"Have you been eating properly?" My mum queried as I sat down in the diner booth across from her. 

She was scrutinising my body, checking for signs of god knows what. Malnourishment or substance abuse, possibly? With her wild conclusions, she'd probably think that the bruises from training were actually crime or abuse related.

"I've been eating better than I was at home, actually. I cook all of my meals now." I boasted, feeling pretty put together for once. 

"Where have you been staying?" She frowned, "I thought you'd come sulking back home after a few nights on your friend's sofas." 

"Xavier's house." 

That was enough to put a scowl on her face. I knew that she wouldn't be happy about that, but I wasn't going to lie to her. Not to mention, I wasn't planning on breaking up with Xavier, so she was going to have to get used to him being in my life. 

"The drug dealer rents his own house?" My mum sneered, not bothering to keep her voice down.

"He's not a drug dealer!" I hissed, "He actually just inherited his father's very successful business and he has a degree, so he owns his own house actually." 

"He's too old for you." She shook her head, "Isn't he like twenty one?"

"He's only three years older!" I gawked incredulously, "You're just trying to find absolutely anything wrong with him, so that you can dismiss him totally." 

"When are you moving home, Cameron?" 

That question hung in the air slightly too long for my mother's liking. Her expression slowly soured as she realised I was hesitating on that question, realising that I wasn't going to jump at the chance to live under the same roof as her again. I didn't know what to say, exactly. To make matters worse, Xavier chose that moment to walk into the diner.

"Sorry, trying to find a parking spot was a nightmare." Xavier explained, slipping in beside me. 

"He came?" My mum sighed, "I asked to see you, not him."

"Lovely to see you again, too." Xavier grumbled, "I told you this wasn't a good idea, Cam."

"I'll ask again, Cameron. When are you moving home?" My mother ignored Xavier's comments, staring straight at me with a rather threatening look. 

"Mum, I know this is upsetting, but I don't want to move home." The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

I hadn't asked Xavier whether it was okay with him and I probably should have done that first, but something tells me that he would be fine with this decision. One moment I was unsure about whether I should move home or not and the next I was so sure. The second I saw Xavier walk through those diner doors, I just knew that I couldn't be apart from him every night. Not to mention, he had promised to help me sleep every night. 

Xavier looked at me with a somewhat surprised, but mostly gleeful expression, which melted my heart; I take it he's okay with me living with him permanently, then. The less said about my mother's expression the better. 

"So, that's it? You know a guy for all of two minutes and suddenly you're moving in together? Don't you think you're being a bit rash." My mum chided, still avoiding looking at Xavier.

"I'm an adult, eighteen, and it's not like you gave me much choice..." I trailed off, at a loss on what I was supposed to say.

"He put you in the hospital! How do you trust him?" Mum was flabbergasted by my actions, which irked me a little. 

"I've told you so many times that it wasn't his fault! Me being in hospital was completely my own doing and if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have recovered so quickly." I hissed, settling a glare on her as well now.

Under the table, Xavier took my hand to try and calm me down, shooting me a look. Deep down, I knew I was being a bit too harsh on her, but I felt defensive of my mate. She was being so stubborn, refusing to listen to me. 

"Whatever happens, I promise you that I care for Cameron deeply and that I'd do anything to protect him, forever." Xavier's words were so sincere that my mother actually looked at him, scanning his face for even a hint of insincerity. 

"You seem awfully serious about each other, how long has this been going on?" Mum seemed calm finally, which was a relief- something Xavier said had seemed to have worked.

"We met a few months ago." I answered truthfully, knowing that she would freak out.

"Oh, that's just perfect! Moving in with a guy you barely know and acting as if you'll be together forever when in reality you'll break up in a few weeks and you'll come crying to me, hooked on some kind of drug and with a criminal record." 

I simply blinked at my mother after that. She sounded absolutely insane.

My mother could be irrational at times, but she was acting downright insane in this moment. I couldn't wrap my head around why she was acting like this and what it was about Xavier that wound her up so bad. 

Was she homophobic? 

I didn't think she was, considering I had a lesbian cousin who she loved to pieces, but why else would she be acting like this? I kept quiet, thinking about this, but then it dawned on me. The realisation washed over me like a wave crashing on a seawall, providing clarity for my mother's actions.

"This is about Dad isn't it?" I sighed, reaching across the table and taking her hand. 

The action was supposed to be comforting, but she flinched away from my touch at the mention of my father. Xavier seemed beyond confused about what was happening, but I could tell he understood that it was a touchy subject. 

"I just don't want to see you making the same mistakes that I made." Her voice cracked as she forced the words out, so I slid out of the booth and hugged her tight. 

She never liked to talk about Dad, but I knew that what happened hurt her more than she let on. She had never recovered from it, despite it happening so long ago that it seemed like a distant memory for me. I knew that she had never recovered, because she hadn't even looked at a man since. 

I held her until she finally calmed down enough to talk, feeling a bit bad that Xavier had to sit there awkwardly, clueless as to what the hell was going on. If I were in his position, I would want nothing more than to just leave. 

"Mum, it's not like I can get pregnant." I attempted a joke, trying to cheer her up.

"It's not just the pregnancy." She shook her head, "I fell head over heels for your father so young and I abandoned everything and everyone for him: family, friends... Nobody approved, but I followed him like a love-struck idiot." 

"You were young, you can't blame yourself for making a mistake." I comforted her, "I know it's hard to believe, but I promise Xavier and I are different." 

"It sounds cliché, but it's true." Xavier piped up, "I don't know what happened with his father, but Cameron and I have been taking it slow and with your permission, I'd love to get to know you better. I think it's important for you and Cameron to stay close, even if he's not living at home. It's not like we're moving out of town." 

That seemed to reassure my mother and she nodded silently, shaking Xavier's extended hand reluctantly. It wasn't exactly warm, but it was a start. 

"Cameron's father was fifteen years older than me. My parents didn't approve, so I ran off with him. Within three months of knowing each other, I was alone and pregnant. He was the only person I could turn to and eventually he left too." 

I was surprised she opened up to Xavier like that, but it could only be a good sign. My dad left when I was only a few years old, so I have no memories of him other than photos and memories of my mum crying late at night in her room. I never met my grandparents, so it's always just been Mum and me. I suppose that's why she finds it so hard to see me move in with a partner. 

"I'm not going anywhere." I promised, squeezing her hand. 

She sent me a small smile, appreciating the reassurance. I had come into this diner expecting today to be a shit show, so this was terrific in comparison. Xavier and I had actually made headway with my mother and now I could finally live at Xavier's guilt free. 

"How is school going?" Mum switched to a more lighthearted topic, wiping away at her watery eyes to compose herself. 

"It's great actually. Xavier can vouch for me, I've been going everyday- on time, too. My grades have gone up to C's!" 

"I can't remember the last time you were getting C's." My mum seemed genuinely impressed.

To some people, C's may seem like nothing, but I haven't cared this much about my education... Ever. School was always something that was forced on me, rather than something I actually wanted to do. Now that I had taken things into my own hands, I was choosing to go in order to make something of myself. I wanted to be somebody for the pack.

"He cooks, too." Xavier beamed, "Not junk, but actual meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day for himself- dinner for me as well." 

"I told her that before you got here, but I also learnt how to wash clothes." I boasted, feeling accomplished. 

"That's fantastic, Cam..." Mum trailed off, "I'm sorry I was so quick to judge you, Xavier. It appears that I was wrong to do so."

My mouth dropped open at that. My mother was apologising and admitting that she was wrong? That was a first. In my entire lifetime, I don't think I had ever heard her say something like that. Monumentous. 

"I appreciate it, but I don't blame you for judging me. If I had child, I would be just as suspicious if my child was admitted to the hospital like that. I'm just glad you finally believe that I wouldn't hurt Cameron like that." Xavier's response was very mature, so I sent him a small 'thank you' smile. 

"Well, you're both welcome at the house any time." Mum seemed emotionally tired after opening the can of worms that is my father, but also relieved that we had sorted this argument. 

Xavier was about to respond when he received a phone call. The ringtone cut through the conversation, making me jump at the loud noise. I bit my lip, knowing that this couldn't be good- Xavier's face only confirmed my fears. If Noah was ringing him, then there was a situation at the pack. 

"What's wrong?" Xavier answered immediately, slipping gout of the booth already. 

I couldn't hear whatever was said on the other end of the phone, but Xavier's expression hardened and that told me everything I needed to know. I slipped out of the booth too, collecting our possessions from the diner table and downing the rest of my drink. 

"What's going on?" Mum frowned, concern painted onto her face. 

"I'm really sorry, but there's an emergency at work. I really don't want to rush off like this, but they need me there." Xavier rushed out an explanation, taking his car key from me. 

"Why do they need Cameron" Mum furrowed her brows, which was a good point.

"He's been working for me part time, alongside his studies. He'll tell you more soon." Xavier was quick with an excuse, waving goodbye to her as he hurried out of the diner.

I gave her a rushed side hug before following him, practically jogging into the car park and jumping into the car. As bad as I felt about it, an emergency at the pack trumps casual conversation with my mum. With everything going on at the moment, this could be big. It's been at least three weeks since Jude's last appearance, so we'd been expecting him.