Why didn't she tell me?

She had every opportunity to tell me!

All those times I thought she was sketchy, and when I even asked her about it! SHE COULD'VE TOLD ME! SHE HAD SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TELL ME!

"COLBY STOP!" Sam yelled, grabbing the back of my arm.

I shook my head and quickly walked out of the hotel, not wanting to make a big scene.

I would be lying if I said I didn't feel hurt and betrayed. Did I even have the right to feel this way? She didn't owe me anything, so why did I feel like she lied straight to my face for years?

I couldn't let go of all the times she could've told me. She had countless opportunities to tell me!

I wouldn't have been mad if she told me. I just feel mad that everyone else knew before me and even that felt wrong. I had no right to be upset about this... so why was I?

I know everyone else knew, and I felt my head start to hurt at all these realizations. The whispers, the hospital trips, the mood swings...

Was I that stupid?

Why would my first thought be that she was pregnant? Why would I look at her and think "Yeah she's pregnant, that's why she's crying or yelling or never home"?

I felt conflicted. I thought we were moving past our old ways, and now this?

"COLBY! PLEASE LET ME EXPAIN!" Leighton cried, catching up to me.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!" I yelled, and I saw people looking at me, making me roll my eyes and walk out towards the sand next to the ocean, taking a seat and resting my arms on my knees as I looked out.

"Please let me explain. I'm so sorry" She cried, standing next to me.

"You don't owe me anything" I grumbled, feeling sorry for myself. I felt ridiculous being so hurt that everyone else knew, but it wasn't my life or my choice, and I knew the smart thing to do would be to move on, but how was I supposed to?

"Please Colby, I never meant to hurt you!" She cried and I tried to tune her out, not wanting to focus on the situation in front of me, my head piecing together slowly, everything that happened over the past few months.

"I don't want to talk to you right now" I muttered, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.

"I completely understand. You're allowed to have hurt feelings, but will you at least tell me when you want to talk?" She asked and I groaned, knowing I needed to get this over with.

"Fine. Explain" I grumbled, moving so I could see her.

"This is going to sound really bad, but I had no intentions of you finding out" She said and I scoffed, looking back out towards the ocean. "Colby please!" She whined and I looked back at her, my eyes focusing on the bump, still trying to wrap my head around it.

She was pregnant.

She has a baby inside of her.

This whole time, she's had another life inside of her.

I honestly had no idea how to feel, how to think, hell how to process this.

I felt like I was hit with a truck, and now I was laying here lifeless.

I hated being lied to. Being played. Being deceived.

I thought she was different... but I guess every girl is the same. They use you, get what they want, and leave.

Was she ever planning on being our friend? Or was this all a stepping stone to something bigger?

Was I right on her scheming?

"What is there to explain? You just told me you didn't want me to find out" I grumbled and Sam sat down next to me, copying my actions before turning to look at me.

"Please listen to her. This hasn't been easy for her either" Sam said and I glared at him.

"If you fucking knew why didn't you fucking tell me?!" I snapped, mad that he's been keeping something away from me for months.

I thought we were brothers? So why did it feel like he switched teams?

"Colby, stop! He wanted to tell you really bad!" Leighton spoke quickly, trying to save Sam's ass. I shook my head, laying back against the sand, closing my eyes.

I didn't want to look at them anymore.

Sam knew how I felt about being lied to. He's watched so many people hurt me... I would've never guessed he'd do the same.

Maybe I really didn't know my friends.

Did I even know myself?

"I should've trusted my gut when it told me you were picking her over me" I muttered angrily to Sam, my heart feeling heavy.

"Colby, please! It wasn't my place to tell you!" Sam pleaded.

"I didn't want to tell you, because I was afraid! I was going to tell you when we had our conversation, but I didn't want to screw up! It was going so well that I was afraid to drop this bombshell and ruin everything! I truly did want to restart! To be your friend! But I didn't want you to find out and kick me out, because you already didn't like me. I was so scared that you'd find out and be pissed. I didn't plan on you being the only one who didn't know. I'm so fucking sorry! Kat found out when we were bowling because she walked into the bathroom when I was ill. Sam found out by accident from Kat-" She started to quickly explain, but I caught onto the keyword in the sentence.

Bowling.

She's known since bowling?!

"Wait! WHEN WE WERE BOWLING?!" I shouted, my eyes snapped out and turned to look at her and I saw her cower a little.

She nodded and I groaned, feeling frustrated with all the different directions of replies I was getting.

"I couldn't eat the pizza because to this day, it makes me ill. So, thank you for the french fries by the way" She gave me a small smile but I ignored it, still wanting to find all the puzzle pieces to this story.

"How long have you known?!" I asked and she gnawed on her lip. "LEIGHTON HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN?!" I yelled and Sam's hand touched my shoulder as he told me to calm down, but I couldn't help it. I was hurt and pissed, why did everyone keep it a secret from me?

"I've known before we met. That's why we met actually" She spoke quietly and I clenched my jaw. "I was pregnant, single and alone, and needed somewhere to live before I got my own place. That's why I didn't tell you guys. I only planned on being there for a couple months and then I'd be out. I truly had no intentions of playing you guys or just walking through the door one day with a newborn. If you're willing to hear me out, I'll explain everything. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. You have no idea how badly I've wanted to tell you. I just didn't know how" She sighed, wiping at her eyes.

"I'll give you guys a minute to talk. I need to go find Amanda" Sam said, standing up and Leighton sat down across from me, her cheeks red and her eyes filled with worry and tears.

"I want you to tell me the truth right now. I'm tired of feeling like I was left in the dark, or like you're plotting things behind my back" I sighed and she nodded.

"I understand if you're pissed at me. I totally get it. I'm not trying to change how you feel, I just want to give you the facts" She spoke softly and I nodded, taking a deep breath and leaning back against my arms, my hands digging into the sand.

I knew I needed to listen to her with an open mind, and not with a hurt heart, but I was still extremely mad that Sam kept this from me. I understood Leighton not wanting to tell me, but Sam? It didn't make sense. We told each other EVERYTHING, so why did he start being secretive now? Especially since we lived with her.. It just didn't make sense. Why was he protecting her? What was he protecting her from? Did he honestly think I'd hurt her? What does that say about the way he sees me?

"Where do you want me to start?" She asked and I saw her twist her rings and I caught myself smiling at the small action.

"The beginning is usually good" I teased and she let out a breathy laugh, nodding.

I watched her take a deep breath and sit up straighter before she started talking again.

"I guess I'll start with the pregnancy facts and then give backstory. Then answer your questions. Right now, I am 11 weeks pregnant in two days. I'm due in December. You've met the baby daddy. He came over that one night I deleted your number. He's my ex-boyfriend but is still going to be in the baby's life. I found out I was pregnant about a week after we broke up which was scary. Gabe and I had been together for a long time, but things just weren't really working out at the start of the year, so we decided to go our separate ways. I lived with my best friend Aaliyah, who you've met a few times. I moved out of her house, and into your guy's place. I didn't have any plans on getting close to you guys because I knew in a couple months I'd be moving out. I didn't see the point in telling you if I was going to be out of your life anyway. I didn't know you guys were "famous". I honestly didn't expect you guys to be the type of roommates who hung out a lot. I also feel like you guys expected me to be like your older roommates, and I'm not filling the role how you want. I won't fill you in on my life drama, but I truly didn't think I'd be getting close to any of you. I had no reason to. I got close to Kat and Sam all because of the baby. They were helping me out. I'm sorry if you feel like I did this intentionally. Like I made up this whole plan to hurt you, or that I had something against you. I'm truly sorry if my intentions have ruined whatever sort of friendship we had and or were working on. I never wanted to hurt you." She looked down at the sand, taking a handful of it and letting it slip between her fingers and fall back down.

"Why didn't you tell me? If they knew, why was it such a big secret from me?" I asked and she pouted and I watched her hand rest on her tiny bump.

"I was afraid. I know that isn't the answer you want, but it's true. You already hated me.. and I thought it would just add to your casefile of why I shouldn't live with you guys" She said in the most insecure tone I've ever heard her use. She seemed so sad and defeated. Like she knew she fucked up, and had no way to fix it, and now had to accept her punishment.

I was struggling to understand why she was so afraid of me. Yeah I disliked her, but how did that make her fearful?

"I would be less mad and upset right now, if you had just told me" I told her and she sighed, nodding.

"I was raised that honesty was the best policy, even if it hurt someone, because you could at least know they were trustworthy, and you have nothing if you don't have trust. I'm sorry that my dishonesty meant I lost your trust, but I completely understand why" She said softly and I sighed, annoyed at myself that I was having a hard time being mad at her.

I felt sympathy and it was pissing me off because I wanted so desperately to stay mad. To kick her out, block her number, delete her from my life... but I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to let go of her and it was extremely frustrating

"Leighton, just because you didn't tell me something, doesn't make my trust in you go away. It just makes me disappointed. I thought we chose together, that we would be honest and trust each other. That we made a truce from that moment forward to restart... but then I learn you STILL hide the biggest and probably most life changing secret ever! I want to be so mad at you, but I understand why you did it, which is even more frustrating. I want nothing more than to yell at you and say this and that and kick you out, but I can't bring myself to do it."

"I'm sorry for disappointing you" She spoke softly and I nodded, not sure what to say. "Do you have any questions?" She asked quietly, her eyes glancing up to watch me and I shrugged.

"Do you have anything else I should know?" I asked and It was quiet for a moment and I watched her think for a second before her eyes widened and I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Um, I had a small weed problem in high school. Like I went through a program to help myself recover. I guess you could say rehab, but I wouldn't say it was that bad" She said quietly, almost sounding ashamed.

"You went to rehab?" I asked and she shrugged, looking away from me.

I knew I should drop it since I could see how uncomfortable she was, but I couldn't help it. "What age did you go to rehab?" I asked and she sat criss cross and leaned on her leg, her cheek resting in her palm.

"When I was 18. I had a hard time in High School, and I retorted towards drugs, like a basic bitch, and like the basic bitch I am, I also went to rehab. It wasn't as hard core as rehab though, but it was a recovery program." She explained and I nodded, unsure what to say.

"What made you go?" I asked and she sighed.

"I needed it. I needed to better myself for not only me, but my family. I fought it for a while because I didn't want to admit I had a problem, and so I got kicked out of my house because my parents didn't want my siblings around it. I loved weed because of the way it made me feel, but I started getting it laced with stuff and I struggled with it for two years but it got bad enough that I did finally go to rehab." She said and I soaked up her words like a sponge, clinging onto every last breath.

I wouldn't have taken her as a girl who went to rehab...

"Your parents kicked you out?" I asked, unable to stop myself to think before I spoke. I knew it was a sensitive topic, and I hoped that me not biting my tongue didn't upset her.

"I lived with my ex's grandfather, who apparently was trying to blow my cover through the spirit box" She chuckled, running her hand through her hair. "I would be lying to you if I said I didn't use after rehab. It's really hard to let go of things that make you feel so good during hard times. I haven't really had a break from hard times, even now, so it's been kind of hard." She shrugged, glancing away from me. It was quiet for a moment and she spoke again, surprising me. "It's kind of hard to explain unless you've gone through it. But that's my problem, not yours." She shrugged, trailing off and going back to grazing her fingers through the sand.

"I'm sorry you went through that" I apologized and she gave me a weird look.

"Why are you saying sorry? You didn't get me addicted to it"

I shrugged, unsure of what to say.

"I guess if we are really doing no more secrets, I should tell you that my one year is actually coming up. I had a hard time for two years. When I turned 18 I went to rehab but rehab didn't just make it magically better. I relapsed a lot and it's something that my ex and I fought about a lot. He tried weed once, didn't like it, and didn't like me doing it, but it was what it was. I would also be lying if I told you I didn't still crave it, and I was nervous about that because I'm now pregnant. So I've attended meetings and such just to try and keep my head clear... I don't know. That's part of the reason I'm never home. I'm grateful that I don't have to pay to go to NA, or I'd be fucked" She chuckled "Anyway, I think that's the only big thing you don't know about me?" She questioned.

"It's almost your one year?" I asked, surprised she was acting like it wasn't a big deal.

I was still surprised she even struggled with addiction, let alone that such a big accomplishment was coming up.

I have friends who've gone through the recovery process, and the first year of sobriety was a huge deal, and she was acting like it was just another day.

She nodded and I shook my head at her in disbelief.

"That's a big deal! When is it?" I asked, pulling out my phone and opening the calendar app.

"Don't worry about it" She smiled and went to stand up.

"No! It's a big deal, Leighton!" I watched her brush off the sand from her leggings and shake her head.

"It's my journey. I don't share it with anyone. No one but me knows the date. That way if I fuck up, I don't disappointment anyone. No one knows when I sobered up or why or how. I'm honestly surprised I even told you about it, but you said no secrets" She gnawed on her bottom lip and I stood up.

"It's a big deal, Leighton! You should celebrate it with people who care about you!" I exclaimed and she shrugged, reaching for her phone.

"We were talking about my pregnancy, not my recovery. Are we good now? Are you still mad at me?" She rocked back and forth on the sides of her feet.

"I feel hurt that you didn't tell me, and everyone else knew. But I'm not mad. I want to be mad, but I can't bring myself to be mad. If I was in your position, I'd probably do the same thing. It wasn't like we were all really close or something" I sighed, wishing I could bring myself to "punish" her, but I couldn't.

I guess it helped that everything was starting to make sense. That all the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly. The emotional reactions to things, not wanting to join pizza night or game night, never being home, desperately needing a job.

"We should go find Sam before he thinks we murdered each other, and now he's gotta ghost hunt us"

"Do we want to walk back all cool like, or do you want to hug it out?" I asked and she gave me a weird look.

"Is this your version of a hint that you want a hug?" She asked and I smirked, widening my arms.

Leighton rolled her eyes and walked into my arms, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Truce?" I asked and she laughed, her body shaking against my own. I felt her nod and I smiled.

"Do you have anything you need to tell me?" She asked, but it was muffled against my chest as I held her. The interaction felt longer than it actually was.

"I spent a night in jail, other than that, no. You're so short. My head can rest on top of yours" I smirked, laying my ear against the top of her head.

"Stop being mean to me! What did you go to jail for?" She asked, pulling away from me.

"Sam and I got arrested with two other guys when we were exploring, for trespassing. I'm not some hard core criminal" I smirked and she rolled her eyes "Let's go find Sam" She started walking away and I followed Leigh towards the hotel.

~

"Did you kids kiss and make up?" Kat asked and I glared at her.

I was really getting tired of them openly teasing. If Leighton and I were going to try and become friends, I didn't want their jokes to make things more awkward or cause another rift between us.

"As far as I know, we're good. Sorry for that" Leigh apologized.

"Are we going to keep filming? Is everything okay?" Sam asked and I nodded, deciding that it wasn't worth fighting about.

I knew I was going to give him a run for his money when we were alone though.

I can't believe he didn't tell me.

Sam pulled the camera back out and I suddenly remembered all the things that happened a couple hours before. The interactions, the strange words through the spirit box, Leighton saying a ghost was trying to expose her... was this some of the best paranormal evidence we have ever gotten, and we didn't even know?

If Sam, Kat and Amanda knew, why weren't they freaking out at how good of evidence this was?

I was still bewildered on how they were able to keep such a secret, especially with the evidence we caught hours prior.

"Leighton, are you okay with our audience knowing you're pregnant?" Sam asked her and I saw her face show surprise and concern, and I could tell she was worried about it.

"Why?" She asked, her voice wavering a little bit.

"Because I want to try and use your pregnancy to attract ghosts" He said and I saw Leighton blankly stare at him and Amanda quickly spoke up.