7. The Diary of Natasha Rogers

Instructions

⠀⠀⠀⠀At school the next day, I noticed most of the girls giving me odd looks as they stood huddled by their lockers. I ignored them, pulling out my textbooks. I wasn't surprised at their reactions. What I did yesterday was something new, and they took new as weird. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Natasha," Charlie smiled at me as he sat down at lunch. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hi, Charlie," I said, feeling surprised. "Call me Nat. Natasha is a mouthful." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Okay, Nat," he said slowly. "Yesterday was pretty great. When do results come out?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Thanks," I blushed and swirled my pieces of chicken around in the gravy. "They come out next week." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'll be there," he said. "Ready to congratulate the first girl on the track team." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Charlie, you're really nice," I smiled, setting my fork down. "I really appreciate it." ⠀⠀⠀⠀He grinned, "You're the first person who I feel comfortable around. It's not too hard to then be nice." ⠀⠀⠀⠀I nodded, "You do notice I'm kind of a social outcast, right?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Why should that matter?" He asked, looking sincere. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"It shouldn't," I answered. "But people make it matter." ⠀⠀⠀⠀He nodded, "I know. Everywhere I've gone, people are judgy." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"You've moved a lot?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah," he sighed, "rent goes up, and then my mom has to get a better paying job or a lower rent apartment, or both." ⠀⠀⠀⠀I reached out and patted his arm, giving him a sympathetic look. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"But, after I graduate next year, I can help her," he said, sounding determined. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"That's great," I smiled. ⠀⠀⠀⠀He nodded, "Hey, what about your mom? How does she get by?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Oh," I looked down, "she's got kind of a classified-I-can't-tell-you job." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Makes sense," he nodded again. "She was an agent before, right?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yep." ⠀⠀⠀⠀I sighed and looked at Charlie as he ate. I wanted to tell him about Dad. I wanted to talk with him about it. And most importantly, I wanted to tell him about his dad. ⠀⠀⠀⠀I came home to an empty house. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Mum? Dad?" There was no response. I set my bag on the couch and walked into the kitchen. A plate sat on the table with two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a note. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Nutmeg, went out. Be back at five. Love, Dad." ⠀⠀⠀⠀I shrugged and set the note down. Picking up the plate, I carried it up to my room. ⠀⠀⠀⠀The room hadn't changed much through the years. The walls were still blue. The bed, dresser, and desk still stood in their same places. It was just the smaller stuff that changed. My desk was more organized now. I had some cool Shield office supplies from Mum, which I showed off on the empty surface. Besides that, it was the poster on the wall. Can you guess you it was? ⠀⠀⠀⠀Dad was dressed in his more b^ttlefield uniform, holding his shield in one hand and saluting with the other. I sat on my bed and looked at it as I ate. ⠀⠀⠀⠀After I finished on sandwich, I left the other one for later and headed downstairs to the kitchen. In one cabinet, I rifled through Mum's cookbooks and pulled out a Better Homes and Gardens dessert cookbook. ⠀⠀⠀⠀When the screen door shut, I set the plate on my desk and hurried down the stairs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"You're home!" I smiled, walking into the living room. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Nutmeg, did you miss me?" Dad hugged me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Of course," I nodded. "So, where did you two go?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"The hospital, Natasha," Mum answered. She sat on the couch. Right away, I knew something was up. No one ever called me by my first name. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Why?" I asked, looking back and forth between them. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's nothing serious, darling," Mum said, holding her hand out to me. Her nickname for me made me relax, so I took her hand and sat next to her. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's just..." Dad sighed and looked at Mum. She nodded. "You're going to be a sister." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"What?" I gasped. "Really?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yes, darling," Mum smiled at me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"But, how is the baby going to be explained to the world?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"It won't have to be," Dad said. "By now, Captain America has become a legend from years past. It's been twenty years. Besides, I can go out more. The beard is a good disguise." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"I still can't believe you grew one," I shook my head. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"You don't think it looks good?" He frowned. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"You always look wonderful, dear," Mum smiled softly. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Okay, names," I said, getting excited. "Do you have any ideas?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀Mum laughed, "Slow down, Nat. You're getting a little bit too excited." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Alright, fine," I stood up. "Besides, I have to go to the Starks." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Oh?" Dad looked at me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah. I made cookies for Mrs. Stark," I said, walking into the kitchen. "I'll be back in time for dinner."