I quickly sit up to get a better look inside the car. She is not there. That means she is inside.

Great.

I look over at Harry who is sound asleep. I really don’t want to wake him up. He looks so peaceful. And adorable. So, so, adorable. But I have no other choice. I begin to lightly shake his arm. “Harry….Harry, wake up.” He slowly opens his eyes and rubs them. “Wow, I don’t realize I was tired.”

“Umm…Harry. Look outside.” I say. He looks without asking. “Hey, I’ve never seen that car before.” He is silent a moment before hurriedly looking back to me. “Is that your mom car?” I nod my head.

“So…what should I do?” he asks. Too bad I was hoping he could tell me that. “I’m not sure.” I reply. “Maybe you can manage to sneak out without her noticing you.

“Hey, Megan! Who’s jacket and boots are these? Do you have a friend over?”

Crap.

Before I could even think, I replied, “Yes, mother. They were just about to leave.” Harry glances back and forth between me and the door. “Now?” he asks quietly. I can feel myself begin to panic as I try to figure out if it is still possible of to get Harry out of the door without my mother seeing him.

“They don’t have to go yet if they don’t have to. Plus, I want to meet them before they go.” my mother says, causing me to panic even more.

“Calm down, Megan. It’s going to be alright.” Harry says as he takes my hands in his and gently strokes them. “We don’t even have to tell her I’m your boyfriend. We could just say I’m a friend.” I give him a look that shows just how much I doubt that would work.

“Or…look, what could possibly happen? Your mom wants you to be more social, wouldn’t she love that your dating now?” He is right. But at the same time…I don’t know. I just…I’m scared. And I’m not exactly sure why. Fear she will not like him? But why would I care? I don’t. Fear she will like him?

I’m not dating because of her. I am in now way trying to be more social to please her. Is that what it is? Fear that she will think I am doing this because of her? Am I really that rebellious?
Just as I begin to explain all of that to Harry, I look into his eyes. I can see he is anxious for my reply. I can tell he is nervous. About what, though? What I am about to say, or meeting my mother? A little of both, I would imagine.

“Ok. Let’s go.” I say as I firmly squeeze his hand as a sign of reassurance then made my way towards the stairs. With Harry’s hands still in mine, I could feel my heart beat growing faster with each step we took. When we reach the living room, Harry nicely tells me to lighten my grip. I didn’t even realize how tight I had started holding his hand.

Wait, where is she? Maybe I could just let Harry leave and get away with my mother not meeting him. I could just tell her that my friend has a strict curfew and just had to leave. Yeah…yeah, that works!

“Well, hello there!” I hear along with the sound of high heels on the wood floor. There went my last shred of hope.

“Hello, my name is Charlotte.” she says as she extends her hand out to Harry. I roll my eyes as he shakes her hand and says, “Nice to meet you, mam. My name is Harry.”

“It’s nice to meet you, as well. I don’t get to meet many of Megan’s friends. Mainly because she never has any over.” I glared at her as I said, “Well, mother, Harry really needs to go now. He has a curfew.”

Completely oblivious to the look I just gave her, my mother says with a smile, “Of course. I completely understand. Well, goodbye Harry. Maybe I’ll see you again sometime.”

“Goodbye. And, yeah…maybe you will.” Harry smiles back as she turns away and walks back towards her office. I let out a heavy sigh as soon as she is gone.

“See, that wasn’t so bad.” Harry says as he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in for a hug. “Yeah…I guess it could have been worse.” He laughs and I do too.

“I guess you really do have to go now.” I say as I look back to make sure my mother isn’t watching. I don’t know why. It’s not like she cares. Not like a normal mom.

Harry follows my gaze before replying, “Probably. You know…if you don’t mind, I would love for you to meet my family tomorrow. I mean, if you want to…” I could tell that he was nervous. Maybe about asking, or maybe he was just as nervous about me meeting his family as I was about my mother. Either way, it made answer confidently, “I would love to.”

After putting back on his jacket and shoes, he quickly smiles, making my heart melt. I feel like I should say something else before saying goodnight, but I can’t think of anything. Don’t leave? Never leave? I wish.

“Goodnight, Megan.” he says just before kissing me. “Goodnight, Harry.” I say as I take in my last moments of looking in his eyes. “I’m not sure what time you’ll be coming over tomorrow. I’ll call you as soon as I know. Ok?”

Suddenly I became nervous. I’m meeting his family. Tomorrow. My nerves got the best of me and I blurt out, “What do I need to wear?” Harry begins to laugh. I do as well before stating, “Well, it is very important.”

“I don’t know, love…just some jeans and a nice shirt.” He gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “I really better go, now. Hopefully my parents will still be up so I can at least have them thinking about what time would be good for you to come over.”

“Ok. Goodnight…again.” I say with a chuckle. “Goodnight.” And with that, I am alone. I let out another sigh before making my way up to my bedroom. Or so I planned. However, I was stopped.

“So, is he your boyfriend?” I hear my mother ask in a sing song voice. I cringe before turning around. “Yes.” I say simply. She smiles before adding, “Good…good…you need to socialize more.”

“That’s not why I am dating him.” I snapped. Crap. Why did I say that? Why on earth would I further this conversation?

“Don’t be so touchy. But you know I am right. Being by yourself all of the time isn’t good. You need to go out and be with people. Go shopping. Go to parties.”

“Maybe I don’t want to.” I sneered. My mother begins to give me one of her looks that practically screams that she thinks I am crazy. It always makes me angry, but it makes me even angrier tonight.

“Megan…I swear, I just do not understand you.” she says before turning to walk away. By this time, I am fully angry.

Let it go. Just let it go. There is no use in explaining anything to her. Just walk away. Go upstairs. Go to my bedroom. That is what my mind tells me to do.

My feet, however; have plans of their own.

“You don’t understand me? You don’t understand me? You take me from place to place, school to school, and you expect me to be happy about it? And being social? Wow…I just…you just can’t understand how anyone could not be popular, can you? Or that maybe, some people aren’t as outgoing as others. Breaking news, mother; some people are shy. Some people can’t just talk to anyone at any given moment. And you know what? Nobody wants to be that way! But you know what else? We just have to accept it. Accept it, and deal with it. Which is something that would be a lot easier, if they had someone who would support them, instead of constantly putting them down!”

At this point, I am fuming. I could say more, but I choose not to. Instead, I storm up to my room with the slam of my door. I sit in the same spot I was earlier in my window seat. I bring my knees up to my chest and bury my face in them as I begin to cry.

I quickly force myself to stop and calm down. Deep breaths. I can not believe that just happened. What does she think about what all I said? Is she concerned at all? If she is, wouldn’t she come up to my room to check on me? Isn’t that what any good mother would do?
It makes sense. Plus, she’s never done it, so…

I mean, this isn’t the first argument we have had. Not even close. It’s just the first in a while. After our last, one that was less one sided, I had decided that I had had enough. That there was no use in arguing with someone who just does not understand something that has been explained to them time and time again.

I don’t know why tonight was different. I don’t know what caused me to think I could make her understand me tonight. But what I really don’t understand, is why I still hope she will come up here to check on me. She never has before. Why would tonight be any different?

I need to go to sleep. I want to be awake when Harry calls. So, I change into my pajamas and climb into bed. I glance towards the door before turning out my light. But before I do, I change my mind.

Five minutes. I am giving her five minutes.

I sit back down in my window seat and look out at the night sky. I allow my mind to wander to the past. All the times I have moved. All the schools I had been to. Chloe.

After ten minutes pass, I turn out the light. I get into bed and lay down. Then I sit up.

Five minutes. I am giving her five minutes.

I grab a book from my nightstand. After reading five chapters, I finally close the book and lay down. I stare at the door for a few minutes before finally closing them.

I don’t know why I thought tonight would be different.