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Beth prided herself on being observant. She noticed things that others didn’t and was usually able to tell what others might end up doing based on their previous actions. Of course, she realized recently, that she was selectively observant when it came to her parents.
She hadn’t seen them slowly try and put space between them and her but she hadn’t noticed the space that had started to form between them. It was only after they told her that they decided that they weren’t going through with a divorce that she realized that they had been distant from each other longer than she had realized.
The point is, is that Beth usually knew when people were paying attention to her or when her actions would be noticed. That was why after Rick left her house late at night after a nice dinner with her and her parents for the fourth night in a row she was surprised to see her parents come into her room. Her guard immediately went up when she saw her mom trying to hide a smile and her dad hiding his hands in pockets with his eyes darting around the room, looking anywhere but at her. She immediately knew this was going to be a conversation that she wasn’t going to enjoy.
“So,” her mother started as soon as Beth closed her book and set it on her nightstand. “This was the fourth night Rick has been over just this week and it’s only Thursday.”
Beth looked between her parents and furrowed her eyebrows. She hadn’t thought her parents minded Rock being here. Every time he came over he joked with her parents and helped clean up after eating. He even listened to her mother ramble on about thoracic surgery with interest.
“I didn’t think it was a problem,” Beth said quietly. She would invite Rick over every day if she could but she knew that was probably pushing it. “I don’t have to invite him over so much if you guys don’t want me to.”
“Oh, it’s not that sweetheart.” Her dad jumped in quickly. Her mother nodded to what her husband was saying. “We like Rick plenty it’s just that we notice none of your other friends have really come over like he has.”
“Jennie came over last Saturday.” Beth pointed out. “We made breakfast and played games like all day.”
“True,” her dad said and looked over at her mom, clearly not sure how to continue.
“It’s just that when Rick isn’t here you’re usually out somewhere with him.” Her mother said calmly, “I think what your father and I are trying to ask is, is there something going on between you and Rick?”
She hadn’t seen that coming. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire and she had to look away. It didn’t help that the first thing her eyes landed on was a picture that Courtney took of her a Rick at the county fair two weeks ago.
Of course, there was nothing between her and Rick. Even if she wanted there to be, they were just friends. Maybe she had a minor crush on him in freshmen year that grew the next year and maybe during the Summer where they were literally battling a demon she might have realized her crush never went anywhere but only intensified. None of that mattered though, because Rick was her best friend and that’s what he saw her as.
“Why would something be going on between me and Rick? We’re best friends.” Beth said and she hoped that the disappointment didn’t show in her voice.
Her parents shared another look that made Beth want to scream into a pillow before her dad said, “are you sure? Because we wouldn’t have a problem with it if there was something. Rick is a nice boy and we know how much he cares about you just by the way he looks at you.”
That gave Beth a pause. The way he looked at her? Could her parents be imagining it or was it possible that Rick might actually have similar feelings for her too?
“Like I said, we’re just friends,” Beth said finally, with resignation in her voice.
“You do like him though?” Her mom asked.
For one second Beth wished her parents could go back to how they were before they learned she was a superhero. There’s no way they would have caught the looks she threw Rick way or the smiles that were only for him, a month ago.
She regretted the moment she thought it. She was happy that her parents put more effort into showing up for her now. Even if it was a bit too much sometimes. It’s what she had wanted but she didn’t think that in any universe her parents would come into her room and tell her they knew about her feelings for her best friend.
“I don’t see how that matters,” Beth said not meeting either of their eyes but still looking at the picture of her and Rick on her nightstand. One of his arms was around her while his other arm held a giant stuffed rabbit that he had insisted he could win for her. Beth was smiling at the camera while Rick was caught mid-laugh. “Even if I did like him like that he doesn’t like me any more than a friend.”
Beth was sure there was another shared glance while she wasn’t looking because she felt her dad place a reassuring hand on her shoulder before walking out of her room, leaving her with just her mom. She sat down next to Beth on her bed and grabbed ahold of the framed photo.
“Beth, I love you, you know that,” she started, “but you’d have to be blind not to see that that boy is on cloud nine whenever he’s around you.”
Beth only sighed and finally looked at her mom. She looked sincere and honest and she wanted to believe her but Beth knew her own past well enough. Every time she liked someone it always disappointed her. Not that she ever liked anyone romantically before but all throughout school when she thought someone might like to be her friend she was let down and now that the stakes were raised with Rick she didn’t want to lose him by telling him how she felt about him.
“I just… I don’t want to lose him, mom.” Beth said, her voice small and she could feel tears start to form in her eyes.
Her mom wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pressed her cheek into her hair. Beth closed her eyes and basked in the comfort her mom was providing.
“You won’t, Beth.” She handed the photo back to her and continued, “I’m pretty sure he feels the same way you do but there isn’t any rush. You could tell him tomorrow and dinner or you could tell him next month but trust me, you’ll feel better once it’s out there.”
They were both silent for a moment. Beth let her mom’s words soak in and her mom gave her time to process what she said. When Beth finally nodded her mom stood from the bed and headed to the door.
“I’m glad we could talk about this,” her mom said as she made to leave.
Beth didn’t know if she was going to tell Rick immediately but it was nice to get her feelings out in the open. She had a feeling Yolanda and Courtney already knew but she couldn’t talk to them about this. It would eventually find its way back to Rick before she was ready.
Just as she came to the conclusion that she would tell Rick the next time she saw him her mom’s words finally hit her. She heard her at the top of the stairs as she shouted from her room, “did you say that Rick is gonna be here for dinner tomorrow?”
Her mom’s laugh filled the hall before she said, “I told him that I’d teach him how to make lasagna when he was helping me with the dishes today.”
Beth rolled her eyes and fell back onto her pillows. She had no idea when her parents became so meddlesome but with Rick coming over tomorrow she resolved that she would tell him then. Better sooner than later.