âWait, youâre gonna be my Baby Mama..?!!â â Daniela. Avanzini. [ series ] ( Part.2 )
Synopsis ::: When you finally confesses the pregnancy to Dani, the shock gives way to an unsteady promise that she wonât let you face it alone, even as friends and family react with a mix of support and doubt. But as the heartbeat on the first ultrasound makes everything real, campus whispers and mounting stress drive the two to clash and driftâuntil a tearful night apart leaves Dani showing up at your door, desperate to make things right.
Paring ::: G!P Daniela Avanzini Ă Fem!Reader (College AU)
Warning ::: emotional confrontation, strong language, family conflict (rough FaceTime with parents), mixed reactions from friends, anxiety, medical themes (ultrasound, doctor visits), stress, arguments/fighting between couple, crying, angst, mentions of gossip/whispers on campus, brief comfort and reconciliation.
A/n - Total! [ 7.7k words ] || Masterlist. Part 3 [ Lats part ]
The test was still in your desk drawer.
You couldnât throw it away, couldnât look at it, couldnât stop thinking about it. That tiny white stick, hidden under a pile of notebooks, felt like it pulsed in the silence of your dorm room. A secret that weighed heavier than anything youâd ever carried.
You hadnât slept much since that night in the bathroom. The tears had come and gone, leaving you wrung out and hollow. Sophia had stayed up with you until dawn, refusing to leave your side, and even now she watched you like a hawk.
But hiding wasnât working.
The following afternoon, all three of your friends sat you down in the lounge: Sophia, Yoonchae, and Manon. Theyâd formed a little semicircle around you on the couch, faces deadly serious.
It felt like an intervention.
âAlright,â Sophia said, crossing her arms. âWe canât ignore this. We need to talk about Daniela.â
Her name landed like a rock in your stomach.
You shifted uncomfortably, clutching the throw pillow against your chest. âThereâs nothing to talk about.â
âBullshit,â Sophia snapped. âSheâs the father. She deserves to know.â
Your throat tightened. âSheâs not theâshe doesnâtâitâs notââ
âShe is,â Yoonchae interrupted softly. Her calm voice was worse than Sophiaâs sharp one. âAnd you canât keep this from her.â
You buried your face in the pillow, muffling a groan. âI canât tell her. Sheâll freak out. Sheâll laugh in my face, orâor deny it, orââ
âOr,â Manon cut in, leaning forward, âsheâll step up. Maybe more than you think.â
You shot her a look. âYou donât know that.â
âNeither do you,â she said simply. âThatâs why you have to try.â
Your mind whirled with possibilities, each one worse than the last.
Daniela Avanzini. The cool kid. The one everyone noticed when she walked into a room. The one with a cocky smirk and a voice that slipped between Spanish and English like it was nothing. The one who had taken you to bed after a party, made you feel wanted, and then gone back to her life as though nothing had happened.
How could you tell her this?
How could you walk up to someone like Dani and say Hey, remember that night? Surpriseâyouâre gonna be a parent.
You hugged the pillow tighter, your chest aching. âSheâs going to hate me.â
âShe wonât,â Yoonchae said firmly.
âYou donât know that,â you whispered.
âI know you,â she replied. âAnd you wouldnât have ended up with someone whoâd abandon you like that.â
Her certainty cracked something in you.
For a long time, nobody spoke. The hum of the old lounge refrigerator filled the silence.
Finally, Sophia sighed and reached over, tugging the pillow out of your grip. âListen. You donât have to do it alone. Weâll be there if you want us to. But you have to do it.â
Manon nodded. âThe longer you wait, the harder itâs going to be.â
Your eyes stung, but you nodded numbly.
âOkay,â you whispered. âIâll tell her.â
The decision settled in your chest like a stone. Heavy, unmovable.
But at least it was decided.
Youâd tell her. Youâd tell Daniela Avanzini that the condom had broken, that you were pregnant, that everything had changed.
The thought made you sick.
Later that evening, Sophia found you sitting at your desk, staring at the wall.
âYou alright?â she asked gently.
She squeezed your shoulder. âYou donât have to be. Just⌠do it tomorrow. She has practice in the afternoon. Go then. Get it over with.â
Your stomach twisted, but you nodded.
Tomorrow you would shatter both your worlds.
That night you barely slept. Every time you closed your eyes, you saw Daniâs face: smirking at the party, leaning in close, whispering mami against your neck. Then the smirk twisting into disgust, into anger, into disappointment.
By morning, your nerves were frayed raw.
You dressed slowly, hands shaking as you pulled on a hoodie and jeans. Sophia, Yoonchae, and Manon watched you like you were heading into battle.
âText us the second itâs done,â Sophia said.
âDonât chicken out,â Manon added.
Yoonchae simply pressed a granola bar into your hand, her eyes kind. âYouâll be okay.â
You shoved it in your pocket, too nauseous to eat.
And then you left the dorm, each step carrying you closer to the practice field where Daniela would be.
Your heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the world.
The walk to the practice field felt endless.
Your sneakers crunched over gravel, the sun sharp and too warm on your face. Every step made your chest tighter, like your lungs were shrinking. You clutched the strap of your backpack like it might anchor you, but nothing stopped the swirl in your stomach.
From a distance, the sound of voices and laughter carried over. The team was already out on the field, tossing the ball around, music blasting faintly from someoneâs speaker.
She stood in the center of it all, hair pulled back, a loose t-shirt clinging to her from warm-up drills. She was laughing at something Lara said, leaning back with that easy, magnetic confidence that made people orbit her without even trying. Megan was sprawled on the grass nearby, cheering her on like always.
She looked untouchable. Effortless.
And you felt like you might throw up.
For a minute, you froze. Maybe you could turn back. Pretend youâd never come. Tell Sophia you tried but Dani was too busy.
But then Danielaâs eyes flicked up. Even from across the field, you felt itâthe way her gaze hooked onto you.
She tilted her head slightly, brows furrowing, like she couldnât quite place why you were here.
There was no backing out now.
You forced your legs to move, crossing the grass. Every step was heavy, your pulse loud in your ears. A couple of players glanced at you curiously, whispering, but you kept your eyes fixed on Dani.
When you finally reached the edge of the field, Lara noticed you first.
âWell, well,â she drawled, smirking. âDidnât think this was your scene.â
Heat rose in your cheeks. âIâI need to talk to Dani.â
Megan, sprawled on her elbows, raised a brow. âOoooh. Someoneâs serious.â
Daniela rolled her eyes at them before tossing the ball to another teammate. âGive me a sec.â
She jogged over, brushing sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. âHey,â she said casually, as if your whole body wasnât trembling. âDidnât expect to see you here, princesa.â
The nickname made your throat dry.
You shifted on your feet. âCan weâum. Talk? In private?â
Her brows rose. âPrivate, huh?â She glanced back at Lara and Megan, who were very obviously watching. âAlright. Lead the way.â
You walked toward the edge of the bleachers, Daniela following a step behind. The weight of her presence pressed against your backâher height, her confidence, her easy stride. It made you feel even smaller, like you might fold in on yourself.
When you reached the empty corner near the fence, you turned to face her.
Daniela leaned against the metal railing, arms crossed, still slightly out of breath from practice. Her eyes scanned your face, curious but not unkind.
âSo,â she said, tilting her head. âWhatâs up? You look like youâre about to faint.â
Your mouth opened, but no sound came out.
The words tangled in your throat, thick and heavy. Iâm pregnant. Youâre the father.
But instead you blurted, âThis is really hard.â
Her brows furrowed. âOkay⌠you wanna sit down or something?â
You shook your head quickly. âNo. I justâI need to tell you something. And itâs notâGod, itâs not easy.â
Daniela straightened, some of her playfulness fading. She studied you, her jaw tightening slightly. âAlright. Iâm listening.â
You fidgeted with the hem of your sleeve, heart racing. The words pressed against your lips, but your fear was louder: Sheâs going to hate me. Sheâs going to laugh. Sheâs going to walk away.
Her voice was firmer this time, pulling your gaze to hers. Those dark eyes that always seemed to see more than you wanted them to.
âJust say it,â she said softly.
You swallowed hard, trying to steady your voice.
Your throat felt like it was closing, but you forced the words out before you could swallow them back.
âDani⌠Iâm pregnant.â
The world seemed to freeze.
The faint sounds of practice in the distance blurred, the chatter of Lara and Megan dulled to static. All that existed was Daniela standing in front of you, her dark eyes wide, her breath catching sharp in her chest.
For a moment, she didnât move. Didnât blink.
Then, slowly, her arms dropped from her chest. âYouâre⌠what?â
You dug your nails into your palms, fighting the urge to run. âPregnant. I took a test. It was positive.â
Her mouth opened, closed, opened again. She looked like someone had just knocked the wind out of her.
âFuck,â she muttered finally, dragging a hand through her hair. âFuck, Iâthisâshit.â
âI didnât mean for this to happen,â she said quickly, voice sharp with panic. âI swear, Iâfuck, I thoughtââ
âThe condom broke,â you whispered, your voice cracking.
Her eyes snapped to yours. ââŚShit.â
Neither of you spoke for a long moment.
Daniela turned away, pacing a short step, then back again. She shook her head, muttering under her breath in Spanish. âJoder⌠¿quĂŠ coĂąo hago ahora?â (Fuck⌠what the hell do I do now?)
You wrapped your arms around yourself, tears burning your eyes. âI knew this was a mistake. I knew youâd freak outââ
âIâm notââ she cut herself off, grimacing. âOkay, yeah, Iâm freaking out, but who wouldnât? This isâthis is huge, Y/n.â
Her voice cracked a little on your name, and you hated how it made your chest ache.
She dragged her hands over her face, then tried for a weak laugh. âDamn, princesa, you couldnât just text me like a normal person?â
The attempt at humor landed like a stone between you.
You flinched, the tears finally spilling over.
Danielaâs face fell instantly.
âShit. No, no, heyââ She stepped closer, her voice softer now. âIâm sorry, I wasnâtâdonât cry, please.â
But you couldnât stop. The weeks of fear, of nausea, of denial, of holding it in, all of it crashed out of you in shuddering sobs.
âI didnât ask for this either,â you choked out. âI donât even know what Iâm supposed to do, Dani. My lifeâitâs over, everythingâs ruined, and youâre justâjustââ
Her hands hovered uncertainly before finally resting on your shoulders, warm and steady. âHey. Breathe. Please, justâbreathe.â
You tried, but the air came ragged.
âListen to me,â Daniela said firmly, her accent thicker now, slipping into Spanish between words. âNo voy a dejarte sola en esto. ÂżMe entiendes? I wonât leave you alone in this.â
Your tear-blurred eyes snapped up to hers.
She held your gaze, her own wide but steady, as if forcing herself to believe the words as much as you. âI donât know what the hell weâre supposed to do. I donât. But Iâm not walking away. I promise you that.â
Your sobs softened, though your chest still ached. âYou donât mean that.â
âI do,â she said quickly, her grip tightening slightly on your shoulders. âMierda, Y/n, Iâd be a total asshole if I didnât. And Iâm a lot of things, but Iâm not that.â
You searched her face desperately, looking for cracks, for insincerity. But all you found was a girl just as terrified as you were, trying to hold it together.
And for the first time since youâd seen that word flash on the test, you felt the faintest spark of relief.
The silence stretched between you, fragile but real. Daniela finally let out a shaky laugh, running a hand over her face again. âMadre de Dios⌠we really fucked up, huh?â
Despite yourself, a weak laugh escaped your throat. âYeah. We did.â
But when she pulled you into a hesitant, almost awkward hug, you clung to her like it was the only thing holding you upright.
And maybe, for now, it was.
Youâd been dreading this more than telling Daniela.
Maybe because deep down, youâd expected Dani to react exactly how she did: freaked out, panicked, but still promising not to abandon you. With your parents? There were no guarantees.
They had plans for you. Expectations. A vision of your life that definitely didnât include getting pregnant in college.
Still, it couldnât wait forever. Secrets had a way of finding cracks.
Sophia was the one who pushed.
âYou canât hide this from them,â she said firmly, her arms crossed as she leaned against your desk. âThe longer you wait, the worse itâll be.â
âI know,â you muttered, fiddling with your phone.
Your throat tightened. âPlease.â
She nodded once, practical as always. âThen letâs do it.â
You sat cross-legged on your bed, laptop open, FaceTime pulled up. Sophia sat right beside you, her knee pressed against yours, silent support radiating off her.
The dial tone felt like a drumbeat in your chest.
When your momâs face finally appeared, smiling faintly through the screen, your stomach dropped.
âSweetheart! What a nice surprise.â She adjusted the camera, your dadâs voice calling faintly in the background. âHold onâDavid! Come here, itâs Y/n.â
Your father appeared a moment later, settling next to her with that familiar furrow between his brows. âHey, kiddo. Everything alright?â
That question almost broke you.
You forced a smile, though your hands shook in your lap. âYeah. I just⌠need to talk to you about something. Something important.â
Your momâs smile faltered. âYou sound serious.â
Sophiaâs hand found yours under the blanket, squeezing tight.
You took a shaky breath. âIâm pregnant.â
The silence on the call was deafening.
Your mom blinked rapidly, as if she hadnât heard you correctly. âYou⌠what?â
âPregnant,â you whispered.
Your fatherâs face hardened. âWith who?â
You swallowed. âHer nameâs Daniela. Weâuhâwe hooked up at a party, and the condom broke, and I didnât even realize until weeks later, andââ
âJesus Christ,â your dad muttered, rubbing a hand over his face.
Your momâs voice cracked. âY/n, do you have any idea what this means? Youâre still in school. You donât have a job. How are you supposed toââ
âI know,â you burst out, tears stinging your eyes. âI know Iâm not ready. I didnât plan this. But it happened.â
Your mom shook her head, tears brimming. âI just⌠I wanted so much more for you.â
The words sliced you open.
Your dad leaned forward, his voice sharp. âAnd what about this Daniela? Is she even around? Is she stepping up?â
You hesitated. âShe⌠she said she wonât leave me alone in this.â
âThatâs not the same as being responsible,â he snapped.
âDavid,â your mom murmured, but her voice was faint.
Your father pressed on. âDo you even know what youâre doing? What this is going to do to your future?â
The tears spilled over then, hot and fast. âNo! I donât know what Iâm doing! Iâm scared out of my mind, okay? But itâs happening.â
Sophia rubbed your back firmly, glaring at the screen like she wanted to step through and fight them herself.
Your mom finally spoke again, softer this time. âWe need some time to⌠process this. To figure out how we can help. But Y/n⌠you have to understand, this changes everything.â
âI know,â you whispered, voice broken.
Your dad sighed, leaning back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. âWeâll talk more soon. Just⌠donât do anything without telling us first.â
The call ended not long after.
You sat there staring at the blank screen, tears dripping onto your lap.
âI ruined everything,â you choked out.
âNo,â Sophia said firmly, pulling you into her side. âYou didnât ruin anything. This is just⌠hard. Theyâll come around.â
âI could hear it in their voices,â you sobbed. âTheyâre disappointed in me. I could see it.â
âOf course theyâre shocked. But youâre still you. Youâre still their daughter. Theyâll love you through it.â
You buried your face into Sophiaâs shoulder, letting the sobs tear out of you until you couldnât breathe.
And through it all, she held you tight, whispering, âYouâre not alone. Youâve got us. Always.â
By the time the tears slowed, Yoonchae and Manon had slipped quietly into the room, settling on the bed with you without asking.
No words. Just presence. A reminder that no matter how badly the call had gone, you had your people here.
You sat curled in the middle of your bed, laptop closed, eyes swollen from crying. Sophia hadnât moved from her spot beside you, still rubbing slow circles on your back.
Yoonchae and Manon lingered at the foot of the bed, watching carefully, like you were a glass vase balanced on a ledge.
The silence stretched until finally Manon broke it.
âSo⌠your parents kinda freaked, huh?â
You groaned, shoving your face into your pillow. âDonât remind me.â
âTheyâll come around,â Sophia said immediately, her tone decisive. âThey just need time to adjust. Honestly, you dropped a bomb on them. No one reacts well to that.â
You lifted your head, eyes blurry. âYou sound like youâve done this before.â
Sophia smirked faintly. âIâm just good at reading people. Trust me, Y/n, this isnât the end of the world. Youâve got options, and whatever you choose, youâve got us.â
Yoonchae leaned forward, her voice calm and measured, the way it always was when things felt like they were spinning out of control.
âOkay. Letâs slow down and think practically. Youâre whatâsix, maybe seven weeks along?â
You nodded hesitantly. âSomething like that.â
âThen youâve got time to figure things out. Next step is getting a doctorâs appointment, just to confirm and see where youâre at. After that, we start planning.â
âPlanning what?â you asked weakly.
âEverything,â Sophia said without missing a beat. âClasses, finances, housingâhell, even babysitting schedules if it comes to that.â
Your chest tightened. âThat makes it sound so real.â
âIt is real,â Sophia said gently, softening her tone for the first time that night. âBut real doesnât have to mean impossible.â
Manon suddenly flopped backward on your bed, staring at the ceiling. âI call godmother.â
You blinked at her. ââŚWhat?â
âGodmother,â she repeated, sitting up with mock seriousness. âSomeoneâs gotta teach this kid how to French swear before kindergarten, and who better than me?â
A weak laugh bubbled out of you despite yourself. âManonâŚâ
âWhat? Iâm serious. Picture it: Manon Jr. running around campus, yelling merde at everyone. Iconic.â
Sophia rolled her eyes. âWe are not naming the baby after you.â
Manon smirked. âFine. Then I vote for⌠Jellybean. That can be the nickname until itâs born.â
âJellybean?â you echoed, incredulous.
âYeah! Cute, tiny, colorfulâlike you.â She winked.
You covered your face with your hands, but this time it was laughter spilling out, not tears.
Yoonchae smiled softly. âI like it. Jellybean.â
âSee?â Manon said, triumphant. âIâm a genius.â
Sophia huffed, but there was affection in her eyes. âYouâre an idiot. But⌠fine. Jellybean works for now.â
The warmth in your chest surprised you. For the first time since that positive test, you didnât feel crushed under the weight of it. You felt⌠supported.
Manon nudged your knee. âSo? Jellybeanâs first godmother says weâre doing this together. No excuses.â
Sophia added, âYou focus on staying healthy. Weâll handle everything else.â
And Yoonchae, calm and steady as always, finished it off: âYouâre not carrying this alone, Y/n. Weâve got you.â
You looked around at the three of them, your messy, ridiculous, loyal friends, and felt something like hope stir inside you.
Maybe you werenât as alone as you thought.
Daniela sat slouched on the old couch in her and Laraâs apartment, a basketball balanced on her knees. Megan sat sprawled on the floor with her laptop open, typing lazily, while Lara leaned against the kitchen counter sipping iced coffee.
It was supposed to be a normal night. Music playing softly from Laraâs speaker, Megan complaining about a paper, Dani pretending not to think too hard about the conversation she knew she had to have.
Her leg bounced restlessly.
Finally, Lara arched a brow. âYouâre twitchier than usual. Spill.â
Dani exhaled hard, dragging her hand over her face. âI gotta tell you guys something.â
Megan didnât look up. âThis better not be about another girl. We already know youâre a flirt.â
Daniâs laugh came out sharp, humorless. âNot like this.â
That made both of them look at her properly.
She swallowed, words thick in her throat. âY/nâs pregnant.â
Meganâs jaw dropped. âYouâre joking.â
âDo I look like Iâm joking?â Dani snapped, tossing the ball aside.
Lara blinked, her coffee halfway to her lips. âHoly shit.â
âYeah.â Dani leaned back, staring at the ceiling like maybe it would swallow her whole. âWe hooked up after that party a while back. Condom mustâve broke. She told me a couple days ago.â
Megan slammed her laptop shut. âDaniela, what the actual fuck? Youâre in college. Youâre not ready for this.â
Her chest tightened. âYou think I donât know that?â
âThen whatâwhat are you gonna do?â Megan demanded.
Daniâs jaw clenched. âWhat do you mean, what am I gonna do? Sheâs pregnant. Iâm not just walking away.â
Lara finally set her coffee down, her tone softer than Meganâs but still edged with disbelief. âDani⌠this is huge. Likeâlife-altering. Are you sure youâre ready to step up?â
âNo,â Dani admitted, voice low. âIâm not sure of anything. Iâm scared shitless.â She scrubbed her hands over her face. âBut I promised her I wouldnât leave. And I meant it.â
Megan shook her head, frustration clear. âYouâve got your whole future ahead of youâbasketball, maybe grad school. A baby? Thatâll change everything.â
âMaybe it will,â Dani shot back, heat in her voice. âBut what am I supposed to do? Pretend itâs not my problem? Thatâs not me. Thats not the type of person.. plus she canât be a single mom like that..â
The room went quiet again.
Lara crossed the room, resting a hand briefly on Daniâs shoulder. âIf youâre serious about this⌠then weâll figure it out together. Okay?â
Daniâs throat tightened. âThanks.â
Megan sighed, rubbing her temples. âI still think this is insane. But⌠fine. If youâre in, Iâll back you up. Just donât come crying to me when youâre drowning in diapers.â
Dani let out a shaky laugh, more relief than humor. âYeah. Deal.â
But when she lay awake later that night, staring at the ceiling in the dark, fear clawed at her chest.
Because Megan was right. She wasnât ready. Not even close.
But she was in it now. And for youâfor the tiny life neither of you had plannedâshe wasnât going anywhere.
The night before your appointment, you barely slept.
You lay in bed staring at the ceiling, one hand pressed lightly against your stomach as if you could already feel something there. All you felt was nausea, and maybe the faintest swell of dread.
Tomorrow, it would be real. Tomorrow, there would be proof.
âDonât even think about backing out,â Sophia said the next morning, standing over you with her arms crossed while you sat on the edge of your bed, tugging nervously at the hem of your sweater.
âI wasnât,â you lied.
Her brow arched. âYou were.â
From the bathroom, Yoonchaeâs calm voice floated out. âWeâll all go with you. Itâll be fine.â
âAnd fun!â Manon chimed in, appearing from behind Yoonchae with a granola bar in her mouth. She offered you another one like it was some kind of sacred offering. âYou gotta eat, mama.â
You groaned, burying your face in your hands. âDonât call me that.â
âWhy not? Youâre literally going to be one.â
Sophia swatted the granola bar out of Manonâs hand. âSheâs anxious enough, donât add to it.â
Manon pouted dramatically, retrieving her snack from the floor. âFine. But when Jellybean asks who supported them from the start, Iâm telling the truth.â
Despite yourself, a shaky laugh escaped you.
The walk to the clinic was brisk, fall leaves crunching underfoot. Sophia kept checking her phone for directions, Yoonchae carried the folder of paperwork youâd been avoiding, and Manon skipped a step ahead, narrating the whole journey like some kind of tour guide.
âAnd on your left, youâll see the anxious mother-to-be, flanked by her loyal knights.â
âManon,â Sophia warned.
âWhat? Humor helps with stress.â
You shook your head, smiling faintly despite the pit in your stomach.
The clinic itself was quiet, white walls and faintly antiseptic air. A receptionist checked you in, sliding a clipboard across the counter.
âFill this out, hon.â
Your hands trembled as you held the pen, the questions swimming in front of your eyes: Last period, medical history, emergency contact.
Sophia slid into the chair beside you, glancing over the form. âHere. Iâll help.â
She read each line, guiding you through like she was reading a test aloud. Yoonchae rubbed your shoulder every time you froze, and Manon hummed softly, drumming her fingers against the arm of her chair like you were all just waiting for a concert to start.
The waiting room was small, filled with muted chatter and the rustle of magazines. A couple sat across from you, the womanâs belly noticeably round, her partnerâs hand resting protectively on her knee. Another girl about your age scrolled through her phone, earbuds in.
You felt out of place. Too young, too unprepared.
âI donât belong here,â you whispered.
âYes, you do,â Yoonchae said immediately, her voice steady.
âOf course you do,â Sophia added. âYouâre here because you need answers. Thatâs exactly what this place is for.â
Manon leaned over, whispering conspiratorially, âBesides, weâre the hottest crew in the waiting room. Jellybeanâs already got a fan club.â
You burst out laughing, earning a few curious looks. The sound felt strange in your chest â lighter than the fear coiled tight inside you.
Minutes stretched. The clock ticked. Every time a nurse appeared with a clipboard, your heart leapt into your throat.
Finally, a name rang out. Yours.
Sophia nudged you to your feet. âCome on.â
Yoonchae smiled gently. âWeâll be right outside if they donât let us in.â
âOr storm the exam room if they try,â Manon added.
You rolled your eyes, but the warmth of their words steadied you as you followed the nurse down the hall.
The exam room was colder than you expected, the hum of fluorescent lights buzzing faintly overhead. The nurse handed you a folded gown and gestured toward the exam table.
âChange into this, hon. Doctor will be in soon.â
You nodded mutely, hands trembling as you unfolded the thin fabric.
By the time you climbed onto the table, heart hammering in your chest, you were fighting back tears again.
What if somethingâs wrong? What if thereâs nothing there? What if this is all a mistake?
You jolted â but it wasnât the doctor.
She stood in the doorway, hair mussed like sheâd sprinted here, her backpack slung over one shoulder. Her eyes scanned the room, landing on you in the gown.
âShitâlo siento, Iâm late,â she muttered, shutting the door behind her. âCoach held me after practice. But Iâm here. Iâm not missing this.â
Relief crashed over you so sudden it almost hurt. âYou came.â
âOf course I came,â she said, stepping closer. âI said Iâd be here, didnât I?â
The doctor entered then, introducing herself with a calm smile.
âFirst ultrasound, huh? Always a big moment.â
You lay back as the nurse rolled the machine closer, squeezing gel onto the wand. The cold hit your skin like ice, and you flinched.
Dani immediately reached for your hand. âCold, huh?â
You shot her a watery glare. âUnderstatement.â
The nurse smirked faintly but kept working, sliding the probe across your stomach. The monitor flickered, static at first, then shapes beginning to form.
âThere we go,â the doctor said softly, pointing at the screen. âSee that?â
You squinted, tears blurring your vision. A tiny flicker pulsed on the grainy image.
Your heart stopped. âIs⌠is thatâŚ?â
âThe heartbeat,â the doctor confirmed. âStrong and steady.â
The room fell silent except for the faint, rapid thump-thump-thump filling the air.
Your own breath came out shaky. That sound. That tiny, insistent rhythm. It was real.
âOh my God,â you whispered.
Daniâs grip on your hand tightened. You glanced at her and saw her wide, stunned eyes fixed on the screen.
âMadre de DiosâŚâ she breathed, barely audible. âThatâs ours.â
Tears welled hot in your eyes. You laughed, shaky and wet. âItâs real. IâI didnât just make it up.â
âOf course you didnât,â Dani said softly, though her own voice trembled.
You turned back to the screen, watching the flicker that was somehow a heartbeat, somehow a life.
The doctor clicked a few images, saving them to print later, her voice calm and clinical against the roar of emotion in your chest. âEverything looks healthy for this stage. Congratulations.â
When the probe was removed and the gel wiped away, you sank back against the table, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand.
Dani didnât let go of you until the doctor stepped out.
The moment the door clicked shut, she exhaled hard, dragging her free hand through her hair. âHoly shit.â
You laughed weakly. âYeah.â
Her eyes flicked back to the machine, then to you. âI didnât think⌠I mean, I knew it was real, butâhearing it? Seeing it? That wasââ
âTerrifying?â you offered.
âAnd amazing,â she admitted, her voice soft, almost reverent.
For a fleeting second, sitting there with her hand still holding yours, you didnât feel so scared.
You felt like maybeâjust maybeâyou werenât carrying this alone.
The clinicâs door closed behind you, shutting out the sterile hum of fluorescent lights and the faint antiseptic smell.
Outside, the late afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows across the pavement. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fallen leaves and exhaust from passing cars.
You clutched your bag tighter, and Dani matched your pace, hand brushing yours from time to time â tentative, almost protective.
Neither of you spoke for several minutes, the silence comfortable in its own strange way.
Finally, Dani cleared her throat. âI didnât think Iâd⌠I donât know. I thought Iâd freak out, but⌠seeing it? Hearing it? Itâsââ She trailed off, shaking her head.
You glanced at her, heart twisting. âReal?â
Her lips twitched into a small, lopsided smile. âYeah. Real.â
You walked past a small park, the crunch of leaves underfoot loud against the soft chatter of students around you.
âIâm scared,â Dani admitted suddenly, voice low, almost vulnerable. âI donât know what Iâm doing. Iâve never⌠done anything like this. Not ever. And nowâŚâ She exhaled sharply, shoulders tensing. âNow thereâs a baby depending on us.â
Your chest tightened. âI know. Iâm terrified too.â
âI mean it. I feel like I should be ready to step up, but Iâm not. Not at all.â
You squeezed her hand gently. âDoesnât mean you canât be.â
She looked at you, eyes wide, searching. âWhat if I mess it up?â
You smiled weakly, letting some of your fear show in your own voice. âThen weâll mess up together. At least weâre honest about it.â
A gust of wind rustled through the trees, lifting strands of Daniâs hair across her face. She swatted them away, laughing softly. âI donât even know if I can do this. But⌠somehow, it feels kinda right. Weird, huh?â
You laughed quietly, shaking your head. âNot weird. Feels human. Scary, but⌠right.â
Her eyes softened, lingering on yours. âI mean it, Y/n. Iâm terrified. But⌠Iâm here. Iâm not leaving you alone.â
The sincerity in her tone, the way she reached for your hand and held it, made your chest ache with relief.
âMe neither,â you whispered.
You continued walking in silence for a few more minutes, the world around you muted. Just the two of you, tethered by shared fear and newfound responsibility, moving forward together.
Finally, Dani glanced down at your stomach, where the faintest swell had begun to show. Her hand hovered an inch above it, trembling slightly.
âItâs crazy,â she murmured. âWe made this. We did this. And now⌠itâs real.â
You nodded, a lump in your throat. âYeah. Itâs real.â
And somehow, that tiny heartbeat on the screen earlier â that pulse that had made everything undeniable â felt like a promise.
A promise that maybe, just maybe, you wouldnât be facing this alone.
Dani squeezed your hand one last time as you approached campus again. âWeâll figure it out,â she said quietly. âOne step at a time.â
You nodded, letting yourself believe it â not completely, not yet, but enough to keep walking.
Because today, youâd seen the proof. The baby was real. And so was Dani.
And for now, that had to be enough.
The sun rose pale over campus, but its light didnât feel warm. It fell across brick pathways and manicured lawns, but instead of comfort, it made the whispers louder in your head.
Every step to class felt like it was being noticed. Not just noticedâexamined. Judged. Pregnant girl with the popular teammate.
You tried to keep your hoodie pulled low, your backpack covering your stomach, but the movement was useless. Everyone seemed to know already. Some whispered as you passed. Some stared. Some gave awkward smiles, like they didnât know whether to say congratulations or tut-tut in disapproval.
Your stomach churnedânot just from nausea, but from the weight of attention.
Sophia walked beside you, her hands stuffed in her jacket pockets, quiet but alert. âIgnore it,â she murmured. âMost of these people wonât even remember by tomorrow.â
âYou say that,â you muttered, tugging the hoodie lower, âbut half the campus knows already.â
She didnât reply immediately. You could feel her scanning the crowds, her protective energy bracing for you.
âYouâre doing fine,â she said finally, her voice soft. âReally. Just⌠keep your head down.â
Manon bounced alongside you, trying to lighten the mood. âHey, at least youâre famous now! Jellybeanâs got paparazzi following them to class.â
You groaned. âI donât feel famous. I feel like a target.â
By the time you reached your first lecture, the whispers didnât fade. The professor noticed your slower steps, your frequent pauses to catch your breath, your careful way of sitting to avoid discomfort.
âAre you feeling okay, Y/n?â the professor asked, genuine concern in her voice.
You nodded, forcing a smile. âYes, thank you.â
As the lecture went on, fatigue hit harder. Your concentration wavered. Words blurred on the slides. Your stomach rolled as nausea pressed up, but you clenched your fists under the desk, refusing to call attention to yourself.
Beside you, your friendsâSophia, Yoonchae, and Manonâexchanged small glances. You didnât need to speak; they understood.
People didnât stop staring in the cafeteria. Even the staffâs casual glances felt like judgment. You took a seat at your usual spot, the one farthest from the windows. Your friends clustered around you, shielding you as best they could.
âYou okay?â Yoonchae asked, sliding a bottle of water toward you.
âI will be,â you murmured. The lie tasted bitter in your mouth.
Manon reached across the table, squeezing your hand. âYouâve got this. Just one day at a time. And hey, if anyone whispersââ She paused dramatically. âWe glare. And then we glare some more
A small laugh escaped you despite the heaviness. At least they were trying. At least someone was on your side.
Later that afternoon, Dani showed up for practiceâbut she looked tense. Her usual confident swagger was missing.
âHey,â you called quietly as you passed her on the field.
âHey,â she said, voice tight. Her eyes flicked over you quickly, then away.
You felt the familiar pull of worry. She seemed distant, distracted. And in that moment, you realized it wasnât just the whispers and attention that were weighing you down. Dani was feeling it too.
Assignments piled up, deadlines pressed closer, and you couldnât focus. Even your laptop felt heavy on your lap. Every time your stomach growledâor gurgledâyou felt exposed. Every time you saw Dani across campus, laughing with friends or tossing a ball, you felt a little sting of isolation.
You wanted to tell her everything: the exhaustion, the anxiety, the way the whispers made you shrink inside yourself. But every time you tried, she seemed busy, distracted, or unavailable.
So you bottled it. You smiled. You trudged through, carrying the weight of the semester and the growing reality inside you.
By the evening, the tension had built until it was a tight knot in your chest.
When you saw Dani for dinner later, sheâd missed your prenatal class.
Your stomach sank. âYou missed it?â you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.
âI had practice,â she said quickly, shrugging. âCoach wouldnât let me leave early. I tried toââ
âTry?!â The words burst out before you could stop them. âYou knew it was important! You knew we needed to go together!â
Daniâs face hardened. âI have classes, too! And practice! Iâm doing the best I can, okay?â
âI canât believe you sometimes,â you said, voice trembling. âI feel like youâre not taking this seriously.â
Her eyes flashed. âNot taking it seriously? I never planned this either, Y/n! Do you think I wanted any of this? Do you think I asked to be here?â
You swallowed back a sob, spun on your heel, and stormed out of the cafeteria before she could respond.
By the time you reached your dorm, tears streamed down your face. You barely made it to Sophiaâs door before collapsing into her arms.
âHey,â she murmured, guiding you into her bed. âShh⌠itâs okay. Youâre okay.â
You curled against her, letting the sobs come freely. Manon and Yoonchae joined you, a fortress of warmth and comfort.
âI canât do this,â you cried, voice raw. âEverythingâs falling apart. Dani⌠she⌠sheâs scared, Iâm scared, Iââ
âYouâre not alone,â Sophia whispered firmly. âWeâve got you. All of us. One step at a time.â
Manon rubbed your back, murmuring, âYeah, Jellybean. Weâre not going anywhere.â
Yoonchae held your hand, calm and steady. âTomorrowâs a new day. Weâll figure it out together.â
But even as they comforted you, the ache in your chest didnât fully fade. You knew things werenât fixed. Dani and you were still out there, still tangled in fear and pressure, and you werenât sure if the distance between you was just exhaustion⌠or something more.
As the night stretched on, you finally drifted into restless sleep, wrapped in your friendsâ arms, holding on to whatever sense of safety they could give you.
And somewhere in the dark, Daniâs absence pressed against the door like a question that demanded an answer.
The morning sun filtered weakly through the dorm window, but it did little to lift the heaviness in your chest.
You were still curled beneath Sophiaâs blankets, hair tangled, eyes puffy from crying the night before. Manon had left hours ago to âacquire emergency snacks,â and Yoonchae sat quietly in the chair beside the bed, her calm presence anchoring you.
A sharp knock at the door made you flinch.
âY/n?â Daniâs voice, tentative, called from outside.
Your stomach twisted. You werenât sure if you were ready to see her yet. The anger from yesterday still burned hot beneath the surface.
âIâm not up,â you muttered, voice tight.
âPlease⌠just a minute,â she pleaded. âI want toâcan we talk?â
Sophia gave you a small nod. âItâs okay. Youâll feel better facing it.â
You drew a shaky breath, pulling the blanket around your shoulders, and opened the door.
Dani stood there, messy hair pulled into a hurried ponytail, eyes wide and guilt-ridden. Her usual confidence was missing, replaced by tension and something fragile you hadnât seen before.
âIâm sorry,â she said immediately. âI didnât mean to⌠yesterday. I justââ
âJust what?â you demanded, stepping aside to let her in. âJust skip the prenatal class? Just act like this isnât serious?â
âI said Iâm sorry!â Dani snapped, the frustration breaking through her usually calm exterior. âDo you think I wanted any of this? That I planned it? I didnât!â
The words hit harder than you expected. You felt the sting of tears return. âI know you didnât plan it, Dani. But weâre responsible now. We have to be serious about thisâtogether.â
âI am being serious!â she shot back. âIâm showing up now, arenât I? I didnât walk away. Iâm here, trying to do the right thing!â
You shook your head, voice cracking. âIt doesnât feel like it. It feels like Iâm carrying everything alone, and youâre⌠just floating through your own panic, pretending itâs fine.â
âIâm scared too!â she yelled, finally letting herself admit it. âIâve never done this before! I donât know what Iâm doing! And sometimes it feels like itâs too much, and I justââ
Her words faltered. For the first time, you saw her vulnerability without the confident mask. The bravado that usually filled every room had cracked, and underneath, she was just as terrified as you were.
The room fell silent, both of you breathing hard, chest heaving, emotions raw.
You sank onto Sophiaâs bed again, burying your face in your hands. âI canâtâGod, I just canât do this sometimes,â you whispered, sobbing.
Dani sank beside you, hesitating before letting her hands rest on your shoulders. âI know,â she said softly. âI donât mean to make it worse. I just⌠Iâm scared too.â
You didnât reply. The tears kept coming, spilling over into the bedspread, muffling your quiet cries.
Sophia and Yoonchae didnât say much, just stayed nearby. Manon appeared with a cup of water and a small snack, placing them gently on the nightstand. âFor Jellybean,â she said softly. âAnd their very stressed mama.â
You laughed weakly through your tears, and Dani finally reached for your hand, squeezing it gently.
âI donât want to fight,â she murmured, voice low and fragile. âI just⌠I donât know how to do any of this, Y/n. But Iâm not leaving you.â
You blinked through your tears. âI know. I donât want to fight either. I just⌠I need you to be here. Really here.â
She nodded, leaning her forehead against yours. âI am. Iâll figure it out. I promise. I donât know exactly how yet, but Iâm not going anywhere.â
For a long moment, neither of you spoke. The tension didnât fully disappear, but the acknowledgment of fear, the admission of vulnerability, made it feel⌠lighter.
But even as you finally sank into a shaky, exhausted quiet, you knew this was just the beginning. College, whispers, fear, and responsibility still loomed large. You werenât past the stormâyou were in the eye, and the wind would start up again soon.
Yet, for tonight, Dani was there. And for the first time in days, you let yourself breathe.
The night passed in a haze of exhaustion and restless sleep.
You curled beneath Sophiaâs blankets, the soft weight of her presence beside you a small comfort. Yoonchae dozed in the chair, her steady breathing a calm anchor, while Manon had claimed a corner of the bed with a pile of pillows, muttering occasional reassurances in her sleep.
You werenât sure you slept at all. Every time your eyes closed, the argument with Dani replayed: the sharp words, the snap of frustration, the way her eyes had reflected fear you had never seen before.
Somewhere in the night, you must have drifted, because the next thing you knew, it was early morning, pale light filtering through the dorm curtains.
A soft knock at the door broke the silence.
You froze, heart hammering. Dani? This early? After last night?
âY/n?â Her voice, low and hesitant, called from the other side.
Your chest tightened. You didnât know whether to answer or pretend to be asleep. But after a moment, you forced yourself to your feet, tugging the blanket around you like armor.
âDani?â you whispered, voice shaky.
âIâcan I come in?â she asked quietly.
You hesitated, but the sound of her vulnerability made your walls falter. Slowly, you moved aside. âYeah⌠come in.â
The door opened, and there she was. No confident stride, no teasing smile. Just Dani, looking unsteady, eyes wide and searching. Her hair was messy, clothes rumpled from sleep or perhaps a sleepless night of her own.
For the first time in weeks, she seemed small. Fragile. Scared.
She stepped inside, her gaze flicking around the room, finally landing on you. âI⌠I didnât know how else to say it. I justââ
âYou donât have to explain yet,â you said softly.
She swallowed, taking a tentative step closer. âIâm here. Iâm not leaving.â
The words echoed in your chest. Youâd heard them before, but somehow, spoken this wayâquiet, unguardedâthey carried weight you hadnât felt last night.
You let yourself relax fractionally, still wary, still raw from yesterday. But you nodded, letting the tension ease just a little.
Dani sank onto the floor across from your bed, head bowed, hands clasped together. âIâm scared too, Y/n. I really am. But Iâm not going anywhere. Not for Jellybean, not for you⌠not for anything.â
You watched her, taking in the uncharacteristic vulnerability. The girl who always seemed unshakable had folded herself down into uncertaintyâand yet, she had come.
You exhaled slowly, sinking onto the bed beside Sophiaâs empty space, letting the tears that had been threatening spill over again, but this time mixed with relief.
For a long moment, neither of you spoke. Only the faint morning light, the soft creak of the dorm floor, and the steady beat of your own heart.
You reached out, your hand brushing hers. She met your gaze, a small, tentative smile forming.
âWeâll figure it out,â she murmured.
You nodded, voice barely audible: âYeah⌠weâll figure it out.â
And for the first time in days, the storm outsideâthe whispers, the pressure, the exhaustionâfelt like it might be something you could survive.
But the storm wasnât gone. Not yet.
This was just the beginning.
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