A Mass Hysteria In The Modern World

Alyssa's POV.

I slowly woke up and I could see that it was bright in the room and I saw Billie's black mop of hair that looked like a blob because my vision was blurry.

"Billie?" I mumbled softly and put my arm out to hold his hand. I was about to fall asleep again when I felt his hand in mine and he brought the chair over with him and sat next to my bed.

"You're fine. The baby's fine," he whispered and kissed my head. "Everything's fine."

I began to cry and put my other hand over my face. Billie pushed the black railing down on the side of the bed so he could sit closer to me and he put his head on my shoulder as I cried.

"Why is it always me?" I asked.

"Lyssa, everything's fine," he whispered and kissed my cheek. "There's nothing to worry about."

"But I'm always the one with bad luck."

"Some people are just more un-lucky than others."

"What time is it?" I groaned.

Billie pulled out his phone and checked the time. "It's 5:10AM."

"Can I go back to sleep now?" I asked. Billie began to say something.

"Not yet Mrs. Armstrong," a nurse said when she came in. "Excuse me," she said nicely and Billie rolled myself and the chair back to the spot where it was. "Miss, your baby is fine," she said with a smile. "Would you like to know what you're having?" Billie looked at me and smiled, telling me that he already knew what it was. I smiled at the nurse too.

"What am I having?" I asked more awake now. I rubbed my stomach and felt the slight bump that would be growing within the next eight months.

The nurse took a deep breath."You're having a boy," she said with a smile and handed me the Ultrasound pictures. "You can't really tell what it is quite yet, but myself and a group of doctors got together and figured it out." I began to tear up as I looked at my baby son.

"Thank you," I said and hugged the nurse. "You've been great."

"No problem. Call me if you need anything," she said and walked out.

"We're having a son!" I squealed and Billie jumped up and hugged me. "Mmm, I love you," I said into his shoulder. "You're perfect."

"I love you too," he said with his face buried in my black hair that wasn't straightened today. "Have you thought of any names for him yet?"

"I just found out it was a boy, Billie!" I said and smiled at him. "What have you been thinking?"

"Well, I wanted to name him-"

"Hey, douchebag!" I heard Marty's voice, cutting Billie off. Billie and I let go of eachother and we all laughed at the fact that she called me a douchebag.

"Hey, loser," I said with a smile. She came and hugged me.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she said.

"Well that's a first," I replied, smiling. She glared at me then went on the other side of the room with her kids and Abby.

"Hey, sorry we didn't get here sooner," Tre said, hugging me also.

"When did you get here?" I asked.

"An hour ago," he said. I shrugged. I looked next to Tre and saw Jason White standing in the corner.

"Jason," I said with a laugh. He looked up at me. "What are you doing?" He walked fom the corner and gave me a hug. I had a feeling that he wasn't too good.

"What's wrong?" I whispered. He looked at me and couldn't keep his eyes locked with mine.

"We'll talk later, okay?" I said. Jason nodded his head and walked back to the corner. The same nurse walked in a few minutes later and looked at everybody in the room. She laughed.

"You've got quite the fanbase, Mrs. Armstrong," she laughed. I shrugged my shoulders.

"There's more, they just don't know I'm here," I said. The nurse looked at me sympathetically. "When can I go home?" I asked.

"Actually, right now," she smiled. The nurse took my IV's out and everything off of my hands that had been on me for hours. "We just want you to take it slow the rest of the week. Your leg needs to have that cast on for four weeks," she said and I nodded my head. "Don't run or do any major step climbing," she said.

"And no falling down them either," Tre said then pretended to clear his throat. The whole room filled with our laughter and Abby punched him, but she was laughing too.

"I won't, Tre," I told him.

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"I'm not used to walking in this!" I complained about the cast all the way to the car. Billie was helping me limp and Abby was going to unlock the door for me.

"I told you, you should have gotten crutches," he said.

"But they hurt!"

"They help you walk."

"But Marty will take them from me and hide them!"

Billie laughed. "You got me there, Love."

"How long do I have to have this thing on again?" I asked, looking up at Billie.

"Doctor said about four weeks," Abby said.

"Dammit," I mumbled. Billie and Abby helped me get into the car gently and strap my seatbelt in. I don't know why but Billie insisted doing everything for me. He got in the driver's side and gave me a kiss before starting up the engine.

"Ew! Don't do that infront of me!" Abby squealed.

"What? This?" Billie asked and kissed me again. I smiled and couldn't help but to laugh then push him away.

"Yes dad, that," she said disgusted. "Can we please just go home?"

Marty's POV.

"I hated being on crutches," I mumbled. "It's like a living hell."

"When did you have to be on crutches?" Tre asked me. Me, him, Alice, and Klaus were all walking back to the car from the hospital.

"Summer going into eigth grade," I sighed. "Oh fuck it, just ask Alyssa."

"Mom!" Klaus said. "I don't like it when you cuss."

"I'm sorry, baby," I said and patted his shoulder.

"She was there?" Tre asked.

"Yeah, she blames herself for it, but it's really not her fault," I laughed.

"Well, now it's her turn," Tre said. "But don't torture her, okay?"

I groaned. "Why not?"

"Because she's pregnant," he said with a smartass smile.

"God, you're too nice," I said and we got into the car and drove home.

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Once we got home, Tre unlocked the door and the kids ran inside and went straight to their rooms. We heard them fight over who's playing the Xbox and who was going to be watching. Tre and I laughed to ourselves, knowing that we would do the same thing.

"Care to have a day to ourselves?" He asked and pretended to slick back his hair. I laughed to myself.

"If you promise not to do that," I said with a smile. He stopped and glared, then shrugged. I was still laughing to myself when he picked me up and carried me upstairs.

"This feels like a trap."

"It can be if you want it to be," he said with a raised eyebrow.

"Ugh, you're sick Tre!" I said and hit his arm then turned my head.

"Oh you like it," he sang and laid me down on the bed and laid down next to me. I hid my face in the covers and he was still taunting me.

"You like it," he sang again and tried to tickle me.

"I'm not ticklish there!" I said. He tried my leg; didn't work. Then he tried my foot and I ended up kicking him in the balls.

"Fuck! Now my plan can't go through!" He yelled, grabbing himself, then falling over on the bed. I laughed hard and still had my face in the pillow.

Billie's POV.

"Do you need anything else, Love?" I asked, walking into me and Alyssa's bedroom and handing her the bagel that she wanted. She was laying on her side of the bed with her leg propped up with pillows and whatnot.

"No, I'm good. Thanks," she smiled and kissed me. I started to walk out the room. "Wait, just lay here... please?" I smiled and walked back over to her then laid in the bed.

"Why am I laying here?" I asked in almost a whisper.

"Because I want you to," she said softly and rubbed my hair back from my forehead. "It's nice to just relax, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is," I whispered and held her hand then put her arm around me.

"This feels awkward," she laughed. I snuggled into her side and I stayed here.

"Oh well, you'll get used to it," I laughed too. We were quiet for a few minutes until Alyssa's cell phone went off and we both sighed, letting it ruin the perfect moment.

"Who is it?" I asked. She picked up her phone and flipped it open.

"It's Jason," she sighed and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Which one?" I hissed and smiled.

"White," she mouthed to me.

"Right now?" She asked him. It was quiet for a few seconds. "I don't know Jason, I just got home..." I heard Jason's voice rise a little and Alyssa sighed.

"Alright, fine, I'll be there in a second. Bye," she said and hung up. Alyssa looked at me with pleading eyes.

"Billie," she started. "Can you take me to Jason's real quick?"

"Why?" I asked and held onto her tighter. I knew about them in high school.

"Because he wants to talk."

"Yeah, he wants to talk alright," I mumbled.

"Billie! He's your friend. I'm your wife. He's my friend," she said and hit my head.

"And that's my head!" I said and rubbed it, glaring at her.

"Please?" She asked and kissed me gently. "For me?"

I rolled my eyes and got up and went to the other side of the bed.

"Fine, but no less than two hours," I said and helped her stand up.

"Beej, you're not my father," she said.

"But I'm your husband and I'll worry about you," I said and walked her to the hallway.

"Abby! Keep the door locked! I'm driving your mom to Jason's real quick!" I yelled at her door.

"Which one?!" She asked. We both laughed to ourselves.

"White! I'll be right back!" I yelled again and I helped my wife down the steps.

"Promise me you won't do anything," I said once we pulled onto the street that he lived on.

"Billie, nothing is going to happen, you don't need to worry!" She said and kissed me.

"Do you need any help...?" I asked.

"No, I'm fine," she smiled.

"Alright, I'll pick up at 8:30," I said. "I love you."

"I love you too," she laughed and began to go up the walkway.

Alyssa's POV.

I knocked on Jason's door and waited for him to answer it. After about a few knocks he finally came to the door in plaid pajama pants and a white tee and his hair was sticking out everywhere.

"Hey!" He said and welcomed me in.

"Did you just wake up?" I asked, crutching myself over to the couch and sitting down. Jason closed the door and came over to sit in the chair to the left of me.

"Well," he laughed. "About five minutes ago."

"Sorry," I laughed.

"For what?"

"Nevermind," I said getting a bit nervous. "So what were you going to say at the hospital earlier?"

Jason shifted in his seat and brought his legs up to sit crosslegged and he put his hand in his brown hair and played with it.

"Abby and I were having a... little chat in the waiting room. Billie had texted me to watch her while he went with you," he said not making any eye contact with me.

"And...?"

"She asked me... if I ever had a thing for you," he sighed. I laughed and Jason looked at me like I was crazy.

"I'm sorry," I said trying to catch my breath. "I just think it's funny for a fourteen year old to ask a thirty year old about their love life."

"I told her everything!" He yelled and then hid his face in his hands.

"...You did?" Jason nodded his head and kept his face hidden. I stood up and crutched myself over to the front door again.

"Have a good day, Jason," I said and tried to open the door. I wiped a tear off my face and kept jiggling the doorknob.

"Why won't this damn thing open?!" I asked and more tears were coming. I accidentally let go of the other crutch and I fell sideways and over the back of the couch. I opened my eyes and everything was upside down, including Jason. I began to cry a little more and I covered my face. I heard Jason get up and go on the other side and pull me up by my arms, sitting me on the edge of the couch.

"She wasn't mad, Alyssa," he whispered and sat next to me, still holding me up with his arm around my back.

"Are you sure?" I asked and wiped my face with my hands. I looked at him and he looked at me like he was sorry. He nodded his head. I sighed, closing my eyes and put my hands down next to me. My left hand missed and landed in his knee. He took a deep breath and I quickly removed it.

"S-Sorry. That was an accident," I said, not looking at him.

"Are you hungry?" He asked changing the subject.

"Yes," I laughed.

"What do you want?" He asked walking into the kitchen. I followed after him, making the noise with the crutches and he couldn't help but to laugh at me.

"Shut up!" I yelled and pouted at him.

"I'm sorry," he laughed, waving his hands.

"Do you have... lemonade?" I asked. He nodded his head and opened the fridge.

"Fuck yes!" I yelled and attacked the lemonade. He laughed and I stood back up with at least three cans of it.

"Would you like me to open one?" He asked. I handed him one and he handed it back to me with the lid opened and I chugged it down.

"What time is Billie getting you?" He asked and sat down at the table.

"8:30. Why?" I sat down too, across from him. We both looked at the clock and saw that it was 7:40. I got here at 6:00.

"I don't want you to leave yet," he said and looked down at the table.

"Jason, I'm glad we're on good terms... but I'm in love with Billie now."

"Why'd we split, Alyssa?"

"...I don't know."

"We were perfectly fine Senior year."

I didn't say anything except played with the napkins that were sitting a few inches away from my hands.

"I was going to ask you to marry me."

My head shot up and I looked at him.

"Jason, I-"

"No, it's fine. I returned the ring after we broke up." He became emotional and started to breathe hard and take deep breaths. I got up and I limped to his side and I hugged him.

"You'll find someone, Jason."

"It took me forever to get over you."

"Don't do this, please," I said and held back my tears.

"I thought we were going to get married, have children, and grow old with eachother."

He kept staring straight at the wall infront of him and wouldn't look at me. I held his chin and I forced him to turn and look at me. When I turned his head he studied my face and put his hand on the back of my head under my hair. I looked down and tried to find a way to move.

"Don't move," he whispered.

"Don't!" I said firmly and turned my head. "I'm married..." I shot up and grabbed my crutches then began to walk away. I heard him get up and walk after me.

"Stop!" He said and I turned around quickly.

"I'm sorry," he said and grabbed my head and kissed me. I let go of my crutches out of reflex and fell backwards, causing me to break away from him and leave him standing. We both looked at eachother and breathed deeply. I grabbed my stomach and hoped for the best.

"Oh, shit!" Jason said and quickly went over to me.

"I'm pregnant, Jason!"

"I know that!"

I rubbed the bump and I looked around to make sure I didn't hit anything.

"You didn't hit anything right?" He asked with his hand on my stomach too. I grabbed his hand and removed it. His eyes moved to the floor and I rubbed his hand, telling him that he didn't do anything wrong. He looked up and I smiled at him. He gave me a weak smile back.

"I didn't hit anything, Jason. I'm fine," I said happily. "But that kiss..."

"I felt nothing..." he whispered and sat on the floor.

"Nothing," I whispered. My phone rang a few seconds later and saw that it was Billie.

"Hey, Love," I said.

"I'm here!" He said happily.

"Okay, I'll be out in a second," I said and hung up then put the phone back in my pocket.

"Jason, I don't want things to be different between us. You're a great guy," I sighed.

"You're great too, Alyssa."

We both got up and he helped me to the door.

"Here, you can keep this," he said and handed me the lemonade. I laughed and he joined in.

"Thanks for being understanding," he said, hugging me.

"About what?" I asked.

"Everything," he smiled and looked up to wave at Billie who was in the car.

"I'll see you later," I smiled and I slowly went down the steps and joined my husband in the car.