Dedicated to Waltzinga .

Question of the day: "What's the most ridiculous fact you know?"

Aesthetic by mochaxskin . Check out her graphic shop, called "Grandeur||GRAPHIC SHOP"

*This is a flashback from 2011, when Zara was around 17-18. It isn't of that much importance but this was suggested by my editor and my brain to put it in since it sheds a bit more light on Talia and Zara's relationship with her mother. So, go on and read away!*

"No parent is perfect, as neither is any child."

****

"But Mom, all I want to do is go on a date! What is the big deal in that?" I say, exasperated with Mom's reluctance to let me go out with Nate.

"I am not letting you go. That is it," she replies, looking at the files in her hand. Anger is flaring through me like lava in a volcano. What is her problem?

"Yes?" She asks, looking at me sideways. "Did you say something?" Damn it, did I say my words out loud?

"No," I say, looking at the ground but then I remember something. I am a teenager. I should be rebellious not an obedient twerp. I look straight at her this time and say, "Actually Mom, I did say something." This grabs her attention. "You know I could have been that girl who secretly goes on dates without telling her mother and I wanted that too. Since people I know are on relationships and their parents have no idea. But I told you since I didn't want to be the detached daughter. But if you are being such a bitch, then I would rather be that daughter.

Her expression had softened when I told her about the 'detached daughter' thing but it soon turned to pure wrath when I mentioned the b-word.

I start running towards the front door even before my Mom shouts an angry "Get out!

****

I am sitting by the huge mango tree by the Evan's place when Talia takes a seat beside me. There's a bench here and no one knows why or who put it. But this bench sees regular traffic from me and her.

I motion for a hug and she comes closer. We stay together, wrapped up, not speaking because we both know what happened. We fought with our mothers. That's a regular thing for us both to do.
Talia and I are much alike. We are blatantly rude without meaning to and had no idea Shorty was gay till he told us.

Well the only difference is, I will probably go home and somehow ask my mom to forgive me (I am rather bad at it, but at least I try.) whereas Talia, she will continue her life like nothing happened. Apologizing is not her thing. So is not accepting her mistakes.

"How will you apologize this time?" She breaks the silence.

"Peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes." I sigh and then look at her. "Are you..?" I ask, but I already know the answer.

"Apologize? No, she deserved it." Just as I thought.

"What did you fight about?"

"The usual."

"Boys in your life that don't exist?"

"No, boys in my life that apparently don't exist. But they actually do. That doesn't give her the right to know who they are."

I am about to say, 'It does because she is your mother,' but I know better. Wouldn't want to be buried here today.

"What about you?"

"Kind of same as you. I asked Mom if I could go on a date with Nate." She laughs out loud. "What is so funny?"

"You asked your mother if you could go on a date? Who does that?"

"Why won't I? You expect me to keep secrets?"

"Yeah! That is what I do!" She is clutching her stomach in laughter.

"Well, everyone knows I am not a bad daughter like you."

Silence. That is the only thing I can hear. She has definitely stopped laughing now.

Talia suddenly gets up making me gasp. Behind her tight expression are unshed tears. I can tell. "I am not the bad daughter in this scenario, Zara. She is the bad mother who doesn't deserve a daughter like me." And she walks away, not sparing me a glance. Guess I don't deserve it after the way I hurt her. Damn blatant rudeness!

****

The first thing I think as I put the hot pan on the countertop is, the cupcakes aren't burned thank God! I put the smallest peace in my mouth, to know the taste and feel a lingering presence behind me.

"Might as well call them 'I-am-sorry-cupcakes'. We both make them when we want to apologize." I say as my feel my mom creeping behind me. She takes a step closer to me and snags a cupcake.

"Sure. But you know we do that because we are bad at-"

"-apologizing? Yeah, I know. At least, we try Mom." I say, remembering my afternoon tryst with Talia. "But Mom as long as we communicate, I don't mind us fighting. And apologizing." I put up a cupcake to prove my point. If my talk with Talia has taught me anything today, that is, if I don't not want my relationship with my mom to crumble, I have to communicate. No secrets. Unlike what Talia does.

She gives me a sardonic smile. "You know I had changed my decision since I realized I was biased. But your behavior makes me think you deserve it." I raise my eyebrow in question. "You can go on the date. Nathaniel is a great guy. He's grades-"

"What about his grades? Did you stalk him?"

"No, I called your principal."

What? My mom called my principal to know about my apparent date? Wow. Just wow. But instead of lecturing her about being Piper's Mom, I hug her. Communication people. No matter what absurd things she does or how disciplined she is, she is still my mother and I love her. Especially when she is lenient like this. 

A/N: Folks! I just finished my Economics exam! It was a smash! I wrote this out like the day before yesterday because I was bored of reading biology. I mean, who wants to know about the sex life of plants?

So, tell me. What did you think of Zara's relationship with her Mom?

And a certain someone (areebahafzal) wanted more of Talia. So, what do you think of her as a teenager?

Ig I'll keep this one short since this really isn't an actual update (ik, its rlly small.) so next up is Chapter 11 on Saturday so buckle up your seats!!