CHAPTER 23

~ The Ticking Time Bomb ~

It's now June and since being at the Shore, Nicole has made the decision to move out to stay in her own Shore house. The roommates were bummed about it but accepted it because of the fact that it is not Nicole who wanted to leave; she left voluntarily because of the fact that she needs rest and to take care of herself now that she is pregnant. If anyone understands that it is Deena. So now they are calling it the Mother Shore House.

It is pretty boring. Mike, Sammi, and Vinny are at the Shore Store working and Pauly and Ronnie are hanging out at the Boardwalk so Jenni and Deena go over to Nicole's place to hang out for a while. She lets them in and they get into conversation.

Nicole, "So how have things been since I've been out the house?"

Deena, "Pretty mild actually. (Joking) I think Vinny misses you."

Nicole rolls her eyes and responds.

"Then he should act like more of a friend. At this point, I'm going to put him in the same category as Mike."

Jenni and Deena look at her and she retracts her statement.

"Well, I won't go that far but after what he said that night. I wanted to stab him seriously. I don't know what his problem is."

Jenni, "I think he's just experiencing what we call the don't know what you've got until it's gone syndrome."

Nicole, "…but how…and why?! He's known me and Jionni were together for this long, so it's not a shock about that."

Deena, "Judging from dinner at you guys' old place, I think, well I know, you announcing being engaged and then pregnant was a shock."

Jenni adds, "Yeah. For him I think it was just like a finalization that it's official, you really have moved on and there will never be a chance of you two hooking up or whatever the heck he thinks happened between you two."

Nicole, "Well I won't deny that we were almost a couple but come on. Get over it. Especially since he doesn't even like girls now. I'm trying to be nice about it but if he keeps on, I'm going to tell him off."

Deena, "You know. I'm starting to wonder if Vinny's Bisexual. He's not…(trying to think of a way to put it)…out there, if you know what I mean."

Jenni, "He's down-low about it. There's no hanging with us now and dressing different, acting different. I mean, it hasn't come out yet…even though he is out."

Nicole shakes her head, "I don't get…I don't wanna get it. I just want him to get out of my business if he's not going to be mature about this."

The girls pause on their conversation for a minute and then Nicole turns to Deena after remembering her saying that she was crying that night coming home from Karma.

Nicole, "You know, you don't talk about you and Pauly too much anymore. Is everything okay between you two?"

Deena feels an uncomfortable wave come over her. She is not ready to talk about it yet but she does owe Nicole an explanation since she cared for her for so many months during her pregnancy.

Deena, "We don't talk much anymore and it's not really due to anything. I don't know, I think 'Leena is our main focus right now. He's obviously here single so, I don't get into his space and he doesn't get into mine."

Now when has that ever been normal for Pauly and Deena? Even when Deena finally got the understanding that they wouldn't hook up or be a couple, they still acted like best friends or if not that, they were still close.

Something has happened, just by the way Deena said Pauly is here single, Jenni and Nicole look at each other when Deena looks down. Neither one pressures her about it but they have a feeling it will come out sooner than later. Everything always does here.

Jenni speaks up after it gets later.

Jenni, "Well I gotta get outta here, Roger's birthday is coming up and I wanna do something special with him where everyone can come. So, I've got to plan."

Nicole, "I'd love to come but now after you've fed me (smiling), I'm starting to get sleepy."

Deena, "You get some rest. We'll leave you alone."

Jenni to Deena, "You coming with me?"

Deena, "No I, have to call my Mom. I promised her I'd call her back and that was earlier."

She said it kind of weird but Jenni shrugs her shoulders and says goodbye to Nicole and Deena does the same before the two leave and go their separate ways.

-At The House-

When Deena gets in, she makes her phone call. No one is home yet so she makes herself comfortable by the duck phone. As soon as she gets deep into her conversation, Ronnie and Pauly come through the door.

Deena stops talking for a minute and then she goes back to her conversation. After about twenty minutes, Pauly comes in and she looks up when he speaks to her.

Pauly, "I need to use the phone. Are you almost done?"

Deena speaks into the phone, "I'll call you later…me too…bye."

Deena gets up and Pauly looks at her. She just assumes to walk right by him until he says something.

Pauly, "Was that your Mom?"

Deena is caught off guard but she answers.

Deena, "Yeah."

Pauly picks the duck phone up, "Oh. How's 'Leena?"

Deena, "She's fine."

That's all she says but Pauly was expecting a little more than that.

Pauly, "When are you goin home to see her? I'll come with you if you do."

Deena, "I haven't decided yet but I'll let you know."

Deena walks off and Pauly starts dialing the phone after shaking his head about her responses.

-The Next Day –

The night before the roommates went to a Bar and did karaoke with each other and it turned out to be another night of fun. Today is a continuation of the previous day really, minus the bar. Nicole goes on her last date with Jionni before he leaves Jersey. He is going to Florida to see the fight that's in town. She sheds some tears because she doesn't know what she will do to fill her time at the Shore, but mainly because she will miss him the week he's gone.

The rest of the day everyone is doing their own thing and then they meet up at the Shore House to hang out the rest of the night, even Nicole. So the guys play around on the deck, the girls talk in the house, some girl shows her boobs and cuca…. and that clenches the night.

Vinny and Pauly make a joke out of it and get the girl's number and tell the roommates all about it when they get in the house. When Ronnie jokes about Pauly bringing someone home like that to his Mother, Pauly answers him that she would flip out and he laughs again. The whole thing is hysterical how it randomly happened, but one person is not laughing.

Deena's had enough and she gets up and goes to the other room. It was abrupt and she had such an attitude along with it that it makes everyone look at her. Ronnie speaks after the crickets.

Ron, "Was it something we said?"

Sam, "I'll be right back."

Sammi leaves the pack and goes to find Deena. She is in her room about to pull out her journal.

Sam sits on her bed, "Don't even bother with that. Talk to me."

Deena, "I really don't want to discuss it, it'll just make me madder."

Sammi nods but she continues anyway.

Sam, "Is it Pauly?"

Deena sighs and shakes her head no. Sammi keeps guessing.

Sam, "Is it…" (She gives her a look)

Deena replies, "I don't know how much more I can take before I explode Sam. I've been crying my eyes out behind closed doors. Part of it is Pauly but he's not the reason I've been crying."

Sam, "Have you guys talked at all since coming here?"

Deena, "He's been acting so stupid and more immature than ever. I don't know what to say. I don't know what is up with him since we got here but he…I don't know what I'm doing here Sam. I-I, I'm gonna loose it."

Sam, "No you're not."

Deena starts to tear up, "Yes I am…I miss home, I haven't been feeling well because I'm not myself. My other meatball is not in the house anymore for me to feel equal, this is just not a good time for me."

Sammi nods and responds.

Sam, "Have you thought about going home for a while…to be with your family and 'Leena?"

Deena does cry now and Sammi scoots closer to her and hugs her.

Deena cries out, "I miss her so much but I don't know, I don't want to go home though."

Sam, "What do you mean?"

Deena sniffles, "She's going to be six months…(crying)…so much shit is happening…She looks more and more like Pauly everyday Sam…"

Deena is distraught and Sammi is sure this girl is having a nervous breakdown. She can usually talk to Deena but even this is out of her hands.

Sam, "Dee' I know you probably don't want to hear this but…and here again, take it from someone who's been in fucked up situations. You and Pauly have got to work this out between you someway somehow."

Deena just lets the tears run down as Sammi continues.

"I don't know how you plan on doing this but you've got to get on good terms with him, even if it means going at it and releasing some shit."

Deena sits there and lets it soak in. After getting herself together a little she responds.

Deena, "I think I know how I'll do it."

Sam, "The thing we talked about?"

Deena, "Yeah."

Sam sighs, "You know this will make it worse right… are you prepared for this? Cuz right now, I don't think you're strong enough for the storm you're about to bring in."

Deena, "Right now, he has no grounds to stand on to start any shit with me."

Sam, "Okay but neither of you is in the right. We talked about this."

Deena, "I'm gonna do it Sam. I can't wait any longer, I'm dying here."

Sammi shakes her head but then nods her head.

Sam, "Alright Dee'…you know I'll be here for you, for whatever."

Deena, "Thank you…"

Deena has a look on her face that she'll definitely need the support.

A/N: Where are my Women Who Win on Wednesday?! I cannot even express in words what this week has brought but I'm finally home! My first task is to get back on track. I'm anxious, are you...? So leave your best comments, no less than three sentences. Thnx to everyone for the support as always :-)