MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Joey sat on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, head in his hands.

His voice was heavy with frustration as he sighed, "What do you want me to do then, Ashley?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

From the hallway, Ashley emerged, her five-month pregnant belly unmistakable.

As she leaned against the entry, her face showed a mix of tiredness and determination.

"Not throw your life away, Joey. I told you, you don't have to worry about it."

Joey stood abruptly, pacing the room. "Not worry about it? Are you serious right now? You're five months pregnant, Ashley. How am I not supposed to worry about it?"

Ashley crossed her arms, her voice rising slightly, "Because I told you, I can handle this. I'm not asking you to drop out of college! You're one year away from graduating. One year, Joey. Throwing that away now would be–"

"Would be what?" Joey interrupted, his frustration bubbling over. "Stupid? Irresponsible? You think I don't know how important my degree is? But that doesn't change the fact that we've got a baby on the way, Ash. How are we supposed to handle that if I don't step up and get a job?"

Ashley stepped forward, her hand resting on her stomach. "We'll handle it the same way we've handled everything else, together. You don't need to quit school. I'll figure it out."

Joey stopped pacing, turning to her sharply. "Figure it out how? By convincing your parents? Come on, Ashley. They cut you off the second they found out you were pregnant. What makes you think they're going to change their minds now?"

Ashley's jaw tightened, her voice steady but tinged with hurt. "Because they're my parents, Joey. And no matter how angry they are right now, they'll come around eventually. They love me."

Joey let out a bitter laugh, throwing his hands up. "Do they? Because abandoning you sure doesn't feel like love. And I'm not betting our future on maybe they'll change their minds."

Ashley's eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. "And I'm not letting you ruin your future because you think you have to do this alone. I didn't ask for this, Joey. I didn't ask you to drop out. I don't want you to drop out."

Joey clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. "It's not about what you want, Ashley. It's about what we need. What the baby needs."

Ashley stepped closer, her tone softening but still firm. "What the baby needs is a father who doesn't resent what he gave up. Do you really think you'll be happy if you throw everything away now? You've worked so hard to get here, Joey. Don't you see that? Don't you see how much it'll hurt us in the long run if you don't finish school?"

Joey stared at her, his jaw tight, his thoughts spinning. "And what if it's not enough, Ash? What if this degree doesn't fix things? What if I can't take care of us the way we need?"

Ashley let out a frustrated breath, stepping back. "You're not listening to me, Joey. I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for you to trust me. Trust us."

Joey shook his head, his voice quieter but no less tense. "I don't know if I can, Ash. Not when everything feels like it's on me."

Ashley was about to answer, but she stopped herself. She turned away and walked back down the hall with her shoulders slouched.

"I can't do this right now," she said, her voice low and tired. "I need to think."

She disappeared into the bedroom, closing the door behind her softly but firmly.

As Joey sat back down on the couch, the fight weighed on him like a heavy blanket.

With only the faint sound of the clock on the wall, the room was quiet.

Neither of them had found a resolution, and the space between them felt heavier than ever.

Joey slumped back on the couch, letting out a frustrated groan. "Ahh, why can't you just understand?" he muttered to the empty room.

He buried his face in his hands and felt like he could not breathe because of the tightness in his chest.

The weight of the argument was getting heavier by the second.

Not really, he wasn't mad at Ashley. He knew she was looking out for him and their future.

Not being able to shake the idea that it was all his fault and no one else shoulder this, he tried numerous times. shoulder this burden.

He took a quick look at his phone, which was lying on the coffee table.

The screen was dark and quiet, he considered reaching out to their friends.

Maybe Damon or someone else could offer advice, or at least a listening ear.

But he dismissed the idea just as quickly as it came.

They all had their own lives, their own problems.

Burdening them with his was the last thing Joey wanted to do. Besides, this was his responsibility. His family. His problem.

Joey leaned back on the couch, letting his head fall against the cushion.

He wanted to believe Ashley's optimism, that somehow things would work out, that her parents might come around. But deep down, he couldn't bring himself to trust that hope.

What if they didn't? What if this was it?

He stared at the phone again, his hand hovering over it for a moment before he pulled it back.

He didn't even know who he would call. The thought of asking anyone for help felt like admitting he'd already failed.

He let out a long, shaky breath and sat in the quiet, the sound of Ashley's door clicking shut earlier still echoing faintly in his mind.

Joey stood up.

Your journey continues at empire

He wandered into the kitchen, grabbing a glass from the cupboard.

The sound of the faucet running filled the silence as he poured water, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't quiet.

He took a long sip, letting the coolness of the water settle his nerves for a brief moment.

Setting the empty glass down on the counter, Joey exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair.

Returning to the living room, he picked up his phone from the couch, staring at the screen. His thumb hovered over the contacts list as a swirl of doubt and frustration consumed him.

Then he found the number.

He hesitated, his thumb trembling over the call button. "Come on," he muttered under his breath. "Just do it."

For a second, he almost convinced himself to put the phone back down.

But then, with a sudden burst of resolve, he muttered, "Fuck it," and pressed the call button.

The line rang.