Clarity

Chapter 2

Zoe and Alfie were both up and downstairs. Alfie on the couch, scrolling through instagram and Zoe cooking breakfast. Joe came in and lifted himself up on the counter next to Zoe.

"Why hello sleepy head, you slept in late," she giggled. "Breakfast is almost ready, would you like some?"

Joe shook his head, "it looks great but I'm feeling a little nauseous."

Zoe furrowed her eyebrows, "Joe you need to eat, at least for-" Joe quickly covered her mouth with his hand.

"Oh yeah and just announce it to the whole building would you."

Zoe pushed his hand from her mouth so she could speak, "It's just Alfie, Joe. And he is going to find out anyways, he lives here too."

Joe sighed, "I just don't want him to know, at least not yet. I'm not even sure how much longer I'm going to be staying here."

Zoe set down her spatula, "what do you mean, Joe? You know you're always welcome here."

"Thank you, Zoey. But I can't risk Caspar figuring out where I went."

"He won't have to know. Alfie and I won't vlog with you around, you can hide if he ever pays a visit. I don't want you to be alone through this," she grabbed ahold of his hand and gave it a soft squeeze, "and I don't think you want that either."

Joe smiled softly and nodded, "y-yeah I guess you're right."

"I always am."

Joe slid off the counter, "and one last thing Zoe."

"Mhm?"

"Can you tell Alfie for me? I honestly don't think Id have the balls to do it."

She giggled, "I'll tell him... On one condition."

Joe turned to look at her, "and what is that?"

"That you at least try to eat."

Joe looked at the food, then back at Zoey. His stomach churned but he agreed. Zoe made the three of them a plate and Joe helped her set the table.

"Alfie!"

Alfie then appeared, wrapped his arms around Zoe, kissing her cheek.

"Morning love."

Joe rolled his eyes at the couple, and sat down, along with Alfie and Zoe. He picked up his fork, moving his eggs around the plate. He felt his stomach churn again. He dropped his fork and dashed for the bathroom.

Alfie looked at Zoey, "What's wrong with him?"

She shook her head, "don't worry about it, I'll tell you later. Stay here." She then raced after Joe and found him hunched over the toilet emptying his stomach. She kneeled next to him and rubbed his back while he finished. Joe wiped his mouth and leaned back against the wall, "Zoey, can you go please?" He said on the verge of tears.

"Joe..."

"I just want to be alone."

She gave her brother a sympathetic look before leaving the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Alfie stood around the corner, "seriously, I want to know what's going on right now."

Zoey sighed and motioned him to follow. She walked into the living room and sat on the sofa, Alfie sat next to her.

"He wanted me to tell you for him..."

"Tell me what?"

"Joe's pregnant."

Alfie sat speechless. He looked for a sign that she was joking but she showed all seriousness.

"How is that even possible?"

"I don't know, Alfie. I remember mum always said he was special, I'm guessing that's what she meant."

"That's crazy, who do you think the other father is?"

Zoey gave him a look, "Think about it Alfie, who do you think?" He pondered for a second and then it came to him, "Caspar." Zoe nodded. Before either of them could speak, Zoe's phone went off. She looked at the caller ID and hesitantly hit accept, holding the phone up to her ear.

"Hello, Caspar."

"Zoe why isn't Joe picking up the phone? I've been calling him all morning! He left, he fucking left. I found a note on the table from him, please tell me he's with you."

"I haven't heard from him." She replied, trying to hide the quiver in her voice.

"If you do, can you please call me? That little fucker has me worried sick."

"Of course, I have to go but I'll tell you if I hear from him."

"Thank you, Zoe."

She hung up and as if on cue, Joe walked in, with a fake smile plastered on his face. He saw the looks on Zoe and Alfies faces, his smile dropped.

"What happened?"

"Caspar called. He's worried sick about you, Joe. I think you should at least call him and tell him you're okay," she stood up, "you can't just... vanish off the face of the earth. What about you're viewers?"

Joe hadn't even thought about that, he had no idea what he was going to do about his channel.

"Zoe's right, you can't just shut yourself out."

"Yes I can! It's my decision, it's bad enough I have to deal with this thing and now you're telling me you want me to reveal to the whole world about how fucking disgusting I am?!"

"Joe-"

"I don't want to hear it. If you're just gonna try to be like mum then I'm gone. I can deal with this myself."

And with that, he stormed to the front door but before he could reach for the knob, he felt a pair of strong arms lift him off his feet.

He started to thrash, trying to escape Alfies hold, "let me go!"

"Joe please calm down, you're gonna hurt yourself." he just continued to shout and thrash about, but Alfie didn't loosened his grip around his small frame. Joe finally gave up and collapsed in his arms, a crying mess. It wasn't just the hormones getting to him, Joe was generally terrified about the whole situation. He wanted just to give up, but the one thing that he knew he had to fight for was the fetus growing inside of him. The one he and Caspar had made together, even though Caspar didn't know it yet.
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Be prepared in the next chapter for how Caspar reacted to the letter and possibly a flashback to the night Jaspar fucked.

Song: Over My Head by The Fray