Chapter 8
by Punk

(Jeremey's POV)

Jacey wasn't better by lunch like Andy thought she would be. She just sat there, between me and Dusti, staring into her food. She didn't touch it, just stared at it. I was worried about her. Had been for the last few days. I asked her if she was okay and she just kinda shrugged. I was glad when the bell rang, because Jacey looking so terrible caused an awkward silence over our normally buzzing table.

I couldn't get Jacey off my mind for the rest of the day. When the bell finally rang I meant Hanna by my car.

"Do you know what's been up with Jacey?"
Hanna shrugged her shoulders. "I don't now about Jacey but something is up with Jack and Jordan...Well actually, I think Aila might know about Jacey. But I wouldn't be asking her."

Hanna pointed behind me and my jaw dropped. Aila walked by with a jock guy from our biology class. He played football, I think his name was Shawn Dicamo or something like that. She was holding his hand and giggling. I looked away and tasted vomit. She broke my brother's heart for that?

Hanna put her hand against my arm. "Let's get out of here." I nodded and we went to my car.

Aila's new boyfriend was the talk of band practice that night. I didn't like it at all and eventually I told the guys to shut up about it. But not before I caught what they said about my sister.

"Word is Jacey's been screwing him too." I turned right around.
"Who?" I asked looking at each of my band mates.
"Shawn DiCamillo."

My jaw dropped to the floor. Aila's new guy was my sister's boyfriend, and my half brother's father's son. I tasted vomit for the second time that day. I held my stomach and turned away. This was too much. I needed to talk to Josh. But first I needed to see Cole.
I got home with Hanna faster than legal. I ran straight upstairs for Cole's room, not even bothering to take anything off. My bag with my drum sticks was still strapped around my shoulders when I threw the door to Cole's room open. Cole looked up at me, he was sitting on his bed, wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of black cargo pants. He had his guitar in his hand and a cigarette was sitting on the ashtray by the window.

"What do you want?" He asked.

His dark hair hadn't seen soap or a comb in days, it hung limp and greasy, in his eyes, down on his ears and on his neck.

"Aila is dating Josh's half brother." I said, brushing my dark hair out of my eyes and looking at Cole.
He sighed. "Yeah, well, whatever. She aint my chick anymore, she can screw who she wants." He took a drag of his cigarette and sat his guitar down next to the bed.
"There's more, Jacey was dating him before." Cole's eyes widened. "What?"
"Jey...Jacey's pregnant." He took another drag. "I guess he broke up with her when she broke the news to him."

I shook my head. Jacey was pregnant? This just made things a lot more complicated.

"You got another of those cigs?"

Cole smirked putting out the butt of cigarette. "Nope, I only stole one from Dad's secret stash."
"A razor, heroin?" I asked quickly. Cole chuckled and shook his head. "Damn, I'm gonna need it after I talk to Josh."
Cole smirked. "Good luck, bro." I nodded and left the room.

(Josh's POV)

"I have a what?" I asked staring at my youngest brother.
"A half brother by Dico. He's the father of Jacey's baby and Aila's new boyfriend."
I growled in disgust. "He's no brother to me. Dico's dead to me. I have no brother but my mother's sons."

That came out cold and cruel. I didn't care. Jeremey knew I wasn't on speaking terms with Dico. I wanted nothing to do with him. And I didn't want to be put in the middle of the mess that was forming.

"But Josh...this is Jacey we're talking about. You've got to do something about this."
"What can I do? You want me to strangle the runt because he doesn't want to be a father? I have two kids I know what's it like, if he wants to be an ass and not take responsibility then fuck him, Jacey's better off without him."

"I know. But this also about Cole. I mean He's a thousand times better then this guy, and Aila is with him." Jeremey looked at me pleadingly.
"Alright what is it you want to me do? Convince Shawn, or whatever his name is, to be a father to his baby so Aila will come running back to Cole? I doubt it will work that way. Besides, I've told you a million times, I am not associating myself with Dico."
"Dico's sins are not the sins of his son. And you're his son as well. Josh please. For Jacey and Cole."
I sighed finally giving in. "Fine, I'll talk to him. But don't expect anything to come out of it." I got up and Jeremey gave me a small smile. I frowned and left the room.
"Where are you going?" Amy asked coming up to me. She held Jamie close and Aiden followed behind her.
"I'll be back soon. I have to see to something." I kissed my wife and my kids and then I left.

I sighed to myself remembering something. If Shawn was Dico's son, then he was Aila's cousin as well as my half brother. Aila's mother had been my aunt by my biological father. I doubt Jeremey had realized this, but it gave me a good reason to get involved. It took all I had in me to knock at Dico's apartment. I just about threw up when he opened the door.

"Josh? What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk." He let me in and I didn't waste any time. "Why didn't you tell me about Shawn?"
Dico looked away. "I um...I didn't think you wanted to know about him."
"Damn right. But I got no choice now. Shawn got my sister pregnant. And now he's dating his cousin." I crossed my arms
"What?" Dico looked at me. "But why do you care?"
"This is about Jacey and Aila. I doubt that Shawn and Aila know they are cousins. As for Jacey, your bastard isn't gonna just knock my sister up and leave."
"Hey, your brother isn't a bastard."
"But I am. Look, I'd rather not even be here, but obviously I am. Now you need to talk to your son, because other wise my brothers will be looking for him." I went over to the door and left without waiting for a response.