CHAPTER 22

~ Day Two ~

After dinner the evening before, all the housemates went up to the deck to reminisce of the past summers. Mike really opened up about his addiction to painkillers and other amphetamines, saying it caught up to him and he just became tired and didn't even know if he would make it sometimes. He no longer wanted to be messed up like that so he got inpatient treatment for 34 days. He apologized for all the things he did or didn't do for everyone in the house and he vowed that he is a new person and that he is going to do right by everyone now.

Everyone in the house chose to take his apology in his or her own way. Some forgave him and others chose to wait and see if Mike is as sincere as he seems, so they didn't take the apology just yet.

Today kicks off the official christening of a Jersey Shore summer. GTL. Everyone is up early in the morning but is eager to start the day…. except Nicole. Nicole is pissed to be up so early because she is tired as hell. So when she gets up and goes into the kitchen after getting dressed, she bypasses the guys in the front room without a word. Mike spoke but she definitely didn't answer him.

Mike, "So I don't know, are pregnant women like angry in the morning or something? Pauly?"

Everyone laughs at his expression. Pauly responds.

"I can attest to that. Yes but that right there is a good response."

Ron, "Shit, I'm not lookin forward to this shit. For real."

-Later on-

So tonight is going to make it the first night back at Karma for almost everyone. Nicole cannot go so she decides to have a date night with Jionni. Meanwhile everyone else is in preparation to get themselves together. Nicole is leaving before everyone so Jionni shows up at the house now.

Nicole and everyone say hello to him and they hang out in the front room. Vinny and Mike were in the hot tub soaking off their work out from the day and now they come back into the house. Well, Vinny walks right past without saying anything to Jionni so there goes his intention not to let it bother him.

Upstairs, Vinny brings it up to Pauly.

"Jionni hates me."

Pauly, "What happened? You all speak or what?"

Vinny, "No. I walked by and he wouldn't even look at me."

Pauly, "Wooww…"

Pauly laughs a little and responds.

"You should have been like, what's up my G'."

Vinny, "Please…why would I speak to him first? Hey, I banged your girl what's up?"

Pauly smiles, "Ohhhh, okay. I can see where that would be awkward."

Vinny, "Yeah. Only Mike does shit like that."

Pauly and Vinny laugh it off.

Things seem great between everyone now but in the seams here and there one can tell where things could potentially fall apart.

With Pauly and Vinny, they joke around and now they get up to get dressed. Vinny has just come out of the bathroom but he doesn't know if he should get dressed in front of everyone. Well, it's not a big deal. Then, things get awkward real quick.

At one point Vinny's towel came open from the back and his naked buns showed. He hurriedly covered himself back up and kept it moving though, it was only he and Mike in the room at that point. Mike has on a pair of briefs that might as well not be there. Vinny tries not to look but it's like a moving target to him now.

Then, the crème de la crème…Pauly now comes out full tanned glory in just a towel and his Jordan sandals. Vinny swallows and his big mouth opens before he can stop it.

Vinny, "Dang my dude. You've been working out a lot huh?"

Vinny tries to sound like Vinny but it was definitely that side coming out. It caught everyone off guard but Mike covers by responding.

Mike, "Yeah, I see you've been takin my advice. How much have you gained so far?"

Pauly, "Close to twenty."

Mike, "Is that your goal?"

Pauly nods, "I think so. Yeah. I let myself get off my diet for a while but I wasn't goin out like that comin back to the Shore."

Mike, "Well you look good my man."

That's how it should have gone and Vinny has to thank Mike later for making it seem less awkward.

-A Half an Hour Later-

Not everyone is ready to go yet but those that are eager are ready. Deena is one of them. She puts on her choice of heels for the night and then she goes to the kitchen to grab a water for Jenni, she didn't have to but she's seen herself in the mirror so why not soak everything in she can. She is damn proud of the work she's put in, plus…she knows who's in the front room by the sound of the voices.

Deena struts in with her blue mesh dress on and the room uproars.

Mike, "Uh-oh!"

Sam, "Daaang Dee'!"

Ronnie puts in his two cents.

Ronnie, "Blue balls tonight!"

Deena gets ready to walk back after the grabbing the water and she stops when Sam responds again.

Sam shakes her head, "I can't believe you just had a baby four months ago."

Pauly mutters under his breath but not really.

Pauly, "Yeah, my baby."

Ronnie and Mike laugh. Mike slaps hands with Pauly.

Mike, "Yo, good job dog."

Sam rolls her eyes and Deena hardly cracks a smile if at all. After that Mike can't let it go.

Mike, "Damn, if all else fails I'll dig in that ass."

The boys laugh and Deena responds, not hearing it.

Deena, "What'd you just say?"

Mike practically yells it now, not giving a sh*t. Deena wags a finger at him and responds.

Deena, "You could never Mike, ever."

Mike scoffs and replies.

Mike, "You're right, Cuz I wouldn't disrespect my man Pauly like that."

Deena grunts and tosses the comment over her shoulder just as cool as the iced bling on her heels.

"He couldn't get it either…not anymore."

Mike and Ronnie at the same time, "Ooohhhhhhh…."

Deena struts back off and Pauly shakes his head, knowing otherwise.

Later on after Karma it seems as if everyone killed it in the club but for some reason, Deena cannot turn off the waterworks. When asked why she keeps crying, no one seems to know except Sammi. Sammi just blows it off to Deena being homesick.

What makes Deena sick though is the fact that Pauly has a girl right now that he is bringing back to the house. She knew coming in that Pauly has no limitations and is free to do what he wants but she didn't think it would happen on the first night.

Along with Pauly, Mike has his hook up too from the friend to the girl Pauly is with. It never works out though because Pauly's girl is on that time of the month. So both Pauly and Mike send them on their way.

Of course the night wouldn't be complete without Ron and Sam arguing. Ron got completely plastered and started with Sam in the club. When they get home, Sam ends up taking care of Ron as usual. All in all, the house is quiet as everyone settles into their stupors before passing out.

-The Next Day-

Everyone is completely hung over and can't remember a thing, except Mike and Deena. Mike didn't touch one drop of liquor as he works through his sobriety and Deena, of course, is not allowed at this time. The two of them are the first up and they talk until the house starts to wake up and then Deena goes back to the girls' room.

Nicole, "So how was Karma?"

Jenni, "It was perfect."

Deena, "I spent most of the night in tears."

Nicole, "You were crying? Why?"

Jenni jokes around, "…because she couldn't drink."

Nicole looks at Deena and laughs a little but Deena clears it up.

Deena, "No I wasn't…(thinking) Although I might have been a little upset about that but no…I just miss home."

Deena keeps using that excuse but Nicole sees through her. She doesn't bring it up but she will ask one thing.

Nicole, "The boys bring home any chicks last night?"

Deena remains stone faced and Jenni answers.

Jenni, "Yeah but I don't think anything happened. I think I remember them leaving."

Nicole nods and then changes the subject. She starts to talk about her and Jionni's date and the girls mention that they missed partying with her. Nicole gets sad all over again thinking about hearing the house music and wanting to have danced but not being able to in that environment.

Jenni responds, "We'll have to have a day where we all do something special with you."

Deena, "That'll be cool."

Nicole nods and the three head into the front room to be with everyone else. It is raining out so the roommates decide to stay in tonight. Everyone jokes around and talks about nothing in particular.

Mike at one point asks if Nicole has started any wedding planning and Nicole answers that she hasn't done anything yet. It is not a big deal until Vinny starts going in on Jionni again. He doesn't say anything negative but he is being rude again, referencing his and Nicole's past.

"You know, I don't understand why you won't let me do anything for you? I'm done joking; I know I'm not the Father. (Talking to everyone else) Nicole and I only slept together for like half a second."

Crickets…Jenni and Nicole lock eyes with each other and everyone else doesn't even bother to respond. No one is sure what Vinny is trying to accomplish but if he keeps pushing Nicole's buttons, he's going to regret it. He is not safe in this house not to have all his business on front street. Nicole is just biding her time.

A/N: Lol; Had to get some Vinny & Pauly interaction in there- have not forgotten Vin's one true love ;-) First I posted earlier than planned, now I posted later than planned. I WILL get it together. I may get in one more update before the week is up, you tell me...