Previously at 24 College Avenue: While most of her housemates are running around Europe drinking champagne with Arabian princes, playing basketball and chasing terrorists, Jenn Robbins is dealing with a far weightier issue – she’s pregnant. And linebacker Kenan Hill, eager to resume his relationship with med student Cheryl Bellamy, has a good idea who the father is. . . .

Cheryl’s tennis shoe struck the bedroom wall with a resounding THONK. “Hey,’’ she called to her housemates on the other side of the wall, “can you keep it down in there? We’re trying to have a conversation in here!’’

The passionate sexual howls of the new housemates, Monica and Renee, suddenly stopped. “Sorry!’’

Cheryl looked at Jenn laying on the bed and shook her head. “Those two never stop, do they? God, can you imagine what Katie would say if she knew what was going on in her old bedroom? She would go AWOL and come back here for a bible intervention.’’

Jenn smiled weakly. Either she had grown used to the sounds or, like most things these days, she just didn’t care anymore about the lesbians who had moved into the room next door.

“I’m not gonna lie to you – I kind of envy them,’’ she said. “They can have sex all day and never worry about getting pregnant.’’

An awkward silence filled the room. Cheryl had taken a night off from studying for the express purpose of talking to Jenn and seeing how she was doing. But as soon as she entered Jenn’s room, the subject of her pregnancy was so uncomfortable that she didn’t know what to say. As the silence grew longer, Cheryl decided the only way was to cut right to the subject.

“So have you decided what you want to do?’’

Jenn sat up and drew her arms around her legs. She rocked backed and forward nervously.

“Yeah,’’ she said slowly. “I think I’m going to have the baby and give it up for adoption.’’

Cheryl looked surprised. “Are you sure? You know there’s another option.’’

“I know. I know. And I thought about it soooo long. I mean, I really thought about it. And I’m not gonna lie to you – I decided to end it a couple times. But I don’t know, it’s hard to explain but it just always ended up seeming wrong to me.’’

“Really?’’ Cheryl asked sympathetically. “I thought you were Pro-Choice. You certainly argued that way with Katie that one night. My, my, my, what an argument that was. I thought Nicollette and Katie were going to start fighting. And Danny hoped they would. He said they should settle it the old-fashioned way – wrestling in the mud in the backyard. God, what a pig he is.’’

“Yeah, I remember that,’’ Jenn said. “It just seems like sooo long ago.’’ She paused and looked down at her toes. “I am Pro-Choice. I believe it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to do with her body. And I decided that for me, right now, what’s right to have the baby and give it up for adoption.’’

Cheryl nodded. She knew it hadn’t been an easy decision for her housemate and knew she needed support. Cheryl got out of her chair and crossed the room. She sat down and took Jenn by the hand. “It’s not going to be easy, you know that. But if that’s what you want to do, I’ll be there to help.’’

Jenn started sniffling. “Thanks, Cheryl. That means so much to me right now. I’m not gonna lie to you, with everyone gone this summer, it’s been soooo lonely here. You’ve been like the one friend I have and I want you to know how much I appreciate it.’’

Cheryl help open her arms and Jenn fell into them easily, breaking down into tears. She sobbed uncontrollably as Cheryl stroked her forehead, repeatedly telling her not to worry, that it would all work out in the end. Finally, Jenn stopped crying and looked up at her housemate, her mascara leaving black racing stripes down her cheeks.

“Dammit,’’ Jenn said. “My mascara is staining your shirt. I’m sorry.’’ And then she began crying again.

“Hey, don’t worry, honey, don’t worry. It’s no big deal. Everything is going to be fine.’’

“No, it’s not,’’ Jenn said, choking her tears. “The first time I see someone else wearing the Red Devil costume, I’m gonna break down, I just know it. I know that sounds trivial and it is but I love being the Red Devil. But God, that’s the least of my problems. I mean, what are my parents going to say when I tell them I’m pregnant? What’s the father going to say?’’

“You mean you still haven’t told him?’’ Cheryl said. “Honey, you got to tell him before you decide anything or sure.’’

“I know, I know.’’ Jenn said. She sniffed several times and wiped her eyes with the tail of her t-shirt. “And that’s something I wanted to talk to you about.’’

Jenn was about to continue when the front door slammed loudly below. “DAMN!’’ they heard Kenan shout as he stormed into the house. “It is it ever going to cool down? It had to be 100 degrees today in the shade. I must have sweated off 20 pounds at work today!’’

Cheryl couldn’t help herself but laugh. “I don’t know why he would be sweating. He told me all he does at work is sit around talking football with the boosters who set him up with the job.’’ Cheryl looked at Jenn and saw that she was on the verge of tears again. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to change the subject. I’m here for you. I’m all ears. You were going to tell me something about the father?’’

But it was no use. Jenn couldn’t bring herself to speak any further. She just sat there for a moment with her mouth wide open, the words stuck somewhere in her throat. And then she fell sobbing into Cheryl’s arms.

There was a knock at the door and Monica opened it a crack. “Hey, me and Renee are going to order some pizza -- you two interested?’’ she asked, then saw Jenn in Cheryl’s arms. “Oh, wow. Hey. I’m really, really sorry. I didn’t know.’’ Embarrassed she closed the door quickly.

“No, wait!’’ Cheryl called. “You have the wrong idea.’’

“Yeah, sure. Whatever,’’ Monica called from the other room. “Just keep it down over there, will you? Some of us have class in the morning.’’

Next: World Cup