Mindblown

Chapter Fifty

Kirstie is floating on a pool lounger, taking advantage of the warm day in late May, and making use of her bikini body while she still has it. Mitch is sitting on the side of the pool, he never likes to fully submerge, it'd ruin his purple and that needs to be preserved.
     "Do you know how much fun stuff I can no longer do?" Kirstie's eyes are closed behind her sunglasses and big floppy hat but she knows where Mitch is.
    "Pretty sure sunbathing is one of them," he sasses.
     "I won't be able to get that new tattoo I wanted," she pouts.
     "And no new dog, you'll be getting a new person instead."
     Kirstie grimaces, "When you say it like that it sounds terrifying, like I'm gonna be giving birth to a full grown person. Just say baby, instead of a new dog I'll be getting a new baby."
     "A new baby implies that you already have one, but you don't," Mitch teases.
     Kirstie sticks her tongue out at him.
     The sound of Avi's motorbike roaring up the driveway can be heard from the pool.
     "That's another thing I can't do, I've only gotten to ride on the back of the bike once and now I'll probs never get to do it again!" She pouts.
     "So how far along are you?" Mitch swishes his feet around in the water.
     "The doctor said it was like four or five weeks, it's still very early to tell."
     "Either way your birthday was not four or five weeks ago, was it even two weeks ago?"
     "Oh my god, I was pregnant when I rode the bike," her mouth forms a perfect little 'o.'
     Mitch cackles, "Didn't you say he was already over-fucking cautious. Has he not realised?"
     "And we're not gonna tell him, so shhh, he's in the house," she can see him so she waves.
     "Hey Daddy," Mitch smirks as Avi steps onto the patio.
     Avi's smile falters, "Please don't call me that again."
     Mitch feigns surprise, "But you've gone and knocked up my bestie Avi, so that means that in eight months time you'll be a Daddy, I mean she's preggers so if we're technical you're already a Daddy."
     Avi winces, "It's just the way you say it, really creeps me out."
     "That's because the way he's saying it is creepy," Kirstie puts her foot in the water to kick out and splash Mitch.
     He squeals, "Okay, okay, I'll stop!" He takes a deep breath, "Fuck."
     Kirstie gasps, hand going to her stomach, "My baby can probably hear that!"
     Mitch is more than condescending when he speaks with a snap, "Your baby doesn't have ears yet."
     "How do you know?" Kirstie frowns.
     "Because it's a god-damn peanut," he holds his hand up, fingers close together.
     "Yeah well this peanut has feelings," she places her hand on her stomach.
     "Okay, um... is this a real argument or a fake one?" Avi asks with confusion.
     Kirstie and Mitch laugh and Avi relaxes.
     "Seriously though Hon, you're gonna be okay with the weight gain right?" Mitch asks.
     Avi frowns, what did he mean weight gain? Any weight gained is the baby's, not hers, it's healthy.
     Kirstie nods quickly, "Yeah."
     "Are you answering so quickly because you want to move this along because you haven't told Avi about what happened in high school?"
     Kirstie sits up straight on the lilo, "I'm totally comfortable with my body Mitch, so shut-up," she snaps.
     Avi is about to ask what they are talking about but he is cut off.
     "I'm just really worried that as you get bigger, that you'll freak, and you can't afford a repeat because you have to look after the baby," Mitch is trying his best to keep his tone kind, calm and not condescending.
     "And that's precisely why I'll be fine, because it's not about me, it's about my baby."
     "Doesn't mean I don't worry."
     "Well you won't need to so just shut-up."
     "What's going on?" Avi finally manages to ask.
     When Kirstie doesn't answer Mitch does, it's not his place but he believes Avi should know, this does concern a child that is half his. "Kirstie struggled with bulimia in high school."
     "What?" Avi's voice is full of concern and sympathy.
     "See," she points at Avi, "I didn't want you looking at me like that. Besides, I was never diagnosed with bulimia, I just borderlined it," she tries to justify it.
     "An awfully flirtatious borderline," Mitch's eyes narrow.
     "Mitch you had no right to tell Avi about that," Kirstie tries and fails to get off the pool floaty gracefully.
     "He deserved to know so that he can keep an eye on you," Mitch doesn't bat an eyelid.
     Kirstie's glare is acidic as she climbs out of the pool.
     "I'm sorry that I hurt you but I'm not sorry that I told him," Mitch tells Kirstie as she storms off inside. "I'm gonna get going, but you should check on her in about five," he holds his outstretched hand up at Avi as he gets to his feet.
     "Yeah okay," Avi speaks, a little dumbfounded.
     Avi follows Mitch back into the house and watches him collect his things, ready to leave.
     "You know it wasn't right what you did, but thank you for telling me."
     "Just look after her okay, she might not want to talk to me for a while so you have to make sure she's okay."
     "Don't worry, I've got this. Just the other day, at her fitting she was looking herself up and down in the mirror, worrying, and I sorted it."
     "Oh, you sorted it?" Mitch raises an eyebrow.
     "Yeah."
     "I don't think you understand."
     "I think she's stronger than you give her credit for."
     "You don't know her like I do," his eyes narrow. "You didn't know about this, I did, what does that tell you? Because it tells me that she doesn't trust you enough to tell you everything."
     "I'm her husband, I-"
     Mitch holds up his hand, "That means fuck all to me right now. You've known her for five minutes, her and I have been best friends since middle school, so don't be acting like you know her better."
     "I'm not! Shit," Avi's arms fold across his chest. "Just chill out for god's sake, you're acting like a real dick just because I phrased something wrong."
     "If looking out for my friend is acting like a real dick, then I wear it like a badge of honour," his nose goes up.
     "Look, I may not know everything about her yet, but she doesn't know everything about me either. And I know what you're gonna say: 'But why are you married then?' But that's because we love each other, not because we know every single little detail about each other. I'm gonna be there for her and she's gonna be there for me when I need her. But right now she's the one who needs me, so I need you to leave so that I can go to her. Please," Avi opens the front door.
     A hint of a smile ghosts Mitch's face, "Okay." And he leaves without a fuss.

...

Avi opens the door to his and Kirstie's bedroom. His wife is on the bed with her back to him, a pillow cuddled to her chest.
     "Go away," she tells him.
     Avi doesn't say a word, he walks around to his side of the bed, Kirstie can see him now, and she watches him but they don't speak.
     She watches him open up one of the draws she'd allocated him and rummage around. At least that's what it looks like to her, he knows exactly where what he's getting is.
     Avi pulls out a little pill bottle and turns to show her, holding it between two fingers.
     "What's that?" Kirstie asks quietly.
     "It's my anxiety medication," he climbs on the bed to lay beside Kirstie.
     She props herself up on her elbow, "You have anxiety?"
     "Yep," he shakes the tube and the tablets rattle inside. "This is why people think I'm high all the time, these little pills."
     "Oh," is all Kirstie says. "But why'd you choose to tell me now?"
     He shrugs, "I guess I didn't want you feeling so bad about Mitch spilling your secret. Plus we're married now and in hindsight me having anxiety is probably something you should know."
     "Probably," she agrees. "But just so you know, I haven't done that in years," she holds her pointer and middle finger together by her mouth.
     "And I totally believe you hon."
     Kirstie shuffles closer to him, she presses her forehead to his chest, "I won't do anything to hurt our baby," she throws an arm over him, holding him.
     "I know."
     "But I'm still scared."
     "I know."
     "I need you to come on tour with me."
     "I know, and I will."

A/N: What did you think of Avi and Mitch's interaction, also Avi going on tour with Kirstie... thoughts?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter, please vote and comment, it makes my day :)

I also feel like I should tell you guys that this story is very near the end, just three or four more chapters depending on whether or not I split the "tour" chapter into two. So yeah, there's that.
     But have no fear because as soon as this one is all finished I'll start posting Summertime Sadness which I mentioned a few months ago, so good things are still to come :D

Hannah.