What We Hide

First day part 2

"What did he do?" Howard asked hesitantly

"you don't have to answer if you don't want to." He quickly followed

"No its okay I'm fine with it" Natalia said as she stopped working and turned to Howard

"You have to promise you won't tell any one, and if you do I'm coming after you." She continued

"I cross my heart" Howard said as he did a X over his heart

"I was shot. Twice, he shot me in my shoulder and in my thigh, when I was ten. And once in my foot. he would always bring his friend and they would shoot things and o e day I was at the place at the wrong time. It was s lost bullet and it went through my foot. How? I don't know." Natalia told him

"Are you okay?" Howard said with worry in his eyes

"Yea im fine its not a big deal,it was a long time ago." Natalia replied

"Not a big deal?! You could've died!" Howard said raising his voice

"But I didn't" Natalia quickly added

"And through all of this where was your mom?" Howard asked

"Dead." Natalia said and she started playing with her necklace

"I'm sorry I forgot" Howard

" I wish it was that easy for me." Natalia said softly hoping that Howard didn't hear her

"What?" he asked

"Forgetting a death or forgetting that I ever had a mom." said a little embarrassed that he did hear her

"I know it still hurts that she is gone-" Howard before he was cut off

"Why would it hurt I hardly knew her." Natalia said getting defensive

"She was still your mother" he told her imagining how awful it must have been growing up with out a mother and a abusive father.

"I only remember a little bit about her. tell me about your mom." Natalia said as she tried to diverse the attention off of her.

"My mom? Well my mom is the best. She is so nice. And caring. She could be a bit mean if she gets annoyed. but other than that she is great. i bet she would like you. you should meet her." Howard said cheerfully

"Meeting the parents so early in the relationship." Natalia said sarcastically

"Oh, no, um, I didn't mean it like that I just me-" he replied embarrassed

"I know what you meant I was just playing." Natalia laughed

"And your dad? Other than the fact that he is sitting in front of us." Natalia said as she gestured tony.

Howard chuckled at the site of his dad

" my dad. is not some one you want to talk too. He's very cocky and narcissistic. Dont get me wrong I love my dad but some time he just gets very......... How do I describe it?.......he goes into his own world and no one can get him out. Except my mom."

"Who are you closer to?"Natalia kept asked feeling a little jealous about Howard but she didn't let it show

" my dad,we do a lot of things together and my mom she is very preoccupied with academy things." he said

" she works here?"

"yea but enough about me lets talk about you." he said a bit nervous

" what do you want to know?" she asked

"Tell me bout your mom" Howard asked once again

"i already told you that i dont remember her." she told him