Sarah got to the campsite early. She had napped some during the day and now she was restless, anxious to get this night over with. She knew this would make or break her relationship with Pete and she was worried about which way it would go.

She bit her lip as she stacked the firewood, and stuffed the wads of kindling under it. Striking the match to it, Sarah sat back on her haunches and watched it take root to the logs and start to grow. She stared at the fire, as her mind went over every scenario she could imagine.

Sighing she stood up and went into the tent. Tonight would also be the last night she would smoke a joint. The thought of the drugs she had done in the past month scared the hell out of Sarah, but she told herself that one more joint wasn't going to make a difference.

As she rolled it, she heard Pete's car pull in. Startled, she looked at the clock, sitting on the chest. He had gotten off work a half hour early. Sarah took a deep breath and waited.

Pete sat in the car, staring at the tent. He knew Sarah was in there, and she was going to tell him something important. All day he had been thinking of their morning, her sickness, her mother wanting to talk to Sarah alone.

It had come at him all of a sudden, he was blindsided by the thought. Was it possible that she was pregnant? He hadn't been around many pregnant females to know how they acted, but he had an idea of what morning sickness was.

Mrs. Winston must have figured it out, too. Pete really hoped he was wrong. He actually hoped that it was her break up with Sam that was making her sick.

He had been a mess all day at work thinking about it, so bad that he couldn't stay the last half hour, he had to get out of there.

He sighed and climbed out of the car, taking slow steps towards the tent, then veered off and went to sit on the picnic table. He needed a few minutes to think before he saw Sarah.

Sarah heard the car door and she felt her stomach flip flop. She nibbled on a cracker while she waited for him to come in the tent, then she realized that he wasn't coming in.

Grabbing her water, she went out to him. She found him sitting on the table, the same as the night they had talked about his date with Jamie. She climbed up beside him and took his arm, and laid her head against it, just as she had done that night.

"You forgot the pizza." She said, quietly.

"Sorry, I didn't even think about it." Pete paused. "I've had other things on my mind."

He lit a cigarette, and stared into the fire. He was waiting for Sarah to tell him, he didn't want to ask.

Sarah closed her eyes, pressing her face into his arm. "Pete....I'm sorry." She bit her lip as she felt herself starting to cry. She did not want to cry, she was tired of crying so much.

"Is there any chance that it's mine?" Pete whispered. He continued to stare at the fire, only now through watery eyes.

Sarah shook her head. "No, it's not. But how did you know?"

"I've been going over it all day, and I figured out why you were sick. I was hoping that I was wrong. Until you sat beside me, just now. Then I knew." He sniffed loudly and cleared his throat. "I don't know what to say."

They both sat quietly, for several minutes, then Pete spoke up. "You have options, you know."

Sarah shook her head, "No, I don't. I want this baby, Pete."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"I don't think so." Sarah spoke around the lump in her throat.

Pete slid off the table and went to poke at the fire. "Sarah, are you sure you're thinking this through?"

"It's just not fair, Pete!" Sarah started crying, she couldn't hold back. "I wish this was your baby!" She covered her eyes and laid her head on her knees."I'm sorry." She whispered.

Pete looked over at Sarah's huddled form. He heard the pain in her voice, realizing what she was saying. He wanted to go and comfort her, but he didn't trust himself to get close to her. He felt the distance growing between them already. "Sarah, I'm sorry."

"I've made such a mess of my life and you've been so good to me. You've been there for me when I needed you most." Sarah gave a watery laugh, "You've even made love to me when I needed someone to love."

"Sarah, I made love to you because I love you. But it was too soon for you. I knew that you were vulnerable and I took advantage of that. I should have waited, just like I had told myself that I was going to do."

"No, Pete! I wanted you to love me that night. I needed to know that I was still capable of loving like that, of having someone to love me like that. You helped me more than you know."

"Yeah, that's me. Always ready to help you. Even if it means I lose my heart in the deal." Pete said bitterly.

"I don't even know where we stand now. Can we go back to friends after this?" Sarah was desolate.

"I hope so, Sarah. You're going to need friends to help you." Pete walked over to stand in front of Sarah. "I'm going to stay here at the tent for a few days. I'll get what I need from the apartment tonight. Do you need a ride back?" Pete asked quietly.

"Yes, please." She swiped at her eyes, "I walked here."

Sarah went into the tent and got her bag; she was ready to leave. She spotted the joint, sitting on the chest where she had left it. She picked it up and put it in her pocket, she would smoke her last joint by herself.

***

After Pete had gotten enough clothes to last him a few days, he stood by the door, ready to leave. Sarah was sitting on the couch, watching in a daze as he walked around, gathering up his things.

Pete held the door open, "Sarah, if anything major comes up, you know where I'll be." He waited, hoping she would ask him to stay. He hung his head at her silence. "I'll talk to you in few days."

Pete walked out and closed the door gently behind him.

Sarah stared at the closed door, for several minutes, hoping that he would change his mind and come walking back in. But she realized that it wouldn't happen. She and Pete were finished as a couple, maybe even as friends, now.

Sarah lit the joint, inhaling deeply, she needed to get high right now. She cupped her hands around her nose and mouth, filling them with smoke, then inhaling through her nose, trying to get as much out of her last joint as she could.

When the joint was short, she unclipped the beaded twine bracelet that she wore, using the alligator clip on the end as her roach clip.

She smoked it until there was nothing left, puckering her lips, to inhale the last bit of smoke. Then she laid her head back, to get lost in the high. Her hands rubbed over her stomach, and she tried to picture herself with a bigger belly.

But the picture was edged out by one of Sam and Gisette, with a baby. Sam had already made his choice. For two nights, she'd had the same nightmare.

Sam was onstage singing the last song, it was "Hearts of Glass". Then he would run off stage and Sarah would wait for him to come running to her.

But he ran past her, not even noticing her there. He ran to Gisette, who was holding their baby, and she would pass it over to him.

Sarah felt her heart breaking at seeing Sam smiling at his baby. She would push away and moan as she tried to get away from them.

Sarah felt nauseous at the thought, even now. She got up and went into the kitchen to get her saltines, roaming around the apartment as she chewed them. She went into the bedroom she shared with Pete, and sat on the edge of the bed, looking around.

In just the few days that they had been there, this room had become theirs. Her jewelry box was on the dresser, sitting by his tray where he kept his pocket change. Above the bed, they had hung the now framed picture that Pete had drawn for Sarah's birthday, and beside the bed, was a picture of the two of them when they were small, standing on the beach, in front of a sandcastle they had built.

Even at age 7, it was apparent that they were close. Sarah, with her braid, held their sand bucket and was looking up adoringly at Pete; in a crew cut, his arm around her shoulder, smiling for the camera.

The bedroom felt empty now, the hollowness matching the emptiness in Sarah's chest, as she thought of sleeping in the bed alone. She couldn't do it, she was going to have to move back to her own room.

She started in the drawers of the dresser first, pulling out her things, she carried the piles of clothes to the smaller room, setting them on the twin bed. When the drawers were empty, she moved to the closet, picking out her clothes and taking them into the other room, where she hung them in that closet.

She spent the next half hour cleaning her things out of Pete's room. When she was finished, she stood to look at it.

She had effectively cleared the room of all evidence that she had once shared this space with Pete. The picture that he had drawn for her was wrapped in newspaper and safely stowed in the bottom drawer of her dresser, under some clothing, along with the picture of them when they were smaller.

She wanted Pete to be able to stay in his room and not have reminders of her around to bother him. She was turning out the light, ready to close the door, when she had another thought.

She crossed over to his bed and stripped the comforter off, throwing it out in the hall, with the sheets. She would take them to the laundry and clean them.

Pete would have fresh everything, whenever he came back; her scent wouldn't even be there to remind him of her.

***

The group was separated into two booths for their dinner before the show. Sam sat in one occupied by Georgie and Trish, across from him and Tex, sitting next to him. Georgie and Trish were looking at the menu when Sam asked Tex, "What is it with you and blondes lately?"

Tex chuckled as he held up his menu, pretending to read it. "Nothing. Maybe you should try one, that is, if I don't get her first. It will help you get your head out of your ass, maybe?"

Sam looked over at Gisette in the booth next to theirs; he squinted his eyes as he challenged. "I'll bet you $100 that I get the blond tonight."

Tex laughed loudly. "You are on!"

***

After their last encore, the group ran off the stage, grabbing their drinks and a towel to dry them off. Sam had ripped off his shirt during the concert.

As he walked down the hall, wiping his chest, he felt a towel rub lightly on his back. He stopped and turned suddenly, causing the small blond behind him to run into him.

Her nose bumped into his chest and she giggled, putting her hand over his nipple. "I'm sorry! I couldn't stop." Her fingers played while she talked.

Sam felt a rush go through him as her fingertips flickered over his erect nipple. He looked down at her round face and blue eyes, her honey blond hair seemed to float past her shoulders as she looked up at him, giving him a flirtatious smile.

"That's okay." He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "Don't stop now."

He felt her cool hands as they moved from his chest to his back, moving down over his ass, massaging him closer.

He lowered his lips to her ear, "You want to come to a party?"

The blond sat in Sam's lap in the car on the way to the hotel, wriggling sensuously against him. Sam looked over at Tex, who had a brunette for the night. He caught Tex's eye and he nodded toward the blond, who was kissing his neck. Tex winked and turned his attentions to the brunette.

Gisette sat in the jump seat across from Sam, her blood was boiling. She knew Sam was doing this because she wouldn't give him a divorce.

As she stared out the window, she wondered what Sam would say if she acted the same as he was doing now. Maybe it would be good for him to see her with someone else. There were plenty of sexy guys around, that she made contact with every day.

She squinted her eyes, keeping her head turned away from her husband and his groupie as they kissed in front of her. She could find someone to entertain her too.

Sam led the girl into his room, bypassing the party. He put out the Do Not Disturb sign and closed the door, leaning against it.

In the darkened room, he could just make out the outline of her long blond hair. She had curves and luscious tits, if he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine it was Sarah.

He walked towards her, cocking up an eyebrow. "Why are you still dressed?"

An image of Sarah's hair floating sensuously across his chest entered his mind as he jerked up one last time, then fell back on the pillow to catch his breath.

The blond on top of him raised back and looked at him, strangely. "My name is Julie, not Sarah."

Sam threw an arm over his forehead and closed his eyes, slowing his breathing. "Really? I could have swore you told me Sarah."

"No." Julie said slowly, looking confused. "I never told you my name."

"Julie." Sam muttered as he rolled over on his side and slid off the condom. "I'll remember it next time, I promise."

***

Sarah was returning from taking the load of bedclothes to the laundry room, when she heard her phone ringing. She rushed to unlock her door and run to the phone on the wall in their eating area.

She wasn't surprised when she heard Midgie's voice. Pete had most likely stopped at the office to tell Dave that he would be there for a few days and Midgie had probably been there.

"Sarah, what's going on between you and Pete?" Midgie asked as soon as Sarah said hello.

"We broke up." Sarah said simply.

"Oh my god! Why?" Midgie sounded surprised. "Wait, I'll be there in a couple minutes."

"Midgie, no! You are with Dave, spend the evening with him. I'm fine, really."

"Oh no! I am dying to find out what is going on. See ya in a few minutes." Midgie hung up the phone.

Midgie was at the door within 10 minutes, a six pack of beer in her hands. "I thought we could use something to drink while we talk."

She rushed in and sat the beer on the counter, then turned to Sarah. "Pete stopped at the office. He looks like shit. What the hell happened? He wouldn't say, but it must be pretty bad. Is Sam in the picture again?"

Sarah sat in a kitchen chair and held her head in her hands. "Yeah, you could say that. Maybe you should sit down."

Midgie sat down carefully, casting Sarah a puzzled look.

"Midgie, I'm pregnant." Sarah blurted it out. "With Sam's baby."

Midgie felt the air explode out of her lungs, "Oh fuck! Are you sure?"

Sarah nodded, looking at her friend. "Yeah, pretty sure. I'm going to see a doctor on Monday."

"And you told Pete tonight? Oh my god, what will you two do?"

"Pete is staying at the tent for a few days. We're done." Sarah's hand rubbed over her face."I don't even know if we can be friends after this."

She took a deep breath. "I don't know that I can live here with Pete." She groaned. "God, I don't want to move back with my parents!"

Midgie took one of Sarah's hands. "We'll figure it out."

Sarah looked at her friend sadly. Midgie couldn't understand, she was still happily in love with Dave, their future looked good. Hers was the one that was headed right into the toilet. She knew it was just her, alone. She would be making the final decisions. Her future was in her hands, and the baby she was having was hers, and hers alone. She pulled her hand away and sat up straight, trying to compose herself.

"I'm going to do this. Midgie. I am going to have this baby, and I will raise it, just me. I'm not telling Sam."

"You won't be alone, Sarah. We are all here to support you." Midgie paused, then asked cautiously. "When are you going to tell your parents?"

Sarah swallowed, hard. "My mom already knows, she was here this morning. I was having morning sickness, but at the time, I didn't know it."

"How did your mom take the news?"

"She's pissed, of course. She never thought her daughter would make the same mistake as she did. I'm supposed to be smarter than that."

"It happens some times, even to the smart ones. You know?" Midgie got up to get a beer, looking back at Sarah. "Can you drink beer?"

"I don't know. All the shit I've done in this past month!"

"I think beer is alright, just don't get drunk." Midgie handed her a bottle, "How bad is the morning sickness?"

Sarah closed her eyes, shaking her head. "It's a bitch. I threw up until I had dry heaves. I couldn't stand the smell of coffee." She took a sip of the beer. "Thank God, beer still tastes good."

"What about pot? I don't think that's a good idea." Midgie sniffed. "It smells like pot in here now. Did you just get high?"

"I just smoked my last joint. No more for me, at least for 8 more months."

"And cigarettes?" Midgie pressed on. "You know you have to quit smoking. They say it's not healthy for the baby, either."

"I haven't had one all day." Sarah gave a small laugh. "You're starting to sound like my mother!"

Midgie sat, chewing on the inside of her mouth. "You know," She said slowly. "Everyone will think this is Pete's baby."

"Yeah, I just have to convince everyone that it isn't."

"He's pretty upset right now. He asked me to come see you tonight."

Sarah looked, wide eyed at Midgie. "He did?"

"Well, of course! He wouldn't tell me what was wrong. I imagine that he's telling Dave what it's all about right now."

"Midgie, I'm scared."

"You're stronger than you think, girl. You'll make it through this."

***

Dave sat back in his recliner and looked at Pete. They had left the office as soon as Midgie had left, coming over to the privacy of Dave's small two room cabin.

Pete sat on the couch, his head in his hands. He had just told Dave about Sarah's pregnancy.

"I don't know what's going to happen with Sarah anymore, Dave." Pete said quietly. "That's Sam's baby."

"You know, cuz, that's Sarah's baby too." Dave said.

"But it's not mine! It should be mine! I'm the one that loves her, I should be the father of that baby, not that motherfucker!" Pete ran his hands through his shaggy brown hair as he openly cried.

"She's going to have his baby! In a couple of months, everyone's going to know that she's pregnant! Everyone will think it's mine. And it will be that motherfuckers baby in there!"

"Then I think it's a good idea to keep your distance from Sarah."

"How? We share the same fucking apartment!" Pete was angry. "I will have to see her every damn day!"

"I don't know. Maybe she'll move back with her parents."

Pete thought it over for a few minutes, then shook his head. "I can't see her doing that. I don't know how we will work it out." He held up his empty bottle, " And I need something stronger than this beer."

Dave walked into his kitchen, that was open to the living room. He studied the bottles in his cupboard. "I have vodka and rum. What would you like?"

"Vodka, in a tall glass. And here, I'll light this. I had it ready for tonight, I thought I'd be smoking it with Sarah."

Dave brought Pete a water glass, filled with vodka and took the joint from him. "She won't be partying for awhile, you know."