The room was silent. Natalia cleared her throat and sat up.

"Are you guys gonna tell us why you are getting a divorce?"

"It's personal," Carly said. Sanjit snorted.

"Sorry to say but it's not exactly personal is it? It's not about you guys anymore? Did you forget you have children?!"

"Sanjit, it's not like that! Look, we are trying. We just don't know what we are gonna do now."

"Typical," Natalia muttered. "I promised Mark I would do this for him but there is nothing to be done. You guys don't even know what you want."

The parents started to argue and Sanjit and Natalia went to their rooms. Natalia paced the floor as she dialled in Mark's number.

"Mark, are you busy?"

"Who's this?" a female voice said. Definitely wasn't Jenna. She heard Mark's voice at the background and frowned. "Yeah?"

"Where are you?"

"At Marsha's house. Look, I'm kinda busy now, what was it?"

"I was just gonna ask if you can come over but I guess your ex-girlfriend can entertain you."

"For God sake, Natalia. Her cat died. It was the last thing her grandmother gave her before she died. I don't need to be with you all the time. Your parents are only getting a fucking divorce, Natalia. Deal with it." A few seconds went by and Mark exhaled sharply. "Nats-"

"I'm sorry I bothered you then. I'll just...It doesn't even matter anymore. I guess it's time you got that off your chest. Bye." Natalia turned off her phone and lay under her covers. She heard her parents still screaming and locked the door. She needed to get away from everything.

Marsha rolled over to the side of the bed after Mark put down the phone. "I can't believe you just said that to your girlfriend."

"She turned off her phone, I can't call her again. Dammit! Why does she always do that?!"

"She didn't do anything. She just wanted her boyfriend with her. That's all. Come on, we are talking about Natalia here."

"What's that meant to mean?" he asked, defensive.

"She's vulnerable. She can't take things as well as others can. Go to her. I know you're only being a friend here but she needs you more. You need her."

"At least she still has her parents. Both of them..." he muttered. "I'm just gonna go home..."

"Mark, you are being stupid."

"I am not being stupid! She's not appreciating her parents! Then when one of them dies she is gonna come to me and she is gonna cry and tell me how she didn't spend time with them! Then I have to go through that all over again!"

"She just wants an answer from her parents! Mark, you have been my best friend for a very long time and this is one of the most stupidest things I heard from you. And you've said a lot." Mark stormed out and drove home.

For the rest of the day, Natalia listened to her parents screaming and then the slam on the door meaning her dad left. Mark locked himself in the bedroom after doing some work then finally went to sleep. At least he tried to fall asleep but Natalia kept popping into his head.