Dear Maria

Chapter 11 - Nervous

I rode with my mom to the hospital to get Alex, hobbling into the front seat, letting my mom take my crutches and put them in the trunk. I wasn't really thinking about the day ahead, because it scared me to know I was going to meet my boyfriends mom in little more than four hours. My mom hadnt quite realised that me and Alex were dating just yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time. And well, she'd already met Alex and quite obviously liked him a great deal, so surely they'd be no issue in us dating. Right?

The ride to the hospital seemed eternal, and I was getting bored of listening to Taylor Swift CDs my mom kept. I was way too used to listening to Blink 182 or Green Day with Alex now, everything else just seemed like noise. My mind wouldn't stop replaying the moment I found Alex in his apartment, it was like nightmare material. Every night since then I'd dreamed about it, but it always got worse, with different ending scenarios. I tried to shake the thoughts out, and focus on the freeway. My mom wasn't very talkative, which was strange because usually she had a million and one things to say to me, and well, to be frank anyone that'd listen to her chatter on. I guess that was one plus about Alex's mom visiting; my own mother had someone that wasn't a teenager or a work colleague to socialise with. Sometimes I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, she was always so busy at the hospital that it was rare she actually got to sit down and have a chat with someone, get coffee or go for lunch. Whereas I'd recently gained a bunch of friends, all people willing to talk to me and encourage me to be happy. Granted they were mostly a bunch of guys, but dorky ones who were more than accepting of the way I was.

We were nearing the hospital, and I still hadn't muttered a word to my mom, that was until she decided to tell me how quiet I was today. 'I'm just nervous I guess'. I shrugged it off, not in the mood for talking about how I felt. 'Why is that sweetie? Is it about meeting Alex's mother? She's a lovely person, I understand his dad isn't that great but you'll love her. After all, I don't think she's going to be judging you - you're her sons best friend for Christ sake'. I gulped, 'actually mom that's something I wanted to talk to you about..' She turned off the engine as she pulled into her space, unbuckling her seatbelt and turning towards me. 'What do you mean Maria?' My nerves were getting the better of me, this seemed like a horribly stupid idea at best. 'Well, me and Alex have um, we've uh..been dating since Sunday..' My mom sighed, smiling and pulling me into a hug. Really all I wanted to do at this point was cry, but I did my best to stop my eyes glossing over and tears collecting, hugging my mum tightly. 'Maria darling that's okay! I'm happy for you, you should've told me sooner! I don't have a problem with you dating Alex, you know that right? He's a wonderful boy, I'm very happy for the both of you'. I smiled, pulling out of the hug and putting one hand on the door handle. 'Thanks mom, I was so scared to tell you, I didn't want you to say Alex can't stay with us anymore or something, because he can't go back to that apartment'.
'I understand, you're scared for his safety. It's okay though, Alex is welcome to stay with us for as long as he likes, after all we've got the space for it, and he's certainly not a problem'. I nodded, 'but you don't get it, he literally cannot go back to his apartment - those guys beat him up there, they know where he lives and surely they'll come back soon enough'.
'Look, we'll sort something out whilst his mom is visiting, maybe they can put the place up on the market and move him to a safer location, but like I said, he doesn't really have to leave our home at all, he can become a permanent member. Clearly this is something bigger than I first thought, but we'll figure it out between us. Now come on, let's go get Alex, I'm sure he's waiting patiently'. That was another thing I was so grateful for of my mother - how understanding she was. There was no way any other parent would let their teenage daughters boyfriend live with them. It wasn't exactly like me and Alex were doing anything though; the only thing that'd changed was now we held hands and he kissed my cheek a lot.

I waited for my mom to hand me my crutches once I'd opened the car door, I was getting used to having to walk about on them now. I was still unsure of going into school with them though, hoping silently that I could have maybe just a few days off next week, if I pretended it was more painful than it really was. Faker.