Caught In Between

XI. The Worried and the Guilty

I'm getting ready for school Monday morning when I get a phone call from my mother. It's 7 am here, so it's 4 am back in San Francisco. What could she want this early? This is her first phone call since I've gotten to Hooverville, which has been about a month and a half. Of course, when I arrived my dad texted her and told her I made it safely.

I press the call button and put the phone to my ear. "Mom?"

"Brooklyn. I wanted to tell you something."

"And what is that?"

"I'm getting married and you will be at the wedding." She's what now?

"Married? That's amazing mom! What's his name? When's the wedding? Why haven't I heard of him?"

"Daniel. He just proposed the other night. No wedding details have been planned yet. I wanted to let you know because I'd like you to be there. It would look terrible if my own daughter was not at my wedding." Oh. She doesn't want me there, she just doesn't want people to say bad things about her parenting if her daughter didn't show up.

"Okay, mom. Just keep me updated with details. I'll try my best to be there."

"You will not 'try your best,' you will be there. No exceptions. I'd also like you to be a bridesmaid so you will be sent dresses and you must try them on and send me photos."

"You already have dresses picked out?"

"Have you listened to me? None of the wedding details have been planned out yet. Eventually, the dresses will be sent. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do. Congratulations, mom. I can't wait to meet Daniel, I hope he's a good guy."

"He's wonderful. He's a neurosurgeon, so he sure brings in lots of money."

"Money that you don't need because you already make six figures."

"Don't have an attitude with me, Brooklyn!"

"Okay," I'm really starting to get pissed off. Hold it together, you haven't talked to her in awhile. "When did you meet him?"

"I met him a few months ago at a restaurant. He's friends with one of my coworkers, and she introduced us."

"That's great, mom. I'm really happy for you. Isn't a few months a bit soon?" Like I can say anything, I just made out with Asher after barely getting along with him for a couple weeks. But that doesn't even come close to fucking marriage.

"You obviously don't know anything if you said that. Let marriage and relationship times only be discussed with people who are more educated." And I remember why I was so happy to move here.

"I'll stop." I sigh. "How've you been, mom? I haven't talked to you in over a month."

"Brooklyn, as much as I would love to have small talk with you, I actually must get going. I have to go meet with a client in an hour."

"Bye. I love-" She ends the phone call. "You." I finish off with a whisper.

*******

"Cam, tell me what the hell happened at the party." I tell him while we're sitting in statistics waiting for the bell to ring so we can leave.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"Shut up and tell me what's going on with you and Nat."

"Isn't that some type of girly conversation you two should have?"

"Come on just tell me what you and Nat are. Are you dating? Was it just a random hook up? What's the label? Is there a label yet, because obviously that's fine if there isn't. But, just tell-"