The Struggle For Love

Chapter 8.5

*Alex's POV*
        We wait for half an hour, but my parents never leave. They haven’t checked on me either. What great parents, huh? I guess we should just face them. They’re going to see her sooner or later. Hopefully, they won’t ruin this marvelous relationship for me. I can’t lose, Stacie. They better not screw up. If they really care about me, they’ll let me have this.
        “Are you ready?” Stacie asks me.
        “Yeah. I’m sorry. I thought surely they would have left by now. They never come home at this time. They’re usually out late until after night,” I say apologizing.
        “It’s okay, Alex. I don’t care that they’re still here. Maybe the ocean is trying to tell us I need to meet them now.”
        “If you say so.” Stacie smiles.
        “Besides, I have to go home now anyway. If I don’t, my siblings won‘t have anyone to tuck them in tonight. I promised I would since I didn’t last night. They made me promise to come home early. If they hadn’t, I‘d stay here for as long as possible.”
        “Doesn’t your mom have to work though?” I ask confused.
        “No, she got promoted by her bosses. She’s going to start working during the day.”
        “Oh, that’s great.”
        “I guess so,” Stacie says sounding annoyed. I’m confused. Promotions are supposed to be good things. Especially if you’re on your own supporting your family.
        “Is it not? Am I missing something?”
        “No, it is. It’s just my mom wants my little brother Avery to stay in a daycare until she gets home with a bunch of people he doesn’t know. They could abuse him or something. I don’t want him to be there. So, I got mad at her. I told her I’m going to pick him up after school. I have an hour before I have to get my sisters, so I’ll be able to get him. There’s nothing I can do about him staying there, but I can make it so that he doesn’t have to stay there all day,” Stacie says strongly. I nod. Stacie really loves her brother. She’ll do anything for him.
        “How do you know your mom isn’t going to get home while you’re at school?”
        “She told me. She isn’t going to get home until night. All that tells me is that I have more work to do. I’m already stressed with keeping up with my homework, taking care of my siblings, and our project.” Stacie says annoyed with her mother.
        “Maybe I can come over? We can do the work together.” I say half-smiling.
        “Really? You wouldn’t mind?” There’s a look of shock on her face.
        “Of course not. I like you, Stacie, and that means I get to help you out in any way I can in order to make you happier.” She grins happily. Suddenly, her arms wrap around me.
        “How did I get such a wonderful boyfriend?” I hear her say.
        “How did I-”
        “Alex?” I hear my mom say interrupting me.
        “Is that-” Stacie asks worried. I nod nervously. We watch the doorknob begin to turn.
        “Ready or not, here I come,” my mom says. My breathing quickens. Stacie notices and rubs my shoulder.
        “It’ll be fine. We can handle this,” she tells me soothingly.
        “Your father and I came home early today. We’ve been waiting for you to come down-” my mom begins saying until she notices Stacie in my room. Stacie’s hand clenches on my shoulder. I grab it and hold it in my hand. She unclenches a little but remains frozen. “Who is this?” my mom asks trying to sound nice.
        “This is my beautiful girlfriend,” I say turning towards Stacie smiling. She smiles making her hand soften some more.
        “I’m Stacie.”
        “Alex, I’m sure your father would like to meet Stacie. Why don’t we all go downstairs, so he can?” I instantly gulp. My mom is the kindest of my parents. Who knows how my dad will react?
        “Um, sure.”
        “Don’t say sure. You know it’s only yes or no. Don’t say um either. It’s not proper.” I nod.
        “Yes, mother. We would love to go downstairs to see father.” My parents won’t allow me to say mom or dad. If I could, I would say that instead of father or mother any day.
        “Good. Now, let’s go.”
        “Yes, ma’am.” My mom begins swimming downstairs. Stacie looks at me confused. I sigh.
        “Don’t sigh. It’s rude,” my mom says turning towards us.
        “Yes, ma’am.” She continues swimming down the stairs. Stacie and I follow.
        We arrive downstairs. My dad is where he always is. He’s in his office, of course. My mom motions for Stacie and I to swim in first. We follow her orders. Stacie clenches my hand once again. I rub my thumb across it hoping to soothe her. It works a smidge. Her hand relaxes some. My father is sitting in his chair facing the opposite way of us. My mom follows us in.
        “Don’t slouch,” my mom whispers. I stand upright trying not to go against her rules.
        “Dear, Alex has something he wants to show you.”
        “Can it wait? I’m busy,” my dad replies. My mom laughs awkwardly.
        “Don’t be silly, dear. Now, stop playing games and turn around.”
        “What are you talking about?” he says as he turns around. Once he notices Stacie, he quickly closes his mouth regretting saying anything. He pastes a smile onto his face and pretends to look like a nice merman. “Who’s this, Alex?”
        “This is my girlfriend, Stacie.”
        “Hello,” Stacie says waving politely.
        “Hello. Not to be rude or anything, but what type of mermaid are you?” my dad asks. Oh no. I forgot about that. They won’t like her if they find out what she is.
        “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. I’m a mermaid. Are there other types of mermaids out there?” Stacie asks confused. Great, it can only go downhill from here. My dad glares at my mom. My mom shakes her head disapprovingly. Stacie notices and stares at me worried. I half-smile.
        “No, I’m sorry. It was a stupid question,” my dad says looking back at Stacie.
        “Stacie, isn’t it getting kind of late? Won’t your parents be worried if you’re out so late?”
        “Right! I’m sorry. I mean yes, my mother will be. I should be going now.”
        “I’ll swim you home.” We start swimming out of my dad’s office.
        “No. Alex, you need to stay here. You have chores that need to be done.” Stacie and I freeze as we hear my mom talk sternly to me. I frown. I know what my mom is really saying. She’s really saying we have things that we need to discuss as a family. By things, I mean Stacie.
        “I’ll see you on Monday, okay?” Stacie nods uncomfortable. We all watch as she swims out the front door leaving me to deal with the nonsense that is about to begin. All I can think about is Stacie. Please don’t leave me, Stacie. I don’t want to know what they have to say.
        “Alex! How dare you!” my father screams at me probably as soon as Stacie is far enough away to not hear us. I look at him pretending to be confused.
        “Don’t act as if you don’t know! She’s not like us, Alex! You know the rules! Our kind isn’t allowed to be with her kind! Dark mermaids are supposed to be with other dark mermaids, not with good ones! Even if there wasn’t a rule forbidding us, it’s just not natural!” my mom screams breaking down into tears. I frown and glance at the ground where I can’t see my father’s stern look and my mom’s disappointed tears.
        “I don’t want to be a dark mermaid though! I want to be a good one like Stacie!” I admit. My parents look shocked. I’ve never told them this before. I always acted like the perfect son for them. Now, the truth comes out.
        “Well, you better start acting like a dark mermaid! That’s what you are, Alex! You’re just going to have to deal with it! What did I do to deserve such a troublesome son as you?” my mom replies back screaming. My dad places a hand on my mom’s shoulder. She glances up at him and sighs shaking her head.
        “Alex, tomorrow you are going to break up with her. Once you do that, you can never see her ever again,” my dad states calmly. I stare up at my dad in shock.
        “No! I’m not doing that! I have no reason to! You can’t make me!” I scream back while swimming a few inches back.
        “What’s her last name, then?” my mom asks.
        “Astor. Why?” My mom instantly smirks.
        “Because if you’re not going to break up with her, then we’ll just fire her mother. I’m pretty sure we just promoted her. I wonder how Stacie’s family will do with no income of money. They’ll probably perish.” My dad smiles contently.
        “You wouldn’t dare,” I hiss.
        “Oh? We would, and you know it.” I groan.
        “Fine, you win. I’ll break up with Stacie tomorrow.” My parents smirk. “I hate you both,” I say as I swim out of their office hastily heading towards my bedroom. Tears begin to swell in the corners of my eyes.