October, 2011

“Daph,” Daphne heard Matt whisper the morning of their homecoming.

“What?” she muttered as she buried her face deeper in her pillow.

“Wake up, we’ll be home soon,” he told her.

“What time is it?” she grumbled as she picked her head up and looked at him.

“A little after seven,” he muttered.

“Matthew it is too damn early! Wake us up later!” she spat as she laid back down.

“You can sleep at the house, we’ll be there in like half an hour!” he spat as he ripped the blanket off of her.

“Fine, grab your niece while I get ready,” she grumbled as she got out of bed and brushed past him.

Before grabbing her bags, she walked back to the small bathroom. Before she could knock, the door opened to reveal a shirtless Brian. Daphne tensed as she remembered running her hands over his muscles as he hungrily kissed her in his hotel room. She unnoticeably shuddered as she thought of what could of happened if someone hadn’t interrupted them.

“Hey,” he smiled awkwardly.

Daphne ignored his greeting as she brushed past him.

“Come on Daph, talk to me,” he pleaded.

“Go talk to your wife!” she spat as she shut the bathroom door in his face.

Daphne sighed and leaned her forehead against the door. To say that things were awkward between the two would be an understatement. She was torn between giving in and picking up where they left off or ignoring Brian and giving up on any kind of relationship with him. For now, she was trying to convince herself that she was perfectly fine with choosing the latter of the two.

Daphne shook her head to clear her thoughts before using the bathroom and brushing her teeth. She combed through her hair and pulled it in a pony-tail. She grabbed her toiletries and placed them in a tote bag. She walked out of the bathroom and down to the lounge. She took a sleeping Misty out of Matt’s arms and gently sat down on the couch. A few minutes later, a groggy Arin collapsed next to her on the couch.

“Sup kid?” she smirked.

“Morning,” he yawned, too tired to think of a comeback.

Even though things with Daphne and Brian were awkward, she and Arin were starting to become close friends. Misty even started to warm up to him.

“So what are you going to do now that we’re home?” Arin asked curiously.

“Look for a job,” she shrugged.

“I’m sure you’ll find something soon,” he smiled lightly.

“Hopefully,” she muttered.

After twenty minutes of minimal talk, the bus came to a slow halt outside of Matt’s house. After kissing everyone (excluding Brian) goodbye, Daphne walked off the bus with Misty in her arms. After Jade unlocked the door for her, Daphne walked inside and up the steps. She placed Misty in her bed and walked across the hall to her own room. She walked over to her bed and collapsed on it, drifting off to sleep.

Hours later, Daphne woke up from her dreamless sleep and stretched her stiff body. She looked at her phone and noticed it was already after twelve. Deciding to shower before starting her day, she grabbed clean clothes from her bag and walked into the bathroom. After taking a shower and doing her hair and make-up, Daphne grabbed a basket and threw all of her dirty clothes into it. She walked downstairs and down to the basement. She saw Matt and Misty sitting on the couch. Matt, as usual, was playing some kind of video game.

“Hi mommy!” Misty smiled.

“Hey baby,” Daphne smiled as she leaned down and kissed her head.

She walked over to the washer and dryer and threw her clothes into the washer. After adding the necessary soaps, she shut the washer and walked back over to Matt and Misty.

“Where’s Jade?” she asked as sat next to Misty.

“She got sick this morning and she’s not feeling well. Is that normal?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.

“Its completely normal. The morning sickness should stop soon. It stopped for me when I was four months along,” she told him.

“I’m really excited!” he smiled.

“I’m happy for you two. Have you thought of any names?” she grinned.

“If it’s a boy, we’re naming him James, for Jimmy. We haven’t decided what we’re going to do about a girl yet,” he shrugged.

“You’re going to love being a parent Matt. It’s the best thing in the world,” she smiled as she kissed Misty’s cheek.

“I’m getting enough practice with this one,” he smiled as he nudged Misty.

“Daphne!” they heard Zacky call from upstairs.

“Basement!” she yelled.

“I wonder what he wants,” Matt muttered.

Daphne turned to the steps as she heard Zacky race down them.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“I talked to my mom and she laid off one of her hairdressers at her salon the other day. She said she’d give you an interview, but we have to hurry before someone else applies,” he told her hurriedly.

“Oh my God! Are you serious?” she smiled as he stood up.

“Yeah, so come on. We have to hurry,” he told her.

“Go, I’ll watch Misty,” Matt smiled.

“Thanks Matt. Misty, I have to go with Uncle Zack for a little while. Okay?” she asked.

Misty nodded in response.

“I love you, I’ll be back,” she smiled as she kissed her forehead.

She raced up the steps with Zacky and grabbed her portfolio, résumé, and purse. She followed Zacky out of the house and into his car.

“I’m really nervous,” she breathed out as she checked her reflection in his visor mirror.

“Why? My mom loves you,” he laughed.

“I know that, but I just really need this job. If I don’t get it this time, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she muttered.

“Don’t give up baby girl, you can do this,” he smiled reassuringly.

Daphne smiled lightly and let out a deep breath as Zacky pulled up to his mom’s salon. She followed him into the salon and she was greeted by his cheerful mother.

“Hi Daphne!” Maria Baker grinned as she tightly hugged her.

“Hi Maria!” Daphne smiled.

“So lets go to the back and get this interview over with,” Maria smiled as she linked arms with Daphne.

“Good luck,” Zacky winked.

***

Half an hour later, Daphne bounded out of Maria’s office and over to Zacky.

“I got the job!” she squealed as she jumped on him.

“That’s great baby girl,” he smiled.

“I can’t thank you enough! I love you!” she smiled as she kissed his cheek.

“I love you too,” he laughed as they walked out to the car.

“When do you start?” he asked as he drove off.

“On Monday, I need to buy supplies this weekend. Things are finally turning around,” she smiled.

“I’m really happy for you baby. What are you going to do with Misty during the day?” he asked.

“I’m going to try to enroll her in school this weekend. I want her to start as soon as possible. She’s growing up so fast,” she smiled sadly.

“I know, I still remember when we all first met her when she was a baby. It seems like it was yesterday,” he muttered.

“Tell me about it,” she laughed.

“Do you mind if we stop by the grocery store?” he asked as he pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store.

“That’s fine, I’m going to make a celebratory dinner tonight anyway so I’ll need to get some stuff,” she told him.

After he parked, they made their way into the store. Daphne grabbed herself a cart and made her way throughout the store with Zacky. Deciding to make steaks for dinner, she grabbed a pack of steaks and sides to go with it.

“Do you have everything?” Zacky asked as he finished grabbing all the things he needed.

“I just need to grab some potatoes,” she told him as they made their way over to the produce section.

“Damn; you’re really going all out tonight,” he laughed.

“Well we’re celebrating tonight. Since you’re the one who got me the job, you and Abby should come over for dinner,” she smiled.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he laughed.

Daphne laughed and grabbed a bag of potatoes and placed them in the cart. She looked up and her smile slowly fell as she noticed two familiar people across from her. Zacky followed her gaze and frowned as he saw Brian and Zoey tangled up in each other. Brian broke his kiss from Zoey and smiled down at her before kissing her forehead. Zoey smiled up at him and leaned up to kiss him again.

“You know you’re in public right?” Zacky called.

Brian broke their kiss and looked over at Zacky. His eyes widened when he saw Daphne with him.

“Shit,” he muttered.

Not seeing a way to avoid Daphne, he sighed and walked towards Zacky and her. Zoey slipped her hand into his as they approached the two.

“Hey,” Brian awkwardly greeted.

“Hey man, hey Zoey,” Zacky greeted politely.

“Hi,” Zoey muttered.

“What are you two doing here?” Brian asked as he gazed over at Daphne.

“Daphne’s making a celebratory dinner tonight and she invited Abby and I,” Zacky shrugged.

“What are you celebrating?” Zoey asked.

“Daphne got a job today,” Zacky answered for her.

“You did?” Brian smiled.

Daphne nodded and looked away from him and Zoey. She blinked back her tears and pushed away her jealousy of Zoey.

“That should be me,” she thought.

“That’s great bab- Daphne,” Brian corrected.

“Thanks,” Daphne muttered as she looked up at him.

Zoey frowned as she noticed the looks Daphne and Brian were giving each other.

“Well we have to go; Daphne has to get dinner started,” Zacky pointed out.

“Alright, we’ll catch you guys later then,” Brian muttered, not taking his eyes off Daphne.

He watched Daphne walk away and he desperately wanted to follow her. He tore his gaze away from her when his wife hit him in the arm.

“What?” he asked as he looked down at her.

“You are unbelievable!” Zoey spat.

She shoved past him and stomped off.

“I’m screwed,” Brian muttered to himself.

After they paid for their groceries, Daphne silently stalked off towards the car with Zacky in tow.

“Are you okay?” he asked hesitantly as they loaded the groceries into the trunk.

“I’m just great,” she muttered.

“Daph!” she heard Brian call.

“Great,” she muttered.

She turned around as Brian jogged towards her.

“What Brian?” she asked.

“I’m sorry that you had to see me with her,” he apologized.

“Why are you sorry? She’s your wife,” she shrugged.

“Can you please stop acting like nothing is happening between us?” he spat, frustrated.

“Nothing is happening between us! You ruined anything that could’ve happened between us!” she spat.

“Don’t blame me, you were the one who walked out!” he barked.

“Because you answered Zoey’s call when you were on the verge of fucking me!” she yelled.

“Shut up! Zoey might hear you,” he muttered as he looked around for her.

“That’s what I’m talking about! If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have answered her call that night. I was ready for you Bri and you blew it!” she spat.

“You know I love you! You always keep changing your mind about me anyway, you never know what you want!” he hissed.

“I know what I want; I want you. I want all of you, but I can’t have all of you because you still love Zoey. You’re on the fence Brian and you know it. I change my mind about you all the time because I never know if you’re serious about being with me. If you love me as much as you say you do, you wouldn’t have been all over Zoey ten minutes ago. You make me change my mind about you,” she ranted, her voice cracking.

She pawed at her eyes as she felt them well up with tears.

“I am not on the fence and I do not love Zoey anymore! I only love you and I am serious about being with you. Why won’t you believe me?” he spat.

“If I told you to go end things with Zoey right now, would you?” she asked, hoping he proved her wrong.

Brian opened his mouth to reply, but he shut it once he realized she was right. He was on the fence and he couldn’t figure out why.

“I have my answer. I love you Bri, but go find your wife and go home. I can’t deal with this anymore,” she muttered as she turned away from him.

Brian let her get in Zacky’s car, and he watched them drive away.

“Are you okay?” Zacky asked as he pulled up to Matt’s house.

“Yeah, I’m just tired,” she muttered.

“Daph I’m sorry about him,” he sympathized.

“I’ll see you at dinner,” she muttered, ignoring his pity.

She got out of the car and grabbed her groceries from the trunk. She walked inside and into the kitchen. She let out a shaky breath as she put the groceries away. She trudged into the living room and collapsed onto the couch. All she wanted to do was fall asleep and forget about Brian. As soon as she closed her eyes, she felt Misty jump on her.

“Mommy wake up! We have to buy a Halloween costume!” she yelled.

Daphne groaned and felt the desire to slaughter the person who invented Halloween.