Fire

You Really Got Me

When Eddie drops you home, you head straight to the laundry to put your spoiled clothes in the washing machine.

Your Mom spies your new makeshift outfit, "Nice evening, moonbeam?" She enquires

Your Dad splutters and says to your Mom, "Please don't start asking questions I don't want to hear the answer to."

"Of course, my dear", she reassures and follows you into the laundry.

You look at yourself in the mirror and to say you are a mess is an understatement. The back of your hair is caked with that stuff. It has acted like some kind of mega hold hair gel.

"By the green goddess," she says as she enters, "What on earth happened?!" She sounds genuinely alarmed and is frantically checking you over.

"We got scared by some bobcats, and I fell in something grim out there by the lake, and well, here is am. Thankfully Eddie had a bunch of these I could use"

She puts her hand to her chest, "For a minute there, I thought he'd done this to you." You narrow your eyes at your Mom in confusion.

"You know, sometimes when two people are young and experimenting, mistakes happen..." she says gently.

Your eyes go wide, and you try to stop her quickly. "Ok, no. Stop. No, this is not....no...none of that."

She looks into your eyes and smiles, "Well, at least I know you aren't lying about that bit" she laughs, "So what kind of date did you go on? One where bobcats just happen to be around."

"Well, it didn't start out like that. It was actually quite fun initially" you start to detail the nice parts of the date, like its selection and being out on the boat.

She looks pleased for you, "He had an idea for every tape?" She queries.

"Yeah, but I don't know what they are yet." You say with your head in the sink, trying to wash out your hair with warm water.

"Yet? You plan on seeing him again then?" She says, teasing you

"I mean, I hope so. I like him, maybe more than I should." You say worried

"Oh, honey," she says, hugging you whilst you are still bent over the sink, "You're young, enjoy these things whilst you have the chance. I'm sure you like him exactly the amount you are supposed to right now. There are no rules for these things."

"When the bobcat lunged for me, he pulled me to safety, and I wondered if I could have done the same, and if not....if I lost him...I..." Your tears drop down into the sink with the rest of the water.

Your Mom grabs a towel, wraps up your hair, and sits you down, "It's normal to feel like this after a scary event, Moonbeam. Try not to dwell on what-ifs and think about the facts. You are both safe and uninjured. It's going to be fine."

You throw your arms around your Mom, "I don't think I tell you enough how much I love you."

She squeezes you back, puzzled, "Of course you do, honey, every day." You give her another hug and hear a cough in the doorway.

"An' wha' about me eh? " Your Dad's voice booms. You run over and give him a huge hug too.

"And you too of course!" You add.

Your moment is cut short by the phone ringing. Your Mom gets up to answer it.

Your Dad takes the opportunity for a heart-to-heart whilst your Mom is out of the room, "Listen 'ere. Being head o'r heels for someone is normal at your age. You shouldn't worry 'bout it so much. One day at a time, eh kidda?"