The next two weeks fly by, and the clock ticks down on Luz and Amity's remaining time. Amity invites Luz over the Sunday before finals. The goal is to study, but they have some unfinished business before they can get dig in.
Amity sits on the left side of her couch and tries to relax, but her stomach has butterflies fluttering nervously. Luz is on her right; she looks less nervous, but her smile is smaller than usual. She reaches over and clasps Amity's right hand with her left. In Luz's other hand is her cell phone, which she's gripping tightly.
The contact helps ease Amity's nerves, but she's not quite ready, "You go first." She says to Luz.
"Okay." Luz clicks on her phone screen a few times to dial a number and then raises it up to her ear.
"Hi mom! I'm doing great! Yeah, I'm calling you about what we discussed a few weeks ago!"
Amity runs her thumb over the back of Luz's hand as she continues to talk on the phone. Luz eyes are on their joined hands, and a second later she looks up warm eyes meet Amity's.
Luz grins, "Yes, I've decided on a major. Your daughter is going to be… drumroll please… an elementary school teacher! Yayyyy." Luz falls silent as her mother responds, her grin returning to its regular size. "Thank you! I'll make you proud."
Luz listens for a moment and answers a few questions about what she's been up to, if she's been eating right recently, and things like that. The call starts to wind down, but Luz isn't ready to hang up quite yet. "Hey mom, I have something else big to tell you."
Amity tilts her head slightly to the right at the comment and scrunches her eyebrows, they hadn't discussed sharing any additional news.
"I met someone; I'm holding hands with her right now." Luz raises their joined hands and presses a gentle kiss to Amity's knuckles, bringing a bright blush to the recipient's cheeks.
Luz's mom must have asked for her name because Luz responds, "Amity. Thank you! Yes, I can already tell you're going to love her. You want what? When? Hold on one sec."
Luz lowers the phone and whispers excitedly, "My mom wants to meet you! She said she's happy for us and wants us to visit next weekend." Luz pauses and then whispers even louder, "Sorry, is that too sudden?"
Amity smiles at her excitement, "It's fine. I'd like to go."
"Great!" Her whispers are at max volume now, and Luz returns the phone to her ear. "Mom? Yes we'd love to come, thank you so much! We'll see you Saturday then. Okay I'll talk to you later, love you, bye!"
Luz hangs up the phone and beams at Amity, "That went great!" Luz leans back against the couch, "Phew, I'm so relieved." She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively at Amity, "It's your turn now."
"I'm not ready." Amity glances towards the ground, the joy from Luz's call quickly evaporating into thin air. "My parents will not be as warm and welcoming."
"It'll be okay." Luz leans in for a gentle kiss and gives her the softest smile which causes Amity's heart to flutter. "You got this."
Emboldened by the kiss, Amity releases Luz's hand so she can pull her phone out and call her mother. She clicks into her contacts and presses send. She swaps the phone to her left side so she can go back to holding Luz's hand, she needs the comfort right now.
Her mother answers after two rings. "Hello?"
Amity takes a deep breath. "Hello mother, this is Amity."
"I'm glad you called. You've been ignoring us; we didn't raise you to behave this way." Her mother's voice is sharp and critical.
Amity sighs, "Well we all can't be as perfect as you."
Her mother scoffs, "I'm not sure I like your tone."
Amity grimaces, "Well, let's just get this over with then. Do you want to grab father so I can speak with you both at the same time?"
Amity's mother pauses for a moment, considering it. "No, it's alright, I'll just relay the message."
"Great." Amity draws in another deep breath. Luz squeezes her hand tightly, this time Amity's on the receiving end of the comfort. "I'm calling regarding our dinner. Your message was clear, but I refuse. I'm not giving up on my dreams, and I'm not giving up on the girl I love." Amity makes eye contact with Luz and it gives her the strength to keep going. "I want you in my life, but if you can't support me then I will make do without you. I'm going to work all summer to pay for school, and I'll use that money to become a librarian, not a lawyer." Amity pauses to let her words sink in before continuing, "You can't control me anymore."
Her mother is silent. Luz is looking at her proudly and does a silent fist pump and mouths "great job!" but the call isn't quite over yet.
"Fine," her mother finally responds. "If that's how it has to be."
"I guess it does." The air between them is tense. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
"Same for you. Goodbye Amity." Her mother doesn't wait for a response and the phone beeps to signal the end of the call. Amity throws the phone on the table in front of her and collapses onto Luz's shoulder, sinking into her girlfriend's warmth. "That was exhausting, but at least now it's over with."
Luz leans in as well so her head is resting on top of Amity's, moving her free arm to embrace her. Luz kisses the top of Amity's head lightly. "For us, this is just the beginning."
Thank you to everyone who has followed and supported this fic. I enjoyed writing it and I think it turned out pretty well. Thanks again and happy new year!