Mwahaha
I had eventually made amends with the guys. James went off on them the following morning and everyone was silent for a week. Finally we got together and the guys stopped teasing me. Notice I said me and not we. Logan is still getting hell for it. I tried negotiating with them but it was either me or him. Even though I would have taken the shot, James would have never allowed it, especially with the healing scar on my wrist.
Everything went back to normal. And I was happy once again.
"So how are things going with my girl?" My mom asked. It was around noon, the morning sun disappearing from the windows as it rose up to the sky. She was in the middle of cutting cookies. Wax paper was rolled out in front of her in a smooth sheet she had rolled out with the rolling pin.
"I'm doing good," I answered, biting the pretzel I was eating. School was released out for spring break two days ago and since then I barely seen my mother during the day. While she was working I would go to Kendall's house with the rest of the guys so I wouldn't be left alone. "You know the same ol' same ol'. Carlos keeps trying to convince everyone unicorns are real; Logan denies it with following scientific facts; and James and Kendall wind up pushing both in the pool." I shrugged. "Nothing too crazy."
"Sounds like...fun," my mother said and we both laughed. "How are you and James?"
I blushed. It's not the question, which is defiantly an excuse to blush, but the way she said it. It made me cringe.
"We're good," I said. I popped another pretzel in my mouth and slowly chewed it. It wasn't a lie, me and James were good. But I didn't necessarily want to tell her all the gory details. Most of it seemed like stuff that should be kept between me and James, like the song. I didn't feel the need to tell her at that moment that I was in love with him and it was confirmed he loved me back. I didn't want to kiss and tell. It wasn't the right moment.
She turned around and faced me, raising an eyebrow. "Just good?"
I nodded and grabbed another pretzel. She looked skeptical and turned back to the cookies. At least for a fraction of a second that's what I thought she was doing. She dropped the cutters and wiped her hands on her apron as she walked over. She sat a bench across the table from me and popped her elbows on it.
"Alright, what's going on?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean whats going on between you and James?" She asked as if it were obvious. "Did you guys have sex?"
I choked on my pretzel. "What?!" I exclaimed, coughing up bits and pieces of it. "No! What would even make you think that?"
She shrugged. "You have been so secretive about your relationship that It's probably something you don't want me to know about."
She caught me there. I haven't really talked to her about the things going on between me and James. But it's not because I don't want to tell her.
I calmed down and folded my hands in my lap. No more pretzels. "No its nothing like that. I just-," I sighed. "I've never been in a relationship before, let alone this serious. I just don't know what I'm doing."
"Oh Remy," My mother sighed, reaching over the table. "Its okay not knowing what's going on. Relationships can be confusing. especially one that's seri-" she stopped and raised her eyebrows again. "How serious are we talking?"
I looked down at my hands and blushed.
"Remy," my mom dragged out my name in a warning tone.
I gulped. "James-"
"James what?" She was on to me. You would have thought I was confessing to murder.
I sighed. "James told me he loved me. And I said the same to him."
My mom froze in her spot, not even knowing what to say or do. She obviously wasnt expecting that. But before I could poke her to see if she was still alive, she grinned. Next thing I knew she was out of her seat and was wrapping me in a hug.
"Oh Remy!" She gushed. "Your first love!"
I laughed once and wrapped my arms around her. She pulled away and held me at arms length.
"I'm so happy for you!" She said.
"You are?"
"Of course," She said. She guided me back to the table and we both sat down. "I know things have been hard since your father left us. But with him here or not, that doesn't change how hard it was for you growing up. I'm really happy that you were able to find friends like the ones you have now and a boyfriend. When you first started dating James I was worried about it; that I would come home one day to see you crying after he broke your heart and I didn't want to see you like that again. But after hearing and seeing how happy he made you, I thought not to worry about it until that moment came. And that moment never came. I'm just happy that you're happy Remy."
"Oh mom," I said and hugged her. I was happy to have her understand and know everything.
"Now just remember to use protection," she said.
"Oh mom!" I said pulling away. "Not this talk."
"Oh yes this talk!" my mom said.
After having that very embarrassing conversation with my mom, I was finally able to escape to the park where I met with the guys.
"What's up Remy?" Kendall asked as I walked up to them.
"Yeah, why all you all red in the face?" Carlos asked.
"I really rather not talk about it," I mumbled and plopped down on a swing.
"It can't be that bad," Kendall said sitting on the swing next to mine. James took the other.
"You weren't there," I cried out.
Kendall and James laughed and I rolled my eyes. We then started swinging, James and Kendall got into a bet on who could swing the highest. After arguing over the results they went on to see who could jump the farthest. After almost breaking every bone in their body, James was proclaimed the winner. I hopped off and went over to them.
"congratulation winner," I joked and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hey where's Carlos?" Kendall asked. We all looked around for Carlos. A faint sound came in with the air, a melody playing in our ears. Kendall and James shared a look, their mouths dropping open.
"Hey we gotta go," James said to me.
"Like right now," Kendall said.
I nodded. "What's going on?"
"I'll tell you later. Promise." James said. He kissed my forehead and took off, following Kendall who was almost a yard away.
I sighed and shook my head, laughing a bit to myself as I started walking home.
The sun was almost set, half hidden behind the roofs of the passing houses. A cool breeze swept through the streets, sending goosebumps up my arms.
It was out. I was in love with James. James was in love with me.
I was shocked when I first heard him say it. I was shocked when I heard myself say it and knew it was true. James hasn't just told me he loved me, but he showed it through different occasions. I never really thought it was real, the bliss, the knowing that I was loved by someone other than my mother. I always thought of it as a dream. It didn't become reality until I told my mom.
The thought sent a giddy feeling through out my body, making me happy and jumpy. I was in love. I was loved. Love felt amazing. I loved love. everything about it. The word, the feeling. Love. Love. Love.
I skipped home with a smile on my face. Even though James basically ditched me. But they probably went to find Carlos, which was good because you would not believe the stuff that latino can get himself into in a short amount of time.
I took my time walking home. Near my street, I grew tired and stopped skipping, but the smile never faded from my face.
The sun was almost completely gone when I reached the front porch steps. I twisted the knob and walked through the door, shutting it behind me as I called to my mom. "Mom! I'm home!"
I didn't get an answer. But I heard voices. They were low, and hushed tones, spoken as if they were arguing. I furrowed my brows, confused as I slipped off my sweater.
I made my way to the kitchen, the glow from the light illuminating in to the living room. I tossed my jacket on the back of one of the chairs in the living room and cautiously walked to the kitchen.
My first initial reaction was that Phil was back. But I knew my mother wouldn't even allow him two inches near this house. But I still wasn't sure. My mind wandered some more. What if my mother was dead or tied up and the hushed voices were burglars or murderers?
I continued walking and stopped when I reached the kitchen. I stood in the doorway and two heads shot up. One belonged to my mother. She looked distressed and very unhappy. She clearly was not going to let the stranger get anything he wanted.
The second person was a man. He looked to be about in his forties with dark brown hair that was greying on the sides. He had a five o'clock shadow growing in around his face and sharp brown eyes.
"Remy darling hi," my mom said.
"Hi mom," I said cautiously. I had no idea who this man was or what he was doing here, but he was not making my mom happy. I felt uncomfortable. I knew something was wrong. "What's going on?" I asked. They exchanged glances and my mom sighed. I then started to catch on.
The man looked at me as if I were a surprise. But not as if myself was a surprise, but that it was actually me. I looked at him and found he looked familiar. I saw him some place recently. But where?
I stared at him for a moment, getting embarrassed as he stared back, offering me a smile. But I couldn't look away. Where was he from?
When he smiled it hit me like a hurricane. His eyes, his nose, the dimple by his right cheek.
Oh shit.
My stomach dropped as if I where on an elevator crashing to the ground. My heart stopped and jumped to my throat. No. It couldn't be. I didn't believe it one second. I was crazy. I shook my head, trying to shake the insane thought from my head. But when I opened my eyes and looked at him all I saw was myself. I didn't believe it until my mom spoke.
"Remy," she said softly. "Your father would like to talk to you."
