__________________ BAD AT LOVE ♧ HALSEY ____________________

We were all sprawled out on the couch at Val's house, lounging and nursing drinks, when the topic shifted to something... inevitable.

"I swear, I'm about to just die," Koko muttered, clutching her stomach like she was about to give birth. "This fucking period is wrecking me. I feel like I'm a walking cramp factory."

Val groaned in agreement, slumping back on the couch. "Same. My body's playing a cruel joke on me, and I'm not laughing."

I snorted. "Y'all are overdramatic. If Malakai had a period, he'd probably die."

Malakai looked up from his phone, giving me the side-eye. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"Imagine," I said, leaning back, "Malakai dealing with all the bullshit we go through every month. The bloating, cramps, mood swings... He'd be a mess."

Koko cracked a grin. "Oh my God, you'd be whining like a little bitch. 'Oh no, I can't go to the gym, I'm cramping!'"

Val laughed, throwing in her own version of Malakai. "'Someone bring me my heating pad! I can't function!'"

Malakai's face twisted in disgust. "Y'all are seriously fucked up if you think I'd be like that. I'm tough, I'd power through it."

I raised an eyebrow. "You'd power through it? Please. You'd be curled up in bed with your ass in the air, begging for chocolate and painkillers."

"First of all," Malakai huffed, "I wouldn't need either of those. I'd just... get through it like a man."

I burst out laughing. "You're seriously telling me you'd handle cramps like a 'man'? You wouldn't last ten minutes, bro."

Koko leaned over, slapping him on the shoulder. "You're right. You'd be a disaster. I'd have to come over and give you a hug while you complain about how you can't handle it."

Malakai crossed his arms, his expression all annoyed and dramatic. "Nah. If I had a period, I'd just suck it up and keep going."

"Yeah, sure," I teased. "We'll see about that. You'd be crying for a hot water bottle and some chocolate by the end of the day."

Val grinned at Koko. "You think we'd ever hear the end of it? Malakai on his period would be a walking disaster."

Malakai flipped us off, but the way his lips twitched, it was obvious he was amused. "Whatever. I wouldn't be as dramatic as you two."

"I think you'd be worse," I said, grinning.

We were all sprawled out, the conversation drifting between the usual chaos of loud banter and too many drinks, when Koko, in her usual blunt way, stared me down.

"So, Celine," she drawled, looking me up and down with a smirk, "how's your period going, or should I say, not going?"

I froze mid-sip, nearly choking on my drink. Val and Koko both leaned forward, suddenly laser-focused on me. I could feel the heat creeping up my neck.

"Uhhh, I'm fine," I muttered, trying to sound casual, but the attention felt suffocating.

"No, seriously, you haven't gotten it yet, have you?" Koko pressed, raising an eyebrow. "Girl, it's been what, two weeks? You sure you're not knocked up?"

I stared at her for a beat, my eyes widening. "What the hell? No, I'm not pregnant, Koko! Chill the fuck out."

Val leaned in, grinning like she already knew she had me. "Uh, Celine, you've been acting off for days. You haven't complained once about cramps, you're not snacking on everything in sight, and you're definitely not bitching about the pain. Something is going on."

Koko crossed her arms, dead serious now. "Yeah, girl. Something's off. Periods don't just disappear, especially not for two weeks. You're either pregnant or you've got some sort of demon baby inside you."

I rolled my eyes, but the panic started creeping in. "I'm not pregnant. It's just... stress, okay? It's not a big deal."

Koko's face twisted in disbelief. "Stress? Stress doesn't fuck with your body like that. You're acting like you've got a fucking alien inside you, and now I'm worried you're gonna give birth to some weird-ass mafia baby."

I scoffed, trying to hide my nerves with sarcasm. "Oh, sure, totally. Just gonna pop out a little mafia heir, no big deal."

Val shot me a look, her tone suddenly way too serious. "Take a test. Like, now. You're acting weird as hell. Don't be stupid."

Malakai, who'd been half asleep on the couch, perked up at the mention of pregnancy. "Wait, what the hell are we talking about? Why are we discussing her period like it's the apocalypse? She just gonna pop out a kid or what?"

Koko ignored him, her eyes still laser-focused on me. "Take a test. If you're pregnant, I'll buy you a damn congratulations card. If not, I'm calling bullshit on this 'stress' excuse."

I threw my hands up in frustration. "Okay, fine, I'll get a test. You guys are way too invested in my uterus."

Koko grinned. "Hell yeah, we are. You're not getting off this easily, Celine. We'll be here when you come back with the results."

Malakai, who had been lost in his phone, looked up and shrugged. "Whatever. This sounds like some 'Celine's gotta handle her shit' thing. I don't care either way."

I shot him a glare. "Thanks for the support, asshole."

"Anytime," he said with a grin.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "You guys are a fucking circus. Fine, I'll take a damn test, but I'm telling you, it's nothing."

Koko smirked. "We'll see. You'll thank us later."

I stared at the damn box in my hands like it had personally offended me.

"Why the fuck am I even doing this?" I muttered under my breath, pacing the bathroom.

Because Koko and Val bullied you into it, that's why.

I ripped the box open, my hands way shakier than they should've been for something I knew was going to be negative. Stress messes with periods. Travel messes with periods. Lots of sex—especially the very rough kind Antonio and I had been having—probably messes with periods too.

I wasn't pregnant.

I wasn't.

I took the damn test, set it on the counter, and refused to look at it.

I could hear the chaos outside—Koko and Val arguing over what to name my hypothetical demon baby, Malakai making obnoxious comments just to piss them off. I could practically hear his smirk when he drawled, "If it's a boy, name it after me. Malakai Jr. sounds hard as fuck."

"Shut the fuck up, Malakai," Koko snapped.

I groaned and checked the timer on my phone. Three minutes.

Three. Long. Ass. Minutes.

I stared at myself in the mirror, trying to figure out why my stomach was twisting like this. It wasn't real.

I wasn't pregnant.

I blew out a breath and turned my head slowly, my eyes landing on the test sitting there, all innocent-looking and unbothered.

Then I saw it.

Two lines.

Two.

I blinked.

My brain stopped working for a full ten seconds.

Then I grabbed the test, squinted, and shook it like the result would somehow change if I looked at it hard enough.

Nope. Still two lines.

Oh.

Oh fuck.

I slapped a hand over my mouth.

I was pregnant.

Holy fuck.

Koko banged on the door. "Bitch, open up! What does it say?"

I flinched like I'd been caught committing a crime.

Val's voice was way too excited. "Celine, if you don't open this damn door, I swear to God—"

I yanked the door open so fast Koko almost fell forward.

They both froze, eyes immediately snapping to my face, then to the test in my hand.

Koko's mouth dropped open.

Val's eyes went wide.

Malakai, still lounging like he had zero fucks to give, looked up lazily. "Well? Is it a yes or a holy shit?"

I swallowed hard. My voice barely worked.

"Holy shit.

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