Broken Together

Chapter 9: Distraction

Chapter 9

 AMELIA

 After Vincent’s outburst yesterday, I’m still left with a lot of questions that are still unsettled. Vincent drove me back to my apartment building, telling me multiple times to never wear Jake’s jacket again or he’ll burn it, which made me laugh and he scowled at me. 

 Now here I am, sprawled on my bed with a stupid grin on my face. “I want you” in Vincent’s voice continued replaying in my head and it’s making me want to see him. 

 My phone chirped, and I took it from my table. I slide open to see a text from Alice, 

 Good morning, Mel! My mom wants to meet you at lunch. I’ll pick you up at 10. :) 

 Her mom? Vincent’s stepmom? Why would she want to meet me? I glimpsed at the clock and it’s almost 10 so I have to get ready because whether I like it or not, Alice will come barging in if I’m not downstairs waiting for her. 

I decided to wear what my mom gave me. The blue laced cocktail dress is the only thing in my closet that looks a bit formal, and since I’m meeting Vincent’s stepmom, I figured I should put on something tolerable. I let my hair down since it’s a phenomenon that it’s not in its usual disarray. I hovered a few minutes inside my room because I don’t a shoe or a sandal to go with this dress and time is running out. I glanced again on the clock and it’s 10 minutes before 10. I just grabbed my black flat shoes and quickly put it on and rushed outside of my apartment, and rode the elevator. 

As soon as the elevator door opened, Alice stepped inside of the entrance of the building and she immediately smiled when she saw me.  

“Mel!!” She beamed as she approached and gave me a tight hug. 

“Hi.” I said beaming as I pat her back lightly. 

 When she released me, she looks straight into my eyes. “I’m sorry about the other night. I didn’t know that she would be there.” She said.

 “It’s okay. Who is she anyway?” I asked.

 “Her name is Rebecca.” Alice responded and her expression turned sour just my mentioning her name. I was waiting for her to tell me more about Rebecca, but her phone buzzed so she fished it out from her pocket. She looked at it for a few seconds as it rang, but she ended up rejecting it. She looked up at me and her face is starting to light up again. “Let’s go!” She said cheerfully. 

I’m still dumbfounded looking at their house. Rich people and their big houses. 

“My mom will meet us in the garden. Come.” She held my hand and brings me to their beautiful garden. Right in the middle of the it is a greenhouse and Alice leads me there.

 “This is stunning.” I said, examining the greenhouse. 

 “Thank you.” I turned around to see a woman who looks like Alice but more mature. She smiled kindly at me as she approached us. 

 “Hi mom!” Alice said cheerily. “Mom, this Amelia. Amelia, this is my mom, Clarice.

 “Pleasure to meet you, Amelia. Such a beautiful name.” Clarice extended her hand to me and willingly accepted it. She’s so beautiful and elegant that everything around her looks expensive and classy. 

 “Thank you.” I smiled at her, feeling sheepish. 

 “Please, sit.” Clarice gestured me to the chair opposite of hers and we sat around the table while a woman approached our table holding a tray with a teapot and cups. 

 “So, when did you two meet?” Clarice asked Alice and I.

 “Well, I went to the place she works at and took a picture of her then I kidn-“

 “Then she invited me to attend one of your parties.” I continued, interrupting Alice before she tells the rest of the story. Alice looked at me, perplexed.

 “I see. Which one? I didn’t remember seeing you there.” Clarice said before reaching for her tea.

“That one party when Vincent almost destroyed that grand piano.” Alice said nonchalantly as she picked up her cup. What? Almost destroyed?

 Clarice’s eyes widen for a few seconds and stared at me. “I see.” she said, smiling.

 “Clarice.” We all turned to see a man with a striking blonde hair and grey eyes entered the greenhouse.

 “Stephen.” Clarice whispered admiringly as the man approached her and gave her a kiss on her cheeks. It’s such a sweet gesture, and it reminded me of my parents. This must be Vincent’s father.

 The man looked at me and his eyebrows furrowed. “And you are?”

 I was about to introduce myself when Vincent came barging in, his eyes intense. “What are you doing here?” He ordered. I looked around to see his family’s reaction, and they were all watching us.

 “I invited her, Vincent.” Clarice spoke, and Vincent looked at her. He softened up, then he closed his eyes briefly. “Will you sit down?” Clarice asked Vincent, and he obliged.

 He sat next to me and he placed his balled-up fist on his lap as he leaned back on his chair. I was waiting for him to look at me, but he kept his eyes elsewhere.

“Where were we,” Mr. Ashford continued, “your name?” urging me.

 “My name is Amelia Hale.” I said, smiling politely.

 “Nice to meet you, Amelia.” He smiled, finally. He signaled the woman from earlier to provide him and Vincent their drinks. The woman nodded lightly then looked at Vincent, battling her eyelashes before leaving. “What do your parents do?” 

It took me a few seconds to figure out if I should tell him the truth, but I decided that I should because I don’t want to lie about my life just because I want to impress Vincent’s family. “They are…”

 “Stop asking her questions like she’s applying to work for you.” Vincent interjected, scowling at his father.

 Stephen looked at his son, “I just want to know more about your sister’s friend.” He explained like he’s communicating to a toddler.

“Let me guess your next question? What do you see yourself after five years?” Vincent stated sarcastically.

 “What is so wrong with me asking her questions?” Stephen inquired, and I can see that he’s trying to control his temper.

 “My parents are in jail.” I blurted out. I looked at Stephen and Clarice traded glances, Alice gawked at me wide eye and Vincent’s eyebrows furrowed and his lips pursed as he stared at my hands clasped together on my lap. I looked down and as I wait for them to say anything. I understand that Vincent probably just wants to protect me by acting like that towards his father, but I don’t want them to fight.

Vincent grabbed my hand all of a sudden, then he rose to his feet. “We’re leaving.” He declared as he yanked me out of the greenhouse, not being able to say goodbye to his parents or to Alice. We’ve reached the entrance of their house when I realized that I left my bag on my chair at the greenhouse.

 “I need to go get my bag.” I said to Vincent. He halted to stare at me. His scowl recedes as he looked at me.

 “I’ll go get it. Stay here.” He responded.

 “I’ll go get it.” I countered.

 He ran his hand on his hair again and before he can argue, I backed away and started to walk back to the garden, “Go get your car and I’ll get my bag.” I added, glancing back at his scowling face.

 As I neared the greenhouse, I can hear Alice’s voice, “She’s a good person. Why can’t I be friends with her?”

 “I don’t think she’ll be a good influence, sweetheart.” Stephen retorted.

 “You don’t know that.” Alice sighed.

 I turned around and walked away while my insecurities seeping in. As I walk to the entrance, I spotted Vincent with his back against the passenger door, arms crossed, eyes downcast. I chewed my bottom lip, struggling to hold back my tears. I am yet again, not wanted. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I walk towards him.

He saw me coming, so he stood upright. I halted a few feet away from him, thinking of what to say. He stepped closer, and he cupped my cheeks and looked into my eyes. His blue eyes seemed like it’s looking straight into my soul and it’s trying to pacify the storm inside me.

 “Let’s go.” He whispered, and I nodded against his hand.