Restart: Season 2

Re-Going Crazy

===One week later===

===The House, 10:30 PM===

===Justin===

It has been rough since I quit. I know, I know. I'm a doctor, I should've known better, but smoking addictions can happen to anyone.

Conner's been taking it hard, too.

...and we have not been doing well.

I've become a stressed, obsessive freak:

===Flashback, Yesterday===

Me: "Ugh! When's the last time someone dusted up here?"

Chase: "Justin! What the hell are you doing in the tree-house at two in the morning?!"

===Present===

Conner has become jumpy and paranoid

===Flashback, Yesterday===

Chase: "Conner?"
Conner: "GAH! How long have you been sitting there?"
Chase: "You invited me to sit next to you."

===Present===
The only one seeming to be handling this well is Chase. Ever since he stopped reading dirty magazines, he's learned 3 languages, skilled up in cooking, and learned the violin.
Impressive, but he really needs a job.

Anyway, it's been a week, and quitting that abruptly was really hard. You know what? It's late. I don't work tomorrow. The kids are in bed. I am going to sit down, and have a beer. Conner still has a few last beers in the garage fridge, so I will take one of those, and try to take the pressure of the tobacco withdrawal off.

As I took the first sip, Conner walked in.
Conner: "Seriously? Come on, I cut myself off, too! We're in this together!"
Me: "Hey, I'm not the one who quit alcohol. You are. This doesn't count."
Conner: "Oh, really? You want to play hardball? Batter up, bitch!"
Conner went into the garage, and out into the backyard with a tiny box. I opened the window.
Me: "What are you doing?"
He pulled a cigarette and lighter out, put the cig in his mouth, and lit it.
Me: "HEY!"
Conner: "Hey, like you said: this doesn't c... [HACK] Wow, that is disgusting."
Justin: "Unfortunately, you get used to it."
He puffed the cig.
I glued another sip.
Puff.
Glug.
Puff.
Glug.
I ran outside, and got up in his face with the beer. I slurped the beer while he blew smoke in my face.

Chase came out of the house.
Chase: "Okay, that's it."
Next thing I know, we're being sprayed by the hose.
Conner: "Chase, what the hell are you doing?"
Chase: "This is for your own good!"
Me: "Chase! Turn it off!"
Chase: "Not until you drop the brain killer and cancer stick!"
Conner and I: "Okay, okay!"
We dropped the addictions, and Chase turned off the hose.
Chase: "Look, I love you guys. You are the best couple on the world. I hate seeing you guys like this. I mean, look at you! Good couples don't slurp in each other's face, or blow smoke into each other's hair. You guys have more promise than any other couple in the world. What the hell made you go at each each other's throats like this?"
Conner and Justin started talking over each other.
Chase: "I don't care who started it! Now, go up to your room, and I am going to get rid of every tobacco and alcoholic product in the house. Any secret stashes I find after tomorrow... well, let's just hope we never have to cross that bridge."

Holy crap. Did Chase just parent us?

A few minutes later, we were in the bedroom.
Me: "So... that just happened."
Conner: "I apoligize for overreacting."
Me: "Me too. God, Chase has been doing better than us."
Conner: "To be fair, all he gave up was porn."
Me: "And he did break up with Kate a few months ago, so he... um... I don't know where I'm going with this."
Conner: "Me either. *Chuckle* Good night."

===Saturday, September Week 4===
===Kate===
I hate people.
Today, I had to defend a diner who was being sued by a woman who dropped her own cup, spilled orange juice on the lap, and blamed the waitress who gave it to her.
Yesterday, I had to defend an independent small business who was being sued by a man who tried to use an expired coupon.
The day before that, a boutique who was being sued by a woman who tried to return pants that she spilled red wine on.
To be fair, I won all the cases, but still, my faith in humanity has been lowered.
Actually, I have been winning every case I've gotten since I came back from North Dakota. Maybe it's the anger of the breakup, and of losing my first huge case. Maybe the anger is powering me.
I'd better not let it get to my head though. I've got another case in the next chapter.