CHAPTER 38

"On Top Of Spaghetti"

pt.2

-Later Back at the Shore House-

Nicole and Jenni hang out at the house doing nothing in particular. The rest of the guys are tanning and shopping.

Nicole, "You think they found her?"

As soon as she says that Ronnie and Sammi come in the house.

Ron, "Yo, let's go pick up Deena…"

Sam talking at the same time, "Deena just got arrested."

Jenni, "What?"

Ron, "Deena got arrested for public intoxication."

Ronnie sits down and Jenni is in shock but Nicole, not so much.

Nicole, "Well at least it's not me this time."

Jenni, "…and what the hell is wrong with you two? Did you almost get busted with her? I can smell the liquor on you Ron."

"Is it wrong that we took a couple shots?"

Jenni cannot believe that, "Oh my God…"

Ron, "What? I'm not gonna ruin my day because she decided to have a Meatball day."

He gets up and Nicole shakes her head getting up as well.

Nicole, "Well…I was just waiting for this moment. It was only a matter of time but I can't believe you all just let her get arrested like that, you know what she just went through. You probably didn't even look for her."

Ron, "We found her actually at the same place we went first but we're not her keepers. She's a grown woman and she has to learn. It's not that serious. Like I told Sam, everyone ends up in the drunk tank every now and then. She's fine."

Jenni on her way out the door, "I got bail money!"

Nicole, "Yeah and I guess I'll drive. I can't believe I end up the most responsible one this summer. I'm not the Mom to just Lorenzo. (Shooting Sammi and Ronnie a look) My two degenerate drunks can get in the back seat."

Ronnie and Sammi do so and then they are off in the Navigator after everyone is in.

At the precinct, Nicole pulls up and they are about to get out when right there as soon as they park, they see Deena's parents.

Jenni from the passenger seat looking out, "Oh God…Who the hell called them?"

Ron, "Well she's fucked now. You don't call your parents when you're in the drunk tank, you call your roommates."

Sam, "Shut up Ron. This is all our fault, I really feel bad now. She is gonna be in so much trouble."

Ron, "She's a grown woman how many times do I have to say that. She has to learn but you don't learn by calling mommy and daddy to bail you out."

Jenni, "Shut it I'm about to open the door. Dee's Mom is coming over."

Everyone takes that as their cue to get out. They all hug and Sammi explains to Joann how Deena got arrested.

Joann responds afterwards, "Well she called me hysterical on the phone but you know what, maybe this will teach her a lesson."

Joann looks at Deena's Father John and responds.

"Alright, let's get in there."

When Deena's parents go inside the housemates look at each other but there is nothing they can do now, she's busted. So they get in the SUV and head back to the house.

-Forty-Five Minutes Later-

Deena's Parents bail her out but she has a court date coming up because of the incident. Now, Deena's Mother and Father are back at the Shore House with her. They make their way out to the patio to talk in private.

Joann sits down with Deena, "Never a dull moment huh Dee'?"

Deena, "It really sucks."

Joann, "You mind tellin me what led up to all this?"

John sits down now.

Deena responds, "I don't remember much. I just remember dancing and having a good time and then getting arrested. I wasn't being nasty to them for them to have done that. I was just having fun."

Joann, "Well I'll tell you, there's nothing fun about it. You were in public intoxicated…that's why they arrested you…and they can do that."

John agrees and Joann continues.

"There's no reason to be this drunk in the afternoon."

Deena turns into a little girl.

"I just wanted to do a Meatball day…"

Joann, "Alright, well you had your Meatball day, it's done- it's over with, and now you don't do another one. You know why? Cuz if you do another one and you get arrested, the judge isn't gonna go oh Deena you had a Meatball day…No, they're gonna send you to County."

Deena looks down and back up at her Mother as she continues.

"…and believe me you, you think you're crying today, you're gonna be cryin your ass off there. This was a piece of cake compared to if they take you to County lock up."

Deena looks away and back at her parents with tears in her eyes.

"I really didn't think I did that much wrong."

Joann, "Well, wake up. You aren't a teenager anymore."

Deena starts to cry, "Even when I was, you never got this mad at me. I don't understand."

John, "…and neither do we Kiddo. Tell us what's goin on inside that head of yours?"

Deena wipes her eyes and then explains what happened between she and Pauly and that it led to Chris breaking up with her. Well her Father is not a happy camper but her Mother is more interested in what needs to happen next with Deena.

Deena momentarily stops crying and speaks again.

"Where is 'Leena? Who's with her right now?"

Joann, "That should have been the first question you asked out of this whole incident. She's with your Sister but she should be with you."

Deena looks at her and Joann continues.

Joann, "I've been thinkin long and hard about this. Usually I go against your Father and let you have your fun but now, I think he's right. You're not a teenager anymore and this is no longer gonna fly, with the responsibilities you've got at home."

Deena breathes in and out, "What are you sayin?"

Joann, "I'm sayin I neva should have let you come here in the first place and this proves it…you're out of control at Clubs drinking the time down, now you're makin a fool outta yourself in public getting drunk again, when you should still be nursing Pauleena at home."

The next thing out of her Mother's mouth ends Deena's world.

Joann, "You're time's up here Deena Nicole. You're comin home today."

Deena, "What?!"

Joann, "You heard me, no more talking about this. Get your stuff packed and ready to go."

Deena puts her hands down, "Mom…I won't drink again. Come on, we only have a month left in this house and I'll be home…I'm good here, I promise."

Deena's Mother says nothing else she just gets up from the table and makes her way inside. Deena is left with her Father. She looks at him for help.

John responds, "Dee'…this is not acceptable behavior. Now I understand you wanting to have fun, but I'm gonna tell you something your Mother hasn't shared with you."

Deena listens to her Father as he continues.

"As a Mother, you have the most parental rights in Court. Howeva, something like this on record could jeopardize that should Paul ever want to take you to court. Now you've got a court date comin up for Mediation renewals…but now, you've got another court date on a charge for this…"

Deena continues to listen intently.

John, "I don't know what all went down between this lover's quarrel but he could very well use this against you to get full custody of Pauleena if he's not happy with the stipulations of the renewal."

John continues.

"Now, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think so…I've neva liked that Kid and I don't trust him. You be careful Dee'."

The whole thing makes Deena grow cold inside. She forgot all about her and Pauly's court date for Pauleena. She doesn't think there's any animosity on Pauly's part. She slept with Pauly and Chris broke up with her. It's not like she caused a girl to break up with Pauly…but now she wonders after their fight, if Pauly will use this against her just out of spite.

She's still so intoxicated that her mind can't even wrap itself around the events of the day. Her Father's voice soon breaks into her brief thoughts.

"Come on Deena. I don't want your Mother to start yellin at you."

Deena is so shaken up, she just meekly follows her Father inside.

-Almost and Hour Later-

Ronnie, Sammi, and Jenni were hanging out at Nicole's house before heading back to the Shore House when they saw Deena and her Parents looking like they were moving her things out of the house.

When they finally go over, it looks as if that is what is happening.

Nicole, "Where are you going?"

Deena cannot even answer. When her Mother comes out, she answers the question for her.

Joann, "I'm sorry Nicole but Deena's gotta go home now."

Sam grabs Ron's arm, "Oh no…"

Ronnie shakes his head like there's nothing he can do but when Sammi gives him those eyes he buckles and responds.

Ron, "Mrs. Cortese. We know Deena messed up but we were partly to blame too. We promise to support her after this, in fact, we were going to have a House meeting before Deena left out today."

Joann, "I don't blame anyone, it's no one's fault, and I'm sure you all love her and don't wanna see this happen again…but considering what went down here today and with what I've heard, I don't think this is the right environment for Deena to be in anymore as a Mother to a child."

Joann looks at Nicole.

"I'm sure you can agree Nicole, isn't that why you moved out of the house?"

Check and mate. No one can dispute that, especially Nicole because it's the truth.

Nicole simply answers, "Yes Ma'am."

Joann nods, "This isn't goodbye. Every single one of you are welcome to visit anytime you want."

Joann and her husband continue working to get Deena's things in their truck, meanwhile everyone looks at each other to do something and Nicole tries again.

Nicole walks up to Joann, "I have an idea."

Joann looks at her and Nicole continues.

"What if Deena just stays with me? We only have a month left at the Shore. She was already staying the night last night. She can just move in."

Deena speaks up now, "I already told her that."

Nicole looks at Deena and back at Joann.

Joann responds, "…and I still don't think it's a good idea. Nothing against you Nicole, you know I trust you. I just don't trust Deena with herself right now. She's had too many episodes and it's time for her to get some help. She's got a lot coming up in these next few months that she has to get herself together for."

Everyone looks confused and after Joann politely walks off, Deena rolls her eyes.

"She thinks I need therapy."

Ronnie snickers and Sammi jabs him with her elbow. She then steps up to her.

Sam, "We don't want you to go Dee'. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you earlier. This is going to really haunt me for the rest of the summer here."

Deena, "It's not cool at all that I'm leaving but what choice do I have. I do have a lot of shit I gotta take care of…if I do this now, I could possibly make it back before you guys leave the house."

Jenni steps up now.

"How about if we gag-tie Pauly up for the rest of the summer?"

Deena smiles slightly, "I don't think that would be physically possible…his mouth is too big for that and I'm pretty sure he's on steroids now. (Looking at Ronnie) What'd you and Mike do to him?"

The girls snicker. No one ever really addressed it, but Pauly did make a transformation since last summer. Ronnie laughs too.

Soon enough, Deena's Mother calls for her to get in the SUV. Deena looks back at half her Housemates.

Deena, "This isn't bye…I'm going to try my hardest to get back here."

Sam, "God, this is just like when Vin' left. What is going on here?"

Nicole, "Well don't be shocked if we show up to free you."

Deena, "You just relax and take care of Lorenzo."

Nicole, "…and you take care of 'Leena."

Sam, "Take pictures."

Deena nods and then the girls hug her. Next come the tears, especially with Nicole.

When they part Deena says her last piece.

Deena, "Tell everyone I said bye for now."

Jenni, "Even Pauly?"

Deena, "I haven't decided on that yet. (Scoffing) He'll probably be glad I'm gone."

Ron, "You know that's not true Dee'."

Deena, "I'm not so sure."

With that, Deena leaves the group to get in her Parents' backseat (she's had enough of these for one day). Everyone watches her wave as they pull off.

Nicole continues to cry. Jenni turns to her and Nicole turns to her. Jenni hugs her and Nicole lays her head on Jenni's boobs.

Nicole, "I lost my poor Meatball."

A/N: Super Saturday! Sorry for the hiatus this week, trying to piece things together right now in other areas. So, I made this post a little longer than the norm. This is the end of this Chap but another one is around the corner. It's getting close peeps...!