Piece By Piece (Book #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

The morning of my birthday arrived. I headed to athletics as usual when Tyler dropped me off.

I was one of the first ones there today. I heard what sounded like puking in the stalls.

What the fuck?

The sound made me want to gag. I went back outside the gym. Whoever it was, didn't need an audience.

Ari walked up with Jensen in tow. They were holding hands and smiling.

Ari looked at me, "Happy Birthday Alex."

Jensen echoed, "Happy birthday, any plans this year?"

I shook my head. "I told everyone I just wanted dinner and a movie with Tyler. I had the big fancy party last year. Seventeen isn't anything to really celebrate. Come see me when I'm eighteen."

"Agreed, eighteen is a whole lot more fun. I am just ready for nineteen already."

"How did you end up still in high school at nineteen?"

Ari shrugged, "I failed pre-elementary."

I looked at Ari, "Is that like Pre-K? Pre-kindergarten."

Jensen answered, "No, it's Kindergarten for us. Ari how the fuck do you fail pre-elementary?"

He laughed, "They said I wasn't mature enough yet."

"Okay but if Tyler was mature enough to pass, then your teacher was wrong." I quipped.

That made us all laugh. Of the two, Ari was definitely the serious one. Tyler was the life of the party. I had somehow been with both ends of the spectrum and I loved them both. I was just in love with one.

I looked at Ari then for a moment.

Yeah, I could have loved you like that too.

If things had been different. But as they stood, Ari and Jensen were making quite the pair. I wondered if they had taken it to the next step and started dating exclusively. I didn't want to pry with that though.

Cassie walked up with James then, "Happy Birthday Alex!" Cassie smiled and hugged me.

James went in for a bear hug. "Happy birthday Cuz."

"Thank y'all."

I got another round of hugs and birthday wishes before Cassie, Jensen, and I headed inside the gym. Coach Spencer was waiting outside the locker room. She looked very uncomfortable.

"What's up coach?"

She rubbed her face with her hand, "I have a very sensitive question to ask you three ladies."

We looked at each other, "What's up?" I repeated.

"The janitor found a test when she was taking the trash out last night. A pregnancy test."

"Not me!" We all said simultaneously. Coach Spencer looked relieved.

Something hit me then, "I was in here earlier. Someone was puking. I didn't stay long enough to find out who it was. You might check the cameras to see who came into the locker room. Might save you from having to ask the rest of the team the same question."

Coach Spencer's eyes lit up, "Thank you Harrison, you're a life saver."

She left us three then.

Cassie's jaw dropped, "Holy shit, who do you think it is?"

I shuttered, "The only girls I know for sure have had sex on this team are sophomores. And we know exactly who those two are."

"No! Not Miri, or..." Cassie gagged, "Darcy. Holy shit, who would the dad be?"