My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 16

6 Months later

Natalia

Michael and I have been inseparable since he came with me to find my brother that first time. All 4 of us, really, but Micheal and I built this real special bond these past couple of months. We hang out at school. He shows up at my job and waits for me to get off and walks me home. Sometimes we hang out at the cave in the evenings, or we stop at the lake on the way home. We have gotten so close that I have slowly started opening up more about my home life to him. I always make sure Mia and Jace aren't around to hear. I don't think they will understand me when I talk about David the way Michael does. He says he has met some awful people and he believes me. What if they don't? David knows how to manipulate people, so him believing me means a lot. He now knows more about David, and I think he hates him more than I do. He really has proven to be trustworthy and a great friend. Dare I say the best?

I have never had friends, now I have a whole group of them.

I'm not all alone anymore.

I belong somewhere.

I find Blake every so often. I check up on him, and he checks up on me. He still hasn't found a place to stay. He has been couch-surfing. He also lost his job at the grocery store. He has been applying for new jobs, but he hasn't had any luck.

I make sure to save all of my tips and bring them to him.

Today I am going to ask Michael to give me all the money I have saved so I can bring it to Blake. I have 10 thousand dollars saved up for our living arrangements. I can leave mom's house and Blake doesn't have to be in the streets or sleeping in random people's couches. I can pay the rent until he finds a job. Everything will be perfect.

I am so excited. I love being prepared and having a plan.

Michael has been holding the money for me, because my house isn't safe. If mom or David found the money, they wouldn't let me keep it. They would also want to know where I got the money from. They can't find out about my job. They wouldn't let me keep that either.

Luckily, I have been able to stay on mom's good side. She seems proud of my school accomplishments. I have received different awards and certificates that she displayed in the living room. I think she is showing them off to her male visitors?

I got bold one morning and I asked her if I could try out for the lead part in the school's play. I lied and said there's a scholarship attached to the lead role. I have already got early acceptance and a full-ride scholarship to multiple colleges. She doesn't know this. I refuse to tell her anything about my future. Right now it's all about surviving and doing what I have to do to get by.

I explain to her that students who do well sometimes cast roles in bigger plays, or even Broadway. Hearing this, she has actually allowed me to try out for everything that will help me succeed in life. Even if I have to stay out later, she just wants me to inform her. What happened to my mother? Did someone kidnap her and drop off another lady in her place? Of course, this has lead to fights between her and David. He hit the wall behind me, he has tried getting into my bedroom almost every night for the past week. His comments have gotten weirder, meaner and disrespectful. He called me a wh0re for coming out to pee one night that they had company, and b1tch for not opening my room door. The worse one, though, was that I could have sworn he sniffed my hair this morning. I shiver, feeling disgusted by his actions lately. He is getting worse, but I think mom is opening her eyes.

I have no idea what has gotten into my mother, but I will take everything she gives. David is always complaining, but I hear her telling him to mind his business when it comes to me, and all he ever says is "she will be 18 soon" or "you promised me, you can't go back on your words now," I'm pretty sure I know what he means. I don't care though. I already have my plan. I will leave the night before my 18th birthday and never look back. I just need to find my brother, and give him the money.

My classes changed for the second semester, and I was able to get into theater class. I wasn't completely lying to my mother.

Today I will be trying out for the main role in the school play before work. Sally told me she has a very important client today, so she needs me to help her clean up. I love how busy I always am. I love having things to do.

I go over my lines in my head.

The school plays are a big deal. Whoever gets chosen will travel to a couple of cities not too far away for live performances, and I have to land this role. The way the female lead is described in the book, resonates with my life. I know I would play her role perfectly. Now that I am sure mom will let me go because it has to do with school, I am pumped.

I will get a taste of freedom. I will visit places outside this town. What if I like any of the places we travel to? It doesn't hurt to keep all of my options open. Maybe a new start in a new town, away from here, is what is in store for Blake and I.

My brain feels fried, and my time is running out. I can't get my lines right. My memory clocked out. I decide to go sit in a quiet space to gather myself.

I close my eyes and try my breathing techniques.

"Boo," I open my eyes and catch Mia as she jumps out of the side of the bookshelf. "Mia, shhh" she chuckles. "You're going to get us kicked out. This is a library. You have to be quiet," I whisper. She rolls her eyes. "There's a party tonight. I need you to be my plus 1. Please, Nat. Don't make me beg, because I will," She grabs my hands and holds them up in prayer. She is painfully dramatic.

"Mia. I am nervous about the school play. I can't think about a party right now." I am really nervous. "Nat, you are the prettiest girl on this campus. That spot is a guarantee. After you try out, let's go to dinner then to the cave to get ready for the party," I shake my head. "I have to go to work for a couple of hours," she sighs as she inspects her nails. "We can skip dinner then, and just meet to get ready quickly," I shrug. I really don't want to go to a party on a weekday. "Are the boys going too?" she shakes her head. "I got a special invitation to a more mature party," she winks. I have no idea what that even means. "Please Nat. You are my best friend, and best friend's stick together. This could be another one of our adventures. We have been making so many memories," I just stare at her. She always throws the best friend card and wants to experience new adventures to get me to give in. "This party will be our little secret," she winks. I really don't want to, but I don't want her going alone. I know everything Mia does to get people to like her. She will do crazy things for friends, but people like to bully her too, and I won't have it. I will go to keep her safe.

"Please say yes?" she gets on her knees. "Fine," I smile, "but just for an hour," she puts her hands on her hips. "three," I glare at her. She stands up. "Two," she holds two fingers up. I hold my glare. "Fine, 1 hour," she pouts. We finalize our plans and go our separate ways.

"Hey Michael," he is switching his books out of our locker. "Hey Nat, how are you?" He is always checking on me. "I'm fine," "So, do you want to hang out at the lake or go to the swings tonight?" he asks me. "Oh, I can't hang out tonight." I tell him. "Why not? We hang out every night," he gets all up in my face. I forget that he gets intense. "Can I trust you with a secret?" He nods. "Mia asked me to accompany her to a secret party. Apparently only certain people get invited, and she is forcing me to go with her. I am going to go keep an eye on her. You know how she is. Don't tell anyone. She made it seems secret and important," he rolls his eyes but smiles. We all know how she is. "Where is this party?" he asks, but I shrug. "I have no clue. We are getting ready at the cave and leaving from there," he nods. "I was hoping to speak to you about something else though. Something important." I step closer. "Are you safe?" he whispers, and I feel my whole body get warm. He always asks me that. I nod. "I need my money. I am going to go look for Blake. It's time," I look around, making sure no-one around is listening. "Nat, I don't think that's a good idea," I knew he would say that, but he doesn't understand my life and the pressure I am under.

"My brother and I already had a plan before you and I even met. Just trust me. This is a great idea. This is the only way I will get out. My brother is my only hope. Reporting my mom like you said we could do is a bad idea. I will end up in foster care. What if a bad family takes me in? Although I can't imagine anyone being worse than David, I won't risk it. I am almost out. I just need to give him the money and let him take care of it," he smiles and nods. I'm glad he is understanding.

Michael

Everything in me screams no, do not give her the money. She has worked hard and saved so much, and I know that Blake is a drug addict, but she is right. Blake is our best option right now.

Blake is her brother, her family. She trusts him, and he can get her out faster than anyone else can without people asking questions. I'm not sure if she would be safe with him though? But I need to trust her and not question her decisions. She knows him better than I do. I don't want to cause a fight between us right now. Once she is out, then I can step in more.

I have gotten real close to Nat, and I just want the best for her, and the best for her is not a brother who is hanging out in parks at night, but also not a best friend stressing her out more than I know she is. I hope he really gets them a place and that he comes through on all the promises. Otherwise, Nat will be crushed. Something inside of me tells me to be ready for that day. To be there for her, because her brother does not look good. Every single time we have seen him, he looks worse. Natalia is always the one asking him how he is and giving him money. He could barely stand the last time they met up. My heart breaks for Nat. I will be here, supporting her the best way I can. She seems blind to it all.

"I'll drop your money off at the salon," she smiles. "Can you come with me to drop the money off to Blake?" I nod. "We can go tomorrow once you are done with work." I'm glad he isn't fighting me about this. "Thanks, Mike. You are the best," she stands on her tippy toes and kisses my cheek. She reaches over me, and grabs a book before she walks away. I blink and realize I am just standing here like an idi0t. She called me Mike. She has only ever called me Michael. I remember when we met I told her that my friends call me Mike. Mia once asked her why she still calls me by my full name, and she shrugged and said that when she felt like she could trust me and saw me as a best friend that she would call me Mike. She explained how nicknames are very personal, and she doesn't like getting personal with just anyone, so this is big. I don't want to make it a big deal at this exact moment in front of people who won't get it. We can celebrate tonight. I will be following her and Mia to this so-called secret party that Jace and I aren't invited to.

If you know Nat, you know that she is an absolute sweetie, but if you know Nat, you also know that she is not someone to say things like I love you or show deep personal feelings and emotions. She once made a comment on how she didn't know how to love or show love. She doesn't cry or give us much of anything. The most we ever get is a big smile that seems fake half the time, or a very serious look and vibe. This smile seems genuine, and it makes me want to give her any and everything to see more of it.