Misalignment | ✔

going

Between the two of us,
Matty and I have
just enough
to cover the
twenty dollar price tag
on my mother's gift.
Matty calls it
a steal -
such a popular album
in vinyl
could go for
so much more,
especially in such
good condition.
I hurry her
out the door
before the cashier can
overhear her and
ramp up the price tag
in retrospect.

We arrive home
just ahead of my mother
and manage to smuggle
her gift
into my room
and hide it without
her knowing.
For once, she hasn't
brought Stacey home with her,
and proceeds to invite
Matty to stay over
for dinner
as a result.

"It's too lonely
with just the two of us,"
she claims -
and then bursts out laughing
at my indignant expression.
We all know that
she's right, though.
Matty completes our
little family
in a way that Stacey
never could.

Over dinner, Matty
shares the recipe that
she had made for
her aunt and I
a few weeks past;
as predicted,
my mother is thrilled with it.
"Merry early Christmas,"
Matty tells her
with a smile
as she hands it over.
"I would have waited
until the day of,
but I figured now
would be just as good."

"Would you like to
spend Christmas
with us, too?"
my mother predictably -
and suddenly -
asks her.
"And if your aunt
is still in town, she is
welcome to come over
as well."

"Actually..."
Matty hesitates,
and in her silence, both
my mother and I
unconsciously
lean forward to hear
the continuation of
her response.
"I won't be in town
for the holiday,"
she finishes at last,
smiling sheepishly.
"I'm leaving
late on Christmas Eve.
Any other time, I
would have loved to,
though-"

"Where are you going?"
My mother immediately
voices the question
we both had been wondering.
"Who are you
going with?
I thought that
your family..."

Matty seems speechless
as my mother
trails off into silence,
obviously having expected to be
interrupted
or corrected.
We're both left hanging,
waiting for her response.
It doesn't seem
to be forthcoming, though;
Matty opens and closes
her mouth a few times
like a fish
out of water,
at a loss for words.
Finally, though,
she stops trying
and simply sighs.

"It's not important,"
she mutters,
pushing her peas
around her plate
distractedly
with her spoon.
"It's only for
a few days,
and then I'll be back.
I'll see you guys
for New Year's,
alright?"

Something about the
defensiveness in her tone
stops both of us short.
My mother and I,
after a moment of
vacant confusion,
just mutely nod -
and then we return
to our dinner
as usual:
silently,
and none the wiser.

×

Happiness? Hahaha yOU THOUGHT LOL HERE HAVE SOME ANGST--
Punish me, I am such a horrible person;;;;;

But Flory is such a mom and Matty is so moody, I don't even know what's happening to my characters. But you will all see soon enough! A big reveal is upcoming and I'm literally screaming, I've been waiting for weeks now and I really want you guys to know this. It's literally killing me, ahhhhhh

If you guys liked this chapter, I would love if you would vote and leave me some feedback c: It would be very much appreciated!!