The show must go on chapter 3: carpe diem
Cass sent her iciest stare over to DJ. But DJ was not in the mood to be intimidated: Cass was possibly the most horrible person she had ever met and all she wanted to do was scream at her. But DJ wasn't really that sort of girl. She knew that being nice didn't work on Cass so with shaking hands she just picked up Danny's letter and continued to read. Cass would decide to talk when she was ready.
Cass was quite taken aback by DJ's move. In fact, Cass was quite taken aback by DJ in general; she just seemed to not ever get flustered. Cass realised that being mean to DJ was not going to solve anything, so she did what frightened her most in the world: She was honest with her.
"I'm jealous of you"
DJ looked up in surprise: she hadn't expected Cass to mellow this easily. But then Cass was Addie's best friend and she probably wanted to please her by resolving this. She would have done the same for Kimmie. Then to her absolute astonishment a tear slipped down Cass's cheek. DJ went over to sit by her roommate. She put her arm around Cass and this time didn't shrug her off.
"You have a perfect family, who loves you so much they take days off work just to make sure you get to uni ok. Then before you even leave they send packages so that you won't feel alone on the first night. Your father writes 7 whole pages to his kid who he saw just a few days ago! Do you know the last time my Dad did anything like that for me? Never. That's an easy figure to remember. And my Mum doesn't bake anything for me; she is too busy with her precious make up and tennis to ever take notice of her stupid daughter."
DJ didn't know what to say. She felt so sorry for Cass not having attentive parents but she was also torn that at least both of Cass's parents were alive. "I don't want you to feel sorry for me Cass, but my mum doesn't do any baking for me." She paused wondering how to go on. She thought that the direct approach was probably best. "She died when I was ten. Her younger brother and my Dad's best friend moved in to help him cope. He puts so much effort into me and my sisters because we're all he's got."
When Cass heard that she wanted to hold her head in shame. She was always too quick to judge people; Addie was always telling her that. And then when she was wrong she was too shy to apologise. That was going to change, as of now, she decided. "DJ I'm sorry, please forgive me. I know I don't deserve it but if we could start over I'd be grateful."
DJ smiled at her newest friend. "Of course I forgive you. I completely understand where you're coming from. But if you want my advice it's best to focus on what you do have, rather than what you don't."
"I like that" Cass mumbled, thinking of Addie, her best friend who had stuck with her through everything "you know you aren't such a bad person DJ Tanner"
"You're not too shabby yourself Cassandra Marsden, so are we friends?"
"Always"
XXX
The school bell rang, signalling the start of the lunch break. Steph basically bolted out of the class room to the corridor where she promised she would meet Gia. When the two friends saw each other they hugged enthusiastically before realising that they were in high school and probably shouldn't act like they were still in middle school. "I'm so glad you're back, Gia"
"It's good to be back, well sorta."
The two friends caught up on their summer apart, both talking enthusiastically and interrupting each other. They got their food from the cafeteria, exclaiming how gross it was the entire time. Eventually they found a table. Before long Meredith Jones and Petra Davis came by. They had been the two most popular girls at Steph's old school. Meredith had been the queen bee and Petra was her sidekick. Gia's jaw dropped in astonishment. Meredith spoke to them, which shocked Gia even further.
"Hey Stephanie" she chirped "how's your day going, I just had math with Stevenson, he's such a bore. I think I'll talk to Daddy and get him to get me a new timetable."
Gia rolled her eyes. Steph just smiled, even though Meredith was a total air head she thought she was being immature, she didn't care. Meredith was talking to her! She felt special.
"Totally Mer, that's such a good idea" Steph replied. Gia noticed that Steph's voice was more high-pitched than usual. She frowned but didn't want to say anything and embarrass her friend.
"Anyways we should probably bounce, right Petra. Laters Stephanie, say hi to Mark for me."
Gia glared at Steph. "Ok what's going on? Since when are you friends with Jones and Davis? Those girls were horrible to you last year. Don't you remember them mocking you in PE and copying off you in tests? And you love Mr Stevenson; you said he was your favourite teacher."
Steph gulped. She should have known this was coming, but she wasn't going to let Gia tell her off. After all Gia was almost as bad as her when it came to trying to be popular.
"I don't know Gia. I guess they are just nice to be this year."
Gia decided to let it slide. After all it was just a conversation, it wasn't like they had completely brainwashed Steph. "Ok, sorry. It's just that the reason we became friends is because you stood up for yourself in front of those girls I used to hang out with. And I don't want you to get hurt."
"Relax Gia, everything is going to be fine. I won't let them suck me in."
XXX
Joey was exhausted. He loved kids to bits but sometimes he wished that he had a full time office job instead of being the housewife. Nicky and Alex both had tummy bugs and he had spent the entire day tidying up after them. He had made sure they were comfortable, held their heads when they threw up, bathed them and told them stories so that they didn't get bored. He had even unplugged the TV from his own room and brought it up to their room so the boys could watch Sesame Street in bed. And now to make it worse Alex was crying because he wanted some water, but when Joey tried to bring him some he just cried and turned away. The little boy just kept crying and crying and Joey didn't know what to do. In desperation he called Becky.
"Joey? What's up? I'm glad you called you just saved me from one of the most boring meetings of my life. I'm telling you, this producer business is killing me."
"That's great Becky. Um, I'm really sorry but the boys have gotten worse than this morning and Alex is crying. I can't make him stop." Joey was almost in tears himself.
"I'm on my way Joey." Said Becky, her voice instantly turning serious, Joey breathed a sigh of relief and hung up the phone. He went upstairs to sit the boys. Before he knew it Becky the front door slammed and Becky came running into the attic.
"Mummy!" Croaked Nicky, and Becky ran over to her son and hugged him tight. She then turned to Alex who was still sobbing
"What's wrong honey?"
"Nothing now you're here Mummy" said the little boy. He stopped crying and smiled. Becky smiled back and hugged him.
Joey watched the scene and felt like he wasn't even there. At times like these he felt like he was the only expendable member of the household. As much as he played father to other people's children, he was never as good as the real thing. He turned his back on the happy family and went down to the kitchen. He picked up the newspaper and began to read. In the employment section there was an advertisement for a comedian to join a troupe that was going to tour the States and Canada. It would last for six months. Normally Joey would never consider leaving but today had put things in perspective for him. He needed a life of his own, at least for a while. He took down the details of the ad and went to work on his CV.
XXX
Steph and Gia met by the steps after school finished. Gia decided not to mention anything about their mini fight at lunchtime. "Ready to go?"
"Definitely, it's been a long day."
They started walking when they were joined by Mark. For some odd reason, this gave Steph butterflies. She decided it must be because she was hungry. There couldn't be another reason.
"Hi Steph" he said in his quiet voice. Steph smiled at him and introduced him to Gia
"Want to walk home with us?"
"No, I have guitar practice but I'll see you girls later. It's good to see you looking happier Steph."
"Thanks Mark, see you round."
Gia suddenly realised why Meredith was suddenly so friendly to Steph, they were just using her to get to Mark. She hoped that Steph didn't get hurt. But she didn't want to antagonise her friend any further. So she just asked "was that Kimmie Gibbler's little brother then?"
"Yep that's Mark."
"Wow, he seemed really nice"
"Yeah he's ok" Steph agreed whilst trying not to blush and failing miserably. Gia noticed and just laughed
"And cute too." Steph was even redder than before
"He's ok I guess, well more than ok if you know what I mean." Gia chuckled and pulled her friend into a hug. They eventually reached Gia's place and Steph said goodbye.
When Steph got home she heard the sound of someone being sick. Nicky and Alex must still be feeling ill she thought to herself as she walked past the bathroom. But to her surprise it was Becky who came out a few seconds later.
"Sorry if I grossed you out Steph, I haven't been feeling all that flash."
"No you didn't at all Aunt Becky, it sucks that you've caught the twins' tummy bug though"
Becky nodded before running back to the bathroom.
"Ick that is soo gross" Michelle piped up from across the room. Steph just rolled her eyes at her sister.
"Ok then, let's go see if we can help Joey with dinner to take your mind off it."
XXX
DJ had been studying for her chem test all day and she felt that she had done enough so she went out into the living room to watch TV with Addie while Cass and Viv, who also did that course kept studying late into the night. After a while she decided to go to bed. When she went into her room she noticed that Cass had fallen asleep at her bed. Her roommate wanted to get into med school and as far as DJ was concerned Cass worked herself way too hard. She shook Cass awake.
"Huh" she mumbled.
"Come on, bed time young lady you've got a test tomorrow." DJ joked. Cass was too tired to retaliate to DJ's patronising and just nodded and walked over to her bed.
The next morning the three roommates woke early and went to the dining hall. There they saw all the other chem kids either reading over their notes at the last minute or sitting on their own silently going over what they knew. Viv wanted to talk about the test. She kept saying how important it was because it was a terms test and how nervous she was. DJ and Cass were too nervous to say much in reply to her. Any confidence DJ had been feeling last night had completely vanished. After breakfast they walked to the hall where their test was taking place. After what seemed like forever they were finally let in and they took their seats, listened to the invigilator's instructions and began the test.
XXX
When Becky woke up nauseous the next morning, she realised that this was exactly how she felt when she was pregnant with Nicky and Alex. This made her panic. She and Jesse had talked about having another child but that was a while ago. And then there was the added factor that they were running out of room in the attic, and she loved Jesse's family to bits. Everyone gelled so well. Any new place would seem empty with just her, Jesse and the kids. She realised she was just working herself up into a panic, this could be nothing.
Becky got dressed then met Danny in the kitchen for breakfast. They were the first up as the station wanted them in early that morning. While they were in the car Danny looked over to his sister in law
"Are you ok Becky? You seem a little quiet today."
"I'm fine" she replied automatically and in a very high-pitched voice. Danny just stared at her, amused.
"Please Becky, I've raised three girls. Something is wrong; you don't have to tell me if you don't want me to know."
Becky was silent for awhile so Danny just shrugged and turned the radio on.
"Actually, there is something, Danny could you please buy me a pregnancy test? I'm too nervous to do it myself." Danny looked a bit taken aback but then smiled. "Really Becky, another baby, that's great! Just as long as it's actually Jesse with you in the delivery room this time, not me"
"It's a deal."
XXX
"How did you find that?" Viv asked the others once the test was over.
"I'm toast" grumbled Cass, Viv and DJ rolled their eyes at each other; Cass worked her butt off and would probably be upset with 99%
"It was actually ok" DJ said "for our first test anyway."
The girls walked back to their dorm to find Addie on the phone to her mum working out arrangements for going home for thanksgiving. When Cass heard what the conversation was about she mumbled. "I've got a headache, I'll lie down for a bit." Her words fooled absolutely no one and before long Guns-N-Roses started blaring out of her stereo.
"I never picked her for a Gunners girl." Viv deadpanned. DJ punched her roommate playfully on the shoulder.
"Don't be mean. I'll go talk to her, since you can't stand Axl Rose."
"Bless you."
DJ went into her room and saw Cass sitting on her bed staring out into space. DJ walked over, sat next to her, and put an arm around her. Cass tried to smile at DJ but failed.
"No matter how many times they forget about me, it never gets any easier."
DJ looked at her friend. Cass on the outside seemed to have it all: looks, money and brains. But when it came to the most important thing of all, a loving family, she had pretty much zilch.
"That's good, because if it got easier it would mean that you didn't care so much. And if you didn't care so much you wouldn't be the Cass we all know and love."
"Well at least I have you guys." Cass looked a bit brighter. DJ then suddenly had an idea
"Hey, why don't you come have thanksgiving with us? My family would love you and it would totally take the attention off me."
"Would your family mind?" DJ felt guilty for a second about bringing a friend to something that had always been such an important family affair. But then what was thanksgiving about if not looking out for each other? She was sure Danny would come around to the idea.
"Of course not, they'd love you."
"Well in that case, count me in. I make the best cranberry sauce in the world, so you're lucky to have me!"
"Hah! I bet my little sister would totally disagree with you on that!"
"Well we'll just both have to make our sauce and then everyone can decide to see who reigns supreme."
"It's a date then"
"Definitely"
XXX
It was just as Becky feared. The test showed she was pregnant. She had taken it as soon she had a moment to slip away. She wanted to take it before she got home so she wouldn't have to worry about hiding it from everyone. When she next saw Danny she gave a slight nod, and smiled in spite of herself. Even with all the possible complications of having another baby in the house she couldn't wait to meet her new child. Danny came over and hugged her.
"Congratulations Becky" he looked absolutely ecstatic. "What did Jesse say?"
"Well I haven't told him yet."
"What? Why not?"
"I wanted to do it over dinner or something. Not just over the phone." Becky lied. But it seemed to satisfy Danny, he patted her on the shoulder and walked off.
Becky was sitting on the couch in the attic when Jesse came home. He was in a bad mood, he'd been up with the twins all night.
"Jess, we need to talk."
"Aw what now Becky, I'm hungry can't we just go have dinner?"
"Come sit down"
Jesse rolled his eyes, but he did as his wife said. He hoped it was something actually important, she had been acting so strange lately and he wasn't sure that he could put up with it on an empty stomach. "What's up?" Jesse said, trying to sound patient. Becky didn't say anything for a while. "Well what is it?" Jesse snapped impatiently. Now Becky was really worried. She took a deep breath
"Jess, I'm pregnant."
Jesse's face turned completely white and Becky panicked about what he was going to say next. But he didn't say anything he just bent down and kissed her for a long, long time. "I love you, Becky."
XXX
Everyone had gone to bed, but Steph was still awake. At around 12.30 her phone that was on its own phone line rang.
"Stephanie?"
"Yes"
"It's Meredith. Meet me outside your place in 15 minutes."
"What! Why?"
"Just do it ok?"
The line went dead.