𝐄𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 ° ° ° 𝑚. 𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑦

Chapter 12; Friends

Previously on "Enlightenment"

With one last thought, Natalya gets out of the car. Locking the doors behind her and taking a few uneasy steps towards the door. Her tennis-shoes making quiet tapping sounds with each step she took. For once embracing her shortness and not wearing heels. Something Natalya does not do often.

The bell on the door jingles, Iris turns on her heel and smiles brightly at the short brunette. "Talia!" Iris sets down her tray and gives the woman a tight friendly hug.

"Hey Iris, how are you?"

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FOR THE PAST HALF N' HOUR Natalya and Iris simply sat and talked. Sipping their coffees every once in a while. Iris got the rest of the day off for this, just for them. Natalya tried to protest, but that was no use. Iris is strong headed, and once she has an idea, you can't convince her otherwise. Apparently, that's much like the infamous Barry she keeps hearing about.

"When will I be able to meet your brother, Iris?" Natalya keeps questioning. Curiosity getting the best of her throughout the conversation.

"He's actually on his way right now with a few of his friends," she reply back kindly. It feels as if Iris is trying to hide something from her...

She shakes off the feeling, sending a smile at her friend, wondering if Jenny will be able to make it. A party is happening, Iris came up with it on the spot of seeing Natalya. A welcome back party, just for her and friends. Maybe family if Natalya's mother decides to join them. Probably not, for her mother is a busy woman and doesn't have much time for silly little parties. At least, that's how Natalya put it when Iris brought it up a while ago.

Almost on que, two men and a woman sit at the table. A man with dark long hair and woman with red-brown sat next to each other, next to Natalya. The other man, brown hair, blue eyes pale and lean sat next to Iris. Her face beaming when she saw him, his as well. She feels the connection between the two. A spark that not even they can feel. And at that moment, Natalya knows the two will be married in the near future.

"Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, this is Natalya, but I assume you can call her Talia, everyone does," Iris points out everyone as she spoke. Speaking softly and slowly, making sure everyone understood the words spewing out of her plump red lips.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all!" Natalya smiles, continuing her train of thought, "I hear so much about you Barry. Quite famous you are, especially how Iris puts it."

Barry's neck fleshes pink and goes up to his ears. Looking away from Natalya and Iris, too embarrassed, as well as Iris. Natalya let's out a snort, shaking her head with a large grin. She sees that it is easy to embarrass both of the siblings the same way. How cute.

They all sat and talked, laughing, smiling, embarrassing each other. If you take one glance at the group, you would think they have been friends for years. In all reality, they only just met. Natalya taking a liking to Cisco the most. Funny, charming, nerd and even a geek. A combination you don't find often, and unfortunately, she feels as though she is developing a crush to the young inventor.

"So Talia, anyone special back at home?" Caitlin asks, raising a brow at her new friend.

"Well, yes and no. I left him back with the kids..." Natalya's face flushes red, realizing how wrong that sounded. Iris simply starts to laugh at her friends stupidity. "I mean- I-I work at an orphanage! I left him there with the kids- the orphans!" she stumbles out, eyes wide.

"Calm down, not that big of a deal," Ciscos voice made Natalya internally relax. But everytime she thought of Cisco romantically, her mind wondered right back to Mike. Right back to the thing they had, and how she could ever betray that. Even if they still believe that they are still 'friends', at the very most, Natalya feels like she is betraying him for liking someone else.

"I should get going, it's getting late already. I need to find a place to-" before Natalya could finish, Iris butts in, "You can stay with Dad and I."

"Thank you Iris for the offer... But I don't want to be a burden," shaking her head, she lets out a sigh, standing from the chair she once sat in.

"Common Talia! Don't be like that, you know that we are more than welcome to have you over. Besides, tomorrow night we have a party, and in the morning Jenny will be here! It's just better if you stay with me," of course, Iris talks the gullible Natalya into the idea.

"Fine!" Iris whoops for joy, jumping from her seat. Everyone else getting up rather slowly, not wanting to leave the company of their new found friends. "Let's just go," Natalya rolls her eyes, giggling at the behavior of the 'adults' she hung out with that day.

Iris and Natalya leave C.C. Jitters together, getting into Natalyas car. Ignition turning on with a roar from the engine. Heater blasting warm air into the girls faces as they drive to Joe West's house. Excitement etched on their faces. One excited to see the old detective, and other happy to see her dad.

Joe was always kind to Natalya when she spent the night, even on holidays with the West family. Even with this history, she always managed to never meet Barry. Odd, but true, even Iris didn't understand it.

Even with all the excitement in the air, Natalya couldn't help but let her mind wonder right back to Mike, the orphanage, and children. How he was doing, or if he was doing anything at all. The fear of him neglecting or harming the children frightens her. Thinking of him scares her. Everything about that man is bad news. She feels it deep in her bones, no matter what others say or think.

Natalya Roman knows that Mike Fullman is bad. She knows that he should be put in jail. She knows but still cannot put a finger on how she does. No evidence... Not even a simple idea of who he may actually be. Or if he really is just Mike Fullman and not pretending at all. Maybe she is simply being paranoid because he's a new employee.

Everything is so scattered, nothing fits the large puzzle of Mike Fullman. With one puzzle piece that fits, two more do not. An endless cycle that can not, and will not be stopped until the very end. At the last straw, the last time Natalya will ever see Mike Fullman and just Mike Fullman. That is when everything will become clear, and all the puzzle pieces will come together.

For now, the time is far off, and Natalya needs to focus on the road. Even in the night, Central City will always be chaotic. She prays to the gods that Jenny will make a safe trip over, and that nothing will happen in the short time that Natalya is on vacation. Hoping that the kids will be alright, and her suspicions on Mike be settled.

Comfortable silence washes over the two girls seated in the car. Silence that not even Natalya noticed right off the batt. Silence, like the silence of her thoughts pooling in her mind. Slowly drowning everything, and everyone out until she is completely oblivious. Until the black hole of her mind becomes clearer and clearer.

Subconsciously, Natalya turns off the car, now noticing that they were parked in front of Joe's house. Her smile becoming more evident, even on Iris's face the smile never left. The excitement coming back once more for Natalya. Finally, to see Joe after so long. She has not seen him since college, which was a long time ago, even to Iris's standards.

"Anything you need help with to bring in, Talia?" she simply shakes her head, taking her first step out of the cozy car. Anxiety pooling in her veins, thoughts of being denied by Joe. Him saying that she is not aloud to spend her stay with them. Natalya knows that it's not real, she knows. But a part deep down in her says that she should follow her instinct.

They walk into the small house. Joe coming out from the kitchen, greeting the two woman with a warm smile. That's when Natalya knows that she is welcome, and forever will be welcomed in the West house.

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PLEASE EXCUSE/IGNORE ALL SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES!

It feels like its been forever you guys! I'm sorry for the long wait on this chapter, you know, school and stuff. Now I am On Thanksgiving break and will (hopefully) publish more chapters faster! I made even post a chapter on thanksgiving.... That would be cool if be wouldn't it?

Sorry for taking up all your time here, remember to leave a star, comment and share this book to friends and family!

AGAIN, PLEASE EXCUSE/IGNORE ALL SPELLING ANF GRAMMAR MISTAKES!