Be My Friend

Chapter 42: Say It Ain't So

"Uh... oh. H-hey, mom." I answer awkwardly and attempt to push Alex's face by the palm of my hand into the pillows. 'Mom?' He mouths to me and I nod intertwining my fingers silently with his own.

"What's this I hear about you cancelling your appointment with the therapist I set you up with for the thirteenth time?" She snaps and I wince. Here it comes, after the accusing and making me feel like shit is then the going back to ignoring me.

"It's nice to hear from you too, mom. It's been what, six months since our last phone call? It's not Christmas yet, is it?" I casually ask, my tone lined with sarcasm.

"You know damn well it's not Christmas, Mason, stop being a fool." She exclaims. I groan and whack my phone off my forehead a few times before going back to the conversation. I know better than to try and be sarcastic with her. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I am stupid.

"Mom, I know it isn't Christm-" I try, and tread lightly but she just cuts me off again.

"Never mind, I just need to know why you keep cancelling . I also called to tell you something else but I forgot." She trails off and it's silent for a moment. "Well?" She snaps and I can't help but grimace at the loud tone. 

I hesitate, "Mom, he was kind of an asshole, alright? And clearly homophobic, and maybe a little sexist too? He tried convincing me to die my hair to a normal colour and said that I should be more 'masculine'. Who does that? Not only that, but I landed a new job." I try to explain quickly before I'm cut off again.

"You got a new job?" She says as if she was actually interested. "Oh, I just remembered. You're brothers have a couple weeks off from college and are coming home for a little while. I think that you should come too, for a family dinner. Next week, on Saturday. Thanksgiving is this weekend." She points
out. How in the world do you forget something like that? I ponder the offer for moment with my face set in an obvious grimace, but she can't see the face I have on right now so all I can do is merely answer back.

"I would absolutely love that. I guess then this means that there's now an open opportunity for me to introduce you to someone." I try and force out. God, this was hell. "Yay opportunities." I say unenthusiastically.

"Oooh," she coos. "I can't wait to meet her. Who's the lucky lady? Never mind, we'll meet her at the dinner." She decides and I don't even have to be in her presence to know she's nodding to herself.

"Yeah... Actually never mind, forget I mentioned someone coming over." I force an awkward laugh and look towards Alex's face which has his eyes already trained on me full of curiosity.

"Oh no you don't. You're not getting out of this one, this time." She says and I can just imagine her standing with one hand on the hip.

After many moments of silence I finally speak quietly. "She's a lucky lady alright." I manage to get out and my lips twitch downward. Alex nudges me in the side.

"Well, I won't keep you. I'll see you next Saturday. Don't forget." She reminds and I roll my eyes. She's the one that would probably forget again. We say our goodbyes and I hang up.

Alex leans over and kisses my cheek and runs his hand through my knotted curly hair that was getting way too long for its own good. "I'm such a good girlfriend." He mocks and smiles against my cheek. I scoff and head over to my closet letting his hand fall flat against where I once sat.

"Up yours." I scowl and he barks out a laugh while falling back onto the bed; arms spread out wide.