With her head in a thick Calculus book, one hand writing numbers down into a notebook, and the other pressing buttons on a graphing calculator, Nina Dela Vera let her mind delve deep into her homework. Her long, wavy, dark hair was piled atop her head in a messy bun; navy blue sweat pants and a plain white v-neck covering her petite figure. The long numbers, graphs, and formulas that she penned neatly on paper could intimidate anyone, but to Nina however, she found it peaceful.

She was like any typical 17-year-old trying to find her place in the world. She wasn't popular at school, nor was she at the bottom of the social chain. She had a few classmates in school she considered friends, and like many teenaged girls, Nina had issues with nonexistent boyfriends, makeup, and whether or not she was leaking through her tampon on her heaviest days.

Nina was in no doubt a nice girl. She knew compassion, hard work, and altruism. Being raised by her single mom Arianne, she grew up seeing the struggle and the strength that her mother exuded after Nina's dad left. Living in a small home in Monterey County, California, it was just Nina, her little sister Kathleen, and their supermom.

The ticking clock chimed a sweet melody and Nina looked up from her work. It was 6pm and her mom was due home at any moment.

She was right.

The front door opened, and out from the small hallway walked in her mom, Arianne Bernado. Beautiful with jet black hair, hazel eyes, plump lips, and a glowing golden beige skin tone, it seemed like Arianne never aged, let alone had two kids.

"Hi mom!" Nina smiled, jumping off the bar stool to help her mom with her bags.

"Hello sweetie," Arianne said, handing her things to Nina as she kissed her cheek. "How was school?"

Setting her her mom's laptop case to the side, Nina began to tell her mom about her day as the two women grabbed pots, pans, and left overs from the fridge. It was like a special routine they both shared. Exchanging stories from the day, laughing about gossip, and preparing dinner. Kathleen joined the two, setting plates and cups of juice onto the small circular table in their living room.

"And then Gabe said 'good job' and gave me a high-five!" Nina animatedly exclaimed. She sighed with happiness. "I like that he's starting to notice me, and my knack for academics, than how I look. Maybe brains will win over beauty this time?"

Arianne stopped in her tracks to look at her daughter. "Baby, please don't ever think you're ugly. You are a beautiful young woman," Arianne paused and waved the spatula in her hand from Nina to Kathleen before continuing, "you both are beautiful. I mean, you are my daughters."

"You're our mom, you're supposed to tell us that these things. Though you are right about Kathleen," Nina began, as Kathleen turned her attention to her older sister, "she is beautiful. I see all those boys trying to talk to you."

"Ate, you're pretty too. And boys talk to you," Kathleen explained.

"They talk to me, but that doesn't mean they want to talk to me," Nina justified, emphasizing the talk. Holding a dish filled with their favorite traditional Filipino food, Nina placed it in the center of the table, followed by a bowl of steaming white rice.

The three ladies sat cross-legged on large cushions, as their favorite Top-40 radio station played in the background. They ate their dinner, continuing to exchange stories, jokes, and advice. It was a simple, yet endearing scene that any family-oriented person would love to watch. The closeness of the ladies, their connection to one another, and how much love they had for one another was all they needed to reassure themselves that things were going to be okay in life.

"So mom," Nina began, setting her spoon down, "I have a proposal for you."

Arianne lifted her head from her food and raised an eyebrow, "yes, sweetie?"

"My classmate Melanie is throwing a party tonight at her dad's house in Carmel, and the entire senior class is invited. Gabe will be there, and this could be my chance to really get to know him more," Nina explained. "Joleen is going, and she said she'll give me a ride. I promise I'll be home before 11! Can I go, mom?"

Nina's brown, almond shaped eyes stared at her mom biting her lip in nervousness. Kathleen too, stopped eating and waited patiently for an answer.

"I don't think it's a good idea Nina," Arianne sighed. Nina's eyebrows furrowed.

"What? Why not? What if I'm home by 10 instead. It's a Friday night, I don't have class tomorrow, my homework is practically completed, and I don't start work tomorrow till 2. I can get in some extra studying done before then. Please, mom!" Nina begged.

"I don't like the idea of you going to some crazy party out in Carmel. Especially if Joleen will be your only friend there," Arianne justified.

"Ugh! Why are you always against Joleen? She's one of my only friends at school; one of the only girls at school who aren't out to get me,"

"I know, anak, and I understand why she means a lot to you. But there's something about that girl that I'm a little unsure about. It makes me a little uneasy. Plus the party is in Carmel--"

"Mom, that's only 20 minutes away from here. And it's not like there's going to be alcohol, or drugs there,"

"Baby girl, no, I can't let you go to that party. I'm sorry," Arianne apologized. Nina grumbled under her breath.

"I thought you'd be cool with this, mom! I thought you'd understand how important this party would be to me. You know how much I like Gabe," Nina stood up, and walked away.

"Nina!" Arianne yelled. A door slammed, and its clamor echoed in their ears.

Notes

This is my first One Direction fanfiction. So please, please, please give me feedback. Rate, comment, subscribe... Thanks. And I hope you all enjoy!

-Erica Jaine <3