No Strings Attached

Chapter 13: The Boy in The Closet

"What about Rock N' Roll?" Mom pointed out. "I remember Prince and Jimi Hendrix played in a rock band."

Aria cringed. "Yeah, but Rock doesn't serve a purpose: they scream at microphones and crowds love them for some reason."

Smoothing her straight brown hair, Mom pouted, "90s are the truth, Aria. They talk about social issues, relationship, and community."

"Like The Roots for instance, " Dad explained, tapping his impatient hands against the steering wheel.

"They talk about the struggles of being in a black community through poetic words. I used to listen to their music, but now I can't remember the words."

Smirking, I said to Dad: "I still can't believe you were in a band with them."

Dad grinned, focusing on the road.  "Of course, I have. How do you think your mom is into me?"

Mom leaned over to Dad's right ear then giggled, "I know how."

Aria burst out laughing, while I let out a groan.

"Seriously guys?" I ask. "In the car?"

Mom and Dad chuckled softly.

"What?" Mom asked me. "Did we do anything wrong?"

"Nope, just making me hurl." I snort. 

"Coming from the girl who is in love with a certain someone, " says Aria in a sing-song voice.

"Aria, shut up, " I whisper in a flustered tone.

But much to my embarrassment, both of my parents heard Aria.

"Aw, you have a crush?" Mom inquired in a sweet voice. "That's so romantic!"

"Mom!" I wailed, covering my eyes.

Dad tries to calm me down.

"Nadine, it's okay to have crushes on boys," he says. "Just as long as he's not white."

"David!" Mom exclaimed. "Racist, much?"

Then turning her head towards me, she sighs:
"Sweetie, falling in love is a good thing. When I was your age, I met your father at one of his concerts."

"Did you fall for him immediately?" Aria questioned.

Mom shakes her head. "Not at first. When I met Nadine's father, I thought he was a hypocrite."

She paused then gave Dad a kind-hearted look.

"But the second he looked at me with those big brown eyes, " Mom began. "I fell in love with him."

"Three months later, Nadine's father became my boyfriend...then later, my husband."

After saying those words, Mom kissed Dad on his left cheek.

"I love you, baby," she says sweetly.

A smile appeared on Dad's lips. "And I love you, sweetheart."

They kissed again, making Aria swoon a little.

"Aw, " she crooned. "Aren't you the cutest couple?"

Meanwhile, a small groan came from my lips.

"Can't you two crazy kids find some privacy elsewhere?" I ask, feeling a little annoyed.

As their lips separated, Mom gave me a thoughtful look.

"Nadine, kissing is an expression couples perform in everyday life." she insisted.

"No, it's not." I frown. "It's gross."

Aria nudged my shoulder a little. "Deep down, I think Nadine wants to kiss a special someone."