star5

"It's.......
"Positive isn't it?"Cindy abruptly interrupted Grace two months later.
Grace hesitated in her response but turned the stick toward Cindy showing the plus sign indicating that indeed she was pregnant.
"Damn! "
"Well you did play a little Russian roulette that night Cin."
"I don't need a lecture right now, I need a friend."
"You need to learn how to control yourself is what you need,"Grace spoke up.
Cindy sat in awe of Grace. She'd never spoken her mind to Cindy before.
"Cin?"She looked toward her friend with concern now.
"Oh my G*D! My little is growing up,"she teased.
"Stop it. Somebody needed to say something to you Cindy. Did you ever stop to think of the diseases you could have got from that one night too?"
"Oh Grace. I get checked on a regular basis for that and I'm not due up for my next test for another six months."
"And you're willing to put a new life at risk for that possibility of six months?"
"I've already put it at risk for two months now haven't I?"
"You didn't know you were with child then."
"You worry too much."
"And you don't worry enough. Think about this Cin. Is the world really ready for another little you and are you ready for the responsibility of a child?"
"I think I can handle it Grace."
"Please think about this Cindy."
"Look Grace, I was responsible enough to have sex, I was responsible enough to deal with the consequences."
"You know I'm only saying these things because I care."
"I know and I wouldn' t have it any other way. Now go pick up your man."
"I don't feel comfortable spending time with him now knowing what his friends did to you."
"Grace, I was a willing partner. I knew what I was doing okay? Now your boy hardly seems like the irresponsible type to me. As a matter of fact, I wish I'd have taken a swipe at him but he was enamored with you and as far as I can tell, he still is from what you tell me."
"He is a nice guy. Almost too good to be true."
"Then take it for what it's worth Grace. You only live once."
"You sure you're gonna be okay?"
"Yeah I'll be fine. Now go,"she shooed her out of her apartment. But Grace was right. How was she going to raise a child? She could barely take care of herself and yet the idea of having someone else to take care of seemed so natural. And then there was his face. It spoke a thousand words to her yet said nothing at the same time. She knew his heart but in her mind at this time it was shallow and callous; afraid to let anybody get near for fear he might actually feel something.

"So tell me something D? Does she ever mention her friend in any of your conversations?"they were in mid conversation on their way to the airport.
"Why are you so interested in Grace's friend all of a sudden? Was I right about you all along?"
"Oh please,"he dismissed Howie's remark.
"She got to you and you're too damn stubborn to admit to it but to answer your question, like it or not, I do inquire about her presence occasionally."
"What do you hate about her so much Howie?"
"I just don't like the way she treats Grace."
"Their friendship has survived many hardships before you got there I'm sure there's a reason for it."
"Yeah, me."
"Oh come on. You really think that girl is so hung up on you that she used me to get near you?"
"We've seen the game played before Age."
"That girl may be a lot of things D but she wouldn't do that to her friend."
"How do you know?"
"Because she's just like me."
"And on that note,"He pulled his carry on luggage from the front as AJ popped the trunk. AJ got out of the car briefly.
"Look man, I did fall for her okay but there's no chance of anything ever happening after the way I treated her that night."
"You don't know that until you try. Listen, I'll have my cell if you need to reach me okay?"
"Okay. Have a good trip."
"Thanks. Drive careful."
"As always,"he grinned devilshly and took off . He's right you know his conscience started on him.
Why do you always fucking appear when I don't need you to? Come on AJ, the boy is right. You don't know until you try.