We were sitting in Lily's room, consoling a crying Lily. Me and Zinnia were happy to hear this news but it took us a few seconds to hit the reality. The reality that Lily's and Andrew's relationship wasn't stable. It never was. With that, welcoming a new soul that was a symbol of their passionate love would never be easy for them. Even if Lily was going to prepare herself to be a mother, physically and mentally, no one could say the same about Andrew. He was still stuck in his past, just like me.

"I don't know what to do," Lily said in between her sobs.

"Lily, didn't you use protection?" I asked.

Zinnia sighed before saying, "Elka, not now."

"No, we really have to ask this. I'm not being mad, I'm just asking her," I said. 

"No," Lily said, making me and Zinnia look at her. "But I took ECP soon after."

I hummed and grabbed Lily's phone from her study table and Googled about ECP. 

"Well..." I said without taking my eyes from the phone. "It says it's 98% effective and 2% is the catch. So, you are one among that 2%."

Hearing me, Lily started to cry even more. 

"What am I going to do? I can't tell Andrew about this. I don't know how he's going to react."

"I would suggest you tell him. You can't hide something like this from him, Lily. Andrew is the father of your kid so he deserves to know about it," Zinnia said, patting her back. 

Lily wiped away the tears that never intended to stop. 

"It's not that simple, Zinnia. Trust me. Our relationship isn't normal as he's still doubting himself to be good enough for me. Only a month before we were back together and he didn't even tell me what happened. He just stopped talking to me all of a sudden. And after patching up, this is what I get to discover. That I'm pregnant!"

"Are you ready to be a mom?" I asked.

"Right now, I love this baby more than anything," Lily said, caressing her belly. "But I don't think I can do it alone. I want the support I wish for, Elka."

Me and Zinnia exchanged glances. This was way out of our hands. We didn't know what to do and how to help her. 

"What if he's dreaming of this? For this to happen?" Zinnia asked, making Lily look at her, baffled. "Lily, you have to tell him. Deep inside, I'm sure that he's gonna accept this. You can't say anything unless and until you talk to him."

"I don't have any hope," Lily said, shaking her head and sniffing. 

"The only solution to this is to tell Andrew about this. And if Andrew doesn't acknowledge it, then Lily, you will raise this baby without him. You aren't alone. You have us. Even if Andrew is not gonna be there, which I don't think will happen, we are gonna be there for you. We will be with you throughout everything. This baby is ours too. You will never be alone," I said, taking her hands in mine and squeezing it to which she smiled faintly. 

"Yeah. Never think you're gonna be alone. We will never let you," Zinnia said. 

"And above all, you are gonna be an amazing mom. You take care of me and Zinnia every single day. You gave me a mom's love and affection that I missed for years and that's why I don't see you just as my friend. You are way too important and special for me," I said.

"Yeah. So from now on, it's our job to take care of you. We are gonna cook for you, do your laundry, and clean your room. Yours and the little one's well being is in our hands," said Zinnia. 

Lily nodded her head before wiping her tears and smiling genuinely at us. 

"Thank you. Thank you so much," she said, her voice low and soft. 

"Always, Lily."

I turned towards Zinnia. 

"Hey, Zin, we are gonna be godmothers!!!" I screamed with joy. 

"Yesss!!!" she said, crying.

"Why are you crying?" I asked.

"These are joyful tears, you dipshit!" Zinnia yelled. 

Me and Lily erupted into laughter seeing Zinnia tearing up and sniffing out of happiness. I crossed my fingers and prayed that Andrew would be with Lily and start a family of their own. 

»»---------------------►

Next day, college opened and it was the first day of our second year. I was anxious about going to college as I was going to face a person after one month. I prepared myself to not get tensed when I stand next to him or talk to him for a fucking whole month. 

"Lily, did you call Andrew?" I asked, my eyes on the road on our way to college. 

"Yeah. He's going to join as an internal auditor in Danish's father's company next week," she replied, smiling. 

"That's great," Zinnia said. 

"But that company is in Auckland, right? Will he be moving there?" I enquired. 

"No, they have a company branch here in Wellington. Danish's father posted him here so that he doesn't have to move or have any problems with commuting," she said.

I nodded my head.

"So when are you gonna tell him?" Zinnia asked, something I was planning to do. 

"Uhmm...maybe tonight?"

"You're asking us?" I asked Lily. 

She sighed before saying, "I'll go to his apartment tonight. I'll tell him everything today itself. Don't worry, girls."

"Yeah, you better." Me and Zinnia said in unison. 

»»---------------------►

Welcome banner hung on the arc of our college entrance as I entered my car. There were freshmen with their parents and guardians, making their way to the auditorium in a hurry. 

I parked my car on the lot and switched off the engine while Zinnia and Lily got out. As I closed the door of my car and turned around, I saw Danish in the two wheelers parking lot, talking to the girl from my French class, whose name I remembered to be Katie. 

He was talking to her when he turned his head towards my direction and took a double look at me. His eyes were fixed on me for a few seconds before he looked away and continued to talk with Katie. I felt a twinge of pain. If nothing happened between us, Danish would be now hopping on his feet towards me which woke up the butterflies in my tummy. He would be standing next to me, smirking, and calling me shorty. But everything changed. Only if he knew that I was helpless whenever he was around.

"Elka?" Zinnia called me, making me break my daze. "Come," she said to which I nodded my head and followed them. 

On my way to class, I heard people talking. I heard the names Amy, Clay and Ash and knew right away what they were talking about.

Why can't these people just mind their own business? Are they so jobless that they have to butt in other's life every now and then?

I entered my class and saw Clay sitting on my seat and talking to Amy, ignoring the stares and whispers around them. 

Why does it always have to be my seat?

I took steps towards them. Seeing me, Amy's eyes lit up making Clay turn his head. Upon seeing me, Clay pecked Amy's cheek and stood up. 

"Hey," I said, looking at Clay and then Amy. 

"Hi. How are you?" Clay asked to which I smiled. 

"I'm good."

"Hey, Elka," Amy said, reaching out for a hug. 

I hugged her before taking my seat.

"Ok then. I'll go now," Clay said and took his leave. 

"So, how is everything going?" I asked her.

"Good. Better than good. I feel like I'm finally happy," she said, nodding with a smile playing on her lips.

"Did you see Ash?"

She shook her head.

"But he texted me asking about this whole Clay thing. I replied that I'm happy so don't even try to ruin it and blocked him."

"Woah! Looks like Clay isn't showering you with just love and kisses but also some nerve," I said, joshing her to which she laughed. "Hey, I have something to tell you," I said, catching her attention. 

"What is it?" she asked with furrowed brows.

Just then our teacher came making me whisper to her, "I'll tell you."

There were many new faces as that of the freshmen. And most of the sophomores didn't fail to follow the line of juniors, who all thought that ragging was necessary for them to look aloof in front of freshmen. 

As it was the first day of a new year, it was a half day. So after two classes, we were dismissed and that gave me the opportunity to tell Amy about my phobia. We settled in the library to avoid any sort of distractions or snoopers. I didn't even start and the words 'I'm scared to fall in love' alone made Amy cry and hug me, making it even harder for me. 

"You're so strong," Amy said. "You're like the main character of a movie who has gone through a lot and faced many people who don't even deserve to be near you. You're Ms. Tsundere indeed. I love you."

I laughed at her and returned an I love you. 

"Now wipe your tears. Clay is gonna ask you what happened and pester you with questions if he sees you like this."

"Amy, you alright?"

We turned our heads to the side to see Danish standing with a pile of books in his hands. I averted my gaze and flipped the bottom end of a book that was in front of me on the table.

"Huh? Nothing, I'm fine. Don't worry," Amy said, wiping the tears quickly and shaking her head. 

"Ok then," he said and took leave. 

"You still don't talk to him?" Amy asked once Danish was out of our sight.

I shook my head and said, "I need time, Amy. This is like the first time after that incident I'm liking a guy as a man."

We got out of the library as I got a text from Zinnia saying that Lily was tired. Me and Amy walked towards my car and saw Lily leaning on my car for support and Zinnia handing her a bottle of water.

"What happened?" I asked. 

Lily shook her head while gulping down the water. 

"Nothing to worry, I'm just tired," she said, looking at me and then smiled at Amy.

"Hey, Amy. How are you?"

"I'm fine. You alright, Lily?"

"Yeah. I just have to take a nap and I'll be fine."

"Ok." Amy nodded and turned towards Zinnia and greeted her as well. 

Zinnia also returned a smile and talked to her for a few minutes before we bid goodbyes and headed towards our home. My eyes went in search of Danish but I wasn't lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him. 

As soon as Zinnia opened the door, Lily passed us and rushed to her room. We heard sounds of throwing up coming from Lily's bathroom.

"I'll make her some tea," Zinnia said, tossing her bag on the couch and walking to the kitchen. 

I went to Lily's room to check on her. She came from her bathroom, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and sat on bed, her head hung low. 

"Hey, what happened?" I asked.

She raised her head and looked at me with teary eyes. I sat next to her and took her hands in mine.

"Worried about Andrew?" I asked.

She slowly nodded her head.

"I don't know how he's going to react. He's going to freak out or maybe..."

"Walk away?" I completed her.

She stayed silent. 

"See Lily, one way or another, Andrew's gonna know that you're carrying his child. He may walk away or not because of his past and I'm not gonna say anything about it as I know that I'm nowhere to talk about it. Even I'm stuck in my past and I just started trying to get out of it. But Andrew started trying long back and he even gave you space to think about your relationship. He may seem off and cut you off sometimes because that's what humans are. Sometimes they just need some time alone to refresh their mind from the everyday chaos. We all are people with different emotions and feelings. We are bounded to get tired when our crowns get heavy. But Andrew knows you'll be there for him to hold his crown and the same goes for you too. He loves you, Lily. He has proven it many times. He's gonna accept this child no matter what as I know that he dreams about having a family with you. You once said that you two are broken but fits each other perfectly. To make it more perfect, there is another person coming and that's this one," I said, pointing to her belly. "Don't worry about it. He's gonna love this baby even before he's gonna carry it on his shoulders because he loves the mother of this baby more than anything in this whole world. Trust me."

Lily smiled with her tears rolling down. She hugged me tightly before saying, "You truly are an angel. You're a God given gift for me. I love you, my baby. You're always going to be my baby."

I smiled, resting my chin on her shoulder. She retrieved and kissed my forehead. 

"I love you," she mumbled. 

"I love you and this one too," I said, placing my hand on her belly after kissing my fingers. 

"Lily, drink some tea," Zinnia said, entering the room with a cup in her hands. 

"Thank you, Zinnia," Lily chuckled and took the cup from her.

»»---------------------►

Lily went to Andrew's when it was around five. She was hesitant but me and Zinnia being the pushy people, she didn't have any other choice. We were sitting in my room, browsing through pregnancy. I read aloud about the healthy foods that pregnant women should eat and drink while Zinnia noted it down. After twenty minutes, we noted down all the essential things concerning a pregnant woman and we felt another level of happiness, as the thought of taking responsibility as godmother was running on our minds lately. We enjoyed taking care of Lily and the little one, our godchild. 

I stretched my back after closing my laptop while Zinnia kept the pen and book back on my study table.

"I wonder what's happening at Andrew's," I said, keeping my laptop on the nightstand. 

"I just hope he accepts it," Zinnia said, looking out of the window with her back facing me. 

I sighed before sinking into my mattress. 

"Didn't you see Danish today?" Zinnia asked me, turning around and walking towards the bed.

"Uhm...yeah. I did."

"Did you talk to him?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I just didn't feel like. And moreover, he didn't seem to be affected without my presence, unlike me."

"Umm...even I noticed that. But I won't say he isn't affected without your presence. He may be craving to talk to you but he's just giving you your space and time. I don't think Danish will give up on you that easily."

"Maybe. We can't say anything."

"Hey, next time, you're gonna talk to him. You aren't gonna lose your composure and will get back to how you guys were. And if he's gonna ask you out again, it's on you if you wanna do it or not. Like I'm always saying, I'm not gonna push you but at the same time, I'll not give up on you both. I swear," Zinnia said, making me smile. 

"I get it."

"Yeah you better, or else I'm gonna spank you to death?"

I laughed before asking, "Spank? You mean stab?"

"Stab! That's it. But never mind, I'll be enjoying spanking that cute round ass of yours."

She earned a smack on her arm from me before we erupted into laughter. A ding dong made us both jump and look at each other for a few seconds. 

We rushed downstairs and opened the door to see Lily who was crying her heart out, making me and Zinnia aghast at her face. 

Before we could ask or say anything, Lily threw herself on me, wrapping her hands around me. She leaned her whole body on me as she couldn't be on her feet because of her jelly legs. She was crying so hard that her tear stains made my turquoise bra visible through the white loose chiffon tee I was wearing. I held a stumbling Lily tightly and walked towards the couch while Zinnia locked the door. 

"Hey, what happened?" I asked after letting a few minutes of silence pass by us, giving Lily time to calm herself down. 

"Didn't I tell you?" she asked me, sobbing. 

I looked at her, my face twisted with confusion and agitation. 

"Didn't I tell you he would walk away?"

Cause I'm in a field of dandelions
Wishing on every one that you'll be mine, mine
And I see forever in your eyes
I feel okay when I see you smile, smile
Wishing on dandelions all of the time
Praying to God that one day you'll be mine
Wishing on dandelions all of the time, all of the time