A big thank you to HoplessRomantic1994, mozzi- girl, CauseOfDeathLover13, and Guests!

Hope ya'll enjoy chapter 2!

Mal Fallon

You sit idly at your desk, fiddling with your pencil. Twirling it between your fingers, all the while listening.

You're in 'Communication' class, and surprisingly enough, you're getting good grades. You look up towards the board, temporarily blinded by the fluorescent lights. And for the first time, you notice Natara near the front of the class, taking notes. She seems very into Mr. Horan's boring lectures. He's constantly repeating himself, as if to sink the message in. Well, it does work..

You stare at the clock for a while, and you swear, each tick of a second gets slower and slower. The bell finally rings, and you notice that you haven't taken any notes. Yet, you remember everything Mr. Horan just talked about.

You grab your things and stand to leave. Until you decide to wait for Natara. She's not too bad. She seems nice.. You think.

She turns with her books and sees you waiting. She smiles a greeting and walks out with you.

"Hey, I didn't know you were in my class the whole time?" She asks.

"That's because you pay too much attention to the lesson.." You say with a smile. She smiles back.

She's beautiful.. Wait? What?

You walk together down the hallways of the bustling crowd.

"What other classes are you taking?" She asks.

"Well, communications.." You point out, obviously.

"Criminal justice, psychology, and criminal law." She smiles, impressed.

"Your really going all out, aren't you?"

"Yeah, but only to follow in footsteps.. What about you?"

"All the same, but in different classes as you. Well, except for communications.."

"Interesting.." You say.. Her teachers must be better, you think. She's smart..

"So.. 'Following in footsteps', huh? Fathers?" You look at her, confused.

"How did you.."

"Well, when makes say "follow I their footsteps", it generally means there fathers or past male ancestors.." She quips.

"Okay, uh.. Slow down.." You say jokingly, both smiling.

"But yes, carrying the tradition, I suppose. My dads a.. Cop.." You lie. Your stomach turns when ever you talk about your father. Especially when it makes him sound good.

"Hmm.. Fallon does sound familiar.. Oh! He was captain! I saw him in the news.." She drifts off sadly.

"I guess we're even from yesterday, huh?" She asks.

You chuckle lightly, as you both stop, about to turn directions to your lockers.

"Don't worry about it. Hey, do you wanna hang out at lunch or something?" You ask.

"Yeah, sounds great. Besides.." She starts to walk away.

"I was going to anyway." She heads off with a smile to her dorm.

You turn left towards yours, with an impressed 'phew!'

She's really something..

Natara Mansingh

You spot Mal sitting on the concrete steps near the skatepark. You park yourself next to him.

"Hey." You say. He looks slightly upset.

"You okay?" You ask, trying to face him.

"Yeah.. It's umm.." He sighs. "My mother, she's in hospital."

You heard about this, it's all over school actually. But you act like is new information. But you still feel sympathy..

"Oh.. Sorry.. If you don't mind me asking, what for?.." You say sadly.

He gives you a look, he cocks an eyebrow at you.

"Everyone knows, you don't have to be sympathetic."

"Sorry.. But, you were never this upset earlier?" You ask.

"I got a call form the hospital.. She's entered the 'terminal' stage."

But that, you didn't know..

"Oh, Mal.. I'm really sorry.." You put a hand on his back, reassuringly.

"You know what I just noticed?" He asks, suddenly.

"You seem to know a lot about me.. Tell me about yourself.." He insists.

"Well.. There's not much to say.. Uhm, I'm studying criminology, simply because it interests me.. And because of it, my father an I aren't on the best terms."

He cocks his eyebrow again..

"Is that all?" He asks. You sigh defeated.

"Ya got me.. I'm studying criminology because I want to understand why someone would want to hurt Trisha.. She simply didn't do anything wrong.." Mal gives a sympathetic nod.

"But I do happen to find it very interesting!" You defend. You both chuckle.

"Why doesn't your father like that idea?" He asks.

"He wants me to study business. To join him in his career. He doesn't think that being a cop, or an FBI agent is no career for a woman."

"He's just protecting you.."

"I know, and it's sweet of him.. But it's too late.. I've changed my studies, and we haven't talked since our last.. Argument.."

"Wait a second.." He says, furrowing his brows. "Mansingh! Mansingh Transglobal! That's your dad?!"

"Yeah.."

"Well, I don't know about you.. But I think that you should do what ever feels right.. And you should feel proud to be a Mansingh.."

You smile, and then face him again.

"But I'm not a Mansingh.." You say, extending a hand to him.

"Natara Williams, nice to meet you.."