One Hundred And One Sleepless Nights

Christmas is always a stupid time. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Gathering my family together can never go well. Kellin is sarcastic at best and an ass at worst. Kate may as well be the poster girl for multiple personality disorder. My mom can't handle her sherry and my dad is still wearing the wig. Oh and I'm pretty sure that Cope hates me.
Who's idea was it to celebrate Jesus's birthday anyway? You're the son of God, big whoop. I'm sure Jesus wouldn't want us all to exchange presents and fight over the table about who won the prize out of the cracker. Christmas is bad news.
I have no time for any of it. I still have to wrap all of the presents and pack our bags ready to stay at Mom's and phone the landlady and I said I'd take Alex to see Father Christmas. I don't know if I'd be able to fit it all in even if I wasn't working. But Miss I'm Going a To Steal Christmas is making me work late. I think she had children once but she probably ate them or sold them on the black market or something. I miss modelling.
"Zandra, are you even listening to me?!" Birdy - so named because of the beak of a nose on her face - herself snapped.
"I am. I am." I rushed.
"You're not leaving until the article is done and on my desk."
"But it's Christmas Eve Eve." I widened my eyes at her.
"Not here."
"I have to pick Alex up."
"You should arrange proper care for her then." Don't tell me how to raise my daughter. Just because I have proof I've gotten laid. They probably won't touch your lady palace with a ten foot barge pole.
"I should." I said tightly.
"You finish and you can go." she said.
Just as I was about to argue she stomped away like the troll she is. Defeated I walked back to my desk. "The bitch." Debbie said from behind my desk.
"Don't I know it." I muttered.
"Shall I call Jemma and ask her to pick Alex up again?" Laurie, my assistant asked.
"Please." I nodded.
"Why again?" Debbie asked.
"I've been here until seven every night this week, haven't I."
"Can you ask her dad to take her for the evenings?" Debbie asked.
"I wish. He's probably on a plane coming back from Germany right now." I explained. Debbie gave me a sympathetic smile and went back to her desk. She knew what it was like raising a child on your own.
I tried to go back to this ridiculous article - 'Real Fur - To Be Or Not To Be'. How did I get here you ask? A journalism degree and whole lot of bullshit. But I could feel people hovering over me. I looked up and saw Debbie, this time Laurie by her side. Isn't she supposed to be my assistant?
"What?" I asked.
"So, he's on the plane." Laurie said excitedly.
"Unless they've decided to hijack a boat and row home yes." I nodded.
"When are you seeing him?" Debbie asked.
"Um... soon probably. He'll want to see Alex on Boxing Day."
"Will you tell him?" Laurie asked.
"I don't know." I shrugged.
"You should." Laurie urged.
"No, don't!" Debbie exclaimed.
"Don't listen to her." Laurie added.
"I don't know what to do yet." I said awkwardly. Why did I tell them? I should have just kept my mouth shut after I told Jemma and Kate.
"It'll be so romantic!" Laurie gushed. "Your story is so romantic!"
"Romantic." I sneered.
"What's romantic about it?" Debbie asked like Laurie was stupid.
"Two people from different circles-"
"Not really." I stopped her.
"Brought together by a burning passion-"
"There was zero passion."
"Friends. Lovers. Parents-"
"Not that good friends."
"A beautiful little girl was born! They were the perfect family until an evil floozie came along and tore it all to shreds!"
"Evil floozie," I laughed. "Stop being so dramatic. He hooked up with a lot lizard in Vegas."
"But you're being brought together again. Just like you got together again before."
"Actually they've gotten together seven times." Debbie teased.
"Shut up." I mumbled.
"It's like fate! Just tell Vin how you feel!"
"Vic." I corrected her.
"See, you know his name. You're meant to be."
"Of course." I rolled my eyes.
"Can we stop talking about Zandra's love life and start working." Birdy snapped.
I clicked on my computer and smiled up at her smugly. "All done and sent." I told her.
"About time." she clicked her tongue before her heels clicked all the way to her office (with her in them obviously).
"Bitch." Laurie and Debbie said in unison.
"She hates fur anyway." I said.
"Her Jimmy Choos are probably fake." Debbie added.
"Just like her boobs." Laurie said seethingly.
"Anyway, I'm finished," I declared. "Have a lovely Christmas, ladies." I said.
"Tell him! Listen to your heart!" Laurie called as I grabbed my handbag. I rolled my eyes at her and waved on my way out, spinning my car keys around my finger.
I headed out of the building and went to the parking lot. I got into my car and pulled out, heading for Jemma and Austin's place. I tapped on the steering wheel as I was turning down their street. Just before I reached it my car filled with the sounds of Vic's voice. I sighed and switched the radio station over as I parked.
I got out and walked up their path to the front door. I knocked a few times and could hear frantic shuffling behind the door. "Zee!" Jemma exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"Um... picking up Alex. Laurie did call you?"
"Yeah, um... come in." she bit down onto her lip. I walked inside and frowned.
"Where's my baby?" I asked.
"Okay, don't be mad!" Jemma said carefully. "But I think I've lost Alex. I'm really sorry! I'll get you a replacement! She was here a moment ago. Where's Austin? Austin!" she called frantically. "We need to have sex to get me pregnant! We owe Zee a baby!" she yelled.
"We do not." Austin said appearing.
"Where's Alex?" I asked him.
"Um... I definitely saw her..." he trailed away.
"Alex!" I called. Nothing. "We're going home!" Again nothing. "Okay, I'll just tweet Santa and tell him to send your presents to the children in Africa off of the t.v. ad!" I yelled. Within seconds I heard her running to me. Blackmail. It always works.
"Santa has twitter?" Austin asked me.
"Obama has twitter. Why wouldn't Santa?"
"Don't hide like that again." Jemma told her.
Alex grinned up at me, her curly dark hair falling into her eyes. She did that thing where she put her head down and looks sideways, just like Vic does. "Have you been good?" I asked.
"I'm always good." she smirked.
"Sure you are." I put my hands on my hips. Alex suddenly ran to me and I leant down to hug her. She gave me a big kiss and took my hand. I straightened up and looked to Austin and Jemma. "Thanks guys."
"No problem. We'll drop by with the presents before you go." Austin told me.
"Thanks." I smiled.
"Good luck with Vic." he added.
"What? You know?" I widened my eyes.
"Sorry!" Jemma exclaimed.
"Not a word. Especially not to the princess." I said, looking down to Alex.
"Obviously. But you'll be fine. We all know why you haven't been together."
"Not this speech. Can we do it later? She needs dinner."
"Sure." Austin smiled.
I took Alex and her school bag and went out to the front. We walked to my car and after I got her in I started up. We started driving and I sighed. Whys it taken me so long to realise what I want from Vic? What do I want? I want him, badly. After all this time how do I tell him? He might not want to be with me. Before he left for tour he was leaving hints.
When we got home I took Alex up to our apartment and gave her dinner. Then I went about changing and my make up and my hair. It's been a while. I want to make sure I look good. Just as I was starting to freak out I got a text from Mike. I looked at it and frowned. 'We just got back. Vic should be on his way over...' Why '...'? Why not just one? I don't know what's going on.
"Mommy!" Alex called.
"Hmm?" I asked.
"Someone's at the door. Can I answer?" she asked.
"Go ahead." I urged.
Alex went out into the hall and I could hear Vic shout "How's my favourite girl?!" Oh God, he sounds sexy. What do I do? What do I do?! Vic came into the sitting room carrying Alex over his shoulder. I chewed on my lip anxiously and Vic grinned at me. "Hey Zee." he said warmly. He put Alex down and gave her a big hug. "I brought you lots and lots of presents but I need to talk to your mom first. Go and get that picture you told me about." he urged. Alex smiled wide and ran off into her room.
"Talk about what?" I asked.
"I wanted to take Alex on Boxing Day if that's okay?"
"Sure. For how long?" I asked.
"Through to New Years Eve. I haven't seen her for so long." and who's fault is that? I looked at his eyes and frowned.
"That isn't what you wanted to tell me." I said.
"Zee..." he sighed. "Something happened on tour... when we were in Germany I met someone. Her name is Polly. We're engaged."
"What?" I asked weakly.
"I'm engaged, Zee."
"What?!" I demanded.

Notes

Hey! Got this up sooner than you thought, right? I don't know how far I'll get with this or how quickly it'll be written. I don't even know if I'll be able to finish it. But I'll try for you, warning though I am finding a lot of stuff really difficult. Anyway, what did you think? Why did they really stay apart? What will happen?! :)