|47| • Everest
It had been two weeks since the drunken night incident, to be honest, I was torn.
Feeling rather embarrassed that she had to see me like that, but my heart fluttered — yes fluttered — at how Amelia took care of me that day.
I only recalled bits and pieces of that night, but I knew my drunken state wasn't the prettiest, or polite.
Yet the next day, she seemed unbothered, teased me a little and that was it.
Goodness.
Was it over the top to imagine her as my wife? Too soon? Okay.
Today was a Saturday, all the legal documents for my apartment had been done and I was officially moving out of my family house.
It was bittersweet really, it never crossed my mind until recently that I'd eventually have to get a place of my own, honestly, I'd miss them.
Admittedly, regret sweeper in when I remembered how distant and bitter I was towards Saffron, my father and Emily — my stepmother.
When I was discharged, the feeling of oddity swelled in me, as though I didn't belong there.
Nothing was left to look forward to, the only reason I was discharged was because of the bomb incident.
Bitterness filled my heart. Slowly but surely I began opening up to them, and now the thought of leaving them sat heavy on my chest.
"I'm allowed to visit you, right?" Saffron's loud voice blared, pulling me from my walk down memory lane. She had her frizzy red hair into a messy bun, cheeks dark from crying. She shouldn't be crying because of me...I wished her gone when I was in the army.
Huffing, I pulled her into a hug, her short self dangling when I stood upright with her in my arms. "Of course, anytime you want.
" I whispered into her hair. Saffron sniffled, squeezing her arms around my neck.
"Okay..." She croaked our sadly. Who knew someone so stubborn could be as vulnerable as this?
"If that boy ever hurts you, don't hesitate to tell me.
I'll make him kick the bucket." Saffron gasped at what I said, wriggling out of my grip.
I'd said it lowly so my dad and Emily didn't hear.
She scrunched her eyebrows, pouting her lips, her face still stained with tears.
"Don't say that!" She whispered sadly, wiping her tears away.
I didn't trust the that Rivers of a guy, I only hoped he was treating her good, if not...I guess I'd pull a Joseph on him.
Going to my dad, I stood in front of him, taking one good look.
"I'm going to miss you, son." He said with a sad smile, pulling me in before I could say anything else.
There was nothing to say anyways, how many times would I want apologise if I even began to?
Inhaling his scent, I hugged him back tightly.
"I'm just at the other side of town." I joked trying to lighten up the mood.
He chuckled, so clearly it worked. Even though I wasn't going out of the country, I knew we wouldn't see often, being occupied with work — which would now be quite the journey, if I decided to continue anyways, and taking care of Amelia.
Speaking of, I wondered how I'd be able to go to and fro from my apartment to the mechanic shop, it was quite the distance now that I was thinking about it. Pursing my lips, I decided to put it aside for now.
I noticed Emily was staring at me all along, even though we hardly spoke, she oozed that motherly figure I'd needed after my mother passed. I was far too scared to admit it. "Everest." She called it, taking my palms.
"Stay safe, okay?" She kissed my palms, bringing me in from my shoulders. "And make sure you don't lose that lady you brought to us, okay? Make sure you keep her happy." She was talking about Amelia, I nodded. Of course I was planning to keep her happy.
"I will, Ma."
Perhaps it was because I hadn't called her that before, Emily stilled, before hugging me even tighter. "I love you, remember that." This made me chuckle, they were acting like I was going away for good. "I love you too, take care of Pa and the stubborn girl for me." We separated after one last hug.
Everything was already loaded in my truck, it was a miracle they were all able to fit without it tipping over, Pa offered to half the things and drive them to my apartment but I declined, not wanting to bother him.
"So, family. See you all later, okay?" I turned the ignition until the engine came to life.
They all waved at me, the sadness evident in their expression. Winking their way, I rolled up the glass, and reversed out of the family house. It was time for me to start living on my own. Better late than never, was that the saying?
Before I reached the traffic light, the ringtone of my phone began to blare in the car, speaking over the radio. Putting it on loud speaker, I stopped at the red light.
"Evie! Hey! I'm so sorry I wanted to come over and help you move but, I woke up so late!"
It was Amelia.
A smile automatically went to my lips, "It's no problem daring." She huffed "But—" I could hear the pouting in her voice, this made me chuckle. "It's alright darling, I'm serious. Or you want to know where my new apartment is?"
"Yes! I really do..."
"Someone's eager." I teased, "You'll probably get tired of seeing it because you'd be living with me in the weekends during your culinary training.
" This was something I couldn't wrap my head around yet, she was going to be staying with me — seeing as it was going to be closer.
Amelia said her dad was fine with it, as long as she spent most weekends in his home.
"Hehe, right? I can't wait! But..."
She trailed off, hesitant. "I haven't even gone for the application test yet.
It's only a handful of people that get in, w-what if I don't?" My lips downturned in a frown.
"What makes you think you won't? You're talented, plus, you've been practicing, haven't you?
" She made an 'uh-huh' sound, so I continued.
"All you have to do is go there and shine. Don't worry about the rest." Amelia giggled, "Thank you, Evie."
"No problem baby. When is the application going to be?
" She'd been excited about this all week so it was probably around the corner.
I wasn't worried about her not getting in, I knew she had the skills, but she was too nervous to admit it or let it show.
She hummed, probably pondering on what I'd said.
Stopping at the red light, I watched my blank screen, wanting to see her pretty little face, her lips which I'd guess were pouted in thought right about now.
I missed her and we were speaking on the phone. How did that even work? Chuckling, I shook my head. "O-oh, that's right, it says here that the application..." Amelia trailed off before gasping. "Evie!" She yelled, making me alarmed.
"What? What is it?!"
"The deadline is this weekend! Oh my goodness! How will I even get there? Or sign up? I-I didn't know the deadline was so close!" I could hear the sadness from her voice. Breathing out in relief, I pursed my lips. "You scared me for a second, sounding so worried."
"Oh...I'm sorry Evie."
"Look, baby. How about I take you there this Friday? You take an excuse from work and we'll go there? Since the deadline is on Sunday next week."
"Y-You'd do that? The last thing I want to do is stress you...You already have a lot on your sleeves with packing and all, I don't want to—"
"Do you or do you not want to apply Amelia?" My voice was stern, I didn't like her constantly tuning down my offers. Sometimes I wanted to yell 'just let me take care of you, dammit!' But thought against it. Amelia sighed, "I do...I really do."
"Then let me help."
She paused, silence swelled in the air, I sighed, making a turn. "Will that be okay with you sweetheart? I just want to help any way I can. If it inconveniences you, I promise to tell you. Okay?"
I figured she was beating herself up right now.
"T-Tha..." I heard her say before her words got caught off by a sob. Was she crying? "Baby, what's wrong?" A frown drew my lips down, did I come off too strong? Didn't she want time to be involved in her life? "It's no...nothing, I'm just super grateful Evie..."
Ah, so that was why she was crying.
They were happy tears...
"It's no problem, okay? I love doing this for you.
" I said, trying to convince her. She laughed slightly, I could almost imagine her nodding her head.
Oh, how much I wanted to hold her and wipe the tears from her cheeks.
Holding my steering wheel tighter, I restrained myself from thinking any further.
"Evie...I...I just want to say that..." Her nervous breaks made me curious.
"Say what?" I hummed, not helping the smile that went up to my lips.
"I...I love you...very much..."
Her soft voice confessed. This wasn't the first time I was hearing her say this, but this was the first time it sank, my heart felt as though it would burst or begin squirting rainbows or some jazz. Biting the inside of my cheeks, I tried remaining calm.
Goodness, my insides felt like a party.
"You do?" I asked, wanting to hear it more.
"Uh-huh. I do...a-and I don't love a lot of people!" She said, as if to make it sound better than it already did. I laughed lightly, throwing my head back.
"That so?"
"Yes."
"And I love you too my dear."