|39| • Darrick
I missed her.
I missed when I was the only one that had her attention when she'd whine until I agreed to visit. How her eyes would light up when I offered to take her to a bakery. I missed that Amelia who hadn't met that man, that...that groomer. What was his name again? Everest? Yes. I despised him.
How dare he dwindle into her life, ask for her number in front of me, and slowly steal her away?
Back then, when I told her not to speak to a person because their intention was probably bad, she listened to me, without complaint.
The first time she disagreed was when his name came up.
Evie this, Evie that. How did he do it?
How did he get her to fancy him in such a short period of time?
It took me three years. I admit, I was envious.
He didn't deserve her.
I could tell that bastard had done things to her, the way Amelia gushed whenever she spoke off him or shied away at some questions I asked was the giveaway.
Laying on my couch, I sighed, these thoughts were doing my head in.
It was clear, I wasn't her number one anymore.
What was the point of staying in this town?
I didn't move from that crappy job all these years because of her, Amelia.
I had applied for a job outside town because it paid way more, I got the job but refused because I didn't want to leave Amelia.
Later on, I applied to another, seeing as I needed to pay the pressing bills for my mother's sudden illness. Last week, I got the job.
I couldn't decline this time.
There was no reason for me to decline anyways.
She wasn't mine anymore, why was I staying in a place I felt stranger to?
The only tour guide in this town is my dear Amelia.
Ah, could I even call her mine anymore?
My chest was heavy, I felt defeated.
Lost to a man that wasn't even worth her time.
This made me chuckle.
Taking my phone, I gazed at her number, would Amelia answer to my call? If I told her I felt blue, would she come to my rescue? The smile on my lips stung, I felt anything but happy. When last did we speak? Two weeks now?
Pressing my phone to my ear, I listened to the tone of her phone ringing. Was she going to pick? Please pick it up. I thought to myself, tugging on my hair.
The number you dialled is not reachable at the moment-
"Of course." I chuckled, ruffling my hair. Goodness, I wish it was as easy to get over her as it was to fall for her. It hurt, my heart ached and I hated it.
Pulling myself up, the joints in my legs complained with a crack, I'd be wallowing in my own pity on the couch for quite some time.
Going towards the kitchen, I slid my phone onto the counter, opening the fridge to crack open a beer.
It was three in the afternoon and I was cracking open a beer.
Whatever, it wasn't like I was going to work anyways.
My throat welcomed the chilled taste, my tongue allowing the slightly bitter liquid to run down. I was hungry, but my fridge was empty. Why was I so pathetic? It was all that old man's fault. Everest. He took her away.
The second my phone vibrated, I tried not to drop the beer bottle, jumping to grab my phone. What if it was her? Was she calling to tell me I was right? That Everest was actually using her? Hands down the news would make me pull a genuine smile.
My heart fluttered when I saw her name.
Amelia.
"Darrick! Gee, it's been a while hasn't it? Sorry, I couldn't pick you up, the service isn't so good at the bakery. How are you? How's work?" Amelia's words came out fast, I didn't even know which question to answer first. This made me smile, she still cared.
After the kiss, she withdrew. It hurt, darn it did.
To tell the truth, I couldn't hold myself that day, even though it was going to be just once, I needed to taste her lips.
Call me what you want, I felt her skipping out of my grip, leaning towards that Everest of a man.
What would you do if the girl you loved began to drift from you?
Confessing had been an option, but what good would that make?
"Garrick? Are you there?" Amelia's soft voice asked, I'd been quiet for too long.
"Amelia..." I breathed out, my heart warming at her voice. I missed this girl. I didn't realise those words came out until she giggled. "I miss you too, silly." She said, making me smile.
"I...I'm actually not fine." My confession caused a pregnant pause. "You aren't?" The concern in her voice made me feel good, she still cared. Heaving out a breath, I shrugged my shoulders, remaining silent. "Why? What's wrong? You can talk to me." She began again, and just then, I almost gave in.
"Amelia, can I really trust you though?"
"W-what do you mean by that? Of course, you can!
We are— we were, I mean, you're my best friend Darrick.
" Ah, so I wasn't even worthy of that title anymore.
Her best friend — I didn't know that title was that close to my heart, now that I was hanging on the edge, I realized what was there to lose.
"You're never here anymore, every time I call, you're busy. I mean, sure you have a life, but you've had a life for years and I was still your best friend."
Her breath hitched. There was a bit of truth to what I said. She knew it to. "So forgive me if I doubt how close we are anymore."
"Darrick..." Her soft voice trailed off. "I..."
Amelia paused again, I only heard her breath. "You're right. I've been a horrible friend to you. And I don't even have an excuse." Amelia confessed, her tone sad. She didn't have an excuse? Who to put the blame on? I did. It was his fault. Everest poisoned her mind, all for his own advantage.
"Do...do you want to meet up?"
"So you can clear your guilty conscience?
" I snapped accidentally. I was supposed to be soft-spoken, not make her cringe with my tone.
Amelia sighed, "I'm sorry. I just, this will be better if we spoke in person.
" I thought so too. What I didn't want, was that groomer of a man to be lurking in the shadows, ready to punch me square in the face if I touched her.
I knew darn well that he was in the military, his necklace gave it away.
One punch and I'll surely end up with a broken jaw, or nose.
"I'm actually a bit ill. If it's okay, we can talk at mine." I said slowly, listening closely to hear any change. I noticed that she hesitated. "Your house?"
What was the big deal? She'd been there countless times, now it was a thing to stutter about? Nevertheless, I hummed, "Yeah, or did he tell you to stay away from me too?"
"Who? Evie?"
There was that nickname again. I didn't even have one of those. How irritating. "Yes." Amelia hummed, "He didn't tell me to stay away from you, he just—"
"He just what?" I asked when she didn't continue.
"Uhm, never-mind!"
"Alright, since you have his permission, would you like to visit your best friend? That is if I can even call it that anymore." I muttered at the end, Amelia huffed. "Yes, you can. And I'm on my way."
We hung up, a smile stretching on my face. I had one more card to play. The card was going to draw us closer, at least for a little bit. Until I couldn't take it anymore.
Dropping my phone, I put my flat into a presentable state.
From the empty plates on the coffee table to the dirty clothes scattered on the ground.
How long had it been since she'd come here?
I didn't realise how much I missed her until my heart began to pump blood faster until sweat beads formed on my forehead out of nervousness as time passed.
As soon as I finished cleaning my apartment, the speaker rang a tune which made my back straighten. Amelia was here. "Crud!" I huffed, quickly going to change my clothes, dazing myself in perfume as the doorbell continued to ring.
"Coming!" I yelled though I doubted that she heard me. As I ruffled up my hair, my legs moved fast to the living room. Pulling the door open, I was greeted by a smiling Amelia.
"You took your time." She giggled, waving at me. A breath of relief left me, Amelia looked so beautiful, her dark skin complimenting the cream-coloured wrap top she wore, paired with dark blue leggings. "Hey." I breathed out, not knowing what else to say.
A few seconds passed before she arched her head, pouting. "Aren't you going to let me in?" She asked. I noticed how articulate she'd become, confidence oozed from her. She scented amazingly. What happened to the innocent, dainty girl I knew?
Smiling to myself, I couldn't help but pull her into a hug.
Amelia gasped, "Oh!" But that wasn't enough for me to let her go.
I knew she distanced herself from me after the kiss, I knew darn well that Everest was partly to blame for that.
Months again we'd probably just laugh it off and get even closer, but it wasn't as I thought, she'd built a wall between us, breaking the wall between her and Everest.
It irked me to no return.
"Darrick?" Amelia said my name softly, her arms finally wrapping around my neck. We were close, I liked that. "You said you weren't okay." She continued, her palm rubbing my back, creating comfort. To be honest, I didn't want to talk at the moment, I simply wanted to be close to her.
I hugged her tighter, feeling her soft flesh on mine.
"Amelia..." I trailed off after a minute. She hummed, tapping my shoulders as though she was asking for me to let her go. Since when did she break out of my hug first? I gave the best hugs, even though she knew that.
"Hey, let's get inside, I wouldn't want to disturb your neighbours." She spoke up, breaking out physical contact. I sighed, reluctantly agreeing.
"Welcome to my home." The words were playful, earning a giggle from her.
"The number of times I'd been here, I think I'm not a visitor anymore.
No?" Amelia said, sitting on the long couch, where I'd been sulking and cursing Everest out not too long ago.
Humming to herself, I watched as she pulled out her phone, her fingers moving rapidly, a smile tugging on her lips.
"I'd ask who but I probably already know," I uttered faster than my tongue, her smile faltered, eyebrows raising.
I almost felt nervous when she gazed at me that way.
"Oh, right, sorry about that," Amelia muttered, quickly putting her phone away.
I was curious, had the bastard finally taken a step forward? I needed to know, so I asked.
"Are you guys a thing now?" The question I ask wasn't answered, she looked away, chewing on her lip, something she did was she was nervous or her heart was speeding up.
Ah, so that was my answer? A gut wrenching feeling overwhelmed me, were they actually something official now? Had I been too late?
My stomach turned, I wanted to punch something, cupping the back of my neck instead. "Congratulations." The words came out hoarse, telling her exactly how I was feeling. Amelia sighed. "I know you don't like him." She began, I scoffed, that was far too much of an understatement.
"It's not that, I'm just not sure of his intentions.
How are you sure he isn't recruiting you to be a second wife?
" What I said sounded silly in my own ears but I kept a serious face, I'd lost her, and it hurt like hell.
Amelia cracked a smile, stunning me. "Would it be so hard to believe that his intentions were to take care of me?
T-to love me? Would that be so hard to believe? "
"Yes, Amelia!"
She flinched, eyeing me nervously. Crap. The last thing I wanted was for her to be scared of me. "What did he say? Huh? He said he love you?" I scoffed, I couldn't believe she was that naive. Amelia huffed, her eyes tearing up.
"Amelia, you want to know what love is? It's what I feel for you!
He saw a young girl and thought gee this wine would be easy to manipulate!
Some white lies later and here you are defending him!
Amelia, i love you, so much it hurts.
" My heart constricted to the point I had to heave just to take a breath.
Itching my hair I tried to calm down, this wasn't what I wanted, I didn't want to scare her away.
Much to my surprise, she stood up and walked towards me, sitting beside me.
"Darrick. I love him, and if he wanted to manipulate me, I'd have known.
Preston would have told noticed, heck, I would have noticed.
And I appreciate how much you care about me, but he's my boyfriend now.
So I don't appreciate you bad mouthing him. "
I was being scolded my Amelia.
Oh how the tables had turned. Accepting defeat, I forced a smile even if I was suffocating inside.
"You're right, I'm sorry. I'm just...jealous of him.
" The admission made my chest ache, jealousy couldn't even begin to explain how I felt towards him or their little thing they had going on.
Amelia's hand laid on my lap in a comforting way, just her being close to me was more than enough.
I knew her first, so why did he get to have her?
"You don't have to be, Darrick. You do realise you're one of my closest friends right?
" The animation in her voice attempted to lighten up the mood.
The one thing I did realize was that I lost the title because of my selfishness.
I smiled, was that kiss even worth it? Ah, was that even a question? Hesitantly, I turned towards her.
Goodness, this girl was gorgeous. The wide dainty eyes, plump lips, fresh brown skin. Narrowing my eyes, I tried not to do something I'd regret. "Amelia." I called out, holding her hand. "Yeah?" She breathed out.
"I know I'm no longer your friend, at least best friend.
And I know, as much as I get to admit it, Everest or whatever you call it has easily taken my place, sure I'm angry, but that's the reality of things.
" The thinking lines on her forehead deepened, eyebrows knitting.
She opened her mouth to listen but shut it once more, showing me that she was listening.
"With that said, I...I want to tell you that I got a new job."
Amelia gasped, "That's lovely!"
"It's out of town." Her smile diminished.
"W-wait, w-what?" The stutter in her voice shattered my heart, but I had to do this, for my own sanity.
Her eyes watered, lips quivering. "D-Darrick, w-why?
" She asked, her voice barely audible. The grip on my hand getting tighter, there was one thing I knew about her, ghat I was sure even her pretty old man didn't know.
She had abandonment issues.
A tear dropped.
"But, you promised you'd always be there for me." She whimpered, leaning towards me. "Amelia." I sighed, holding her waist so she wouldn't fall on me — not that I minded. "Darrick please don't leave me, not you too."
"I have no place in your life, Amelia, Everest took that from me and I'm sorry for being so selfish but I need to stop putting you first in my life when you don't do the same." Amelia's eyes were turning red, she shook her head slightly, tapping my hand.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, please don't leave me. You're my closest friend! I..." I shushed her, pecking the side of her lips. "I love you, I love you so much Amelia. But I have to go."
When she came in, gushing about Everest, I realized she wasn't going to choose me, if I asked her to. She was infatuated with this man, and I came in second. Hence, I decided not to ask her such a dilemma.
"Darrick — please..." I stood up, letting her fall to the couch. She was crying now, my heart ached so much it felt as though it was going to burst. I loved her, so much. But the last thing I wanted was to be her friend.
"I think you should leave." I instructed, pointing towards the door. "I wish you well in your little fairytale." Those envious words left my lips before I knew it. Her watery eyes stared at mine, lips parted. Not being able to say anything else, she stood up, getting her bag and stumbling out.
When the door slammed close, I dropped to my knees, finally letting the tear drop.
Everest. That bastard.
I hated him with my core, and would never forgive him.