;we are never ever ever getting back together

[gracefullygrown]

[Imagine if you will, a typical Friday night for a teenage girl. Exams are months away and homework is completed until Monday afternoon. She tells her parents that she's spending the evening out with a girl friend so her parents wouldn't worry. But in actuality, she has a date with a boy from school that she's been crushing on for a while. That too, has been kept a secret.

Now imagine this typically happy and good natured girl coming home hours earlier than expected and only makes her presence known by slamming the front door and her bedroom door once she gets upstairs. It might even be enough noise to disrupt whatever things are going on in the house. She might be very upset, but doesn't actually lock the door.

You are one of her parents. What do you do?]

Comments

[gracefullygrown]

[Okay, that doesn't sound too bad. She'll just have to talk really fast to her friends between classes and en route to and from school to make up for lost time. Though by the sound of it, she still has computer access so if there is some sort of existential crisis she has, her gals are just one skype call away.

But picking her own misdeed? That's a tough one. Because it has to be something believable and something worthy of the punishment. This would be easier to do if she actually got in trouble often.]

I got a D on my trig test?

[cursebreaking]

[Good luck sneaking those skype calls past Emma -- there will be an addendum to the grounding if you keep trying to work your way around it, young lady.

Emma raises a brow at her choice. Well, it wasn't exactly creative, but it would do the trick. Grace rarely did poorly in school. It was probably decent grounds for punishment. At the very least, it was something to work with. She could convince her husband it was legitimate, she was sure.]

Anything in the world, and that's what you picked, huh? Fair enough. That's our story, we'll stick to it.

[gracefullygrown]

[Then she can take the time to type everything out on a messenger client or school email. That'll just take longer. There's no reason to even consider extending her punishment, okay.]

I can't think of any other possibility that he would believe.

[This would be stretching it, too. Just don't go checking her grades online and see she hasn't made anything below a B- in that class.]

I guess I should study harder, huh?

[cursebreaking]

You've got it, kid. And get that trig homework done before computer or TV, or else he won't buy it.

[Emma smirks at her in reply -- that disclaimer isn't really needed. Grace has never had a problem with homework, thankfully.]

As far as excuses go, it'll do. Now, promise. Next time you're going out somewhere, you'll tell me where you're really going. And if something goes wrong, call me.

[gracefullygrown]

I'll be extra diligent.

[She usually gets her homework done quickly enough, but if she needs to, she'll do extra work just for this week if it means suspicion won't be raised.

Grace looks downwards for a moment before looking up and nodding at Emma. Promises have always been extremely important to her and her word is the most valuable thing she has.]

I promise. I'll tell you next time. You don't have to worry about that. Dates probably won't eve happen again because this was a huge mistake.

[cursebreaking]

I won't blame you if you want to avoid them for awhile, but don't let this creep ruin dating for you forever.

[She reaches out to lay a hand against Grace's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. She's been getting better at the comforting thing over the years. Physical contact used to be a huge nope. Now it feels natural, really.]

Maybe be a little more skeptical of the guys you like, but... I know all too well that people aren't always who you think they are. Sometimes a person you think is pretty damn near perfect turns out to be a jerk. Sometimes it works the other way around, too.

[gracefullygrown]

[She shoulder squeeze is reassuring. She nods in response, though that might be easier said than done. She's reached a whole new level of done. She lacks the foresight to know how long that will last.]

The ones that seem like jerks are really the perfect ones?

[She looks skeptical. Someone doesn't know her parents' history, ok.]

That seems really unlikely too. I guess it's all really more trouble than it's worth. I feel kind of dumb for bothering with it.

[cursebreaking]

[Fortunately, Grace, Emma thinks you'll bounce back quickly. As teenage drama goes, this is actually high on the legitimacy scale, but Grace is a good kid. She'll be able to move past it.

And Emma will help by at least keying this kid's car. And taking out a tire. Maybe two.

She clears her throat awkwardly at Grace's skepticism. Welp.]

You'd be surprised. First impressions can be really wrong. Although I wouldn't suggest you test that theory by chasing down every jerk in town. A lot of them really are just jerks, but not all.

[She frowns slightly. Not cool to talk about yourself that way, kid.]

Hey. Listen to me. You are not dumb.

[gracefullygrown]

[That sounds reasonable enough. Besides, chasing down guys sounds like a complete waste of time. Grace has considered herself to be a decent read of people over the years, but her talent for this must be like Emma's lying superpower, in that it only works sometimes.

Ah, well. She has plenty of time to hone it, even if it feels like she doesn't.

She's a bit surprised when Emma corrects her. She didn't actually mean it seriously. Self-depreciation is just a common teenage thing from time to time.

Or any time.]

I didn't mean it like that. I just don't know what I was thinking.

[cursebreaking]

Everyone makes mistakes. Hell, I've made more than most people. As mistakes go? This one wasn't so big. Nothing that happened tonight was your fault. You know that, right?

[She's being entirely serious right now, Grace. This is a moment. A bonding moment. Let's cherish it.]

[gracefullygrown]

[Bonding moments. What are those?

In all seriousness, she does appreciate this. She knows she didn't do anything wrong, but this helps reinforce that. It helps just being able to get it off her chest, really. As much as she loves her friends, she can't trust them with this stuff.

And it goes without saying that Emma's the only person in the house she can utter a breath of this about.]

Yeah, I know. Thank you for listening to me, Mama.

[cursebreaking]

[She smiles and scoots over to put an arm around Grace's shoulders, pulling her into a one-armed hug. That's how these things are supposed to end, right?]

Always, kiddo. Anytime you need someone to lend an ear, you know where to find me.

[She gives Grace another squeeze before that smile becomes something more of a smirk, almost mischievous.]

Would you believe it if I told you that your father was once kind of a jerk?

[Okay, not really, those were extenuating circumstances, and Emma is so not about to give her the grisly details, but they definitely got off on the wrong foot. It's worth noting.]

[gracefullygrown]

[This is exactly how it's supposed to end, and a hug is exactly what she needs. She leans against Emma briefly in an attempt to return that hug. Side hugs are awkward in general.]

Yeah, I know.

[It sounds non-committal at best, but she does take it to heart. It's times like this where she's really glad Emma became her mother. When it was just Grace and her father, it was never obvious to her that she was ever lacking anything, but now that she's older and needs that older woman to talk to about girl things, the thought of Emma not being there is terrifying.]

No, not even in a million years.

[Someone still only thinks the best of her Papa.]

[cursebreaking]

[Emma grins broadly. Well, she's never going to go so far as to shatter those illusions, but...]

I thought you might not. It's okay. I was kind of a jerk, too. We got off on the wrong foot. But we gave each other another chance. Worked out for the best, I'd say.

... don't take that as encouragement to forgive this guy, though. His ass is mine.

[gracefullygrown]

[Grace probably wouldn't be able to cope if she lost her convictions, but this change in conversation at least amuses her. She's not so naive to think there's such a thing as a completely perfect couple, but if her parents ever have disagreements or fights, she never sees them.

Or she at least can't think of any instances now.]

I dunno. I mean, now we're all stuck with each other. Are you sure that's really a good thing?

[Of course it is. It's the best thing.]

Sometimes second chances, or even third chances are really good. Sometimes really great things come from it. But no. He'll be lucky if I so much as glance in his direction.

[She's probably one of the nicest people in the entire world, but that's until you cross her.]

[cursebreaking]

[It's been a conscious effort on their part, keeping any disagreements or other problems behind closed doors to spare both Grace and Henry. Not that there are many, but no couple goes without their share of arguments -- especially not a couple comprised of someone as bull-headed and stubborn as Emma and someone as sarcastic as Jefferson. Two strong personalities that occasionally clash -- but their willingness to put their kids first is what they had initially bonded over even after there had been bad blood between them, and it was something they continued to prioritize.]

Hey, if you're really tired of us, it's only a couple years until college.

[She hopes neither kid goes away, though. At least not far.

She gives Grace another squeeze around her shoulders before leaning in to press a kiss against her temple.]

Good. You're way too good for him, kid.

[gracefullygrown]

Oh, yes. I'll be sure to go find a school a thousand miles away.

[But really? The idea scared her. Going to college is the logical next step, but she's hoping to find something close. She would miss her family a whole awful lot if she couldn't see them every day. But maybe that's part of growing up.

Either way, she's crossing that bridge when she actually has to think seriously about what she'll do after high school.]

I'm not sure what I should say here. Thanks?

[You're such a good mama, Emma. Grace loves you. She really does. She'll never be too old for forehead kisses, either.]

We're good now, right?

[cursebreaking]

Yeah. We're good.

[She smiles as she releases her hold on Grace, sitting up before pushing herself forward and to her feet.]

I'm sure you have better things to do than talk to me for the rest of the night. I'll let your dad know everything's okay. You going to be alright?

[gracefullygrown]

[She gives a curt nod. At this point she's just ready to shower and call it an early night. She's glad she's had this conversation, but it's been mentally and emotionally draining. She's honestly not sure if she could handle much more of it.]

Yeah, I'll be fine. Good night, Mama.