Marks

Casual Affair

I got home and sat on the side of my bed and then flopped on my back. "UGH!" I had barely known this boy for a day and I knew I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with him. Our little date was so cute, Troye was just so awkward and sad but he could also be really sweet and kind and, yes, was cute. Never did I think I would be in love with a boy, but I can't say I'm upset about it. "UGH!" I let out again.

"Ty? You home?" It was my mom.

"Yea, ma, I'm in my room," I called back. In a matter of seconds my mom was knocking at the door.

"Ty? How was your day? Oh, are you tired? I can come back later."

"No no mom, I'm fine. Just some jerk at school." 

"Oh, I'm sorry," she sat on my bed next to me and I sat up.

"Mom? Can I ask you something?"

She laughed, "always."

I gulped, was I really going to do this? Tell my mom my soulmate was a guy? My mom was cool she didn't care about things like that. "Um... Well you see, my, uh, friend found his soulmate."

"That's wonderful! What is the problem?"

"Well, it's a boy..."

"Oh! Well, um, I didn't expect that. But that's fine, I mean I don't care, especially because the heart once what it wants. Love is not a choice."

I smiled to myself, "ok mom, then what do you say if that friend was me?"

"OH TY!" She hugged me, "you found your soulmate! I'm so proud!"

"Ma, stop."

She smacked me on the back of the head, "how could you think I would care! I mean your soulmate! This is big news!"

"I know, you're really cool about this stuff and I.. I don't know."

"What's his name?" My mom ruffled my hair.

"Troye, with an e."

"Well, what is Troye with an e like?"

"I... I don't know... He is very shy and soft spoken, he has a brother. They all knew about me! Troye has known for awhile and has spoken very highly of me, he apparently doesn't know me very well." I laughed.

"You are a very nice young man, Tyler, that's why he likes you."

 "MOM," I whined, "he kind of has to, I mean, he is my soulmate."

"Now, Tyler, you know that's not true. Nobody has to like anyone. I didn't fall in love with your father for years after we found out." My mom looked out my window, as if she could see my father if she looked hard enough. My father died many years ago, my mother, obviously, loved him, but my feelings towards him were indifferent. It's not that he wasn't a good person, he just wasn't the fatherly type. The only conversations we ever had was were those of small talk. After I refused to play any sports, my father turned cold to me. He loved me, he just wasn't one for showing it. His last words to me were "have a good day at school, Tyler." Simple and straight to the point.

I rested my hand on her shoulder, "ma, I know you miss him, I do too, but can we please not make this about him?"

She wiped her eyes and looked back at me, "you know he loved you? I know he didn't say it much, but he did, he loved you so much. He would support you no matter what happened." She stood up, "well do you want me to cook something? It is rather late but I am sure I can whip something up!"

"Troye and I had pizza earlier, so no thank you." 

My mom walked to the door, "well, if you need anything I'll be downstairs," she closed the door.