Page 21 of Only With You

My head and heart pound hard as I finally will myself to climb out of my Rover. I’ve been holding off on talking to them, but I know I shouldn’t do that anymore.

I’ll take accountability for what I did and tell them I’ll move out. I’ll be breaking the lease, but it’s better than making things miserable for everyone.

I shouldn’t, but I’m playing every worst-case scenario in my head, wondering if this will be a Sienna-level case or they’ll hear me out.

Gabby is sitting on the couch when I step inside, holding her iPad up. When our eyes connect, the smile on her face cracks wider.

Toeing off my shoes, I cautiously approach her and return the smile but gauge her expression for the inevitable facade to fade, but there’s nothing but genuine happiness.

“Dame un segundo, Mamá.”Gabby sets her iPad on her lap, motions me to come closer, and pats the spot next to her. “I’m so glad you’re here. I want you to meet my mom.”

I stagger, staring at her, confused and wary. I’d already made up my mind and kept my expectations low, but this…this isn’t what I expected.

Hesitantly, I set my bags on the floor next to the coffee table and take a seat next to her. Gabby picks up the iPad and holds itup so that we both fit in the screen. On the other side, an older woman sits with the same friendly smile Gabby is sporting.

“Juls, this is my mom, Rocío.Mamá, esta es Julianna.” She introduces us.

“¡Hola!” She excitedly waves. “Me da mucho gusto por fin poder conocerte. Mi Gabby habla mucho de ti.”

I smile despite not having a single clue what she just said. I may have taken two semesters of Spanish, but only a few words stuck.

“She said she’s happy to finally meet you. My Gabby talks a lot about you.” She translates.

“It’s good to meet you. She talks so much about you too,” I happily tell her and Gabby translates for me.

I may not be here a lot, but the little I’ve been around, Gabby’s either talking about her mom and dad or to them.

Nothing good comes out of being jealous of others, but this is the one thing I genuinely envy and I hate it. I’m happy she and her mom have an amazing relationship, but I wonder what that must be like.

Being able to call your mom just because. Talking to her without feeling like a burden…

I snap out of it when I hear, “Adiós, Mamá,” and Gabby waves at the screen before it goes to the FaceTime call log.

“I’m sorry. I hope you didn’t do that cause I’m here. I can leave so you?—”

She waves her hand dismissively. “No, don’t worry about it. I’ve been talking to her for almost two hours, and Dad will probably call later.”

I can’t remember the last time I spoke to Mom on the phone for more than five minutes.

“Will your parents be coming to Family Weekend next month?”

NCU has their annual Family Weekend at the beginning of October every year. My parents only came my freshman year, and already told me they can’t make it this year.

As much as it pains me not having them come, I’m also glad they’re not because it brings me nothing but crippling anxiety.

“No, she’s in Mexico, so she really can’t come.”

“Are you parents on vacation?”

Her beaming smile softens. “No, sorry, I should have specified, but they live there.”

I stare at her, confused. From what I remember, she’s from Montana and has lived there almost all her life. I know she said that Jagger and Landon got scholarships to play basketball here. And Polly got some scholarships, and Gabby was going to have to pay out-of-state tuition so she decided to follow them.

“I don’t think I ever told you, but I have DACA—Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.”

I try to think if I’ve heard that somewhere, but nothing comes to mind. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what that is.”

“I’m not a US citizen, so DACA allows me to legally stay here, but I can’t leave the country, not unless I don’t want to come back. I mean, I can come back, but it’s a process. A very expensive and lengthy process,” she explains and brightens as Polly steps out of her room into the living room with the stack of menus. “We can talk about it later, if you’d like.”

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