"IS that really you?"

He nodded. "I know, the change is shocking, isn't it?"

Chris scoffed a little. "No kidding. I mean, you used to have glasses-"

He pointed to his eyes. "Contact lenses."

"And you were really pale too."

"Got tanned."

She smiled. "Honestly, I'm still having a hard time believing it's you."

He nodded. "Yeah, I get the same reaction whenever I run into an old classmate. But enough about me. Let's talk about you. What have you been up to?"

"Oh, I work as a columnist in a newspaper," Chris said, glancing away and saw that the party was still in full swing.

"Impressive."

"Yeah..."

They both went silent after that, not sure what else to talk about before Roger suddenly spoke up. "Listen, Chris, don't let them get to you," he said, in a low but sincere voice. His green eyes were fixed on her.

She gave a sad smile and sighed. She didn't really know what to say or how to respond so she remained quiet.

"Um, Chris?"

At Alex's voice, they both looked up and Alex glanced from her to Roger. "Um, can I talk to you for a second? Please?"

Before she could respond, Roger patted her lightly on the shoulder before walking away, saying, "I'll go and get us some drinks." And Alex wasted no time in seizing this opportunity as he blurted, "Please don't walk away. I just want to talk."

Chris folded her arms over her chest and looked away from him, an angry expression on her round face. "Well, you shouldn't have walked away from me when I needed you."

His dark eyes flashed with guilt. "I know. It was very wrong of me but you need to understand that I was only sixteen and I couldn't have done anything about it."

Her head sharply turned to him. "Then, you should have thought about the consequences! You were the one who suggested sex and then took my fucking virginity! After that, when I got pregnant, you broke off all contact with me. My parents fucking disowned me when they found out and I was lucky that my aunt took me in."

Alex's head hung with shame and Chris caught him biting his lower lip. Her eyes narrowed. It was too late to feel sorry.

"I tried to talk to you. I called you," Chris said slowly, her hands clenched into fists. "I sent you messages. I came to your house. But you only opened the door once to tell me to get lost. That it was over between us. And then...I find out that you're going out with Eleanor of all people. Eleanor who was my best friend. Were you trying to mock me?"

"No!" Alex finally met her glare and despite the fact that tears were now streaming down his face, Chris found no desire to forgive this man. This man who was undeniably the father of her child, her little son.

"We weren't mocking you!" His voice broke at the end. "I only started to go out with her because I wanted to forget. I wanted to forget you. I swear I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Chris. But I was only a boy, I was as helpless as you-"

"But at least I didn't abandon my own son!" She hissed, with venom in her voice and hatred blazing in her blue eyes. Alex wiped his nose with the sleeve of his shirt, the tears still pouring down his cheeks. He was quiet for a few minutes as he continued to stare at nothing in particular. He nodded and cleared his throat. "H-How is he?" He asked in a low voice.

"Who?"

"H-H...your son?"

Chris stuck out her chin as she answered in a curt voice. "My son's fine."

She appreciated the fact that he wasn't taking credit for her son. After all, she was the one who had been through hell for him. Alex hadn't done anything and now, all of a sudden he was so interested. Alex nodded. "That's good to hear," he murmured, with a deep sigh. "He doesn't deserve me anyway."

"He certainly doesn't."

He looked at his feet. "Take care of him, Chris. I really am sorry. I wish I had stood up for him, with you. But I'm just a coward."

His shoulders slagged and he turned, walking away. "Take care, Chris."

Chris simply stood there, a pained expression on her face. She wanted to cry and shout and she wasn't sure why. The whole reunion so far, had been an emotional roller coaster ride. There was a part of her that was glad about the choices she had made concerning her son. She was happy that she had stood up for him and hadn't aborted him like a few people had suggested. But at the same time, she wondered how simple and normal her life would have been if only she hadn't gotten pregnant.

"You okay?" Roger's gentle voice broke her train of thought. He touched her shoulder. "Chris?"

"Can you please take me home?" She said in a weak voice.