You'd think I would be used to waking up smack in the middle of the night, not be surprised at something that was practically incorporated into my sleeping schedule now.

It took a while for my eyelids to flutter open, but even then, my body failed to cooperate for what felt like an eternity, until the thoughts in my head had filtered to find why I felt so disoriented.

I had missed dinner---which I found convenient in some ways as I didn't have to face both my parents before I had prepared myself for what was to come---but even with that I didn't feel the need to ingest anything apart from the water I kept on my drawer.

My bare feet met the cold linoleum floor as I moved to the edge of the bed, reaching for the half-empty bottle. Normally, I was a half-full type of person, however, nothing had felt normal considering the earlier happenings.

Replacing the bottle, my eyes caught sight of several small shapes trailing from the door to my closet. Investigating, I found a bag of cat food shoved in the corner. This wasn't the first time Jellybean had taken it upon herself to contemplate her rations---we'd found an extreme shortage of cat food at home when she figured out how to open the cabinets---but I didn't have the energy to deal with it this time around. It had to wait till morning.

The group chat was brimming with arguments over which Marvel superhero was the best despite the time and irrelevance of the whole situation. Everyone knew Captain America took the cake---in more ways than one.

I swore to myself I'd spend less screen time from now on, but I had to find out if everything was fine on Laura's end. Luckily, she was online, too.

Me: Are you okay? How did things go?

Laura.aura: Not as bad as i thought. she grounded me after i told her the truth.

I was all for telling things as they were, but in this case, Laura spilling the truth meant trouble for me as well. Her mother had seen me, and she was bound to call mine once she heard we had left town.

Me: OMG, consider me dead.

Laura.aura: Drama queen much?
I didn't tell her THAT truth. I'm not stupid. just said I had you take me to see my girlfriend👀

Me: She took it well?

Laura.aura: As well as it gets. I'm grounded mostly, and i have to get Marie to meet her sooner or later which i'm worried about. should have just said we had detention.

Me: How did we not think of that??

Laura.aura: Dunno honestly. how'd yours go?

Me: Still awaiting the big blow.

And I wasn't very keen on the wait. Morning would come with more threats, and possibly more disaster. Maybe I should take the risk and follow Laura's lead. I couldn't get in any more trouble either way.

But before I could divert to overthink about how I'd deal with the incident, I texted Parker. It had been rash to dismiss him like that earlier, and I felt I owed him something---especially after that comment on love and war.

Love and war, which raged between me and my parents. Burned in the distance that stretched from Parker to me.

Before I could be overcome with more mish-mash of thoughts, I typed a message and pressed send. His reply was immediate, as always. Parker never slept, I swear.

Me: I'm sorry.

Parks: What for?

Me: I didn't mean to snap at you, or dismiss you like that. At the time, I wasn't in a good place.

Parks: i guess i should work on my timing lol.
are you in a good place now though??

Me: Definitely.

Parks: alright here it goes again.
i like you❤

I stared at those three paltry words and that little red heart and wondered how come I reacted with such ease during the first time. Clearly, my emotions had been in such a torrent that I couldn't distinguish them.

But now, now I could read the words with my eyes, savour the taste of the affirmation on my tongue when I whispered it to myself. Now, I could revel and bask in warmth in of the realization that even though there were fewer words this time around, even though it didn't stay as long on my tongue, it felt heavier. I was definitely in a good place.

Me: you no longer THINK you do?

Parks: I've done enough thinking for me to know I definitely do.

If Parker ridding himself of the burden of thought could make me feel this, maybe I didn't have to dwell too much on my next text, either.

Me: I like you too.

Parks: really?

Me: Really.

Parker: enough to make showing you the tattoo worth it?

Me: More than enough.
You can take the photo right now even.

Parks: that wont do it justice. and i want the first time you see it to be in person. so library during lunch?

My thumbs hovered over the screen for a while as I chewed on my lip and considered what to do.

With the timing, and purposeful choice to clog my thoughts, I decided on what felt right.

Me: Library during lunch.

"Got anything to tell me, mijo?" My mother looked at me as she sipped from her mug, lifting her eyebrows slightly.

Breakfast had me plopped down on a chair opposite hers, left to her judgment alone, since my father had already left for work---not that it was worth much because he had offloaded all the information she needed to hear.

"Hmm?" I hummed, immediately biting into a piece of flatbread I tore off, so I wouldn't have to speak right away. My mother hated people who spoke with food in their mouth. A good thing, it bought me some time.

"Where were you yesterday?" she questioned, setting down the mug and resting her chin on intertwined fingers as she stared me down.

Instead of reaching for either of the two responses I had planned to give, my brain only sputtered out the most believable lie. "I had detention." More bread shoved in my mouth.

"Then why would you choose to be so passive to your father instead of just telling him the truth? Estùpido." She leaned across the table, hand moving to smack the back of my head---supposedly at the base where my stupidity came from. Too bad the joke was on her; I listened to my heart more than my head.

"Ow," I groaned, almost choking in the process. Aha, more spare time to think of an answer. While I sputtered down water and breathed heavily through my nose, I let out soaked, slippery words that I hoped would slither right through with no hindrance. "He's not pleased with my school work already this year, letting him know would make things harder."

"Don't get into detention then," my mother replied in a mocking tone. "Because for this one, you've lost your privileges to go anywhere but school and church for the next two weeks. We're both grounding you."

"But---" I started, pausing when she lifted a finger. I wasn't upset about my punishment, rather, showing that I was passive about it would just earn me more. It was better to pretend it affected me somehow. "Alright. Is that all?"

"No. He said a lot about how he shouldn't have given your phone back and other stuff. He'd surely have taken it if you'd come down for dinner."

"Oh," I mumbled. This was all the more reason to meet Parker at the library today. If I lost my phone, that would be the end of our current communication medium.

"Speaking of which, the dinner you missed is what you'll be eating after school today. Can't waste good food just like that," she added, face morphing into a disapproving look.

With a nod to show I was fine with it, I question, "Did he mention the panic attacks?"

"No." Suddenly, she dropped the piece of flatbread in her hand, tilting her head to the side. "What about them?"

"Well, um, Papá said I faked the recent one at school... I didn't---"

She rolled her eyes with a groan, saying something under her breath before audibly telling me, "Te creo. Go on." At least I knew she had faith in me.

"---And it kind of happened partly because I fear how you two will react once I tell you something. That and another thing; Mostly the other thing."

"You're getting them because you're scared of us?"

"That and... something else. Like I said."

She pressed a loving touch to my cheek, which left traces of flour in a powdered streak. "I told you, you can tell me anything, mijo. And if you have panic attacks because you're not saying something, I think it's best that you say it, no?"

She had a valid point, so I mustered all the courage I had and started speaking. "Promise you won't freak out. Or yell. Or get mad."

"I won't."

"You sure---"

"Yes, Adrián! Just get on with it. You're going to make me panic with all this mystery."

Mystery. I gulped, gnawing at the insides of my cheek. "I like someone." My voice came out too small, too weak.

My mother's head tilted up at me with visible confusion on her features. "That's not something to be afraid of. Feelings are normal. And I'm sure she's lovely."

This was when I knew it was going to get rocky.

I cleared my throat, speaking a little louder than before. "You don't understand." I shook my head and added, "The person isn't a girl."

For an entire minute, my mother froze. She didn't blink, didn't nod, didn't sneer, didn't smile. Her head didn't bow with disapproval and bob up and down with excitement at the news. Her mouth just hung open as she tried to process what I had just said. "You're gay? Mijo, what about Nina? Didn't you like her? You were all over that girl and suddenly you're no longer into girls anymore." She was speaking too fast now, and her eyes widened when I faced her rush with calmness.

"That's because I'm bisexual. Besides, I never said I wasn't into girls anymore. Just that the person I like right now isn't one." I was out of bread to bite into, so I gulped a mouthful of juice and swallowed it bit by bit until my puffed up cheeks flattened.

"Adrián, you're attracted to a guy. Eso me suena gay," she deadpanned.

"Maybe it sounds gay, but it isn't... sort of. I didn't say the person was a boy either," I corrected, eyes traveling to the tablecloth. That was the twisty straw that bent the camel's back.

"What?" She gasped. "And this is why you've had me worried over the past few days? I thought you were disturbed over something life-threatening, not pining over a---" She cut herself off as she searched for the right word to use. I helpfully provided it.

"Person? You don't have to worry about any of that. Parker's already got---" Now it was my turn to be cut off mid-sentence.

"Parker? Dear Lord, Adrián, you're hanging out with that Thompson kid? They're such snobs. Always showing off at PTAs and with their fancy talk and wealth and..." The rest of her words were a blur as they went on, and on, and on... and on.

"Well, no," I responded to her earlier question. "And Parker's really sweet, even loves your baking." That last addition got me a boost up a notch.

"Always knew Kelly Thompson couldn't cook. Poor kid's probably flavor-starved," she sighed. "But flattery will get you nowhere."

Outside, the school bus pulled up, honking twice. I hurried to the sink and rushed back, grabbing my backpack and making sure my fingers were wrapped around the door handle before I lay down my request.

"I want to ask if it would be fine if I go out with Parker. Not now, but after I'm not grounded and if things ever get to that point," I pressed on. "Will that be okay?"

She had been wrong; the flattery got me somewhere. Even if I got a slipper thrown at me in addition.

~~

Two more chapters left!
Had to speed-write this since the deadline is fast approaching and my procrastination finally caught up!😩

Thoughts on this???
And it looks like Adrian's gonna go for it!

Don't forget to drop a vote☆