the pain of it

Daisy didn't know if she could take it another moment. It might have been a contraction that snapped her lower back. But her water hadn't broke. She wasn't to come back until it did, according to those nurses.

Damn Medicaid.

Daisy did her best to be as cheerful as possible. Josie stopped by. Carrie was back home. Josie was alone and Daisy knew this would be all about Dean.

Daisy had heard it all before. She guessed she could be the friend that Josie needed, even if she winced hard, wishing Max hadn't gone to work.

"Thanks for letting me stop by," Josie said. She'd brought Ben and Jerry's ice cream, but Daisy couldn't eat. She sat on the couch hugging a pillow. She was sure Josie would tell her she was being a baby. Instead, she mentioned Dean's going away thing and then told her the terrible story about meeting Sky.

"He doesn't sound that terrible." Daisy flinched a little as another pain came down her spine. She felt as if her body was having an earth quake, but she remained calm.

"Dean broke up with me." Josie looked at her as if she was no help at all, but she was on auto-play with this Sky fellow. How he was with Carrie.

"You, want a guy who likes kids." Daisy breathed in and out as if she wasn't quite a volcano yet.

"That's just it, I never knew if Dean even liked kids." Josie was all wide-eyed as if she'd missed an important fact about the love of her life.

"He did." Daisy told her. "He was good with Carrie, and Dylan, too."

Josie closed her eyes as if she might cry about it.

Daisy grabbed Josie's hand as if not to go there.

"Um, did you hear about Roman and Caitlin?" Daisy squinted with a sigh.

"Roman?" Josie squinted hard as if she didn't even like the sound of his name.

"They got married Prom weekend." Daisy took a breath as if she might slow the pain down. Maybe she was dilating. She doubted she knew what that felt like, but something was happening.

"Married! That can't be true. He doesn't even know her. She's a cheerleader. God, I bet she got married in her uniform." Josie shook her head. "How? How is that possible? Nobody gets married in high school. Nobody really gets married, except my mom." Josie hugged herself in disbelief.

Daisy rolled her eyes.

"What are you thinking?" Daisy asked.

"That Dean could care less about me." She was in a pout.

"Can you stop thinking like that. Its always about ME." Daisy winced hard. "Look, I don't think Max and I made up." She sighed heavily as she'd see this through even if she were at sea on a sinking boat. "I mean, he's really been there for me. And..and we talk, but its not the same. It can never be the same. But we're both here for the baby. And he's going to stay here for the summer. So he can help."

"You know, that Freshman is soo crazy about him. How can you..just let him go..I.." Josie looked at her as if she were insane.

"Look, I do love him, but I want him to be happy." Daisy's back tensed. She was certain an invisible sword came down to separate her spine.

"You're still seeing that guy, aren't you?" Josie looked her in the eye.

"Hutch? No. I don't want to drag him into this." She squeezed the pillow harder. How much longer could this go on?

"I'll wait with you... til Max gets home." Josie told her.

Daisy only nodded hoping she could wait for him. She'd do her best, but he wouldn't be home for another 30 minutes.