Chapter 12: Joking Pregnancy Test

The day before Xander was set to leave, Ren and her friends decided to hang out in the dorm room, lounging around and chatting about nothing in particular. Rachel and Emily were sprawled out on the bed, flipping through a magazine, while Ren was curled up on the couch, nose-deep in a book. The afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. As they lounged around, Rachel suddenly piped up, "Hey, guys, let's take a pregnancy test!" She tossed the magazine aside and sat up, a mischievous glint in her eye. Emily's eyes lit up, and she squealed, "Yes, that sounds like so much fun!" She jumped off the bed and started rummaging through her bag, searching for the test. Ren's eyes widened in alarm as she looked up from her book, her heart racing. "What? No, that's not a good idea," she said, trying to sound firm. But Rachel and Emily were undeterred. They teased Ren, saying it would be a fun and harmless prank. They convinced her to join in, promising that it would be a laugh and that they would all take the test together. Ren hesitated, but eventually gave in. She didn't think there was any real chance that she was pregnant, but she was willing to humor her friends. As they made their way to the bathroom, Ren couldn't help but feel a little nervous. What if...no, she pushed the thought aside. She was on birth control, and Xander had always been careful. There was no way. The bathroom was small and cramped, but the three friends managed to squeeze in, each of them standing in front of the sink. Rachel handed out the tests, and they each took a deep breath before peeing on the stick. The minutes ticked by, and they stood there in uncomfortable silence, waiting for the results. Ren's heart was racing, and she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Finally, Emily spoke up, "Okay, let's see..." She glanced down at her test, and her face lit up with a smile. "Mine's negative!" Rachel followed suit, and her test also came back negative. Ren's heart was in her throat as she looked down at her own test. The words "Pregnant" appeared on the screen, and Ren's world came crashing down. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. "Guys..." she whispered, her voice trembling. Rachel and Emily turned to her, concern etched on their faces. "Ren, is it...?" Rachel started to ask. Ren nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "It's positive." The room fell silent, and Ren's friends looked at her like they were in shock. They had been joking around, but they had never actually expected a positive result. Ren felt like she was in a daze, her mind reeling with thoughts and emotions. She had to tell Xander. She had to tell him now. As she stood there, frozen in shock, Rachel and Emily rushed to her side, offering words of encouragement and support. They promised to be there for her, no matter what. But Ren knew that this changed everything. She had to face Xander and tell him the news. And she had no idea how he would react.