Chapter 32 This Was Not Supposed To Happen
Amelia POV
I made a mistake.
A big one.
Possibly the worst decision of my life.
I caught feelings.
I stared at the ceiling, completely still.
"This is bad," I whispered.
Because it wasn't just a small crush.
It wasn't something I could laugh off.
It was real.
Somewhere between the fake relationship, the way he looks at me, and that stupid soft smile yesterday...
I fell.
Hard.
I turned over and buried my face into my pillow.
"I'm actually in love with him."
The words came out quiet.
But they felt loud.
Too real.
Too serious.
A knock on the door made me jump.
"Amelia."
Clara.
Of course.
"Come in," I said.
She walked in, took one look at me, and sighed.
"...You look like you're having a crisis."
"I am having a crisis."
She sat on the bed.
"Tell me."
"I'm in love with him."
She didn't even hesitate.
"I know."
I sat up immediately.
"You KNOW?"
"Yes."
"Why did you not stop me?"
"How was I supposed to stop you?"
"I don't know. Distract me. Lock me in a room."
She laughed.
"This was going to happen anyway."
"That is not helpful."
She leaned back slightly.
"He likes you too."
I froze.
"...No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
I covered my face.
"This is getting worse."
"Amelia."
"What."
"Do you want this to be real?"
My heart stopped.
"...Yes."
It came out softer than I expected.
More honest.
More dangerous.
Before she could respond...
A knock.
Different this time.
Slower.
My heart immediately sped up again.
Clara looked at me.
"Oh."
Oh.
She stood up.
"I'm leaving."
"You're abandoning me?"
"Yes."
"Fake friend."
"Good luck."
And just like that, she left.
I stared at the door for a second.
Then fixed my hair.
Tried to look normal.
Failed.
"Come in," I said.
The door opened.
Dominic.
Of course.
Why is it always him.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
The room instantly felt smaller.
Quieter.
More intense.
"Are you busy?" he asked.
"No."
Too fast.
Way too fast.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
He walked a little closer.
"I wanted to talk to you."
My heart was not cooperating.
"Okay."
Why does my voice sound like that.
Calm down.
Be normal.
Act like you didn't just confess your feelings five seconds ago.
"There's an event this weekend," he said.
Right.
Fake relationship duties.
"Okay."
"We'll need to go together."
"That makes sense."
A small pause.
"You don't have to come if you're uncomfortable."
I blinked.
"...What?"
"I won't force you."
That surprised me.
"I thought this was part of the deal."
"It is."
"Then why are you giving me a choice?"
He hesitated for a second.
"Because I don't want you doing something you don't want to do."
Oh.
That again.
That soft side of him that keeps ruining my emotional stability.
"I'll come," I said quickly.
"I don't mind."
He studied my face for a moment.
Like he was checking if I meant it.
"I'm sure."
Silence.
Not awkward.
Just... quiet.
Heavy.
I shifted slightly, my foot brushing against the side of my desk.
"Also," I said, trying to sound normal, "I think I'll survive one event."
"That's reassuring."
I smiled a little.
"Very brave of me, I know."
Another small pause.
Then I stepped forward slightly.
And that's when it happened.
My foot caught on something.
The laptop charger wire.
Of course.
Of course it was the wire.
I felt it immediately.
That horrible moment where your body realizes you're about to fall but it's too late to fix it.
"Oh no..."
I reached out instinctively.
And grabbed the closest thing.
Dominic.
Which was a mistake.
Because instead of saving myself...
I dragged him with me.
Everything happened too fast.
The pull.
The loss of balance.
The sudden drop.
We both fell.
And before I could process anything...
My lips hit his.
For a second...
Everything stopped.
Completely.
My brain shut down.
My heart forgot how to function.
Because I was kissing Dominic.
Or technically...
We accidentally kissed.
But still.
Kissed.
My hands were still gripping his shirt.
His hand was braced against the floor beside me.
And we were way too close.
Too close.
Too real.
I froze.
He froze.
Time froze.
Then...
The door opened.
"Amelia I needed to ask..."
Ryan.
Of course.
Of course it was Ryan.
He stopped.
Completely.
His eyes widened.
He looked at us.
Then at me.
Then at Dominic.
Then back at us.
"...I knew it."
CLICK.
My soul left my body.
"RYAN..." I shouted, immediately pushing myself up.
He was already grinning.
"Oh this is GOLD."
"DELETE THAT."
"Absolutely not."
I turned to Dominic, panicking.
"This was not on purpose."
"I'm aware."
"That was the wire."
"I noticed."
"This is so embarrassing."
Ryan was still standing there.
Looking way too entertained.
"I walk in for one normal conversation and THIS is what I see?"
"Leave," I said.
"Never."
"RYAN."
He held up his phone.
"I'm saving this forever."
"I hate you."
"I love this."
I covered my face.
"This is the worst day of my life."
Ryan looked at Dominic.
"You didn't pull away though."
I froze.
Oh my god.
I slowly turned to Dominic.
Big mistake.
Because now I was aware again.
Of how close we were.
Of what just happened.
Of everything.
"I tripped," I said quickly.
"I know."
Ryan smirked.
"Convenient."
"Get out."
"Fine, fine," he said, backing toward the door. "But this is definitely not fake anymore."
The door closed.
Silence.
Again.
I slowly looked at Dominic.
"I'm so sorry."
A pause.
Then he said,
"You don't seem sorry."
My heart stopped.
"...I am."
Another pause.
Then quieter,
"Are you?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know how to.
And that scared me.
Because this wasn't supposed to happen.
None of this was.
But now...
It definitely didn't feel fake anymore