"Hey, I might need my car worked on."

Brian turned around and I held up my keys with a broad smile, jumping up and down.

He chuckled, throwing his towel over his shoulder. "My baby passed."

I giggled as he wrapped his arms around my neck and kissed my forehead, pulling away from him quickly. "You were my first stop."

"Which means I'm here," Dad cautiously said, leaning out of the window.

"Oh, hey, Mr. King," he said, using his towel to wipe off each finger individually before sticking his out to shake Dad's.

Dad opened the door and stepped out, holding out his hand. Brian firmly shook it and pulled away from him, smiling down at me.

"I didn't think she'd pass," Dad muttered, folding his arms over his chest.

"Dad," I said, "you had literally zero faith in me."

"No, that's not true," he said, "you just literally didn't know how to turn on your lights."

I bit down on my lip and looked up at Brian, shrugging. "Still a little confused."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm proud of you."

"Yeah, if I have to guess, her car will be in here often," Dad said, "between the parking and the curbs-"

"Alright," I said, wrapping an arm around Brian's middle.

He smiled, looking down at me. "Well, you're already my favorite customer."

I smiled up at him, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. We pulled away from each other and Dad's expression was priceless, his eyes toggling between the two of us.

"Hey, come in here," I said, nodding towards the offices.

Brian followed, folding his arms over his chest as we stopped in the middle of the office. I had to take a second to admire him- his white tank top beneath his open mechanic shirt, dirty jeans, and boots.

"Hi," I softly said, smiling as soon as I got done gawking at him.

He laughed, nodding. "Hi."

I reached in my pocket and pulled out my allowance, holding it out to him. "Here."

"Fran," he said, clenching his jaw as he pushed it back towards me.

"Seriously, Brian, I don't need it," I said, shaking my head as I looked up at him, "I've got hundreds of dollars saved that I literally do nothing with."

"I'm not taking your money," he softly said, "we're fine, Mom got paid yesterday. I'll get paid Monday."

I sighed, looking up at him. "Please?"

"No," he whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I looked up at him as he pulled away, making him grab my cheek with a smile. "Too pretty for your own good."

I smiled, pressing a kiss to his palm. "You should come over tonight."

"Yeah, I'll try," he said, "here, I'm sure your dad's waiting on you."

He placed his hand on my lower back and led me out of the offices, making me feel something I hadn't ever really felt before. Sure, Brian and I had kissed, we'd hugged, but something about his hand on my lower back elicited a different reaction.

"I'll see you tonight," he said, looking down at me.

"Mm hmm," I said, "y-yeah."

He smiled and pressed one last kiss to my head, making me walk over to my door. I slipped inside the car and he leaned in Dad's window, smiling at me.

"Be safe," he said.

Dad rolled up his window slowly, waving at him as he did so. I laughed and turned on the car, backing out of the garage.

"He's a good kid. Really good kid."

"I want to help him," I said.

He looked over at me, knitting his eyebrows together.

"Him and his siblings, they do not deserve what they have," I said, shaking my head, "better yet, what they don't have."

"Well, he obviously works his ass off," Dad said.

"He does," I said, getting on the quiet and secluded road that led to our house.

"Life's gonna pay that kid back one day, I promise," Dad said.

"He just deserves better. Now."

Dad smiled over at me. "You've got a sweet heart, Fran."

"I get it from you," I said, smiling over at him for a split second.

"No, that comes from your mom. She's the most gracious woman I've ever met. Put up with my shit when she should've hit the road."

"You guys are really in love, aren't you?" I asked.

He smiled. "If I'm not sure of anything else in life, I am sure of that."

~*~

"I didn't know you could play baseball, too."

I hit the ball flying towards me, looking back at the speedometer. "Ninety-four."

Amelia leaned back against the bleachers, watching as I dropped my bat and jogged over to her.

"Baseball season is pretty far away," she said, looking up at me.

I shrugged. "Can't be at home."

"Is he really that mad at you?"

"Yeah, and my reaction didn't help that," I muttered, sitting on the bleachers below her.

She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around my neck, resting her chin on my head. "You probably just need to apologize."

"I'm my father's son, I suck at that," I muttered, taking a sip of my water as I leaned back against her legs.

"Alright, well, you've got to learn."

I jutted my bottom lip out, shaking my head.

"Hey, look."

I turned around and she lifted her shirt, shooting me a small smile. "I swear I'm starting to show. Even if it's just a little bit. Definitely from the side."

She angled her body to the side, making me smile and place my hand on the tiny bump. "Yeah, I see it."

"It could just be bloating, but," she muttered, lowering her shirt.

I leaned towards her stomach, pressing my ear to it. "Hey, Mom, I'd definitely be a football player. Probably popular, too. Definitely popular."

She laughed, pushing my head away. "Funny."

"Truthful."

She looked down at me and sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know why you're doing that, Hero."

"Why I'm doing what?" I asked, knowing what she was going to say.

"Why you're..." she trailed off, shaking her head, "getting attached."

"I'm not attached, I was just fucking around," I said, standing up.

"Okay, fucking around or not," she said, her eyes meeting mine.

"Listen, Amelia," I said, grabbing my bat from the ground, "I have come to terms with it. You want to do it, I can't change your mind or talk you out of it."

She simply looked up at me, watching my every move.

"But I'm doing what you told me to," I said, "I'm making the most out of these last few weeks."

She sighed, nodding.

I hit another ball, dropping my bat afterwards.

"I'm sorry it couldn't be different," she softly said.

I looked back at her, clenching my jaw.

"You'd be a wonderful dad," she said, "I think we're just too young to actually test that theory."

I nodded. Each time she brought it up, it stung a little bit more. I wasn't even sure why- maybe it was just that I knew that I'd helped create a child, and it was going to be a memory in only a few weeks.

But Amelia was right- we were too young.

"I should really apologize to Dad," I muttered, bracing my hands on my knees as I hunched over.

She nodded. "Yeah, it sounds like it."

She stood up and I grabbed her hand to lead her down the bleachers, making her sigh and grab her purse. She rested her hand on my arm and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

"Don't stay too long, yeah?" She said, looking up at me.

"Yeah, I'll be gone in a few."

She walked away and I let out a sigh, grabbing my bat from the ground. I swung it around, holding it behind my head as I paced around.

"Hey, Dad, sorry for getting a girl pregnant," I muttered to myself, "hey, Dad, sorry for not knowing how to handle confrontation. Hey, Dad, sorry for being your son. Sorry for having every single personality trait you have. Sorry for-"

I let out an angry sigh. You can't be bitter, Hero.

I wanted to curl up into a corner. As much as I put on the I didn't need anybody persona, I needed Dad right now.

"Is that thing accurate?"

I turned around, seeing Dad standing at the other side of the batting cage.

"Y-yeah," I said, looking back at the speedometer.

He nodded, his hands in his pockets as he walked over to the bleachers. "Your speed's increased significantly since last season."

"Yeah," I said, almost scared of how he'd found me, or what he was going to say.

"H-how'd you know I was here?"

"Well, I went to the soccer fields first, then the football fields, and I ended up here. I know you only do this shit when you're trying to stay out of the house."

I smiled, dropping my bat. "Yeah."

"Come sit," he said, nodding as he braced his elbows on his thighs.

I cautiously sat a few feet away from him, sitting in the same position as him.

"As pissed as I am at you, it's still my job to fix it."

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"Let me talk, okay?"

I hate being bossed around. Fuck.

I looked over at him, my tongue in my bottom lip.

"I'm sorry for those things I said," he said, "I know when Dad would lecture me, it just made me want to do those things more."

Yeah, you're not wrong.

"But Hero, you've got a future ahead of you. And it's approaching very quickly. You've got to take those things into consideration before you risk it all for three minutes of pleasure."

Definitely lasted more than three minutes. What kind of man do you think you raised?

"And no talking like that around Fran. Alright? I don't want to hear anything else of that nature come out of your mouth when she's around."

"Is it because she has a boyfriend now?" I deadpanned.

He looked over at me, clenching his jaw.

"Sorry," I muttered, looking away from him.

"It's because you just don't say shit like that around your little sister," he said.

I nodded.

"Hero, you're young, I get it," he said, nodding, "you're supposed to make mistakes. But by mistakes, I mean, stupid, teenage shit. Hitting curbs and beating your bumper up a little bit. Skipping school and getting caught. Bombing a test because you stayed up all night playing video games instead of studying. Stupid shit. Not serious shit that has potential to follow you around for the rest of your life."

He looked over at me, shrugging. "That wasn't a mistake, Hero."

"I know," I said, "I know it wasn't. I knew what could've happened. And I did it anyways."

We sat in silence for a few seconds, and somehow, it was a comforting silence. I knew I wasn't forgiven- Dad was still pissed. But Dad was also the kind of person who simply wanted an explanation. He just liked talking about things.

"I don't know why I did it," I said, shrugging, "it obviously didn't make anything I was going through any better. Just created more of a mess, if anything."

He nodded. "Well, I'm glad you can understand where I'm coming from."

I nodded. "Yeah."

"I love you, Hero," he said, "and one day, I hope you can understand the love a father has for his children. Just not now."

I clenched my jaw. Dad, as much as it hurt to admit it, was completely right. I felt a wave of relief rush through my body- it felt like I was completely accepting of the fact that Amelia and I had to get rid of the baby.

"Hey, critique me," I said, standing up as I grabbed my bat, "trying to get all polished for next season."

He smiled and nodded. "Show me what you've got."

~*~

I felt... out of place on the field.

And I'd never felt that before.

With all the guys, who were now acting as if they didn't know me, I no longer felt at home. The field, the guys had always been my outlet- my home.

I stood in the middle of the field wondering if I'd jumped to a conclusion too quickly. Cordelia had her flaws, plenty of them, obvious flaws- but I wasn't sure that she was that bad.

"Henry, I don't know what fucking girl has you slacking, but you better tell her bye. Fast."

I looked back at Coach, clenching my jaw.

"I mean, you were spaced out all practice," he said, "I need you for these things."

"Yeah, I got it," I said.

"And with Hero taking time off for his health, or whatever shit-"

"Hero needed the time off," I adamantly said, looking over at him.

"Yeah, well, I need players. And I can't have the players I do have slacking."

He walked away and I let out a sigh, rolling my eyes. I really couldn't stand the man, and I wasn't sure why all the guys always sucked up to him like they did.

I pulled my phone out of my bag, texting Zach.

I grabbed my bag and threw it over my shoulder, noticing Jesse running to catch up to me out of the corner of my eye. I let out a heavy sigh, looking over at him. "What, J?"

"You good?"

"I'm fine," I muttered.

"I know Coach got your ass," he chuckled, "man, seriously. You're like, MVP. We can't do it without you."

"And you're not," I said, throwing my bag down as soon as we made it into the locker rooms.

"Right," he said, leaning against my locker, "a bad day doesn't mean shit."

"Yeah," I firmly said, opening my locker, "you're doing good out there."

"Thanks, man," he said, "see you."

I walked out of the locker rooms and to my car, unlocking it. I saw Zach leaned against his, which was parked next to mine.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hey," I said, throwing my bag in the back of my car.

"What's wrong?" He asked, folding his arms over his chest.

I clenched my jaw, leaning against my car. "It just doesn't feel right."

"What?"

"I can barely play now," I said, "and I'm fucking pissed."

"Yeah, being bi is the worst."

"I didn't fucking mean it like that, Zach," I angrily said.

"Chill," he said, "I was fucking joking."

I looked at him, clenching my jaw.

"Maybe we should, like, back off for the night, or something," he muttered, holding up his hands, "I'll leave you alone."

"Again, not what I meant."

"Alright, well, no need to take shit out on me."

"I'm fucking not."

He clenched his jaw, lifting an eyebrow as he folded his arms back over his chest. We stood in silence for a few seconds, making me shrug.

"Are you done?" He asked.

"You know what, no, I'm not done. I never just get a pass to have a fucking bad day. I always have to keep my shit together for everyone. I'm having a bad day."

"Henry, I never said you had to hold your shit together at all times."

"I just got fucking outed on the internet," I said, "and I don't even know if you give a shit, Zach."

"Henry, don't be like that," he said, shaking his head as he looked away.

"Did you do it?" I firmly asked, without any hesitation.

The question stung. It hurt me to ask, to even think it. But I'd thought about it, as much as I would've loved to have stood up for Zach and pretended to not have the thought in the back of my mind.

"Did you just ask me that?" He asked, his eyebrows knitted together.

"Yes, I did," I said, and I felt myself turtling up.

He kept his eyes locked on mine, his tongue in his bottom lip.

"Are you going to answer?" I asked, shaking my head.

"No, I didn't fucking do it, Henry," he angrily said, shaking his head.

His gaze couldn't have left mine even if he'd wanted it to. He didn't look away as he'd said it, he didn't tense up, he didn't do anything.

"Okay, that's all I needed to know."

He still had a look of disbelief on his face, making me push myself off of my car.

"You can come over tonight."

"Are we gonna sit here and pretend like you didn't just accuse me of outing you?" He chuckled out, his eyes still locked on mine.

"It was a question," I said, "I didn't accuse you."

"Henry, it doesn't matter," he adamantly said, "the fact that you even asked means you think I'd do it."

"You've been on my ass about being out-"

"Yeah, because I know what it's like to be closeted," he said, "and it's hell. Having to plaster on this entire other identity. I didn't wish that upon you. But I would never, ever do that."

I could hear the hurt in his voice, and it hurt me to know that I'd brought it out of him.

"I would never, Henry," he said, his voice breaking.

"Zach, okay," I softly said, reaching for his hand.

I eliminated the space between us, clenching my jaw. "Hey."

"No," he said, "maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do."

"Zach," I said, "come on."

"I can't fucking believe you," he said, shaking his head as his eyes met mine.

"Zach, okay, I get it," I said, "I-I didn't think it was you-"

"But you had to ask," he said, "and that's enough for me."

"Zach," I said, watching as he walked around to the drivers side of his car.

"Have a good night, Henry," he said, sliding into his car.

"Zach," I said, knocking on his window.

He pulled away, making me let out a sigh and interlace my fingers behind my head.

What the hell have you done?

~*~