Glow Sticks

Chapter 3.

To say it took the wind out of Amelia’s sails when Lilly and Max informed them of their upcoming wedding the following day was an understatement. She was so elated to see the two of them kiss that nothing else mattered. She was happy for her brother and best friend and the big bright smile that was stretched across her face left no doubt in any one’s mind. The twinkle of joy glittered in her eyes on the way to the bungalow to have a peaceful night of sleep, after a few celebratory drinks of course. “I can’t do it!” Amelia suddenly exclaims throwing her hands in the air as they walk side by side to the bungalow. Lilly is tugged tightly under Max’s arm. Her own eyes still brightly lit while she looks up in Max’s direction. “What can’t you do, Amelia?” Nate asks from the other side of Max. He chuckles as he watches the two lovebirds jump at the sudden break in silence from Amelia. Lilly’s eyes dart towards Amelia as she assumes the worst and that Amelia might not approve of their sudden decision to get married, doubt is clearly visible in her eyes as they linger worriedly on her best friend. “I just can’t go to sleep now.” Amelia sighs heavily as her shoulders sags, falling a few steps behind the rest. “I mean can you blame me? I just got the most amazing news in the whole wide world and you guys want me to go to sleep already?” She pulls her face in a frown, as she whispers just loud enough for them to hear: “You guys suck.” Lilly lets out the breath she was holding in anticipation when Amelia explains her exclamation, a relieved smile making its way to her lips. “So, dear sister what would you rather be doing then?” Max asks with an exaggerated sigh as he shakes his head at his sister’s dramatics, not really paying mind to how close they are to the pool near the bungalow. “Well, dear brother, I still did not get my ice cream for one and I have been dying to get into the pool all day.” She whines, catching the eyes of Nate. Smirking she motions with her head towards the pool as she mouths the words ‘Help me out.’ Nate smirks as he receives the message loud and clear. Suddenly he shoves Max from the side just as Amelia pushes Lilly from behind, causing the two entangled lovers to fall with a big splash into the pool. Amelia bends forward as she guffaws at two now surfaces from the watery depths, not realising that she now too is a target. Nate engulfed his big bulky arms around her causing her to choke on her laughter as she is suddenly lift off of her feet and thrown into the pool. “Nathaniel! You i***t this is not the way you try to rekindle a friendship.” She spatters trying to wipe the water away from her eyes between the words when her head surfaces from the watery depts. While slapping a wave of water his way, she huffs as Nate easily avoids the splash and his laughing only grows louder. “Real funny, guys.” Max grumbles after checking if Lilly is okay. Not amused at all, but it only lasts for a second as he realises Lilly, was shaking in his arms with quiet laughter. A smile broadens his face as he too starts to snicker quietly. Splashing his sister from behind, he missed this carefree atmosphere between the four of them. “Hey!” Amelia exclaims as she turns around to face her brother, before starting a splashing war between the two of them as Max tries his best to shield Lilly from the watery onslaught. Lilly takes this opportunity to move away from Max as he is distracted by the rapid splashes Amelia sends their way. Making her way to her friend she pretends to take her side as she half-heartedly splashes a few waves towards Max as a distraction. Pretending to take shelter behind Amelia, she swiftly presses her hands down on her best friend’s shoulders as she dunks her head under the water. Laughing out loud, she hurries away to the only place she feels safe at this moment, behind her fiancé’s back. Amelia breaks through to surface, spattering as her lungs expel the water she swallowed on her way down. “Lilly, you traitor!” She exclaims, before her eyes dart in Nate’s direction as he bellows in great laughter. ‘Oh, he thinks it is funny? I’ll show him funny.’ She thinks to herself as an idea pops into her head. “Mind helping me out?” She asks Nate with a sweet smile on her lips, while Lilly peeks from behind Max’s back to see exactly how much trouble she is in. “Yeah, sure snow.” Nate says calming from his laughter while he unknowingly falls back into the habit of calling her the pet name he gave her when they met. The smile on her face may look innocent, but Nate does not trust it at all and stands fast as he takes her out stretched hand in his. Instead off pulling herself up she kicks against the pool’s wall with all her strength, trying to let Nate fall into the pool. Max takes this opportunity to slip out of the pool unnoticed along with Lilly still hiding behind his large frame. Nate smirks at Amelia, not moving an inch. Sighing loudly she pretends to give in as she sees her brother move towards Nate. The moment her feet touch the edge of the pool, Max silently gives Amelia a nod and she pulls away from Nate again, just as Max pushes Nate from behind, causing gravity to take its toll and pull Nate down into the pool along with Amelia. Max’s laughter fills the air without waiting for the two of them to resurface he slings his arm around Lilly and draws her in closer to him as they make their way towards the bungalow again. “You two better run!” Nate calls after them playfully as he wipes the water out of his eyes. “And you!” He turns towards Amelia, with a menacing glint in his eyes. Knowing his wrath is about to come her way, she squeals as she tries to get away from Nate as fast as possible, but to no avail as Nate’s hand clamps around her arm, pulling her back towards him. The next thing she knows is that water surrounds her head again as Nate’s free hand presses down on her head. Seconds later she gasps for air, but the moment her lungs get full of air, she feels Nate’s hand press down again. Three more dunks later, Amelia cannot take it anymore and pleas for him to stop. “Please?” She gasps and then she gets dunked again. “Nate!” Gasp. Dunk. “Stop!” Gasp. Dunk. “Please!” Gasp, but the dunking stops. Gasping again she turns around to face Nate, while he snakes his arm around her waist so she can’t escape. It is way too close for comfort for Amelia, causing her to gasp again. Nate’s smirking face inches away from hers. “Say, you are sorry.” Nate demands with a triumphant glint in his eyes. Amelia tries to put some distance between them, but Nate had other ideas as he slides his other arm around the other side of her waist, tightening his hold on her. “Huh-uh, I believe you need to say something first.” “Something.” Amelia says sarcastically as she tries to pull away again. Before she knew it she’s gasping for air again. “Oh… glow… sticks...” She mutters between breaths. “Sorry, that….” Nate gets cut off by Amelia as she gasps loudly and throws her arms around him and hugs him tight. Confusion settles in as his words disappear from his thoughts. “Thanks for apologizing. You are so sweet.” She mocks as she pretends to wipe a fake tear from her already wet check, pretending that she did not just used her selective hearing ability. Instantly she whips around as Nates hold around her waist loosens due to his confused state. She is already lifting herself on the side of the pool when Nate realises what just happened. “You are so sneaky.” Nate states as he lifts himself onto the edge of the pool beside Amelia. “And just so you know that, isn’t the way I apologize.” He continues, his hazel eyes sparkling with a joy. Oh, really? I could have sworn I heard the word sorry leave your mouth.” Amelia smirks while she wrings the water out of her hair. “Believe me Snow, when I apologize you will definitely know since my mom taught me to always do it with a kiss.” Nate softly utters while pulling his shirt over his head to wring it out. Amelia’s eyes grow wide as Nate’s torso is on full display in front of her causing her to gulp involuntarily, his words passing her by unheard. His next words almost lost in her dazed state. “So, are you fine with Max marrying your best friend?” Nate’s tone of voice turns serious all of a sudden as his eyes stay fixed on his hands as he twists his shirt tightly. “Yeah.” Amelia utters breathlessly before clearing her throat. “Why?” She asks as she forces her eyes to focus on the water twinkling in the moonlight, a frown settling between her eyes. “I… I just…” Nate stutters as before he lets out a heavy sigh and move to a standing position. “Never mind.” He adds as he turns to walk away from the pool. “No Nate, wait.” Amelia rushes out, sensing that there might be some importance to what he wanted to say. Seconds later she grabs hold of Nate’s arm halting him in his step. “Of course I am fine with it. Why wouldn’t I be?” She asks willing him to talk with her eyes. “Isn’t it weird?” He sighs while he runs his hand through his hair. “I mean…” “Well, buddy…” Amelia begins, her eyes twinkling with mirth as she looks at Nate from head to toes. “The only thing I find weird here is your lack of wearing a shirt” She indicates with her finger in a circular motion to Nate’s abs that are on display. “No, what is weird is you ogling my torso.” Nate teases back as he flexes his perfectly sculpted pecks, instantly causing her eyes to widen. “Uhum.” Nate clears his throat as Amelia’s eyes roam from his pecks to his defined abdominals all the way to the starting lines of the v leading to his groan. Nate smirks as he folds his arms over his chest, a playful look in his eyes. “Eyes up here, Snow.” “Wha… What?” Amelia asks dazed as her eyes instantly find his. A blush creeps up her neck as a look of shame fills her eyes. She just got caught read handed checking out her brother’s best friend, which is her friend. “I said…” Nate starts, but gets cut off by a mortified Amelia. “I know what you said. I mean…” She starts as she focuses on keeping her eyes strictly on his while swallowing hard. “What was your question again?” “Well, look at you getting all distracted by my perfectness.” He laughs. “Isn’t your brother’s impulsiveness to marry Lilly a bit weird?” Putting the joking aside, his face turns worried as he looks at her questioningly. “He gets that from my dad.” Amelia sighs while Nate waits for her to elaborate. “My dad seems to have a tendency to marry the first girl that bats her eye lashes at him. This marriage would be his fourth in six years.” “Aren’t you bothered by the fact that Max might head into the same direction?” He questions with a frown between his brows. “Don’t get me wrong, even a blind man can see he cares for Lilly deeply, but will it last?” “I don’t believe he will. I have confidence in their love to last. My dad’s on the other hand, not so much. He tends to go for thirty year olds with, no children and a fear of breaking her nails. Lilly loves kids and has a mind of her own. Max is the only man in the universe in her eyes for the last ten plus years. She is also very strong willed and stubborn which makes me to believe she will keep Max on a leash if she has to.” Nate laughs at that, causing Amelia to softly smile. “I think it is hilarious how they thought I did not know about them liking each other. Like you said a blind man could see it.” “It’s amazing that they never acted on it. Since you moved here Max stopped going out with friends unless you and Lilly went with. I thought it was because of you until I saw him almost punching a guy that flirted with Lilly at the bar one night. That’s when it clicked. His eyes never leave her when she is around.” Nate’s voice has a hint of nostalgia to it as they near the bungalow. “I guess there is no need to worry.” “Now, now, don’t get ahead of yourself. It is still Max we are talking about.” Amelia teases with a quiet chuckle as they laps into a peaceful silence while they both drift into their own worlds. Nate wordlessly opens the door for them and let Amelia pass through first to which she thanks him absentmindedly as she quietly makes her way to her room. Stopping at the door she turns to Nate, with a small smile as she looks at him from the doorway. “I am glad that we are friends again.” Her smile reaches her eyes, before she disappears into the room closing the door behind her. “Yeah, me too.” Nate says quietly as he watches the closed door for a few moments. Amelia looks up from her position at the now closed door just as Lilly comes out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her short stature. The towel reaches her calves and wraps twice around her body. “These towels are so huge.” Lilly sighs. “Nah, I think you are just elfish.” Amelia retorts as she walks towards the bathroom to take her own hot shower. Lilly jumps at the sound of Amelia’s voice, lifting her eyes in shock. She did not hear Amelia entre the room. “Why so jumpy?” Amelia asks, her eyes filled with mischief. “Please do not tell me my brother is in there?” She teases, but can’t help to cross her fingers in hope that her brother is in his room and not here. “Just kidding. Your eyes can go back to their sockets now.” Amelia says as she reaches Lilly’s side, giving her a side hug before disappearing into the bathroom without waiting for a response from Lilly. After a relaxing shower Amelia heads to her bed, but stops dead in her tracks as she looks shocked at the sight in front of her. There in the middle of the bed Lilly sits with her eyes glinting with tears as she looks helplessly at the clothes scattered around her. “What happened?” Amelia asks curious as to why all Lilly’s clothes seem to be lying around the room as if her bag exploded. “I cannot marry Max tomorrow.” Lilly suddenly cries, unable to hold the tears back any longer, a pleading look in her eyes. “I have nothing to wear.” Dropping her head into her hands she cries harder as her shoulders shake with every sob. “Hey, Lil’s. It’s ok.” Amelia consoles in a soft voice while moving around some of the clothes so she can sit next to her friend. “We will find something.” “What? A refuse bag.” Lilly flatly remarks, lifting her head from her hands to roll her eyes at Amelia. “How about we go early tomorrow morning to that little boutique we saw earlier in town?” Amelia prompts as she looks down at Lilly with a reassuring smile. “Although having a refuse bag as a wedding dress will so be you.” Amelia jokes with a serious look on her face earning a slap to her shoulder from Lilly. “You are not funny.” Lilly says sternly, but cannot help the smile that tugs at the corners of her lips. “There is a boutique in town?” Lilly asks with a look of disbelieve in her eyes. “Let me guess you were too preoccupied with checking out my brother than to notice.” Amelia says with a half-smile as she looks at her friend with joy in her eyes. “No comment.” Lilly utters barely audible as she hangs her head and her cheeks turns red. “Come on don’t act all coy about it now. Everyone noticed it a long time ago.” Amelia teases as it is her turn to roll her eyes at Lilly. “Everyone?” Lilly asks as her head shoots up in surprise. “Yeah me, Nate, my dad, he actually noticed it first, my ex-step mom Cindy, Jessica Max’s secretary, Jolene from…” “Okay, okay.” Lilly interjects as Amelia’s list increases. “I get the picture.” She huffs letting her face fall into her hands again. Mortified at the thought that everyone knew how she felt about Max. “Don’t worry Max was the worst. Whenever you came around he always found a way to be with us, watching movies, with him refusing to give up his spot on the couch and insisting that you sit next to him for comfort. Taking us to the mall, with you always getting to sit in front and him bribing me with ice cream just to drive us and even when we painted our nails on our ‘spa days’, he would sit around pretending to watch T.V. It was so irritating, until I’ve connected the dots, but you never seemed to.” Amelia says with a light chuckle. “He used to ask me every day how you are and when you will be coming over again. In the beginning I just assumed it was because he was told to look out for us, but later on it just seemed to be a natural conversation when I came home. His eye’s lights up every time he sees you or when he hears your voice he gets this goofy grin on his ugly mug. He loves you, Lilly. You can see it in the way he is around you and how he treats you. I have never seen him like that with anyone before. Max has a good heart and adores you. You got a good guy that would walk through fire for you, my friend, but…” Amelia says smiling at her soon to be sister in law. “If you ever tell that douche face I said it, you will be disowned from all my future fortunes!” She exclaims as she saw a shadow moving underneath the door. “It’s funny how you think you will have future fortunes!” Lilly laughs loudly at an offended looking Amelia just as their bedroom door flies open with a stern looking Max standing on the other side. “I do not have an ugly mag and I am not a douche face. I am my dad’s sexiest son!” Max claims before turning away from the door, indicating that he heard at least the last part of their conversation. “You are his only son!” Amelia and Lilly exclaims in unison at Max’s retreating back, falling into a fit of giggles, the dilemma with what to wear forgotten.