From the Hills to Crenshaw II: Juniors

17. The Night is Still Young

Spencer's POV

Seeing the box in Liv's bag changes everything. I didn't think too deeply about the possibility of her being pregnant before this moment right now.

But between what Cam said, her random stomach aches, and the test, I can't rule it out.

"Baby, Keisha gave me that today. It's not a big deal though."

"Why would she give you this if it's not a big deal?" I ask sincerely and Liv shrugs it off. "I mean, did you ask for it?"

"I'm making a doctor's appointment for my stomach pains as soon as I can. So you don't have to worry."

"Baby, what if——"

"——I'm stressed, Spencer! You know that!" She says and I nod.

"I'm stressed to. But I'm not hurling at the slightest things, Olivia."

"I didn't ask her for the pregnancy test, Spencer. And I'm not taking it. I know my body. So don't worry about it." She combats and I take a deep breath.

"How can I not worry about it? I love you, Liv. You know that! So why not take the damn test and prove to me that it's not what it appears to be?"

"Because I'm telling you it's not that. And I'm your girlfriend. So please just trust me," she replies sternly.

"Babe, calm down. Of course I trust you. But I just don't think it'll hurt to take one," I reiterate and she turns on the shower, making me get up before the water hits me.

"We're in college. We have no steady income. We don't know the first thing about raising a baby. So why put that negative energy in the air?"

"I know you're scared, Liv. I am too. And that's why we have to be sure." I tell her and she doesn't budge.

"Spencer, it's just stress. And when I go to the doctor, you'll see that."

"Okay, hypothetically speaking, you are pregnant. We can upgrade to the two bedroom apartment. We can ask my mom to babysit while you're at school and work. Then when I get done practice——"

"—-Spencer, please stop! If I'm pregnant, we don't have the money to rent a two bedroom apartment. If I'm pregnant, your mom already works two jobs so she can't babysit. If I'm pregnant, our lives will flip upside down."

"What if it didn't have to flip?" I ask and she just stares. "What if I enter this year's NFL draft? I'm basically a guaranteed first round pick. That means at the minimum I'll be signing for 10 million. And if somehow, I squeeze into that top ten pick, I'm banking 20 million."

"But you want to stay at USC. Right? That's exactly what we just celebrated downstairs." She counters. "All I ever want for you is to make the choices in your life for your life. And everything you just said makes it perfectly clear that a baby isn't and shouldn't be added to the equation."

"Because I want to provide for my family?" I ask as I try to understand her logic.

"No, because you want to blow your life up for me. And that's not what I want."

"Babe, why are you being so stubborn about this?"

"Because you promised me you wouldn't do this," she screams and I back away.

"What are you talking about?" I ask seriously.

"In the cafeteria, you made a promise to me that you'll only make your decision, for you and only you." She says and I close my eyes at the fact that I remember the exact moment she's referring to.

"That ain't fair," I say and she doesn't respond. "I'm allowed to change my mind. Just like you—"

"Don't throw my mistake in my face to try and make yourself feel better," she says defensively.