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Post by HburgEagle44 on Aug 19, 2014 18:16:50 GMT -5
Been mulling this idea over for some time now and the idea just flew out through my fingers a couple of weeks ago. I'm enjoying writing this one. It'll be a little different from my normal ones (normal? I write normal ones?). Haha enjoy! Let me know what you think in a comment! <3 Jenny
Amelia gave her trademark nod—hard, crisp, determined—and walked away.
“Thank you!” Charlie called after her.
Without even a backwards glance, Amelia waved behind her. “Thank goodness that's over,” she muttered, glancing at the paper bills in her hand. “I don't get paid enough for this.”
“Hey, Amelia,” someone said as they passed her, her friend gaping in fear and darting behind the braver friend.
She nodded curtly and went straight to her locker. “Why do I even tutor?” she wondered, searching herself for the answer. When she came up with nothing, she put her science textbook in her locker, grabbed her math book, and slammed the door shut. Heading to math with purpose, she walked straight to where her seat should have been.
And it was there, like clockwork. But there was someone sitting there.
Amelia blinked. “Hello,” she said dubiously. “Who are you?”
“Amelia, please sit down,” Mr. Gold said, right as the bell rang. He walked around to the front of his desk and leaned against it. “Class has begun.”
Amelia gave the boy in her desk a hard look before sitting in the desk in front of him. “In my desk,” she muttered. Nobody took her desk. Everybody knew that. And sure, she didn't know him, so he could be new, but Amelia never paid attention to people, so who knew if he was new or not? She rolled her eyes and concentrated on her studies.
When Mr. Gold had concluded with his lesson and everybody was free to work on the problems, Amelia heard someone mutter to the kid behind her, “Brave of you.” Recognizing Rick's voice, she listened in.
“How so?” the unknown person asked. He had a warm voice, the kind of voice that smiled often.
Amelia disliked smilers.
“That's her desk.”
“So?” The voice was threatening to laugh.
“So nobody steals Amelia Peabody's desk. Nobody. I would advice you to pick a different seat next time.”
“I was told this one was empty.”
Amelia frowned and turned around. “Who told you that?” she demanded, her clipped tone signifying clearly that she wasn't there to make friends.
The boy smiled and extended his hand. “Hi, I'm Damian.”
She ignored the hand. “Who told you?”
He looked surprised but pointed across the room. “That girl. She said this was the only empty desk in the room.”
Amelia turned to follow Damian's finger and glared at the culprit. “Of course,” she said through gritted teeth, glaring at Tiana Matthews, who merely waved and smiled.
“Lighten up, Amelia,” Maddie said from across the aisle. “At least you're still in the general area.”
Amelia turned to work on her problems, ignoring Maddie.
“She always like that?” she heard Damian ask Rick.
“Like what?” Rick asked softly, trying to not be overheard.
“Like ice.”
Amelia raised an eyebrow but didn't turn.
“Oh, yeah. You stay away from her.” Rick laughed.
“She'll freeze you to your core,” Alistair added.
Damian chuckled softly, surprising Amelia. “All she needs is someone to heat her up, guys.”
Everybody surrounding Damian fell silent.
“Don't even try,” Rick finally whispered.
Amelia smiled. At least my reputation is good for something, she thought as she focused even harder on her math work. She didn't want to have to take anything home, after all.
After class, she rose and walked quickly to her locker. Shoving her math book in, she grabbed her history textbook. Determined, she went off to class. Sinking with a sigh into her desk, she opened her book and began furiously reading, trying to get a head start on the day.
“Hey,” she heard.
Ignoring it, she figured it was for somebody else. Nobody talked to her here.
The tap on her shoulder made her look up. She blinked in surprise to see the Damian kid standing there. “Is this seat taken?” he asked, smiling and gesturing at the desk next to hers.
“No,” she sat flatly before she began reading again.
“Listen, I'm sorry,” he said before she could get too far. “I didn't realize it was your desk. It won't happen again.”
She turned to look at Damian with what she hoped was her coldest glare. “I would appreciate that. It's said that if you have been in a chair for over two weeks and have been learning there, it would be best to finish in that same chair. It will help enhance your learning experience.”
He raised an expressive eyebrow. “I thought that was a myth.”
“No.” Amelia returned to her book.
Damian was about to say something else, but decided to be silent for the rest of the class period.
Amelia was perfectly fine with that.
She made it home without any homework. She never had homework. If she did, she would simply do it during free period while the younger students she tutored struggled with their problems. There was never any need to bring schoolwork home.
“How was school, baby girl?” her father called as she came inside.
“Good, Dad,” she said, placing her backpack precisely in the same spot she did every afternoon. “How was work?”
“Slow. Not many people came in today.” Ewan Peabody smiled affectionately at his stiff daughter. “Make any friends today, dear?”
“Never,” she scoffed. “You know that. Why must you ask every day? It's tiresome.”
“I always ask because one day it may come true,” he laughed. “You have to make at least one friend sometime in your lifetime.”
“Well, seeing as that happened when I was a child, I would say you don't need to ask anymore,” Amelia said, plopping down on the couch. “What are we watching?”
“This awful American show called '19 Kids and Counting'.” Her dad frowned. “I don't know why we're watching it. Mostly because I lost the remote and have been sleeping so I didn't care.”
Amelia rolled her eyes and stood up to turn off the television.
“Hey, we were watching that!” Ewan teased her, in good humor.
“Yeah, sure,” Amelia smiled.
“But seriously, Amy.” Ewan looked a little wary. “Some day you may be bored with spending all afternoon and evening with your old man. You need to make some friends. Do you even talk to people?”
Amelia bristled slightly. “I talked to somebody today,” she defended herself.
“Good, good,” Ewan said. “Did you talk to somebody you didn't tutor? And a teacher doesn't count, either.”
Amelia sighed. “I talked to this kid named Damian. I think he's new. I haven't seen him before.”
“Oh. Why did you talk?”
“He took my seat.”
Ewan raised his eyebrows before laughing shortly. “He must be new. That's dangerous. Messes with your conducive learning environment. Anybody should know that.”
“He also said...” Amelia paused and licked her lips, suddenly nervous. “Do you need anything? New ice pack? Medication? Food?”
“No, no,” he waved her away. “Eileen was in today. She took care of everything. Why are you skirting the subject?”
“He said all I needed was someone to heat me up.” Amelia frowned and leaned back, kicking the couch up. “To match my ice, I mean,” she continued at her dad's puzzled look.
“He's right.” Ewan grinned at her. “That's why you and I get along so well. And why your mother and I got along so well.”
Amelia frowned. “I wish I had known her better and hadn't spent so much time ignoring her.”
“All you need to do to know her,” her dad started.
“Is know myself. I know.” Amelia smiled. “You sure you don't need anything?”
“Well... I do need one thing.”
“Name it.” She waited.
“Hand me my crutches. I seriously have to pee.” Ewan laughed at the look on his daughter's face and went off to the bathroom to do just that.
Amelia went upstairs and grabbed her pastels before coming back down. She began making wide, sweeping arches of color across her drawing pad.
Ewan came back in and observed her. “What's the matter?” he asked after a moment.
“Nothing,” she mumbled, concentrating on which color to use next.
“No, something's up,” he said, coming back over to the couch slowly. Lowering himself with the ease of years of practice, he frowned at his daughter. “You never do art anymore. Not unless something's up.”
“I just... felt like expressing myself today.” Amelia shrugged. “I never express myself anymore.”
“Hence the ice.” Ewan's eyes narrowed. “You bothered by what that kid said today?”
“Dad,” Amelia groaned.
He didn't answer.
The silence stretched on, until Amelia sighed. “I know what you're doing. You're making the silence awkward so I have to answer you. So I will. Yes. Yes, I am bothered. I used to be shy, but I at least had fun. What happened?”
“You had to start taking care of good old Dad,” Ewan said sadly.
“You know I don't mind.” Amelia began rubbing the colors together with her fingers, making the colors blend together in ways Ewan didn't understand.
“I know. But you should be a kid. Look at you, eighteen years old and just... stuck. Here. With me. And nobody else.” Ewan sighed. “What happened to that girl you used to hang out with all the time? Her name is like that Disney princess?”
Amelia froze. “Tiana?”
“That's the one. What happened to her?”
“She and I had a falling out. You know that.” Amelia colored serenely, covering the page.
“But she was your only friend,” Ewan stressed, leaning forward to stare intently at Amelia. “You should go out and make more. How's Charlie doing?”
Amelia made an annoyed sound. “Poorly.”
“And that annoys you.” Ewan sighed. “Maddie? You and she used to be friendly.”
“But not friends.” Amelia pointed at him with her fuchsia pastel. “You were the one who said friendly doesn't mean friends.”
“Amy, that was seven years ago!” her dad exclaimed. “When I was considering dating again! This is totally different! Besides, I think Maddie would be a nice person to get to know again.”
“No.” Amelia shook her head. “I don't want friends. I like hanging out with you.”
He narrowed his eyes and raised his hands above his head in surrender. “Fine. Have it your way. But when you are sad and lonely in twenty years, don't come crawling back to me.”
“Oh, Dad.” Amelia smiled and picked up a bright green pastel. “I will have never left.”
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Post by barbt on Aug 19, 2014 20:12:09 GMT -5
Issues, this one has. No idea why I'm talking like Yoda.
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Aug 21, 2014 1:30:42 GMT -5
Issues, everyone has. Including Yoda. Enjoy <3
“Amelia!”
Turning abruptly, Amelia almost hit the couple walking by her. “Sorry,” she muttered at them before searching the sea of students for the source of the voice.
“Hey!” Damian said from right next to her.
She jumped. “Yes?” she asked.
“Are you ready for math?” he asked, falling into step beside her.
Amelia stared at him as he walked next to her, bold as anything. Nobody had done that since she and Tiana had their falling out. “Yes,” she said shortly.
“So am I.” He grinned at her. “But this time, I think I'll avoid your desk.”
“Good plan,” she said.
Damian looked at her and waited, like he expected her to say something, but she stayed silent. “So I've heard some things about you,” he finally said, filling the silence.
“Such as?” Amelia was curious but didn't show it on her face.
“Things like... you're heartless.” He gauged her reaction. “Cold. Don't have a single friend. Never have homework because you're a genius, and nobody knows where you live or what you do with your life.”
Amelia glanced at him. His eyes were sparkling with laughter. “And?”
“How much of that is true?”
She considered saying it was all true, but thought back to the night before, when her dad had admonished her for not having any friends. Biting her lip, Amelia said slowly, “I... am most definitely a genius.”
Damian blinked in surprise and looked taken aback. “Meaning the rest is false?”
“Of course.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “I am not heartless. I am not cold. Always,” she amended. “I have one friend. And that one friend knows what I do with my life and where I live.”
“Your one friend would be?” he prodded.
At the door of the math classroom, Amelia went inside, people making way for her as they always did. “My father,” she threw over her shoulder before sitting at her regular desk.
Damian simply raised one of those expressive eyebrows before sitting in the desk Amelia had used the day before.
Amelia ran over their conversation again in her head on a loop so she could repeat it to her dad, word for word. “I can't wait to tell him,” she muttered dryly.
“Tell him what?” Damian asked, turning.
Biting her lip, Amelia was spared a response by the bell. When Mr. Gold started class, he meant business. No talking until the lesson was over. She was saved.
To her deep surprise, Damian didn't talk to her when they were released to do their problems. He chatted with Maddie, with Rick, with Theo, and with Chandler. They all seemed to love him already. And from Amelia gathered from their conversation, he had only been there the two days.
Shaking her head in amazement, she muttered to herself, so no one could hear, “I wish I had the gift of making friends easily,” before finishing her math.
But when class was over, Damian followed her out of the room and to her locker. “Do you switch your books every class period?” he asked, watching her put the math book away and take the history book out.
“Yes.” Amelia shut the locker and twirled the lock.
“Why?” he asked.
Glancing into his eager blue eyes, Amelia fought back the sudden impulse to tell him everything. “Do you always act like such a puppy?” she asked coldly before heading down the hall to history.
“Yeah,” he said, grinning as he began walking beside her. “Do you always act like the ice queen?”
“Yes.” And with that, she swept down the hall and into class. “Thank you for your questions.” I sound like a celebrity, she thought in disgust.
He simply laughed. “Anytime.”
Amelia gave him an odd look before going to history. He followed her, and she wasn't surprised. “What's your story?” she asked as they walked the halls.
“What?” he asked in surprise.
Glancing at him, Amelia raised her own eyebrow. “You must have a story. Why are you new to this school? Why do you ask so many questions? Why are you so... nice?” The word tasted slightly unusual on her tongue.
Damian grinned as he matched her stride. “I'm new because I've been touring. I ask questions because I am curious. I am nice because it's the decent thing to do, and I'm nice specifically to you because no one should have just one friend.”
Amelia found herself flushing and wished she hadn't. “I like my one friend.”
She blinked in surprise when Damian stopped her by holding her arm. The students rushing by them looked at them in shock, but continued to their classes. “That may be true,” he said softly, “but have you ever known anything else? Do you know how to laugh?”
Licking her lips nervously, Amelia considered what to say for a few moments. “I used to have lots of friends,” she said slowly. “Well... maybe six.”
“And what changed?” He was completely serious as he stared her down.
Amelia grinned suddenly. “Everything changed when the fire nation attacked,” she quoted before laughing slightly.
Damian gave her a quizzical look, but the bell rang then and she jumped. “We're going to be late. That's the one minute bell.”
Damian nodded and they rushed to class together along with a few other stragglers.
He didn't ask another question for the rest of the day.
“Hey,” Amelia called upon entering the house. “Dad?”
“In here!” Ewan called.
Walking through the open living room to the kitchen, Amelia grinned slightly. “What are you doing?”
Her father was wheeling himself around in his old chair. “I'm making dinner,” he said, looking through things in the low cupboards.
“Why exactly are you doing that?” Amelia grabbed a bowl for him before he could wheel himself over.
“Because I wanted to do something nice for you.” Ewan grinned and took the bowl. “Thank you, my good lady. Sit. I will make dinner and it will be marvelous.”
“You don't need any help?” Amelia asked, worried.
“Amy,” he said patiently, “I have been without the use of my legs for many years. I have made meals before without you, you know.”
“When?” Amelia asked, stunned by this new information. “I'm always here. Or else, Eileen is if I'm in school.”
Ewan looked sheepish suddenly. “Well, sometimes I send Eileen home early.”
“Dad!” Amelia gasped. “You aren't supposed to be alone!”
“I know, I know.” Ewan waved her off. “But I'm a pro. Watch me.”
Sitting down, Amelia watched as her father mixed and poured, set on the stove, stirred, looked at the temperature... did everything. She frowned as he finished and brought the huge bowl over to the table.
“Voila,” he announced. “Spaghetti for two.”
Amelia stared at it for a while. “I didn't even know you could cook,” she mumbled.
“You kidding? I love to cook. Your mother loved my cooking. Now be a dear and grab a couple of bowls and some silverware, would you?” Ewan smiled up at her.
Swallowing, Amelia agreed and soon they were eating away happily.
“How was school? Talk to anybody who, I don't know, is the fire to your ice?”
Amelia glanced up into her dad's laughing eyes and choked slightly on her food. Coughing, she shook her head, trying to regain her composure. “God. No, Dad.”
“I meant, did you talk to that kid again?” Ewan laughed. “You okay?”
“I did talk to 'that kid' today,” Amelia said calmly.
“And?” Ewan waited patiently.
“He tours,” she said desperately. “And I told him you're my only friend.”
“You what?” Ewan was aghast. “Amelia, you've never even opened up to me that much! What did this kid do to you, put you on the electric chair?”
Amelia blinked in surprise. “Dad. No. He just... asked questions. I answered. I asked questions. He answered. It was quite businesslike.”
“Quite businesslike.” Ewan mocked her with a smile. “Of course it was. So you're telling me you haven't spoken to anybody but teachers and your paying students for years now, and suddenly this kid waltzes into your life and you spill your life secrets?”
“You told me to make friends.” Amelia took a bite serenely. “Isn't this how you do it? Telling people things?”
“What kind of boy must this be to change my daughter so abruptly?” Ewan laughed. “What do you mean, he tours?”
“He said he was new because he was touring and got back.” Amelia shrugged. “I don't know anything else. I swear.”
Ewan let the subject drop.
Amelia and Damian chatted every once in a while for the next couple of weeks, Damian prying to try to get inside this icy girl's head. Amelia retained her cold reserve, and didn't let him see inside, but she found herself actually enjoying and even looking forward to the conversations she would have Damian. He never seemed to tire of her, and even wanted to know what she was like, and Amelia hadn't experienced that in a very long time. However, she still remained cold and aloof, answering his questions in a businesslike manner and even helping him with his homework every now and then.
Every day, Amelia would report their conversations to Ewan, who simply smiled and enjoyed his daughter's newfound friendship. He could see how much Amelia liked the lad – no matter how much she tried to hide it.
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Post by barbt on Aug 21, 2014 12:04:33 GMT -5
Damian worming his way into her heart - such a charmer.
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Post by GalwayGirl on Aug 23, 2014 21:02:35 GMT -5
Enjoying this story so far!! Amelia and Damian definitely sound like an opposites attracting kind of thing. Can't wait to see where you take this one! :-)
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Aug 25, 2014 1:31:26 GMT -5
“Hey!”
Amelia jumped and slammed her locker door shut before placing a hand on her heart. “You're going to kill me someday.”
Damian grinned and leaned against the row of lockers. “So. Math. You ready for the test? Because I don't know about you, but I really don't know what I'm doing, and I didn't really keep up on my studies on tour... don't tell... but I don't really understand the whole... derivative thing.” He grinned. “But you're a genius. I'm sure you'll be fine.”
Amelia gaped at him. “Emergency study session,” she said. “Okay, listen.” And she proceeded to give him the most concise, comprehensive version of the derivative she could manage.
He nodded a few times before his eyes widened slightly. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” She grinned. “Okay?”
He nodded slowly before smiling. “We have, like, thirty seconds to get to class.”
Amelia began walking very quickly before glancing at Damian with a worried look. “We will work on your grammar next.”
“What did I say incorrectly?” he demanded, trotting to keep up with her.
“Like.” She frowned at him. “You must have picked that up in America.”
He blinked but smiled. “How did you know I went to America?”
“Lucky guess. You just confirmed it.” Amelia pushed open the door to math and slid into her seat just as the bell rang.
Damian gave her a slight smile before sliding into his own seat.
On an impulse, Amelia reached forward and slightly touched his shoulder.
He turned, surprised. “Yeah?”
“Good luck.”
He grinned and nodded. “Likewise.”
“Class has begun.”
“How do you think that went?”
Amelia smiled as, predictably, Damian followed her out of the classroom. “Pretty well. I noticed you finished rather early.”
He shrugged. “I had a good teacher. She taught me basically all I needed to know from the whole time I've missed.”
Frowning, Amelia nodded. “We really do need to work on your grammar.”
Damian just laughed. “But really. The test was much better for me than it would have been otherwise. Thank you.”
She smiled and nodded. “And now. To history.”
Before Amelia could walk off, Damian said, “Wait, wait. Can I ask you something?”
She paused and nodded curtly. “Of course.”
“You said you only had one friend?” Damian looked worried.
“Yes...” Amelia shrugged. “So?”
“Do you want more?”
Surprised, Amelia looked straight into his eyes as she pondered that question. He seemed sincere, but... “I suppose.” Her mouth fell open. “Wait, did I just...”
“Not what you were thinking you were going to say?” Damian looked just as surprised as she felt.
“Why do you ask?” she finally stammered out.
“Uh, well...” Damian took a moment to gather himself. “I was getting together with a couple of the guys I tour with and I was wondering if you wanted to meet them, too. They're fun. And they're great friends, if they take to you.”
Amelia was worried at that. “If they take to me?”
“Hey, Damo!” someone behind her said. “And Amelia.”
She nodded absentmindedly. “Hi,” she said to whoever was talking to her. “Um... I suppose. When is this happening?”
“Tonight. At, like... five. I can come to your house, or we can meet here...” Damian grinned suddenly. “Hey, there's that like again.”
“It's awful.” Amelia shook her head. “I have to go home. Be with my dad. I can't.”
“Why do you have to go home? Aren't you home every night?”
Amelia thought quickly and was about to explain when the bell rang. “The one minute bell,” she said helplessly. “I didn't even get my book for history.”
“We don't need it today.” At Amelia's confused look, Damian continued, “We're watching the documentary.”
“Right, right.” Amelia shook her head to clear it and began walking to class. “I need to help my dad. He can't really do anything and Eileen leaves at three.”
“Eileen?” Damian matched her stride as they practically jogged to class.
“My dad's assistant.” Amelia shook her head. “Look, he would probably like some advance warning.”
Damian shrugged. “Okay. That's fine.” At the look on her face, he hastened to add, “It really isn't a big deal. Another time. When your dad has... advance warning.”
She nodded and they walked into history in silence.
“How was school today, Amy?” Ewan smiled at his daughter before frowning at the hooded look she gave him. “What is it?”
“I got invited to go somewhere,” she said softly, sinking down into the chair across from his.
“Oh?” Ewan perked up. “Where?”
“I...” Amelia frowned. “I actually don't know. Funny. I just shut him down before he could even tell me.”
“That fire kid?”
Amelia sighed. “His name is Damian.”
“Right.” Ewan grinned. “Are you going?”
Amelia glanced up in surprise. “No. Why would I?”
“Do you want to?” Ewan asked patiently.
Amelia thought for a moment. “Yes.”
“Whoa!” Ewan laughed. “Can I meet this kid? He must be doing wonders for you. And all in only a few weeks! Our conversations have never been quite so lively.” He laughed again. “So why aren't you going?”
Amelia shrugged. “I told him I had to give you advance warning and so, we decided to do something another day. So you can keep Eileen longer that day.”
Ewan rolled his eyes. “Ridiculous. You just got scared. You know I can handle myself for a few hours. As long as I have my chair and my remote, I'm totally fine.” He winked. “So why don't you call him up? Let him know you changed your mind? I have to meet him first, though.”
Amelia rolled her eyes. “First of all, this is not a date. So you don't have to be the crazy dad with the shotgun like they do in the Americas. Second... I don't have his number. Third, I think, while you can take care of yourself, you enjoy me being here. With you.” She grinned. “You can't deny that.”
“No, but you can't deny that you need to get out of the house more.”
“Dad, I'm perfectly fine!” she protested.
“No. No, you are not,” Ewan declared. “This is why I pester you about your friends every single day. For the past month and a half, all I have heard about is how poorly Charlie has been doing with the quadratic, and that's sad, because you are a marvelous tutor, and we all know it. Everyone knows it.”
Amelia smiled, remembering her “tutoring” session with Damian earlier.
“But you need friends. You need to hang out with people. And I mean real people, not your poor old dad, or some internet people whose names you don't even know. You need to stop reading eighty percent of the time, doing schoolwork the other twenty, with a little squeezed in for me.”
“Dad, that's over one hundred percent,” Amelia said, smiling slightly.
Ewan looked frustrated at that. “Is that the point?” he demanded. “No. The point is, you need to be enjoying your life. Not be the frigid ice princess anymore. And I won't be the goofy dad who lets you do anything you want because you scare me to death anymore. Got it?”
“I scared you to death?” Amelia asked, fascinated.
“Yes. And quite frankly, you still do.” Ewan grinned. “Is there any way you can get that boy before he leaves to wherever he is going?”
“To meet his friends from tour,” Amelia said thoughtfully. “He did mention maybe meeting up at the school at five, but I doubt he'll be there.”
“You can always try.” Ewan smiled affectionately at his daughter. “At four forty-five, get there. Wait for him for a bit. And then bring him to me. Okay?”
Amelia laughed. “You're awfully bossy tonight.”
“I feel like I've just come into my manhood.”
“I thought you might be here.”
Amelia glanced up to see a pair of laughing blue eyes and a quizzical eyebrow. She shrugged and let her head fall back onto her raised knees. “I'm here.”
Damian sat beside her on the bench and asked, “So, what are you doing here?”
“You have to meet my dad before I can go anywhere with you,” Amelia blurted out.
He smiled. “Okay. When?”
“I suppose right now...” Amelia frowned at him and stood slowly. “You're a weird person.”
“Oh, you think I'm the weird one?” Damian teased her. “Come on. Which way to your house?”
“It's only three blocks this way.” Motioning, Amelia led the way. “And yes, you are weird.”
“How so?” Damian asked.
“You...” Amelia frowned again. “You make me talk.”
“And that's weird... how?”
She rolled her eyes. “Have you not been paying attention? Nobody makes me talk. I am a loner. People avoid me. I avoid people. It all works out for the best. But, my dad thinks I need a friend, so I suppose since you actually seem to want to talk to me, you'll do.”
Damian stopped abruptly. “Well, thanks,” he said.
Amelia turned and looked at him. “What?”
He looked hurt. “I'll do? I guess that's one way to look at it.” He pulled out his phone. “Can you... give me a second?”
She nodded and took some time to comprehend his response. She heard phrases drifting back to her, such as, “Might be late...bringing someone...ice princess...meeting the father...”
She jumped when Damian touched her shoulder. “Ready to march on?”
Amelia nodded. “Um...”
“Yeah?”
Glancing into his eyes, Amelia was somewhat surprised to see how cool they were. For the past few weeks, they had shone with a warmth she wasn't used to, but now... Swallowing hard, she sighed. “I'm... sorry.” At his surprised look, she pushed on. “I mean, I'm really bad at the friend thing, since I haven't done it since Tiana, and I was a really horrid friend even then, and I wish I could take it back, but I can't because, you know, time is in a strict, linear progression and nothing can reverse it, but I wish I could, and I hope you won't be too mad at me because I miss your... heat.” She cringed. “Not what I mean, I promise.”
Damian grinned. “You heard me say that?”
She nodded.
He pondered her deluge of words before grabbing her hand. “Come on. Let's go meet your dad, and then we can go meet your new friends.”
They walked on in silence, hands still linked, before Amelia pulled Damian to a stop. “This is my house,” she said, slightly nervous.
He smiled. “Lead the way.”
She took her hand out of his and walked up the steps to her house. Glancing back at Damian, she saw him looking curiously at the small ramp but he walked up the steps. “Dad,” she called as she opened the door.
“Come in! And shut the door! Did you bring the kid?”
“I brought him, Dad,” Amelia said, rolling her eyes at Damian.
He laughed and followed Amelia straight into the living room.
“Hello!” Ewan grinned and extended his hand. “I'm Amelia's father. You can call me Ewan. You must be Damian.”
Damian shook his hand and smiled. “That's me. It's nice to meet you.” He glanced around the living room and back at Ewan, not even trying to mask his curiosity.
“Did Amelia tell you I'm in a wheelchair?” Ewan asked. “She wouldn't, would she?” He laughed. “She's rather reserved, if you hadn't noticed. I'm surprised she even told you her best friend was her father.”
Damian's eyes widened slightly.
“That's right, young man. My daughter and I talk about everything.” Ewan's eyes twinkled. “So be nice.”
Nodding, Damian laughed. “Yes, sir.”
Amelia rolled her eyes. “Okay. Guys. Let's just get this over with.”
“No, no, sit for a few minutes! We haven't even really been introduced! What's your full name, kid?”
Damian sat in the chair Amelia usually sat in. “Damian McGinty.”
“No middle name?” Ewan winked at Amelia as she perched on a straight back chair.
“Joseph...” Damian said slowly.
“Ah. Damian Joseph McGinty.”
“Junior.” Damian shrugged. “That's the whole of it. And yours is?”
“Ewan Daniel Peabody.” Ewan exaggerated a bow, best he could. “At your service.”
“Peabody.” Damian glanced at Amelia, an eyebrow raised. “Good to know.”
“She didn't even tell you her last name?” Ewan shook his head at his daughter, teasingly. “Amy...”
Amelia winced. “Dad, don't. Please. Can we just go?”
Ewan laughed as Damian stood with Amelia. “Where are you two going today?”
“To visit my friends. From my singing group.”
Ewan looked impressed. “Singing group? You sing? Where did you tour? Yes, Amelia told me that, too.” He winked. “She also told me about your conversation about the teddy bears.”
Damian smiled and looked slightly worried but soldiered on. “I do sing. I've been with my group for... three years now.” He smiled. “Almost four. It's great craic indeed. And we tour in North America. Considering Australia.”
“So what's the name of your group? I might have heard of you.” Ewan looked very curious.
“Now, if I told you that, you might look us up, before you've properly had a chance to get to know me for me.” Damian grinned but Amelia noticed the harshness of his words with curiosity.
“I might look you up anyway, Damian Joseph McGinty, Jr,” Ewan teased. “But I won't. Enjoy your time out, you two.”
Amelia was surprised. “Seriously? It's that easy?”
“To do what, my child?”
“To just... are you going to be okay? Can I get you anything first? Any food, drinks, pillows?”
“You hover around me like a worried mother hen,” Ewan said, waving her off. “Have fun without me. Be a teenager. God knows you don't have long enough to do that. Please. Just enjoy.”
When it looked like Amelia wasn't going to move, Damian grabbed her hand and tugged gently. “Come on. They're waiting for us.”
She took one last worried glance at her father before following Damian out the door. “Where exactly are we going?” she asked as the door shut behind them.
Damian led the way back to the school. “I'm parked over here. We're going to the best pizza parlor Derry has to offer.” He grinned back at her as they walked the short three blocks back. “They said they'll hold the food until we get there but since I seriously doubt they can wait that long, we had better hurry.”
“Am I going to be the only newcomer?” Amelia asked stiffly, a little frightened at the possibility.
Damian shook his head. “Nope. Keith is bringing a lass he knows, Ryan is bringing his brother, Raymond... George might bring Carrie. His wife,” he explained. “Paul might bring Dom. His fiancee. So it'll be a full crowd.”
Amelia nodded. “Great. I love crowds.”
“No, you don't,” Damian laughed.
She glanced at him in surprise. “I don't. You're right. But I will... tolerate this one.”
Damian grinned. “Great. I think you'll really like them all. They're all super nice, but you should know that they're loud and energetic.”
“Like you?” Amelia asked, trying to picture four more Damians all in one group.
“God, no,” Damian said in horror. “No. Keith is much, much more energetic, as is Paul, but George and Ryan are more toned down than I am.” He laughed suddenly. “And when we formed the group, I was much more rambunctious, but I've calmed down over time. Keith and Paul have not.”
Amelia's eyes widened at that but she refrained from saying anything until they were in Damian's car at the school. “How old were you when you joined, exactly?”
“Fourteen.” Damian pulled out of the drive and they were on their way. “A lot has changed since then.”
“Hmm.” Amelia smiled. “I can't imagine you being so young.”
Damian grinned. “I looked a lot different. I changed quite a bit in the last few years.” He glanced at Amelia. “Do you want to hear some...?”
“You have your own music?” Amelia thought for a moment. “I can't decide if that's egotistical or just good marketing.”
Damian laughed and motioned at the glove box. “Put in the one that says, 'The Show'.”
Curious, Amelia pushed in the CD he inferred. She stared at the picture on the front, smiling slightly at little Damian.
“Track 4,” he directed her before falling silent.
Amelia did as he said and listened to “Come by the Hills” in silence. She saw Damian look at her a few times but did not look back or speak. When it was over, she smiled slightly. “Pretty good. I thought it would be some kind of boy band but you're actually decent.”
He raised an eyebrow and laughed. “Thanks. I'll take that as a high compliment from you.”
God, Amelia thought in surprise. Why does he get me so well? “Okay, you do that,” she said softly.
They didn't speak again. Amelia listened to Remember Me, Recuerdame with a smile on her face. Desperado she enjoyed, and Steal Away made her tear up slightly.
By the beginning of The Island, Damian was pulling into a parking lot. “Here we are,” he said cheerfully.
Amelia got out and glanced at the parlor. “I didn't even know this was here,” she said in surprise.
“Oh, yeah,” he said, nodding. “It's wonderful. One of our favorite places to go when we're in Derry together.”
“Our? You mean the group?”
“Yeah.” Damian grinned at her. “Perceptive. Yeah, the group. Are you nervous?”
“About what?” Amelia asked.
“Meeting them. Most people are. I really don't know why.” Damian thought about that. “Maybe because we're semi-famous, but really, we're all just natural guys.”
Amelia stopped and stared at him quizzically. “You aren't a very natural person,” she argued.
“What do you mean?” Damian asked in surprise.
“Not many guys would dare to even speak to me,” she said softly, not quite meeting his gaze. “Nor girls, for that matter. Nobody stands up to me. And nobody cares about what I'm doing or asks me to go places.”
“You know why?” Damian asked.
Amelia raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Why? You have a reason?”
“Because you shut yourself off.” Damian frowned. “You have this big 'Keep Out' sign posted and people follow it. Because people are scared of you. Because you have a reputation. I just happened to sit in your seat before I had ever heard of you. And you're actually a nice person.” He grinned. “The study session we had today proves that.”
Amelia bit her lip. “I like my privacy.”
“No, you just...” Damian stopped. “We shouldn't keep the lads waiting.” Grabbing her hand, he pulled her along. “Come on. It'll be fun.”
She prepared herself for a lot of people, and got it.
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Post by barbt on Aug 25, 2014 5:35:07 GMT -5
Oh Lord. Meeting all of them at once in a pizza parlor. Even for those of us who know them, that might be overwhelming :-)
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Post by meg_cahill21 on Aug 27, 2014 20:46:55 GMT -5
I really really really like this...ill have to pop up around Nox more to make sure youre updating it
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Aug 28, 2014 0:50:40 GMT -5
Just for you, Meg. <3 (and barb, can't forget barb! And GG. Thank you all for reading this!!)
“Damo! Hey, kid! Great to see you again! It's been too long! Weeks without seeing you, mate, what've you been up to?” The stream of words came from everybody and Amelia glanced around at the large crowd at one of the tables.
The blond young man piped up, “Hey, Damo, who's the lass?”
“Uh...” Damian smiled. “This is Amelia. Amelia, this is Keith.” He winked at her discreetly. “Remember what I said about him.” Leaning towards her, he whispered, “He's also rather a player, so keep your distance if you value your life.”
Amelia blinked in surprise before nodding and gripping his hand tighter.
Finding two open chairs, Damian led Amelia towards them and they sat. “Have you ordered?” he asked the bald man.
The bald man nodded. “I ordered for everybody. I didn't know what you liked, so I guessed,” he said to Amelia. “I'm George, by the way. It's great to meet you, Amelia.” He extended his hand across the table and Amelia shook it tentatively. “This is my wife, Carrie.”
Amelia smiled at her. “Hi,” she said softly.
“I'm Paul!” chirped the man on the other side of Damian. He leaned his head around and smiled broadly. “I imagine Damo has mentioned me.”
Amelia nodded slowly.
Paul grinned at Damian. “Good.”
“Damo?” Amelia asked Damian with a small smile on her face.
“Amy?” he countered, nudging her with his shoulder.
Amelia rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay,” she said. “You win.”
“It's not a bad name, Amy isn't,” Keith declared loudly. “I rather like it.” He turned to a small man with a strange goatee. “Don't you?”
The stranger shrugged. “I like Amelia. It sounds like... a name from a fairytale.”
“Ah, yes, the ice princess.” Paul directed Damian's attention. “What exactly did you mean by that?”
Damian shrugged. “Nothing. It was a joke.”
“If you're the ice princess, what does that make Damian?” the man with black hair and a crooked grin asked Amelia.
“My protege,” Amelia said stiffly before laughing. “Apparently, he is the opposite element. What rank he has is yet to be determined.”
At everyone's confused looks, Damian simply shrugged.
“The food!” Keith called out and soon everyone was talking at once.
People were shouting across the table, reaching for food, chatting enthusiastically, and jostling each other good-naturedly, and Amelia sat in silence, taking it all in. She took a slice of pizza and ate it slowly, learning about all of them by what they spoke about and how, well... crazy, they all were. The silent man with the goatee was named Neil, she discovered. The man with black hair was Ryan, and the similar looking man with brown hair next to him was his brother. Keith hadn't brought a lass because the one he invited got sick, and he was disappointed, but not too upset. George and Carrie had left Sarah with a new babysitter and were slightly nervous, but they seemed relaxed to Amelia. Paul had to leave Dom behind because she was busy doing something. Amelia didn't catch what.
And Damian? Amelia learned very little from him. He seemed to be careful with his words, which Amelia guessed was for her benefit.
There was an awkward moment when Paul nudged Damian. “So, Damo, tell us about school. Do you have girls falling all over you? Are you enjoying yourself tremendously?” He grinned and winked at Amelia, who jumped slightly.
Damian flushed but laughed. “Yes, and I suppose. But you know. It's school.”
Amelia blinked in surprise. “You have girls falling all over you?”
Damian turned to her and frowned. “You don't notice?”
She shook her head and went back to her pizza, just trying to avoid awkward eye contact with any of them. When the silence had stretched to an uncomfortable length, she glanced up and realized they were all waiting for her response. “I suppose I'm too busy studying to notice.” She shrugged. “Sorry. Girls, like who?”
Damian sighed. “It doesn't matter.” He shrugged. “Keith, how's the boat?”
Keith brightened and started chattering away about his wonderful boat. Everyone laughed as he spoke of the many times it had broken down on him while he was busy trying to just enjoy the ride.
“How do you push a boat back to shore?” George asked dubiously at one point.
“Oh, trust me, my friend. It isn't easy. But Becca doesn't ever want to go out on it again,” Keith complained. “If my own sister won't enjoy it with me, who am I supposed to go on the boat with?”
“Maybe if you actually fixed it, Becca would agree to riding it. She probably just doesn't want to defy physics by pushing a boat back to shore,” Ryan laughed.
After many more hilarious stories and antics by the lads, Amelia turned to Damian with wide eyes. “My father,” she whispered to him.
Instantly, he stood up. “Hey, lads and Mrs. Donaldson,” he nodded at Carrie, “I hate to break up the party, but Amelia and I have to get back. It is a school night, you know, and I have homework.” He grinned at Amelia. “She probably doesn't. But I do. So we will have to bid you adieu.”
Amelia rolled her eyes and stood. “It was great to meet all of you,” she said softly, smiling.
There was a large chorus of goodbyes, and promises to see each other soon, before Damian and Amelia made their leave.
When they had reached the car in silence, Damian opened the door for her. Amelia glanced at him in surprise but got in without saying anything.
Damian got in and pulled out. “So back to your house?” he asked.
She nodded. “Please. I hope my dad is okay.”
“Has he called or anything?”
“No...” Amelia said slowly. “But, I mean, you met him. He hates asking for help and thinks he can do everything himself.” She smiled at him suddenly. “Thank you. Your group is really nice.”
Damian laughed. “They were pretty demure tonight.”
“That was demure?” Amelia exclaimed in horror. “I cannot imagine what crazy is like for them.”
“Oh...” Damian thought. “Lots of pranking and... well. Let's just say our producer has trouble keeping track of us all.”
Amelia felt sorry for their producer but stopped talking to listen to The Island. She smiled at the end and glanced at Damian. “You're all quite good, you know.”
“Thanks,” he murmured.
She waited for more, but nothing came. “What's up?” she demanded. “You're never this quiet.”
He sighed. “After being with the lads, I just... I miss them, and I miss touring, but they're so overwhelming. I am pretty quiet around them now, and... I just don't know what's going to happen after this year. It's my last year of school, and I really do want to continue with Celtic Thunder, but I don't know. It's confusing.”
Amelia nodded. “Same.”
“You're confused about what to do after school?” Damian asked, glancing at her in surprise.
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “I got accepted to a school in America.”
“That's incredible!” Damian exclaimed, grinning. “So...?” Then realization dawned on him. “Your father.”
Amelia bit her lip. “I could, I suppose, just... Ugh. I don't know. I just don't know.”
“Have you told him?”
“Of course not!” she said, shocked at even the thought. “No, no, he would only be too supportive for his own good.”
“Maybe...and this is just a thought, don't kill me,” Damian laughed, “but maybe you baby him too much. Have you considered that?”
Amelia stared at him, aghast. “I do not. He's just... He just can't do it all.”
Damian rolled his eyes. “This is starting to sound like a bad retelling of 'Mamma Mia'.”
“What?”
“You've never seen 'Mamma Mia', have you?” Damian looked at her thoughtfully before pulling a U turn.
“Where are we going?” Amelia asked, surprised.
“It's seven forty-five,” Damian stated. “What time do you go to bed?"
"About ten," she said slowly. "Why?"
"I'm going to help you," he said. Amelia almost laughed at how gallant he looked. "I am going to expand your movie education, since you obviously are lacking."
"It's too late," Amelia objected. "Besides, we don't want to disturb my dad."
"The movie is an hour and forty minutes," Damian continued. "We can grab it, watch it, and be done before ten."
"What about your homework?" Amelia suspiciously asked.
He waved that off and pulled into a parking lot. "I'll be right back." He got out of the car and disappeared into a video store Amelia had never seen before.
Pulling out Damian's CDs, she was going through them when he returned. Getting back into the car, Damian smiled at her. "What are you doing?"
"Seeing what you looked like growing up, of course." She held up Act Two and smiled teasingly. "Look how adorable you were."
He rolled his eyes and put the car into gear. "Come on. Let's go."
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Post by meg_cahill21 on Aug 29, 2014 19:57:30 GMT -5
loved this! this is honestly such an interesting story...and very well written...cant wait to read more!
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Aug 30, 2014 3:37:38 GMT -5
On their way to her house, Amelia bit her lip. “Damian,” she started.
“Yo,” he said back.
She blinked in surprise but let it go. “What were you going to say when I said I liked my privacy?”
He sighed and shook his head. “Never mind.”
“No, really,” Amelia persisted. “Really.”
He frowned. “I was just going to say you're scared of opening up. To people, I mean.”
Amelia thought about that. “Yeah, you're right,” she agreed.
Damian looked at her with a comical expression on his face. “I am?” he asked in shock.
“Yeah,” she said calmly. “But not you, for some reason.” She shrugged.
He was silent for a couple of minutes, and Amelia took that time to push another CD in. She skipped through the tracks until she found another one of his. “Cute,” she remarked after listening to 'Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen'. “Did you sing this for a special someone?” She smiled at him. “Oh, another thing. Girls really are all over you at school?”
Damian nodded slowly. “It's aggravating, really.”
“I don't know a single guy who would think that,” Amelia said. “It's okay if you like it, honestly.”
He shrugged. “Why do you open up to me?”
“Because you're nice?” she said dubiously. “I really don't know.” The song changed to 'Steal Away' and she smiled. “This is you?”
“Mhmm, I'm lead on this version,” he said absentmindedly. “Maybe...” Damian grinned, a grin Amelia didn't trust, “maybe you open up to me because my... heat... melted your cold exterior right away.”
“I feel like that metaphor has gone too far,” Amelia said, laughing slightly. “But maybe. It is frightening, though, you know.”
“What is?” Damian asked, pulling up in front of her house.
“That you make me speak up.” She opened the door before he could get out. “I mean... you and I are so different, I'm pretty surprised we're friends.”
“Oh, is that what we are?” he asked, raising an eyebrow and grinning at her. “Are we friends?”
“What else would we be?” Amelia asked.
Damian shrugged and led the way up the steps to her house. “I thought you didn't have friends.”
“I suppose I have two, now,” Amelia smiled at him before opening her door. “Dad, we're back!”
Ewan popped his head around and smiled at them from his chair. “Hey, kids. Did you have fun? You weren't gone for even three hours.” He checked his watch. “Well, about three hours.”
“We did, thanks,” Damian smiled. He followed Amelia right in and glanced around the house.
Amelia gave her father a quick kiss on the cheek. “They were really loud. Damian said they were really demure tonight but I don't think I believe him. We also stopped to get a movie because Damian is afraid for my education. I, however, am afraid for his. He has homework.” She glared at him.
Damian laughed and held out the movie. “Really, though. It's a good movie. Lots of music.”
“Oh, god,” Amelia exclaimed. “I didn't know it was a musical.” She took it, however, and read the back.
Ewan smiled affectionately at his daughter. “Damian, my lad, you have made my daughter speak more in almost three weeks than I've ever heard her speak in my life.”
Damian shrugged. “I think the words were just waiting to spill out.”
Amelia glared at both of them. “Are you going to do your homework, or are we going to watch this?”
Ewan looked surprised. “Wait, you're actually going to watch something besides an awful reality show?”
Damian looked surprised. “You watch...”
“Yes, yes,” Amelia said, cutting him off with a blush. “Sure. Why not? He'll just pester me until I watch this.” Walking over to the tv, she stared at the DVD player with a frown.
“Oh, my gosh,” Damian muttered. Kneeling beside her, he took the DVD and inserted it. Waiting until the home screen came up, he pressed play. “I'll teach you to work that some other time.”
Ewan laughed. “This is a great movie.”
“You've seen it?” Amelia asked in surprise, settling down on the small couch. Damian came to sit beside her and they both looked at Ewan expectantly.
He nodded. “Yes, I saw it with Eileen once. She had rented it but didn't want to have to watch it at home with her kids. She's a very strange woman,” he informed Damian.
Damian nodded, and they all turned their attention to the movie.
Amelia watched in interest, and in silence. She frowned at how stupid the main character, Sophie, was at not telling her fiance or her mom or anyone except her friends that she invited her dads... She shook her head over almost everything.
Damian watched Amelia. He smiled at her reactions. He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing when Amelia recoiled at Pierce Brosnan's “singing”.
About two thirds of the way through, Amelia asked, “So how much of this movie is singing, anyway?”
Ewan chuckled. “You know, there are only, like, six more songs left.”
Amelia looked horrified but didn't say anything for the rest of the movie.
As the credits rolled, Damian looked expectantly at her. “Well?” he prompted.
Ewan leaned forward just slightly to hear his stoic daughter's reaction.
“It was amusing,” she said finally, after much deliberation. “Not something I would want to watch again, though. It was very much a you type of movie,” she directed at Damian.
“What does that even mean?” he asked.
“Just... hyper. Excited. Too happy.” Amelia stood and glanced at her dad. “I think I'm going to take a shower and get ready for bed.”
Damian laughed and stood as well. “I think that's my cue to leave.”
“No, no, you can stay.” Ewan stared at Damian until the lad nodded, slightly uncomfortable. “Good. We'll chat.”
Amelia stopped and looked worried. “What exactly does that mean?”
“Just... a man talk. You know. Bro talk, as they say in America.” Ewan grinned. “Take your shower.”
Amelia stood, torn, before nodding slightly and disappearing.
“Sit down, Damian,” Ewan invited.
Damian sat. “What's this about?”
“I just wanted to ask what your intentions were.” Ewan stared at Damian with a strange expression on his face.
Damian colored and wished he hadn't. “I don't know if you had noticed, but she needs a friend. That's what I'm here for. Nothing else.”
Ewan waited patiently.
“I mean,” Damian continued nervously after a brief silence, “you saw how she even reacted to the movie. I love that movie. We don't really have much in common. She doesn't really like my mates... I'm not smart enough for her... You know how it is.”
“I see.” Ewan nodded thoughtfully. “So if you two had more in common, you would definitely have different intentions.”
“That's not what I meant...” Damian said slowly.
“Do you find my daughter attractive?” Ewan asked. “I mean, honestly.”
“As attractive as an ice princess can be,” Damian said weakly.
“And how attractive would that be?”
Damian shrugged helplessly. “Did I do something wrong?”
“You two have held hands before?” Ewan pressed on.
“Dad,” Amelia said from the doorway, causing both of them to jump.
“Yes?” Ewan asked brightly.
“Just stop. We're friends. Deal.” Amelia turned on her heel and left, presumably to shower.
Ewan laughed softly and grinned at Damian. “Now she knows you think she's as attractive as an ice princess.”
Damian raised an eyebrow and smiled disarmingly. “And what does that mean for me?”
“Just that she'll probably be embarrassed and will avoid all subject.” Ewan shrugged. “Or maybe not. I don't know. You're changing her.”
“And is that good or bad, sir?” Damian asked quietly.
Ewan shrugged. “I mean... she's definitely told me a lot more about her life since you walked in. Did you know my daughter enjoys reggae music? I would never have expected it of her.”
Damian chuckled. “I didn't know, actually.”
Amelia walked back into the room and frowned at her dad. “Okay. That's seriously enough.”
“What?” Ewan asked innocently.
“I think it's time for you to leave,” she said to Damian, pulling him up.
He looked surprised but willingly stood. “Just let me grab the movie,” he said, smiling helplessly at Ewan. Picking up the movie, he smiled at Ewan. “It was really nice to meet you.”
“Oh, I'm sure,” Ewan responded cheerfully.
Damian raised an eyebrow but just bowed his head slightly. Turning to Amelia, he opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.
“Outside,” she said.
He nodded and led the way out of the house. After Amelia shut the door, he grinned crookedly. “That was interesting.”
She frowned. “I'm sorry. I'm really sorry about my dad. I didn't realize he would do that. He just...” Amelia frowned and thought. “I've never brought anyone over before and I had no idea.”
“It's okay.” Damian raised a hand and smiled gently at her. “It's totally fine.”
“You sure?” she asked, worried. “Because, I mean, it's kind of ridiculous.”
“It's fine.” Damian raised an eyebrow and smirked. “So how much did you hear?”
“All of it,” she admitted.
“You were listening,” he accused her.
“Yeah.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “I was.”
Damian paused before saying awkwardly, “I should probably go.”
“Yeah,” she agreed quickly, stepping back. “Okay. Do your homework.”
He pulled out his phone and shrugged as he glanced at the time. “It's kinda late.”
“Do it anyway,” she commanded him.
Damian laughed and pulled her into a hug.
Amelia stiffened and felt her heart race elevate. “Damo...” she mumbled.
He chuckled and she felt his body shake against hers. “Yes?” he asked.
“I'm not really the hugging type,” she whispered. “Besides, who knows? My dad could come out any moment.”
Damian released her and patted her hair down. “If he did, well... he knows my intentions.” He winked and trotted off. “Gotta go. See you tomorrow!”
Amelia gaped at him before waving goodbye and going back inside.
“Had to apologize for me, huh?” Ewan asked, not looking up from his book.
“Yes,” Amelia said through gritted teeth. “I need to take a shower.”
“Did he kiss you goodnight?” he called to her as she walked into another room.
Amelia popped her head out to stare at her dad. “What?” she demanded.
“He likes you. And I don't see why that's such a shock to you, anyway.” Ewan shrugged and continued reading. “It's really obvious.”
“Please.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “He said only today that he has lots of girls throwing themselves at him but he doesn't care.”
“Mhmm. Because he likes you.” Ewan rolled his eyes back. “Take your shower, sweetheart.”
She tried to come up with a snappy reply but couldn't manage one. “Fine,” she finally said before going to do just that.
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Post by barbt on Aug 30, 2014 8:13:22 GMT -5
CT magic at work :-)
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Post by meg_cahill21 on Aug 31, 2014 20:42:44 GMT -5
her dad reminds me of my dad...kinda...not really...but kinda...idk haha what I do know is that you need to update soon!
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Post by GalwayGirl on Aug 31, 2014 21:29:41 GMT -5
Loved the updates!! Mama Mia is a great movie. haha Fav parts....The restaurant, and the lads just being their hyper (or overly hyper selves), Ewan giving Damo "The Talk", Amy's reaction to it,how Amelia is so concerned about Damian's academic endeavors, etc. It is all fantastic writing and I can't wait to see where you take the story from here! Amelia reminds me of a few other ice princesses... Anyway, update soon!
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Sept 1, 2014 0:29:35 GMT -5
“Hey!” Damian called.
Amelia turned and smiled brightly at him. “Hey, what's up?” she asked.
He grinned and fell into step beside her. “You ready for...what is it... art?”
Amelia shrugged. “Yes. I'm ready. Have I ever told you my feelings on the subject? I can't remember.”
Damian rolled his eyes. “It's pointless, you don't need it, people with logical brains can't make magic with their fingers, yes, I have heard all the complaints and don't need them again.”
Amelia looked at him in surprise and opened her mouth to speak before shutting it again and staring at him quizzically.
He shrugged after an awkward silence. “But I mean... you should learn to enjoy it. You have Mr. E. I mean, he's a wonder in itself.”
“Hey, Damian,” Shirley said as she passed them.
He grinned at her and turned back to Amelia. “Meanwhile, I have to prepare for physics. You know how hard this class is?”
“Damian! Are you going to the party Friday?” Alexis asked as she passed.
“No, I'm not. Sorry,” Damian shot over his shoulder.
Amelia watched this all with a pensive expression on her face.
Damian continued chattering on before stopping her. “Hey, so I wondered...” He bit his lip.
Raising an eyebrow, Amelia waited.
“Are we okay? I mean... you were really tense by the end of the night yesterday.” He looked nervous.
“You two hung out yesterday?” someone asked behind Damian.
He turned and gave an easy smile. “Hey, Felicia. Yeah, she hadn't seen Mamma Mia so I made her watch it.”
Felicia made a face and leaned to whisper conspiratorially to Damian, “No wonder she was tense. She doesn't like movies. I, on the other hand, love that movie.” She smiled. “See you around.”
Damian turned back to Amelia and shrugged. “So, are we good?”
Amelia thought about all she had seen. She had seen this happening before, but hadn't cared to notice, but since Damian mentioned girls being all over him... “You have a lot of admirers, huh?”
He was taken aback but shrugged. “Yes. I told you that yesterday.” He frowned. “Is that your problem?”
“No, no,” she said quickly. “I just... never noticed before.” Amelia frowned. “I'm fine. My dad was just idiotic last night. Which I'm sorry about, yet again.”
He shrugged and began walking again. “It's fine. But hey, the lads liked you last night, so that's good, right?”
“How do you know that? I barely said a thing,” Amelia said, lagging behind him slightly.
Damian turned and glanced at her face before grinning. “Keith said you were hot.”
Amelia's head snapped up and she flushed. “Keith is...”
“Right.” Damian's grin grew and he punched her arm lightly before turning and walking off. “I'll see you in math,” he called over his shoulder.
Amelia gaped after him for a moment before striding to art, trying to forget everything she had seen and heard in the last three minutes.
“Damian...” Amelia started, several days later.
He glanced at her as they entered math together. “Yeah?”
“Will you help me with my movie education?” she asked softly, flushing slightly.
Damian looked pleased. “Sure. When?”
“I guess tonight?” Amelia bit her lip. “I mean, unless you have plans. It is Friday, anyway,” she conceded. “Isn't that when people make plans?”
He laughed. “Yeah, but I actually am free tonight. I've been meaning to ask you if you wanted to see another movie, but you've been so distant.” Damian thought for a moment. “We haven't had a conversation over two minutes in what, a week and a half?”
Amelia rolled her eyes. “Have you missed me, rock star?”
Damian bit his lip in an effort to keep from smiling. “Rock star, I like it. And yes.” He raised an eyebrow. “Have you missed me, ice princess?”
She laughed and heads turned. Eyes twinkling, she whispered, “Yeah. I like talking to you.” Sliding into their desks, she tapped him on the shoulder and he turned. “What are we watching tonight?”
He shrugged. “Have you at least seen Star Wars?”
Amelia nodded.
“Then I'll just consider it for a while.” He smiled. “I'll swing by about seven. Okay?”
She nodded again and class began.
When they were all doing their classwork, she saw Maddie lean over to Damian. She began listening.
“Damian. How did you do it?”
“Do what?” he asked. He was chewing on the end of his pencil, she saw.
“She laughed.” Rick's voice joined in. “We haven't heard that since like... fifth year.”
Damian just shrugged and turned to face Amelia. He winked unobtrusively and glanced at her book. Rolling his eyes, he turned back her page and pointed out a problem. “Okay, genius, how do you do this one?”
Amelia patiently took him through the problem and he grinned at her before turning back to face front.
Maddie glanced at Amelia with hesitant eyes before asking Damian softly, “Have you guys been hanging out?”
Damian nodded. “Yup. She's cool.” He grinned at Maddie before returning to his book.
Amelia felt everyone's eyes on her and started to feel like she was drowning: both in the compliment, and in the sea of faces. She finished the last problem and raised her hand.
Mr. Gold looked flabbergasted but came over to her desk. “Yes, Miss Peabody?” he asked.
“May I use the restroom, please?” Amelia asked softly.
He held out his hand and she handed him her unused pass. Initialing one of the ten spaces, to be used in a year, he handed it back to her.
“Thank you,” she muttered, collecting her backpack and heading out. She headed straight to one of the supply closets she knew would be empty at the time and sat down on a bucket. Pulling out her book on biomedical engineering, she began reading in the silence of the last ten minutes of class.
When the bell rang, she calmly stood, put her book away, and went to her locker. Putting her math book in and taking her history book out, she wasn't startled to hear Damian behind her.
“Couldn't take it?” he asked.
Turning, she was surprised to see sympathy on his face. He was so often teasing her that she rarely saw this expression. “I could not.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I get it.”
As they walked in silence to their next class, she considered asking what he meant by that, but decided to leave it for next time. He sounded so solemn and sad, and she didn't want to do anything to make him even more so. So off to history they went.
“I'll see you at seven,” Damian murmured to her as they parted ways after history.
Amelia nodded and watched as he walked away, Eliza attaching herself to him almost immediately, chatting happily. She noted, curious, how he laughed and talked easily back, even shoving her slightly at something she said.
“Jealous?” someone asked behind her.
Turning, she coldly regarded Rick. “No,” she said flatly.
Rick laughed. “Please. He's the only person I can remember you showing any positive attention to in, what, seven years? And there he is.” He pointed. “Girls throw themselves all over him.”
“I know,” she said in a chill tone. “We established that almost right away. And really, you aren't worth my time.” Amelia studied him for a moment. “Are you still failing French? Do you need a tutor?”
Reddening, Rick rolled his eyes. “All I'm saying is you gotta watch your heart. I wouldn't want it to unfreeze only to break, ice princess,” he mocked her.
Amelia watched him walk away before turning on her heels and going straight to psychology. When she sat, she realized she was shaking slightly, an uncharacteristic reaction for her. Have I let my heart unfreeze? She panicked slightly before calming herself down and applying herself to her schoolwork with an urgency she couldn't name.
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