I went through the ads section over and over. But something felt so off with me.
Had I drunk too much the previous night at Windy's birthday? Yes, must be the hangovers.
   A stiff groan came as I peeled my bottom from the dining chair to stand.

      Suddenly, a wave of dizziness struck, then the nauseating feeling that was making my throat bitter.
I groaned again, falling back on the chair.
The moody state went on for at least ten minutes. And when I tried getting up, my strength vanished and boom! Collapsed on the floor.
         
  
  I woke to the cool feminine voice calling me.
     "Wake up Daisy."
My eyelids flipped, fighting to take in the blurred rehdhead at my side on the bed.
  The chemical stench! Argh! Was I in a- "Hospital!"
"Yes. Found you lying on the floor in the morning and rushed you here."
     My head felt twice the weight of an anchor.
"Gawd! I feel so, washed out. What has the doctor said?"
     The pale face just grinned ear to ear... "I'm going to be an aunt soon." She bursted before grabbing me in a bone crushing embrace.

  I immediately paled out.
"A-aunt? What do you me- Oh no! Am I?"
     "Yes! Yes! My bestie is one month pregnant. God this is the best news I've had in a year. "Windy!" I cried pushing her away. "How can I be pregnant? And, and, one month?"
    The female chuckled straightening while I pulled my body involuntarily up.

My brain, my heart, my entire system felt frozen, iced.
  "Look who's acting innocent. I just want to know who the lucky bastard is."
I tried to inhale, pushing my hair back countless times.
    How could I be a month pregnant? If I'd be pregnant, at least it'd be two or less weeks. Vince and I had made love only a week and a few days back.

"Daisy? God you're paling out."
  The machine starting beeping out loud. I was losing it. Was freaking out at a very dangerous rate.
      "I can't be pregnant!" Cried pulling my hair... Windy pushed me down on the pillows. Struggled to keep me there as a nurse rushed in.
  Whatever the woman in white uniform injected me with, it totally sent me in a void.

  
The door opened in a small creak, I didn't bother checking who was coming in. Right then, I just wanted to stop thinking and just go away.
    "Is it a good time?"
I cleared my throat stealing a glimpse of Vince from the side.
"It's fine."
He shut the door and the light steps came closer behind me.
  "Windy told me... I was just wondering-" "Who sired the baby? That's what I'm also wondering Vince."
I didn't look his way. Only focused out to the dull atmosphere. Winter was approaching fast. So fast that I had no idea how I'd cope with the thing now growing in me.
        "Daisy? We can-"
"I know you're hurt Vince. Please stop acting like a saint."
  "Can you please-"
"Just leave me alone, please!" I yelled in a sob spinning at him.
  "Just...go!"
His jaw clenched. "I'm not here to start a fight. Just want to help you. We're still friends even with-"

I sniffed wiping the tears, before going closer. "Look in my eyes and tell me you ain't disappointed in me. That you don't think I'm a whore that played you." "Gawd! Where is this coming fro-" "SAY IT!"
  His eyes rested on mine.

"I don't think any negative conclusions about you. We've been friends for three damn years. I know what you can and can't do."
    That made me break down like a weak crisp. Vulnerable and helpless. But Vince's arms were around me, giving the comfort.

"I still love you Daisy. And we'll find out where the baby came from. And if it was an assault, I'll kill the doomed bastard that did this to you." Vince stated with certainty.
     I let my eyes shut.
He was there for me. He loved me.
*           *         *

  "One month, it dates back to when you came back in this town. Do you, by any chance, remember any useful thing?" Vince asked studying my reaction

I swallowed.
  "That night... I, I got drunk and, and..." "What is it? What happened?"
    "I think, Alex was here that night."

A frown quickly descended on him. He sprang from the couch like an arrow, hands balled into fists. "That bastard! He must have taken advantage of your situation."
    "No! Alex isn't like that. Sure he's a damned man, but not to this extent." I defended rising.
  "Then do you have a better explanation? The doctor said, you're a month pregnant, and that night you were drunk, Alex was here. What more do we need to know that he sired the child you're now carrying?"

I didn't want to believe him no matter how much sense he was making.
     Alex was noble. He'd not cross such boundaries.

The name Mr McClain was still above the wooden frame as always.
   I didn't knock. Just pushed the door open.
His secretary hadn't been at her spot, but that hadn't stopped me from seeing him.
But when I stepped in the office, the sight of gushing red hair at the desk stole my vision.
      Her deathly glare stabbed me immediately.
   "You! What are you-"
"Where's Alex?" I demanded. Not that I'd forgotten her previous torture, but today, I was ready for any loose lover. Alex had answered to my questions.

The slim figure in a blue minidress rose. She walked round the desk then propped against its edge.
    "Looks like you've never left-"
"Where's that bastard?"
    "Hey!" She snapped defensively.

I quickly shoved out the hand in my jacket pocket, and pointed the weapon at the girl.
   "I'm not here for freakish silly lovers fights. I'm not in the least interested in that bastard."
Her eyes grew big and round staring at the threatening pistol.

   "Easy now girl. You don't want-"
I cocked it, just to show how serious I was.
"Where is h-"
The glass door swung open, and the male in a back suit came ins sight. His dark eyes suddenly bulged.
    "Whoa! What's this Daisy?"
I scowled at the female, "Get out!"
"I am not leaving-" "I said out!" I shouted closing in the urge to blow her brains out.
    "Just get out of here Fay!" Alex ordered.

The female huffed. "Is this about the stolen signature? It was all Alex's idea little Kitty. He's the one that took away your father's business in the name of loans."
    I inhaled. "What are you..."
Fay cackled clapping hands.
   "Alex doesn't love you honey. He only used you to get the business. That night you came back in town, we planned out every little thing dear."

  I frowned sourly.
"Fay! Shut up and lea-"
"Don't shut me Alex. She at least deserves the truth."
     "Daisy, she's lying. She's just playing mind games with-"
"You got drunk. And it became so easy for Alex to steal exactly what we needed."

"Alex?" I whined confused.
      "Daisy don't!"
I pointed the gun at him.
  "That's the night you got me pregnant you monster!"

A look of guilt quickly swept across his face. Perspiration flooded that forehead.
   "Pregnant!" Fay cried from the side.

"Look Daisy, what she said is a lie. I didn't steal anything from you, or your father. He willingly asked me to take over."
    "What business, and what is going on here?"

"The smuggling business. It's a dark secret that he always kept from you, and everyone else. And when I found out, he hated me for it. Wanted me gone. But when he found out I was McClain's son, he changed his perspective and signed it over, but only if I'd stay far from you."
    
      "I don't give a fuck about that! Just tell me why you ruined my life. I'm now damn pregnant!"
  
   Alex's dark eyes snapped to my side. And when I followed the gaze, saw Fay holding up a silencer at me. An evil grin was plastered on her face.
      "You're easy to fool you idiot."
She everted the gun at Alex and shot him right in the chest.

   "Alex!"
I gasped like an earthquake had hit me... His eyes remained on me even as he fell on his knees, holding a hand on the gun hole.
     "He's always slowed me down anyway. His stupid love for you always got in the way to what I've always wanted."

"I'll shoot if you-" "Come on Daisy! Alex's an ass. We both can get what we want. This company-" she looked around the office "-it's worth billions of dollars. Your father's money is here. So is my mom's. The syndicate Alex runs was built by our parents."

I held my gun in the air at her.
"I'm not interested."
Right then, I could feel the crave to let go. To just give up.
    Alex had betrayed me endlessly. Hid a lot of things from me.

"Your loss!" She raised the gun higher, and so did I. We both took our shots. She hit me in the right breast, and I hit a score, her brain.
    My body joined Alex's a short distant away. And slowly, the air faded like my vision. I was now letting go. Was now giving up.