Chapter 2: Friends

The days dragged on and turned in to weeks. On her way to the library, to escape her reality in books, she stumbled in to one of her co-workers. Liana Ciel, she was the paper girl and would always hide a moshed up cupcake in Clovers mail when it got delivered at work.

Clover smiled a weak smile to show Liana that she was not in the mood for conversation, but Liana didnt take the hint.

"Clover! You have no idea what just happened!" She exclaimed and awaited her guess, but Clover didnt want to play. She sighed and looked longing towards the subway station that would take her to forgotten lands.

Liana couldnt wait

"I got promoted!" she beamed but didnt get the response she was hoping for.
Clover was only dragged back in to the conversation by the shaking of her body, she suddenly realized her friends hands on around her arms.

"Well??!"

"Oh, I'm so glad for you Li, you deserve it!" she smiled faking interest.

"Whats wrong?" Liana suddenly looked serious.

"It's nothing" Clover tried "Look, I gotta go" She pushed Liana aside but her hand was still warped around one of her arms and it hindered her from moving on.

"No, tell me whats wrong, is it that guy? Mich, Michael, something"
Clover hadn't heard his name in so long, he hadn't called her once, not a text, email, nothing. It was as if he didnt exist as if she didnt exist. Tears begun to wallow up in her eyes.

"Oh hunny" Liana soothed, "Come here, what happened" She warped her arms around her friend.

"H-he left me" Clover cried. "He stormed out and left me all alone."
"There there, It will be okey. He's just a guy, there's plenty of them around here" Liana comforted as much as she could.

Clover suddenly got silent and stiff, holding her breath.

"Theres...more?" Liana sounded worried, she pushed Clover away from her chest so she could look in to her eyes. "What is it?"

Clover looked away, trying to escape her friends prying eyes.

"I'm... I." Clover studded.

"Yes..." Liana was beginning to sound annoyed.

"I'm.. pregnant." she admited.

"I knew it! You sly little....argh, Goddamnit Clover! what were you thinking, what ARE you thinking?!"

"I don't know, I can't go through with ending this life Li. It's a part of me now, we will be strong together." She cooed.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing Clover?" Her friends hand resting reassuring on her shoulder

"Yes, I'm going to raise the baby alone. Trust me Li, I can do this. You'll help me right?"
Li seemed to be warming up to the idea of a small child to snuggle with.

"What are friends for?" She smiled. "Wow, I can't believe you're going to be a mom!" she laughed in disbelief. "Will I be sort of an aunt?!"

"Of course" Clover mused. "Best aunt ever"

They both smiled in silence for a while

Where are you headed anyways?" Li asked
"The library, need to get my readings on" she giggled. "Hey, I'll throw a party this weekend, No no alcohol" She smiled at Lianas frowning face. "for you, promotion and all. Bring some of your friends!"

"Alright, I'll be there" She assured "you take care of yourself you hear!"

"Will do!"

Clover gave her friend a warm hug and made her way to the mythical creatures that were going to whisk her away from her empty apartment and deadbeat job.

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The day of the party came and Clover finally got out of her jammies to tidy up.

She had invited some people from work and some guy that hangs around the laundromat in her building. She doesn't remember his name, hopefully he doesn't steal something. She thinks to herself.

One of the guests was this very handsome guy called Travis, something she picked up when Liana introduced them.
"Wow, I really like what you've done with the nursery" He said. "To be honest I never really grew up so I'm kind of drawn to the toys" he giggled. Clover frowned, weird, she thought.

"Thanks" She managed to get out. "So what do you do?" better to change topics.

"Oh, Not much to be honest. I take some pictures for the Daily Gossip"

Clover flinched, whats with these photographers everywhere!
"Oh, I see. That's nice..." she responded awkwardly. Why was it so hard to talk to guys all of the sudden?
"Your ex baby father was a photographer?" He guessed.

Clover was about to choke on her food "Something like that" she mumbled.

Travis leaned in, a bit too close for comfort if it was up to Clover.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to steal your heart away" he whispered and got up.

"Hey! How do you turn this on Li?" He pointed at the stereo. "Let's get this party startin'" He gave Clover a wink and began fiddling with the little stereo.

Clover regain her poise and smiled, she was going to like this Travis guy.

Liana helped Travis get the music going and people begun to loosen up. But not fast enough for Travis to stay out of the toy box. Clover looked at the little wooden horse on the floor and rolled her eyes, looked over to Travis and saw a huge grin on his face.

"Told yah! Toys, Love em!" He laughed and so did she.

"Hey...Hey!" The weird laundry guy in front of her tried to get her attention "My name is Justin by the way." he smiled an innocent smile and tried to give her a flirtatious wink but seem to just twitch his eyes awkwardly. Clovers heart broke a little, bless him.

The party went on to the wee hours of the morning, Justin had given up on Clover and was trying to get it on with Li who was too tired to fight him off. Melody from work had left early, something about cats allover the place. Clover spent most of the night laughing and reminiscing lost childhood days with Travis. Who eventually got up to call it a night, but before he left he walked off with Li, they talked, exchanged something and he left. Clover didnt hear what they said or saw what they exchanged, she didnt really care. She was happy, she had friends and good ones it seemed and maybe, just maybe, even a little crush.