This. It's more than coincidence, I think.

I think too.

Who's the father?

D... D... Doug. I--

Don't worry about explaining. You do what you have to do.

Are you going to tell him?

No... No. He doesn't have to know. Besides, he couldn't afford to help me take care of it anyway. I don't even know if he'd want to.

So you're going to raise it? With your overprotective parents? I don't think you'd even see it outside the emergency room. Straight to the adoption agency it would go, no question.

I have to get an abortion. There's no other option. You have to help me.

I'll help you, Korinne. I'll help you. Look. We'll go to the free clinic, and get you rightfully tested, yeah? That way it's all anonymous and only the two of us will be there. That is, unless you want Nancy to go.

I haven't told Nance yet. I don't think I want to. The last thing I want right now is pity.

Pity is probably the last thing she wants to give you anyway, Kor. You can't keep something like this from her. She has to know, otherwise you'll be acting crazy and she'll be more worried than before.

I know. It would probably be best if you told her. I'd break down again.

Okay.

When are you going to tell her?

Well, today, if I can find her. I think you should be there.

Aw, come on, do I have to?

Korinne, stop acting like a 5 year-old about this. She's one of your best friends.

Okay, okay. But you're still going to tell her.

Oh, thanks, make me have to try and not break down. It's not like you aren't going to anyway.

How you doing, love?

I'm doing okay. My journal's been getting the brunt of my emotional turmoil lately.

Anything I can help you out with?

No. No, but thank you though.

Sure. You know I'm always here, if you want to talk or whatever.

Thank you.

How was your trip?

My trip?

You did just spend the past six months in another country? Unless you have a twin and I'm speaking to her--

Oh. Oh. I wouldn't really consider that a trip. At least, not in the holiday-type sense. Um. I had fun. But, it was, suffice it to say, a real learning

See a lot of stuff?

Yeah. Had to, 'cause I probably won't be there ever again. It was fun, though.

A lot of people were asking about you while you were gone. Even people who didn't know you were wondering where you disappeared to.

Really? Nobody I don't know hasn't talked to me or anything yet. Weird.

Well, you know how you get used to people being around, and then when they're gone you feel like something's wrong?

Yeah. I have no idea what that feels like.

So. How have you been while I've been gone?

I've been doing all right. Went out with a couple of people. Fell in love.

With who? Someone in here?

Well, sorta. She hasn't been in here much lately.

Really. So, who is she?

Oh, just this girl named Nancy.

What?!? You mean, my friend, Nancy?

That would be the same one.

Wait. She didn't tell me you guys were going out--

No. We're not. But I plan to get to that.

I take it she has no idea you feel this way.

Well... no. But every time I've seen her up here, I make it a point to talk to her and flirt. She seems to flirt back, but I don't know. What do you think I should do, being that she's your friend and all? You know more about her than I do.

Uh. Well. Just... be yourself, I guess.

That's what I've been doing. Has she said anything about me?

Um. Not that I know of. Like you said, she hasn't spent a whole lot of time up here.

Right.

But I'll tell you this with plenty of advance warning if you two do get together: If you hurt her, I'll kill you.

I don't think you'll have a problem with that at all, Mark.

Shit. I have to go home. I have to work tomorrow. You going to be here tomorrow night?

As far as I know.

Cool. Then we can talk more about this tomorrow night, yeah?

Yeah.

Well, then. This was a little better than my attempts to mow down everyone from the clock tower. Funny how life throws these things at you. And it's even funnier how sometimes we throw things back.

You look a little busy.

Oh my god. You scared the shit out of me.

Sorry. I couldn't resist. You journalling?

Yeah, a little bit. Every time I try and do it up here, I get interrupted.

Hmmmm, I wonder why.

I thought you worked tonight.

Well, I do. I mean, I'm supposed to, but Dad saw that I looked like Death warmed over and told me to go out instead.

And you wanted to hang out up here?

I actually haven't been up here in awhile. And, I was hoping you'd be up here.

Moi? I must say I'm flattered. Scared, but flattered.

No, no, it's nothing like that. I just wanted to hang out up here, like old times.

I see. So... how are you doing?

Not bad. Been feeling a little weird lately.

Why? Anything wrong?

Well... no. I don't even know if I should've said weird... different, I guess.

Come on, tell me what's up.

Um. Look. I don't want to freak you out.

You aren't asking me back out again, are you?

No. But you might go berserker anyway.

We could go for a walk, I guess.

Okay. So what's up? And don't philander this time.

You know how sometimes you hear about people waking up and they feel different?

Um. Yeah.

Well... a couple of days ago, after I'd talked to you, I woke up and felt different.

Um.

I mean, this was beyond some kind of New-Age-harness-your-Chi-and-call-me-in-the-morning crap. I woke up and realized something that I'd been thinking about for a long time: I'm gay.

Oh my god. This is my fault.

No, no. This isn't any of your doing.

Thank you for failing to make me feel better.

I woke up and realized that my caring about you, as strong as it is, isn't the same as being in love. We were great together. For awhile. And I love you, but I'm in love with someone else.

I turned you gay. I can't believe this.

No. No. Mark turned me gay.

Who?

Mark. You know, Mark.

But Mark's straight!

I know, but...

But! But nothing! He's obnoxiously heterosexual! You couldn't turn him away from pussy even if you labeled it radioactive and had to put a biohazard sticker on it.

He has to go through an experimental phase sometime.

What? Are you completely mad? You can't--

Wait. Do you know something I don't?

No. If I did wouldn't I tell you?

Well, yeah.

Then don't ask me!

We're still friends, right?

Yes! Don't worry about it. Now there's no pressure at all, whatsoever!

You're not mad at me, are you?

No! I'm not!

We're going to be okay. Please don't be mad at me.

Just when you think everything's okay...

...it's not. And you know, I'm starting to fall into the belief that the worst-case scenarios are the best-case vitamins. They help you grow, even though you hate taking those honking horse pills.

Shit.

Shit.

Let me see.

Are you serious?

Shit.

Oh, fuck me.

No, Korinne's the one who got fucked.

Thank you for reminding me.

Just trying to help a sista out.

Okay Marx Brothers, now what?

Go down to the free clinic, I guess. Get a real test and see what happens.

We're not going today, are we?

Not unless you plan on waiting nine months to find out if this little grocery store piece of shit is right.

Shit.

Come on. Let's go before we get so depressed we can't move.

Anything been going on lately? I mean, besides this?

Oh, fuck.

What? What's up?

You remember Mark, right?

Yeah. Yeah, he's a hottie. Why?

Oh well, good. 'Cause he likes you.

WHAT?!?

Yeah. Told me himself the other night.

Told you? Just, straight up, told you?

Oh god, yes. I think he was hoping one of these kind of conversations would happen.

Pass the information on, right?

Something like that.

Mark? Likes me?

It's what he said. But, there's more.

What?!?

Been talking to Scott a little bit lately as well.

Oh you naughty girl. And?

Well, that same night I talked to Mark, I guess Scott decided it was a good night to come out of the closet to me.

You mean, he's gay? When did this happen?

When he realized he wasn't as in love with me as he thought.

Even with the letter and everything?

I turned the little bastard gay. How's that for payback?

Well, you did break up with him.

Thanks for the support.

Damn. And all on top of this chic scaring the hell out of us.

This is a little more than just scary.

Just a tad.

Not 'till next week.

Are you kidding?

You know what just occurred to me? Kor, have you even been getting sick in the past 3 weeks?

Actually, not really.

Okay.

You think it's just really late?

That's what I think.

But I've heard of people not really getting sick, so...

I don't think that's the case.

God, I hope not. Come on.