[Felcia's pov]
'He kissed me!' A goofy smile spread across my face when I remembered his warm lips pecking my face. He unfortunately didn't go for my lips, but in due time!
"He's a looker, and he's honest! You picked up a good one."
Mom's words brought me back to the reality I was currently facing. I didn't know what to say to her. There was so much about him that I wanted to talk about, but I was more worried about the fact that she knew my secret.
"Hah~, did you really think I wouldn't notice? Your father… well, the more time I spent thinking about your dad and how some things just stopped after he vanished, with them suddenly resuming despite him not being here. It wasn't hard to piece it together that he taught you something, or you learned them trying to copy whatever it was he did."
"But, I thought I hid my tracks perfectly."
"Perfectly? Pfft~. Maybe against someone else, but definitely not me. You're my daughter, there's no way you could fool me."
Mom's laughter echoed throughout the room. Her words made complete sense. If she couldn't read me, then who could? Even if she was busy with work all the damn time, she was still my mom.
I couldn't help but ask what's been killing me, now that I knew my getaways weren't hidden. "You haven't been curious as to what I was doing?"
"No. I trust you not to do anything too crazy. Now with Julius in the picture, I trust him to keep you in line. He went straight to the truth, and do you know why he did that?"
"Because he likes me?" I tilted my head as I answered with the first answer that came to mind.
"Not exactly wrong, but it's clear he wants me to trust him with you. As for what, it could be because he likes you or because he wants to keep the option open in case his feelings develop further. He doesn't seem to know how to act with you just yet. My guess is he's been pushing to see how you'll react."
Mom's deduction probably wasn't far off. Her display reminded me of how scary she was. This was her out-of-work mode, too! I was starting to feel sorry for the people she dealt with when she was in work mode.
She was truly a scary woman.
"You're something else, mom."
"I wouldn't be one of the best if I couldn't handle such a low-level situation!"
"Hehe~" I laughed a bit. "Then, Mom. I have to tell you that I've been sneaking out to practice what father taught me behind your back."
"Oh? Behind my back?" Her green eyes-ones that I inherited, mine a deeper shade- sharpened. The pressure coming from them made me flinch. Yeah, I had powers, but somehow she still put fear in me.
"I-I won't say more than that."
She rolled her eyes, "whatever. Just promise to be safe and don't… if possible, don't join Julius in his goal. Support him, but I really don't think I can handle that stress."
"I can't promise anything. He and I think somewhat the same."
Mom sighed, "That's not what I wanted to hear, but what can I do?"
"I-I was expecting you to ground me or tell me to stop."
Mom scoffed, "Originally, I was. But when I saw you look so happy with him, and I could clearly see he knew already, I thought it would be wrong of me. Maybe if he were a scum or didn't tell me anything, I may have still grounded your ass."
"Language!"
"Language? Girl, this is my house." She side-eyed me like I was an idiot.
"Touché…"
"Now go on. I'm sure you're itching to do whatever it is you do."
"Actually." I sat down next to her. A loose strand of hair falling in front of my face, making me push it back behind my ear. "Can I ask for some advice?"
"Advice? This is a first."
"Ugh, don't make this harder for me," I groaned.
"Just spit it out."
"I..." what I wanted to say wasn't my business to tell, but I had to. "H-He doesn't have any family, you know? Earlier, he said he had a cousin, but I knew he was lying. He's all alone, and who knows how long that's been the case. He cried earlier when his parents got mentioned, and you should have seen him! His eyes looked so hollow."
"You're telling me a kid has been without any parental figure for who knows how long?" Mom had the same reaction as me when I found out. Her eyes were full of pity; she didn't say what she was thinking, but I could tell her mind was racing.
"I'm not sure what happened, but yes. I wish I just knew how long he's been dealing with it."
"It's possible he awakened his powers there. I've heard something about an X-gene or something that those mutants have." She was thinking analytically about it. It really irked me that she was thinking like that, especially given how important this was.
"That's not what's important!"
"I know. I know. But the answer is too simple dear. Just be there for him. Whatever you were thinking definitely won't make up for what he's lost, so be a good friend- pfft. Who are we kidding? Be a good girlfriend, will you?"
"M-Mom!?" I pinched her arm in retaliation for her constant teasing.
"At least you still act like a normal teenager." Mom flicked on the TV and put our conversation to rest. The rest of the night was long, but I will admit my chest felt lighter.
'I should check on him later.'
Walking back upstairs, Mom's words echoed from the couch.
"Be safe out there."
I almost tripped over my feet. Her knowing and being so open to what I do was too strange. There was no way I was going to get used to this.