Chapter 2: Girls' Night

Amelia's doorbell rang.

She hurried to answer it. The conference had been six weeks ago and, in that time, she'd made a new friend. This would be the first time she'd invited Isabel to the monthly girls' night she hosted with her friend Kalia.

They were all programmers and stuck together since there were so few women in the industry. She'd met Isabel in a game, her handle being HockeyGrl, which had intrigued Amelia. She'd never been a big sports fan, but she did like hockey. Maybe that was why she'd initially been drawn to the woman who played the same role-playing game as she did.

In the game, they'd joined forces and defeated some trolls, so Amelia hadn't been hesitant when she wanted to talk off-game.

Her stomach rumbled and she wondered if she ate something odd that day. she didn't think so as she swung open her apartment door. "Hey."

Her stomach had a funny fluttery sensation, but she pushed it away.

Kalia came in for a hug. "Good to see you, but you look a little pale. Are you eating properly?

Amelia laughed. "I'm eating just fine."

"Is our newest member here?"

"Not yet."

Amelia closed the door as Kalia set some bags on the counter. "I brought beer for you. Wine for me. Do we know what Isabel drinks?"

"She said anything."

The doorbell rang again.

Amelia opened the door again to a woman with striking blue eyes. She wore a bright pink hoodie and yoga pants that matched. She hadn't dressed up and Amelia liked her already. "Isabel?"

"That's me."

Isabel waltzed into the apartment as if she owned it, but not in an obnoxious way. Amelia was more amused by her attitude than anything. She made introductions.

"What are you drinking?" Kalia asked.

"What's open?" Isabel asked.

"Whatever you want. We haven't started yet."

Amelia's stomach did a flip and suddenly alcohol didn't seem too appealing.

"Then whatever you drinking is fine," Isabel said. She held up a bag. "I brought some munchies."

"Thanks," Amelia said. "I have some things in the oven ready to come out in a few minutes."

"What are we watching?" Isabel asked when they were settled in Amelia's living room.

The apartment wasn't large, but it did have two bedrooms, one of which she'd made into an office and gaming room.

"Is this your new sofa?" Kalia asked. "I like the leather."

"Thanks," Amelia said.

She pressed her hand to her stomach. She'd taken a glass of wine from Kalia, but hadn't taken a sip. For some reason, it smelled odd to her and didn't sit well with her wonky stomach.

Kalia dug into the chips Isabel had brought. "Tell us about you, Isabel. I know how you two met, but nothing beyond that."

Isabel shrugged. "Not much to tell. I work for my Dad's company. I do the quality control on the games mainly. I did some programming at first, but then I moved into my present job."

"Your Dad has a gaming company?" Kalia asked.

Isabel let the conversation flow around her as the fought to keep her stomach even.

"Yeah," but Isabel didn't elaborate.

She probably didn't want to brag. She liked that about her, too.

"You okay, Amelia?" Kalia asked.

Amelia had needed this girls' night and she didn't want to spoil it. "I'm fine."

She pasted on a smile. Kalia went back to her interview with Isabel who didn't seem to mind.

Amelia tried to follow the conversation, but her stomach wasn't getting any better. "Let's put in the movie. I think you've questioned Isabel enough."

Kalia grabbed the remote and his start. Amelia had seen the movie once before, but it still made her laugh. All of a sudden the room spun. She gasped and when she looked up Kalia and Isabel stared at her. "Sorry. Just had a little vertigo."

"Vertigo? You coming down with something?" Kalia asked.

"I don't think so. No one's been sick around me," Amelia said.

Amelia knew she had to move. She made it to the bathroom before she threw up. That would have been embarrassing. She wiped her mouth as Kalia knocked on the door. "Amelia?"

"I'm okay."

She did feel better. Maybe it was just something she ate. She stood and splashed water on her face. When she opened the bathroom door, Kalia and Isabel stood there wide-eyed.

"I'm okay. I must have eaten something odd," Amelia said.

"You sure that's it?"

"Yes, K. I'm fine."

But then her stomach didn't feel fine again. She was probably going to vomit again. Maybe this girls' night was a bad idea.

"You look pale, but I don't know what you're supposed to look like," Isabel said.

Amelia's mouth went dry. "Maybe I'm not so good."

"Let me go to that drugstore down the road," Kalia said.

"Maybe I should go. You should stay," Isabel said.

She didn't care. All she knew was that she wasn't going to keep much down. She closed the door and knelt in front of the toilet. When she was done, she was spent.

"Let me in, Amelia."

"It's unlocked."

Kalia sat on the edge of the tub. "Something's not right, A."

"I know, but I'm sure it's a passing thing."

She hoped. She didn't like being sick.

"You want water?"

Amelia shook her head. "Great first impression I'm making on our new friend."

"She seems cool."

"She does, and she may never come back again," Amelia said.

The front door opened and then closed. Isabel appeared in the doorway. "I brought some pink stuff and, well, something else."

"What else?" Kalia said.

Amelia hoped it wasn't anything illegal. Isabel pulled out a pregnancy test. Amelia's eyes went wide. "But I haven't had sex in, oh."

She remembered her night at the conference. The guy had worn a condom all three times, but there was no guarantee it hadn't broken.

"Amelia? Could you be pregnant?" Kalia said.

"Uh, yes. I guess. We used protection."

Kalia turned to Isabel. "What made you think of a pregnancy test?"

Isabel shrugged. "I guess I've had a few scares."

"Everyone out. Let me take this test," Amelia said.

They left her alone and she peed on the stick. She thought about Alex and what little she knew about him. Would he want to know if she was pregnant? He hadn't left her a number and she hadn't asked.

She threw open the door when the test finished. "I'm pregnant, and the only thing I know about the father is his first name."