A/N: I know, I know…I'm looooooooong overdue for an update – but I finally finished this chapter and I'm very excited to see what you all think of it. I do recommend that you read the previous chapter before reading this one since this is a continuation from the last one and since I haven't updated in forever, you may have forgotten what's been going on. So again, like always please read and review – I made it pretty long since I haven't updated in a while so I hope this will kind of make up for it:) thanks everyone!
...also I'm kind of disappointed that last two times I put this chapter out for all of you to read I only got two reviews so I'll make one last final attempt to see where this goes and if I don't get any new reviews or whatever I'm strongly debating whether or not to continue this story. So please people, if you do like this please do review - it takes an author a long time to write a story and in return reviews are a nice way of letting them know they did a good job. So like always read and review and enjoy! Thanks
The bell rang after a long forty-five minutes and Caitlin looked down at her notebook, admiring her fifty different ways she can sign her name – Mrs. Caitlin Spencer. As she stood she tried to catch up to Brittany but she was already heading towards lunch with her new clique of friends. Caitlin hated the fact that they were fighting, Brittany was the closest friend she ever had…she was more of a sister then a friend, not to mention the fact they were cousins. She decided that this was the last chance to talk to her before dinner at their grandparents. She walked up to the table instantly hearing Brittany laughing with her friends over some stupid joke that wasn't even funny in the first place.
"Britt – can I talk to you?" She asked, tired and not wanting a confrontation.
"Can't you see she doesn't want to talk with you? Why don't you just leave and go hang out with your friends, oh wait, you don't have any…I forgot." Sarah Collins said turning around to face Caitlin. Brittany rolled her eyes, knowing where this was going to lead.
"Excuse me? I have no friends? Hmm…I hate to tell you this but the only reason you have friends is because you're rich and those so-called friends like to mooch off of those riches. I'm sorry to have to tell you that but I think someone had to tell you the truth." By this time both girls were standing face-to-face, fists clenched by their sides, ready to strike at any second.
"Yeah well at least my family is rich from their hard work. We're not as lucky as your family to just inherit everything. It must be nice to know that none of you ever have to work because you're all loaded."
Caitlin clenched her fists tighter, her nails penetrating the skin on her palms. "What are you trying to say? That we're idlers?"
Brittany stood up and came around the front of the table standing in-between both of the girls. "Sarah, don't…please."
"Well you since you said it…" Caitlin was irate. She hated when people made fun of her or her family, and she wasn't going to take it from this snotty bitch. She threw a punch at Sarah, hitting her in the eye. Sarah immediately returned the punch hitting Caitlin in the nose, blood flowing profusely. The two went at it, pulling hair and punching each other until a group of teachers on lunch duty stopped them. Brittany tried to pull them off of each other, but she didn't have too much luck and instead stood there, screaming and watching in revulsion.
"You two stop this right now!" A teacher yelled grabbing Sarah, who held her eye in pain. "Go to the nurses' office immediately." Caitlin stood up and after noticing she was bleeding, tilted her head back to stop the blood. She didn't get hurt nearly as bad as Sarah did but both knew how much trouble they were in.
The nurse gave Sarah some ice to put on her black eye, while Caitlin stayed in the nurses office trying to control her bloody nose. After everything was under control, they were given a stern talking to, separately, where Mr. Brody explained they were suspended for a week and the worst part was their parents were on the way.
Caitlin left the office, her nose was a little swollen and cut up but she didn't look as bad as Sarah did. She figured that this would teach Sarah not to mess with her ever again. As she sat on the bench, waiting for her parents, Caitlin was surprised to see Brittany walking towards her.
"Hey, how's the nose?" Brittany asked sitting next to her on the bench.
"It's fine, it'll be back to normal in a few days…. Sarah may not be so lucky though."
"Yeah, you really screwed up her eye. It looks pretty bad." Brittany began to snigger. "I now know why I never liked them. They're just rich jerks…spoiled rich jerks. Look, I'm really sorry about everything I was just jealous and I took it out the wrong way and if you never want to speak to me ever again I'll understand."
Caitlin began to laugh, confusing Brittany. "I just got in a fight because of you and if I never wanted to speak to you again I don't think I would have tried so hard to apologize."
"Your parents are going to kill you, you know. You didn't have to get in a fight over me, though I am glad someone taught Sarah a lesson. Surprisingly enough, that was her first time getting in a fight." The two shared a laugh, something that was non-existent for the past two days. As Summer turned the corner, the girls' faces drained of all happiness. Caitlin knew she was in for it. Big time. "Um…I better be getting to my next class, I'll see you tonight." Brittany stood, looking at her cousin's dubious look to the statement she just made.
"Um…I'm not to sure about that. You know with this fight and everything my parents may not let me – "
"I'll see you tonight, enjoy your vacation…. lucky." Brittany rolled her eyes and gave Caitlin a hug as she walked down the hall to her next class.
"Yeah, I'm real lucky." Caitlin mumbled under her breath. Summer stooped over her daughter, the feeling of anger overwhelmed her but knowing that it was only a bloody nose gave some relief.
"Look at your nose…. Caitlin, a fight? What were you thinking? Sometimes you act so much like your uncle Ryan it scares me." She held her hand under Caitlin's chin, turning it to the side viewing her nose in different angles and with each new view came a look of distress.
"Mom, I'm fine. Believe me…it doesn't hurt at all." Caitlin said as she grabbed her bag off the floor.
"You may be fine but the other girl probably isn't. I can't believe you gave her a black eye, sometimes I wish I knew what went through that brain of yours. I'm very disappointed in you right now. You pick the perfect times to get in to trouble, your timing is always impeccable I must say."
"I'm sorry okay? I am. I don't know why I did it, it was the spur of the moment type thing and…."
"And what? You think that fighting solves problems because believe me, it doesn't. If only you didn't act on all your impulses and actually thought about what you were going to do first we'd have a lot less of these situations." Summer and Caitlin started walking down the long hall towards the front doors, talking as they walked.
"I disappointed you? Yeah well it's not the first time. I'm just one big disappointment; all I ever do disappoints you and dad. I'm sorry I'm not great like your other two children, and I'm sorry I'm the only thing that's not perfect in your life." Caitlin stormed out of the front doors, crying while Summer walked a few feet behind her.
Everything everyone has told her through out her life was true and this was just another example of it. She never felt really loved in this family, more like she was a mistake that no one ever let her live down – not that she was the one who made the mistake in the first place. While she was constantly being called a disappointment, her brothers were always in the limelight, being told how smart they are or what great sons they are…. Caitlin can't remember the last time she was told how great of a daughter she was. The twins were the only planned thing in her parents' lives and the only normal children they have, not to mention that this new baby would soon follow suit in their ideal lives. She was so angry she could punch someone. Where was Sarah's face when she needed it? It becomes weary after so many times of being told that your parents detest you that it made her never want to talk to her family again.
Summer followed after Caitlin and got in their car and started it up. The ride home was silent expect for the occasional sniffle of Caitlin's crying from the back seat. It broke Summer's heart to see her in so much pain. She knew how Caitlin felt, about her place in the family along with how she feels about today's incident. As much as she wants to give her a hug and tell her sorry for overacting, she decides that giving in will never make her learn and hopefully prevent future behaviors.
When they entered the house, Caitlin stormed up to her room slamming the door to show her fury and Summer sighed when she heard it. She walked weakly into the kitchen sitting down on a stool, hunched over at the peninsula. Her head was resting in her hands as she ran her fingers through her chocolate hair. Summer glanced up at the clock, she had to leave to pick the boys up in twenty minutes and she'd have to leave now to pick them up on time. She grabbed her keys from the peninsula and jogged up the stairs quickly, knocking on her daughter's door.
"Caitlin, I'm getting Zack and Brady from kindergarten – do you want to go?" She asked, leaning against the door. There was no answer, she figured she wouldn't want to go anyways but at least she'd try. A few more minutes of silence Summer said from the outside of the door, "okay I'm leaving. I'll be back in about a half hour.
She pulled up to the twins' daycare center and after she parked the car, Summer walked inside and was bombarded by the boys jumping into her arms.
"Mommy! Look what I made." Zachary said holding up a personally drawn picture of a dog, something he's been asking for.
"Hey guys, oh Zack…. what an awesome picture! That's definitely going up on the fridge." With that, Zack was happy and soon disappeared back into the school to grab his backpack.
"Mommy can my friend Joshua come over?" Brady asked, tugging on the bottom of her shirt.
"Sweetie no, not tonight. Tonight we're going over grandma and grandpa's remember?" Brady's mouth formed a circle, as the plans for tonight were remembered.
"I gotta go tell him. I'll be right back." He turned around and ran back into the school leaving Summer waiting for both boys. She wanted to get home right away not only to inform her husband of their oldest child's happenings today, but also she had a feeling Caitlin may retaliate.
Summer grew impatient and entered into the school spotting her sons talking with a few of their friends. She walked over to their sides and grabbed their hands. Zack and Brady both pulled their hands away and continued their conversation - something about comic books.
"Boys, we have to leave. Caitlin's at home, probably destroying the house as we speak and I'd really like to get back before she demolishes it."
"No, I wanna stay here and hang out with my friends."
"This isn't open for discussion, we're leaving now." She grabbed their hands again and dragged the screaming boys out into the parking lot. The boys kicking and resisting as much as they could, even trying to run when Summer tried to get one of them into the car seat. Summer definitely wasn't in the mood for this, her stomach was queasy and she felt exceedingly tired. After struggling to get the boys into the car, she got in, started up the car and pulled out into the street.
"You're mean." Brady said pouting while he stared out into the street.
"I know I'm just the world's worst mom." Summer sighed and looked into her rear view mirror at the boys who were both staring out the window, angry expressions on their faces. "I don't know why you two are so angry with me, it's not like you don't see him in school."
"'Cause, he was gonna show us the new game he getted and, and, he was gonna let us play it." Zack now spoke and just like his brother, stared anywhere but towards Summer.
"I was going to say that he could come over after school sometime soon but after the way you two acted back there, I'm rethinking it."
"Really? Could he come over mommy?" The boys asked excitedly from the backseat.
"I don't know, isn't there something you'd like to say to me?"
"We're sorry." She kept them in suspense, waiting a few seconds before responding.
"You're both forgiven, but I have to talk to daddy about Joshua coming over okay?" She pulled up into the driveway and took the keys out of the ignition.
The boys didn't seem to have any problem with it and ran into the house when Summer unbuckled them from the car and after taking a short breather, she followed in.
To her surprise the house wasn't wrecked and seemed to be in the condition in which she left it. Caitlin was still up in her room, listening to her music on the highest volume the stereo could go. Summer noticed the red light blinking on the phone and rolled her eyes as she pressed the button down to listen.
"Hi Summer, it's Seth. Don't kill me but I'm going to be a little late coming home…I have a million papers to correct and a few of the students are coming for extra help. I'll be home by four-thirty at the latest – but I promise I'll be home for dinner tonight with my parents. I love you." She pressed the delete button and shook her head knowing that Seth was going to do something like this.
She glanced up at the clock, it was three already and she had so much to do before going to the party that Seth not being around to help made her extremely angry.
Banging on the door, she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Turn it off right now!" There wasn't any answer and she yelled louder then before, her voice cracking. Growing impatient she ran into her room grabbing a pick, their last resort when trying to get her to open her door, and squatted down to the doorknob. Within thirty seconds, the lock clicked open and she furiously opened the door immediately and turned off the blaring radio. She pulled the cords from the radio and dug them into her pocket, getting sick of Caitlin using this as a way to ignore her parents.
"Hey!" Caitlin screamed, her hands reaching towards Summer's pocket but Summer hit them away and her daughter soon gave up trying.
"Hey what? I'm sick of you blasting this thing every time you don't want to listen to your father or me so you're taking a little break from your stereo." Caitlin was visibly upset, this being the only thing they didn't take away and started having a temper tantrum in front of her mom. "Knock this off right now; you're acting like your little brothers. Get ready for grandma and grandpa…we're leaving in about an hour." Summer reached into her pocket and grabbed a frozen juice box, throwing it to Caitlin. "Put it on your eye, it'll help with the swelling."
Caitlin stood at the end of her bed watching her mom walk down the hallway and as soon as Summer was out of sight, she fell backwards in her bed and screamed into her pillow.
Zack and Brady were in the living room playing a game of hide and seek when Summer came down to interrupt. Brady was hiding behind the window curtains while Zack was doing the counting and just as he reached ten, Summer stopped him and called out her other son's name.
"Mommy we were playing." Zack said a little upset that their game was over.
"I know buddy but we have to get ready for grandma and grandpa's. You two still need bathes, so let's get a move on…upstairs Zack, I'm going to find Brady." Zachary scampered upstairs and Summer started looking around the living room trying to find Brady's hiding place. She called out his name but he didn't respond. Movement and giggling behind the window curtain gave way to where he was hiding and Summer, acting clueless of his whereabouts, kept calling out his name.
"Brady…Brady, where are you?" She walked closer towards the window and Brady's giggling grew louder and when she pulled back the curtain, Brady jumped in shock. "There you are, I've been looking for you for a very long time. You're a very good hider bud."
"I'm the bestest, Zack can never find me." Summer laughed at him and picked him up in her arms. She brushed back a strand of his blond hair noticing it was about time for a haircut.
Summer carried Brady up the stairs and into the bathroom where his twin was patiently waiting. Summer started the bath water, adding a little bubble bath liquid and started on the boys' bath.
Seth was standing at the front of his classroom holding a piece of chalk and teaching a few students cursive letters.
"I'll show you how to make an L but then you have to practice it on your paper." With the chalk against the board he explained how to do an L in cursive and watched as his students tried it. He came around to their desks and checked their papers, helping some if they did something wrong or saying 'good job' if they did it correct. He went back to the board and looked at the clock. It was already four o'clock and he was worried he'd be late.
"Mr. Cohen could you show me how to make a Z? I can never get that one right." Maggie said as she scratched the side of her head in confusion.
Seth walked over to his student and bent down beside her desk. He took the pencil and drew a Z on the line and then had Maggie do one next to his. When she got the idea of how to do it he stood to his feet and sighed growing antsy as the time kept passing.
He walked behind his desk and grabbed at some handouts that would help the kids learn cursive and put one on each of their desks.
"Alright kids I think that you're all pretty comfortable with how to sign each letter so I think you don't need anymore extra help." He clapped his hands together taking one more glance up at the clock and sighing in frustration as four-thirty was drawing closer.
"But Mr. Cohen, I still can't make a T. Can you show me again?" Seth stared up at the ceiling knowing that there'd be something that would stop him from getting home on time…just his luck. He quickly stood next to his student, took the pencil and signed the cursive T. He had his student practice a couple times and when she got the hang of it he quickly, nonchalantly, rushed the kids out of the classroom grabbing his jacket and keys from his room.
He was in the car by four fifteen and home by five-fifty. He rushed into the house dropping his jacket and mug onto the first table he saw. Seth looked around the house seeing it was a pigsty and judging from the loud noises he knew where his daughter was, but where Summer and his sons were was a different question.
Seth ran up the stairs calling out Summer's name and hearing a loud commotion from the twins' room, he knew where they were.
"Summer." Seth said as he entered further into his boys' room.
Summer let a sigh of relief and pushed Zack and Brady's clothes into his arms leaving the room to take a breather.
He just stared in bewilderment not understanding what that was all about, but sat on Zack's bed and continued getting them dressed.
"You two stay here for a few more minutes and don't get into anything." He quickly left the room and went down the hall to their bedroom, walking in as Summer was getting dressed.
"Why'd you leave so quickly?" He sat down on the bed leaning back against his hands as Summer rushed back in forth in their bedroom trying to get ready.
"Damn it! This doesn't fit anymore." She took off what she was planning to wear and slammed it down on the bed rummaging again through her closet to find anything at this point.
"What's a matter?" He could tell something was wrong but from the wide variety of choices he could pick from, Seth wasn't exactly sure where to start.
"The matter is that these damn clothes don't fit me anymore," She grabbed a maternity dress out of the closet and quickly slipped into it and when she turned to look at herself in the reflection she was mortified. "How the hell did I get so big so quick, this doesn't even make sense."
Seth came up from behind and slid his hands around her waist resting them on her stomach. He leaned in and whispered into her ear trying to make her feel better. "I think you look beautiful."
"Yeah you would say that." She stood in front of the mirror grabbing at her bag with all her cosmetics and started applying eye shadow, eyeliner and lipstick. Seth sat back down on the bed loosening his tie a little and took a deep breath, tired from the day's excitement. Summer was done within five minutes and glanced down at the clock. "It's already five-fifty. We're late." She felt like she could never do things right – easy things such as leaving on time was a hard task for the Cohen family.
"Don't worry about it, all my family's going to be there and probably the whole town. They're not going to notice if we come on time or we're ten minutes late."
She stomped her foot in defeat. "Just once…just once I'd like to get there on time, to stick to the schedule and make it to wherever we're suppose to be when we're supposed to be there." She paused for a brief second and turned to face her husband. "You're not wearing that are you?"
He looked down at his outfit not exactly sure why he needed to change into something different but noticing her attitude today, he didn't want to mess with her. "No of course not, wouldn't even dream of it." He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it into the laundry looking at his clothes not sure what was right to wear. "And what exactly should I wear then?" She walked over to the closet and grabbed at a coat hanger and threw the shirt into his arms telling him to put that on. He complied and she walked out of the room.
"Zachary and Brady are you two ready?" She looked into her sons' room seeing the twins' back certain that something was wrong. "Boys, what's going on in here?" They turned around and looked somberly up at their mother knowing they were in for it. Their white shirts were covered in chocolate, their ties completely stained and their cheeks coated. "Where did you get a chocolate bar? Boys!" She grabbed both their hands and marched into the bathroom turning on the faucet to rinse off their faces.
He heard Zack mention his friend gave it to him three days ago but he forgot it in his bag and Seth laughed as he walked back into their room pulling out new clothes so Summer didn't have a complete meltdown. He strolled down the hall at the same exact time Caitlin emerged from hers.
It was apparent that something was wrong with her nose and he immediately asked. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She muttered as she walked down the stairs. "All I can say though is I won."
Seth feeling somewhat proud gave Caitlin a pat on the back. "I knew it skipped a generation, but then again you're your mother's daughter so that explains it."
Caitlin and Seth were waiting in the foyer, both with their jackets on and ready to bolt at any second. Summer bolted down the stairs in tow with the boys and grew heated when she saw her husband just standing there.
"There you are." She said grabbing the jackets from the hallway closet. "A little help would have been nice." When Seth tried to explain she didn't want to hear it and opened the door just wanting to leave. He looked up at the ceiling sighing and then ran to catch up to his family who were already in the car.
As soon as they were parked in Sandy and Kirsten's driveway the boys bolted out of the car and dashed towards the front door, loud noise escaping the inside of the house as soon as the door opened and then turned muffled when it was shut.
Seth got out of the car and went to Summer's side opening the door and reaching for her hand but she slapped it away and with a little difficulty, managed to get out of the car. He looked down at his feet ready to kick the car in anger but refrained from doing so.
"Caitlin out of the car." Seth leaned on the open passenger's side door cocking his head to see his daughter.
"Dad –"
"No. If I have to suffer you have to suffer…it's only fair." He shut Summer's door and opened Caitlin's, though she still refused to move.
She crossed her arms looking at her dad sympathetically. "I don't get it. I hate these stupid things and the party's really for mom so I don't get why we have to come."
"Welcome to how my life was. Your grandparents always had these stupid little parties at least once a week. I spent more time in a suit and tie then I did in anything else."
"Yes but must you make your children suffer?" She scrunched her face in pain looking up at him with those big chocolate eyes…Summer's eyes that he could never say no to.
He nodded his head and grabbed her hand. "We're late and as much as I'd like to stay here to get away from your mother, we have to go in and make an appearance." Caitlin never acted like this to Seth and it caught him off-guard. They had never had a conversation where there hadn't been yelling or swearing but Seth was going to enjoy this knowing it probably wouldn't happen anytime soon.
She slid out of the car and grabbed Seth's arm accompanying him up to the front steps. They stopped at the top of the stairs, looked at each other and took a deep breath as Caitlin reached for the doorknob.
"There they are!" Kirsten yelled as she saw her son and granddaughter enter into the house. She walked over draping her arms over Caitlin and Seth's shoulders giving them a hug. "Seth I know you hate these…well hell I can't blame you for not wanting to come in. Summer's been looking for you I think she's in the kitchen." Seth gave a half smile and went off into the crowd to find his wife while Kirsten stayed back to talk with Caitlin. She pulled back from another hug and started to examine Caitlin's face immediately seeing her swollen nose. "What happened?"
Caitlin covered her face up in embarrassment and looked down at her feet, hoping that she didn't have to answer that. "It's a long story."
Kirsten raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her body. "I'm your grandmother…. you can tell me. I'm sure by the end of the night though I'll hear fifty different stories that everyone's spreading around so I might as well get the right one first."
"I got in a fight," Caitlin mumbled under her breath hoping she didn't have to elaborate.
Kirsten looked horrified. "A fight? Caitlin. Why would you want to ruin this beautiful face?"
Caitlin looked at her grandmother and knew she needed to continue. "No grandma she started it, I was just trying to –" Brittany, a couple feet away, saw Caitlin's trouble and rushed over to rescue her.
"Hey, Cait your mom needs you." Brittany grabbed her hand and dragged her to another part of the house – away from everyone, and away from Kirsten.
"Thanks, I owe you – wait, no I don't…this is like not even close to what you owe me." Caitlin pointed to her face making Brittany cringe at the thought of what happened today.
"I'm sorry okay? I was doing it to make you jealous and obviously it worked, but I never meant for you to get punched."
Caitlin sat down on the bed and stretched out her arms letting out a big yawn. "No I don't really care. I'm kind of happy though because now I get to go chat with the Newpsie's and make up any story I want about how I got this – it'll make my night to ruin the family name even more then it already is." Caitlin began to laugh and Brittany joined her. Those stupid Newpsie's believe anything and everything and if Caitlin told one person, it'd spread around the party like wild fire getting twisted and warped so that what she originally said wouldn't be half as bad as what it would at the end of the night. "Help me come up with something."
"Um," Brittany looked towards the door, dazing off into space raking her mind of stories. "You went sailing and there was this huge storm that wrecked the boat and you got thrown overboard and then a shark came and it was going to eat you but you punched it in the eye and it swam away and then a dolphin came and you rode it back to shore and then –"
Caitlin amused with this story looked at her trying to hold back laughter. "Brit are you even serious? This is the first thing you thought of?"
"What? I thought it was good."
"No one would ever believe me and it doesn't even explain how I hurt my nose."
Brittany stood up and walked in front of her. "I was getting to that part but then you stopped me." She cleared her throat giving Caitlin a look before she continued. "The dolphin brought you to shore but you didn't know where you were so you see this group of monkey's holding coconuts, scared, they throw a coconut at you…. hitting you in the nose," Brittany doing hand gestures to really get the point across and also covering up and misconceptions the stupid Newpsie's would have over the story. "Thus you get a bloody nose. See, genius right there." She said pointing to herself.
"You're crazy." Caitlin said laughing as she fell backwards on the bed.
"No, you're just jealous that I have a great story and you couldn't think of it."
"Yes Brit, that's exactly right." She laughed shaking her head. "Ok genius, how'd I get home?"
"Duh, your cell phone. You called your parents and they sent out a helicopter to find you, they do and they bring you home. And you live happily ever after." She entwined her fingers together and put them behind her head acting proud of her story.
Caitlin got up and patted Brittany on the back. "Yeah, you start telling people that." She gave Brittany a smile and left the room not wanting to go back to the party but now wanting to escape Brittany.
Summer and Seth were in the kitchen arguing like usual lately.
"Summer I didn't mean it like that, I think you're beautiful I just –" Seth said trying to explain but Summer had her back to him indifferent for an explanation.
"You called me fat. You called your pregnant wife fat," She turned around facing Seth ready to give him a piece of her mind. "And another thing you weren't home when you said you were going to be, you didn't help out with the kids when you did get home and on top of it you made fun of my outfit. You don't appreciate me, you don't help me. I do everything by myself; I might as well just be a single mother." She screamed and people in the room and also adjacent rooms to look over at them trying to listen into their conversation. Summer turned on her heel and walked out of the room leaving all the eyes looking at Seth causing him to feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Nothing to see here people, just a minor disagreement." Seth said but he could already hear the whispers and feel the stares directed towards their little argument. The Newpsie's were busy at work informing people who maybe didn't hear or just wanting to jump to the misconception that Summer and Seth's marriage is failing.
Kirsten spotted Seth hunched over at the bar, downing a drink and then slamming it down on the counter.
"Seth what is going on? Are you and Summer having marital problems?" Kirsten asked concerned. The Newpsie's already getting to her.
"No mom we had a little argument. An argument that every couple has and no, it doesn't mean we're getting a divorce if that's what you're worried about." He grabbed another drink, ready to take it but Kirsten grabbed it from his hand.
"Why are you two fighting?"
"She's crazy mom, I'm telling you. It has been so long…well five years, but still. I didn't remember what it was like when she's pregnant mom but she has to be the worst pregnant person I have ever seen. She's extremely emotional, and she just goes crazy…I'm just trying to deal with this hormonal crap."
"She may be crazy but you need to be there for her. Pregnancy isn't easy and even if she's driving you up a wall…don't let it get to you. Just smile and be there for her every need. I was like she was when I was pregnant but your father, what a trooper." She punched him softly on his shoulder and walked in back of him wanting to add one more thing. "Hang in there, there's only seven more months." She found Sandy over talking with Jimmy and a few other people and wanted to join in.
Seth sighed downing another drink looking at everyone at the party as a couple walked by staring at him, the wife whispered something to her husband, gave Seth a dirty look and then walked away. Damn Newpsies.
Brady and Zachary were underneath the buffet table occasionally reaching their hands out, grabbing some popcorn then hiding once again. You could hear their laughs and voices from underneath the table, but the noise in the house was so loud that the adults never noticed. The boys were in the middle of a popcorn fight when they saw the tablecloth rise and Kiley's head appear. She joined them under the table sitting next to Brady quickly inquiring what they were doing.
"Can I have a popcorn fight too?" She asked cupping her hand towards her cousins.
Both boys pulled their hands towards their chests covering the popcorn so Kiley couldn't grab at it. "No." They yelled in unison.
"Please?" She tried once more scooting closer to them reaching her hand out trying to get at least a few pieces of popcorn, but they concealed it too well.
The boys turned so their backs were facing her hoping that Kiley would get the message, but after a few minutes of pretending she wasn't there they were disheartened to see she unfortunately didn't leave.
"Leave, we don't wanna play with you." The boys started throwing popcorn again laughing and squealing in delight, rubbing in Kiley's face that they were having so much fun.
Kiley huffed and crossed her arms making one last plea before she'd leave. "I'm gonna tell on you if you don't let me play." It didn't faze the boys and they continued to play, giving their cousin the cold shoulder as she left from under the table.
A few minutes later when the handful of popcorn was dispersed all over the ground, the twins peaked their heads out from underneath the table cloth reaching their arms up to grab more popcorn when they noticed a pair of high heels, Dora the Explorer shoes and another set of high heels underneath their faces. They looked up to see their mother, cousin and aunt all staring at them looking angry.
"Hi mom. Bye mom." They pulled the table cloth over them trying to hide, but Summer grabbed both of their arms and pulled them out from underneath the table.
"Not so fast you two. Why are you being so mean to your cousin? All she wants to do is play and you're telling her she can't."
Marissa was trying hard not to start laughing at her nephews' silliness and was constantly covering her mouth with her hands making it seem as though she was going to cough.
Summer looked at her sons and shook her head. She grabbed their hands and took them into the other room away from all the people to talk to them. A few minutes later the boys came back and with phony excitement, asked their cousin if she'd like to go outside and play a game of hide and seek. Kiley agreed and the kids sprinted towards the backyard. Summer and Marissa both yelled not go near the pool but they were sure the kids probably didn't hear them.
"God Marissa, I feel like we haven't talked in years." Summer said as the two friends took a seat on the living room couch and began catching up on each other's lives.
"I know, and I'm such a horrible friend. I've been meaning to call you forever but something always comes up, I know a pretty lousy excuse but it's the truth." Marissa laughed and took a sip from her water.
Summer looked down at her hand and then back up to her friend. "No I'm right there with you. Between preparing for the new baby and Caitlin's little fight in school today and the boys…well being boys, I've had no free time."
"We should go out sometime like we used to, before the kids. Maybe go see a movie, or go to the mall or maybe go to that new place on Central – the new spa that just opened up I heard got wonderful reviews." Marissa's idea made Summer all giddy and she excitedly agreed on doing one of them, the only problem was when.
"Definitely I just have to see when would be a good day to do it; I just have to look at my schedule first." Marissa began to chuckle catching Summer off-guard. "Did I say something funny?"
"Check your schedule, Sum c'mon! When did you get all celebrity on me where you need to check a schedule to see when would be a good time to do something? Like you have to pencil me in between taking the kids to school and going grocery shopping, it's stupid. I never see you and it's becoming more then a little frustrating but yet you make no effort in meeting me half way."
"I'm sorry if my life's a little crazy right now Coop, but I'm not ignoring you on purpose. There's just so much to do in a given day and I'm even lucky if I can do half of the things I have planned. I want to see you and hang out like old times but I just don't know when would be good." Summer hunched over resting her head on her hands as she just felt awful not only because of the nausea the pregnancy was causing, but also because she felt like the shittiest friend in the world.
"Do you realize what you just called me?"
"What I called you, what do you mean?"
"Coop. You called me Coop." Marissa began to laugh and Summer didn't really get what was so funny. She looked at Marissa wanting her to elaborate but she seemed to be in her own little world. "You haven't called me by that nickname since we were in high school."
"I still don't see what's so funny about it." Summer pulled a piece of her hair behind her ears and continued just to stare.
"I guess nothing's really funny about it, it's just I haven't heard that name in a long, long time. It's kind of a blast from the past, you know?"
Summer started to tear up and reached for her close friend pulling her into a hug. "I am so sorry for being such an awful friend but I promise that we'll see each other more often, for God's sake we live so close there's really no excuse."
Marissa got caught up in the moment and grew teary-eyed as well and when Seth and Ryan entered into the living room seeing their wives hugging each other and crying, neither of them asked questions – just walked away.
Caitlin and Brittany finally emerged from an upstairs bedroom and joined the party downstairs. Brittany and Caitlin walked arm-in-arm through the groups of people but Brittany couldn't help but settle the whispers of what happened to her cousin's nose.
"This kid right here deserves a medal." Brittany started lifting her arm in the air and pointing down at her cousin causing people close by to turn and listen. "What a brave person my cousin," Brittany increased the tone of her voice making sure everyone could hear. "Caitlin Cohen, is. What a horrible thing that happened to her but it just shows her will to survive and the strength and courage it took."
Caitlin rolled her eyes and just stared at all the people who were stupid enough to crowd around and listen to this story. No one would believe it, but that didn't stop Brittany from telling. "It was a normal day and my cousin decides to go sailing so off she goes and some time passes by, but before she knows it she sees these bolts of lightening from across the water and sees that a huge storm is coming her way. Well being the only one in the boat she's unable to out run the storm and when it comes, it wrecks her boat leaving my cousin stranded in the water."
The crowd watched intently as Brittany continued. Caitlin had to admit that Brittany's story telling, though ridiculous, was pretty good. "A few minutes later sharks show up sensing the shipwreck and as they see Caitlin trying to stay afloat a shark starts darting towards her, mouth wide open ready to gobble her up she starts swimming away but the shark gets her in his mouth. Fearing for her life she starts punching the shark trying to do whatever it takes for her to get free and luckily it lets go and swims off sensing that there's no meal here." A collective sigh comes from the audience as they all let out their held breathes.
"So there she is, in the middle of nowhere, already surviving a shark attack when along comes a dolphin who instinctively knows she's in trouble and tries to help. Caitlin grabs onto the fin of the dolphin and the dolphin brings her safely to shore. After waving goodbye and thanking him for all that its done, it swims away and leaves her on a deserted island. As she starts to look around and see where she is a group of monkey's, who obviously live on this island, come up to her and scared of this intruder, throw a coconut at her hitting her in the nose," Brittany turned to her cousin who was shielding her face from embarrassment and begins pointing out the swollen nose to the audience who piece together what she was getting at.
"Yeah, but how'd she get home?" Someone asked from the huddled group.
"Great question, glad you asked. Turns out that after she gained consciousness she found a cell phone, she called her parents and her parents then sent out a helicopter to find her. About a half hour later they found her, brought her home and she lived happily ever after." The crowd began clapping and Brittany took a bow and then turned it over to Caitlin who declined and again shielded herself from her onlookers. As they walked away Brittany whispered into the audience, "She's a little embarrassed about it." The girls walked away from the group, now hearing them talk about the story in total amazement as Caitlin looked as though she was going to kill her cousin.
When they were out of ear range from the group of Newpsie's, both of the girls let out a huge belly laugh they had been keeping since the story began.
"You actually think they believed it?" Caitlin asked out of breath from laughing. The two girls were laughing so hard tears were actually forming in their eyes.
"Are you serious? Did you see the looks on their faces as I was telling them the story? And you thought no one would believe it."
Caitlin had to hold on to a nearby lounge chair in order to keep her from falling over. "Well anyone with a brain wouldn't believe that story, but then again look who you told it to." They continued their laughter for a good ten minutes until their stomach hurt so badly they could barely move and their face were red from laughing so hard.
Kirsten and Sandy were in the kitchen with their family – the Cohen and Cooper brood. Sandy was holding Brady and Kiley in his arms while Kirsten was busy engaging in a tickle fight with Zack in her arms.
"You don't know what it means to have all of you here, together, tonight." Kirsten begins, looking down at her grandson who was giggling.
"It's been so long since we've all been under one roof that it's nice to just savor this time and enjoy it because pretty soon we'll have two new additions into this family." Sandy looked at both his daughter-in-laws and gave them a smile. "We can't be more thrilled with the addition of two new grandchildren and we're just so proud of all of you." Sandy's little speech was very moving, but of course Seth is there to ruin the moment.
"Aw dad, you're getting all sentimental on us." Seth began to fake cry holding his arms out to hug his parents. "I don't know how much more I can take."
Kirsten looked at Seth and pushed him away with her free hand. "Get out of here." She started laughing and Zachary chimed in, finding his father hysterical.
Sandy and Kirsten threw a party in honor of not only the new babies soon to be born, but also to show off to everyone invited just how proud they were of their family. The night was so much fun and it was nice just to be in each other's presence and catch up on life. They ended the night with a fabulous meal, and long good-byes but promises of seeing everyone soon.
The house soon cleared out and Kirsten and Sandy were left with the mess everyone left behind.
Ryan and Marissa were in the car with their girls, Ryan's eyes glued on the road though occasionally looking in his rear-view mirror to get a glance at his daughters in the backseat, passed out.
"That was a fun party don't you think?" Ryan asked looking over to his wife who was trying so hard to keep her eyes open.
"I had so much fun; it just makes me wish we could do these things more often."
"I saw that you and Summer had a nice catch-up talk."
Marissa grazed the side of her face and turned to look out the window at the town that they live in.
"You don't even know how nice it was to see her again. Even though it's been a couple weeks it just feels like years since I last saw her. It was nice to catch up and talk again. We were saying that pretty soon we want to go over to that new spa that opened up on Central and just get everything – massage, facial, manicure and pedicure." Ryan furrowed an eyebrow questioning whether or not everything was really necessary.
"Take it easy there Marissa. That new place is pretty expensive for just one thing let alone four or five. Is it really wise to be spending all of that money?" His comment snapped all the energy back into her and she was ready with a comeback.
"I'm five months pregnant Ryan. I'm swollen, my feet and back kill all day long and my husband who tells me that we're both in this together won't even give me a back rub or foot rub. I think I deserve the right to be pampered for just one day."
"I've offered to give you foot rubs before."
"Ryan never in any of my pregnancies have you ever, well at least willingly, given me a foot rub. Never ever."
"Hey that's not fair. I've been at your beckoned call whenever you've needed me and I resent the comment that I don't do things for you. Just last week after you came home from shopping I offered to give you a back rub but you turned me down."
Marissa looked at her husband recalling the story completely different. "Hmm that's funny you say that because how I remember it is I came home from shopping, my back killing me I asked you for a back rub and you said no because you were too tired from your day of lounging around the house watching football."
Ryan griped the wheel tightly and Marissa watched on rather amused. He knew he wasn't going to win no matter what he said so he'd just bow out gracefully. "Whatever you say Marissa, because you know you're always right."
Marissa patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "Damn right I'm right." Ryan looked from the corner of his eye and even though he tried with all his might not to laugh, he couldn't help it. "See and even your son agrees with me. He's kicking up a storm in here." Marissa grabbed at Ryan's hand and placed it on her stomach, his tension ceased and he melted at the feel of his son – son – kicking. It was amazing.
A few minutes passed and the kicks from baby Atwood soon stopped leaving Ryan and Marissa with awkward silence.
"Well since it's almost nine-thirty and both the kids are sleeping and probably will be when we get home too, what should we do?"
"After we put the kids to bed, I say the first thing on the agenda is a much needed back rub. What do you say to that?"
Marissa smiled widely and ran her fingers through Ryan's hair. She had to restrain herself from giving him a kiss since he was driving but settled on an 'I love you' instead. Marissa felt so lucky to have Ryan as a husband and couldn't wait to put him to work more often – this wouldn't be the only back massage he'd ever
be giving…in fact there more many in store.
Seth and Summer were also in the car on their way home. Caitlin was sprawled out on the backseat of their van while the twins were sleeping in the middle row.
"What a night." Seth muttered as he rested his head against the headrest, his left hand resting against the side of his head while his right hand was gripping the steering wheel.
"I know. Your parents are the greatest, they really are. It was so nice of them to do that for us and for Ryan and Marissa – they just love parties I guess." Summer was twirling a strand of hair around her index finger and looking out at the road.
"That's how my parents were raised…parties practically everyday so of course they're used to throwing them – for whatever reason. They once threw a party for a cousin of mine who got his appendix taken out, like how crazy right?" Summer's laughs joined in with Caitlin's who was cracking up in the back seat.
"I'm pleasantly surprised to see that you actually behaved tonight Cait." Seth said looking at his rear view to see his daughter's reflection.
"Didn't think I had it in me, huh? I actually do know how to behave at parties dad. Yes, I usually don't, but I am a good kid…sometimes."
"Well I'm happy you finally came around. Oh, and by the way I heard this strange story something about a shipwreck, a shark, a dolphin, an island and some monkeys who throw coconuts."
Caitlin just laughed and acted like she had no idea what he was talking about.
Summer looked at the backseat, seeing her sons sound asleep and her daughter lying there now listening to her Ipod.
"I think it's time we get a new car…one with more room."
"What?" Seth looked at her and adjusted the volume to the radio. "This car has plenty of room for four kids."
"I don't know where we're going to put the baby though. I don't want to put her in the back with Caitlin because that'll be a pain getting the car seat in and out, but then again I don't want to separate the boys and put one in back and keep the other there."
"Then we'll put both the boys in the back and Caitlin and the baby will sit in the second row."
Summer shook her head as she continued to look at the back seat figuring out where everyone should go. "No, she won't go for that."
"Then she can sit in the middle of the boys. This really shouldn't matter since she is getting her license soon."
Summer rummaged through her purse keeping Seth in suspense for what she was looking for. She pulled out her calendar and flipped a few pages until she found the date she wanted. "Her driver's ed starts next Thursday at six. You'll be able to drive her right?"
"And where will you be?"
She didn't know if she should be angry that he didn't remember or well, hell she should be angry he didn't remember that date. "Seth it's my first doctor's appointment."
He hit his hand against the drivers' wheel. "I knew that, I swear I did it just slipped my mind for a second."
She rolled her eyes and put her calendar back into her purse.
"I can't wait to find out what we're having. I'm kind of hoping we're having a girl. It's been so long since Caitlin's been a baby and I miss dressing her in those frilly little girly clothes."
"I don't care what we're having, just as long as the baby's healthy."
"You don't have a preference on what the gender is?" Seth shook his head and Summer stopped prying.
"Do you think they'd be able to tell us what we're having yet, or is it too early?"
Summer flipped through the radio stations until she settled on a song she liked and turned it up a little. "I'll only be a little over three months when they do the ultrasound and they usually tell the gender around the fourth or fifth month, so not this time but we'll find out soon enough."
"It's all so exciting and I can't wait till he or she is born. It's been so long since we've had a baby in the house, it'll be kind of fun to go through it all again."
The Cohen's pulled into their driveway and Seth and Summer prepared to get their sleeping sons out of the car and into their beds with out waking them up. As soon as Summer opened the sliding door and the car lights turned on, the boys eyes opened and they started immediately whining.
"Oh great, look what you two did. Good job rents." Caitlin said patting her parents on the back and walking up to the front steps to wait for her parents.
With difficulty, Summer and Seth unbuckled the boys and they sprung from their car seats and took off running from the van. Their energy was restored, lucky for their parents, and they decided they didn't want to go to bed and that instead they wanted to play. Seth and Summer weren't in the mood to run after them and with constant attempts of trying to get them inside, they weren't left with a choice but a good 'ole chase.
As they stood on the front door, Seth put his arm around his wife and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Still can't wait to add another one to the family?" Seth asked sarcastically.
"Oh yeah, can't wait." Summer said as her and Seth took off in different directions chasing after their sons who decided to play a game of night tag.