A/N: Gotta say, any scenes with Mia's other "friends" are the hardest to write for me. I just don't like them to be frank.
I know, I know, I created them. But that's the thing; I find little joy whenever they come up. I prefer scenes where people are kind to Mia. You can imagine how I loved the scene at the amusement park where Alice low key defended her friend.
So, it was a relief to get that chapter out of the way because we will take a break from them for a while, and you'll see why.
But remember it will be weighing on Mia somewhat in the meantime.
Mia rolled over; her throat dry like she had been wandering the desert.
Her eyes opened at the green glow of the numbers on her alarm clock. Luckily, her curtains were still drawn which kept the sun at bay.
The time surprised her: 2:21pm
"Oh crap!" she whispered as she sat up, still in what she wore the day before.
Pajamas weren't really a thing with her exactly. But she would change into some old shirt with shorts.
This time she fell asleep in her street clothes; didn't even take off her shoes.
Last night was felt like a nightmare but it was very real. Usually, Mia had a hard time remembering her dreams upon waking up. But the memories were fresh; it wasn't imagined.
SLAM!
And just to drive the point home, the bag with the money box fell to the floor loudly.
Mia jumped out of bed and scooped up the denim satchel. She looked around as she heard her mother's footsteps ascending the stairs.
She eyed her closet and opened the door.
The teen buried the bag behind some boxes filled with things she's been meaning to sort through. Mia figured as long as the boxes were tucked neatly away, her mom wouldn't get on her case about it. Side effect: she would forget the task since out of sight, out of mind.
Mia shut the door in the nick of time as Tori came through the door.
"Are you okay?" she asked concerned.
"What?"
"There was a noise," Tori explained. "I thought you fell out of bed or something."
She bit her lip, trying to think of something clever to say but went with the simpler explanation.
"Yeah, that was me. Rude way to wake up," she said, rubbing her neck.
Tori went to check her out.
"You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"
Mia shook her head and managed a smile.
"Just my pride."
Her mom then took a step back and took in the full picture.
"Baby, why are you still in your clothes?"
The girl cursed herself for not simply changing into something. Even sleeping in an underwear and bra would've been less suspicious.
Then Mia realized she was standing for longer than she should have without providing an answer.
Tori squinted and crossed her arms.
"Where were you?"
"Um...I...was just..."
The older Latina closed her eyes and sighed heavily.
"Please tell me you're not sneaking out again."
Their collective memories flashed back to another argument that started similarly where Tori found a snoozing Mia looking like she just got home.
"You snuck out, didn't you?" Tori said, taking a step forward.
Mia's eyes darted around the room. Classic giveaway that her daughter was cornered and didn't have a lie at the ready.
"Okay, you got me! I went out last night, but I came back a long time ago!"
"Where did you go?"
Her daughter shrugged.
"Just met up with some friends in east L.A."
Tori practically slammed Mia against the wall when she got a hold of her. But she held back because she didn't want to hurt her, obviously.
"EAST L.A.? AT NIGHT? ARE YOU CRAZY!"
"What's the big deal, mom? Like you never hung out with friends before."
Tori rolled her eyes and released Mia.
"Yes, I had friends, and we did stuff, but we made a point to avoid the bad parts of town!"
"Mom, listen..."
"NO, YOU LISTEN! People get hurt all the time in this city."
Mia put her hand over her locket.
"You don't have to tell me," she said though gritted teeth.
Tori looked down and her face grew sad.
"And strolling around at night is really, really bucking the odds!"
Mia walked past her and sat on the bed. Tori sat next to her.
"These friends you mentioned...anybody I know?"
She shook her head.
"So, nobody from school?"
Mia shook her head again.
"Alright then," Tori huffed. "And what is it you guys do?"
The teen tried to be vague but accurate enough, so she didn't give off she was fibbing.
"We...just hang out."
Tori was concerned how standoffish she was being. And unwilling to so much as provide a single name. Horrible visions ran through her head, every possible scenario that a worried mother could conjure up projected to her mentally like a horror show.
"Okay, here's what's going to happen."
Her mom stood up and looked down at Mia.
"You're not sneaking out anymore. You're done. If these friends were really your friends, they would respect your safety and my sanity. I can't have you galivanting to who-knows-where with some random kids late at night!"
Mia crossed her arms.
"But mom..."
"UH-UH!" Tori pointed. "No freaking way! I never bring down the hammer like this, young lady. But I will not back down with this! I forbid you to go out at night."
The teenager huffed and leaned back, her hands supporting her.
"And don't sit there and act like you don't have friends. At least I have met them! And dammit, they care about you and respect you enough to not have to meet with you in secret."
"You don't know my friends!" protested Mia.
Her eyes wandered toward the closet door briefly.
"They...trust me."
Tori sighed.
"That's not the point, Mija! Do you trust them?"
Mia didn't have an answer.
Tori let that hang for a second before hugging her.
"I'm sorry I yelled..."
She then let Mia go and pointed to her locket.
"But dammit, I'm holding onto what family I have left. One day you'll understand."
She retreated out of Mia's room before she started crying.
Mia sat on her bed stunned.
(Fuck. She's right. What am I even doing?)
She looked back at the closet, that money box feeling like a burden right now.
It was a relatively quiet day. Not tense necessarily, but the mother and daughter didn't exchange much beyond the obvious things:
"Are you hungry?"
"Is that all of your clothes?"
"I love you, goodnight."
That evening, Tori was feeling a little cold, so she was draped in a blanket on the couch.
She was grateful for the comfy piece of furniture. The wrong sofa would've done a number on her back. Though there's no saying she won't have back issues down the road. Tori was only in her late thirties. In time, she may regret the sleeping arrangement, but the alternative seemed out of the question.
Tori yawned and rolled onto her side toward the back of the couch when she heard screaming.
"NO! NO! NOOOOOO!"
She unfurled the cover, sat up and was on her feet in the blink of an eye. Ever since Mia was a baby, Tori's instincts would kick in at night under the suspicion something was amiss. And that turned usually heavy sleeper Tori into a light sleeper. The tiniest sound would awaken her, which coupled with her mind refusing to shut up, created the need for sleep aids.
"STOP! MAKE IT STOOOOP!"
Tori raced up the steps to Mia's room. She didn't lock the door, but the mama bear had enough adrenaline that would probably not hold her back.
She got to Mia's bedside just as the girl woke up like she was electrocuted.
Her eyes snapped open, and she gripped the familiar shape in the dark.
"MOM! MOM?"
"It was just a dream," Tori cooed. "Just a dream. You're safe now."
The following night, it happened again.
Monday was okay, despite Mia being tired all day in school since she took forever to get back to sleep.
Tuesday, during lunch period, Mia got a call from Ethan.
Her breath hitched when she answered it, silently excusing herself from the table.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Finally got out of the stupid hospital. Had to tell my folks I busted my leg doing tricks at the park."
Mia was surprised he hadn't hurt himself up to this point from skateboarding.
"So, what now?"
"Basically, we need to put shit on hold for a while. I'm going to be out of the game for at least ten weeks from their estimate."
"Holy shit," Mia whispered.
"Yeah, I know. And those idiots we got away from prevented the other thing as an option. Not to worry about that, though. I had Renee unload the rest of the bulk to some college kids. Barely broke even, but fuck-it. I had to pay the supplier, or it's my other leg."
Mia ran her fingers through her hair hard like she was going to yank a chunk of it out.
She looked around to make sure nobody was in earshot of her.
"What about the money?"
"What about it?"
"How do I get it to you?"
"Never mind that shit, I have some green stashed away to get me by. Just hold onto the pot."
The teen paced back and forth.
"I just...I just don't feel right holding onto this."
"Where is it now?" he asked.
"My room," Mia answered. "It's...hidden. My mom was in there a few times this weekend and she didn't notice it."
There was a long pause.
"Good, I knew I could count on you."
"Look, maybe we can meet somewhere..."
"I don't think you're listening!" he cut her off. "I'm laid up, I can barely move right now! For Christ's sake...I could send Renee and Mike to your place..."
That terrified Mia. She kept them at arm's length, only meeting them in neutral territory. Mia didn't know where any of them lived, and more importantly, they didn't anything about her domestic situation.
And she intended to keep it that way.
"Nah, that won't work," he sighed. "Big boy would probably get lost and Renee...I like her but...I feel like she would skim off the top."
Mia wondered why whenever someone was given the box, they didn't have the key or vice versa. Only Ethan would have both at the same time. Now she got the picture.
She felt a weight lift off of her chest when Ethan decided against paying her a visit. That would be the worst thing ever, especially when she's looking to cut ties.
"So, anyway, just keep it tucked away and do NOT forget where you put it. Until the time comes when I can walk on my own at least, the cash stays with you."
"Uh..."
"Okay?"
"Okay," Mia nodded with a gulp. "Fine."
"Alright. Anything changes, I'll text you."
"Okay."
"Later."
"Bye."
The conversation ended and Mia held onto the nearby trashcan for support.
(This is NOT happening!)
That night, the nightmare came back.
Mia was in a cold sweat when her mom held her and rocked back and forth.
"I'm...ss-s-sorry," she said.
Tori sighed heavily.
"Tomorrow, we're doing something about this."
Wednesday, after school, Tori took Mia down to the school guidance counselor, Dr. Ivy Leonard.
The therapist had their degrees on the wall of the office. Leonard received a Bachelor's and a Master's. The good doctor wasn't just well-educated in psychology, but also social work. Some drawings in crayon from small children adorned the same wall as the diplomas. They said "Thanks Dr. Ivy" or something akin to that. These doodling's held the same weight as the official framed papers hanging above.
They noticed Tori regarding the academic achievements and sauntered up to her.
"Yeah, I know what you're thinking..." they smirked. "Where's the PhD? I'll have you know I'm working on it!"
Tori smiled and shook hands with them.
"Gotta admit, we haven't formally met...beyond Helen's retirement party."
Leonard nodded.
"She was tough as nails, but I heard good things about you, Principal Vega-" they held up a finger. "...Larsen."
"Wow, very few people get that right," Tori nodded.
"Well, I find names very important."
They leaned to the right and saw Mia standing their awkwardly.
"Hello," waved Leonard. "I'm Dr. Leonard, but the students like to call me Dr. Ivy."
Mia reluctantly shook the therapist's hand.
"Nice to meet you," she said in a low voice.
"I mean I prefer Dr. Ivy to be honest because, Dr. Leonard is my dad and no thanks!"
Tori leaned in.
"This is Mia and feel free to call me Tori, if we're being less formal here."
Dr. Ivy approached a chair which sat adjacent to a big green couch.
"Gimme a sec..." they said, lifting up a pair of big glasses that rested on their nose. "Ah, better."
Mia didn't respond to the gesture to have a seat.
She was standoffish toward any kind of therapist or psychologist. Mia hadn't experienced one since she was younger. Red flags were hard to detect on that initial meeting. They were always so warm and inviting in the beginning, weren't they?
"I know what you're thinking," Ivy began. "You don't want to me to shrink you."
The teen was surprised.
"Oh, I didn't..."
Ivy waved it away.
"No, no, that's okay. Everybody is like that at first. Believe me, don't buy into the hype. Therapy is more common than people think."
Mia had to agree that this one was more forthcoming than the last shrink. So, she sat down on the green couch and Tori followed.
"What you need to understand," they explained. "Is that therapy is about helping you find some answers. We believe in the agency of a person; that they have more dominion over their life than they care to admit. But anxiety, fear, the rainbow of emotion and overthinking...it's very easy to get in our own way."
Dr. Ivy leaned toward Mia and reassuringly put their hand on her knee.
"My job is to look at your concerns and problems objectively. Nobody thinks there's something wrong with you, that's not what we're about, believe it or not. You have the answers, Mia. I can tell you're smart by how quiet you're being right now. That means you think before you speak. Don't you?"
Mia nodded.
"But being human, we can be our own worst enemy. So, we all need a little help. And that's why you're here. What do you think?"
The girl rubbed her hands along her jeans, breathing deeply.
"I don't want any more nightmares," Mia said.
Tori put her arm around her lovingly.
"I know," Ivy nodded. "While I can't guarantee they will go away completely, managing our waking life will pay dividends when it comes to a healthy sleep pattern."
The doctor checked the clock and sat straighter.
"Oh, shoot! Sorry, but I must go to a previous engagement. I am free after school Mondays and Fridays, will that be fine, Mia?"
Mia thought about it for a bit and nodded yes.
"You're sure?" asked Tori. "What about work?"
"Actually mom, I was thinking of quitting that job anyway. It was getting to be..." she glanced at Ivy who was regarding her as if she knew the truth. "...too much."
"Oh," Tori said in mild surprise. "Sure, that's perfectly okay. Studies are more important."
"Indeed," Ivy said, standing up. "Well, you run along, Mia. I just have a quick question for mom here. You don't need to stick around."
Mia slung her backpack over her shoulder and left.
"Everything okay?" asked Tori.
Dr. Ivy smirked, removing their glasses.
"I'm pretty sure that's my line."
Tori looked a bit confused.
"I...um...couldn't help but take a peek at Mia's student file in preparation for our introduction."
The mother made a face.
"It's pretty...colorful."
Ivy shook their head.
"No, Tori. Mia's isn't a bad kid, despite what I've read from past teachers and others I'm a bit ashamed share the same profession as me. What also concerns me beyond the records is how is this affecting you?"
Tori shrugged, trying to deflect.
"Nothing of note."
"Tori, my approach when it comes to children and teenagers is to include the moms and dads, whether together or separately. I feel that a parent's mental health is paramount to a child's. Wouldn't you agree?"
She didn't really think of it that way before. It made sense. A household does need stability. Not just financial and caregiving, but mental health in the family unit.
"I don't think Mia would open up as well if I was there..."
"No, I agree," Ivy smiled. "We should have our own sessions."
Tori was eyeing the door. A way out.
"I appreciate all of this, doc. But I'm extremely busy..."
"After school?" they offered.
"That's usually when I can really catch up on my paperwork," Tori said.
Ivy snapped their fingers.
"I know! My lunch hour is at 12. We can meet then, just bring your food and it'll be nice."
Tori held up her hand.
"Whoops! No can do, Dr. Ivy! I go to lunch at one."
The therapist made a sneaky grin.
"Did I say 12? I meant one. So, we can meet during lunch!"
(You tricked me!)
"This is great! How does Tuesdays and Thursdays sound?"
"Well, I, uh..."
Ivy shook Tori's hand and darted out the door.
"Can't wait for tomorrow, BYYYYYYYEEEEEE!"
Tori was left standing, staring at the imaginary cloud the doctor left as they exited in a hurry.
"What just happened?"
A/N: Just to clarify, Dr. Ivy Leonard is non-binary (my first NB character!) so their pronouns are they/them.
Wanted to get this bit of housekeeping out of the way early on, so nobody thinks I completely lost sight of grammar.