One Hundred And One Sleepless Nights

It happened two years after Alex was born. I'd just moved into a kind of decent apartment after the dive I lived in after I left Vic. Even though I was at school doing my degree and already working for a clothes seller doing articles I'd taken a shoot to try and get some extra money for Alex's birthday. Vic had been looking after Alex for me.
When I got home Alex was already tucked away in bed. Vic was waiting for me wearing a black shirt and trousers - definitely not what he was wearing when I left. Once he'd seen me he stood up and grinned nervously. Vic told me there was a bottle of champagne in the fridge that he'd blown his money on - which was a downright lie because I saw the $6.00 sticker on the neck of the bottle. We drank the entire thing and Vic kept tapping his shoe against my coffee table. Then not long after he looked at me dead serious, pulled out a shiny diamond ring that must have cost a bomb and handed it to me. Then his eyes like saucers he asked 'marry me'. To which I replied 'no fucking way' before I handed the ring back and turned on the radio, humming along to Will Never Marry by Morrisey which seemed pretty darn fitting.
Now I collapsed down onto the couch, looking at Vic with wide eyes. He joined me and I struggled to get my words out. "You what?" I gasped. "You... got engaged?"
"Um... yeah." Vic replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"To a woman?" I asked and he nodded. "You're going to be someone's husband?" He nodded again. "Someone will be your wife?" another nod. "What he fuck, Vic?" I demanded.
"Zee-" he tried but I stopped him.
"You got engaged to someone in Germany?" I asked and he nodded. I suddenly started to laugh and grinned at him. "Good one, Vic! I never did get your jokes. But well done, you're funny." I said. But Vic wasn't laughing, he wasn't blinking. Just looking at me with serious eyes.
"It's not a joke, Zee. I'm serious." Vic admitted. But I just kept laughing. I couldn't stop laughing. It was turning quite scary now. If I laugh any harder I think I'll fall off the couch. The last time I laughed this hard was when Kate's boys tied Alan's shoe laces together when he was drunk and he fell head first into the toilet. "Stop. I'm not joking." he assured me.
"But you wouldn't get engaged! Not without telling me. Not without making sure Alex likes her. She could be evil... She's German! Were you asleep when they covered Hitler in History class?"
"Zandra," he sighed. "She's amazing. We met in this cute little coffee shop. We have so much in common. She plays guitar and piano. I don't know how... but I fell in love."
"You fell in love?" I echoed.
"Yeah and it's awesome, Zee. I love her." that made me feel like I was going to throw up. Someone may have well punched me in the throat.
"She's came home with you?" I asked quietly.
"Yeah, she's at mine unpacking right now." he explained.
"What's her name again?"
"Polly." Polly. That's a parrot's name. Not in a metaphorical 'she never shuts up, that one, nag, nag, nag, never having a mind of her own, the parrot' way. But in the 'actual sitting on a perch, bright feathers, Polly do you want a cracker' way. A bird covered in German, Nazi feathers.
"Congratulations!" I exclaimed. Apparently my mouth and brain aren't at all connected. "This is great! I'm so happy for you, Vic." I lied through my teeth.
"Thanks Zee. That means a lot. I thought you'd be mad at me." Fucking hell. There's a reason this Mexican isn't in with the Cholos. You need at least half a brain.
"Don't be silly." I forced a smile.
"I should go. Polly is waiting for me. I'll just so see Alex and say bye until Boxing Day." Vic said and disappeared.
He came back not long after before he kissed my cheek and left me alone. Alone in my apartment with Alex. Sat here engagement-less. While he's probably already fucking Polly. Polly the Parrot. What can I even do? My entire body is aching. I take deep breaths to prevent myself from crying. I can feel my entire form clench. It's childbirth all over again. At least then I had Vic. Now I just have Alex. Alex who can't even ride a bike with training wheels. How can she look after her distraught, emotionally unstable mother?
I walked calmly into Alex's room and found her asleep, lying on the floor watching a DVD. Vic must have put it on for her. I got some night clothes out and changed her before I tucked her into bed and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Your dad really is a complete and total wanker." I told her sleeping form.
I went back to the sitting room and grabbed my phone. I called Mike and leant up against the wall. I feel exhausted. "Hi Zee." he sighed.
"Is she prettier than me?" I asked sadly.
"No, she's not. I promise." he told me.
"Did you go with him to get the ring?"
"No, I actually tried to talk him out of it. I think he's fucking stupid. Who gets engaged like that? Did Frozen teach us nothing?" he joked.
"Who did?" I asked.
"Jaime." he replied.
"Can you come and watch Alex for me? She's asleep. You'd just have to sit here."
"I feel exhausted, Zee."
"Please?" I tried.
"Give me ten minutes." he sighed and hung up.
I waited a while until Mike knocked. I went to let him in and he wrapped his arms around me. He squeezed me and kissed my head. "How'd you know it would upset me?" I asked.
"Because I know you." Mike replied simply.
"If she wakes up just sit with her." I told him. Mike nodded and I walked last him.
I went down to my car and drove out of the parking garage. I headed for Jaime and Jess's house. When I got there I parked outside and got out, slamming my car door behind me. I marched to the front door and a sleepy Jaime answered.
"Zee." he smiled.
"You tosser!" I spat. I grabbed his hair and he yelped. I gripped hard and pushed him inside. I stopped when I got to the sitting room where Jess was watching anxiously.
"I'm sorry, Zee." Jess sighed.
"Watch the hair!" Jaime exclaimed.
"He's the one that should say sorry, the dense, brainless idiot!"
"What did I do?!" Jaime yelled. "Will you let go?!"
"You went with Vic to choose the ring." I snapped and backed away from him.
"Yeah... And?"
"You know how I feel about him! Christ, everyone knows."
"You haven't been with him for four years, Zee." Jaime widened his eyes.
"So?!" I exclaimed.
"So, I thought you'd got over it."
"Really?" I asked weakly.
"Yeah," he nodded. "If you have a problem with it then talk to him."
I frowned and looked down at the floor. "I would but I kind if have Alex to look after. We can't all go on tours and meet evil dictators and bring them home with us." I mumbled. "I should go, I'm sorry Jess, Jaime." I added.
"It's okay." Jess assured me and smiled.
"Thanks." I felt like I had to add before I turned and left them,

Notes

Hey! What did you think? Will Vic marry Polly the Parrot? I know there are a lot of jokes in this one and there were in the first chapter and the first story. But I am joking! I don't mean for anyone to get offended. I have no problem with German people, I'm not saying they're bad people. I have no problem with people who have mental health issues or disorders. I have mental health issues! If you're offended you can always message me. Just felt like I needed to put that out there! :)