Natalie dropped her backpack by the door as soon as she got home, her cheeks still warm from the encounters at school. She kicked off her shoes and plopped onto the couch.
"Dad… you won't believe my day," she began, her voice bubbling with excitement.
Her dad, sitting at the dining table with a cup of tea, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell. What happened, Natalie?"
Natalie's eyes lit up. "So… I met this really… really rich guy at school!" She waved her hands animatedly, her grin widening.
Her dad almost choked on his tea, looking incredulous. "Rich guy? At school? Are you serious?"
"Yes! He's… he's like… wow!" Natalie gushed, bouncing slightly on the couch. "He's tall, super cute, and everyone seems to know him… I—oh, Dad, he's just… wow!"
Her dad leaned back, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Hmm… sounds exciting. Did you… y'know… get his number?"
Natalie froze, her cheeks heating up even more. She stammered, "N-no! I… I didn't! I mean… he… I didn't…" She waved her hands helplessly, trying to explain, but her dad just laughed.
"You didn't? Natalie, you could've at least asked! Someone like that doesn't come around every day."
Natalie buried her face in her hands, laughing nervously. "Dad! Stop! I can't just… it's… it's complicated!"
Her dad shook his head, still chuckling. "Complicated? Or just shy?"
Natalie peeked through her fingers, giggling. "Maybe a little of both."
Her dad grinned knowingly. "Alright, alright… just… next time, be braver. You never know what could happen."
Natalie nodded, her mind already racing through the events of the day—the funny, the embarrassing, and the thrilling. She couldn't help but think about
After their conversation, Natalie headed to the kitchen, determined to take her mind off school drama. She rolled up her sleeves and began preparing dinner, chopping vegetables and stirring sauces with surprising focus. The smells of sizzling onions and garlic soon filled the house.
When the food was ready, she set the table neatly and called her dad. "Dinner's ready, Dad!"
Mr. Brooks sat down, and Natalie served the plates carefully, trying not to let her nerves show. They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the clinking of cutlery and the savory aroma creating a cozy atmosphere.
Then, mid-bite, Mr. Brooks suddenly froze. His fork hovered in the air, and his eyes widened slightly.
"Natalie…" he said slowly, lowering his fork. "Did… did anyone recognize you at school today?"
Natalie's hands stilled, and her heart skipped a beat. She met her dad's gaze, trying to gauge how serious he was. "Recognize me? What do you mean?" she asked casually, though the tension coiled tight in her chest.
Mr. Brooks leaned back, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "I mean… you've been gone for a while. New school, new place… someone might have known you before, right?"
Natalie swallowed, forcing herself to look normal. "No, Dad… no one recognized me. I… I'm… just… new here, that's all."
He studied her for a moment longer, his brow furrowed, then gave a slight nod. "Alright… just… be careful, Natalie. I know it's a new start, but some people can be… tricky."
Natalie nodded quickly, relief mixing with anxiety. She wanted to laugh at the thought, but something in her dad's tone warned her not to. "I will, Dad. Don't worry."
The rest of dinner passed in a quieter, more tense rhythm. Natalie kept her mind half on her food, half on the possibility that someone at school—maybe even Rachel or Bryan—could somehow know more about her than she thought.
And deep down, she knew this was only the beginning of her challenges in the new school.
After a few moments of silence, Natalie put down her fork and looked at her dad, her curiosity getting the better of her. Her voice was quieter now, serious.
"Dad…" she began cautiously, "why are you so… so afraid of being caught? I mean… you've been worried since I got back. Did… did you… have something to do with… the rich man's son?"
Mr. Brooks froze mid-bite. The fork he held clattered softly against his plate as his eyes widened. He looked at Natalie, his expression a mixture of shock, fear, and something else she couldn't quite place.
"Natalie… where did you hear that?" he asked, his voice low and tense.
"I… I don't know," Natalie admitted, trying to keep her voice steady. "But you act like… like you're hiding something. You worry if anyone recognizes me… if anyone at school knows me. Why, Dad? What's going on?"
Mr. Brooks leaned back in his chair, his hands gripping the edges tightly. For a long moment, he didn't speak, and Natalie felt the weight of his silence pressing down on her.
Finally, he exhaled slowly, his gaze dropping to the table. "Natalie… some things… some things from the past… they're complicated. And yes… there are things I regret. But you… you don't need to worry about that. Not now. Not ever."
Natalie's heart pounded. His words didn't answer her questions—they only made them louder in her mind. She could feel that whatever had happened, it was serious. Very serious.
"But Dad," she pressed, her voice firmer now, "if there's something dangerous… if someone finds out… I need to know. I can't just pretend everything's normal. I have to be prepared."
Mr. Brooks's face darkened, a flicker of fear in his eyes, but he finally nodded. "Alright, Natalie. You'll know in time. But for now… promise me you won't dig. Some things are better left buried."
Natalie's stomach twisted with unease. "Promise me, Dad… why are you so scared? Who are you hiding from?"
He looked at her then, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and protectiveness. "I'm hiding from the consequences of my own mistakes… and I'll do anything to keep you safe."
Perfect! Let's continue the scene with Natalie pressing her dad further—this is where the tension really spikes:
---
Natalie's eyes narrowed, curiosity and suspicion burning brighter than ever. "Your mistake… Dad," she said softly, leaning forward. "What was your mistake? You said you'd do anything to keep me safe… but why? What did you do?"
Mr. Brooks' fork clattered against his plate again. He ran a hand through his hair, his face paling slightly. His eyes darted toward the window as if hoping the walls themselves weren't listening.
"Natalie… some things from the past… they were never meant to surface," he said cautiously. "Mistakes… they can ruin lives. Sometimes… they take people you care about in ways you never imagined."
Natalie's heart raced. "Dad… I need to know. If someone finds out… if it's connected to… the rich man's son… I need to understand! How deep does this go?"
Mr. Brooks took a long, shuddering breath, his hands gripping the table. His voice dropped to a near whisper. "It wasn't supposed to happen… and it wasn't meant to touch you. But my… my mistake… it involved him. The rich man's son. And now… it has consequences."
Natalie froze, her mind spinning. "Consequences… for who?" she asked, her voice trembling. "For you… or for me?"
"For both," he admitted, his gaze finally meeting hers. "I've spent years trying to hide it… trying to protect you… and yet… some things are too big to hide forever."
Natalie's stomach twisted.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. "Then… we deal with it. Together. No more hiding."
Are you okay ?! Do you want us to get killed ??!!!
But Dad...
Just shut it.
The conversation ended with a dangerous glare from mr Brooks
Natalie took her food and went to her room without uttering any words.