The Test of Time

70 ~ Month Twenty Three: September

"Are you okay?" I ask Elena from the doorway. Peering further into her room, I notice the mess that has accumulated over the last week and a half. The good thing about finally having our own rooms in this rented house is that we all get our own space, time to be alone when it's needed.

"No." She admits from her bed.

"Have you heard from Kyle?"

"No." She scoffs. "And I don't want to."

"E." I say, walking in and perching on the end of the double bed. "I know he treated you badly." I admit, "But you were together for eight months. You can't just switch off your feelings."

"I've got bigger fish to fry!" She snaps.

"Like what?" I ask and she rolls away, her eyes pinned to the wall. "E?" I press.

"I'm late." She admits softly, turning back towards me as I feel my heart stop.

"Your period?"

"No, my monthly subscription to Playboy." She retorts. "Yes, my period."

"Have you..." I trail off. "Taken a test?"

"Hell no!" She exclaims, jumping off of her bed. "You think I want to know?"

"I think you need to know." I comment and she rolls her eyes. "Stay here." I mutter before walking across the hallway to my room. Opening my closet I pull out the small box under my clothes before returning to Elena. "Here!" I hold it out to her.

"What?" She hisses, grabbing it quickly. "You just have your own supply of pregnancy tests?"

"I got one after Brett and I had sex." I shrug, slouching down on the bed. "It was the smart thing to do. I'm prepared."

"Of course you are." She smirks.

"Take it." I encourage her. She shakes her head. "E. You have to know." I point out. "I'm here for you." I remind her and she slowly nods.

"What if it isn't Kyle's?" She says quietly. Wait, what?

"Why wouldn't it be his?" I question, glancing down at her as she bites her lip.

"Pete and I..."

"Pete?" I exclaim, "The guy you met last week."

"Yeah." She shrugs.

"You had sex with him?"

"I wanted to forget about Kyle!"

"I knew I should have followed you when you left."

"Hey!" She objects, "I was the one who wanted it." She insists and I shake my head. She was vulnerable and I should have followed her straight away, not waited until the morning after the party to comfort her.

"Go take the test." I nod towards the bathroom and she gives in, slouching off towards the bathroom.

I sit back on her bed, resting against the wall as I bite my lip, slightly terrified about the result for my eccentric, tanned little roommate. Staring up at her poster clad wall I bite the inside of my cheek, the nerves eating me up from the inside. I can't even imagine how she's feeling right now, how she'll cope if it's positive. Will she have to drop out of college, go back home...

I'm interrupted by her reappearing in the doorway, slightly pale as she walks back over.

"Well...?"

"I have to wait three minutes." She mutters, placing the stick down between us on the bed.

"Hey y'all!" A sudden squeal sounds out as Polly appears in the door frame, sunglasses on top of her head, shoes in her hand. She's been out all night.