"Who?" Alex demands, but he's interrupted by a knock on the door.

I open it to find William on the other side. "Your timing is perfect."

He winces when he sees my face. "It looks even worse in person. What the hell happened?"

"This," I say, circling my face with a finger, "happened when I was assaulted last night."

"Assaulted? By who?" William asks in alarm.

"Me, apparently!!" Alex rages, raising his arms up in the air as he paces the apartment. "Or at least that's the rumor flying about the campus, isn't it?"

William looks away. "It's what I've heard," he acknowledges. "I freaked out when you guys didn't show up today. I thought maybe something bad happened to the baby. I tried to track down Olivia, but she wasn't in either, and then I feared something terrible took place last night."

"I called Cat and tried to leave a message, but then Liam gets a hold of me..."

"Liam?!" I say, panicked.

"Yeah, he wanted to know where you were and what I knew? I told him I didn't know where you were and that I had heard nothing, but that's when he informed me you and Alex got into a fight last night when you found out about him stripping at some Ladies' Club. I told him there was no way that was true, and then he showed me pics of Alex pole dancing on stage." William looks accusingly at Alex. "When the hell did you start stripping?"

"I don't!" Alex ardently denies. "I just dance for the club where Aiden used to work." Alex clarifies, to reassure William. 

William, however, becomes suddenly enraged. He shoves Alex, hard. "What?! Have you lost your effing mind! What did you hope to prove?! Were you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"Whoa! Whoa, now," I interject, feeling my pressure rising. I pull William aside. He is practically panting with anger. I have never seen this side of him. Alex, however, just stands there quietly, absorbing the full force of William's emotions.

"You're right," Alex replies, his expression sorrowful. "I was wrong. I realize now that it was stupid, but wanted whoever killed Aiden to pay. I wanted to see them brought to justice. I thought maybe..."

"You could what? Lure them out? Get yourself killed in the process? Do you have any idea what that would have done to me?!"

"I honestly wasn't thinking about you. I was only thinking about Aiden," Alex states in annoyance, as William has a way of making everything about him, but I know, in this case, that's not what William intends.

"He means, did you ever stop to consider, that if something happened to you, what that would do to those that love you?" I say to Alex, grateful that William is taking the time while standing beside me to calm down.

"I started this plan when you shut me out after Aiden's death. I didn't believe I had anyone left who would care," Alex admits. "And a year later when all that changed, I was already committed to the idea. There would have been no talking me out of it."

William sits down on the sofa. Alex's words taking the fight completely out of him.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there to help you when you needed me most. I just... I just couldn't. When Aiden died, so did I, or at least I wanted to, in the worst way. Anything to stop the pain."

Alex sits next to him. "You don't need to apologize. It was hard, and yes, although I really could have used my best friend, I certainly understand why you couldn't be there for me. My anger about the entire situation, his senseless violent death, my parents' utter disregard, your total retreat. It fueled me to take drastic measures, but Cat changed all that. I am not going back to the club. I won't ever go back there again. I swear to you."

William looks up at Alex, tears running down his face. My heart bleeds for them both. Alex pulls his sleeve over his palm and gently wipes off William's face. "You're my brother. You're my family. Nothing will ever change that."

William throws his arms around Alex and Alex just holds him, as all pain of these last few years unleashes. When the emotions ebb, William slowly pulls away. "Thank you."

Alex smiles at him. "What are friends for?"

I sigh, grateful that at least something good has come out of this fiasco.

"I'm sorry we haven't talked about this long before now," William confides.

Alex shrugs. "We didn't because we couldn't. But what are we going to do about this rumor? Cat's got to get back to school and there's no hiding her face."

"Honestly, I don't think there is anything you can do," William responds sadly. "People are going to believe what they want to believe. You can't change that."

"I can't stand by and let them get away with it!" I declare. "Especially when I'm 100% certain that it was Jenny who started it."

"What makes you think that?" William asks, adding, "Besides her abiding hatred of you, of course."

I grimace at William. "It was Jenny's idea to go to the club where Alex dances. She was there that night and she is currently Liam's roommate. That's how Liam got the pictures of Alex pole dancing."

"WHAT?!" both men explode in unison.

"Olivia dropped that bomb on me yesterday before we set off to the dance club. Weeks ago, Liam returned the check I gave him to cover my portion of the rent. He said he found someone new to room with, but he never mentioned who."

"I thought Jenny dorms at the sorority house," William says.

"She did until she got kicked out after the fundraiser she almost single-handedly ruined. The girls had enough and by unanimous decision, they asked Jenny to leave."

"Wow!" Alex runs his fingers through his hair. "This is a real mess, isn't it?"

"Afraid so," I agree, joining them both on the sofa. "But I'm sure if we put our heads together we'll come up with something." At the looks of disbelief I receive from both William and Alex, I add less confidently, "Maybe?"

"I need something to drink! Anyone else?" Both men shake their heads no as I go to the kitchen to fetch a bottle of water.

Again, there's a knock at the door. Alex turns to me. "You expecting someone?"

I shake my head. I couldn't imagine who it would be. 

William suggests, "Maybe it's Olivia. She may have found out about the rumor."

Alex gets up to answer the door. The moment he turns the doorknob, the door flies open and Liam grips Alex up by his shirt, lifting him slightly off the floor. "I'm going to kill you!" he roars, slamming Alex into the wall.

"NO!!!!" I scream, running towards Liam. He looks startled to see me. "Cat!" Liam lets go of Alex so suddenly that he falls to the floor. Liam starts towards me, and I push past him to get to Alex.

"Are you okay?" 

Alex is rubbing the back of his head where he hit it against the wall. "I am," he says standing up, "but he's not going to be!" I grab hold of Alex's hand, turning him to face me. Something in my face forces him to relent, for which I am so grateful.

"I don't understand!" Liam states in obvious confusion. "What are you doing here, with HIM?"

"I can see your new girlfriend left out some details," I reply sarcastically, as Alex pulls me to my feet.

"Girlfriend? I'm not... You talking about Jenny?" Liam asks in disbelief.

"Who else would I be talking about? I knew you wouldn't find better than me in your lifetime, but I didn't expect you to go slumming it."

"Jenny is my roommate, Cat. End of story. She needed a place to stay after the sorority kicked her out and the RA asked if she could stay with me. As it solves both our problems, I agreed. And you haven't answered me."

He comes over to grab my face, turning my cheek. "Did he do this to you?"

"Why didn't you tell me about her then?" I question, ignoring him.

"Why do you care?" Liam fires back. "If he did this to you..."

"Alex didn't do this!" I insist, stepping away from Liam.

"You're not just trying to protect him?" I see more than anger in Liam's eyes, I see hurt.

"What makes you think if Alex did this that I would protect him?"

Liam shoots me a look, implying I'm being stupid, and flicks the charm on my necklace. "He give this to you before or after you discovered he's a stripper?"

The necklace, I completely forgot. "I was assaulted last night. This all happened when I tried running from them, tripped and fell. It's not Alex's fault."

"What the hell were you doing on your own, in that neighborhood?!"

Alex pushes away from the wall. "That IS my fault."

Liam sneers at him, "So she DIDN'T know you were a stripper? That's hilarious." Liam looks down at me, "You accuse me of slumming it but here you actually are." Liam sneers.

I see Alex's fists ball up but I shake my head, and mouth please, imploring him not to act on his impulse. I know I'm asking a lot of him, perhaps too much.

"Liam, please? Enough. If you sit down, I will tell you everything."

Liam grunts but sits down on the sofa, noticing for the first time William in the room. "Got to her first, did you?"

"Just shut up and listen, Liam," William gets up so I can sit down. He glances around for another place to sit, but ultimately walks into the kitchen. William doesn't want to be anywhere near Liam.

"How did you get Alex's address?" I ask.

"I have my ways," Liam informs me cryptically.

"You know what? It doesn't matter. The sorority took me to a club last night, as per tradition. Jenny suggested the club Alex used to work at. Used to... as in, not anymore. Last night was his last night."

"You're right, I didn't know, and I walked out, planning on taking a cab to get home. Unfortunately, there were these two drunk guys who decided I looked like fun. In trying to get away from them, I tripped and slid on the pavement," I explain, showing him my hands.

Liam takes my hands in his, running his thumb over my palms. I can tell he doesn't like what he sees. "Is that how you got this too?" he asks, gently pushing back my hair so he can see fully the knot and bruise on my forehead.

I nod my head. "I tried to get away, but they trapped me in an alley. The man kissed me and well, the taste of beer on his lips..."

Liam's eyes go wide. "You threw up on him?!"

I again nod my head yes.

Liam grabs me and pulls me into an embrace. I see Alex's entire body stiffen, but it only lasts a second before Liam lets me go. "I can honestly say, at this moment, I've never been happier that you're pregnant."

His statement causes a laugh to burst out of me.

"Cat, when I saw that picture of your face I so wanted his to match it," Liam adds, glaring at Alex. I can tell Liam still hopes to get the chance, but then again, so does Alex.

"How did you get that picture?" I ask.

"One of my teammates was at the mall picking up a gift for his girlfriend when saw you. He took a picture and texted it to me asking what happened."

"I didn't answer him because I didn't know. So I asked Jenny what happened last night. I knew the sorority would have taken you out for your birthday. She told me you were at the club and that you stormed out after you saw Alex dancing. She said Alex went running after you and suggested something must have happened that night when he caught up with you."

"Damn, she's good." The girl is freaking unbelievable. 

"Believe it or not, Cat, she was worried about you."

I scoff at this. "You're right, I don't believe it. Jenny knows about Alex. Not only had she seen him at the fundraiser, but she also saw him asking my professors for my assignments when I was out of class. She must have put two and two together when she suggested to Olivia that we go to that club. She was hoping I didn't know. She wanted to hurt me. She also failed to mention that Olivia was the one driving Alex around to look for me."

"She said Olivia went looking for you. Perhaps she didn't know they were together. What she also wouldn't know is whether Alex is the kind of guy who would beat on his girlfriend." Liam reasons.

"So then she feels guilty, not worried," I amend. "Because she set the events into motion that caused all of this," I say, pointing to my face.

Liam shrugs. "I'm just saying she looked scared."

"I really don't care. What I do care about is this rumor spreading. It's too much drama. Especially now, and especially because it's not true."

"Some of it's true," Liam states, shooting another side glance at Alex.

"Not the part that matters," I correct Liam. "Has anyone else said anything?"

"I don't know. I was too busy trying to find out if you were okay. Last place I expected to find you was here."

"I live here." When I inform Liam of this, his features turn to stone.

"You... live here?" he questions with an eerie sort of calm.

"She's lived with me since you broke up with her," Alex adds, his smug look almost daring Liam to take action.

Liam's jaw clenches. "So how long has this been going on, Cat?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... how long have you been sleeping with Alex?" he asks, his voice rising slightly.

"She's been sleeping with me since before winter break," Alex taunts, earning himself a glare from me, to which he just raises an eyebrow, daring me to deny it.

"Not helpful!" I admonish Alex, but he just shrugs and walks into the kitchen, joining William.

"Your parents let him sleep with you? In their house?!" Liam looks stunned.

"Well yes, but sleep Liam, not have sex with," I clarify. I'm not about to tell him they thought he was gay. Liam would have a field day with that.

"Do I look like an idiot to you?" Liam asks. I open up my mouth to answer, but he warns, "Don't."

"You asked," I respond with a shrug and a cocky smirk.

"You seriously expect me to believe you two have been together all this time and you haven't had sex?" 

"Believe what you want," Alex says, coming back into the room. He hands me the water I hadn't got for myself. "We weren't asking for your opinion or your approval."

"What are you gay?" Liam asks him in disbelief.

"What?!" Alex says. He glances at me, and I know what he's thinking, but I discreetly shake my head no.

"You have this woman in your bed every night and you aren't the least bit tempted? Look at her?!" Liam says, but then he looks at me and frowns. "Well, not now that she looks like she went 3 rounds in a boxing ring, but normally. You HAVE to be gay."

"He's not gay," William states bluntly, joining Alex.

"Well, you'd be the one to know," Liam quips, and I just roll my eyes.

"I just can't believe..." Liam begins again, unable to drop it.

"I'm confused. Are you upset that Alex is sleeping with me or that he isn't?" I question, hoping it will cause Liam to move on.

"All I'm saying is that being the man who shared your bed for the last few years, I can't understand how you and he expect me to believe that you two are purely platonic."

"Who said we're platonic?" Alex smirks at Liam. I just facepalm in annoyance with the amount of raging testosterone being thrown about the room. "There is a lot more than just sex to enjoy in bed. Perhaps, if you had taken a little more time to figure that out she'd have stayed."

William tries unsuccessfully to stifle a snicker. Liam, however, stands up, but I grab his arm and pull him back down to the sofa.

"Will the both of you PLEASE knock it off!"

"You two have a thing going before we broke up?" I'm shocked that he's asking this seriously.

"NO! I didn't even meet Alex until that day I didn't come home. That's when William introduced us."

"But you got cozy awfully fast, didn't you? You even lied to me about knowing him, the very next day."

"Because I didn't want you doing your raging bull impersonation like I just witnessed a few minutes ago!" I point to the door that is still open wide open from when he tore into the room. 

William goes over and shuts it.

"I know you'd love to believe this baby isn't yours, and if you want to do a paternity test after the baby is born so you can know for sure, that's fine by me, but this baby IS yours."

Liam's temper flares. "I just don't get it. You cause a huge scene with me on campus because I made out with some girl at a Frat Party. But this guy," Liam says pointing over to Alex, "gets to throw his junk around, while women paw at him every night, even shoving money in his jockstrap and you don't even care? Why is that okay? Why are you so willing to forgive HIM and not ME?" Liam demands to know, pointing to his chest with both hands.

"Because."

"Because? I'm not five, Cat. Because is not an answer."

"Because I love him," I reply, but Liam is already shaking his head in denial. 

"You love me too, or you did. Is that it? You won't forgive me because the truth is you don't love me anymore?"

"NO!" I don't know how to explain my feelings about this. My mind is in a muddle. 

"Then why? I love you, Cat! I haven't stopped. When did you?"

"Because ... Alex's job had nothing to do with me. Alex didn't do what he did, knowing he'd hurt me. It was unintentional. What you did..." My eyes sting with tears and I hate it. "What you did with those girls made a mockery of me, our relationship, of our love for one another. It's you that stopped loving me, not the other way around."

"That's not true! I've never stopped!"

"You must have," I tell him, "because if you truly still loved me, you would NEVER hurt me that way. What you did to me Liam, what you still continue to do every time you deny this child is yours, hurts 1,000 times worse than this," I assert, pointing to my face.

"When you handed me that appointment card to abort our baby, you cut me to my very core, yet even then I wanted you back. My love for you had me willing to make up excuses why you'd feel the way you do. It took several other people to show me the reality of how little you cared about me, how one-sided our relationship appeared to everyone else but me. You made me look like a complete fool, Liam. My friends, my brother, even your teammates, saw it. My love blinded me to all of that, but no more, and never again. I'm sorry, but I love Alex and Alex loves me."

Alex made a move to get closer to me, but William held him in check, with a shake of his head and thankfully Alex listens.

Liam won't look at me at first, but once he does, it's obvious I have crushed his last hope. It isn't until now that I realize he really expected that we'd get back together. Maybe not right away, but someday. He believed I'd always be waiting for him.

"I'm sorry," I say. Liam looks so lost but simply shakes his head.

"No, Cat. I'm sorry."