"So, Jake, did you have a good New Year?" My mama asks.

"Yes, I did." He nods his head.

"That's good. How is your mother doing?"

"She's good, thanks for asking." He forks some lasagna into his mouth.

"Wonderful. So are you excited to graduate?"

"Yeah, I'm ready to get out," Jake chuckles a bit.

"I hear that," I add while crunching some garlic bread.

"You know what you wanna do after high school?"

"Yeah, I was planning on going to UCLA, but my mother doesn't have enough funds to pay for college, so I may just stay in the city and check out a community college."

"Oh, okay. Did you all check out any loans or anything?"

"Ma..." I give her a look to tell her don't go there.

"It's fine." Jake gives me a look and nods his head, then speaks to my mom. "We checked out some loans, but with her job, she wouldn't be able to pay back the loans."

"Oh... well, do you know what you might want to study if you go to community college?"

"Honestly, I don't know. All I know is that I want to play basketball no matter what." 

I look at Jake and grin. Even though imma miss him next year, I want him to still be happy right here in New York. At least I know he'll still be playing basketball, a sport that we both are crazy about.

"Hm... you sound like Sam." My mom eyeballs me while eating her food. "But that's all right."

"Cool. Are you done interviewing him now?" I ask.

"No." My mom looks at me while eating, giving me the look. "I'd like to know how you two-- or when you two became boyfriend and girlfriend, thank you very much."

Jake looks at me. I sigh and say, "It was during New Years, when the ball dropped."

"Ohhh, okay. And how come nobody ever told me? I should be able to meet my daughter's boyfriends, right?" She asks with a hint of playful attitude.

"I just forgot to bring it up, I guess..."

"Mhmm. So, Jake, how do I know that you'll be a gentleman with my daughter?"

"MOM!"

"Shush now, Sam."

I groan and look to Antonio for help, but he shrugs and shakes his head.

"Well, with all due respect, Mrs. Goode, I've known you for a few years and seen you at several basketball games. You know that I'm friendly and treat everyone with respect. Me and Sam have been friends since Freshman year, and I care about her a lot." He grins at me and I try not to blush as I look down at my food.

"That's true... you've been a great friend to Sam and I appreciate that. I trust you, Jake. Let me ask you something: where do you see yourselves in the future? Or is this just a high school fling?"

"Mom!" I can't believe she would say that!

"What, Sam? I remember dating boys in high school that I never once talked to again once I was in college. I know you want to have fun, but relationships are serious. But not so much in high school--"

"Now Martha, you can't assume that teens these days behave exactly like you did when you were their age," Antonio says.

"Thank you!" I say. He finally got my back.

"Yes, but kids will be kids. We were her age once. I just want to know where you two plan on letting this relationship go?"

"It's really none of your business," I reply, with a little attitude.

"Mrs. Goode, we'd rather just enjoy being together. We're not worried about the future for now."

"Obviously! I mean, have you thought about when you graduate? How are you gonna deal with a long-distance relationship?"

Antonio speaks up again before being cut off. "Martha--"

"Just stop, ma!" I yell.

"Lower your voice, Sam."

"How about we change the subject?" Antonio offers.

I see my mom exhale as Antonio rubs her shoulder. He whispers something to her and she nods, looking stressed out.

"...I apologize for being too much in your business. I guess I just don't want my baby to be hurt." Her sad eyes meet mine; I glare at her.

"I'm not a baby anymore, ma," I reply.

"I know, sweetie." She looks down at her plate and picks at the lasagna.

"Well... let's eat, you guys." Antonio awkwardly says.

~15 mins later~

The silence continued. There were only the sounds of forks hitting against our glass plates. After a while, Antonio started up a conversation with Jake about basketball and other sports. Jake seemed comfortable and they both became very excited about their topics. Everyone's plates were empty and my mom offered to take our dirty dishes and get dessert ready. But, she told me to go help her in the kitchen while the boys continued their conversation. 

I wasn't as upset as I was earlier about her uncalled-for remarks about our relationship, but I still didn't wanna talk to her. I can't believe she can't be supportive of us like any regular parent! Like, we just started dating. Can I enjoy the moment for a bit?

She sets the dirty lasagna dishes in the sink and takes the foil off of the chocolate cake that she made yesterday. She tells me to get some small plates from the cabinet. I do that while she grabs a cake knife and cuts a few slices. I bring the dessert plates over to the kitchen table and she puts cake on them. She's the first to break the silence.

"I hope you're not mad at me for what I said earlier. I know relationships aren't easy, but it's important to know where exactly you're headed--"

"Well, everyone isn't the master planner like you," I reply.

She cuts her eyes at me. I look at the knife in her hand. "Don't talk back, girl. I'm trying to give you some advice if you actually listen." She resumes cutting the cake.

"Yeah, but nobody asked for advice. And why were you badgering him with all those questions? You probably scared him!"

"No, I didn't. Stop. That's what mothers are supposed to do. Take those slices out to them, please."

I groan and take two plates of cake into the dining room to give them to the guys. I come back into the kitchen, waiting for my mom's lecture.

"Are you happy?" She asks.

"Right now? No."

"I mean with Jake? He's respectful?"

"Yes, mom. He's great."

"Good... good. Well, you're grown and I won't get in your business, but if you ever need anything, you can always ask me. I love you, Sam." My mom rubs my cheek, her eyes still sad.

"Okay." I look away. "Can we eat cake now?"

"Yes. Let's go."

We walk back into the dining room and the guys haven't touched their cake yet. They were talking about the latest luxury car on the market.

"You guys haven't touched your cake," Mom states.

"Oh, I guess we got so into the conversation," Antonio responds.

"What were you talking about?" Mom asks with a smile while sticking her fork into her cake slice.

"Sports," Antonio says.

"Cars," Jake says.

They spoke at the same time, then chuckled. Then they started to eat their cake.

"Jake, I wanna thank you for staying for dinner. It was nice to sit down and talk a little," Mom says.

"Thanks for inviting me."

"Come back anytime. And bring your family!"

"Haha, actually, my mom is having a dinner next week for her birthday. You're invited to come, all of you," Jake says.

"Isn't that kind of personal? She may only want her family there. I mean, I've never really met her," I say.

"Then what a perfect time for you to meet the family?" He smiles.

"I don't know..."

"Just think about it," he tells me.

"Okay..."

"You guys can think about it, too," Jake looks at mom and Antonio, grinning.

"We will," Mom replies.