Chapter 2

       I honestly thought part of me would have found it too hard to be at my cousin's wedding after I lost the girl I wanted to marry. I probably would have ended up proposing in a few months if she didn't pass away, and we would have been married by now.

       And raising our child together.

       I was trying my best to push away all those feelings for now so I can focus on Calvin and Kenny's wedding. It was working for the most part. From time to time, Cassidy would pop up in my mind, but only for a bit. For the most part, I was having a lot of fun at the wedding reception.

       Calvin and Kenny seemed so happy to finally be married after being together for five years, and be married after everything they went through. I was really happy for the both of them.

       I was sitting at one of the tables while a slow song was playing, and Mom sat down beside me. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

       I sighed. "I'm fine, and I'd really appreciate it if people stop asking that during the wedding. It was five years ago. Courtney went to jail for it, so I was able to move on."

       "You could be saying that, but not meaning it at all," Mom said.

       "Mom, I'm serious," I said. "I am fine, and again, I would appreciate it if everyone would stop asking me."

       Recently, I was sure I didn't go a day without someone asking if I was okay. Yes, I was. Just because my cousin was getting married, it didn't mean I was going to burst down crying at the sight of a wedding.

      Five years ago was plenty of time to move on and with the girl who drugged Cassidy being in prison, I didn't have any problem moving on.

       Well, trying my best too. It was the constant 'Are you okay?' that was making it hard for me to move on. Not the thought of Cassidy herself, but the fact that it seemed like everyone was expecting me not to be able to move on.

       The only person who wasn't acting like that or constantly asking if I was okay was Julian. He was the only one treating me the way everyone did before Cassidy passed away.

       If only everyone could do that same.

       "I'm going to go get some fresh air," I told my mom before getting up from the table I was at and walking outside. I didn't even need fresh air. I just had to get away from all the pitying.

       Moments after I got outside, I heard someone say, "Josh?"

       I looked over to see Cleo standing nearby with a stroller, which had the canopy up and was covered by a blanket. I understood why. Not only was her daughter a newborn, but it was also quite cold out.

       "Hey," I said. "I see you're out of the hospital now."

       "Yeah," Cleo said. "And now me and my little Celeste are heading home now. At least it will be easier taking care of her there where I don't feel cramped up in a little room. Even though my apartment isn't that big....Anyway, I wanted to thank you for basically taking over for my nurse, who was horrible."

       "No problem," I said. I ended up going to Cleo's hospital room more than once yesterday when I was on shift to help her, because Vanessa was nowhere to be found. I really didn't mind at all. 

       "So, what's going on in there?" Cleo asked. "Seems like a party."

       "Oh, it's my cousin's wedding reception," I said. "Do you know Calvin?"

       "Nope."

       "Oh, so I'm guessing you're new to Spruceworth," I said.

       "I am," Cleo said. "How did you guess?"

       "Everyone knows Calvin," I said. "So when someone doesn't, they're either new or visiting, and you were in the Spruceworth hospital so I went with new."

       "Yeah, I wanted a more quiet setting to raise my daughter," Cleo said.

       "Well, you came to the right place," I said. Apart from a serial killer, and people who drugged others at parties. Other than that, Spruceworth was really a great place to live. 

       "Hey, Josh," Julian suddenly said, hurrying over to me. "Noah needs help."

       "What did Noah do this time?" I asked.

       It apparently wasn't something Julian wanted to say out loud, so he whispered in my ear, "He got his head stuck in a toilet."

       "You have got to be kidding me," I said. "How on earth did he do that? Never mind, I'll come home." Before walking away, I turned to Cleo. "I have to go, but I'll see you around. Oh, and welcome to Spruceworth."

       Cleo smiled softly. "Thanks. I'll see you around."

        I headed back into the reception and Julian led me to the washroom so I could help my idiot of a brother get his head out of the toilet. Well, supposed idiot. He was actually quite intelligent, just like the rest of our family, and never once gotten anything lower than a ninety percent in school.

       Yet somehow, he wasn't the bright outside of the school and always got himself stuck in situations like these.

       I didn't even bother asking Noah how the hell he got his head stuck in the toilet. I just helped him get out, and then handed him a few paper towels. "Nice going, genius," I said. "Now you're yet and you smell like toilet water."

       "It's not my fault," Noah said. "It was a dare, and I don't back down from dares."

       "Who would dare you to stick your head in the toilet?" I asked.

       "Some guy from school," Noah said. "He thinks he's the shit, but he's not, so I wanted to prove him that I at least have more courage than him."

       "By sticking your head in the toilet?" I asked. "I'm pretty sure he's going to think you're stupid."

       "Not when we have an English test on Monday and I can finish it in less than ten minutes when the average time to finish is forty-five," Noah said. "Boom, problem solved."

       I didn't even get my brothers half of the time. I didn't get anyone half the time. The world was a confusing place.

__________________

Oh, Noah. You innocent little fetus.

Just a heads up, IF MY SON HARRY GETS KILLED OFF ON THURSDAY IN HOLLYOAKS, I'M KILLING SOMEONE OFF IN HERE. I already know who I'm killing off, so they're fate depends all on Hollyoaks. One out of five people is getting shot and Harry is one of the five. If it's him, well....Prepare for another death in Spruceworth....