the here and now

"OH MY GOD!" Holly's voice rang out through Natalie and Joon's apartment as she was on video chat with Natalie, who knew Joon could hear very clearly, even if he was in the bathroom. "YOU AND JOON."

"Why are you so surprised?" It made Natalie feel all the more bitter with her best friend.

"I dunno, I thought you'd find a genius ..or they'd find you." Holly winced.

Natalie was hurt that Holly didn't think that Joon was smart.

"He's not stupid." Natalie looked at her blankly.

"Oh, Nat, you look a little lost right now." Holly laughed. "How's the s e x?"

Natalie lost her smile. She gritted a smile and said, "Good." Holly didn't need to know about that.

"Yeah, right." Holly rolled her eyes. Holly shook her head and told her they didn't see eye to eye on anything. Especially s e x. "Look, I say you need to test the product before you buy it."

Natalie made a face of disgust.

"I'm just saying." Holly's smile was so broad and almost silly as she hugged her knees. "I really wanted to know what I was getting into with Dusty." She sighed. "I mean, he's pretty hot." She shrugged. "And..well, even better..in bed." She laughed as if she had a secret no one else would ever know.

Natalie looked at her, wondering if she was wanting her to put on a show about Joon. She was not impressed.

"I'm pregnant." Holly whispered.

Natalie's eyes went intense and huge as if she was waiting for Holly to come right out of the phone.

"Shh." Holly put her finger on her lips. "I haven't told him yet." Her voice was so quiet, but she returned to giggling.

Natalie didn't know what to say.

"See, that's what happens when you have a lot of  s e x  and you forget." She smirked.

Natalie nodded with a smile, remembering how Holly prided herself about birth control. But Holly was married now. Things changed.