Abstract: Let $\Gamma$ be a nonuniform lattice in $\SL(2,\R)$, and consider a discrete orbit of $\Gamma$ in the Euclidean plane. It is now a classical result to compute the expected value formula for the Siegel--Veech transform which can be used to count the number of points in the ball of radius $R$. In this paper we compute a second moment integral formula, with asymptotic estimates on the variance. We apply the result to obtain error terms for counting in dilates of Borel measurable sets. We also apply the second moment to give expected value formulas for counting pairs of points with a bounded determinant, as well as pairs with bounded distance called $\epsilon$-friends. In the case when $\Gamma$ is a Veech group, the results on $\epsilon$-friends are applied to show that for every Veech surface and almost every pair of directions, the translation flows are disjoint. This is based on joint work with Claire Burrin.