Not Another Cliché Sequel

Diana thought she heard voices coming from downstairs so she got dressed and ascended down to see that her living room was full of people. The feelings she had last night of isolation quickly washed away as she saw Matt, Brian, and Zacky playing Call of Duty, Johnny talking to the twins and Valarie holding a small blanketed bundle. Diana quickly went over to Valarie to see River in person for the second time. He was sleeping against Valarie as she sat on the couch and Diana sat next to her.
“He’s even cuter in person Valarie!” Diana whispered to make sure she didn’t wake him even though her talking wouldn’t have over his father yelling and cussing.
“He’s cute now but he’s a monster when he’s awake.”
“I doubt that! Anyone this cute couldn’t possibly be a monster!”
“Just you wait.” Matt shot in their direction after getting a kill.
“So how long have you guys been here?”
Valarie checked her watch. “Maybe an hour at most. We still had keys so we let ourselves in.”
“You guys didn’t have other plans?”
“Not as important as spending lost time with you. Diana, we are so thrilled to have you back here with us.”
“I hope the feeling becomes mutual.” Diana sat back on the couch and watched the guys play for a few minutes.
“He needed you.”
“I know.”
“And you didn’t come back.”
“I couldn’t.”
“But you could come back for weddings and a baby?”
“That’s different.”
“How Diana?”
Diana stood up. “Let’s go make some coffee yes?”
Valarie huffed and got up to follow her to the kitchen. Valarie sat down at one of the chairs by the island. Diana started rummaging through to find the utensils to start the coffee.
“I kept my distance from Zacky because I wanted him to get out there and find someone else to love. I knew if I came back that it would signal to him that he could have another chance before I was ready. But I didn’t stop talking to him the whole time, we wrote letters when we needed to. But this trip, this whole getting away thing, was something I needed to do for me. My life has been devoted to this band and everyone out in that living room because it was their dream to become rock stars and make it big even when people told them they couldn’t. Now, I had the chance to find who I really am and what I can do independently from the band and on my own. The loss of Jimmy and my baby was the push to get me out the door.”
“What made you come back?”
“I found the music again. That and I’m ready to be back.”
“What does this mean for you and all of us?”
“Depends I guess.” The coffee had finished and Diana poured them both a cup and sat down as well.
“Everyone here is welcoming you back with no hesitation and open arms.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll get back into the swing of things soon.”
“I know you will Di.” She took a sip of the coffee and set the cup down. “So did you meet Meaghan?”
“Yeah for a minute.”
“And?”
Diana shrugged and sipped her coffee.
“They’ve only been seeing each other a few weeks.”
“Why does this matter to me? I told Zachary to date other people and this is him doing so.”
“So are you going to try and get back with him?”
“That’s not why I returned if that’s why you asked. If he wants to come to me and say he still wants to be with me then yes there is that chance but after last night he looked so happy with Meaghan.”
Valarie huffed and took another sip of her coffee. "We had to put up with the responsibility after you left us. Dealing with Zacky and the band then you just up and leave and now you want to act so indifferent to everything? I'm glad you got out there and got to experience other things but now you're here and back in our lives and world and you need to conform to that or its not going to work."
"I guess all I can do is try."

Notes