A/N Since we're all cooped up inside because of the coronavirus, I have plenty of time to update all of my stories. Might as well be productive if I'm forced to stay inside. Wherever you are, I hope everyone is practicing social distancing, avoiding touching your face, and washing your hands. Be careful and stay safe, all!

Song selection: "Mama, I'm Coming Home"~ Ozzy Osbourne

Chapter Fifty-One: The Mother of All Battles (s2, ep13)

I was awakened by the sound of clutter and chatter. Groaning, I stepped out of my room, still in my pajamas, with my hair a tousled mess, looking up to see Tohru and Jade standing in the kitchen.

"Jade, it's seven in the morning," I muttered, glancing at the clock. God, why do kids get up so early? "What on earth are you doing up? You never get up this early on weekends."

Tohru and Jade glanced at each other, as if they were apart of some inside joke I wasn't aware of.

"Well….," Jade began, fidgeting nervously.

"Oh, God," I sighed, running my hands through my tangled hair. "What now? Jade, it's too early for this-"

"No, no, nothing like that at all!" Jade shook her head vigorously. "Tohru's mom is coming to visit, and he's not feeling so good about it. That's all."

I raised my eyebrows at Tohru. "You have a mom?" Tohru seemed like one of those people that you just didn't think had parents for some reason.

Tohru sighed. "I am the black sheep," he admitted, his shoulders slumping meekly, the movement contradicting his usual gruff, stiff demeanor. "All I have ever wanted is for my mother to be proud of me."

Oh….he had one of those controlling, judgmental mothers. How unfortunate. No wonder he was dreading her arrival. I knew how he felt.

"Well, she will be!" Jade remained as optimistic as ever, a trait I so sorely lacked but desired. "Look! You're handsome, and big, you've got a…." She looked him up and down. "You're big."

She wasn't wrong.

"We'll help you," I volunteered, seeing as I had nothing else to do.

Tohru beamed. "Really?"

"Of course." I attempted to dismiss my rising anxiety. Not now! This is not about you! "We can help you get ready. We can even do some spring cleaning, if you like."

I was horrible in social situations.

What had I just done?

*JCA*

I found Jackie practicing kicks and punches in the training room.

I ran up to him, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Jackie, Jackie, it's an emergency!"

Jackie immediately stopped mid-kick, reaching down and plucking a cloth off the padded floor. "What's wrong?" He wiped beads of sweat off of his forehead, concern registering on his face.

I hopped from foot to foot restlessly. "Tohru's mom is coming to visit."

Jackie frowned. "Macey, you gave me a heart attack," he said, throwing the cloth over his shoulder. "I thought it was a real emergency."

"But it is an emergency," I pleaded.

"Now, you're sounding like Jade." Jackie sighed. "What's wrong?"

"You know how I have anxiety?" I stared at him, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Oh." Jackie's face softened. "Right. Is that what's bothering you?"

I nodded. "I don't do well in social situations," I muttered, sitting down on the floor, "and I just volunteered myself to help Tohru prepare for his mom's visit. Why do I do this to myself?" Socializing with Jackie, Jade, Uncle, and Tohru was easy-peasy- but for some reason, socializing with anyone outside of Uncle's Rare Finds or Section 13 was pure torture, even with family. No, especially with family. By volunteering myself to socialize, I might as well be setting myself up for a police interrogation. That's what it felt like right now.

I had just made the worst decision of my life.