The Neighbor Next Door

Heading out

It was Wednesday, and TestTube was nervous. She didn't really let her negative feelings like this overwhelm her often, but when it did happen, it always felt awful. She could just say no, and not visit her mom, but... OJ doesn't even know what happened. He wasn't involved, and she had just never gotten around to telling him. She didn't want to risk ruining his good relationship with mom over something so... Irrelevant. It was years ago now, so it shouldn't matter, and she should just have faith that her mom wasn't going to drag out that same argument again, because the last thing she needed these days was to feel invalidated for who she was. She was just so conflicted.

Fan, her roommate, her platonic soulmate, noticed her visible worries while the two were down in her basement lab, preparing something for her to work on.

"Your hands are shaking,"
"I noticed." TestTube just sighed, lowering the vials she was about to mix. She shouldn't be trying to do this while her hands are unsteady.

"What's on your mind today?" Fan leaned against the counter, willing to at least listen if he couldn't offer advice.

"My mom." TestTube moved around, placing the vials down completely in their holding slots, moving on to prep something else for the experiment instead, an idle task she needed.

"Oh, uhm... She's the one that..."
"Yeah, she is. OJ wants to take me and his kids to go visit her. I just..." She sighed, shaking her head a bit as she looked at Fan.

"You can say no,"

"I know. I just... I want to believe she doesn't feel the same anymore."
"Wasn't she harsh about it last time?"
TestTube remained silent for a minute.

"She was, but... I know OJ doesn't know what happened. I don't know if he'd understand if I didn't want to go, I don't want to disappoint him,"

"How you feel is important too y'know," Fan stepped over, taking her hand in his, a look of soft concern on his face.

"I know. I still have time to think about it, okay? If I do end up going though, don't be mad,"

"Why would I?" Fan just gave a small smile, which TestTube returned.

It had been nasty, the last time she had visited her mom. She wasn't a hateful person, never on purpose, and TestTube knew that, but she just didn't understand. She tried to be supportive, but all it came off as patronizing, and disingenuous. And when TestTube gained the courage to talk to her about it, she didn't take it well. She hated thinking about it. She hated having this strained of a relationship with her own mother, but... She was always more accepted by her dad. Even if he wasn't around anymore, she saw him in a better light than she ever could with her mother, especially after everything.

Her dad wasn't around anymore though. She also didn't want to dislike her mom forever. She had such a bad history with holding grudges, and she didn't want to be like that anymore, she really didn't.

TestTube figured there wouldn't be harm with giving her one more chance.

...

OJ hummed to himself as he wrote. Today he didn't have work, so he thought he might get some creative stuff done. He was finally feeling content enough lately to fall back into his hobby work, and this was his usual first choice. It was almost noon, and he was going to go make lunch for his kids soon, but for now, he had a little bit more to do. He was doing well today, and he hadn't been thinking too hard about things. He was also honestly excited to see his mom again. He had called her last night, just before calling TestTube, and she definitely seemed fond of the idea of her kids visiting. Her grandkids, too.

Though, there was something OJ was clearly in the dark about. He was thankfully not thinking too hard about it, but he knew he'd probably have to ask his sister about it before they end up going, whether she declines, or decides to go.