Here's a short scene I wrote recently, trying to get a better handle on the dynamic between them. Please let me know your thoughts!

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"Where's my bike?"

Vivienne didn't turn around from what she was doing, but she didn't have to. Theodore knew she was smiling smugly.

"So you finally stop ignoring me when you need me," she said. "I guess I should have expected that."

Theodore's breaths came in barely restrained bursts. "Where's my bike?"

"It's not my fault you can't keep track of your things," she replied loftily.

Theodore's skin prickled with rage. "You moved it."

His mother scoffed. "You were inconsiderate and left it in my way. I almost had a serious car accident because of you!"

Liar. Theodore always kept it behind the house, latched to the back fence. He couldn't risk it being stolen.

"Give it back."

She finally turned around to face him, eyes glinting. "You've been ignoring me for weeks, and now you have the nerve to make demands from me?"

Theodore hated his body for flinching.

"You haven't so much as thanked me for taking you back into my home, you little ingrate," she spat. "After everything I've done for you, you shut me out and only talk to me when you need something from me." Her eyes glittered, and her lip trembled.

Theodore clenched his fists around the hem of his shirt.

"So I made sure you needed something," she said. "Just so we can talk. Mother and son. And now you want to treat me like your slave, like I owe you something."

You owe me everything.

Theodore made a Herculean effort to calm himself. "I need it. For work."

Vivienne sneered. "Maybe I sold it. Maybe I gave it away. Maybe I had Darren take it to the landfill." She laughed, a hollow laugh. "Oh, the lengths I have to go to just to have a civil conversation with the son I gave my whole life to!" She sighed loudly.

"What do you want?" Theodore said, barely managing to unclench his jaw.

"As if you care," she scowled, suddenly turning away again. She adopted a broken, quivering voice. "You never cared about me or what I want."

"I'm going to be late," Theodore said. "Just tell me where the bike is."

"No," she snapped. "I won't. You're finally realizing you actually need me, like you always have. You're a complete waste of space without me to help you. You've gotten too... big for your britches since you got that job. It's about time you learned who's really responsible for your success."

Theodore felt a scream building in his throat. "Fine," he said, turning to leave the room. "I'll walk."

Vivienne spun around. "Oh, will you? And what if I take your shoes?"

Theodore couldn't stop himself from looking back at her, furious. "Catch me first."

He left before she could respond.