The Naturals

Whatever Dad

Lia's P.O.V

After the whole fiasco with the party everyone ran out of Jake's house then I ran into Chris's car with Josh and Fernanda.

Michael revved his car away from the scene and Chris followed.

Chris drove for about 15 minutes until Michael decided to drive into a forest preserve.

"What the hell is he doing?" I asked aloud as Chris followed.

Finally Michael parked in a clear spot and we all got out of the car.

"Fernanda are you okay? " Chris  asked as he exited the car and ran towards her, embracing her in a secure hug.

"Um yea im fine" Fernanda said with a nervous expression.

Finally Chris noticed and let go, they both had crimson faces then Fernanda coughed "um, where's Ember" she asked.

"Um I think she's still in the car actually" Michael said as he stepped closer to his car.

"Hey Ember are you okay" Michael asked.

What she responded was inaudible as she stayed in the car. Michael gave a small nod then walked back.

"Um, she's a little shooken up by tonight, and she thinks it might be best if Chris drives you guys back to your places." Michael said.

Fernanda and Josh agree with Chris and say their goodbyes to the rest of the group.

As they get in the car and drive away the group watches as the car leaves.

"What's really wrong" I asked crossing my arms.

Michael turned to look at me "what, I know your lying" I said.

"She didn't say, she just said they should leave and we should start heading back" Michael said, and he wasn't lying.

We all crawled in the car, Ember was in the passenger seat, she was sat quietly.

First it was Sloane, then me in the middle, then Dean with cassie seated on top of his lap.

No words were exchanged as Michael exited his parking spot and got back on the road.

No one said anything, instead silence was just makes by the radio.

I pulled out my phone and began texting Josh.

*me*
Hey besides the whole crazy scream scene I had fun at the party today.

*Joshy*
Heh, yeah me too. Btw your a really good dancer.

*me*
Thanks your not so bad yourself.

*Joshy*
😶

*me*
Sorry we couldn't finish our conversation..

*Joshy*
It's okay Lia, Goodnight.

*me*
Sweet dreams Joshy.

When I had finally shut off my phone and looked up from it I realized Michael was parking in the driveway.

Once he was parked perfectly, like the little perfectionist he is, we all took off our seatbelt and exited the car.

Ember was the first one to go inside the house, then we all followed.

We were all greeted by bright lights and Briggs waiting with crossed arms.

Ember brushed past him.

Then in one quick motion his expression turned to anger and he grabbed her arm.

She immediately winced, causing Briggs to let go his firm grasp on her arm.

But the anger was still there, "you mind telling me what the hell happened tonight, and why you thought it was a good idea to go to a party without consulting me first" Briggs said.

Dean immediately stepped up and told Briggs about the invites we got, how the party looked normal, and then how it all flipped in one quick second.

"Again I ask, why the hell didn't you tell me first about this, we could have at least set up a few guards to keep watch" Briggs said.

"Whatever dad" Ember spoke sarcastically.

We all looked in the direction where we heard her voice and saw she was walking up the stairs.

She was walking barefoot on the steps, one hand held her steady on the railing, while the other held her shoes.

"Ember where are you going" Briggs said.

She responded with the slam of a door.

Briggs tried to calm himself until he finally broke "Ember" he yelled out as he followed her on the steps.

As I sat down on the counter my hand brushed on something.

I looked down to see what it was, then my eyes immediately lit up as wheels started to turn in my head.

I whistled to get the attention of the others, once they were all turned to me I trailed my eyes down to my hand on top of a leather brown briefcase.

Cassie let out a small sigh, "is now really the time"

"Look, he rarely ever let's this thing go, if we don't take it now when will we ever get the chance to again" I said.

"She's right" Sloane finally spoke up as she pulled a Bobby pin out of her hair.

I let go of the suitcase letting Sloane pick the lock with her pin.

In just seconds the suitcase was open and files were shown to be stacked on top of files.

I immediately began to carefully take out the files and we all quickly skimmed through them.

Until finally we hit the bottom of the briefcase.

"Nothing" I said, "why isn't the file here"

Cassie began to place the files back in the case, "but he had the file" Sloane trailed off.

Once we heard steps coming down the stairs we quickly put back in the raising files and shut the briefcase, making it look as if it had been untouched.

We all then began to whisper random things to each other acting as if we had never even noticed the briefcase.

Once we noticed Briggs had finally reached the bottom steps we all turned quiet.

Briggs still had that fire of anger flickered in his eyes, but he also looked sad almost guilty.

He slipped his coat back on, grabbed his case and began to walk to the door, "next time you hear about a party consult me first".

"What if we dont" Michael said.

Briggs stopped and turned to us, "or I will let the real authorities take a hold of this case, send you back to Ontario, and..." he turned back and began his steps again.

"Let Ember off the team" he said his last words as he closed the doors.

We all stayed quiet.

"Man period much" I said as I left the room.