Three more weeks passed...

Three weeks of my brother trying to locate the father of my child, three weeks of endless arguments with my mother, three weeks of her calling Tyler a 'coward', three weeks of me quitting the Cheer-leading team.

No matter how many times I told myself that it didn't matter if Tyler would accept the baby or not, I kept thinking about it for hours and mostly when I closed my eyes. Archer told me I wasn't alone in this but it still did not stop me from feeling utterly lonely.

I went to school as usual. Apart from Noah and Archer, Kayla was the only friend I told about my pregnancy. She was shocked at first, but then was really understanding about the entire situation.

As if things weren't already difficult for me that the principal decided to make it worse. I went to complain to Mr. Wallace about Harper's bullying incident as soon as I went to school the next day that I was discharged from the hospital. He'd been kind, and understanding as usual, and then he proceeded to tell me that he couldn't just expel someone if they didn't have enough proof.

And I sat there in front of him, completely shell-shocked.

I'd been locked up in the janitor's closet for over six hours, and I knew who had done it and all they could come up with was 'we need proof!'. I asked them to check the surveillance cameras and he told me that due to some technical issues, the cameras weren't working for that entire week so basically they had NO FUCKING FOOTAGE. To top it off, Harper complained that I was making up a story to get her into trouble. Mr. Wallace said they needed time so the management could investigate this further.

I left the Principal's office feeling stupid about myself.

Was it even possible that Harper's family had bribed the school somehow? Everyone knew that Mr. Wallace was a fair man, and he didn't let injustice happen when he was around, although it was entirely possible that he was being pressurized by a superior in the school committee.

Harper's father made donations to the school, so it was no wonder that the school wanted to sweep the entire incident below the rug. I mean, they did that all the time for Ty because his dad practically "owned" the school.

So three weeks later, here I was, sitting alone outside the cafeteria eating a homemade lunch. The weather was nice today, and I felt a calming relief to watch the serene lake that overlooked the school. Some kids were studying under the large tree, art students were painting, others just chilling, everyone seemed so happy and unaware of problems faced by the other.

I took a bite of my turkey sandwich, and couldn't help when my gaze diverted towards one particular table in the indoor part of the cafeteria. I stared at the only empty seat at the Hockey team's table and tried my best to pretend it was okay that he wasn't here.

Bringing up his name was also becoming difficult.

I'd come to realize that there was no point in me getting worried sick about something that I had no control over. I could think, and think, and exhaust myself but nothing was going to change. I'd learned to be numb to my situation. I kept telling myself that it didn't matter that he wasn't here, but it did. It was so glaringly obvious that I needed him, and not just because I was pregnant with his baby but because I loved and cared for him.

I thought he felt the same way. I remembered the day before he disappeared, I thought he loved me deeply as much as I did him. He hadn't said it outright but there was something in his eyes that day when he'd made love to me in his giant truck, and the way he'd snuggled up to me in that blanket and said we were "forever".

I took a sip of my milkshake and tried to shake off the feeling of melancholy.

What if something bad happened to him?

A large figure lowered down on the bench opposite me. It was Archer. I tried not to cringe at his tray filled with food. There were two greasy slices of pizza, slices of sausages on the side, spaghetti and a brownie. He'd replaced a Cola for his usual protein shake. I guess it was a cheat day today.

"I have information about his location." He whispered. He didn't need to elaborate on who he was talking about.

"Where?"

Archer's gaze darted around to see if anyone was looking before he revealed the information, guess he was watching too many of those Spy and detective movies. "For the starting two weeks, he was living in their ten-thousand square foot estate in Connecticut which is worth forty million dollars, one that comes with a farm and ten bedrooms and ten baths." Sarcasm dripped from his voice, "Oh, I should also mention the library and the pool house. Let's also not forget the billiards room because he specifically kept mentioning it."

"So let me get this straight. He's been having a vacation all this time while I'm..."I couldn't even complete the sentence because I was boiling with anger.

"He said he wanted to surprise you with the house."

I sighed as I realized what this was. "He mentioned going to an Ivy League college after graduation and I think he's adamant about taking me there with him. He doesn't care if I don't get in, and he says his father can take care of it."

"Will you go?"

"Of course I wouldn't. I mean, who's going to run the bakery if I did? I plan on staying in town and getting into a local college. If he wants to go there, he can. I won't stop him but he shouldn't expect the same thing from me."

"I haven't even gotten to the craziest part yet."

"There's more?" I didn't know what more to expect.

"Remember you told me that he had a fight with his father before he took off?"

"Yeah, I still think that's the reason he left."

"Well, the night before, he left a poisonous snake in his father's room."

For a long moment, I sat there chewing on the sandwich feeling completely stumped.

"Anyway, he flicked the car keys and drove away, stayed in the mansion I told you about, and then got arrested for rash driving and that's where he's been for the past few days. The Lockharts have kept it all away from the media so no one's talking, and I bet they shoved some real cash down everyone's throat so stuff doesn't get out."

My heart was splitting into two.

Tyler would never be normal.

I gave out an incredulous laugh. "You know what I think, Archer? I think Ty got himself arrested just to get back to his father. He's always in control of his car so there's no way he would drive recklessly."

Archer nodded in agreement. "This is just another rebellious stunt against Jasper Lockhart. He's always known to be doing reckless things when it comes to getting what he wants and that's exactly what this is about. Tarnishing his father's name."

"I don't want my baby to grow up and become like him. I want this baby to be normal, Archie." I said desperately.

"She will be normal like her mom."

"How do you know it's going to be a she?"

He laughed, "Just a hunch." His eyes then turned sad, "Do you regret this, Vicky?"

I shook my head. "I don't."

Brandon Murphy sat with me during English the following days. Brandon was a chill guy who was in the baseball team and had a killer smile that most girls went gaga over. He had the most peculiar icy blue eyes that gave him almost the dangerously, ghostly look. Since Tyler wasn't around, I found a lot of boys in school paying me a little extra attention. Be it Noah, Brandon or that guy from junior year whose name I'd forgotten.

They most likely assumed that Ty and I weren't together anymore or something and it was a chance to make a move. Either that or I could be wrong.

Brandon took my bag-pack from me as he walked by my side towards the exit of the school building. "I have this party coming up on Saturday at my house since my parents are away on vacation. You should come, Vicky."

I shook my head, "I'm not really into parties."

The disappointment was clear on his features, "Okay, how about you and I hang out on Sunday? We could go watch that new horror movie..." when I cringed, he quickly said, "or that chick-flick. I'm totally fine with anything."

I hated to let him down because Brandon was a nice guy. No rumors were surrounding him, no drama, no fights, and he was pretty cute looking, a little on the chubbier side but cute nevertheless. He wasn't handsome in any sense, but he surely had a great personality.

I stopped walking and turned around to face him, "Brandon, just to make it clear, things between Tyler and I are still complicated. All I can offer you right now is friendship."

He turned red like a tomato, "yeah, I-I know, Vicky. I just want us to be friends. I think it would be nice to get to know you."

I was getting tired of being cooped up at home all day, thinking of the same thing, dealing with the same problems and for just a few hours, I wanted things to be normal.

"Okay, let's go for that movie." I agreed.

The movie didn't turn out to be that great, and I found myself being distracted throughout.

Distracted by thoughts of Tyler.

I kept worrying if he was alright, and why wouldn't he just call me at least once?

Brandon was a saint throughout the movie, he kept his hands on his sides like a gentleman, didn't try to hit on me and that was a relief.

During the movie, a strange feeling kept creeping on me. I looked back into the darkness behind us and didn't see anyone familiar there.

"Why did you quit cheerleading?" He asked me after the movie when we walked out of the movie theater.

"Health issues," It wasn't exactly the truth but it wasn't a lie either.

He nodded, "Fair enough."

"Archer told me you made amazing red-velvet cupcakes."

I laughed, "He told you that?"

"Yeah." He grinned.

"Well, I try but recently I haven't done a lot of baking. I just help my mom mostly."

"What would I have to do to get one cupcake made by you?" He asked, and I realized he was flirting and I could see that it took him a lot of courage to say that.

"Hmm, I'll make some and bring them for you this week," I promised.

"Can't wait," he said, still smiling.

The bright smile on Brandon's face began fading by the second, and I turned to see what had caused it.

My heart dropped onto the floor.

Tyler's huge figure stood beside me and he didn't spare me a glance because he was busy glowering at Brandon who was a few inches shorter than Tyler.

"Is there a reason why you're sniffing around near my girlfriend, Murphy?"

I thought Brandon was visibly shaking, or maybe that was my imagination. "I-I-well, we were here just for-for the movie." He strutted and I cringed.

Tyler liked it when people were terrified of him and that's exactly what was being accomplished at the moment.

"Tyler, back off!" I told him through gritted teeth.

He looked at me once before turning his full attention back on Brandon. "Did you want to fuck her, Murphy? Is that why you took her out to the movie?"

I looked at Brandon and back at Tyler, "Oh god, Tyler. Stop it!"

"No," Brandon said without hesitation. "I just wanted to be friends."

Tyler chuckled, and it sounded evil. "I call that crock-shit. You want pussy but let me set things straight for you, Cheese-Puff," his voice turned low and menacing, "Victoria's MINE and the sooner you understand that, the better. If she walks in school in your line of sight, look away or you better fucking believe I'll come for you."

Brandon was so scared that he didn't even say goodbye to me, didn't even look at me. I watched as he sat down in his car, the same one we'd ridden before in and zoomed out of the parking lot.

Tears gathered in my eyes. Once again, Tyler had gotten what he wanted.

"I'm away for what, three weeks and you've been juggling your time with Noah and Brandon. Didn't know three-timing was your thing." He said snidely.

"Fuck off, Tyler!" I screamed at him with the frustrating tears still spilling out of my eyes. "You didn't have a right to do that. Brandon is the nicest guy I've met and Noah has done nothing but help me through everything. He was here for me when you weren't."

He touched my cheek and caressed it slowly, and I felt myself melting a little under his touch but I didn't let that show. Instead, I reeled a little backward and slapped his cheek. "Don't touch me."

He stared at the floor for what felt like hours, I watched his jaw tick and I knew he was battling with his anger, his fingers turned into fists as he buried them into the pockets of his jacket.

"I want to protect you from everything bad, Vicky." He said softly, "And I know I'm bad, and that I should probably let you go but I can't. I live, breathe, think of you every minute of every single hour, even when I'm away and I act like this when I see you with someone else. I'm sorry."

Was that like a confession that he loved me? Or was he trying to manipulate me again?

"It's not me you should apologize to. Brandon was being a good friend, and you insulted him."

Tyler sighed, "I'll apologize to him if that's what you want. I think I just lost my mind when I saw you with him, laughing and talking so cheerfully. I thought you'd completely forgotten about me."

"You disappeared for three weeks! Have you any idea what I've been going through? You didn't call, text, NOTHING. How am I supposed to deal with that? If I'm your girlfriend, surely I deserve to know what you've been up to." I folded my arms across my chest, "And I wasn't there to keep an eye on you, so how would I know if you were shacking up with some other girls."

"Vicky, look at me." He said and when I looked up, he held my stare, "I would never cheat on you. You've got everything I need. I don't even have an urge to look at another girl. Believe me."

I just stood there saying nothing and he continued to grow impatient.

"Please let me touch you..." he pleaded. "Please Vicky."

I gave him a reluctant nod and his arms wrapped around me at once, he buried his face in my hair and kissed me in the sensitive spot right below my ear. His familiar scent engulfed me and I instantly felt so much better than I did this past few weeks and a sob ripped through me. "I need you, Vicky..." He said, "I need you so much."

"Tyler, I'm pregnant." I spilled before I could chicken out.