I opened up the door and there stood my best friend, Grace, holding a bag with tears running down her face.

"Gracie! What a sur..." I stopped talking as soon as I noticed her crying. "What's wrong?"

She handed me the brown paper bag and I opened it up. Inside were four pregnancy tests. "Oh, my God....you think you could be pregnant?" I asked as I pulled out one of the boxes.

She walked past me and into my bathroom, snatching the bag away from me as she went. "Yeah, unfortunately...." She didn't sound happy in the slightest.

I followed her into the bathroom. I didn't know what to say or do. It's clear that this is something that truly upsets her. I know that she and Dex haven't always gotten along. They've broken up and gotten back together more times than Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, but I didn't think it would be this big of a deal.

"Well, let's take us some tests then," I said as I left the bathroom, headed into the kitchen and came back with a red plastic solo cup. "Here. Pee in this. Then, we'll divide it up between these tests." I shoved the cup towards her.

She hurried up and peed in the cup. Then, we dunked all four tests in it and set them on the counter.

"I can't watch," she said, panicking and leaving the room.

I followed behind her. "Grace, stop."

She stopped and turned around to face me. "What am I going to do if it says positive?! I can't have a baby with Dex!"

I hated seeing her like this. I pulled her into a hug. "We'll figure it out, sweetie. Let's just take this one step at a time. How about we start with actually looking at the results?"

She nodded and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Ok....let's do it."

We headed back into the bathroom and looked at the tests on the countertop.

Test One: Two lines

Test Two: Plus sign

Test Three: Positive

Test Four: 2-3 weeks

"Fuck!" She cried, wiping them all off the counter and onto the floor.

I embraced her again. "Shh...it's ok, babe. Everything will be fine. I promise."

She shrugged me off and yanked her shirt over her head, revealing her back to me. I felt my face go white as I stared at the welts and cuts on her back. They were puffy and some were starting to bruise, but they looked pretty fresh yet.

"What...how...uh...did...." I was so aghast that I was unable to form complete sentences.

"Yes. Dex did this to me last night when he came home, right before he forced himself inside me."

My stomach twisted and tears instantly filled my eyes at her words. "Oh, my God. Grace....I'm so sorry."

"This is why I can't have a baby with Dex. One of us won't live through it," she wailed.

I didn't know what to do or say. I wrapped my arms around her for another hug and we just stood there, weeping. "We'll figure it out. I'll help you," I told her.

I meant it. Somehow, I was going to help her get through this. She was my best friend and she deserved to be happy. Besides, after what I did, I owed it to her.

She sat on the edge of my bed, crying for most of the day. I didn't know what to do to cheer her up. I also knew I should tell her what I did, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not right now anyway. She needed me.

"Hey, how about we go to the club?" I suggested as I sat down next to her.

She wiped a tear from her cheek. "No, Alicia. I really don't feel up to it."

I grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward me. "You need to go out. If you don't, you're just going to sit here and drive yourself crazy. Now come on. You can borrow one of my dresses." I stood up and held my hand out for her.

"Ok," she replied, taking it.

"Yay! We are gonna have so much fun! You'll see," I said, smiling and pulling Grace to her feet.

*****

An hour later, we were sitting at a table in one of my favorite clubs. Grace was still depressed and it was dragging our whole night down. I needed to get her up and socializing.

"Dance with me, Grace," I pleaded, pulling on her arm.

"I don't really feel like dancing, Alicia." She frowned at me.

Grrrr.....I took a deep breath and put on my best smile. "I know you're worried, but nothing is gonna change tonight. Relax. Have fun. Let off some steam. Then, worry about it tomorrow."

"Ok..." she caved.

I let out a giddy squeal and shot up from the table, pulling Grace out of her chair and onto the dancefloor.

"Slow down, Alicia! Jeez!"

We reached the dancefloor and maneuvered our way through the crowd to a spot where we could actually dance together. I started shaking my butt and grabbing Grace's hands, twirling her around. I noticed her begin to chill out a little and before I knew it, we were both laughing and having fun.

It didn't take long before I felt someone come up and start grinding against my backside. As I looked up, I noticed Grace had a partner as well. Max, one of Dex's friends, had his hands all over her and they seemed to be talking. Max was sweet on her and he wasn't a bad guy; better for her than Dex ever could be.

I flipped around and turned my attention back to the hunk behind me. "Why, hello, handsome. I'm Alicia. What's your name?" I smiled, brightly.

"Zack," he replied as he checked me out. "You're extremely sexy. You know that?"

I beamed up at him. "I bet you say that to all the girls."

He grinned. "No. Only a select few. How about I buy you a drink?"

"Sure. I'd like that."

Zack grabbed my hand and drug me over to the bar.

"What'll it be?" the bartender asked as soon as we reached it.

"Tequila sunrise, extra shot of tequila."

Zack's eyes went wide for a brief second. "I'll take a bud light."

The bartender started getting our drinks and Zack smirked at me. "Hitting it a little hard tonight, are you?"

"That'll be $8," said the bartender as he set down our drinks in front of us.

Zack handed him a ten. "Keep the change."

I picked up my drink and before I touched it to my lips, I gave Zack my sexiest smolder. "Play your cards right and you will be, too."

Zack, who had just taken a sip of his drink, choked on it a little then, narrowed his eyes at me in uncertainty. "Oh, really?"

I slammed back my drink and set the glass on the bar. "I guess you'll have to find out."

Zack smirked at me and shook his head. "Damn, woman. You are something else."

"Oh, honey, you have no idea," I said as I sashayed away.

We danced for what seemed like hours. I was grinding and twerking on him hard. Well, I was definitely making him hard at least. He was so fine. He wasn't overly muscular but definitely fit. I could feel his abs through his shirt as I ran my hands up his stomach and over his chest.

He leaned down and whispered in my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. "How about another drink?"

As he moved his head back to look at me, I pressed my lips to his suddenly, unable to control myself. He deepened the kiss, gently prying my mouth open with his tongue and entangling it with mine. His kiss was soft yet rough at the same time. For a moment, it felt like everyone just melted away.

"Zack...." a voice called out next to us.

My eyes shot open and our mouths broke apart. "Max?" I asked, breathlessly. I was surprised to see him standing there.

"Hey, Alicia," Max nodded toward me. "Look, Zack, I'm gonna get going. Do you want a ride?"

Zack looked at me like he was contemplating something. "Do you wanna come with us, babe?"

A smile spread across my face. "I'd love to, but I came here with my friend...." Then, it dawned on me. If Max was here, where was Grace? I turned to Max. "Wait. Where is Grace?"

A look came over his face and he clenched his jaw for a moment before he spoke. "We had an argument and she took off."

"Argument? What did you fight about?"

Max swallowed hard. "Did you know he beat her?"

I was shocked that she confided that in him. "She showed me today, yeah."

His eyes flashed with anger. "She showed you? So, it's true?"

I blinked back tears, remembering the way her back looked. "Yes, unfortunately..."

Zack sensed my sadness and held me tight to him, comforting me.

Max seemed really tense all of a sudden. "He can't get away with this. I won't allow it." He looked at Zack. "I need to go. Are you coming?"

I looked up at Zack, who appeared torn between staying with me and going with his friend. "Go. I need to find Grace. Give me your phone." I held out my hand and Zack placed his phone in it. "This is my number. Call me later and maybe we can get together again." I typed in my number, saved it and handed Zack back his phone.

He smiled at me and started typing. A second later, my phone went off. "Now you have my number as well." He leaned in and gave me a peck on the lips. "Talk to you soon." Then, he disappeared into the crowd with Max.

I headed out the back door and down the alleyway. "Grace?!" I called out, but no answer. I started walking down the street looking in all of the shop windows. I was about to text her when I caught a glimpse of her through a diner window. Relieved, I ran over to the window and banged on it with my hand open.

BANG BANG BANG

"GRACE!" I yelled, making her nearly jump out of her seat. "There you are!"

I hurried up and ran inside, plopping myself down in the booth next to Grace. "I have been looking all over for you! I saw Max come up and start dancing with you." I decided to leave out the part where I spoke to him after she was gone.

She looked over at the seat across from us and I followed her gaze. There was a gorgeous, tall, dark and handsome man sitting there looking at us amused. "Hey, I'm Alicia and you are?" I extended my hand to him.

"Xander. It's nice to meet you," he replied, taking my hand and shaking it.

"Xander....that's an interesting name," I said, grabbing a forkful of apple pie and eating it while I eyeballed him.

"It's short for Alexander." He glanced at Grace, who looked slightly uncomfortable.

"Mmm...that's good pie," I said, setting the fork down. Neither of them said a word. "Well, I was worried about you," I turned to Grace. "I see that you're ok now and that's great! However, I think I'm gonna head home. You wanna share an Uber with me?"

Grace looked at Xander, who grinned at her. "No. I think I'm gonna stay here for a while."

I looked between the two of them. It was obvious they were hitting it off pretty well. "Ok, well, I'm gonna go then." I gave Grace a hug. "Be safe," I whispered. Then, I left.

I stepped out in the cool crisp air, breathing in deep. I pulled out my phone to order an Uber and noticed I had a text.

Zack: Hey, you still down to hang out?

I smirked. Was I ever....