Family Among Us

Part 28- Oh no mom and dad are back...

The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains as Y/N paced around her room. The crewmates and impostors sat on her bed, watching her with curious eyes. It was the day her parents were due back, and the anticipation hung heavy in the air.

"Y/N," Black said, tilting his head slightly, "why do you look so worried?"

She paused mid-step, staring at them with a blank, almost haunted expression. The silence stretched for a moment before she shook her head, unwilling to meet their eyes. "Please, I need you all to stay in my room today. Don't make a sound and don't come out. My parents... they aren't friendly towards things that are... different."

"Different?" Purple echoed, confusion furrowing his brow.

"Just trust me," Y/N said, her voice wavering with an edge of desperation. Black's eyes darkened with concern as he exchanged worried glances with Red and Blue. The crewmates and impostors nodded solemnly, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Y/N took a deep breath and quickly checked the small makeshift hiding space she had prepared under her bed, concealed by an old comforter and pillows. "Hide here if you need to. Just... please stay quiet."

Before they could respond further, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house, followed by a familiar voice.

"We're home, sweetie!"

Y/N's heart pounded in her chest as she forced a smile and walked out to greet her mother. "Hi, Mom. How was the trip with Dad?"

Her mother's smile was bright, almost artificial, as she set her purse down. "Oh, it was wonderful! The cruise was so beautiful, and the food was divine."

Y/N nodded, her smile slipping as she murmured, "I bet it was because I wasn't there to cause any problems."

Her father's eyes, sharp and stern, met hers. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," Y/N replied quickly, shaking her head. The tension in the room crackled like static electricity. Her father frowned but let it go, only to continue with the question she had been dreading.

"How are your grades?"

"They're fine," she answered, shifting uncomfortably. "I'm still struggling with math, though."

He scowled, disappointment etched deeply into the lines of his face. "Still struggling? You know you need good grades to get into college. How do you expect to succeed if you can't manage something as simple as math?"

Y/N's hands clenched at her sides, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I know you want me to go to college, Dad, but math isn't my focus. I want to go for art."

Her father's scowl deepened, his voice dropping to a harsh tone. "Art won't get you anywhere."

"Honey," her mother interjected, her voice tinged with weariness, "not today, please. We just got back."

But he merely shook his head and stormed off to their bedroom. Y/N's eyes burned, and she dropped onto the couch, her head falling into her hands. The silence that followed was heavy until she felt her mother's gentle touch on her shoulder.

"It's okay, honey," her mother said softly. "I know you want to become a great animator. I believe in you. But he's right about one thing—you need to pass your math classes to get into college."

Y/N let out a humorless laugh. "I know, Mom. I just wish he didn't look at me like I'm such a disappointment. It... hurts my motivation."

Her mother's arms wrapped around her in a comforting hug. "Don't mind him. He's always been hard like that. Just keep doing what you need to do, okay?"

Y/N nodded, managing a small smile. "Okay, Mom."

As soon as her mother left the room, Y/N hurried back to her bedroom, shutting the door quickly behind her. The crewmates and impostors were gathered around the room, concern evident on their small faces.

"What happened?" Black's voice was low and sharp, his dark eyes narrowing. He had heard enough to piece together what had transpired.

"Nothing," Y/N whispered, brushing her hair back with a shaky hand. "Everything's fine."

"That didn't sound fine," Red muttered, crossing his arms.

Black's eyes glimmered with an emotion he seldom showed—anger. In his mind, he envisioned a confrontation, standing up to Y/N's father and saying all the things she couldn't. The man didn't deserve to speak to her like that.

"I swear," Black muttered under his breath, "if I could, I'd—"

"No," Y/N said firmly, cutting him off. "You don't have to do that. Besides, my mom wouldn't appreciate little marshmallows running around the house. She'd probably freak out."

The others chuckled lightly, the tension in the room easing just a fraction. Yellow leaned against Green, who had crept out from the hiding spot, and offered Y/N a smile.

"We'll stay hidden," Yellow said. "But if you need us, we're here."

Y/N's eyes softened, and she felt a warmth in her chest that pushed away the ache left by her father's words. "Thanks, guys. Just a few weeks and they'll be gone on their business trip. Until then, we need to be careful."

The crewmates and impostors nodded. Black, still simmering with anger, took a seat next to the others, silently promising himself that he'd find a way to support her—even if it meant simply being there.

Y/N sat with them, pulling up YouTube on her laptop. As they watched funny videos and shared quiet laughter, she felt the weight on her chest ease, surrounded by friends who would always have her back, no matter what.