CHAPTER 41

~ Disquieting Deed ~

-Three Days Later-

This is the last weekend before the final day in the House and there are big plans for tonight to kill it one last time at Karma, of course. Jenni is laying out her clothes while Nicole rests on her old bed.

Nicole, "You already look hot and you haven't even gotten ready yet. Makes me miss getting ready so much."

Jenni, "I thought you would be used to the idea of stayin in by now."

Nicole, "Just like having to sit on my now wide ass?"

Jenni smiles, "No?"

Nicole, "Never."

Jenni continues, "So you still have it set in your mind that you are comin back right after havin Lorenzo huh?"

Nicole smiles, "The date's set for Sunday."

Nicole has met with her Doctor and they agreed that Lorenzo is developed enough to where it will be fine to induce labor. Nicole doesn't want to drag out the process any longer, she is restless and she wants to jump right to settling into Motherhood as soon as possible.

Jenni shakes her head.

Jenni, "I think it's crazy. You should go home and be with your son and forget this mad house."

Nicole, "I hear you but I love this place. It's what's given us everything we have today…and one of the Meatballs has to come back to represent the last day in the house."

Jenni, "Yeah I think it's safe to say, Deena's not comin back. I haven't heard from her."

Nicole, "Me neither. I tried calling the other day but Deena's Mom said she took 'Leena and is staying at her Cousin's house."

Jenni, " 'The hell is that all about?"

Nicole, "I don't know but it could be nothing at all."

Jenni, "Let's hope."

Jenni looks at the time now.

"We've got a long time before we actually leave. Wanna grab an early dinner? I probably won't do anything but try to make it home later and then pass out soon after."

Nicole, "Sure. I'm always down for food these days."

Jenni puts on something comfortable for the time being and then she and Nicole leave out after seeing if anyone else wanted to come. It's a no, so it is just she and Nicole.

-On the Other Side of Town-

"…I can't believe you're gonna leave your daughter for this."

Deena is steady tossing things from her bed into her suitcase. She is hardly listening. Deena is tired of her Mother telling her what is best for her daughter so she stresses the fact that Pauleena is not her daughter.

"I'm not leaving her Grandma, I'm only going there for a week and then I'm coming back."

Joann ignores the reference, "So is it really worth it? Just stay home!"

Deena continues, "I miss my family away from home. I've spent enough time here and I feel like I'm ready to end the summer on a good note in Seaside. They are throwing a big party next weekend and I want to be apart of it."

Joann, "Then go for next weekend. I don't see the point in it Deena."

Deena, "Of course you wouldn't. You haven't understood anything up to this point here lately."

Joann, "You're damn right I haven't. I don't understand you now. Yeah, you've been a little wild as a teenager but you've always had your head screwed on right. Ever since you've gotten involved with the house, you've just been makin bad choices Dee'."

Deena, "…aaannd you've let me know that ever since I've been back. I think I feel worse now than when I was in the house. That's exactly why I left to stay with Torrie."

Joann, "No you left because you're runnin from your problems. It'll be the same thing if you leave now. 'Leena is just getting used to you being home, it's time for you to forget this partying and see about your daughter."

Deena fumes now.

"Is this about Pauleena or is this really about you trying to control my life Mom?!"

Deena continues after her Mother doesn't respond.

"I'm going and that's final. It's what I want to do!"

Joann, "Okay Deena Nicole, I'm tired of lecturing you. You go on ahead and do what you want now, but you know where doing what you want got you last time. I've got a bad feeling about this because you're not ready."

Deena is about to respond but Joann doesn't give her the chance.

"…Goin back to that House, I hope for your sake you don't end up worse off than you left."

That so does it. Deena has just finished packing and as fast as she can, she starts to get everything by the front door so she can load her car up.

Soon enough she is ready to go. If she hurries, she can make it to Seaside before it starts to get dark. After kissing her daughter goodbye, who is napping, she finally gets in her car. She can now hear her mother yelling out the house before closing her door.

"If I get another call, I'm not comin this time! You pick up your own pieces!"

With a slam of the car door, Deena starts the rental (her town car is on the fritz) and speeds out of the driveway and peels it down the road.

-Later on Before Karma-

Everyone is now in preparation for the night out. Jenni is alone in the girls' room getting dressed and the boys are in their space doing the same. Sam is the first one ready and she is in the kitchen grabbing a bottle of water when she hears the front door open.

She looks around when hearing the voice.

"Hello? Anyone home?"

Sam, "Dee?"

Deena appears in the kitchen and she rushes Sammi. Sammi is shocked but she greets her nonetheless. After they hug Sammi steps back and responds.

Sam, "Oh my God…you are not here right now."

Deena laughs, "What, you don't want me to be either?"

Sam, "No…I'm just shocked."

Deena, "Well, I had to come back. I told you I would. (Rolling her eyes) I went through hell before coming here but I know it's worth it now."

Sam, "So when did you decide to come back? When I talked to you the day before yesterday, you were all I'm not leaving this house, my Mom is getting on my nerves."

Deena, "After a talk with my Cousin, I decided it was the best thing for me to get away for a little bit. I know I won't be able to live with myself if I miss the last day in the house."

Sam, "Well if no one else understands, everyone here will. Don't we always leave and come back?"

Deena jokes, "Yep, not even jail can hold us."

Sammi and Deena laugh when Deena continues.

Deena, "So has anyone been asking about me?"

Sam knows right away, "If by anyone you mean Pauly, then no."

After seeing the look on her face, she continues.

"He did mention if he should invite you to the celebration next week."

The concept of what happened is not exactly the concept she is placing into Deena's head right now but she wants her to come back into the house with her head held high. If this does it, then mission accomplished.

Deena gets a smirk on her face so Sammi leaves it at that.

Deena, "So what's the plan for tonight? I see you're dressed, it's just a matter of what Club right?"

Sam, "Yep. Karma."

Deena, "Awesome. Let me bring my bags in and I'll get ready."

Sammi goes with Deena to help and then they get her things into her room with Jenni.

A little later, the guys are in the front room as always waiting for the girls. No one has seen them and when Sammi comes out, Ron responds after looking at his watch.

"What the hell Sam? What's takin you all so long? You're already dressed."

Vinny, "I know. It's been longer than normal."

Sam, "You're one to talk now Vin'."

Vinny, "Whatever. Are you ready to go or what?"

Sam smiles, "We can go. Everyone's ready."

That doesn't register until Jenni and Deena walk out from the back. Vinny is the first to comment.

"What da hell…?"

Ron, "I know. What the hell was this free Deena now? When'd you get here?"

Deena, "Good to see you too Ron. I got here while everyone was getting dressed."

Ron, "Well I never said I wasn't glad to see you…I'm just (gesturing) I don't know, we didn't think you were comin back."

Deena, "I told you I was. I just didn't know when it would happen."

Vinny just has the biggest smirk on his face.

Ron, "Well, welcome back Dee'."

Vinny chimes in, "So are you okay now?"

Deena, "Enough to enjoy the last days here. I couldn't miss it."

and Vinny doesn't want to miss this next reaction. Mike and Pauly's voices can be heard coming down the stairs now.

Mike is first.

"Whoa…what is happening right now? Who freed you?"

That is like the on-going joke right now. Deena just laughs a little.

Deena, "No one. I came back on my own."

Mike shrugs and responds, "Well…I guess that makes a full house tonight, uh…"

Mike is kind of speechless. He looks around but doesn't find any back up because Pauly is making his way into the kitchen. Everyone saw him take a look at Deena and then basically ignore her before walking off.

There is no hiding the tension that was just present within the room but as always Mike does his best to keep things together.

"Well it's good to have you back Deena."

He goes over to her and gives her a half hug, keeping his arm around her.

Mike, "Don't worry about a thing, we're gonna welcome you back right. Karma is gonna be off the hook tonight."

Deena already believed that but her spirit dwindled a little bit after that cold reception from one person in the house.

She just has to ignore it and create her own happiness from today forward.

A/N: Yep! Who didn't see this coming. For those of you who are mad right now, you might be glad very soon; for those of you who are glad, you may get sad...but I've already said too much. *Lips are sealed until the end.*