" I'm never gonna see you again am I, Kevin?" Kevin leaned down and kissed her, silencing her, " Don't say that Kindra, you know I'll be back."

" That's what the last one said. And look where I am now."

" I tell you what. While I am away, see other people....have fun, go to parties. But remember me. And remember this place. The place of our last date. We'll meet here again in a year. If you trust me....you'll be here, in one year."

Kindra looked sadly into his eyes. She knew that he couldn't be telling the truth. She knew deep down in her heart, that no one could love someone that much. But she agreed just so she wouldn't start a quarrel.

She nodded.

" Good, I have to go, sweets. Trust me and in one year, meet me here."

Kindra fell to her knees as she watched Kevin disappear onto the tour bus. Almost as though her entire world, was just lost forever.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a receipt from the mall that her and Kevin had visited that day. She pulled a pin from her purse and jotted down the date.....

As she pulled the lid open she jumped up and took the pair of jeans from their place under the green and red tissue paper.

" OH STEPH!! They're gorgeous!" Kindra ran from her spot and threw her arms around Stephanie's neck. " Kindra, it's not a diamond necklace ok?"

" Well, I've been wearing the same pair of jeans all Winter...and I finally get some more!! Thank you! And they're the baggy kind! I love them! Open yours."

Kindra walked back to her spot folding the new pair of jeans, and carefully placed them back into the box of tissue paper.

" What is this?" Stephanie asked shaking the box in her hand.

" Open it and see."

Stephanie began to slowly tear the wrapping paper.

" Oh Steph, you're starting to act like my mom. Hurry up!"

Stephanie laughed and then tore the paper off in one motion. Stephanie stared in amazement.

" This isn't from you."

" Of course it is."

" This is the same bracelet I wanted that was like.....A THOUSAND DOLLARS!! "

Kindra smiled and sat next to her friend nudging her lightly, " Well, what do you think friends are for?"

Stephanie smiled and bit her bottom lip, carefully removing the diamond bracelet from it's box.

" Kindra, there's one more thing."

" What do you mean?"

" I have to tell you something."

" Well.."

Stephanie sat absolutely still, staring at Kindra who was picking up wrapping paper.

Kindra picked up the tiny scraps of paper and was becoming irritated when Stephanie wouldn't say anything.

" Steph??"

" Kindra, I'm pregnant."

Kindra dropped the large, black garbage bag she had been holding, and didn't even flinch as a glass bottle broke in the bottom of it.

" Your what?"

" Pregnant."

She raised her hand to her forehead and let out a deep breath. She ran her fingers through her hair and knelt slowly down to her knees.

" By who? I mean, no offense...there has been quite a few."

" It was by Joseph. I've been seeing him for about a month."

" A MONTH??? GOOD LORD! What are you some kind of whore??"

Kindra shut her mouth. It was Christmas day, and here she should have been happy about the news. But she cussed her out and called her a whore instead. What kind of a friend was she anyway??

Kindra looked up at Stephanie. Stephanie got up and started picking things up.

" I guess I deserved that. I mean, who else would sleep with so many people and then just get together with this one guy and sleep with him not even a month after they had been together? Me right?"

Kindra got up and started to take a glass out of Stephanies hand. She was starting to get emotional.

Stephanie suddenly turned around and threw the glass at the wall. Kindra was scared. She had no idea what was going on. She watched as her friend kept throwing things and after one hit the wall and shattered she'd pick up something else and throw it. Finally it was all over and Kindra came up from her knealt possition.

Stephanie was crying. Her head was rested on her hands and the tears streamed down her face.

Kindra picked up the phone, " I'm calling Joseph"

Stephanie's head shot up and she crawled quickly to Kindra, " NO! You can't," her hand slammed down on the hang up button.

" Steph, something is wrong with you and I think Joseph should know about it."

" Joseph doesn't know I am pregnant. I think it's better that I keep it that way a little longer."

" Listen, " Kindra set the phone back down, " Why don't you try on the shirt I gave you and I'll pick this stuff up."

" Alright."

Kindra stood up, grabbed the bag that she had dropped and began picking up the small scraps of paper once again.

She glanced around the room to see if she had gotten all the paper, when something caught her eye. A distinct mark on Stephanie's back.

" My god Steph, what the heck happened to you?"

" Oh, I fell down the cement stairs at Joseph's. Simple mistake."

" That's really bad. You should have it looked at."

Stephanie glanced in the mirror at her bare back, then at the black and blue bruise just below her shoulder.

Kindra watched Stephanie's expressions as she got dressed. She thought for a moment that she saw a bit of shame, betrayal and confusion in Stephanie's eyes. That's when Kindra knew....."Stephanie never told me about Joseph....why? She's told me about every boyfriend."

" Hey, I'm gonna go get some rest. Come and wake me up whenever your family gets here?"

" Alright Steph. You gonna be ok?"

" Yeah, come on Kindra, I mean it's not like I was raped or something........"

Chapter 2