My other half

Sticky Situations and Sticky Buns

"No," my mom entered the room with a gasp. Her styrofoam coffee cup fell to the floor, followed soon after by her wallet and keys.

"Mom? What are you doing home?"

"I live here too, Ren. What the hell is he doing here?!" Her now empty hands gestured to Tony incredulously.

"Helping with the dishes." Tony spoke meekly, though it came out as more of a question.

"Where's Mara?" She asked me.

"She went home."

"I should probably go too." Tony mumbled to me, brushing my arm.

"Yes."

"No!"

My mother and I spoke at the same time.

"Tony, could you just give us a moment? Meet me upstairs."

"Upstairs?!" My mother shouted, interrupting our moment.

"Yes, mom. Upstairs. Stop trying to..."

"To be your mother?!" She interrupted me.

Tony gave me a swift kiss on the cheek before making his way upstairs. I wanted badly to return his affection, but my gaze was locked on my mothers shaking, anger filled form.

"Renee, just because you've found your other half doesn't mean you get a free pass to do whatever you want. I'm still your mother."

"Yeah right. Your goal from the start was to break us up. You never wanted me to be happy."

"That's ridiculous!" She cried

"Oh is it now? You made me doubt that my other half, the person I was destined to be with, would ever stay with me. Ever since I was a child you filled me with your own insecurities."

"Oh stop overreacting!"

I stayed silent, biting my tongue to keep my words from escaping my mouth.

"Your father was a lazy commitment-phobe who couldn't be bothered with a family," she continued, "that's all men ever are. Can't you see I'm protecting you?! No man will ever want to stay with you, no man will ever be happy with you, and no man will ever love you."

Her words stabbed at me like a white hot poker to the chest. The air was ripped from my lungs when I opened my mouth to speak. After a moment of standing there, staring at my mother, mouth agape, in shock, I was able to collect myself enough to mumble a few words.

"I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."

"Don't you dare dismiss me like that young lady! I'm not done with you. You are not permitted to see that boy ever again!"

I wiped the tears I hadn't known had escaped my eyes and pushed past my mother, sprinting up the stairs. As I opened the door to my bedroom, Tony sat up on my bed.

"...are you... are you okay?"

"Just hold me please." I whimpered, crawling into his lap.

His arms encircled my waist as he spoke, "Renee, maybe this isn't the best idea. With you so worked up I might get all messed up again and..."

A choking sob left my mouth and cut off his words. He sighed and leaned back so we were laying down and I was cradled against his chest.

I stared at the clock while the minutes ticked by, allowing Tony's measured breaths to soothe me.

I rolled over so we faced each other, "I wish things could just go back to the way they were before all this happened," I murmured, tracing patterns on his t-shirt clad chest.