His Little Amelia

|40| • Amelia

They were right.

Everyone would end up leaving me, wouldn't they?

I wasn't enough for them, they'd always go in search of a better opportunity, dropping me by the rod side.

I remember the first time I and Darrick had a long conversation, he read right through me when I told him how my high school went, he called it 'abandonment issues'.

I laughed it off and told him to forget but he promised not to leave me.

Darrick promised to always be there for me until death as he put it, we sealed it with a pinky.

He lied.

I didn't want him to go, to leave me.

I know I had been distant from him, all because of that stupid kiss.

That was the reason it escalated to this very point, wasn't it?

Just a dumb kiss and I lost my best friend.

The one who was there for me when Papa treated me like I didn't exist, the one who hugged me when Abel had to put Ramona first. The one who told me he loved me.

My heart felt swollen, and so did my eyes, I lost count of how many times fresh tears strolled down my cheeks, I probably looked pathetic to the taxi driver who was taking me home.

The man even asked if I was alright, how embarrassing was that?

I gave him a short, forced smile to wave off his question. I was alright. I was far from it.

In pain, the only number I knew I'd call and would answer was Evie. Would he leave me too? My heart couldn't take any more of that. With shaky fingers, I called him, hearing it dial. I wanted to talk to him, I need him to talk some sense into my bleeding heart.

Back in school, everyone who claimed to be my friend had one reason or the other to betray me, to end the friendship.

It was either because of my older brother, Abel or because the boy they liked ended up having a crush on me — even though I rejected him countless times because of who liked them!

Ah, at a point, I thought I was doomed to not have friends, to be alone, without a mother, an angry father and a brother barely making ends meet.

Sniffling to myself, I didn't realize Everest had picked up the phone until I heard his soothing voice. "Baby, hey, what's wrong?" My heart swooned at how caring he was.

Darrick was caring too, yet he showed me the door.

Opening my mouth to speak, words couldn't form in my head, my lips quivered. I was a mess. I looked like a mess. Was I so naive to believe people who made a promise would keep it? To believe I and Darrick would grow old together, our children becoming best of friends just like we were.

Yet all that was coming to an end, he didn't even say I was allowed to come visit, or that he would still be here, just not close to me. He said so as though this was goodbye for life, as though it was the end of our friendship.

"Yes? Amelia, I'm listening, what's wrong? Did anything happen? Do you need me to come to pick—" Stunned by the voice that spoke through the phone, it occurred to me that I hadn't said a word yet.

"He...he's leaving me. Darrick, he, he's going to abandon me too.

" Saying it out loud made it all the more real, I couldn't take it anymore, I broke down, crying my eyes out silently.

The last thing I wanted was to disturb the taxi man with my crying.

Everest began calling my name but all I wanted to do was be cuddled by him. I was a hopeless crying mess.

"Where are you?" Everest asked sternly, halting my cries. I hiccuped, coming down from the taxi and thanking him. "I'm in front of my house," I said quietly, wiping my tears.

"I'm coming over."

He wasn't asking, he was telling me, yet I still negated his words.

"You don't have to Evie, I'm alright. It was silly to call you, you're probably busy and—"

"Baby, I said I'm coming over."

"Okay." What else could I say? Ending the call, with a big sigh. He was coming to see me, even though he said he was going to be busy today, how selfish could I be?

I was probably disturbing him, my heart ached even more now.

Before entering my house, tried to wipe my face, making sure I didn't look like how I felt.

Checking my reflection through my phone, I opened the gate with my spare key.

All I wanted to do was jump in bed and cry my eyes out.

My stomach rumbled though, so crying was number two on my list.

After rinsing my face, I forced my body to the kitchen, seeing Papa make him a sandwich. "Good afternoon Papa." I tried not to croak. He smiled, nodding his head.

"How're you doing my working-class woman." He teased, taking a bite of the sandwich. Laughing, I shrugged. "I'm alright, just tired I guess. How are you?"

He nodded. "How was your date?" The question made me tense up. Oh right, he was the one who opened the door for Evie the other day. Narrowing my eyes, I fiddled with the frozen chicken curry in the freezer.

It was the date when he asked me to be his official. One of the best days of my life I must say, I still couldn't believe he did so. Squee! Oh right, I'm sad.

"It was...really sweet. I mean, uh..." Somehow I'd forgotten that it was my Papa I replied, playing with my hands, I chuckled, hoping he didn't hear me, but his smirk made me think otherwise. "Sweet?" Papa echoed, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"That's interesting." He murmured, cleaning the sauce dripping from his lips.

"I'm not ready to be a grandad, you know?

Still trying to be a better father." He said the last part slowly but I still heard him, my eyebrows knitted in a frown.

Even if Papa and I had our differences, I still thought him to be a good Papa, at least he was trying.

"You're a good dad you know?" My words were straight from the heart, he chuckled.

"Am I?" He asked, pouring himself a glass of wine, "You're really too kind, just like your mother.

" When he made mention of my Ma, my heart jumped.

I knew Ma was kind, I admired her for that, but being compared to her? It was quite flattering.

A genuine smile drew on my lips.

"I mean it," I told him as he left the kitchen, waving his hand.

Papa and I didn't speak much, so I was glad he stayed long enough for us to clear that out, I didn't want him feeling as though he wasn't a good dad, losing his spouse was a harsh slap of reality, come to think of it, now that I and Evie were dating, I couldn't imagine losing him. I'd be crushed.

Once I was done with my own meal, I sluggishly went up to my room, the entire scenario I thought was at the back of my mind came rushing in.

Darrick was leaving.

Did he even want us to continue communicating after he was out of town? I was going to lose my best friend, wasn't I? My throat felt clogged, I tried to gulp down the toasted bread and bacon, thinking far too deeply.

The sandwich didn't taste as good, perhaps I didn't just have an appetite. I basically forced myself to finish the meal, keeping the plate by the side. Somehow, I felt even worse that Evie was going to leave whatever he was doing to come tend to me, all because I was being a crybaby.

Was he angry?

I grew even more nervous just waiting.

Two knocks on the door forced me back on my feet, "U-Uh, Papa? Is that you?" I stuttered out, dusting my clothes. The voice I heard after made me gasp.

"Amelia darling, it's Everest. Your dad let me in. Can I come in?" Evie spoke softly, his voice echoing from the back of the door, he was here! Did Papa let him in? How come? Did Papa begin to trust him?

"Oh, I'm coming!" Quickly moving to the door, I tried to clear my throat, hoping the tears didn't come rushing out when I saw him. As I opened the door, I was met with my ever-handsome man. He knitted his eyebrows when he looked at me.

"I look pathetic don't I?" The words came out before I could stop it, it didn't even take one minute, the tears welled up in my eyes, and my lips quivered. I didn't want to cry in front of him! Why were his tears rushing out? This sucked!

About to turn away and go to my bed, a pair of hands drew me in from my waist, the moment my back connected with his chest, he hugged me, chin against my shoulder. "Baby..." Everest trailed off, his voice in a low whisper, I tried to cover my face as the tears fell.

"I'm so sorry you had to come here, it's so selfish of me, you were probably having fun and I came to be a party pooper." As the words left my lips, I realised I was bawling. My hormones were all over the place! I heard the door close and my feet being lifted up to the ground.

"Ah! E-Everest let me go! I'm heavy and—and a crybaby. I'm just a heavy crybaby." Was I even being coherent at this point? The tears just kept coming and I couldn't stop them. Evie hadn't said a word, he carried me to the bed, sitting down before making me straddle him.

He looked at me silently, as though he was studying me. "Let it out," Everest commanded, hugging me tightly. That was all it took for the waterfall to come rushing out.

I didn't know how long I cried for, or what I ranted into his chest but I just kept going, his large hands rubbing my back, the warmth making me cry even harder. If I ever saw his mother — maybe in the afterlife, I'd give her a big hug, this man was something else.

"I'm sorry." A hiccup left my lips as I said this. I really was sorry, I didn't want him coming here because of me, at the slightest inconvenience. It was unfair to him. Evie sighed wiping my wet face with his thumb while arching his head so I was looking at him.

"Why're you sorry? I don't get it."

"I was being selfish, I didn't even ask what you were doing, I just called and now you have to be here." I sobbed, not wanting to imagine how I looked right now, probably a mess. Everest chuckled. "I don't have to be here, my lady."

"If I didn't want to come, I'd have stayed with Gabe. Do you get it? I came because I care and want to know what made you cry so much." He said, wiping my tears as they kept on coming. I sniffled, why was he so sweet?! It made me cry even more.

From my cloudy vision, I saw his eyebrow knit.

"Did I say something wrong?" The clueless man wondered out loud.

Wrong? I don't think he'd ever said something wrong.

This man had a way with words, a smooth talker.

Sometimes, it scared me. What if his mouth was sweeter than what he was really feeling?

"Amelia." He affirmed just by calling my name. I hummed, not wanting to wet his thumb any further with my tears. "I'm sorry." I apologised again. Evie shook his head.

"If you apologised one more time, I'll start crying too."

His words made me shake my head, "No! Please don't cry! I don't want you to." Quickly, I wiped my cheeks, holding my tongue from apologising further.

"Thank you," I said instead, a smile on my lips, after all that crying, I was starting to feel a bit better.

I knew for a fact that Evie had a way of making me feel better, even in tears I still felt giddy in his arms. He was warm to hold yet his muscles made it hard to touch.

It was as though I was holding a teddy with flesh — wait that is not the right description—

"You're always welcome my dear." He hummed, taking the wipes that lay on my nightstand, and wiping my face dry. "There, all better," Everest said with a smile.

Watching him take care of me was heartwarming, he hadn't heated that I was such a crybaby even though I knew I was, he didn't scowl when I got tears on his shirt, he just wiped my tears and hugged me.

Did they make men like this now? The boys I'd bet before weren't like this.

In high school, if they caught me crying they'd make sure I cried harder while they got a good laugh from it.

"I l-"

Quickly, I bit my tongue. Was I just about to tell him I love him?! Goodness! What was I thinking? Sure I told Darrick I loved Evie but saying it to him directly was a whole 'nother ball game. His eyebrows arched in question, hopefully not catching my slip-up.

"What is it?" He asked, seeming confused. Clearing my throat, I immediately thought of something else to say. "I...just wanted to say you're a good man." Was that a good save? He smiled, "You're an amazing woman too." Everest complemented so effortlessly.

"So, would you like to fill me in on what made you so sad?"

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot the reason he was here in the first place. Heaving out a breath, I gently came up from his lap, sitting in front of me with my legs crisscrossed. "Well, Darrick called me today, and he kept emphasizing how he felt like we were no longer friends."

I noticed Everest's jaw clench when I said his name, it didn't take smarty pants to know Evie didn't like him very much, he didn't hide it too.

Everest didn't interrupt, he just intertwined our hands, laying a small kiss on the back of my palm.

How did he want me to concentrate like this? My insides were turning to mush again!

"S-so, uh, I gave in and went to his apartment.

Evie you needed to see that place, he had bottles of alcohol on the floor and the counter in his kitchen, and some clothes were on the couch, I just didn't want to point it out to him.

" I spoke while looking at his brown orbs, were his lashes always this long?

"He was drunk?" Everest interrupted, not liking what he was hearing.

I shrugged. He didn't seem drunk anyways, he did smell alcohol though.

"I'm not sure. Anyways, he started making you the subject, saying you just wanted to sleep with me and I was being naive.

" Saying that's words in front of him seemed wrong.

Though I didn't totally know him, I knew one thing.

He wasn't as Darrick made him out to be.

Everest scowled, holding my palm to his lip, there was a slight vibration on my hand, telling me Evie muttered something but I didn't know what. "I did tell him to stop though! I defended you because I know you aren't like that, he...didn't seem so pleased with that." I made sure to say.

Everest smiled, nodding his head, the blonde strands falling to his forehead, I used my free hand to sweep it away from his face.

"Then, he said he had no place in my life, he said you took that away from him. Darrick was sad, it made me sad as well. I thought this was just one of our petty arguments until he said he was leaving town for a job I didn't even know he was looking for." I uttered, my voice cracking in sadness.

Everest we listened, not interrupting me.

"Don't get me wrong, I love that he's finally getting a better job, but he didn't even tell me prior!

And he said it as though this was going to be our last talk.

He didn't want to see me again, or even be my friend.

He told me to leave and...I just feel like I've lost a friend. " I completed, my eyes feeling moist.

"Baby..." Evie trailed off with a sigh, rubbing circles on the back of my palm. "I'm sorry about that."

"Evie, I don't have many friends, and losing him makes my heart ache. I..." a single tear left my eye, and he wiped it immediately.

"You do have friends, my love." He started, cupping my waist and pulling me on top of him again. I was starting to think he liked when I straddled him.

"You have Preston, Ava...is that her name? And, you did tell me about this girl you met recently. Banta? Or is it Binta?" He mentioned, pursing his lips. Thinking of it, I didn't realize my circle of friends had increased. He was right.

Preston and Ava weren't just coworkers, they did mention us being friends.

And Binta.

I smiled. Perhaps I wasn't as alone as I thought. In an instant, I wrapped my hands around his neck, taking him in a hug. "Oh." Everest gasped, chuckling. "You understand that, right?" I nod at his question.

"Honey, if Darrick wants to leave, let him. Friends come and go. If he's really you're friend, he'll keep in touch, and if he doesn't, perhaps he knows it's for the best."

How was losing him for the best? I didn't ask, I just listened to him, inhaling his intoxicating scent. "Okay..." I muttered when he was done, his hands were on my waist, massaging them gently.

"You're not alone, Amelia." These words shocked me, did I tell him my fear of being left alone? Nibbling my lips, I choose not to say anything. I'm not alone. Perhaps I needed to hear that more often.

"Thank you," I said, pulling back to look him in the eye. "Thanks for talking some sense into me, I kind of felt like my world was falling apart." Admittedly, Darrick was a big part of my life, and a portion of me felt empty.

"It's fine. I'm here for you."

I knew he was, I trusted him. "Okay." Hugging him once more, I listened to the thud of his heart when it got silent.

We stayed like that for a while, the air getting tense. It was then I realized how intimate our position was. I was on his lips, holding him as though he'd disappear, his hand secured around my waist.

Heat rushed to my head.

Evie didn't even seem tense, his entire body was calm, was he comfortable with me on his lap? Wasn't I too heavy for him? Wait, Mama said heavy was for dead people, I'm not dead.

No way.

"Baby..." Evie trailed off, his voice in a whisper. I hummed, looking at him. His eyes were focused on me, our heads inches apart. I nibbled on the inside of my lip, feeling tenser.

He wanted to kiss me.

I wanted to kiss him too.

We were dating, right? There was no need to ask, and he read straight into my mind. Intertwining my hands which were wrapped around his neck, I waited for him to close to the distance between us, at the same time fluttering my eyes shut.

I hope he couldn't hear how fast and loud my heart beat. Goodness, wouldn't that be embarrassing? It didn't take long before he closed the distance between us, his lips pressing against mine.

The kiss escalated when a took a shaky breath, his tongue gladly making a move. My mind felt woozy, had we ever made out like this? Leaning into him, I let the man take control.

How on this green earth did someone like him take an interest in me? I couldn't understand why. He could have someone like Florescent but he chose me. Gee, how much was God going to bless me? I was beyond flattered.

Parting from the kiss, my breath felt shallow, he laid his head on my shoulder, taking a breath of his own. "Okay...let's stop there." He huffed, holding me tight. If we continued, I knew for a fact it was more than a kiss.

I wasn't ready for that.

Not until marriage, Mama drilled it cleanly into my head.

"I agree."

Evie chuckled. "You know, I wonder how your dad must be feeling, letting a man into his home to see his daughter." He said, playing with my hair.

"He hasn't said what he thinks about you yet. I'm surprised he let you in too."

"Maybe I'm just charming." He teased, wiggling his eyebrows. "You wish." Trying not to prove his point, I got up from his lap and the bed, going to my vanity table.

"Oh, I know you know I am," Everest said with a smirk, following after me. "Right?" He whispered into my ear, his hand wrapping around my body from the back. I blushed, looking away. "Maybe."

Looking at our reflection in the mirror, my heart fluttered. My eyes were so puffy, as expected. Taking the other set of wipes on the table, I wiped my face dry, applying my lotion and powder as Evie stared at me.

"I'll take that maybe as a yes."

"Anyways, have you found any culinary school around? I remember you mentioning being interested in taking classes there." Evie brought it up randomly. I smiled,

"I actually have been checking, I found two.

One is way too far out of town but the other is on the outskirts.

I mean, it's a good two hours from home and I doubt Papa would let me go.

" It was called Gaston's Culinary Dream.

Simply looking at clips from the school made me feel jittery.

The way they were dressed in white, professional chefs' attire to how they prepared and presented a plate of food.

Dreamy.

"Gaston's Culinary Dream? I've heard of that place before actually." Everest said, putting his hands in his pocket. The school was also quite expensive, being basically out of town, I'd have to take a train for hours to simply go there.

"But it's a fantasy. I know Papa wouldn't allow it. It's just fun you know? To imagine me there. Anyways! All done! Do I look like I cried for hours or not?" I quickly changed the subject, cupping my face and pouting.

He snickered.

"You look pretty cute." Drawing me in, and pecked my lips, arching my head to his. "I could eat you," Evie said those words quietly. I gasped.

"Pervert!"

He gasped as well. "I meant that in an innocent way! You're the pervert here, lady." His words made me roll my eyes playfully, I didn't even want to begin having such intimate thoughts of Everest. So, mind, let's end it there.

Pushing open the door, I and Evie made our way out. It was getting late anyways, and the day after was a work day, I didn't want to make him stay with me for so long, even though I really wanted to.

Giggling at what he was saying, we reached the ground floor, heading towards the door. "So, when will I see —" I began but someone interrupted our words.

"Going already?" Papa asked, his deep voice making both of us turn.

Everest walked towards him, me following behind. "Yes, I wouldn't want to steal her for too long." He joked. Papa hummed, crossing his arms.

"Why don't you stay for dinner?"

My eyebrows went up, wait what? Papa wanted him to stay for dinner. Everest cleared his throat, "Oh, it's no problem, I wouldn't want to—"

"I insist. Stay for dinner, Everest."