Friends?

- No... No... No... What are you saying? - I took a deep breath and got off the stretcher.

- Do you want me to call someone? - She finally looked at me, taking her eyes off the exam.

- No!" I shouted. - I don't want to see anyone! I want to redo this test.

- Okay. If you want, we can do a transvaginal ultrasound.

- Of course. - I took it a bit rudely.

- Just a moment. I'll bring the equipment here. Do you want me to ask someone to stay with you? Your drawing room is full.

- No, I just want to get this over with and get home. Please," I whispered. My voice lowered a few decibels - Don't say anything to anyone. I need some time to take it all in.

- "All right," she said, opening the door. - Medical confidentiality. I'd better go pee. -Then she winked.

The test had to be wrong! I remember well the day Luck and I had sex, we used condoms. My anemia could have altered the test. My hands were sweating, I was restless. I got on and off the gurney, that test was wrong.

I spent minutes, which seemed like hours, days, years, like that.

Until the doctor returned, pushing a trolley containing lots of equipment. Minutes later, she had installed everything. I lay down on the gynecological stretcher, which was hidden behind a curtain. I felt a little embarrassed to be exposed like that, but I wanted to get it over with. She sat down on a stool in front of me. I watched as she put the gel on the equipment, duly covered with a condom. She said:

- The exam isn't painful, only a small proportion of women feel discomfort. Only a small portion of the transducer is placed inside the vagina. Don't worry, it won't hurt. - She smiled sweetly.

I was so anxious that I couldn't even smile back. Why did she have to say that a small proportion felt discomfort? What if I was in the minority? I just nodded.

She calmly inserted the transducer, but I couldn't help feeling invaded. I moved uncomfortably.

- You need to relax," she said. - I'm not going to hurt you, but you

You need to relax your body.

- Okay," I said, closing my eyes.

Again she introduced. But that was terrible. All to prove her wrong. I squeezed my eyes shut as if time was going to speed up.

Bop bop bop bop.

Here he is," she said, smiling. - Those are the beats, can you see?

I opened my eyes and saw a small spot on the screen.

- No, no, no! Oh, God! - It was the first thing I could say. It didn't even sound like a beat, more like a noise. I put my hands to my mouth as I cried. - Is it a baby?

- Yes - she said. - It's five millimeters long and weighs about a grain of rice.

Then she took off her equipment.

- It's about six weeks old.

**

- No, no, no... - I was in shock. - What am I going to do now?

I cried softly. The doctor, who seemed to be moved, approached me, stroking my shoulders.

- If you want, I can ask someone to come in. The people in the waiting room are on edge. It will do you good to have someone to share this with.

I didn't answer. I was in shock. And all I could do was cry.

Minutes passed as she printed out the ultrasound paper, the physical proof that this was really happening.

- Here it is! - she said, handing me a white ultrasound envelope. - You'll need to start prenatal care as soon as possible and take the necessary vitamins, as well as eating properly so that you don't get sick again. If you want to keep the pregnancy, it could be very harmful for you and the baby.

I couldn't answer, I just nodded and leaned the scans on the table beside me.

- You'll probably need someone to help you if these pressure drops continue, and you'll need precise medical monitoring. Apart from that, you're fine and you've been discharged. - Then she left, leaving me alone.

Yeah, I've definitely come to the conclusion that life isn't fair. How could this be happening to me? What was I going to do? How was I going to tell Madeleine? How was I going to tell Luck? Yes, I was screwed.

I buttoned the last button on my jeans and put on my shirt. That they had brought it for me, because the previous one was vomiting. When Alice opened the door, I couldn't react. Did she know? Was I suspicious?

- God! You almost kill us with your heart. - Vivian said, coming in behind her.

I let out a sad smile.

- What is it? You're not terminally ill, are you? - She hugged me tightly.

- No, I'm not. - I sniffled. - Just a silly anemia.

- You didn't look silly. I thought I was dying. I can laugh now, but it was really scary. Luckily, I was with Matthew and he helped by carrying you.

- Thank you, girls. But it was no big deal, I promise to take better care of myself now.

- Yes, you will," said Alice. - Your mother is coming, Nicole. She got on the first flight when Matthew called her to tell her what had happened.

- We couldn't even interfere. We didn't know what you had.

It would be fair not to tell her.

- Yes, I understand. - I'm screwed. - You're right. - My mom's going to kill me.

- Is this your scan? - she said, interrupting the conversation and picking up the envelope containing the ultrasound.

I walked towards her and took it from her hand. - Yes, it is," I said rudely. - My test. My life. My privacy.

- What? - Vivian looked at me in astonishment. - Nicole, is it so bad? - She lowered her tone, to a concern I've never heard in her voice before. - If you're ill, we need to know the truth. What's wrong with your test?

- It's nothing! - I screamed, hysterical. - I just don't want to show it to anyone. It's my test, I don't want anyone to see it. Why can't we just forget about it?

- Nicole, you're scaring us. We don't have secrets from each other.

others. Whatever your exam showed, you don't have to act like this. We've been friends for a long time, there's nothing to hide.

- And why do you think I'm hiding something? - I shouted once again.

- Because you're acting strange, defensive and suspicious. - She gestured in my direction as she quickly pulled the test out of my hand. And I couldn't react.

- Vivian, give it back now!

- Nicole. Don't hate me. But you're scaring the hell out of me, I'll give it back. - she said, opening the envelope and looking at it.

Vivian looked for a moment at the exam and then at me. Examination again, and then to me. Then he put his hand to his mouth. Her face was unreadable. I think she tried to speak, but lost her voice. She moved on to Alice, who didn't take long to speak.

- Who is he? - She said, looking down.

- I swear... - I stuttered. - I swear, I was going to tell you. It didn't last, it was just once, so I didn't see the need to tell you... I...

Vivian cut me off.

- We never hid anything from you! How could you hide it from us? I thought we were friends. We could have helped you.

- I don't know... - I tried to hold back the tears that clouded my vision.

- Do you even know who the father is?

- Damn it, Vivian, take it easy. - Alice approached me, drying my tears.

- Luu... Luuuck... - I said through my tears.

- Luck Petrelli? - she added.

I nodded.

- Holy shit! - She put her hand to her mouth. - Did he abuse you? - she said, coming closer.

- No!" I said at once. - I mean... I don't know! I drank too much, at first I really wanted to go with him. The idea of having him touch me seemed incredible. Now I feel nothing but anger at him, anger at myself. I really don't care if it was good or bad. But I don't understand. We prevented it, it wasn't supposed to happen.

When did it happen? - Alice asked.

- On the night of our graduation.

Alice let out a low whistle.

- Luck really is a son of a bitch. We could go to his house. Go to the police, I don't know. She gave a sad smile. - What I do know is that in your state, no guy should have sex with a woman.

- We could talk to my dad, get him beaten up. - Vivian suggested, her blue eyes blackened with anger.

- I don't know. - Alice warns. - You forgot he's the mayor's son. I hear he has dangerous connections. Nicole doesn't need any more trouble.

- So, what are you going to do?

- I don't know. - I answer Vivian, sitting down on the stretcher behind me.

- You're going to take it away, aren't you? You can't keep this child, Luck would never take over. And then there's Madeleine.

My stomach turns at her words.

- Yes, I know," I replied. - But he needs to know.

Vivian laughed, but it was pitiful, unfortunate. - What's wrong with you? I'm serious. I could be wrong, but if I put the pieces together, I can see that he abused you. You have no one to turn to, Nicole.

- Yes, I know. - I wiped away the tears streaming down my face. - But he needs to know.

- Okay, I'll wash my hands. You need to start facing reality. Look where this platonic infatuation has gotten you. You're beautiful, you could have had any decent boy in this town. But no, you had to experience the one person who sucks. And worse, getting pregnant with him. And even worse, you have to hope that the piece of shit he is will take you and this child over. Really, I tried to warn you that Luck wasn't the good guy. I love you, and that's why I'm afraid that if you take this story any further, it will break your heart beyond repair. You had every chance to make the right choice and you just screwed up your life. And you know, even if you don't want to, that your best chance is to get rid of that baby." She cast her eyes down towards my belly. -I'll take you somewhere and no one will ever know it happened.