She Hides Behind a Smile

Smiles

Natalie was a nice and friendly girl, often making new friends in the easiest of ways. She had straight A's and great friends that always cared about her and her wellbeing, and always made sure to check up on her since she was the youngest in their little group. She was also theost concentrated when it came to her school work, and the smartest. She was on her way to being valedictorian of her year.

"Oi Lili!" Natalie's friend Wendell called out. "Are you on your way home already?"

"Yeah. I don't wanna be late again. I'll get grounded by my dad. If he's drunk that is." Natalie replied.

"Ah. Well call me when you get home okay? There's something super super important that I wanna talk to you about shorty." Wendell said with a laugh.

Natalie giggled, and gently punched his shoulder as she walked over to him. She had a smile on her face, and a light blush on her cheeks. So did Wendell. They'd been crushing on one another since they both were about the age of nine or ten. So basically, they'd grown incredibly close. As they were the age of 17 at this time.

"Alright Dell. Make sure that you get some rest. I don't wanna have to be yelling at you like your mom for getting lower than a C on your Calculus test." Natalie said with a smile.

Wendell nodded at her, then her ruffled her hair gently. "Sure thing shorty. Now get going."

Natalie smiled brightly and grabbed her backpack from her locker, then pushed her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. She started on her walk home, being in a more joyful mood than she usually was. She had gotten her report card back, and she had all A's, as she should usually have. She headed down the sidewalk of the school, then around the corner. She lived only half a block away from the school, so she walked to and fro just about any day she wanted unless she felt like driving herself.

She arrived home soon enough, the school only being a 15 minute walk from her house. She looked in the driveway, sighing heavily. She hoped her father wasn't sloppy drunk yet. There were four cars in the driveway, and Natalie knew that it was one of his drinking days. She slowly approached the porch, then placed her hand on the doorknob to open the door.

Before she opened it, she could hear the voices of her father and a few others that were inside. She took a deep breath, holding a half opened envelope in her hand as she held the other on the doorknob tightly. There was a soft rattle as she opened the door, then she stepped inside the house, quietly closing the door behind her. Natalie made her way to the kitchen, following the sounds of voices. She peeked around the corner, catching a glance at her father leaned against the counter and her uncle on the side of him.

"That's real rich, you dumbass. That's why you can't keep a decent wife Edward." Her father Edwin exclaimed with a laugh.

Her uncle was somewhat drunk, but sober enough. Her was laughing at a dumb joke he made, and her father was laughing along. Natalie glanced towards her uncle, giggling silently at the corny joke he had made. Edward looked up for a moment, and caught sight of Natalie's black hair.

"Hey Nat. Why're you hiding around corners?" He said with a slight grin.

Natalie slowly stepped from behind the corner, a sly smile on her face as she looked up at him.

"Sorry uncle Ed. J-Just curious to hear what you all were saying is all..." Natalie said in her soft voice.

"Well you eavesdropping is also interrupting, and I've told you about that. Have I not?" Edwin interjected.

Natalie's eyes grew wide, and a small whimper escaped her lips as she began to stutter. "Y-Yes papa.. you h-have told me before.."

"Ungrateful and rude little shit.." Her father growled as he stepped close to her.