Brooklynn's POV:

I awoke the next morning in Nate's arms in his room, I felt numb, broken, distant, my nightmare was finally over, but I didn't feel better, my mom was missing and I really hoped she didn't have anything to do with this. I carefully got up and went to the bathroom, when I looked in the mirror, I didn't recongize the girl staring back at me, I am so lost. This was my fault, I wished him dead so many times it really happened, I heard a knock at the front door, I closed my eyes standing in the bathroom alone with the door locked, I stared at the floor, completly spacing out. 

It took me a few moments to pull myself together and leave the bathroom; I heard voices downstairs and a police radio. I decided to go see what was going on, as I walked downstairs Nate's mom was talking to an officer as a second one was staring at me,

"Brooklynn?" the officer asks.

"Yes?" I say looking at him.

"Can we talk to you alone outside for a moment?" the officer asks looking at me with sad eyes.

I nod, walking towards them barefoot and in Nate's clothes, I walk outside with the officers behind me, as I walk out I hear Nate's voice,

"Mom what's going on?"

"Its ok sweetie they just want to talk to Brooklynn about her dad," she replies.

I don't hear the rest of their conversation, one of the officers, Officer Stevens speaks,

"We figured out the cause of your father's death, he was extremely intoxicated and must have fallen down the stairs after blacking out, have you heard from your mother yet?"

I shake my head, "No I haven't, figures my dad drinks heavily and falls down the stairs."

The other officer, Officer Reynolds speaks, "Does he drink regularly?"

I nod, "Yes since I was like 10."

Officer Reynolds nods, "Okay if you hear from your mom please give us a call, we need to speak with her as well even though she wasn't home when it happened, we still need to question her okay?"

"Okay I will," I reply as they each hand me their cards.

"Call either of us if she returns okay?" Officer Stevens says.

"Okay officers I will I promise," I say.

They wave goodbye, then walk off Nate's porch I watch them leave, getting into their cruisers and driving off. I stand there and slowly look towards my house, there was yellow tape blocking off my house and crime scene units taking pictures and documenting everything. They brought out bags of empty liquor and beer bottles, all from last night, my dad over did it and died. I still don't understand where my mom was or why she hadn't called or picked up her cell phone, but then again she was probably all fucked up someplace with a friend she scores with. Things with her were so complicated, I felt like we didn't have a relationship and that I wasn't her daughter, she let my dad hurt us and never did a damn thing about it but gets fucked up on anything she could get her hands on. The pills, the hard drugs, the drinking she does, the choices she makes, it's like she just doesn't care anymore. That death will be just fine, but do they ever think of their families when they are getting fucked up? I don't think so otherwise my mom would have been home and my dad probably wouldn't be dead, he would be seriously injured but not dead. I wish I had just left and went to live with Aunt Morgan, I wouldn't have gone through all the hell I did. I'm so lost in my thoughts I don't even hear Nate trying to get my attention, until he gently pulls my face towards him, then he does the unexpected, he leans in and kisses me with some passion, it catches me off guard, but I return the kiss. When we part, I'm left more confused than ever,

"Brook, I love you and I'm sorry you're going through hell right now, but I'm here to help and get you through it okay?" Nate says

I nod, "Okay."

I go silent, looking at Nate, he looks back at me, I can tell he's trying to read me but I'm blank now, I can't even think straight, his kiss confused me more than ever because of all the feelings I was beginning to have for him, he took such good care of me and tried so damn hard to make sure I was okay and not getting hurt. He takes my hand and brings me back into his house,

"Sit I'll make us all some breakfast before my mom dazes out okay?" Nate says.

I nod, "Okay Nate."

He begins to make us all some food, I look around, seeing his mom sitting on the couch, his step dad was getting ready to leave for work, he says goodbye to all of us before he takes off, I kind of just wave and not say anything. I think the initial shock hasn't worn off yet, I still can't get the imagine of my dead father covered in blood out of my mind and all the blood that was on me that belonged to him. Nate snapped me out of it about 10 minutes later by putting a plate of food in front of me,

"Brook?"

I look at him, "Hmm?"

"You okay?" he asks.

I just nod as he sits next to me and his mom sits on across from us, we eat in silence, Nate knows something is bothering me but doesn't push me to speak. After breakfast we go get dressed, Nate's mom gives him some money so we can get out of the house, I pull out my phone as Lila calls,

"Hello?"

"Hey Brook, Ms. Holbrooke is wondering if you'd like a job teaching dance at the studio, she's looking for a few girls that know the ropes and asked if we'd be interested." Lila says.

"Yes I'm very interested, can you see if she'll give me some time though? I just lost my dad and my mom's still MIA, and I have to start helping with the funeral stuff, my aunt is coming from Florida tomorrow to start figuring things out until my mom shows back up." I reply.

"Yes of course she knows you just lost him, she isn't looking for us to start for a month anyways after our big competition in 3 weeks." She replies.

"Okay sounds good, ill need you to help me with the moves and stay caught up while I deal with this stuff if that's okay." I say.

"Of course, I can come by later on if you'd like and pick you up and we can go to the studio," Lila says.

"Yes sounds good, call me later," I say.

"You got it girl!" she replies before we hang up.

Nate looks at me after I get off the phone, "A job? That's amazing Brook," he says.

"Yeah I'm kind of excited I love dancing," I smile a little.

It was the first time I cracked a smile in a long time, Nate's face lit up when I smiled, he was also smiling, something so rare for the both of us. Nate took my hand and we left his house, heading towards the mall, little did I know that Nate's mom just gave him about a grand in cash, something rare and crazy. Nate knew I couldn't go into my home for a few more days, so he decided to steer us towards clothes, he ended up buying me a lot of things, and he was way too good to me. Did I deserve this? Was I worthy of Nate's love?