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Chapter Fifteen

Amanda's POV:

I sat next to Char on her bed, stroking her hair as she cried. Willa was trying to coax a saltine down her throat. Currently, Char was talking about how she didn't have a coach for when she had her baby.

"You just have to get back into the dating game, Char." I said. "There are plenty of guys that would kill to go out with you."

"I can't even look at Maybeck without crying," she said. "I can't even think about him."

"Any one of use would coach you through birth, Char. You know that," Willa tried.

"It's not the same," she wailed. "All of you have someone but me. I've dedicated 5 years of my life to these stupid parks and the six of you and I'm not first to any of you."

I wanted to comfort her. I really did. But I couldn't lie to her, and from the look in Willa's eyes, she couldn't either. What Charlene had said was true. I had Finn, Willa had Philby, Jess had Maybeck. Our partners were first to us. We'd choose them over her.

"Maybeck was first to you when you were with him, Charlie. You can't blame us," I said as kindly as I could.

"No he wasn't," she snapped. "At any second I would have laid down my life for any of you." Charlene looked at me. "I've risked my life for all of you. I love all of you just the same. Maybeck was just the one that I kissed."

Willa and I looked at each other, silent tears pouring out of our eyes. I had had no idea that Charlene had so much depth.

"I'm so sorry, Char," I whispered as Wayne, Finn, Maybeck, Jess and Philby walked in.

"We have a problem." Wayne announced.

"What is it?" Finn asked.

"Only 8 can return home."

"Why's that a problem?" Jess asked. "There are only 8 of us."

"Charlene counts for two now." Wayne replied. "Someone has to stay behind for her to go."

After the initial panic and tears, Charlene interrupted the chaos. "Can we all leave at different times?" she asked.

Wayne thought for a moment. "Yes, we can."

"Someone stay with me." Charlene demanded. "Any of you. I'll have the baby, then whoever stays can take it home with them."

"Charlene, that's too dangerous." Maybeck said. "I want you to have the best medical attention possible."

"Because that makes what you did better." Charlene shouted, standing. She took a deep breath. "No one wants to stay behind forever. I don't have anything to loose. But I have a request." Charlene sighed and rested a hand on her stomach. "I want Philby to stay with me. He knows the most about medicine and things. I want my baby to be okay."

"No, Char," I said. "One of us will stay. Permanently. You have to get home."

"No, this is what makes sense." Charlene said. "I can't do anything to help you guys with the OTs in this condition. And let's face it, some of my athleticism is going to leave me once I have this baby. It's exhausting. I'm only two months in and I'm already ready to die thanks to the morning sickness." Charlene smiled bitterly at all of us. "Save the parks. I believe in you." Charlene looked each of us in the eye, hovering a moment on Jess. "All of you."

Charlene heaved a sigh before continuing. "Philby, I understand if you don't want to stay. Just write down what to do and anyone else can stay with me."

Philby thanked her, but no one stepped forward to say they would stay behind to help her.

Charlene looked horrified for a brief moment, but looked back at Willa and I. "I told you that I wasn't anyone's number one." Charlene stepped back, silent tears slipping down her face. They weren't sad tears, they were angry. "I wanted one of you to stay behind with me for 7 months!" she screamed. "7 months, to help me have my baby and take it home." Charlene pointed at us with her left pointer finger, quivering with hate. "Less than a year. I would do ANYTHING for any of you! ANYTHING! Why the hell do you think I'm staying behind? But you know what, this isn't for me. This is for my baby. I'm going home. The rest of you can decide who's staying behind." Anger flashed in her eyes. "But I'm taking my baby home."

Charlene strode to the center of the room and stood on the emerald. All of us looked on at her in shock. "I haven't got all day," she snapped. "I have to find new friends when I get home. I have to find a coach, and a doctor."

"Why didn't you stay with her for the 7 months?" Maybeck hollered at Philby.

Philby narrowed his eyes. "Why didn't you?"

"This much stress isn't good for the baby!" Willa exclaimed. "Someone just stay."

"We need to hurry home," Wayne said. "Time moves much faster back home than here. She'll be about to have the child when we arrive."

"So," Charlene started, "What'll it be?"