Los Angeles

Jackie

"Go back to your old life, Nic. I never told you to give it up. I'll be fine. Rayah's gonna help me. Just forget about it." I try to get around him.

Nic

I shake my head but don't let her leave yet, not done.

"I don't understand you," I say. "I-It's a two-way street, you know. You have to meet me halfway, too. I'm trying. You're not."

Letting go of the door, I walk away and let her go if she wants, even if I know it's the worst thing that could happen. I pick up the liquor bottle and throw it away, cleaning up the rest of the kitchen.

"You know what?" I say, turning around. "Why the hell did I apologize? You came here last night. You're an adult. You drank. I didn't make those decisions for you. You could have stopped things. If you're just going to shred the last bit of decency I show for you, then what the hell's the point in saying sorry?"

Jackie

"And you could've also stopped things," I say. Final, I walk out and wait for Rayah, her and Jace In the front seat. I sit in the back and don't speak, them already knowing what's going on.

Nic

I fist my hair and pace the kitchen floor for a few moments. Picking up a glass from the counter, I chuck it at the wall and watch as it shatters. I slide to the floor and take my head in my hands. Why do I have to screw everything up?

The door opens slowly, carefully, but I don't look up. Someone knocks and then enters, closing it softly behind them.

"Don't give me that 'no chick-flick moments' crap," Jace says, lowering himself beside me. "What happened?"

Jackie

Rayah drives me home, silent, and parks she gets out of the car with me and we don't even speak of it, her knowing better than to bring that up. We watch a movie and eat ice cream, trying to clear it from our minds.

Nic

I shake my head and look at him. Without words, I let him know. He slings an arm around my shoulders in comfort and tries to find words to say. After a few minutes, I realize he doesn't know what to do or to tell me; and so we just sit in comfortable silence. What could he tell me that I didn't already know anyway?

Jackie

Rayah texts Jace, just bored, and I bring my knees to my face.

Nic

Jace texts someone back, but I don't care to think about who it is. He slips his phone back in his pocket and takes a deep breath. I bring my legs to my chest and rest my head over my arms, which wrap around them.

"So... what are you going to do?" he asks.

"There's nothing to do," I say, my voice muffled by my arms. "She doesn't want me to be a part. I take responsibility for giving her a child, and she pushes me away again. And I have the commitment issues?"

"You both just need to calm down," he says. "We can get you two to sit down and calmly discuss matters."

Calmly is out of the question.

Jackie

Jace doesn't seem like he wants to talk so she doesn't text back, me looking at her, "you'll help me, right?"

"Of course," she whispers, hugging me.

Nic

Rayah doesn't text him back, and I think it worries him a bit. He stops thinking about it a few moments later and decides to focus on something else. With a deep breath, he removes his arm from my shoulders and changes the subject.

"I saw something," he whispers. "In front of Rayah, too, so she knows. I... I knew Jackie'd end up pregnant. I just didn't know when. I also know that we'll all be together again."

I look at him, and he tells me the rest of his vision.

Jackie

I wrap my arms around my stomach protectivley and Rayah bites her lip, "This must be hard for you."

No sh*t. Everything like college...a future...is gone. How his he going to make up for that? He can't just magicly pop up a career for me. How are we going to pay bills? How am I going to get a job?

My eyes start watering and Rayah sighs, "Stop thinking of the future just focus on right now."

Nic

"Well that's not good," I say.

I don't focus on that for long, though. Instead, my mind wanders back to Jackie and about how screwed up this situation was. If someone had told me demigods got pregnant so easily, maybe I would have cherished such intimacy a bit more.

Maybe then I wouldn't have offered her the drink.

"Her life... I just ended it, didn't I?' I whisper.

"Don't think that way, Nic," Jace says. "She can still have a life. She just has a kid. And no matter what happens, it'll be your kid too. Neither of you will be alone in this. Rayah and I got your backs too."

Jackie

I nod at her words and cuddle with a pillow, wishing it was Nic but also not giving a crap. He gave me this. How does he plan to fix it?

I shudder and Rayah smiles at me, "You look hungover," She chuckles.

"Maybe because I am," I smile back, yawning.

Nic

"Yes, but you and Rayah being there can't make things a happy-go-lucky fairy tale, Jae," I retort.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. Hesitantly, he nods.

"No, we can't," he agrees. "Only you and Jackie can do that. But you will."

"And you're so sure, how?" I ask.

"You don't see the way you look at each other," he says. "Sometimes, it's as if you eyes are linked with silk. They glaze over. I don't recognize you when you're with her."

Jackie

My eyes heavy, someone bursts through the door. I practically scream, Rayah staying still but the man takes me. Something is enjected into my arm and I pass out, Rayah the same way. Well sh*t.