Unending Love

by Yesenia Vargas

  “For school, when you go to college. You’ll have your own. Later, we can buy you the printer to go with it,” her mom said with a sparkle in her eye.

  Ariana got up and hugged her parents.

  “How did you guys afford all of this?” She indicated the pile of stuff on the floor. Expensive stuff. They’d never had a Christmas this good.

  Her mom looked at her dad before answering. “I got a promotion at work. That’s why I’ve been putting in more hours. Part of it is that I’ll be getting a Christmas bonus from now on.”

  “Sweet,” Jimmy said, his mouth slightly open. “Does that mean you make more money than dad now?”

  Her mom laughed. “Maybe.”

  “In this day and age, that is perfectly normal,” their dad began. “Aqui no es como en Mexico.” Nope, it wasn’t like in Mexico at all. Ariana’s mom kissed him on the cheek.

  “Next thing you know, Dad’ll be the one cooking around here and doing the laundry,” Jimmy said as he took his huge pile of stuff to his room.

  ###

  It was later. It was time to meet Lucas’s family for the first time. His mom and two sisters.

  She wondered what she should say after greeting them, and if his mom would like her.

  “What are you thinking about?” Lucas asked her as he squeezed her hand. They were almost at his house. Her parents had trusted them to go alone.

  She glanced out the window before turning back to him. “I just…want to make a good impression.” She smiled as butterflies danced in her stomach.

  “You will,” Lucas assured. “You’re smart, nice, everything my mom could want.”

  They pulled into his driveway and got out of the car. “This is it.”

  They walked towards the front door. It was smaller than her house but homey. Her heart warmed at the handful of toy cars out on the front lawn, the kind she, Jimmy, and Mayra would ride down hills when they were in elementary school. “Those used to be so much fun,” she told Lucas.

  “Still are,” he replied as they walked in.

  There were even more toys in the living room, and she saw his sisters dressed up but watching Christmas movies. His mom walked in from the kitchen. Ariana smiled when she saw his mom smile. She held out her hand as she came closer.

  “Mucho gusto. Yo soy Ariana,” she said. She remembered to not have fishy hands.

  “Es un placer. Yo soy Marcela. Lucas se la pasa hablada de ti pero no me dijo lo bonita que eres.”

  Ariana blushed and looked at Lucas, who shook his head. Aw, he talked about her to his mom.

  “Come in,” she said and closed the front door.

  She ushered them into the kitchen, and they took a seat. Lucas stood back up. “Want something to drink?”

  “Water, soda, juice?” his mom finished. She already had the fridge open.

  “Um, water please,” Arianna said, looking back and forth between them.

  Lucas’s mom closed the door and went to the dishwasher for a glass. The house was silent except for the sound of the TV and the occasional laughs of his sisters. His mom set the glass down in front of her, and she said thank you before taking a few sips.

  “Lucas says you’re graduating too this year,” she said, leaning on the counter.

  She nodded. “I’m really excited.”

  “Any idea what you’re gonna do after?”

  “College. I’ll be the first in my family,” she said with a smile.

  “That’s so good. I wish I’d had that opportunity when I was your age. Lucas will be the first too.” She sat down across from them. “Tell me about your family. Are your parents still together?”

  She glanced at Lucas, who was looking down at the table but caught her eye for a brief second. “Yes. They’re very supportive. My brother too.”

  “That’s so good. I’ve been a single mom most of Lucas’s life, but he’s really stepped up and helped out.” She smiled at him. “I can’t wait to see him in college and have a career.”

  “Me too.” She also smiled at him, especially when she saw him smiling too.

  “Lucas says you’re really smart. He’s so lucky to have met such a nice girl. I can tell you’re a good person, good for him.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that. “There aren’t many like her,” Lucas said with a laugh.

  “Lucas works so hard to make a little money and do well in school, but I’m glad he has someone else there for him too.”

  “He’s a really good guy,” she said.

  Lucas’s mom smiled one more time before getting back up to stir something on the stove. “Are you hungry? I was just making some flautas. I’m just about finished.”

  “Sure. Need some help?” She got up and began walking towards her.

  “No, no, no. Please sit down.” His mom waved her off. Ariana smiled and walked back to her seat. She liked it here.

  Lucas stood up instead. “I’ll grab the plates and stuff.”

  One of Lucas’s sisters wandered into the kitchen. “Mami, I’m hungry.” Ariana loved her long, brown hair and green eyes. They caught each other’s eyes and the little girl, around eight years old, smiled before running and hiding under the table.

  “The food’s almost done, mija,” his mom replied.

  “Do you have to work today?” she said from under the table. “I don’t want you to work today.”

  “I’m just going to work for a little bit. I promise. Then I’ll be back to help you color, okay?”

  She heard her sigh. “Okay.”

  Ariana peeked under the table. “Hi. I’m Ariana.”

  “Are you Lucas’s girlfriend?” she asked, not tearing her eyes away from her.

  “Um, yeah.” She had read somewhere it wasn’t good to lie to kids. “Hey, do you want me to color with you?”

  “Yeah! Can you play with me?” Before Ariana could even answer her, she ran out of the table and back into the living room. She was back about five seconds later with her slightly older sister in tow and a huge box of crayons and markers and several coloring books. The little girl opened the box and they each grabbed a crayon and began coloring.

  “Sleeping Beauty is my favorite princess,” the younger sister said.

  “I like Tangled,” the other replied, glancing at Ariana.

  Lucas squeezed her shoulder as he set the table around them, and his mom smiled at them while she rolled flautas and placed them in the frying pan.

  chapter sixteen

  “That was so good,” Ariana told Lucas as they sat down on the couch together.

  “Explains the roll I’ve been getting lately around my waist,” Lucas said.

  “Oh yeah, that nonexistent roll,” Ariana said as she rolled her eyes. She sighed. “I am so full. I don’t want to move.”

  “Then don’t,” Lucas said with smile as he put his arm around her. “We can hang out here for a little bit longer.”

  She nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder.

  His mom was in her room getting ready for work, and his sisters were coloring again, this time in the living room.

  His mom came out a few minutes later. She looked completely different. She was in a fast food uniform, and her hair was up in a bun. She also had a little bit of makeup on.

  “I’ll be back later, around ten,” she said as she gathered her purse, phone, and keys. “You two behave,” she said as she walked around with her things and grabbed a coat.

  “We will,” one sister said.

  “I wasn’t talking to them,” she mumbled as she passed Ariana and Lucas and winked.

  Ariana blushed hard and cringed into the sofa.

  “Stay as long as you want,” his mom said as she bent down to kiss each of her daughters. Ariana and Lucas stood up as she came towards them. “It was so nice meeting you. Please come back and visit again soon. Mi casa es tu casa.”

  “Gracias,” Ariana said as she gave her and Lucas a hug.

  “I’ll call you on my break,” she told Lucas as she headed out.
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  They sat back down. “Got the house to ourselves,” he said.

  “Not exactly,” she said with a laugh. “But that’s okay.”

  Lucas turned on the TV and began flipping through channels.

  “So does your mom work a lot?”

  “Yeah. She works during the day Monday through Friday and afternoons on the weekend. Opposite of my schedule so only one of us is here usually to watch the girls.”

  She nodded. Something occurred to her. “Well, if you guys ever need a babysitter, especially your mom, I’m available. She looks like she could use a break.”

  He kissed her forehead. “I’ll let her know, babe. Thanks.”

  She got her phone out and texted her mom.

  I’ll be home later. Still at Lucas’s house with his sisters.

  A few minutes later, her phone buzzed.

  Be good.

  ###

  “So you were alone at his house?” Mayra asked. Ariana could practically see her eyes pop out slightly.

  “No,” she repeated. “His sisters were there, remember?”

  “Oh yeah. But still, I bet you guys snuck off a couple times.”

  “No comment,” she said as she closed her eyes.

  Mayra laughed.

  “The whole family seemed nice,” she said.

  “That’s good. Bummer his mom works so much. Sounds like my mom. What about his dad?”

  “I know he’s not in the picture. I’ve just never asked why.”

  “Oh. Maybe they’re separated or divorced. That’s what happened with my parents, except we all know my dad pretends we don’t exist anymore.”

  “I’m not sure,” Ariana said.

  “Why don’t you ask? Or is it something he doesn’t like to talk about?”

  “I’m not sure.” Ariana felt kind of dumb. “Honestly, I just feel like it’s none of my business.”

  “He hasn’t brought it up, but maybe one of these days you could just ask. I mean, you guys should be able to tell each other anything.”

  Ariana thought about that. “I guess you’re right. I’ll wait for the right time.”

  “So did you spend the whole afternoon over at his place?”

  “Yep. Just got back like thirty minutes ago.”

  “Wow. Your parents have come such a long way from last year.”

  “I know. It’s like they’re different people. But I think it’s awesome how they trust me with Lucas. I think they honestly see how good a person he is and that we’re honest, mostly.”

  “Still haven’t done it?” She was referring to sex, of course.

  “Nope,” she said right away.

  “Do you want to?” Mayra asked a beat later.

  She hesitated. “I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see. I’ve been taking the birth control, so I’ll be ready in that sense, but I just don’t know about being completely ready yet.”

  “There’s no rush. Take your time because it only happens once.”

  She thought about that a second before another question popped into her head. “So what about you and Jimmy? Any action happening there?” she asked with a smile on her face.

  “Um, no comment,” Mayra said.

  ###

  Ariana walked into her room, ready to crash on her bed. But she froze when she saw her mom holding her birth control.

  Her mom looked at her, and all she could see was that big wrinkle of her forehead that she got whenever she was upset and the questioning in her eyes. She shook her head and stared at Ariana.

  “What is this?”

  As if the situation wasn’t enough, the first thing that popped into her head was, “Birth control, duh,” but she decided leaving her mouth to hang open was a smarter option.

  “Why do you have this? How long have you had these pills, and why didn’t you tell me?” Her mom had taken two steps towards her.

  Ariana tried to remember if she had put her pills back this morning after taking her daily dose. She always put the plastic container back in her underwear drawer. Then she noticed the pile of folded laundry on her bed. Her mom must have noticed it when putting away her laundry.

  Damn. She should have stuck it in the way back.

  “Explain yourself, Ariana. Are you having sex?” She whispered that last word.

  “No,” she shook her head frantically. “I promise. I just wanted to be ready. I promise, mom.”

  “You’re only eighteen. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I was going to. I just—I wanted to wait and be sure.”

  Both of them were still just standing there. “Where did you even get these?”

  “There’s a free clinic,” she said quietly. “I went with Mayra.”

  Her mom sighed and took a seat on the bed. “Sit down.”

  Ariana’s heart was beating about a million miles an hour, and she hoped her dad didn’t find out about this. She had wanted to tell her mom eventually, but having her dad know would just be so awkward.

  “I know you’re getting older, and you’ve shown me how responsible you can be, but this is too far for me. I need to know this stuff. You’re still my daughter, always will be, and I need to know what’s going on.”

  She looked down and nodded.

  “Whatever you do with Lucas is your choice. I personally think it’s too soon to be thinking about this right now, but you’re almost an adult. All I can do is give you advice from someone who’s been there.”

  “I just wanted to be ready in case.”

  “Is Lucas pressuring you to do this?” her mom asked.

  “No,” she replied immediately. “Never. We’re taking things slow, but I just didn’t want to risk anything after…”

  “Carlos?”

  She nodded again. “We never did anything, but I—I just want to be prepared.” She felt silly saying the same thing over and over again, and her voice was shaking, but she just wanted her to understand.

  “I wanted to tell you. I was just waiting for the right time.”

  Her mom sighed. “You about gave me heart attack.”

  Finally, Ariana laughed a little and glanced at her mom. She was smiling a bit.

  “I’m glad you’re being careful. But like I said, it’s only been a few months. Please wait.”

  She nodded, and her mom got up and left.

  “Mom?”

  Her mom turned around and looked at her in the doorway.

  “Are you gonna tell Dad?”

  She shook her head. “This can stay between us girls.”

  ###

  It was the first day back at school after the holiday break, and Ariana and Jimmy were actually relieved.

  Even Jimmy was starting to get sick of playing video games all day, and Ariana’s eyes and brain were about to melt from browsing Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram so much. And the occasional educational website, like checking up on her application status, even though it said processing every single time. She had already submitted the additional essay UGA had asked for. She just hoped it was good enough.

  She would know soon if she got in after all. She still wasn’t sure how’d she deal with leaving Lucas, Mayra, and her family behind if she got into UGA, but she decided to cross that bridge when she got to it. If she got to it. There wasn’t any guarantee she would get in, and she was doubting herself more than ever.

  Ariana was about to grab some Pop Tarts from the kitchen cabinet, but remembered she was looking a little pudgier these days, probably from being such a couch potato over the winter break. Jimmy, of course, looked as ripped as ever. She went to the fridge instead and grabbed some Greek yogurt and proceeded to make some peanut butter toast. That or her thighs were threatening to not fit into her skinny jeans anymore.

  She thought about the freshman fifteen that college freshman supposedly gained their first year of college. Oh gosh. UGA better have a great gym, she thought. She made a mental note to check it out whenever she visited. She wanted to visit soon and see the campus for herself.

  “Ready t
o go?” Jimmy asked as he walked into the kitchen. He went straight for the cabinet where the Pop Tarts were and grabbed two packages and some orange juice.

  Ariana tried not to stare as he gobbled it all down while she nibbled at her toast. She drank some of his juice to wash it all down (Jimmy didn’t complain; he was a morning person), and got up.

  “Let’s go.” She grabbed her backpack from the living room as well as her jacket, keys, and phone.

  Jimmy was behind her.

  She heard him yawn and turned around to see him stretching. “That was way too short.”

  Ariana laughed. “Yeah, I think I changed my mind. I’d rather stay here and burn my eyes all day from the TV and computer. No more learning.”

  They headed out the door. Her dad had already left for work, and her mom was about to leave as well. She was coming in from going to start up the car. “It’s cold,” she said. “Make sure you got your jacket.”

  Jimmy held his up.

  “I meant put it on,” she said as she closed the door behind them.

  “Oh,” he said. They were already at her car.

  A minute later, they were at Mayra’s, and Ariana was still trying to unglue her eyelids.

  Mayra, unfortunately, was also a morning person, so the whole ride to school involved trying to participate in their conversation despite wanting to focus on the road while keeping her eyes open and her mouth from yawning.

  “What time did you get to bed?” Mayra asked.

  “Like two,” she replied. “I couldn’t sleep. My good sleeping habits were pretty much ruined over the break.”

  “I hate class but love school. Finally, I can interact with other people my age.”

  Ariana smiled. “And I’m happy to be seeing Lucas again on pretty much daily basis. Monday through Friday, anyway. He had to work extra over the break, so it sucked not seeing him that much.”

  She glanced at Jimmy and Mayra. Jimmy was in the back as usual, but he would look at Mayra every so often. She wondered when they’d finally give each other a chance.

  ###

  Ariana parked at her assigned space at school, and spotted Lucas getting out of his car a couple of lanes down at his spot. She turned off her car, grabbed her backpack, and headed towards him, leaving Mayra and Jimmy behind to pretend they didn’t have a thing going on. Even though it had been apparent over the break from when they had hung out how much they still liked each other.