Mira gnawed on her lip as she listen to Skype ring. She checked her clothes and fixed her hair, her nerves getting the best of her.

Suddenly, a black box popped up on screen and the audio cut on faster than the video.

“-Is it working?” A woman’s voice made Mira jump a mile. Then the video cut in and Mira saw Deimos staring at the camera, right at her.

“Hey,” she said, a little breathless.

“Oh my god, I hear her- Deimos move I wanna say hi!” The woman’s voice said again.

“Juno- what the hell-”

“Hi Mira~!”

There was a little lag as Deimos was pushed out of frame and a new face emerged. A beautiful woman with short curly black hair and olive skin cut in. Her smile was brilliant.

“Oh, hi,” she laughed, a little embarrassed. “You must be Juno.”

“Oh yes it is!”

“Juno! Stop hogging the camera, sit down!”  Deimos barked in the background.

Mira giggled and leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs and watching Deimos’ family reorganize themselves. Juno got out of the way and sat down to Deimos’ left while his mother was on his right. His mom was certainly shorter than her children, and beautiful. She looked like a business woman.

“Hello,” Mira began again, a little shy.

“Hi, Mira,” Deimos replied back, a little shy as well. “Can you hear us?”

“Loud and clear. What about you?”

“We’re good.”

“Been a while.”

“Yeah, how’s Canada?”

“Hot and dry. The usual. You?”

“Humid and populated as hell.”

She chuckled. “Any problems?”

“Nothing but this.”

“Rude,” his sister hissed.

Mira smiled. “And this is?”

Deimos sighed and leaned back, gesturing to his family. “This is my mom and big sister. Clara and Juno.”

“Hi, Mrs. Auguste and Juno.” She waved and showed off her most charismatic smile.

“Oh, you can just call me Clara, honey,” Deimos’ mom said with a chuckle. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I hope what you’ve heard was good?”

“Oh, very. Deimos says you’re very charming,” she teased and patted her son on the back.

She laughed. “Well, thanks, Deimos.”

“It’s really great to finally meet you, Mira,” Juno interjected. “I’ve been following your Instagram for a while now. Deimos never updates his nor his Facebook and it’s good to know he’s having fun in Canada.”

Deimos rolled his eyes.

“So what do you study in university?” His mother asked suddenly.

“Visual arts,” she said, a little hesitant. She’s done this enough to know the whole spectrum of reactions from strangers from jubilation to anger.

“Oh yes, of course, Juno has shown me some of your paintings before- of Deimos. You’ve very talented.”

“Thank you.”

“Know what you’re going to do after school?”

God, she hated that line. But she gritted her teeth and continued.

“Hopefully I can grab a job in the commercial field, like working with animation studios or gaming companies, or design studios,” she said calmly.

His mom nodded thoughtfully. “Deimos is pursuing a business degree so maybe you guys can work something out in the future.”

Mira blushed at the thought that there was a future beyond school where they’d still be dating. It was still so early in the game. Mira was kind of terrified. But she didn’t hate the idea of seeing Deimos in a business suit at all. And of course being with him out of school. Coming home to a little quaint apartment with him and pet cats in the picture was kind of…rad.

“That would be cool,” she laughed.

“So Deimos tells me that you live with your friends?” Juno tried to change the subject. Mira kind of loved her. She knew the topic was getting a little awkward, and smiled at her for reassurance.

“Um, yeah, we managed to rent a townhouse for cheap here. Moved out after high school graduation.”

“What about your family? They were ok with it?”

“My mom lives in a smaller city two hours from here. Parents are divorced.”

“Sorry to hear that. Probably was a lot,” Clara stepped in. “We’ve gone through it as well.”

She shrugged. “It’s all good. They’re happier separated and that’s what matters.”

“Close with your mom?”

“As much as I can be juggling school and work.”

“Must be hard.”

“A little. We text occasionally. I’m planning to see her this winter.”

“That’s good news. Maybe you can introduce Deimos to her?”

“I’m thinking I will.”

“I pray Deimos won’t scare her off with just his stare,” she joked.

“Mom, rude,” Deimos whined. She chuckled.

“It’s really wonderful to finally meet you, Mira,” Clara said softly.

“It’s amazing to meet you as well,” she said with a big smile. Deimos’ mom was imposing (like her son), but she cared. Reminded her a little of her own mom. She should probably text her sometime. Maybe call her. Or visit. Maybe Raven and her can go on a road trip to visit her. Seeing Deimos interact with his family was refreshing. He was relaxed around them and more talkative as ever. He was soft and polite with his mom, and playful with his sister. It was a side that she could get used to.