Chapter 1 - There Goes Their Life

The sound of helmets banging together was echoing in his ears. His grey eyes stared down at the beauty before him. Her deep blue eyes were red rimmed as she leaned against the stadium seating. His hand tightened around the face guard on his football helmet as it was resting against his thigh. He hadn't seen her all day and when he went by her dorm room that morning and she didn't answer her door; something was up.

Now standing there on the field, he was monumentally late for football practice with a huge game that was supposed to be happening the following day. The words that came out of her mouth were the last ones he had ever expected to hear from her 3 months into their freshman year of college.

Ayana Agani moved to Pensacola when she was 15 and a Sophomore in high school like him and somehow it was crazy love at first sight. They dated all through high school even graduated together and surprisingly enough they had been accepted to Georgia Tech College in Atlanta Georgia. He'd gotten a full ride football scholarship and she's been granted an academic scholarship because of her grade point average.

They moved into the dorms during the summer so they could both get jobs to cover what the scholarships didn't. She had been excited when she found out his dorm room was two floors above hers. Now three months later, they were standing there looking at each other.

Roman's grey eyes took in her posture and the way her deep blue eyes glowed slightly from the red rims cause by her crying. "Aya, why are you telling me this before practice?" He questioned.

Ayana frowned. "When would you have me tell you Roman? How about I wait until you're in class tomorrow and I'll send you a singing telegram." She chewed her lip. "What are we going to do Roman?"

"You're asking me now? It's 24 hours before the big Homecoming game and you're telling me you're pregnant and now you want me to tell you what to do?" Roman asked in an unbelievable tone. He was just 18 like her there was NO WAY they were ready to bring a baby in the world; not when they were just barely starting college.

"I'm so sorry this is interfering with the big football game." Ayana rolled her eyes. "It kind of came as a surprise to me too jerk."

Roman could tell her half Italian / half Cherokee temper was going to spike and then his half Samoan/ half Italian temper was going to spike as well and it would end in a fight to the death probably.

Roman sighed softly before running his hand over the top of his shaved head. "How far along are you?"

"Two and a half months." Ayana stated softly.

"The night the condom slipped off inside of you after we finished." Roman stated rather than asked. He watched as she nodded.

"I would think so since it was just about two and a half months ago." Ayana frowned again. "Roman what are we going to tell our parents?"

"Baby I have no idea. You are throwing all of this at me like I've been here before. I have never gotten a girl pregnant before. I'm not even sure what to say to you let alone my own parents or yours." Roman stated honestly.

"Do you think..." Ayana frowned. She chewed her bottom lip once again.

Roman dropped his helmet on the ground before he stepped forward and hooked his index knuckle under her chin. "What baby girl? Ask me anything you want and I'll try to answer you." He could tell she was have an internal battle over this little surprise that life decided to throw the both of them. He already knew her parents were going to be assholes about this; his parents on the other hand would be disappointed but they wouldn't beat him into submission.

"Do you think I should get rid of it?" Ayana asked. She knew he would know exactly what she was asking him. At this point it seemed like the only out they had.

Roman shook his head. "Baby girl that cannot be my decision. It is your body and you have to make that kind of decision. I would never ask you to do it or not too. I will however support you with any decision you make."

Roman was at a loss for words; On one hand no baby right now would be less complicated for college life but on the other a baby was always a blessing his mother said. Roman was scared to death of becoming a father so young. No education, no great job or career, no way of supporting his family. Right now - a baby was the last thing either of them needed.

Ayana shook her head. "I-I'm just...I'm just going to get rid of it. It's the only thing that makes sense right now Roman. We need to finish getting our education so we can graduate and move out to California and you can be a kick ass San Francisco 49er player and I can be whatever the hell I want. We had the same dream and having a baby will do absolutely nothing for us."

Roman wasn't really sure if her having an abortion was the best option, but the way she'd laid it out to him in black and white; she was even more right about it. A baby would put everything on hold. She was right. She was absolutely right. Roman nodded. "Okay, I'll take you, because you're not going through something like that alone. Well go on Saturday."

They decided their baby's fate.

They weren't trying to be heartless.

They were being practical.

The homecoming game came and went and the more Saturday was approaching the more freaked out Ayana was becoming. She'd never been pregnant before so making this type of decision was weighing heavily on her mind and her body.

She had enjoyed watching Roman the night before as he pushed some guys around on the football field. She always loved to watch him play. The way he powered through people as if they were made of paper and water. Something about the way he enjoyed the sport. His dad was a professional wrestler in the WWE. He was Sika of the Wild Samoans. She was surprised that he didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps, but was happy his mom and dad supported his decision to go with his first love of football.

Ayana had declined Roman's offer of spending the night in his dorm; she honestly just needed some alone time. Roman knew she was really battling with her decision, but they both came to the same conclusion that it was the right choice. They would be able to put their scholarships to good use and both have excellent educations and get great careers. Anything that happened after college would be a life bonus.

She had found herself still awake at 4 AM; not able to sleep. She got up and drug herself into the bathroom where she soaked in the tub for 2 hours straight. The warm water put her body at ease even if it did nothing for her mind. Once she got out she pulled her jeans on; surprisingly enough she hadn't gained any weight yet. She pulled her red form fitting t-shirt on and then her Georgia Tech grey zip up hoodie on as well as her sneakers. She grabbed her keys and cell phone and walked out the door.

She started to head to Roman's room, but decided against it. She figured he'd stayed out with his team drinking beers after the game. She'd told him he could once she declined stayed with him for the night. He probably had a good hang over going so she refused to wake him. She started walking around campus.

Once she went through with the abortion; she really hoped things between her and Roman stayed the same. Somehow she felt that wasn't the case though. She knew things like this came between even the strongest of couples. And even if they had dated for three years it didn't mean their relationship was stable. The abortion was definitely going to take a chunk out of everything in their lives that they had built together.

Her deep blue eyes looked up at the light up sign of the clinic. It was 7 AM and she had somehow caught the bus and rode it downtown to the clinic. The doors were unlocked as she walked in.

"Good Morning Miss. How can we help you?" The lady behind the counter smiled cheerily.

She was too chipper for Ayana's taste. She smiled back even if it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Ayana Agani, I have an appointment for - Well you already know what I'm here for. I'm just really early. It's not until 8."

"Here go ahead and fill out these forms and we'll call you back when were ready for you Miss. Agani." The receptionist stated as she passed a clipboard across the counter with a pen.

Ayana sat down as she stared at the forms. It was full of ridiculous questions; questions that had nothing to do with having an abortion. She breathed out a heavy breath as she began filling it out.

"No! - No! - NOOO!" Roman sat up with a start his body caked with sweat. He could smell the beer that had been sweat through his pores as he had been sleeping. His breathing was labored and all he could think of was the nightmare that had plagued him all night long.

He made it back to his dorm room around 1 AM and passed out as soon as he fell into his bed. The only person on his mind was Ayana. He'd sent her text messages to her cell all night after she'd declined to stay with him. He'd gone two rooms over to his team mates dorm and they burned through 4 24 packs. His head would've been throbbing, but Ayana left Excedrin and water on his nightstand with a sweet note.

Take care of yourself. I love you Ro! ~Aya

He'd been able to pop two pills and down the whole bottle of water before he went into a beer filled sleep coma.

He rolled over and grabbed his cell and saw a messages from Aya. He forced his eyes open to read.

Couldn't sleep went to the clinic on my own. I'll see you afterwards.

He quickly pulled his body from bed as he went into the bathroom and did a 20 minute shower in 3 minutes. There was no way in HELL he was going to allow her to go through something as traumatic as an abortion alone at the age of 18; hell she could be any age and he still wouldn't let her go through that alone.

Roman was going to kick her ass when he got to the clinic.

And then beg her to forget the abortion.

His whole night after he fell asleep was plagued with nightmares of their baby being stolen away from them. He didn't care how old they were; they had to keep the baby - their folks would have to get used to the idea of them being parents so young. Roman would sweat bleed and die to keep his child and Ayana happy and alive. Nothing was going to stop him.

Roman dressed quickly before he grabbed the keys to his pick-up truck and ran out the door. It was 7:45 AM and Roman knew he was going to have to beat the clock to get to Ayana before the doctor took her into the procedure room. He floored his truck; he had 15 minutes to get there before there was nothing left to fight for.

Roman's truck skid to a stop in front of the clinic as he killed the engine and went inside.

"Good Morning sir, How can we help you?"

"Ayana Agani, she's my girlfriend, I need to see her before the doctor does anything. I need to see her right now." Roman demanded.

"I'm sorry sir, once the patients are in the procedure rooms, no one unsterile is allowed in the room or germs carried in could cause an infection." The receptionist stated.

Roman growled as he slapped the top of the counter. "If you don't take me to her; I'm going to breakdown EVERY door in this God damn place!" It was a threat and a promise all wrapped up in one sentence. "Are you going to let me in or do I start kicking down doors that you will have to replace?" He asked in a deadly tone; 18 he might've been but he was 6'3" and 300lbs of football muscle and he would stop at nothing to get to Ayana.

The receptionist nodded stiffly. He was a big dude and who the hell was she to stop him from seeing his girlfriend? She buzzed the door to unlock it and let the young man in before she walked him back to one of the 4 procedure rooms as she knocked before she opened the door. The female doctor was explaining the aftercare that Ayana was going to need before she turned and saw her receptionist standing in the door way with a big guy standing behind her.

"I'm sorry but you can't be back here sir." The doctor stated sharply.

"Oh yes I can." Roman said before he pushed past the receptionist and walked over to Ayana. "Did she do it yet?" He watched as a paler version of Ayana shook her head no. She looked smaller than normal as she sat on the exam table in a white sterile gown. "Get dressed you're leaving with me - both of you are."

Ayana frowned. "What are you doing Roman? I thought we both agreed this was the best decision."

Roman shook his head negatively. "Any decision involving a baby is better than this one. I don't care if I have to get 3 jobs to support you and the baby; it's just what I'll have to do until we can graduate college and get a better job for the life we want. I fell in love with you when I was 15; we had everything planned out. So God threw us a curve ball; so we have to study a little hard and work longer hours for what we want now. I thought it was the right decision. I was wrong. We were both wrong. It's anything but the right decision."

"Are you sure about this Roman?" Ayana's voice cracked.

Roman watched as tears slid from Ayana's eyes. He stepped up and cupped her cheeks in his hands. "I'll take care of our parents and I'll damn sure take care of you and the baby as well. Just tell me you love me and trust me and I promise I'll never let you down."

Ayana nodded as she smiled through her watery tears. "I'll trust you forever. I love you so much Roman."

Roman brushed his lips against her forehead then her lips. "Good get dressed were leaving." Roman stayed and helped his pregnant girlfriend get dressed; she looked so pale and fragile almost as if the slightest gust of wind could blow her down.

The doctor clearer her throat. "As long as you are here would you like me to do a check up? We can do an ultrasound to make sure everything with the baby is on track and see how he or she is progressing."

Roman looked at Ayana who nodded. "Yea thanks Doc that would be great."

10 minutes later and the sound of the baby's heartbeat flooded the room.

Roman didn't think he could feel anymore love than he did at that moment. Ayana started to sob softly on the exam table as Roman stepped up and grabbed her hand with one of his as his free hand came up and gently combed his fingers through her raven hair; his lips pressed to her temple as he softly whispered words into her ear trying to calm her.

Deep blue eyes stared out the pick-up truck passenger side window. She could feel Roman's hand on her jean covered thigh as she looked over. "This is going to change everything." Ayana whispered.

Roman stopped at a stop light and tore his eyes from the road. "Well deal with the disasters that come along the way, but for now; there goes my life, there goes your life and there goes our life."

Yea, there goes their life...