Adopted by Heathers Cast

Don't You Want A Life With Me?

I was fixing up my hair and getting ready to go out. Ethan's mom had invited us over for dinner and I wanted to look my best. Even though I had met her a thousand times before.

"Ethan's mom invited us over for dinner tonight." I said to Elle as I closed my bedroom door behind me.

"Who's 'us'?" Elle asked.

"You and me. Oh, and Jessica. Get dressed." I said.

_____________

I rang the doorbell of Ethan's house and pushed back my hair. I heard some shuffling from inside then the door opened. Ethan's mom, Ms. Connors, was standing in the doorway, smiling.

"Cat! Give me a hug, sweetheart! It's good to see you again!" she said. I hugged her and turned to my family. "Ms. Connors, this is my mom and my aunt. Jessica, Elle, this is Ethan's mom." I said shyly. Why was I being shy?

Ms. Connors shook Elle and Jessica's hands and said, "It's good to finally meet you! Come in, come in!"

"Ethan! I'm here!" I yelled obnoxiously.

"Cat!" I heard, and Ethan ran out of his room and hugged me. Ethan let go of me and blushed.

"Oh, Ms. McLemore, Ms. Wynn. Good evening." Ethan said. I giggled.

"Hi Ethan." Elle said, and Ethan blushed. I started giggling furiously. I regained my composure and said, "So, what's for dinner?"

Ethan smiled at me and said, "My mom made lasagna!" I smiled and Ms. Connors said, "It was my wife's recipe that came with her family from Italy." Elle turned around and pointed to a picture on the mantel.

"Is that her?" Elle asked. Ms. Connors nodded and said, "Yes."

Ethan smiled sadly and said, "I miss her. Even though I barely remember her."

"Oh, Ethan, you know she loved you so much." Ms. Connors said.

"It's a shame I'll never get to meet her." I said.

"She would've loved you too, Catlynn." Ms. Connors said.

"Who doesn't?" Ethan said, and I giggled.

"I know Cat's had her fair share of trauma, too." Ms. Connors said. Ethan pinched his nose and said, "Mom..." but she didn't listen. I tried my best to hold back tears.

"Didn't something happen in August?" Ms. Connors said. I got up and ran to Ethan's room, saying "That's it."

"Cat!" Elle said.

"I've got her. Way to go, Mom. I would think a vet would understand PTSD." Ethan said. Ethan opened the door and I said, "Ethan, just go away."

"No." Ethan said.

"I'm an embarrassment." I said.

"Cat, you couldn't be an embarrassment if you tried." Ethan said, laughing. I stared at him and said, "That's not funny."

"You're right." Ethan said.

"Your mom must hate me." I said.

Ethan sat down beside me and said, "My mom loves you. I'm not going to try to make excuses for her, but she's been kind of insensitive since Mama and her years in service messed her up, too."

"Yeah. I've been kind of selfish too, since the...the crash." I said, choking on my words.

"No." Ethan said.

"I feel so stupid." I said.

"Trauma screws us all up, it's not selfish to need help. It's fight or flight." Ethan said. I started crying and Ethan hugged me.