NATALIE'S POV
Natasha and I have been in touch since the day she saved me. Mom came back after a long trip, so I had the opportunity to stay out long before I came back home. It was really fun because I was able to hang out with Natasha and Joey though they both were acting weird. It was as though they were both soul enemies who don't even want to look at each other but I promised myself that I'll set everything right before mom goes on her next trip.
It was summer vacation and Natasha, Joey and I had so many plans for the vacation but unfortunately, she was told she will stay with her grandma during the vacation, though she was heartbroken, she had to go.
"We planned this together Nat, why are you doing this to us at the end of the day? What are you going to do at your grandma's house? This summer camping is going to be the best ever since some popular artists are coming. You will miss Nat a lot." I said with so much shock.
"I was very happy to hear that we're going camping together, Natalie but I can't go against my family's wishes. Family comes first while everything else matters the least." she said in a baby voice as if she wanted to cry.
"Don't worry Nat, we'll still get in touch with your dearie, you are my bff and I will always love you."
"Sorry Natalie but I won't send my phone to my grandma's place, but I have a secret phone which I use there so I will get in touch with you when I get there. I love you too Natalie, the past few days I spent with you were the best moments of my life Natalie, you showed me that there is real happiness and I love you for that." Natasha cried.
I placed my hands on her shoulder and tried to comfort her saying we've got her back. I got home late that day but surprisingly, when mom scolded me, dad supported me, and I hate him for acting as if he loves me when my mom is around. Mom thinks he is pampering me not knowing the face behind his mask.
NATASHA'S POV
"You're welcome, Ben." Grandma said when we entered the house.
"Thanks mom. Today, Lilly and Susan are here." dad replied.
Lilly raced to grandma and gave her a kiss to say hello. With my luggage, I greeted grandma and went back to put the things in my room. I arranged everything in the room as usual and lay down to rest. Mom, dad and Lilly will be staying with us for two days and at least I will get to rest for these two days. I was having difficulties in getting some sleep but before I could close my eyes…
"Natasha!! Come downstairs for lunch. Lunch is served!" mom shouted from downstairs.
"I'm not hungry mom, I just want to sleep for now, I'll have lunch later." I shouted back and left myself onto the bed and continued my sleep.
After sleeping for about two hours, I woke up only to find a note on my dressing table.
'Sorry dear. Your dad had a call that his younger brother has returned from his trip and wants to see your dad. Lilly and I could have stayed but your grandma said we shouldn't stress your dad to go back home and come for us, the next two days so we had to go. We realized you had a long journey, so we didn't want to stress you. So, we'll see you after the summer vacation. Lilly wanted to stay but grandma said she has to learn back at home, and you know that your dad always listens to your grandma. We love you dear bye.
From your lovely mom.'
Tears could not stop flowing down my face after reading the note mom kept down for me. I had thought I would spend some time with Lilly before she goes but everything is now gone.
"Do you really think brainwashing your parents and bringing them here to stay with you will prevent me from giving you the kind of discipline you deserve?" grandma screeched from the door.
"You call this discipline? You call all the torcher you give me discipline? What a wonderful discipline grandma, you keep me up from dusk till dawn all in the name of keeping the house and farmhouse clean and organized. Even the learnings my parents think I'm doing is even worse, I barely take a book to learn grandma, then why do you have to convince my parents to bring me here if I'm not gonna learn grandma. What have I ever done to you?!" I cried out while trying to walk away but…
"How dare you talk about me like that, you bastard? You are not even fit to be my grandchild or even bear my surname. I will teach you a great lesson. One which you will never forget." she said wickedly.
And before I could even say anything, she dragged me by my hand, though I was shouting, she never cared. All the way through the hall to the storeroom. She pushed me into the storeroom and locked it before I could even try to stop her from locking it. I would have knocked down the door for her to open it, but I knew it will be of no use because she wouldn't open it anyway. It was really dark and dusty in the storeroom because it was the old one which was abandoned but when I started spending some of my vacations with grandma, I was asked to clean up that place every day and so we kept some of grandpa's old clothes there together with the seeds for planting and also the farm tools. I knew I would stay in that storeroom for a day or two, so I just went to organize some cartons, used some of grandpa's old clothes to cover it up, looked around for a pillow but I found only some pieces of torn clothes which I packed into one old shirt I found. It was perfect, luckily, I had my diary with me which I took to write my experiences with my grandma.