Chapter eight.

I woke up feeling slightly better than before, I was happy I got to see my mom one more time. I decided to take her advice and keep living, instead of beating myself up for nothing, even though it wasn't going to be easy.

I went out and while I was preparing breakfast, Naomi came out and saw me. "You're up early." She said as she sat on a stool in the kitchen. "Good to see that you finally decided to come out of your room."

"Yeah. I'm sorry I made you guys worried."

"Nah it's cool."

"Thanks."

"So, what're you doing?"

"I woke up early and thought I should do something nice for my best friends."

"Aww how thoughtful of you."

"Is olly still sleeping?"

"Yeah. She slept pretty late last night."

"Okay."

"So, what're we having for breakfast?"

"Pancakes."

"Hmm my favorite."

"Yeah. What are your plans for today?"

"I don't really have any plans, I don't have to go to work today so I was just thinking of chilling at home. Why, do you wanna take me out?"

"I was looking for someone to take me out. You know I don't work at Sloan's mom's shop anymore and I don't wanna just stay at home."

"Ah okay. How about we go out with Ava and olly?"

"They might want to spend time together."

"They can do that some other time. Today we should all have fun together."

"Okay, but you're going to ask her."

"Why do I have to ask her?"

"Cause you're older. Besides, I'm the one cooking."

"Why are you making it sound like I'm really that old, I'm just twenty four."

"While I'm twenty three, so you're still older. Now run along, and make sure she says yes."

I watched her walk up the stairs before my expression changed. I sat down and rested my head on my hand, doing this was harder than I thought I'd be. The day had barely begun and I was already thinking of Sloan. As terrible as he was, I still missed him, I had hoped that all what happened yesterday was just a bad dream.

"What are you doing Hazel?"

I flinched as I heard her voice because I didn't see her standing there. "Oh, I didn't see you there."

"Of course you didn't. You were obviously lost in thought."

"No I wasn't, I was just..." I let the denial trail off as I looked down at my hands. "Well what am I supposed to do?, I can't just forget about him."

"You have to, besides, that asshole was never good enough for you. Move on, I'm sure you'll find someone much better."

"That would accept me with the baby I'm carrying?"

"Sure." Olly added. "There are lots of guys out there that would be willing to accept you with your baby."

"How am I going to tell Dad?"

"We'll figure that out later, for now, let's just work on you."

"Me?"

"Yes, we have to focus on cheering you up so you can go back to being the cheerful little girl you used to be."

"So does that mean we're going out?"

"Yes. All of us, including Ava."

"Yay. Okay eat up while I go upstairs and change."

"Kay, hurry."

~~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~

"There you are, I've been looking all over for you."

"Why?"

"Come on dude, can't I want to see you anymore?"

"You never come to see me without a reason, so what is it this time?"

"Nothing, honestly I just wanted to see you."

"Okay."

"So how's work going?"

"Pretty good. Just finished a surgery not quite long."

"Good. So um...have you heard from Melanie lately?"

"No why?"

"I heard she went to your house."

"Where did you hear such a ridiculous news?"

"She told me. Henry, are you really planning on ending things with her just like this?"

"I knew you didn't just come to see me."

"Dude, let's be honest with each other. Melanie has done so much for you and you know it. Don't just abandon her like this."

"She's of no use to me anymore."

"Henry-"

"Leo, if you like her that much, why don't you date her?"

"Dude come on, don't be this way. Nobody likes a difficult person."

"I have to go now, I'm needed at the board meeting."

"Are you just going to walk out on me?"

"Don't forget to shut the door on your way out." He said as he walked out, shutting the door behind him.

"I'm so sorry sir, please forgive me I should have been more careful." A female apologized as she bumped into him.

"Are you blind?, Why would you walk so close to my office in the first place?!"

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry doesn't change the fact that you bumped into me!. I really hate when this happens."

"I sincerely apologise for her incompetence sir." Sloan said as he got between them. "Please forgive her silly mistake."

"Whatever." He started to walk away but he stopped and turned to face them. "You," he pointed at Sloan "weren't you the one who apologized for that rude girl that bumped into me at the entrance?"

"Yes sir, it was me."

"Was she your family?"

"Not at all sir." He laughed awkwardly.

"Then what is it?, Do you just randomly apologize for clumsy girls?"

"Ah...well the thing is..."

"Doctor fox!." Someone called from behind them, giving Sloan the perfect excuse not to answer the question.

"We'll be going now." Henry only nodded his head in acknowledgement as he was more focused on the woman heading his way.

"Hi, do you remember me?" She asked as she got to him but when he only looked at her obviously confused, she continued." My name's Ann, we met at de la Cruz's party?"

"I met a lot of ladies at that party." He replied casually.

"Well you should be able to remember me, we had quite the night." She smiled flirtatiously and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Are you suggesting that I had sex with you?"

"It was more than sex honey, it was amazing."

"Damn, I must have been so drunk to do anything with you." Her expression changed and she looked a little hurt by his remark. "Anyway," he continued as he removed her hand from his shoulder. "Why did you come here?"

"Isn't it obvious?, I want more. You have no idea how much trouble I went through before I could find you."

"What happened between us, that is, if anything did happen, it was a horrible mistake and I hope it never happens again, understand?." He said, nonchalantly.

"What?"

"You don't understand?, Well what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry you came all this way for nothing." He took a few steps away before turning to face her. "What you did today was shameless, try not to do it again."

"What?"

"You sound like a woman who's in desperate need of a man's attention."

"Well I am in desperate need of your attention."

"Stop it. You look like an old woman with at least four children. Just looking at you makes me upset and I don't like anything that makes me upset." He turned and walked away from the woman leaving her to examine her body and wonder what was bad about her.

~~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~

"So, what do we do next?" Ava asked as we walked out of the movie theatre.

"I don't know, but I'm suddenly craving ice cream." Naomi replied, rubbing her stomach and smiling like a little girl.

"Okay then, ice cream it is." We walked out of the cinema hand in hand, laughing and discussing about the movie we saw.

We crossed the street and went to my favourite ice cream shop. "Okay  what flavour would everyone like to have?" Ava asked as we all sat down.

"I would like strawberry please." Naomi said first.

"Vanilla for me." Olly followed.

"Me too." Ava said, I already knew they would order the same thing. They had been doing that since we were in college.

"And I'd like chocolate." I have always loved chocolate since I was little, I don't know why but the taste was just too amazing.

After we all got our ice creams, we decided to share our plans for the year.  Naomi's job was going great and her boss asked her to be patient that when he was done with the work he was doing, they'd travel to France where she would be able to earn more with modeling and her fashion designs.

Ava and Olivia plans on moving in together in order for them to maximize their togetherness. They seem to be really in love and it makes me wonder if I'll feel that way.

"I'm going back to Montana." I slowly said, getting all their attention.

"What?" They chorused.

"Why would you do that?" Naomi added.

"Yeah that's not a good idea hazel." Olly said and held my hand. "I know you're going through a lot right now but don't you think going back is a little too much?" She added.

"Well what am I supposed to do?, You all have what you want to do but I can't do anything because I'm pregnant."

"You know that if you go back home with this state you're in, you'll only worry your dad more. He's going to have to work twice as hard to care for you and your baby and seeing you this hurt would hurt him." Ava said and I had no choice than to agree with her.

"I guess you're right."

"Of course she is, my baby's smart." Olly said and it made us all laugh. It was really nice having them around, it made my broken heart better.