"Brianna Louise Davis, get back here this minute,” Mom shouts from the living room. Ignoring her, I take the stairs two at a time, run into my bedroom and slam the door. Then I collapse on my bed, face-down, and wish I was dead.

Not only is my life spiraling out of control, but now Mom is mad at me. She’s never used my full name before or been this upset with me. Sure, we fight when my room is a mess, which it almost always is, but I always end up cleaning it … eventually. There are also the times when I throw away whatever unhealthy snack Mom tried to sneak into the house, but I do that for her own good. If I didn’t, she’d still weigh over two hundred pounds … and then we probably wouldn’t be in this mess.

“Brianna?” Mom shouts again and I hear her coming up the stairs.

I can’t believe this is happening to me. Ever since we moved here two years ago, I’ve managed to blend in so everyone at school would pretty much ignore me. I read tons of stuff on the Internet on how to do it – how not to get noticed – and it’s been working just fine. Until now. Mom just had to go and screw it all up.

“Go away,” I moan into my pillow. My voice is muffled and I’m pretty sure she can’t hear what I’m saying but somehow it makes me feel better.

“Brianna? Can we talk?” Mom asks and I hear the doorknob turn.

“No,” I whine. My life is ruined and it’s all her fault.

Thirty minutes ago, life was close to perfect. School was boring, as usual, which is actually just how I like it. We had a math test, but mom helped me study all week, so I did okay. In history, Mr. Suarez was extra boring and managed to make five people fall asleep, a new record. Tina and I spent class texting about a book we’re both reading, so it wasn’t too bad. The other classes were all fine and at lunch Tina and I both read our books. We usually do that since Tina doesn’t talk around the other kids. Until after school, texting and reading is our thing.

“Honey,” Mom walks into my room and sighs. She takes a seat on the bed next to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “I know this has all taken you by surprise, but try to understand. I love David.”

That would be David Chuang. Mom met him when she was getting coffee one morning before work. He walked her to her office, asked her out, and they’ve been dating ever since.

 David was in our living room earlier, when I got home from school, sitting on the couch next to Mom.

“Come sit down, honey,” Mom told me, gesturing to the other couch.

“Mom?” I asked nervously. “Is something wrong?”

“Your mother has something to tell you,” David spoke up when mom didn’t say anything. My head instantly filled with possibilities, and none of them good ones. I worried mom might be sick or that she got a new job and we’d have to move again. What mom ended up telling me never even crossed my mind.

I look over at mom now and wonder how she could make such a huge decision without talking to me first. Doesn’t she care how this will affect me? How this will ruin my life?

“You’ve only known him for two months,” I throw at her. Mom and David can’t possibly be ready to get married. If I Google how long two people should date before getting married, I know it would say years, not months.

“I know sweetie, but we’re in love,” Mom squeezes my hand. “That doesn’t change how I feel about your father, you know that, right Bree? I’ll always love him.”

“I know.” I feel a wave of sadness squeeze her hand back. Mom’s missed Dad for as long as I can remember. Maybe it’s affecting her decision with David.

I get up and grab my laptop off my desk. “We should look this up,” I tell mom, and settle in on the bed next to her.

“Look what up?” Mom asks in surprise.

“Hold on,” I tell her and flip the laptop open. Mom gives me a curious look but waits patiently as I run my search. “It says right here,” I tell her when I find what I’m looking for, “that it takes an average of a year and a half to know that what you feel is love, not infatuation.” I turn the screen to face her.

“Honey, I think it’s really sweet that you’re worried about me,” Mom tells me, gently taking away my laptop and closing it, “but life is short. I should know. I thought I’d have forever with your dad, and I took what we had for granted … and then he was just gone.”

“Mom, I know you miss dad but rushing into things with David –”

“David and I have something special, Bree,” Mom interrupts.

“Look, Mom, I want you to be happy, I really do, but David?” I moan.

“What’s wrong with David? I thought you liked him, honey,” Mom asks, looking hurt.

“He’s okay.” I sigh. I really don’t mind David that much. He’s actually kind of cool. Mom’s been so much happier since she met him and that’s all that should really matter. He’s brought her flowers and chocolates, taken her out on dates, and he’s been around the house a lot too.

He watches movies with us, and a few times we all sat in the living room reading our books, which was really nice. Mom goes over to his place too, to get to know his son Eric, but I’ve always refused to come with her.

“David’s not the problem,” I blurt out. “It’s Eric.”

“Eric?” Mom asks in surprise. “I thought you said you didn’t know Eric.”

“I don’t.” I sight again. “I just … he’s really popular, and ….”

“Oh, honey,” Mom gives me a big hug. “I thought things were better.”

“They are.” I tell her truthfully. No one’s said a single mean thing to me this entire year, or last year neither. Okay, they haven’t said anything nice either, or anything at all really, but I’m not complaining. So long as everyone ignores me, and I ignore the, we can all just happily coexist. I just haven’t been able to explain it to Mom in a way she’d understand. She always just tells me the kids here are different and I should give them a chance.

“Did something happen?” Mom probes.

“No, Mom. Nothing happened. Things are great. Really.”

“Good. You know you can tell me anything, right?”

“I know, Mom. Look, all I’m saying is … what’s the rush? With David, I mean,” I try arguing. “Things have been going well, right? Why can’t you guys just keep dating? Maybe until I finish high school?” I ask hopefully.

“David doesn’t want to wait any more and neither do I,” Mom tells me.

“Why not?” I groan.

“He lost his wife to cancer six years ago,” Mom tells me, and I feel bad for David and Eric, too, I guess. “We both thought we’d never love again.” She smiles sadly. “Then we found each other. We just want to savour every moment we have together.”

Mom looks so hopeful that I know I can’t stand in their way. I love my mom and if marrying David is what it’ll take for her to be happy, then I want her to do it. Mom’s done so much for me and I know I can’t be selfish and not do the same for her.

Two years ago, Mom had the perfect job in Winnipeg. She loved going to work and she had great friends too. I was the one who was miserable. I couldn’t bear to go to school, kept begging her to move, and then she did. To another province, a worse-paying job she doesn’t love as much, and a place where she didn’t know anyone. A fresh start because I needed one.

If it hadn’t been for this move, I’d still be living in hell and there is absolutely no way things here will get that bad!  

It’ll probably take Mom and David the school year to plan the wedding, and if I can just stay out of Eric’s way until then, it’ll get me through Grade 11. I’ll have plenty of time to worry about and plan for next year later.

“I just want you to be happy, Mom,” I tell her, meaning every word. “If that means you marrying David, then that’s what you should do.”

“You’re sure you’re okay with this?” Mom asks me nervously.

“Yes, Mom. I’m happy for you,” I tell her.

Mom starts laughing and crying all at the same time and gives me a huge hug. “I should go help David with dinner,” she finally tells me. “Eric is coming over tonight so we can all get to know each other. Don’t worry honey,” Mom tells me when she sees my panicked look, “everything’s going to be great. I just know it.”