Toxicity

59

AMELIAS POV
"Hi mom," I said as she walked over to Link and I.
"Do you think we can talk?" My mom asked.
"Wanna come back to the house?" I offered, "I'm sure Derek and Meredith won't mind."
"Okay, yeah sure," she said, seeming surprised by my reaction.
"Cool I'll see you there," I said and walked out to the parking lot with Link to see Meredith and Derek.
"So what are your intentions with talking to mom?" Derek asked me as he unlocked the car.
"I think maybe it's time for a little forgiveness," I shrugged. Meredith turned around and looked at me.
"Are you being serious or sarcastic?" She chuckled.
"I'm being serious," I said.
"Well good for you Amy," Derek said.
"She really didn't tell either of you she was coming?" I said.
"No," Derek and Meredith said as they drove back to the house. I went upstairs and changed into comfy clothes as Link grabbed his stuff to head home.
"Hey maybe we can do something later today?" I said.
"Definitely, dinner option is still open," he said.
"I'll see what time I get done with my mom and I'll text you?" I said.
"Sounds good," he said and kissed me, "I love you, and I am so incredibly proud of you Amy."
"I love you too, and thank you for being the most supportive boyfriend ever," I smiled and kissed him again. He walked out to his car and I saw my mom pull up. I opened the door for her and she smiled.
"It's good to see you," she said.
"You too," I said.
"I really think we should talk," she said.
"Yeah me too, upstairs?" I suggested.
"Sure," she said. I opened my bedroom door and she smiled.
"The rooms changed a little bit," she said.
"Yeah I guess," I shrugged.
"You play video games now?" She asked as she picked up a headset off my desk.
"Oh no that's Link's actually," I said.
"Oh," she said, "so you and Link are still dating?"
"Yeah," I said as I sat down on my bed.
"Seems I've missed a lot," she said.
"Yeah, yeah a lot has happened," I said.
"I'm so sorry about what happened with Ryan," she said. She looked like she wanted to hug me but we were all too awkward for that.
"Thanks," I said. We both awkwardly looked around the room for a few seconds. This was awkward, I mean she was my mother and she barely even knew me.
"So what are you doing back here?" I asked.
"I heard about the trial, and I wanted to see how you're doing," she said.
"Why do you care all of a sudden?" I said seriously.
"I've missed a lot, I know that, but you're grown up, and I just want a second chance, or even a third chance you could call it. I want to be in your life and I'm sorry for how things are because I know it's my fault. None of it has ever been your fault," she said.
"Thanks," I said, "that means a lot actually."
"You just remind me a lot of your father. It was hard to be around as a kid. I just started becoming absent in your life and that wasn't fair to you. Derek offered to take you in and I let him because it was easier for me, but that doesn't mean it was right. You're my child, not Derek's, and you need a mother, and I'm sorry I haven't been one," she said.
"I miss having you around," I admitted, "I do miss having a mom."
"I miss you," my mom said.
"You hurt me a lot," I said.
"I know, and I will spend the rest of my life apologizing to you if that means I can have another chance at being in your life," my mom said.
"Okay," I said softly, "you can have another chance."
"Really?" She said.
"Really, but I'm still living here. I'm not moving or anything," I said.
"That's fine," she said, "so what have you been up to?"
"Got beat up a few weeks ago," I shrugged.
"I see the dark humor is still intact," She said.
"Fine I applied to college," I said.
"That's exciting," she said, "where do you want to go?"
"Harvard," I said, "but I don't know it's hard to get in to."
"I'm sure you stand a good chance," she said.
"Thanks," I said.
"Link is still as sweet as ever from when I last saw him," my mom said.
"Yeah," I smiled, "he's really great."
"I was wrong about him initially, I'm glad he stayed around," she said.
"Yeah me too," I smiled, "I really love him."
"How's Maureen?" She asked.
"Maureen's great," I said, "she wants to have me over for dinner, you should come too."
"Oh I don't want to intrude on that," she said.
"As long as you don't make any slut comments she won't care that you're there," I said. She looked at me and knew she didn't get my joke.
"I'm just kidding you can relax," I said.
"Okay," she said.
"The dark humor isn't going anywhere so," I chuckled as I got up and sat down at my desk, "take it or leave it."
"I'll take it," she chuckled and then smiled.
"You were right about Ryan all along," I said.
"You could have never known he would turn out like that," she said.
"My life was so good before he attacked me," I sighed, "Link and I were great, I was doing well in school, I have good friends, I was applying to college. Now I have to see a therapist three times a week so that I can get up in the morning." I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the tears on my face. Shit. I hated crying in front of her. It made me so weak, and we were awkward, she wouldn't know what to do. I looked up at her as I wiped my eyes and she frowned.
"Can I give you a hug?" She asked.
"That'd be nice," I sniffled said I got up. Sometimes forgiveness is a good thing.