One Hundred Sleepless Nights

My eyes opened and I blinked into the semi dim light. How can things change so much in such a short space of time? Yesterday everything was wrong. Well Austin was happy and Alan I'm sure had gotten himself laid. But Vic didn't kiss me back, so in my little world everything was wrong.
But today it's all different. Kate's morning text has never made me smile more. I've never bared Mike's snores as well as now. And I definitely think my glass is half full - even if it isn't with vodka. Everything is just right. I am Vic's girlfriend!
I never thought I would say that. My relationship with Vic has always been so bizarre. We hated each other. Then we loved each other - be it for only a few minutes. Then we hated each other again. Then we kind of had to pretend like we liked each other. Then we actually did. Then Vic didn't kiss back so I hated him again. Now I love him. Even better, I think he loves me too.
I couldn't lie down any longer so I got up. I got down from my bunk and went into the front lounge of the bus. I saw Jaime sat on the couch and went to join him. "Morning." I said sleeping.
"Zee." he greeted me.
I felt the baby kick and groaned. "Ugh!" I exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Jaime asked.
"Everything is so stupid!" I grumbled.
"Um what's stupid?"
"Everything!" Well there goes my new optimistic outlook on life.
"You're not going to cry, are you?" he asked anxiously.
"So what if I am?" I asked and crossed my arms across my chest.
"Vic!" Jaime suddenly called. He looks rather scared and panicked. Bless him.
"What's wrong?" Vic asked sleepily. He was walking into the front lounge. He was only wearing boxers too. Mmmm.
"It's Zandra!" Jaime exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Vic asked me.
"Everything is stupid!" I said, gesturing wildly with my arms.
"Why?" Vic frowned.
"This stupid baby."
"Our baby isn't stupid." Vic said gently. He came over and sat next to me. Then he wrapped his arm around me and kissed my head.
"But it keeps kicking me and I don't like it." I complained.
"The baby's been kicking?!" he asked excitedly. Oh shit, did I not tell him?
"Um maybe."
"Zee?"
"Maybe the baby may have kicked like crazy the other day."
"When?" he rushed.
"When you were annoying me."
"I never annoyed you."
"You did, because I remember blaming you and Austin for making the baby kick."
"Can I feel?" Vic asked.
"Um sure." I said awkwardly. Vic put his hand on my stomach and sighed. I don't know why, the baby isn't kicking. I looked around and tried to find something to look at. But Vic turned my face gently to face him and leant down to kiss me. My lips met his and I kissed him. Vic sat there kissing me while his hand was resting on my stomach, which to say the least was a little bit weird.
Suddenly the door was thrown open and Austin came running in. We pulled away and I raised my eyebrows at Austin. "What's up?" I asked. Oh no, he was crying. Why was he crying? Man up.
"It's Jemma." he explained.
"Is she pregnant?" I asked. Austin shook his head and sniffled. "Is she dead?" I asked and he started to cry harder. "I didn't mean it! If she is dead I'm sure it wasn't your fault." I said quickly. He flopped down onto the couch next to me and wrapped his arms around me. I patted his back and tried to get him to stop crying. I hate crying boys.
"She's left me."
"Oh," I frowned. "Why?"
"I made out with someone else." he admitted.
"Who was it?" I asked.
"Um... I don't know." he replied awkwardly.
"Stop being silly. Who did you make out with?"
"Courtney." he said reluctantly.
"Who's Courtney?" I asked.
"Jemma's twin sister." Well fuck.

We're back home now and Austin has been moping here too. Normally he would mope with Alan but Alan has gone to see his family for a week. I'm kind of a back up. I would hope that he'd just deal with it and move on. But apparently not. Every morning for a week how Austin has knocked on our door at 9am. Then he doesn't leave until at least 10pm. Vic is considering charging him rent because he eats all our food, uses all our water and sasses all our neighbours.
Today Austin has just made us lunch - him eating twice as much as me. I think he's using food as a replacement for Jemma. It's not going to work, he's just going to get fat. I've tried telling him this but I'm scared he'll cry again. I really don't want crying.
It was Austin's fault anyway. When he told me I hoped that maybe he saw Courtney and thought she was Jemma. He made out with her and then realised she was in fact not his lover. But it turns out he knew she wasn't Jemma all along and just wanted a good kiss. I don't know it this says more about Courtney or Austin, but I honestly don't have the energy to find out.
"Zee." Austin said and I raised my eyebrows.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Can you help me get Jemma back?" he asked seriously.
"Um how?" I asked cautiously.
"You'll think of something," he said. "Please." Austin begged.
"Um sure." I agreed. I'll probably regret this later.
There was a knock on the door and Austin got up from moping base one a.k.a. my couch. He slumped over to the door and opened it. I heard a hysterical sob and sat up. Then Kate came into the room, with Copeland and the boys in tow. She pushed poor little Coco on Austin and hurried over to me.
"Hey Kate." I said.
"Hey." she snuffled.
"Everything okay?" I asked cautiously.
"No!" she sobbed and started crying. What is it with crying people these days? It's only okay if I do it. Now she's crying too hard to reply. I hug her to try and calm her down but it doesn't seem to be doing much good.
"What's up?" I asked the boys.
"Not much."
"We're okay." They shrugged. Hmm seems like it.
"I meant with your mom."
"Oh, why didn't you say that?" I'll kill them.
"It's Kellin."
"He upset her." they explained.
"What do I do with her?" Austin asked urgently. I think he's panicking. He looks more scared than Cope actually.
"Put her down. Let her go play on the freeway." I laughed.
"Don't." Kate warned. At least she's stopped crying. "Come here, Princess!" Kate called. I don't think Cope is quite a Princess, just look at the glares she's been giving Austin. Cope came over to Kate and was swept up for a tight, wet hug.
"What did Kellin do?" I asked.
"Don't say his name!" she exclaimed.
"Well, what did you know who do?" The boys are looking at me like I'm insane. Now I'm sure they think there mother is having an affair with Voldemort.
"I went to visit him on the bus. He was on his own and then I heard a woman in his bunk. He shut her up and chased after me but I ran away." she explained tearily.
"Oh no. Are you sure?" I asked.
"Of course I'm sure!" she exclaimed.
"Do you want a hug?" I asked and she pouted and nodded. I hugged Kate and spat her hair out of my mouth. There was another knock at the door and I looked to Austin. He nodded and went to answer.
A minute later I looked up. "Fucking hell." I muttered. Mom and Dad walked into the sitting room. Together. Holding hands. I don't like the look of this. They beamed at me and I pulled away. Kate saw them and it made her forget her woes for a moment. Just a moment.
"Good news!" Mom exclaimed. "We're back together!" she told the room.
"What?" Kate gasped.
"Fuck!" I exclaimed.
"Zee." Dad warned.
"Ew." Cope muttered.
"Shh." Austin told her.
"We've decided to get back together. I left my girlfriend and we moved my things into the house a few days ago. Isn't it brilliant!" Dad said.
"Brilliant." I echoed dryly.
"We just realised that we love each other. That's why we've been so horrible, it's because we love each other." Mom explained and kissed Dad long on the lips. Doesn't that rule only apply to first graders?
"How's the pregnancy going?" Dad asked.
"Fine." I shrugged.
"Sorry I haven't been here, Zee. But we're all a family again." Mom and Dad hook up and suddenly we're the fucking Brady bunch. "This is a nice place." Dad noted.
"It's Vic's." I explained.
"He must have some money." he grinned. Oh God. "You should try to settle down with him. You'd make a lovely couple." Apparently love can do strange things. Either that or my dad has found Jesus. Or he just realised that him being so stupid over my pregnancy will mean he won't see his grandchild and that he'll miss out on all those extra presents for his birthday. Probably the latter. My dad is a gold digger.
"What's wrong, Kate?" Mom suddenly asked.
"I've left Kellin!" she gasped.
"Don't cry over it. You'll make your forehead go all blotchy." Dad said.
"I will?" she asked.
"You're not a graceful crier." Mom said knowledgeably.
Then the door knocked again. What else? If I get anymore surprises I think I'll go into early labour. Austin went to get it and I patted Kate on the back. Mom and Dad have only made her more conscious of the fact the more she cries, the uglier she becomes. Poor thing.
"Kate!" Kellin exclaimed. Oh God. He was standing there looking windswept, with red eyes and holding a box of Jimmy Choo's.
"What are you doing here?" Kate asked.
"To explain everything."
"I don't want to hear it!" she huffed and pushed Cope in my face. I took her and put her on my lap. Cope was bewildered looking in between her parents.
"I got you these." Kellin said and handed her the box. She took them sulkily and peered inside. She saw the beautiful, expensive black patterned heels and her face lit up. She slipped off her shoes and put the new ones on.
"I love them." she said. I wonder if Vic and I argued he'd buy me a pair of Jimmy Choo's.
"I never had a girl on the bus." he told her.
"Then what was all that noise? I heard a woman!"
"I was... um ...you know..." he trailed away.
"Oh for God's sake." I mumbled.
"Zee." Austin said and handed me a chunk of chocolate. He's definitely using food as a replacement. I took it and handed Cope some. She looked at me happily before she started munching on it.
"I was watching a video online!" Kellin suddenly exclaimed. I clapped my hands over Cope's ears and she frowned at me.
"Really?" Kate asked hopefully.
"I promise. And you came before it even got to a good bit." Kellin said and I started to giggle. Kate shot me a look and I shut up. Kate threw her arms around Kellin and they kissed passionately right in the middle of the sitting room.
"Awh." Mom gushed. Her and Dad were watching fondly before they started kissing as well. Is any of this real? Am I the only one that doesn't find this cute? At least Cope doesn't seem impressed.
"What the hell is going on here?" Vic asked. He'd just walked in and was looking around the room astonished. He came over to me and pecked me on the lips. He sat down and was looking completely and utterly confused.
"Well see Austin is depressed and using food as a replacement for love. Kate and Kellin broke up because Kellin was watching porn and she thought he was cheating on her. My parents hooked up and are now back together. They also accept my pregnancy and want to be involved in the baby's life apparently. But I think they've been swayed by your money." I explained. "Did I get everything?" I asked Austin.
"I'm not depressed!" Austin said desperately. But then destroyed the illusion by shoving more chocolate into his mouth.
"Of course not." I told him. Then I turned back to Vic to mouth 'he is'.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? I've been gone forever I know. And I know I said before this is off hold and how I'm back on this. But this time I mean it! I have a plot and everything! So please tell me if you liked this. I really want your feedback! This chapter was so fun for me to write. But the next one will be even better! :)