Coffee Shop

Chapter 7

Amelia goes to leave so she can get home and do her homework when Benjamin stops her. He literally stopped her by calling her name and standing up to walk to her. 

"Amelia.. I hope I didn't cross a line earlier. He just looked like he was getting frustrated and was confused so I offered and he took it. I didn't mean to upset you today in History either." Benjamin was rubbing the back of his neck again.

"No Benjamin, you're okay. I just have so much going on right now. I literally don't have time to help him like I should. And it drives me insane. My grades aren't the best but he has so much time. I don't this is my last year. I want him to do well and he needs all the help he can get with Math. And this morning I'm sorry for snapping. I don't let people in and it seems no matter how hard I try I slip and say something stupid. This," Amelia gestures back and forth between them, " is out of character for me. So when I snap just know you need to leave me alone."

"You're a good sister. You just act like a Mom a little too much." Benjamin laughs.

"Don't I know it. I mean if our-", Amelia stops mid- sentence. Turning abruptly she walks out of the café and gets in her car. She thinks to herself the entire way home that maybe Benjamin doesn't mean any harm. Maybe she should open herself up to someone that even her brother seems to like. "Nawh, that's crazy talk." Amelia says out loud laughing to herself. It still bothers her that he gets her riled up so easily. 

Amelia walks in the door and notices that Greyson is nowhere to be found and Caterina is gone. Amelia cracks open Greysons bedroom door to see if he is in there. She sees his form huddled under the covers fast asleep. She checks the time and notes that it is eight so it makes sense that he is in bed.

"Amelia, we need to talk." her Mom says suddenly. Amelia jumps and shuts Greysons door.

"What is it Mom?"

"Honey, you're father has been in jail for five years now. He called me today and informed me that he'll be getting out on good behavior in a couple of months. I expect you to apologize to him when he gets home and act like nothing has changed. You are to respect him. Am I clear?"

Amelia stood there shocked. After what she did to protect her family from him, her mother is just going to let him back in that easily. What did she do wrong?

"Okay." Amelia nods her head still too shocked to process anything. Her mother seems happy with her response though. Amelia walks to her room and closes her door. She pulls her phone out and texts Caterina.

"Hey Cat. I have some news." Amelia lays back and puts her phone on her stomach. A few minutes later it vibrates.

"What news?"

"My Dad is getting out in a couple of months on good behavior. And I'm supposed to apologize and respect and ignore what he did. Greyson knows there was a lot of fighting but he doesn't know the extent it went to."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW!? SHE'S LETTING HIM COME BACK TO YA'LL THAT EASY!?"

"Yeah..."

"I'm sorry.."

"Not you're fault..." Amelia lays her phone on her nightstand and dozes off waiting on a reply from Caterina. 

A few hours later Amelia wakes up to her phone vibrating. She checks the number, not recognizing it she ignores it. Checking the time she sees she only had gotten three hours of sleep before her phone un-mercilessly drug her into consciousness. She rolls over and is about to fall asleep when her phone vibrates again. This time it's a text vibrate. She sees it's from Cat.

"I'm busting you out of there around midnight. You're going to a party."

"Okay I'm giving Ben your address and number. He's busting you out of there."

"Amie you need to have some fun. Ben said he's on the way." Amelia jerks up wide awake. Ben coming to her house. What in the world. She doesn't need to be broke out of her own house. Amelia stands up and walks to her window. She sees a Ford Durango and realizes that Ben is leaning on the side of it. 

Amelia notices that Benjamin looks up. She must have been staring for too long and made him get that weird feeling. He walks up to the side of the apartment. 

"Where's the fire escape?" Benjamin asks her. Did he seriously think she was going to sneak out of her house in the middle of the night with a stranger? 

"It's in the living room. You have to be quiet though. My brother and mother are sleeping." Amelia mentally smacks herself. Why would she say that? What is going on? It's lack of sleep Amelia thinks. It's the only reasonable explanation.

Going in her closet Amelia picks out a pair of floral leggings, loose black t-shirt and sandals. Feeling ready she grabs her cropped and frayed denim jacket and tiptoes through the living room. Sliding the living room window open she steps out onto the fire escape. She shuts the window back and goes to spin around but her sandal catches on a piece of metal that's broke and she falls. Groaning she covers her face with her hands and then hears footsteps running up the steps. she sits up and he trips on the last step and falls. She watches as Benjamin rolls over and then she starts loudly laughing. 

"What's so funny that hurt?" Benjamin asked trying to cover that he was horribly embarrassed. He shakes his head.

"You heard me fall and rushed and fell yourself." Amelia continues laughing as she dusts herself off and offers him a hand. He pushes it aside standing up himself. 

"Come on. Let's get to the party." Benjamin grabs my hand and pulls me down the steps. We reach his car and I jump in the front seat. I put my seat belt on and smile.

When he gets in the drivers seat he looks over at me, " Are you serious? Live a little!" He unbuckles my seat belt. Amelia looks at him like he is crazy causing him to laugh.

"So why did you come pick me up?" Amelia asks buckling up again. He starts laughing again.

"Have some fun Amelia. You've snuck out with a boy to go to a party. You can be a teenager for once."

Amelia stares daggers at him. 

"Oh my god. I'm sorry. I just I've seen you around and you- that was uncalled for." Benjamin runs his hand over his face.

They rode in silence the rest of the way to the party.