#iriscoulson

Justin had been fast asleep when James and Joanna got home, so it wasn't until the next morning that James filled him in.

* * * * *

Don't worry, it was pretty lame. Mariam didn't even come--Farah said she was sick, but Iris thinks she might be avoiding her, said something about her acting weird around her and Jo lately, but whatever--and the new girl didn't show, either. Not that I wanted her to. She seems stuck up.

So anyway, it was just me and Jo, Iris, Farah, and Idara. Which as you might imagine, was kind of awkward. Especially with Iris and Jo off in their own world the whole time.

Oh! This is kind of funny, though--Dara and I pretty much got back together.

I know! Crazy, right? But so, what happened was, we started talking, and it was just nice, you know? I know she was still pissed with me, but she wasn't really showing it, just being normal. That's the thing about Dara. She's really chill most of the time, just easy to talk to and be around.

So . . . I started thinking.

I don't know if you've noticed, but Farah's been getting to me. Like, she's fun, but too much, you know?

So I just decided, right there, to hell with it. I told Farah I wanted to talk to her alone for a minute.

She didn't take it too well. Practically bit Iris' head off after Iris saw something was wrong and tried to talk to her, and then she just left.

Anyway, then I told Dara I wanted to talk. She didn't want to hear me out at first, but I said I was sorry about a hundred times, said how she was the one for me, how I never would have gone out with Farah if she hadn't yelled at me in front of everyone--and it was Farah who came onto me in the first place, you remember--and yeah, eventually she seemed to get over it and we made up.

So we're back together.

I hope Farah doesn't feel too bad about it, but I can't control that, right?

Anyway, I feel good about it. Dara's great. Maybe we'll even get married someday. I bet she'd be good at all that domestic stuff . . .

* * * * *

"Hey, you OK? You look kind of sweaty and pale. Are you feeling worse?"

Overwhelmed and wanting to be alone for a while, Justin retreated to the room he shared with James and Trevor.

He'd only just closed his eyes when a commotion outside his door jerked him back to the present.

"Oh my Watcher, Justinnn," Iris whined, bursting into the room with Idara close behind. "We just heard. You poor thing. This sucks so much. Doesn't it suck, Dara?"

"Mom sent us over with some of her fatigue tonic," Idara said. "So hopefully you'll feel a little better soon? . . . It does suck, though. Is there, uh, anything we can do?"

The concern from his mom and siblings was bad enough. This was just mortifying. Poor thing. He hated the way they were looking at him. Idara especially.

Suddenly Idara pulled him into a hug and Justin was powerless to pull away. The feeling of her arms around him was more comforting than any of the pitying words he'd been offered so far, and she smelled nice, and if he could just forget for a moment that she was only hugging him because he was sick, damaged, it would have been perfect.

"Hey! Are these guys bothering you?" James' voice broke in.

Idara drew back and the moment was lost.

"Visiting hours are over," James said, taking Idara by the hand and pulling her farther away. "I told you guys, he needs to rest. Here, I'll walk you out."

He threw Justin a wry look on the way out, like Can you believe people?

School was the same as ever. Ms. Chen kept giving them tests and assigning memorization and then giving them even more tests. The only thing that kept it from really sucking was getting to hang out with Idara and Iris and the others. Though things had been pretty awkward between Idara and James lately.

It was Justin's idea to suggest that they throw a party at the end of the week--a party to celebrate midwinter and maybe, mayyyybe find a way to get Idara on her own for just a few minutes, long enough to talk . . .

Justin: "--so do you think you'll come?"

Idara: "Ugh, I don't know. I am so not interested in seeing James and Farah practically swallowing each other's tongues. Not that I even care what those two get up to anymore."

Justin: "I'll tell him not to be obnoxious or I'll noogie him in front of everyone. He hates when anyone messes up his hair. C'mon, you have to come. It'll be so lame without you."

Idara laughed.

The very next day called for another excursion to the park, this time with the entire family, including the dogs.

No one said so aloud, but they knew Peanut was getting up there and might not make it to spring. The old girl deserved to enjoy her final days to the fullest--chasing sticks, getting belly rubs, and taking in new sniffs surrounded by her family.

* * * * *

. . .

At my age?!

Meda: “Jeremy? You should wake up. . .”

Once the grogginess wore off (and it soon did; Meda’s news made sure of that), Jeremy’s feelings could only be described as totally pumped.

Jeremy: “We’re really having another baby? Oh my Watcher, Meda, that’s— that’s— Oh my Watcher! Come here. . . . I'm going to be here from the very beginning this time. I'm not going to miss a second.”

- - - - -

Some behind-the-scenes rambling below the cut

The news that they were both about to become older siblings was a lot to adjust to over a single pancake breakfast, but Idara and Iris made an admirable effort to act as if both of their parents hadn't just lost their minds.

Idara: "So are we going to be expected to babysit?"

Jeremy: "Now and then, maybe. But we know you two have your own lives. And we're not going to ask you to sacrifice your entire social lives to help with the baby."

Iris: "Where's the baby going to sleep?"

Meda: "In our room, to start with. After that, we'll see."

Iris: "Because I just don't really think it's fair to ask me and Dara to share a room all of a sudden."

Meda: "No one is asking either of you to give up your room."

Iris: " . . . Have you picked out names yet?"

Idara: "Ooh. What about April? If it's a girl."

Iris: "April?! What, just 'cause she'll be born in spring? Ugh, no way. What about . . . hm. What about . . . ?"

Mariam was unphased by Joanna's blatant flirting with her crush.

Far from jealousy, it seemed to have awakened . . . other feelings.

Mariam: "Have I told you how cute you look in that sweater?"

Joanna: "No, you haven’t. But please, feel free to tell me more."

But Mariam's mind had gone blank with nerves and lust.

After breaking apart, Joanna let out a small laugh and stepped back to give Mariam a playfully appraising look. "Well. That was a surprise. A pleasant one, though."

"I surprised myself, too," Mariam said, giggling breathlessly and hardly daring to glance in Iris' direction.

All eyes were on Iris, waiting for her reaction. Although she and Mariam had never made anything official, everyone knew they'd more or less been seeing each other since Nancy's party.

Justin: “Um. What? Did that really just happen?”

James: "Duuude."

Iris: “What? Watcher, guys, lighten up. It’s not like we’re exclusive or anything.” She turned to Mariam with a sly smirk. “Can’t blame you for having good taste.”

Joanna: "I mean, how could you? I hear I look just ravishing in this sweater."

Iris: "Mm. I'll say."

Idara: “Mom, Iris and I were wondering . . . Would it be OK for us to invite over a few friends while you and Dad are over at the Fuentes-Haddad’s tonight?”

Jeremy groaned.

Jeremy: “Watcher, I’d forgotten we’d agreed to dinner tonight. You know Nadya just wants a chance to talk herself up and make sure she’s got our votes. Is it too late to bow out, you think?”

Meda: “I know, but Nadya was very insistent. And you know she’d see right through an excuse. Plus, it’s another opportunity to bend her ear about building a clinic.”

Jeremy: “I thought she’d all but promised you that clinic already.”

Meda: “I’ll fully believe we’re getting a clinic when I’m seeing patients there, and not before.” She turned to Idara. “This would be just a small, quiet get-together, right?”

Idara: “Just us and Mariam and Farah. Because otherwise they’d just be in the way of your dinner. And I mean, we should probably invite the Campbells, too, so they don’t feel left out.”

Meda suppressed a smirk. “Ah, yes. A small, quiet get-together to which every single one of your friends is invited. . . . Well, why not? Your father and I trust you. Just don’t leave the house a total mess, please.”

Idara: “It’s gonna be so chill. Promise.”