of that night, of what she had done, that made her chest painfully tight.

It is... it is Mark, she said, but barely above a whisper.

Riley gazed and gaped at her, and a horror and doubtfulness fell on her face. "Mark? Are you serious? You... you slept with him? You allow yourself to get into this position?

"I... I did not intend for it to happen like this," Ava said hastily, shaking her head. "I just... I didn't think properly okay? I wasn't thinking straight."

Riley rubbed a hand down her face and was exasperated. "Ava, you have to be careful! You cannot simply sleep with someone, not like this! Not at the time you are still in school and not before you consider the ramifications! You let your guard down. Didn't you use protection? You should know better!"

"I know!" The voice broke a little, and Ava snapped. I did not wish that it should happen to me!

Riley sat back with a jerk. "We need an adult here, Ava. You're still in school. The baby... the father... everything... this cannot be a one-man job. You need your mother."

Ava was hesitant and her hands were shaky. She churned her stomach at the thought of her mother and of the lecture as well as the anger of Patricia. But she knew Riley was right. She picked up her phone and called home.

"Mom," Ava said, attempting to maintain calmness in her voice. "I'm at the hospital. Can you come get me?"

"Is everything okay?" Patricia questioned instantly with a tense voice.

"Yes... Come... just come,"  Ava answered. She never said anything about the pregnancy, the father, or anything. She could not.

It was only a few moments before Patricia came. She got answers, and she did it at a glance when she entered the room.

"What is going on, Ava? Why am I here?" she enquired, with the voice of authority and concern.

Ava swallowed hard. She may have felt her heart beat in her heart. She turned her head away and did not look at her mother. At last, she talked, and it was little more than a whisper.

"I'm... I'm pregnant," she admitted.

Patricia blanched and her face changed to disbelief. "Pregnant?!" she shouted. "Ava Thompson! How could you? Who... who is the father?"

"... it is Marks," Ava repeated the lie. "But I... I left him. He cheated on me, Mom. That's why I left him."

Patricia flushed with anger. "You left a man... over cheating?" she yelled. "You ran away from him on the grounds of cheating? And now... You are pregnant so young? What do you think will happen now? Do you know how you have humiliated our family?"

Ava shuddered at the words of her mother. She was just about to open her mouth to respond, but Patricia was not done.

You believe that you can afford to make mistakes like this and nothing will happen? My daughter is not going to be a baby mama. Do you hear me?" The voice of Patricia was severe and uncompromising, and reverberated in the hospital room.

"I... Mom... I don't want to..." Ava attempted, but her words failed her.

"You will marry him!" Patricia screamed and her face was hard and set. You will put this mess you have made right. My daughter shall never raise a bastard. And you have to get back with Mark Rivera at once!

Ava's stomach dropped. She shook her head violently. "I... I can't! I don't want to! I can't marry him!"

Patricia's jaw tightened. "No arguments, Ava. You defy me, and you will cause more disgrace to this family than you have already caused. This ends now. You are going to marry him and that is all.

Ava's mind raced. She felt trapped. Her chest was panicking and her hands were trembling. How could she marry Mark? What could she tell... anything? She would have screamed, cried, run, but she made no noise. Her mother was categorical and there was no bargaining.

Riley gave her a squeeze of her hand, which was all she could do to comfort her. "It will be all right," she said to Ava. "We'll figure this out. You're not alone."

Ava smiled weakly, her tears on the verge of bursting out. She was angry, frightened, and helpless simultaneously. The eyes of Patricia remained steady on her, undaunted, unswerving. It was a question of no compromise, no middle ground. It was not the choice of Ava and until then, all she could do was to comply.

Patricia now shifted her gaze to the exit of the room and was content to believe that she had given her verdict successfully. "You will get married, Ava, this is the last time I am going to say it!" her voice was cold and firm. So she walked away with Ava and Riley were left to the emptiness of the hospital room.

The silence that followed was heavy. Ava sat up against the bed, her thoughts whirling. She was caught between the fear and anger over the truth of her pregnancy and the impossible decision her mother had taken on her behalf.

At her elbow sat Riley holding her hand. "We will see this out, Ava," said she. "We'll get through it."

Ava agreed, yet in her heart, she understood that life would never be easy anymore. The Mark lie was established, her cover concerning Marcus still hidden, but now another fight had started--the one that would define her future and make her face decisions that she was not ready to make.

Her thoughts wandered to the window, the sun shining in very mean and sharp. She had a desire to get away, to flee it all but she could not. 

"You will marry him," she said to herself as she remembered listening to Patricia earlier on, and it was on her mind over and over.