I hope that everyone continues to enjoy this story. I know I've definitely enjoyed writing it. Thanks for reading, and please review.
I looked at my mother like she had suddenly grown two heads. "What the hell are you doing here?" I gasped out, unusually shocked. I held Dillon's hand tightly and my other arm was around his back.
"I have every right to visit my daughter," she said calmly. "And my son." Oh, right. My half-brother. Moroi. Fourteen years old. Obnoxious. I avoided him at all costs. "And, Janine, what I've observed here bothered me, so I stepped in." I glared at her. What nerve.
"Since when do you care?" I snapped. "You walk around pretending I'm not your daughter and then suddenly step in to ruin my relationship?" I was practically spitting fire. I'm sure smoke was coming out of my nostrils.
"I don't pretend you aren't my daughter," she said smoothly, annoyingly calm. Her face remained expressionless. "And I do find it worrying that you and that Moroi--" She looked at Dillon with disgust--"are involved in a relationship, and are alone so frequently." For her credit, she actually did look concerned.
I turned to Dillon. "Can you leave us alone for a few minutes?" I asked him quietly. He nodded, looking sheepish. I sighed. I wouldn't want to get involved in another family's drama, either. He bent his head down to kiss me briefly. I could feel my mother's eyes boring into my back. I watched him walk away until I couldn't see him. Spinning on my heel, I whirled to glare again at my mother.
"Janine," she said gently. I fumed at her patronizing tone. "You don't understand why I'm so concerned."
"No, I sure as hell don't," I snarled at her. "Enlighten me." This had better be good.
Her eyes flashed slightly at my sarcastic tone. "Do you know how old I was when I had you?" she asked sudddenly. Caught off guard by the random question, I merely shook my head. "I was nineteen. Barely nineteen. Just out of the Academy. Your father was my guardian. And, like you, I thought that I would never become a mother so young." She laughed slightly. "Well, I did."
I looked at her, my anger evaporating slightly. "So you regret me?" I asked sharply. Surprise surprise. Well, actually, it wasn't much of a shocker. I already guessed as much.
To my surprise, she looked suddenly fierce. "No," she said lowly. "I have never regretted you." That confused me. Never regretted me? Why did she walk around acting like I was her niece instead of daughter? I have to admit, when your own mother pretends like she doesn't know you, it hurts. She must have read the doubt on my face. "I don't act like you aren't my daughter. Forgive me if I don't have pictures of you covering every inch of my wall. Some Moroi consider it improper for a female Moroi to mother a dhampire. So no, I don't flaunt you. But I have never denied you are my daughter."
Well, then. I couldn't think of something to say. My mother continued, "Your father and I decided to send you to the Academy, and ask them to raise you. I... I wasn't ready for a child." Her voice grew quiet, soft. "I was scared, Janine. I was scared of raising a child so young. I wasn't ready. I didn't want to mess up with you. So I did the only thing I could. I gave you away." She looked saddened. I blinked in surprise. So strange that after so many years of resenting my mother, I finally understood her when she meddled in perhaps the most important relationship of my life. But I did. I understood what she meant. I also, grudgingly, understood how much of a sacrifice it must have been to give me away.
"Oh." That was all I could utter. A small, understanding 'oh.'
My mother smiled wryly. "And, thinking back, I would have wanted to kill my mother if she had tried to interfere with my relationship with your father. So, I do understand your anger, Janine. But I think you need to understand my point of view." She paused for a breath and I stared at her mutely. "Janine, you really don't understand how... easy it is for you to get pregnant. I know that at your age, consequences aren't apparent. But everything has a consequence. My mother used to tell me, 'If you want to play adult games, expect adult consequences.' Well, I played adult games, and I wasn't ready for the adult consequences." I think I was flushing slightly. Any sex talk is embarassing, but one from your long-lost mother in the middle of the hallway at your school? Humiliating.
"So will you talk to Kirova and tell her to put Dillon and I back together for the assignment?" I asked hopefully. Maybe we had reached enough of an understanding that she would.
She laughed dryly. "No, of course not. Janine, as much as I love you, I'm not going to let you make the same mistake I did. Not if I can help it." The word mistake was a slap in the face. She caught my eye, and quickly added, "The best mistake of my life, I assure you." I snorted.
"Thanks, Mom," I said sarcastically. I added teasingly, "Nice cover, there." She smiled, and I had to remind myself that I was actually having a civilized discussion with my mom. My mom, who, up until that dya, I had hated. My mom, who, up until that day, I hadn't spoken to in seven years. My mom, who, up until that day, I had never understood.
I sighed. "Dillon isn't that bad," I told her. Maybe, if she understood how much I liked him, she would reconsider.
She smiled at me. "Janine, I know. If he was bad, you wouldn't be dating him," she said with a laugh. "You never were afraid of telling people that you didn't like them. But, this boy could be the saint of ethics, and it wouldn't matter. I know he isn't pressuring you for anything. I know you aren't pressuring him for anything. But that doesn't change the fact that things can happen without people consciously deciding for it to happen."
I nodded sourly. It was worth a try. "Okay. Well... thanks, I guess."
She smiled. "It's nice to clear up some misunderstandings. And it was also nice to see you again, Janine. You've really grown up fast." I groaned. I hated it when adults made comments like that. So annoying. She laughed. "I have things to do today, Janine, but I'll probably see you again soon." And, just like that, my mother was leaving.
I wanted to bang my head against a wall. I wasn't mad at my mother anymore, but it didn't change the fact that I was no longer Dillon's dhampire. What was that kid's name? William Parker or something like that? Whatever. I had like three and a half weeks left in the field experience. Damn it. These three and a half weeks were going to be long.
I didn't give a name to Janine's mother, and I didn't specify on the father or half-brother. I really didn't think they were that critical to the story. I plan on having Janine's mother appear maybe twice more later on. Anyways, thanks for reading, adnd reviews are great. Have a great day.
Mel.