Eliza kicked her feet back and forth as she sat in the stool in the kitchen. The sky outside was a tumbling iron grey and the news predicted an inch of snow or more. The apartment was toasty with the heat turned up to blast and empty coffee mugs growing stained between them.

Eliza smiled dopily at Mickey as she sat across from her in nothing but a thick cotton button-up and nothing else.

“So,” Mickey slapped her hands on the counter. Eliza watched her as if waiting for a sermon from an apostle himself. “How about some role play?”

A sizzle of energy went straight through Eliza. “What type?” She blinked a couple times. They had spent the first two days of winter break not leaving the bed very much. Or couch. Or the kitchen counter earlier that morning.

Eliza would probably have a few bruises on her back to show for it.

Mickey gave her a frank look. “Aren’t you going to lunch with your parents today?”

“Oh.” Eliza forcibly yanked her mind from the gutter. “Right. Yeah, almost forgot.”

Mickey snorted. “Unless you want to start exploring a bit . . . ” She winked. “But not today. I have that doctor's appointment my mom is taking me to.” She shook her head with a sigh, “She’s convinced I’m getting like, Super HPV at college or something so we’re getting all the STD tests available.”

“Isn’t that good?” Eliza hummed and then sat up straight. She whispered, “Wait, you don’t have HPV, do you?” Being fucked on the counter an hour ago suddenly took on a different light.

Mickey laughed roughly. “Not that I know of!” She leaned forward. “Unless you’ve got it or like a bad case of crabs or something. Should I be worried?”

“Mickey.”

“Just, like, enormous mutant invisible crabs you’ve been spreading to me. For shame Eliza.”

“Mickey!” She humphed. “There’s absolutely nothing I can give you.”

“Right, right,” a sparkle entered her eyes. “Because you were a cute little virgin before we met.”

Eliza narrowed her eyes. “Mostly a virgin. I’ve messed around before.”

“A beautiful, pretty little virgin.” Mickey teased. “But don’t worry,” she put her hands together up as if in prayer. “I’ve taken care of that now.”

“Ugh,” Eliza groaned. “You’re enjoying that too much.”

“Maybe a little.” She snickered. “But let's switch over to preparing you for something else. And I won’t even have to get a wrist cramp for this type.”

Eliza rolled her eyes. “I want a divorce.”

“Honey, you have to come out to your parents first before my lawyers sweep you clean of all your good China.”

Eliza folded her arms over her chest, but couldn’t help the zing of electricity that went through her at the mention of any kind of nuptials. “Fine, fine.” She sighed, “What kind of role play?”

“I’ll be your daddy.”

“You’re not helping!” She tried to cover her face.

“Kidding, kidding,” Mickey put her hands up. “I’ll be both of them.”

Eliza made a face at her, “Don’t make a joke about being able to handle both them, wink, wink and all that.”

“No way, I am being totally serious.” She cleared her throat, “Now, Eliza, dear, honey bunches, light of our world, espresso bean of our coffee,” Eliza laughed.

“Espresso bean?” She murmured under her breath.

“What’s on your mind?” Mickey sat up straight in mock-parenting.

“Uhhh,” Eliza’s mind went blank. It wasn’t that she hadn’t imagined coming out to her parents in the past, but it was always a distant far-off goal that never really seemed to draw any closer. Until now. “Gay?” She offered weakly.

“Gays, yes,” Mickey harrumphed and lowered her voice an octave, “They have rights now, haven’t you heard? Very unsightly. I’ve been forced to sell your other sister to the Pink Mafia in order to make rent.”

“The Pink Mafia?” Eliza raised an eyebrow. “You’re selling my sister to what, like, One Direction?”

Mickey laughed. “Unsightly!” She returned to her silly gentleman’s voice. “Poor dear, Other Eliza.”

“My sister has my same name?”

“Yes. We could only afford one name after the Gay Agenda took over,” Mickey swooned dramatically. “We were supposed to name you Marlon Brando Jr. or Lady Gaga’s Left Nipple Pastie, but I wouldn’t have it! No child of mine would wear glitter outside of a disco.”

Eliza covered her mouth to laugh. “So you really have met my parents.”

Mickey grinned widely. “Not yet.”

Eliza’s heart skipped a beat. “Well,” she turned away. “Well I’m not sure if this is actually helping, Marlon Brando Senior.”

Mickey drew a deep breath. “Sorry, alright, we’ll do a serious one.” She cleared her throat again. “What’s been on your mind recently, daughter of ours?”

“Well, father-mother of mine,” Eliza said clearly. “I’m very worried about Other Eliza, and her predicament of being sold to a famous pop band.”

“Come on.” Mickey tapped the table, “what’s really on your mind?”

“Uuh,” Eliza searched Mickey’s face. She swallowed and continued anemically, “My girlfriend, has like, super crabs that I gave her?”

Mickey’s entire face fell as she murmured out loud. “Girlfriend?”

Eliza sat up straight as if kicked in the shins. “I mean,” she said quickly, “Girl that I’m dating.”

Mickey’s face softened all at once and the levity in the air was swallowed with a single flicker of light shining out. “She sounds like a jerk.” She looked up, slowly, carefully. “Your girlfriend that is.”

Eliza tilted her head to the side and suddenly they were being pulled together again like magnets from across the room. “She’s not so bad.”

“Mmm,” Mickey tilted her head to the side with a cocky grin. “She cute?”

“Kinda,” Eliza shrugged, “If you’re into hot girls who know it.”

“You like her?”

“More than she knows.” Eliza murmured and Mickey inhaled sharply.

“Then you have our blessings.” Mickey’s lips ghosted over hers with the barest of touches. “To let her take your clothes off and make you scream again.”

Eliza made a soft sound. “Out of character.” She chided before kissing Mickey on the mouth with a soft press of skin on skin.

“Hey,” Mickey cradled her face in her hands. “We should still go dancing.” She kissed Eliza’s cheek. “My friends with your friends.”

“Huh.” Eliza leaned back on her elbows. “So maybe we really will meet the family.”

“How about it?” Mickey stood up. “I’ll set it up after my doctor's appointment. Text my crew. Find some clubs in the city for this Friday.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.” She turned in place. “We’ll go dancing. Drink a little. See if we can get any of our friends to hook up,” she looked over her shoulder coyly. “And play a little.”

Despite herself, Eliza’s face scorched brightly at the dirty look on Mickey’s face. She got up and prowled closer to her. “What kind?”

Mickey swept around and grabbed Eliza around the waist. She pressed her toward the wall, “I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

“Nothing too spicy for little virgin me, I hope?” She breathed with a small simper.

“Sure, only saintly things of course." She huffed against her ear, “but I make no promises for after dark."

They were kissing again with the force of rivers rushing to meet the ocean and thunderstorms building into floods. She was biting her lip and finding a leg wedged between her thighs just as the doorbell rang.

“Marie!” A throaty voice called through the wood. “Marie, we’re gonna be late.”

“Oh.” Mickey jumped and looked down at her bare legs in a panic. “Oh God. Be right there, mom!”

The woman on the other side of the door scoffed. “I knew it. I texted you and everything,” She grumbled, “and you’re still not ready.”

Mickey hissed, “Can you distract her for a moment?”

Eliza just nodded. She at least was wearing pants. Her heart throbbed in her throat as she went robotically to the door. She tried to gathered herself together like dousing a campfire and gathering up the scattered strings of her thoughts all at once.

Focus! She internally pinched herself. You’re good at adults!

Eliza had met Mickey’s mom once on the first day Mickey moved in, but that had been a lifetime ago with a different girl with different hopes and dreams on her horizon. She barely remembered Mickey’s mom except for the voice.

“Hello, Ms. McKennie.” Eliza opened the door with a hundred-watt grin. She wished she had brushed her hair a little better after their morning activities. “How are you today?”

A stout woman stood in the doorway. She had Mickey’s dark eyes and heavy brow, but was slightly stockier and much more tanned than her daughter. She had a burnt orange quality to her saggy skin that hung off her bones like pinched loose tissue paper. Her hair was dyed a sunny stark blonde, and she had on a large knit sweater and a pair of stylish dark leggings under tall boots. She was attractive in a way of ladies in their forties who liked sparkly cowboy buckles and lipstick that matched their eye shadow.

She wore heavy makeup, hoop earrings, and had pursed thin lips. Her voice was the most striking thing about her since it was heavy with years of chain-smoking and gravelly. “Well, hello dear, it’s been a while.” She smiled nicely at Eliza. “I hope my daughter hasn’t caused too much stress for you this semester.”

“She’s been a dream.” Eliza said honestly.

Ms. McKennie adjusted the bright white bag on her shoulder. “I’ve heard you’ve been a good influence.” She tutted, “Lord knows that girl needs it. I’ve paid for more semesters than I care to count.” She coughed, “And the prices of that school just keep going up, can you believe it?”

“Well,” Eliza’s smile stretched and strained. “Only one more to go for both of us!”

“Yes, well, we’ll see about that for this one.” Ms. McKennie pointed loosely inside the apartment. “I still have graduation invitations piled up from the last time.” She shook her head. “Don’t have kids, dear. It’s bad for your bank account and your complexion.” She gave a laugh like a meat grinder and Eliza tried to join in, but couldn’t find it in her.

“Mickey has been a great roommate.” Eliza tried again. “She’s thoughtful and really fantastic in the kitchen.” Her heart hammered in her chest as if Ms. McKennie could read her mind. “A great cook I mean.”

“Oh honey,” She waved a hand through the air. “You don’t need to butter me up. We’ll be on time with our rent, no worries. My Marie at least has that job at the college.”

“Uh,” Eliza didn’t know what to say to that, job at the college? Luckily Mickey was rounding the corner fully dressed and with her hair combed and teeth brushed.

“There you are!” Ms. McKennie reached for her daughter with long blue nails with tiny snowflakes pressed on each one. “Do you know how far I had to drive this morning to get you? The least you could do is be ready.”

“Sorry mom, okay, I’m here aren’t I?” Mickey growled back and it was a different side of her then Eliza had seen before. Her face was sour and screwed up with a challenge written in every dark crevice of it. “Jesus.”

Eliza was still trying to process what she was seeing before they were both out the door and down the stairs. Their voices echoed off the halls like cats hissing at each other to “be more reliable for once in your damn life” and “mom, I told you I’m sorry already. Lay off.”

Eliza cocked her head to the side and was strangely glad her own parents were coming to pick her up for lunch and would never dream of saying things like that to her. Eliza panged with guilt for that thought, but she took a deep breath and gently closed the door.

She closed her eyes and settled the unease in her guts from watching the exchange.

She imagined dancing with Mickey in a club in a few days. She imagined pressing up against her again. She reminded herself that she could make Mickey smile and laugh and never wear that sour expression on her face again.

They had a world of things to look forward to-- with their parents' knowledge or not.