Hey guys! Thanks for all of your support! Hope all is well. There's going to be cliffhanger this chapter, that will change everyone's life! Hope you guys enjoy it, tell me what you think in the reviews!

Guest: I'm glad you enjoyed it! Here's Chapter 3 hope you enjoy it as much as the rest!

Chapter 3: Life As We Knew It

Tina walked around the restaurant looking for something to do. The place was more dead than it had been in weeks and the amount of work it took to keep the place clean was minimal. After pacing for what seemed like forever Tina flopped down on a stool. Her dad was in the basement grinding the meat to get through the rest of the day and her mom was in the back washing dishes, leaving her in charge of the floor.

Tina looked around the empty restaurant and sighed. She felt her emotional day taking a toll on her, but didn't feel like dwelling on it. She always felt that her problems were little compared to the rest of the families problem.

Suddenly the entry bell rang. Tina jumped to her feet and looked in the direction of the door, rolling her eyes after realizing it was her siblings and Zeke. Sitting back down, she started questioning Louise.

"Detention?", she asked.

"Yep!", Louise screamed in her sister's ear.

"Really, Louise?", Tina yelled turning to look at Gene and Zeke. "I'm assuming detention as well."

"Yep.", Zeke said feeling awkward.

"Unfortunately.", Gene said glancing down at his watch.

Tina looked at her brother sympathetically. She could see that the swelling in his eyes had gone down. The blood that had caked his nose earlier that day had been washed away and the cut on his arm wasn't as bad as it originally looked. She then looked at Zeke, who didn't have a mark on his body.

She knew he wasn't the one she should be mad at, but she could feel the anger bubbling inside her. Zeke noticed her staring and he cocked his head. She just shook hers in response.

"How is it that you came out of that fight unscathed?" Tina asked.

Zeke flinched. "I didn't start that fight Tina.", he said, his tone warning her not push the issue.

"Who was in a fight?", Linda asked coming around the corner.

As soon as she saw her little boy's face she ran over to him and lightly grabbed his cheeks. "Aww! What happened to my baby? Who did this to you?", She exclaimed.

"Jimmy Jr., but it isn't that big a deal mom.", Gene said looking at his mother.

"My poor baby." Linda said hugging him tightly.

"Mom, is it okay if Zeke stays for dinner?", Louise asked.

"Of course he can.", Linda said smiling.

"You don't have to do that, Mrs. B.", Zeke said.

"It's no problem, really. Gene had asked if Courtney could come over earlier, so we made plenty of extra food.", Linda said smiling at Zeke.

Tina glared at Louise, but Louise just smiled at her. "Tina, could I talk to you in private?", Louis asked, pulling her sister to the kitchen of their parent's restaurant.

"Sure.", Tina said.

Louise drug her sister to the walk in and cracked the door behind them.

"What is wrong with you?", Tina asked.

"Zeke really likes you, Tina. You shouldn't just shut him out. I know you don't really know him as well as you know Jimmy Jr., but he seems like he really cares about you. He's worried about you, you know.", Louise said.

"Zeke doesn't like me," Tina began, "and even if he did, I don't feel the same way about him. I just broke up with Jimmy Jr. I don't need to be thinking about boys."

"Tina, I know you. You would be miserable in a world with no boys. Don't wait around for Jimmy Jr. He's never going to treat you right. He only wants to be with you when he thinks you don't want him. It's the rush he's after, not you.", Louise spat out.

"Don't you think I know that, damn it?", Tina asked feeling herself crying before she could stop herself.

"Tina, just let him go. Have fun. Hang out with Zeke.", Louise pushed.

"But Tammy will get really mad.", Tina said thinking about her best friend.

"Tammy doesn't really want Zeke. Tammy just wants any guy that pays her attention.", Louise said.

"I suppose.", Tina said.

"There is no 'I suppose', because you know I'm right.", Louis said looking at her sister. "Now go out there and make nice, you never know, there just may be a spark."

Tina nodded out of obligation and exited the walk in.

xxx

Zeke had never been inside Tina's home and as he stood in her living room he felt awkward. He had imagined what her house was like many times, but he never thought he'd ever see it. As he looked at the family photos he saw happiness that he never really had.

Gene walked into the living room with Courtney. Gene looked at Zeke and smiled. "Having fun?"

"Yeah. Y'all have got yourselves a nice place here," Zeke responded smiling.

"Well, good. Hope you feel that way after dinner," Gene retorted quietly.

"What?", Zeke questioned confused.

Gene shook his head and responded with a simple "Nothing".

Zeke sat on the couch quietly looking around the room thinking about what Tina was doing. As soon as they had walked upstairs to her house she ran to her room. He felt the rejection growing in his chest. It sucked, but he just kept his head up.

"Dinner's ready!", Linda yelled excitedly. "Everyone get in here!"

Zeke hopped off the couch and walked into the kitchen sitting down at the dinner table. Everyone else followed suit. Tina sat next to him, with Louise on her other side. Gene and Courtney sat close, tightly holding hands. Bob and Linda sat facing each other either end of the table. Everyone began passing around mashed potatoes, creamed corn, French bread, and fried chicken. Zeke took a little bit of everything and began eating.

"So how was everyone's day?", Linda asked looking around the table.

Everyone sat quietly. Until Bob broke the silence. "The restaurant did great today."

"That's great honey!", Lin said smiling.

"Mr. Frond sat on a thumb tack," Louise said smiling.

"Louise, honey, how many times do we have to tell you to stop messing with Mr. Frond? The poor man is going to end up going insane, because of you. He'll be institutionalized...sitting in a corner in a straight jacket," Linda began trying not to chuckle.

"Oh boo hoo," Louise retorted.

Linda shook her head then looked at Gene and Courtney. "How are you two?"

Gene had a sour look on his face. After taking a deep breath just nodded solemnly, taking a bite of chicken and chewing it obnoxiously. Courtney looked at him angrily. "We actually needed to talk to you."

"No we don't," Gene began, "everything is great, wonderful, fun."

"You okay Gene? You're sweating," Louise said looking at him confused.

"I can't take the pressure," Gene shouted, "Courtney's pregnant!"