Coffee Shop

Chapter 12

Amelia went through the motions of the day knowing she had to go home since she didn't have a shift. Even though she could get off by the shop and ask if they need her. Then call her father and let him know. Hopefully it will appease him if she says she wants to pick up a couple extra shits so she can help out. 

Amelia sat down at her desk in history and Benjamin sits down next to her. She sees him look at her and look away. She watches as he fidgets with his pen and notebook, nervously. 

"Ben-jamin. I'm sorry for yesterday. I swear I'm not mad at you but I was short with you. Just there's a lot you don't know about me and I don't think we need to be friends."

"Too bad. We're friends. And by the way I'm coming by tonight. I'm going to sneak you out and we're going to a party. Also, Caterina told me about your father. How he just got out of jail for domestic abuse. I'll be damned if my friend stays in a house with a father who beats on her or her family."

"That's not a good idea. I mean it really isn't."

"Are you scared to be a date to a party?"

"Date?"

"Cause it's not. I'm taking you out so we can hang without your father around. Also, because you're a friend. So be ready by eleven tonight." 

"Benjamin..."

"I'm being serious."

The teacher walks in and looks at everyone and starts taking role. One or two people are absent. Starting the lesson and notes the class goes by fairly fast. Amelia couldn't concentrate becuase Benjamin knew and he still wanted to hang out with her. He didn't seem to pity her or anything. He seemed genuine and he looked different. She didn't know what it was. aybe it was because this is the first time someone who jsut met her was loyal and knew her before the sordid details of her father.  

Amelias thoughts veered towards the party. It was the annual party that Thomas Barschev threw. She missed out on it last year due to being sick and having to work. Maybe she can convince her father to let her if she let him know when she got there, that she was going with Caterina and would be home by eleven at the latest. 

"Hey Benjamin. Still plan to come by at eleven. I wanna see something first. If it works I'll let you know." Amelia whispered to him.

He smirked in response. 

At lunch Caterina, her boyfriend and Benjamin were sitting at the table when she got her food. AAmelia looks at Caterina and tells her what she was thinking and Caterina said she would ask instead. Maybe her mom would convince Amelias dad instead of them having to do it and less problems for Benjamin. 

"I mean Ben can totally do it but-"

"He doesn't need to get caught. And neither do I."

Benjamin looks at Amelia and says, "Amie I'll be waiting for a text then."

She gets home from school after stopping by and asking the café for an extra shift, which they didn't have. Caterina shows up a couple minutes later. Amelia was already in the shower so she didn't know about the conversation until Caterina pops into her Amelias room.

'We're going to the party!!!"

"Wait when did you get here?"

"I guess about twenty minutes ago or so."

"Ok... how did you get me to be able to."

"Well, I talked to your mom first. told her about the party explained that you missed it last year due to being sick and working and she agreed to it. Your father walked in and he said no to whatever she agreed to. So I explained it to him and your Mom even said that you deserve it ebcause you've helped out a lot sine he has been locked up and you wrok a lot plus keeping good grades. He finaly agreed as long as you were home by eleven at the latest."

"I need to go say thank you."

Running downstairs Amelia runs into her father. "I just wanted to say thank you for letting me go to the party. I understand that it may have been hard for you to say yes but I promise I am responsible."

"Well, Caterina promised and your Mom made a lot of points in your favor. I didn't give you enough credit lately. The only thing I ask is that you send me a text when you get there and let me know that you're okay halfway to you coming home. And let me know when you're on the way. Caterina told me there is alcohol but I don't want you drinking any of it. Is that agreed?"

"Yeah. Absolutely." Amelia agrees knowing she will but not enough to get drunk.  Amelia gets back to her room and Caterina has an outfit picked out for her.  A dark green romper with a bow on the back. Amelia threw on her fish net stockings, the romper and her Slytherin high-top Converse. Throwing her hair into a tight pony tail she grabs her wallet and heads downstairs.

"What is that?"

Amelia turns around to her father.

"I bought it last year. Caterina and I went to a Halloween party so I went as a casually dressed Slytherin from Hogwarts."

He looks at her and waves his hand away.

They hurry out the door and Caterina calls Benjamin from her phone. "Talk to Ben. let him know you'll be there to go straight to the party."

"Hello?'

"Oh, hey. So Caterina did it. We're headed to the party now after it took forever to get ready. Well it took Caterina forever."

"Awesome. But you know I'd happily sneak you out anytime right?"

"Um.. yeah." Amelias face flushed. She sensed something was different about Benjamin but couldn't tell what it was yet. It was nice. She relaxed more with him and Caterina. Although now that she thought about it, she enjoyed Benjamins company more. Probably because he was new.

Caterina was pulling into the driveway of the party. Amelia looks at Caterina and gets the okay.

Walking to the end of the drive Amelia calls her father to let him know they were there and she'd send him a text in a few hours.

"Okay. Don't forget. And no drinking."

"Okay."

 Hanging up she runs back to Cat and smiles. Her first real smile since her father came home. They were almost to the door when Benjamin showed up. Amelia watched as he gave Cat a hug and nodded at her. He even respected her boundaries about touching. Cat didn't even do that. Cat went off to find her boyfriend while Benjamin got Amelia and himself a drink.