Chapter 12: Mother-Daughter Talk
Over the past hour, my mom and I talked about our lives. It amazed me at how much I got to know her in just sixty minutes. We talked about school, work, and anything about everything. Then the topic of Gary came back up.
"So Gary is back, huh?" she asked.
"Yes," I said, not really wanting to talk about it.
"When did you find out you wanted to be with him again?" she interrogated.
"It just sort of happened, you know?"
"Well, you were pretty heart-broken when you two broke up…" she began. "He moved. That's why you broke up right?"
The story was all wrong. I remembered lying to her about this, so she wouldn't hurt or tell the parents of Gary. Now, I decided, was the time to tell her the truth. "Mom, we didn't break up because he moved."
She had a confused look on her face.
"We broke up because… because," I stuttered. "…because he cheated on me."
She was silent for awhile then I saw her mouth open to speak. "…and you are back together with him?" she asked with disapproval.
"Mom, please just relax. After he moved, he's changed. He's not like before."
"Honey, how do you he's not lying to you?"
"I don't know. I just…"
"You are actually going to believe a liar?"
"No!"
"Alexa, No. I don't care if he's changed or not. If he has done this to you before, he probably will do it again."
"Mom!" I said. "Just give him a chance."
She took a deep sigh and had a dissatisfaction face. "Fine." Relief came over me. "…but what about Ronnie?"
And once again, the topic of Ronnie has come up. Why is it that everyone around me seems to like him? He's completely arrogant and filled with pride. Yes he is. If he didn't want to speak to me, I will surely not speak to and of him. I took a breath. I found that when I do think of Ronnie, I always look at the negative side of him. Why?
"Ronnie… is not talking to me," I answered her.
"What?" she asked. "His parents told me he's entirely head-over-heels for you."
"Mom, we just sort of got in a fight."
"A fight? Alexa, a fight involves talking to each other. And this, neither of each speaking, is not a fight."
She had a point.
"So I guess having them over for Thanksgiving is a bad idea, then?" she asked. "I can cancel if you want."
"No, it's okay. Have them over, I just won't be talking."
Ronnie. Why do all conversations end with him? I don't see the point. All my friends like him, my parents like him, and I… I don't know anymore. A part of me wants to like him, but now there is Gary. Why did he have to come back? But without him coming back, Ronnie and I wouldn't have gotten so close over the past few weeks. My mind was wondering everywhere.
"I better get to sleep," I told my mother.
"Good night and happy belated Birthday, hun," she said.
I left the room.