Coffee Shop

Chapter 13

Cat has officially disappeared and she needed her phone in a couple hours. Cat would find her though. Amelia was drinking her fourth beer and was feeling pretty tipsy. She needed to finish this and start drinking coffee or water to help sober up. When she couldn't be slurring her words.

Cat walked up to Amelia and Benjamin sitting on the couch. 

"Hey love birds. Amelia, your dad called and I told him you were in the bathroom but that we were safe and you were gonna call in a few minutes. He said okay to just shoot him a text when you're on the way home. You're clear for the rest of the night. You still have four hours to party, drink, kiss Benny here and sober up."

"Love birds? But..." Amelia was having a hard time concentrating and decided to just laugh. well, she involuntarily laughed.

Benjamin was smirking next to her. Looking at him she realized how attractive he is. "But CAT I'm not going to kiss him. He's a friend." Amelia grabbed his hand to try and prove a point but he didn't pull away. He held on tighter. It wasn't noticeable to the eye but she felt it. She blushed. She really did not need to be drunk next to him.

"Why don't you get some water Amelia. Cat, would you get her some?"

Benjamin and Amelia were sitting on the couch. Another couple took the spot Cat was in and Amelia had to sit on Benjamins' lap. She had been at the party for a couple hours now and her and Benjamin had been  stuck like glue. They couldn't stop talking. She couldn't help but seem to like him more and more. She barely knew him though. It was obvious that he would do anything for a friend and was protective. He was loyal, respectful, kind, didn't pity her and was still there for her after everything. 

"Ben- jamin. I need some air." Amie had to yell over the music.  She stood up cautiously and he followed suit. He guided her through the crowd to the patio which was loud but not as bad once the door shut. 

"You okay?" Benjamin asked her. 

Kind too, Amelia thought as she said, " Yeah. I was getting to hot and it was really loud."

"Okay. Let's sit by the pool house. Not as much foot traffic."

They walked over and Amelia started sniffling.

"What's wrong?"

"You're just a really good friend Ben. You know about my father but you don't pity me and you haven't left because I come from an abusive household. Even though he hadn't hit me it was my Mom. It's just nice to have another friend that knows. You and Cat are the only two. You found out some by accident and then Cat told you the rest. I just don't open up and I'm the weird anti- social girl. It's really nice. You're really nice, kind loyal and so attractive. I just-"

"Let's stop you there before you talk anymore on this subject. This is a sober topic not drunk topic. Plus sober Amie doesn't call me Ben."

"But Ben-"

"No Amie."

Amelia wanted to talk and get it off her chest but he wouldn't let her. She wanted to tell him something changed since yesterday and earlier today. She wasn't sure why but she was intensely attracted to him. 

"Amie whatever your thinking don't do it. I know things are weird right now for you but don't do something you'll regret."

"But Ben-"

Amie gasped when he held her face in his hands. She leaned in and kissed him. She didn't know how else to get him to understand she liked him. That just because she has drank doesn't mean she is going to regret this. She might because of her father things are complicated enough. 

"Oh my god-" Cat said with her eyes wide. I knew this s**t was going to happen. I'm good."

Amelia moved away from Benjamin startled.

"About time Cat. I tried to stop her multiple times. "

"Well ya'll moved so I had to look for you. It's been about ten minutes since I saw ya'll last."

"Well thanks. She is persistent."

Amelia was listening but having a hard time concentrating on what was being said. 

"Listen you like her and she likes you. What's the problem?"

"The problem is she is drunk. She doesn't need to do stuff like this. You're good for her but you let her relax a little too much. It's reckless. What if it wasn't me?"

"Ben it was. Listen she's not going to regret it. She'll be embarrassed by this tomorrow and apologize and then try to push every bit of feelings she has for you down."

"She shouldn't have to. She is an amazing person and she should have realized how she felt and kissed me when she was sober."

"You're going to push all your feelings down to. You've liked her since you took her from the house for a day. She's liked you since then but you knew you did and just hid it from her. She hid her feelings from herself  not just you."

"We need to sober her up and get her home soon."

"I know. She shouldn't have been drinking but she needs to have fun. She's more uptight with her father home than before. Before she was closed off and now she may as well be a hermit. I'm lucky we got her out as is."

"I like her a lot but she needs to sober up and admit her feelings to herself first. I'll start helping her. Just go get me a big cup of coffee."

"Actually she needs a double Oreo caramel Frappuccino to sober up the water is to just get liquids in her. I need to get two."

"Okay well hurry."

"Wait, you like me Ben?" Amelia asks as Cat walks away to get her sober drink.

"This is a sober conversation. I want you sober to have any type of conversation like this."

"But I want to have this conversation."

"Amie not now. Once we've got you sobered up even just a little."

Cat walks back up with one Frappuccino and hands it to Amelia.

Amelia drinks it sulking she can't get what she wants.  Halfway through she looks at Ben and smiles shyly.

"Sorry for kissing you. Can we forget this happened. I was out of my mind."

"Yeah that's fine Amie."

"Thank you." Despite Amelia wanting to distance herself she saw herself inching closer to him and continuing talking like nothing ever happened. Amelia finished her drink and was handed another one to help get the alcohol smell out and get her back to complete normal.

Cat and Amelia said bye and she gave Ben a hug before leaving. Cat hands Amelia her phone so she can call her Dad.

"Hey Dad I just wanted to let you know we are headed home."

"Okay. Did you drink anything?"

"No. I had some coffee but no alcohol. "

"Alright well I'll see you soon."

By the time Amelia got home her father was passed out so she went and got changed into her pajamas and promptly went to sleep.