�I went there hoping to talk some sense into him about his drinking,� MyKenna stated. �I was ready to leave and he fell.�
�I�m surprised you didn�t take advantage of his drunkenness. Ain�t that how you got him into bed the last time? Got him drunk and seduced him?� MyKenna didn�t say anything and just looked at him. �Yeah, that�s what I thought. I guess that�s what sluts have to do when a guy won�t sleep with them.� MyKenna still didn�t say anything and Dakota walked into the waiting room. �Ya know, I don�t know what I ever saw in you. I thought you were different from all those other girls that I meet on the road and stuff. But in the end you turned out to be just like them; a money hungry fame seeking slut. I can�t believe I ever wasted my time with you. When we met you were pure, innocent, sweet, caring, kind, and now you�re nothing. You�re just a waist of time anymore.� He sighed and MyKenna watched him walk away.
�Aaron,� Dakota said, but he went right by her. She watched him a second then looked at MyKenna, as MyKenna looked her. Neither said anything for a few moments and Dakota sat down.
�So how�s Nick doing?� MyKenna asked finally.
�Alright,� Dakota replied. �Did you know about his drinking?� MyKenna nodded and sat across from her. �If you knew then why didn�t you try to talk some sense into him and get him sober?�
�I tried, DJ, but he wouldn�t listen to me. That�s why I was at his room. I was trying to make him see what he was doing to himself, but he chose not to listen. He said he had no reason to be sober since you�re not in his life no more.�
�And do you want this to be my fault? If so then you�re out of luck.�
�It�s no one�s fault, but Nick�s.�
�And yours.� MyKenna sighed.
�Yes; and mine. I ain�t going to deny what I did.�
�What hurts the most is that I trusted you so much; both of you. Yeah I knew you had a little thingy for him and yeah I knew that Nick thought you were hot, but I trusted that you wouldn�t act on it. You did though and I think that�s what hurt me the most. That trust was ruined and I was betrayed by you both.� MyKenna just looked at her and they both sat there in silence for a couple minutes.
�If it makes ya feel any better Nick never said my name while we were�ya know.� Dakota looked at her. �It was your name that came from his lips.�
�That doesn�t change anything, MyKenna. It doesn�t change the fact that you were with him.� She got up and walked around the waiting room. �And it sure the hell doesn�t make me feel any better. All I wanted was honesty and trust from the both of you and I got neither of them. I wanted a friend I could count on and not betray me. And I wanted a guy that actually cared about me and loved me for me.�
�Nick does love and care for you�a lot more than you think and what he�s letting on.� Dakota looked out the window and MyKenna looked at her. �He hates himself for what happened just like I do.�
�It doesn�t matter any, because we�re over.�
�I think you two should talk before you make your final decision.�
�Why are you even making any suggestions when you�re part of the reason Nick and I are no longer together?�
�Because of that reason. You two could still be together right now if it wasn�t for me. I want you guys together. You two are soul mates and you can see that when people look at you whenever you�re together.�
�If you love someone, MJ, you don�t go and constantly break their hearts.�
�Nick made some mistakes, but I don�t think you should hold them against him when you know there is still a chance you two can be together.�
�How can you say that? He cheated on me not once but twice. What makes you think he�s not going to do it again if we get back together?�
�I honestly don�t think he�s going to. He�s so miserable without you and would do just about anything to get you back.� Dakota looked at her. �I think he would sell his soul to the devil if it meant getting you back in his life.�
�I�m still going to be in his life no matter what whether it be as friends, lovers, or not together in anyway. I�ll still be a part of his life no matter what.�
�DJ, you want to be with Nick just as much as he wants to be with you.�
�Why am I even listening to you? Or even talking to you for that matter?�
�Because you have no one else.�
�I have Aaron.�
�And where is he, DJ? I don�t see him anywhere.� Dakota looked at her and sighed. �Face it, DJ, you can�t forget the friendship we had just like you can�t forget the way you still feel about Nick.�
�It doesn�t matter anymore, because you both screwed it up.�
�And we both want to make it right.�
�Then why don�t you start with Aaron instead of with me. If you love Aaron then you�d be trying to make it right with him right now.�
�But your friendship is more important to me.�
�Your friendship was important to me also, but you should talk to Aaron. You and Aaron were great together and you�ll never find anyone like him again.�
�But she ruined it,� Aaron interrupted and they looked.
�But you have to work it out,� Dakota said.
�There�s nothing to work out,� Aaron said. �She slept with my brother and I don�t want to have anything to do with her anymore.�
�Aaron, please,� MyKenna said. �We really need to talk.�
�About what?� Aaron asked. �What a slut you are?� He walked away and Dakota looked at him then at MyKenna.
�Why are you letting him say stuff like that to you?� Dakota questioned.
�Because I don�t want to lose him anymore than I already have,� MyKenna answered. �I need him now more than I ever did.�
�Then go talk to him,� Dakota said. �I�m going to go to the restroom.� MyKenna nodded and Dakota walked away. She walked towards the restrooms then looked back at MyKenna. She stood there a moment then walked back to Nickolas� room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Aaron, can we talk?� MyKenna asked.
�I have nothing to say to you,� Aaron said walking away from her.
�Then could you at least listen to me then?�
�Why should I? My brother�s in the hospital with alcohol poisoning because of you.�
�Me? I didn�t tell him to drink.�
�But you helped him ruin his life and for that he ended up in the hospital.�
�He�s going to be fine, AC.�
�And it could�ve been a hell of a lot worse than it was.� He picked up a magazine and paged through it. �He�s my brother and I love him no matter what he does to me�including sleeping with you.�
�Do you still love me?� He didn�t say anything and put the magazine back down. �I still love you as much as I did the first moment I saw you. Nothing is ever going to change that, Aaron. Why can�t you see that? Or believe it for that matter?�
�How about since I learned you slept with my brother. How can you expect me to forgive and forget?�
�I�m not asking you to forgive or forget. I�m just asking if you still love me.� He turned and looked at her. He looked at her a second then walked away again. �You can�t ignore me forever. We�re going to run into each other sooner or later.� He sighed.
�If you�re looking for an apology for the things I said to you then I�m sorry. I didn�t mean any of them.�
�I know you didn�t and I�m sorry for what I did to you. I just want us to get pass this�pass what happened between us and work on a future together.�
�You can have a happy future, MyKenna, but it�s just not going to be with me.�
�Do you still love me, Aaron? That�s all I want to know.�
�What does it matter if I still love you or not?�
�Because I need you in my life more than anything right now.� Aaron just looked at her, as the tears started going down her cheeks. �I just want you to love me in some way right now. I guess it doesn�t matter how you love me. All I know is that I don�t want to do this by myself and I need you to help me.�
�What can I possibly help you with, MyKenna? You hurt me and I don�t know if I want us to be in each others lives anymore.�
�But we have to be in each others lives.�
�Why? Why is this so important you? Can�t we just leave things the way they are? Our lives would be a hell of a lot better if we didn�t dwell on the past.� He started walking away.
�Well it�s kind of hard when you�re three months pregnant and the baby�s father doesn�t want anything to do with you and continuously calls you a slut.� Aaron stopped walking, but didn�t look at her. �Yes I made mistakes, but please don�t take it out on our baby!�
�Our baby? How the hell do you know it�s mine?� He turned and looked at her.
�You were the only one I was with, Aaron.�
�Don�t forget my brother.�
�That was once and it was way back in June and met nothing to me.� Aaron sighed and sat down. MyKenna sat beside him and they looked at each other. �I swear to you, AC; that this baby belongs to the two of us. I would never lie to you. I learned my lesson.� He didn�t say anything, but just continued looking at her. �I don�t want this baby to grow up without their father. I want them to have both of us in their lives and be happy.� He still didn�t say anything. �Are you going to say anything?�
�What do you want me to say?�
�You do believe me right?� He sighed.
�Yes I believe you.� She left out a relieved sigh. �I don�t know what to think.�
�I know how you feel.�
�I�m going to be a father and I�m not even out of school yet.�
�I understand and if you don�t want to help I understand that too.�
No; this is my responsibility just as much as it is yours. I ain�t going to leave you to raise this child alone. He/she is going to have both of us raising them. I�m not going to put all this on you, MJ.�
�What do you suggest we do then?� He sighed and got up. �Marriage?� He looked at her.
�No; we�re too young to get married.� She nodded in agreement. �You could always move back to Florida. You could stay with DJ or Nick or�� He shook his head. �Forget that one. �You could move in with me and the family until I turn eighteen. Or I can even help ya get a place of your own.�
�Is this what you want?�
�MJ, I don�t want my child halfway across the globe and I sure the hell don�t want you to do this alone.� They looked at each other and MyKenna got up. �This is our responsibility and we�re going to do it together.�
�I just can�t believe this is happening and I skitzed out when DJ and Nick were going to have a baby.�
�Yeah.� They stood there a few minutes in silence and just looked at each other. �So when did you find out?�
�About a month ago.� She sighed. �I�m due sometime in June.�
�Is everything ok with the baby? And with you?�
�So far so good.�
�That�s good.� She nodded.
�What about our parents? How are we going to tell them that we�re going to have a baby?� Aaron didn�t say anything and just shrugged. �And what about DJ and Nick?� Aaron shrugged again. �Whether we tell them ourselves or they figure it out on their own they�re going to be pissed.�
�Yeah I know. We�re just going to have to do it one step at a time and just hope for the best.�
�Yeah.� She sat back down and Aaron sat beside her.
�Hey we�re going to be ok.� He put a hand on her shoulder and she looked at him. �Everything�s going to be fine. I promise.�
�How is everything going to be fine, Aaron? We�re going to be parents and there�s not a damn thing we can do about it. I don�t believe in abortion and I�m not giving this baby up for adoption.�
�No we�re not. We�re going to give this baby everything it needs. They�re not going to want for nothing.� MyKenna just looked at him not saying anything, as she wiped her eyes. �C�mere.� Aaron took her in a hug and she put her arms around him. �I�m not going anywhere so don�t worry about a thing.� She nodded and he continued holding her.
CHAPTER 37