My Brother's Best Friend

chapter 14

Natalia

I can hear their music from down the street. I walk in and see my mom in another compromising position. Will this ever end? Probably not, but it doesn't even matter anymore. Soon enough, I will be gone forever.

Multiple pairs of eyes look at me as I make my way through the living room.

"Mom, I'm home," I say. Feeling defeated, I head straight to my room.

Once I am secure, I let the tears fall.

I hate my life. I hate that I can't come home and tell her about my day. I hate that I can't tell her about Andrew's hateful mom. What I would give so she could defend me, stand up for me and put me first for once. I wish my mom supported my goals and dreams. I wish I had a mom who came to my plays and other school events. If I ever make it to Broadway or do anything bigger, I would like to have a mother cheering me on, but realization slaps me in the face.

My mother would rather be all doped up and party than care about me.

I have to look out for myself.

I promise that I will get out, and when I do, I will never look back!

I pace around my room, trying to figure out what I am going to tell Michael.

I stand in front of my mirror.

"Natalia, why did you climb in through the window of the crack house?"

"Because I am the daughter of a crackhead."

No, I can't say it like that. That is too direct. I will scare him away.

"I didn't climb in through the window of the crack house, I think you saw wrong. You followed the wrong girl home. That wasn't me,"

Yes, that sounds better. That's my story, and I am sticking to it. I will just gaslight him into thinking it wasn't me.

I make sure my room is secure and that I have my sunglasses before I jump out the window. Yes, it is dark outside, but I can't risk someone seeing my bruised face. I don't have any makeup to apply to my face, so I have no other option.

I run to the backyard and make my way to the lake.

I stand here, taking it all in. The water is still and beautiful, even in the dark. It sits here perfectly sad like my life. A dark but beautiful disaster.

I see a light making its way towards me. I want to think it's Michael, but you never know, so I hide.

"Natalia," I hear my name being called, and I breathe easier knowing it is him. I wait and wait and wait and once he is standing close by, I jump out and scare him.

"Ahhhhh" he shouts, and I burst out laughing.

"Sorry, it's just me,"

"You scared the cr@p out of me,"

"Sorry, I just had to do that. You made it too easy for me," He looks freaked out.

"You almost made me drop your cat," I gasp.

"Hand this cutie over," I lay my head on the kitten.

"Hi little one. I have missed you so much," I whisper, and kiss the top of its head.

"It's a boy. Jace checked him," he tells me.

I take him and sit down at the edge of the water. I pet him gently. Mike also takes a seat.

"Billy said we can keep him, so you have to name him now. I will take care of him for you. Would you like that?" This is the best news anyone could ever give me.

"Yes, thank you, Michael. He is so cute. We should name him Mr. Red," I hug him closer.

"Tell Billy thank you for me, and thank you for taking care of him. I will never forget this, Michael,"

"Only if you tell me what's going on though. Why did you jump in through the crack house's window?"

Dammit. I thought he had forgotten about this and we were moving on.

What do I say?

"Who hurt you, Nat? It's nighttime and you are wearing sunglasses. This doesn't make sense, and it isn't normal at all. You need to start talking," Is that a threat? I don't need to do anything I don't want to do. Blake always told me I make my own decisions. No-one can force me to do anything.

"Michael. I have to be honest with you. When I agreed to share a locker with you, I didn't agree to you being all up in my business. Look, I have no idea what you think you saw, but it wasn't me that crawled into a window or whatever it is you think you saw."

He laughs. I can't believe he is laughing.

"So that's what we are going to do. Alright then. Are you saying that you don't trust the person that is going to keep and take care of your pet kitten?" the way he says it, has my stomach twisting.

I think about what Ms. Sally told me.

Maybe I can give him a little truth and see what happens.

"Why don't I tell you a little bit about myself? Maybe after you hear my story, you will stop lying to me."

I don't say anything. I just pet my kitten.

"My parents were k1lled in a car accident 5 years ago. I was 13 and Billy was 17. I remember coming home and Billy giving me the news. He was in high school, and I remember him going to school, then going to work to make money so we could eat and have a place to live. He was just a kid himself, yet he really stepped up for me. He didn't let me go into the foster system and even now, he still takes care of me. He buys me everything for school and gives me extra spending money. He is teaching me to drive and lets me borrow his car. I have my own room. He moved me here to give me a better life. We are thriving now. I can help you, Nat. I will talk to Billy," that makes my skin crawl. Michael and Billy are nice guys, but if David ever found out. I can't imagine what he would do. I feel stuck.

I want to tell him. I really do. What if Billy could really help me?

But I can't risk it. I can't risk things not working out in my favor. Not when I don't have a solid backup plan. My mother and house are already the talk of the town. This is safer. Once I turn 18 and leave, I will go to Los Angeles and try to become a model or get an acting career. I will change my name. No-one will know where I came from, but if I confide in Michael right now, everything could blow up in my face. I need to just tell him enough to get him to back off. Maybe once I am out I can tell him everything, but not now. Not yet.

"Look, Michael, would it be enough for you to know that right now I am safe? If I ever feel in danger, or I feel like I need your help, you are the first person I will go to?" He thinks about it for a moment before he nods.

"One day you will trust me enough to tell me everything,"

My mind goes to the two things I haven't been able to shake all day.

"Michael, the thing is, I can't tell people about me. Not yet.. It's for my own safety. I hope you can understand that I can't share everything, but maybe one day. Right now, all I can tell you are a couple of things about myself. Just please know that I am a very private person, so whatever we talk about, I'd like it to stay between us. Like you said, maybe one day, but this is all I can give you right now," he nods. I look around to make sure we are the only ones here.

"I have an older brother. His name is Blake, and I am actually looking for him. He left home and I haven't heard from him. Do you think you can help me look for him? I was thinking of going to the parks and hospitals." He nods.

"Of course, Nat. I can ask Billy to let me borrow his car, and we can drive around until we find him," I feel relieved. Maybe I can trust him.

"I also officially started my first job today after school. I got hired at Salon Venetian. I really liked it. The owner is so nice," he nods, following along.

"Congrats. That's great, Nat. That's the rich people's salon. I might have to book an appointment there," I laugh.

We both watch the water and say absolutely nothing to the point that it gets really uncomfortable. I know he has a lot more to say or many more questions to ask, but he is holding himself back.

"What would you say if I told you I wanted to egg someone's house?" I ask him.

He smirks.

"I'd say I am down. Let's go get 5 dozen eggs and get to work,"

My heart and stomach both do this flip, but not in a bad way. No-one has ever agreed to do anything for me without any background info, yet here he is agreeing to my insane ideas.

"Is this something you want to do right now?" he asks.

I am not even sure what this feeling is, but I could cry right now.

"Yes," I think it is about time that people who are mean pay in some kind of way. Even if it just means a bit of discomfort from the smell of the eggs after they dry. Rotten eggs for a rotten heart. I wish I could do more. Right now, I am just a kid in high school, but one day, Constance Whitmore will pay for shaming me the way she did.