Separated

Eleven

Chapter11

I shut my door and slid down to the floor, feeling like such an idiot. My parents wanted to be okay with me, I knew that. But it was like I couldn't, wouldn't, listen to them.

My parents had done things I hated and part of me just assumed they would keep that up, keep disappointing me. It was practically impossible to believe they would make me happy for once.

The door opened and bumped my leg. I didn't get up nor move.

"Emma, we need to talk."

"Mom, I'm sorry."

She sat down beside me and took one of my hands in hers. "Neither of us think of you any differently because you like girls."

"What if I only liked girls?" I'd never thought about liking girls, boys, or one over the other. I just knew that I liked Tori.

"Then we'd love her just as much as you."

I rested my head on her shoulder. "I really want you to like Tori."

"She's a nice young lady."

"You talked to her?"

"For a few minutes. Before I came up here."

My eyes widened a little, afraid of what Tori would say. "What... what did you talk about?"

"She told me how much she loves you."

Loves me? Tori and I had only been together for... what, a week? It seemed like it was too early to start loving each other.

"She really wants your dad and I to approve of you."

"Do you?"

"I want to say yes but I'm not totally sure yet. We'll try our hardest." She kissed the side of my head. "For you."

I got to my feet and pulled mom up. "Can we order pizza for dinner?"

"Your father told me he ordered plenty of it while I was gone." She said, a bit of disapproval in her voice.

"He didn't. I did. Dad didn't want to eat much of anything."

She patted my hand. "This is the last one for a while then, okay? I don't want you eating pizza all the time."

"I hate to break it to you but Tori and I get pizza like every week."

"Let's narrow that down to only once a week, alright?"

I nodded though I knew Tori nor I could resist getting pizzas.

"Come on. Let's go save Tori from your father."

"How are things with you and your parents?" Tori asked, taking a handful of popcorn from the bag.

"If they're happy, I'm happy."

She rested her head on my shoulder. "I'm glad to hear that."

"How did you... come out to your parents?"

"I gave them a brochure on dealing with a gay child."

I laughed. "You didn't."

"I was eleven and that was what the guidance counselor gave me."

"You went to the guidance counselor?"

"I told him it was for a friend who was gay. It was stupid and totally obvious but he never asked questions."

"Thanks for being here for me. I couldn't have done this alone."

"It's what lesbians do for one another."

I laughed and laughed, to the point where tears were coming out of my eyes.

She turned my head so I was facing her and she kissed me. "I'll always be here for you."