Life is like one of those songs that don't always make sense; the only one who gets it is the one who wrote it. And the only one who gets life is...
Chapter 15
"She's going to be ok," my mom said leading me out of the guest-room.
I had been left without an option but to call her after Jules had passed out, and she had left work for 'emergency reasons'.
Truth be told; I'd been scared shitless. I'd wanted to take her to hospital but I knew that that would lead to police investigation, and the revelation of our true nature of which wasn't exactly an option.
So, instead of putting us in such a situation, I had called my mom and told her that Jules had been drugged (but not where), and that I was scared her parents would give her hell if they found out -which they would.
"You seem very close to her," she said getting the coffee going while I prepared the eggs and cheese.
"We are," more than you could ever imagine.
"That's good."
"Good how?" I asked oiling a huge pan for the eggs.
"You'll be going to uni soon, and there there will be all sorts of people. Surrounding yourself with the right kind of people is important. Harper and Julie are a nice crop."
My two secret lovers.
"I guess they're alright and we've got stuff in common," I said pouring the eggs into the heated pan.
My mom and I rarely talked about anything other than the usual basics of school, my butterfly collection, painkillers, and if I needed money for new clothes. So, when she asked if I was seeing someone and having sex; I was tremendously surprised.
What really caught my attention was the way she said 'someone'. She didn't use it to mean anyone, but someone who wasn't a boy.
I had just put a forkful of egg and cheese into my mouth, and since it was ill manners to talk with food in your mouth; I simply shrugged.
"Charlie," she said putting her hand over mine on our small kitchen table where we were having breakfast. "I saw the way you were with Julie early this morning," she said pausing for a few seconds. "What you feel for her is more than friendship, isn't it?" She finally asked.
"Yes," I agreed unable to deny it.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"It's not like I'd been nominated for a Nobel Peace prize mom; I'm just gay."
"But the other kids at school? Does Julie know?"
"I've been made fun of once in a while, but nothing that would really offend me much. As for Julie, and you can't tell anyone mom; she's gay too, and we've been seeing each other for a while now."
"I feel like the worst mother in the universe," she said letting go of my hand. "I should've known better than to think that you were just going through a phase, and that we'd put your tomboy years behind us and you'd marry Harper. Julie doesn't look like a lesbian much."
"I guess on the other hand I do look gay? It's a choice mom, and I've decided it's who I want to be irrespective of how other people see it. I have only one life to live and I don't want to waste it pleasing people who don't even know me, and yet what I'm feeling is real."
"How do I even give you a sex talk?" She asked shaking her head.
"I don't think it's the same for us as for heterosexuals. For us we have to like figure it out on our own, while for them it's like a rite of passage that doesn't involve any much care."
"Have you figured it out yet?" She asked slightly uncomfortable.
"Yeah. It was, well, I don't know how to put it," I said feeling myself blush.
"You're being careful, aren't you?"
I honestly hadn't thought about diseases and such, but we didn't see other people.
"We're exclusive, and I don't think she'd cheat on me."
"That's not enough guarantee Charlie. It's possible to even contract HIV from one slip-up."
"But we're clean. Neither one of us has ever even had an STI."
"This isn't about being clean, but protecting yourself. It's either safe sex, or preferably, no sex. I will get you both types of condoms, but you have to be responsible and always use them especially if you're sharing... things," she said looking to the corridor. "What are you doing out of bed?" She asked shooting to her feet fast and rushing to Jules side.
"I have an awful headache," she groaned.
"That was to be expected," mom said helping Julie sit down.
"Hey babe, you're going to be fine," I said taking hold of her hand as mom mixed a pint of water and alcohol to help with the hangover and the detox injections she'd given her.
I saw the look of horror on Julie's face when I didn't remove my hand from the intimate intertwine of our fingers as my mom put the glass on the table.
"She knows," I said giving her a reassuring smile.
"Is she ok with it?" She asked curiously as my mom went to get the tylenol and APC tablets.
"She hasn't disowned me or scolded me, so I guess she's let me be."
"I wish I could have it like that," she said wincing slightly.
"What's wrong?" I asked leaning towards her.
"Nothing except the fact that I feel like my head's gunna blow, and I can't remember much of yesterday."
"You took drugged booze and I had to pull my knife out to prevent Kiana and Rei from taking you with them, but nobody got hurt."
"I am sure you'll be ok by this evening if you rest well and take the painkillers. Right now I am off to work," my mom said giving me a knowing look.
"Thanks for taking care me Mrs. Goodstart."
"You're welcomed," she replied dashing out with her tote bag in hand.
"After breaky it's back to bed. I didn't sleep a wink," I said getting her a plate.
I just wanted sleep, and her warmth.
