IT'S BEEN A WHILE I KNOW! I APOLOGIZE BUT HOPEFULLY YOU CONTINUE TO READ AND CONTINUE TO LOVE THE STORY LINE! P.S. IT'S A BIT OF A SMALLER CHAPTER!

After Maya left Emily's house, Emily made her way back up to her room. She needed time to think about what Maya said. She wanted to tell her mom so bad. She didn't want to hide anything from her but the thought of her mom disagreeing with Emily's "choice" to like girls scared her. It wasn't her choice but she had this feeling her mother would react that way.

All afternoon Emily spent her time in her room, plotting out ways to tell her mom. Just as she was finally gaining up the courage to tell her, her mom called her down for dinner.

"Emily! Dinner's ready!" shouted her mom from downstairs.

Emily took a deep breath and made her way downstairs. She smiled as she greeted her mother who was sitting at the dining room table ready to eat.

"Smells good" said Emily.

"It's your favourite...spaghetti with meatballs".

Emily smiled and sat down across from her mom at the table. They began to eat but only after a few bites Emily's mom spoke up.

"Maya seems really nice".

"She is! She's a good friend to me mom".

"She's also a very pretty girl".

"You don't have to tell me that".

"I'm sorry for getting so angry with you when I came in today".

"I should have called to tell you".

"You don't need my permission to have a friend stay the night, especially when I'm gone. I feel safer when someone's here with you overnight".

"You don't have to apologize mom, it's fine!"

They continued to eat awkwardly in front of each other. Emily kept running through ways to tell her but she was so nervous and didn't know how to bring it up.

"What I said earlier..." said Emily's mom.

"About what?" asked Emily curiously.

"About people talking..."

"What about it?"

"Is there any truth to what they're saying?"

Emily started to feel the heat rise to her head. She knew she was red in the face. Now was the time to tell her but it felt like the hardest thing to do.

"If they were telling the truth, how would you feel?"

"Honestly...I'd feel somewhat hurt".

"Why?"

"Not because of the action but because you would have been keeping a secret from me, a secret that's not exactly something you should keep".

"It wouldn't bother you if it was true?"

Emily's mom went silent. She had a look of fear in her eyes. Was her daughter about to tell her the truth?

"Look there's something I need to say..." said Emily.

"Go ahead..." replied Emily's mom.

"This is the hardest thing I've ever had to say to you mom. I didn't ask for this, I didn't sign up for it...I like girls. There I said it! I've known for a while now but I never said or did anything about it because I thought it might of just been a phase for me. It's not every day you wake up as a girl and expect to fall in love with another girl. As a girl you always have a dream of getting married, having children, building a life together with that person and in those dreams it's usually a boy but..."

"But for you it's a girl".

"Exactly. I tried to fight the feelings I had but I'm sick and tired of running away from them. I keep running but they keep following me closely behind".

"So you are seeing this Maya girl?"

"Yes".

Emily's mom went silent again. She took a few more bites of her food before speaking again.

"I've heard bad things about this girl Emily".

"Mom! What happened to her being nice and very pretty?"

"I just don't want you getting hurt that's all".

"She's not going to hurt me mom".

"And what makes you so sure of that?"

"Are we really having this conversation right now?!"

"You're the one who just told me you're into girls!"

"Is Maya really the problem here?"

"I don't understand what you're talking about Emily".

"Oh come on mom! You seemed perfectly fine with the idea before I actually came out and said it. You're taking your frustrations out on my girlfriend when really you can't stand the fact that your daughter is in love with a girl!"

"Love is a strong word Emily".

"Love is what I feel when I'm with Maya!"

"Your father would be so disappointed".

"See! I knew it! I should have never said anything to you!"

"Some things are better left unsaid Emily".

"Is that how you feel?"

"Yes..."

"I'll be going now..." said Emily as she rose out of her seat and started making her way up to her room.

"Emily!" shouted her mother as she watched her walk away from the table.

Emily turned around to face her mother who was still sitting at the table with her half eaten bowl of spaghetti.

"You know, I thought out of all people you'd understand..." said Emily.

"Understand what? That my daughter is a..."

Emily's mom couldn't even finish her sentence.

"A lesbian?! Yes mom, your daughter is a lesbian. A lesbian who was so nervous and scared to tell you about it that she almost snuck out the window to avoid having this conversation with you. You once told me how nervous and scared you were to tell your parents that you were dating a guy in the military, well I was just as nervous and scared as you were. I tried to keep it a secret but after you almost caught Maya and I kissing in my bed this morning, I thought that I should just come out and tell you before you found out the hard way. Turns out no matter how I would have told you it would have been too hard for you to handle..."

Emily began walking up the stairs.

"Emily..."

"I'm going to Spencer's to finish some homework, don't bother waiting up".

"Emily!"

Emily ignored her mom and ran upstairs to her room. She slammed the door behind her and flopped on to her bed. She began crying and the more she cried the harder it got. All she wanted to do was lock herself in her room for the rest of her life. She hated her mom for the way she reacted. She hoped for the best but the best never came. The only person she knew who would understand was her girlfriend.

She packed a bag and picked up her cell phone from the bedside table. She dialed Maya's number and Maya picked up right away.

"Hey babe!" said Maya.

Maya could hear Emily crying on the other line.

"What's wrong?!"

Emily continued to cry but finally gain composure to speak.

"I told my mom..."

"And?..."

"Can I stay the night?"

"I'm sure my mom won't mind!"

"Perfect! I'll be there in ten minutes".

"Is everything okay?"

"Not really..."

"Okay! Hurry over!"

Emily hung up the phone and grabbed the bag she packed. She descended the stairs and looked over at her mom who was still sitting at the table. She was staring off into the distance and looked quite sad.

"Where do you think you're going?!" asked Emily's mom.

"Out!" replied Emily very hastily.

"Out where?"

"What's it to you?!"

"Emily..."

"Goodnight mom!"

And with that Emily opened the door and slammed it behind her. With her bag in hand, she made her way to her girlfriend's house. She couldn't wait to lie in the arms of the woman she loved. She needed comfort and the only comfort that could mend her shattered heart was that of Maya St. Germaine's.