That one night

The gymnasium buzzed with the energy of a thousand teenagers, a kaleidoscope of shimmering dresses and crisp tuxedos. Ryan, arm-in-arm with Rachael, his prom date, commanded attention. His sister, Ana, trailed slightly behind, a mixture of pride and apprehension etched on her face. All eyes were on them; the envy of Ryan's secret admirer, Sarah, was palpable.

Ana, perched on a slightly elevated table near the punch bowl, scanned the crowd. Her brother, Ryan, looked surprisingly dashing in his rented tuxedo. He was laughing, a genuine, carefree laugh that Ana hadn't heard in months, his arm around Rachael, who shimmered in a floor-length gown the color of a summer sunset. Her smile was dazzling, but Ana couldn't shake a feeling of unease.

The scent of lilies and cheap cologne hung heavy in the air. Couples swayed to slow songs, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of fairy lights strung across the ceiling. A group of girls in matching, sequined dresses giggled conspiratorially, their eyes darting towards Ryan. Sarah, his secret admirer, stood alone near the edge of the dance floor, her eyes following his every move, a wistful expression on her face.

The punch bowl, a monstrous thing overflowing with a suspicious-looking concoction of fruit juices and something considerably stronger, was a constant source of activity. Rachael, ever attentive, kept refilling Ryan's cup, her smile never faltering. Ana watched, her unease growing with each refill. Ryan, usually so disciplined and health-conscious, seemed strangely susceptible to her charms.

The music shifted, transitioning to a high-energy dance track. The dance floor erupted in a flurry of movement. Ana watched as Ryan and Rachael joined the throng, their laughter mingling with the music. But even amidst the joyous chaos, Ana couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. The carefree laughter seemed forced, the dazzling smile a mask.

The night unfolded in a blur of music, laughter, and awkward slow dances. Ryan, usually averse to cocktails, found himself surprisingly drawn to the fruity concoctions Rachael kept offering. He drank more than he intended, a fact that didn't escape Ana's watchful eye. Her brother, usually so cautious, was becoming increasingly boisterous and unsteady on his feet.

As the night went on, the music paused and drink flowed

As the night wore on, Ryan had a few more drinks, and Ana started to get worried. "Ryan, maybe you should slow down," she said, her voice laced with concern. "You are taking the cocktail seriously, isn't it too much already". Ana said trying to stop him from taking more.

But Ryan just laughed, his eyes glazing over. "I'm fine, Ana. Don't worry about me."

Ana's worry turned to panic as Ryan stumbled off the dance floor.

"It's just cocktail" why is he acting weird Rachel". Ana asked with much concern

Here, come Ryann" I will take his to the bathroom to wash his face" Rachael said, holding him by his shoulder and making an entrance to the bathroom.

Just as Ana was starting to lose hope, with the long wait at the bathroom door waiting for them to come out.

Rachael appeared, Ryan stumbling behind her. "I'm so sorry, Ana," Rachael said, breathless. "I think he is drunk, I had to make him stop vomiting . I had to help him."

Ana's relief turned to annoyance. "For almost an hour? I was worried sick!"

Rachael smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. We didn't mean to worry you."

Ryan, still drunk, grinned at Ana. "I'm sowwy, sis. I had too much to drink."

Ana rolled her eyes, laughing. "You're such a lightweight, Ryan." Yeah with cocktail at that". How could cocktail make anyone high".

"I think we need to get him home," she said to Rachael.

Rachael nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's get him out of here."

They made their way to the Lamborghini, Ana supporting Ryan as he stumbled along. Rachael got in the driver's seat and Ana helped Ryan into the passenger side.

As they drove to Rachael's house, Ana couldn't help but wonder how Ryan had gotten so drunk. "Rachael, what did you guys drink tonight?" she asked.

Rachael glanced in the rearview mirror. "Just some cocktails. I didn't think they were that strong."

Ana raised an eyebrow. "Cocktails? That's not like Ryan to drink something like that." I wonder why he took it in the first place".

Rachael shrugged. "I don't know, maybe he just wanted to try something new."

After dropping Rachael off, Ana drove the Lamborghini to their house. She helped Ryan out of the car and supported him as he stumbled towards the front door.

As they entered the house, Ana's mom called out from the living room. "Ana, is that you?"

Ana quickly ushered Ryan towards the stairs. "Yeah, Mom, it's me. I'm just going to help Ryan get to bed."

Her mom sounded suspicious. "Is everything okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

Ana tried to sound calm. "No, Mom, everything's fine. Ryan's just a little...tired."

Ana's mom didn't press the issue, and Ana was able to sneak Ryan into his room without her parents finding out. She helped him onto the bed and pulled off his shoes.

As she looked at Ryan, passed out on the bed, Ana couldn't help but laugh. "You're such a lightweight, Ryan," she whispered, shaking her head.

*******

The aftermath of prom hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the glittering spectacle of the night before. A week of silence stretched between Ryan and Rachael, a silence broken only by the jarring ping of a text message on Ryan's phone.

Hey Ryan.

The simple greeting was enough to send a jolt of surprise through him. He stared at the message, his brow furrowed in confusion.

How did you get my number? he replied, a question born of genuine bewilderment.

Can we skip that for now? came the immediate response. I'm pregnant.

The words hit him like a physical blow. He reread them, slowly, each syllable sinking in with a chilling finality. A pregnant pause followed, a moment of stunned silence before he managed to type a response.

Okay. That's… news. I don't know if I'm to say sorry or you are happy with it, but either ways you will be fine. And I can help with any other thing if I'm capable. Hope the person that did it is not trying to put it all on you. He tried to sound calm, rational, even though his insides were churning with a storm of disbelief.

What are you saying Ray? Rachael asked in disbelief. "You are responsible for it".

The finality of Rachael's statement slammed into him. The world tilted on its axis.

What!? Me..... How? When!? Why!? The barrage of questions poured out of him, a desperate attempt to grasp onto some semblance of understanding in the face of this overwhelming revelation. The joyous memories of prom were instantly tainted, replaced by a nauseating cocktail of shock, confusion, and a deep, unsettling dread. The carefree laughter of the night before seemed like a cruel joke, a cruel foreshadowing of the life-altering news that now dominated his reality.