Super long for you. Yeah yeah I may be trying to end it now
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“I should go,” Damian said as Amelia turned off the tv.
She sighed shakily. “Second time crying in one night,” she managed. “My throat hurts.”
Damian laughed. “I'm amazed you actually cry during this show.”
“I'm amazed you actually cried during the movie tonight,” she retorted. “I didn't know males cried. I thought it was against their gender code.”
He shrugged. “Not everyone's.”
“Obviously.” Amelia hesitated and seemed to be arguing with herself. “So I decided to go to the Art Institute in Washington.”
Damian's eyes widened and he broke out into a smile, swooping her into a hug. “That's wonderful, Princess!”
She laughed and hugged him back. “Thank you. Now it's your turn.”
He stiffened. “What do you mean?”
Amelia pulled back and gave him a strange look. “You have to decide now.”
Damian looked tense and opened his mouth to say something, but a knock came at the door. “It's midnight,” he said in surprise.
Amelia was equally surprised but opened the door. “Keith,” she said, exasperated. “What are you doing here?”
“Uh,” Keith said, stunned, “rude. I'm just here because I think Damian took my strings home in his jacket and I would like them back.”
Damian gave Keith an incredulous look but checked his jacket pocket. “How did these get in here?” he demanded, throwing the guitar strings at Keith's head.
Keith caught them with years of practice. “I don't know. But I already asked Erik and Maddie didn't have big enough pockets, so I figured it was one of you two.”
Amelia sighed and ran a hand over her face, catching any stray tears. “Awesome. I'm glad you found them.”
“You okay?” Keith asked, surprised. “You're crying.”
“Just watched 'America's Next Top Model',” Damian said, winking at Amelia. “It was a horrifying ending.”
Keith opened his mouth to say something before decided not to. “Okay, well, in that case, I'm think I'm gonna go.”
“Me, too.” Damian turned and smiled at Amelia. “See you.”
She nodded. “Night, guys. Oh! NNGB.” She smiled.
“Wait, did she just use an acronym?” Keith asked as he and Damian walked back to their cars.
Amelia smiled and went back to the couch, turning back on the tv for more reality tv, trying to shake the thought that she had never told Keith where she lived.
“Dad...” Amelia smiled shakily. “I decided to go to the Art Institute.”
Ewan glanced up sharply. “Really?”
“I mean, of course, if you're okay with it,” Amelia hastily added, stumbling over her words. “Well, because if you're not, I could always say no and just go to U of D, which, Dublin isn't all that far away and it's pretty, or I could even go to university here in Derry, which wouldn't be too bad, either.”
“Stop.” Ewan smiled gently at his daughter and took another drink of his milk. “Really. That's awesome. I'm so glad you decided to listen to your heart rather than your head this time.”
A smile broke out over Amelia's face and she felt like she was floating. “Really? You're okay with it?”
“If I hadn't been, I never would have encouraged it in the first place.” Ewan leaned forward and asked curiously, “So how did they even know about your art? Did you send in an application with a portfolio?”
Amelia nodded slowly. “Yeah...”
“What were the pictures you sent?”
She deliberated for a moment. “I'll show you.”
Ewan waited patiently until she returned, holding a folder.
“Here. I scanned them onto the computer as part of my application process.” Amelia set down the folder nervously. “Please be careful.”
Ewan smiled and took out the first picture. “Is this...” His smile grew. “Eileen.”
“Yeah.” Amelia grinned. “It was hard because all I had to go off of was my memory. I don't have any pictures and I don't sit around her long enough to just draw her.”
Ewan nodded slowly and pulled out the next picture. “Whoa!” he exclaimed. “This is incredible! You and Tiana were...” He smiled gently. “Just, wow.”
Amelia smiled at the picture of the two young girls swinging and laughing. “We were so close, Dad,” she whispered.
“Until that idiot Kevin came between you,” Ewan said congenially. “I mean, I'm glad you didn't go out with him or whatever because, hello, you were young and still are, but I wish he had never come into your life. Maybe you would still have her.” He motioned at the bright and happy Tiana.
“Maybe.” Amelia shrugged. “It's in the past. I have new friends now.”
“Yes. You do.” Ewan sighed happily. “Have you drawn any of them?”
“Just Keith.”
“Is he in here?” Ewan asked, pulling out the next picture.
“Nah.” Amelia smiled at the look on her dad's face. “Like it?”
Ewan reverently touched the picture. “How did you get our likenesses so well? I mean, you look at me all day, but did you study your face?”
Amelia flushed. “I just... no. I've never seen myself look like that.” She motioned at the adoring look picture Amelia was giving picture Ewan as she tried to take the remote away from him (in the picture). “Did I get it right?”
“Honey. It's perfect.” Ewan smiled. “May I have this one?”
“I have to finish it,” Amelia said dubiously.
He looked at her incredulously. “What do you have left to do? Dip it in gold?”
“Just move to the next.” Amelia laughed.
Ewan pulled out the final picture in the folder. “Something not a person!” he exclaimed. “Whose dog is this?”
Amelia made a face. “Mrs. Lafauntaine's,” she said. “Still. It's a cute dog, no matter how evil.”
Ewan laughed. “I didn't know you were this good. Usually when I see you being artistic, it's rainbows and flowers and such. But I think you could have a future in portraits, really. Can I see Keith? I want to know what he looks like before I, I'm assuming, meet him.”
Amelia stood and grabbed her picture of Keith. “It's not done,” she said as she handed it over.
Ewan raised an eyebrow. “His hair is quite long.”
“Yes. He's a surfer boy type. Kind of hippie, you know.” Amelia laughed. “He's nice, though. He was here last night.”
“What?” Ewan exclaimed. “Why?”
“Damian somehow got Keith's guitar strings in his jacket so Keith came to collect them. He has, like, thirty guitars and needs strings.” Amelia paused. “How does he know where I live...”
Ewan's eyes were sparkling mischievously at her.
“What?” Amelia finally asked.
“You said like.” Ewan laughed. “Damian is changing your vocabulary.”
Amelia gasped in horror. “Oh my gosh, he is.”
Ewan placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don't take it to heart. If anything, it makes you sound more human.”
“So, tell me,” Amelia said hesitantly. “Am I the ice princess still?”
“I don't know around other people. But I notice he doesn't call you that now. It's always princess.” Ewan laughed. “I love that you have pet names for each other. It's sickening.”
“Dad, it's not a romantic type of thing,” Amelia groaned.
“I don't know that I'll ever believe that,” Ewan said stoutly, a large grin on his face.
“You know, now Damian has to decide what to do. Now that I've decided on the Art Institute, you know.” Amelia shrugged. “Good luck to him.”
“What do you mean?” Ewan asked.
She froze and searched for words. “Ah, Dad. I can't tell you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You can't?”
“He has two options...” Amelia hesitated. “But I was told not to tell you.”
“He's telling you secrets even I can't know about?” Ewan seemed almost gleeful, to Amelia's surprise. “That's the most thrillingly romantic thing I've ever heard!”
“Oh, my god.” Amelia clutched her heart. “Stop. Stop. You're horrible."
He laughed. “I am not.”
They both jumped as the phone rang. Amelia glanced over at the landline she was still unused to. “Um, that'll be Damian,” she said, somewhat awkwardly.
“Answer it,” her dad ordered her.
Going over to the phone, she picked it up. “Hey,” she said.
“Hi! What are you doing today?”
“Dad, what are we doing today?” Amelia asked, turning towards her dad.
Ewan shrugged. “Have fun. Be a teenager.”
“Nothing,” Amelia said to Damian. “Why?”
“You want to come over here?”
Amelia blinked at the thought. “Um...”
“You don't have to,” he said hastily. “I mean, I could totally come to your house or whatever. I just thought, well, we've known each other a while and I thought maybe you would like to see... Never mind.” Damian sighed through the line.
“No, no, I don't mind. I think it'd be...nice.” She smiled. “Are your parents, you know... okay with it?”
Ewan looked at her in surprise.
“Oh, yeah. Mum loves when I have guests and Dad, well, he isn't here and he wouldn't mind anyway. They're the sweetest.” She could hear his smile.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “Where do you live?”
Ewan gave her a thumbs up and a horrible rendition of a lovestruck face.
“Do you have a car? I live almost four kilometers away,” Damian said.
“Oh. Oh, um...” She hesitated.
“Or I could come get you.”
“Would that be a problem?” she asked anxiously.
“No, of course not!” he chided her. “I'll be there soon. Okay?”
She agreed and they hung up. Turning to her dad, Amelia smiled. “It's okay, right?”
“Of course. Go meet his parents.” Ewan laughed. “Come on, kid. Humor me. I need some drama in this repetitive life.”
Amelia laughed. “But Damian and I... wouldn't... work. What if I went out and broke up with Keith instead?” Her eyes twinkled.
“How old is he?” Ewan asked curiously.
“Uh... I think twenty-five or twenty-six...” Amelia hesitated. “Maybe.”
“Too old.” Ewan dismissed that thought.
“It would create drama,” Amelia pointed out. “Anyway, Damian will be here soon.”
Ewan nodded. “Get your purse and go wait outside. Enjoy yourself, honey.”
She smiled. “Of course.”
“Why don't you drive?” Damian asked as he navigated through unknown streets.
Amelia glanced at him in surprise. “Oh, I just... well.” She hesitated. “After what happened with my parents, and then I've never needed to drive, so I just...”
He nodded. “It's okay. I was just curious.” He suddenly grinned. “Do you have a cell phone?”
“Yes, of course,” she said in surprise.
“I need that number. It might be more useful to me.”
She laughed. “Oh, right. I forgot. I do like the landline, though. It's... comfortable.” The silence stretched on for a few minutes before Amelia spoke up again. “I told my dad about university.”
“Oh?”
“He's thrilled to pieces.”
Damian grinned at her. “I knew he would be. Congratulations, Princess.”
Amelia smiled slightly. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Anything?” she demanded, perking up slightly.
Damian got slightly nervous. “Maybe. Doesn't mean I'll answer, though.”
“Good answer.” Amelia laughed. “Am I still an ice princess?”
“God, no,” he said in surprise. “Why would you think you were? I mean, you hardly spoke to Maddie or Erik yesterday, but you and Keith were close immediately and you are so relaxed around me, that... well. You know.” He smiled. “Here we are.”
Amelia smiled at the small but cozy home they pulled up outside of. “Charming,” she said.
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow at her, almost... sassily?
“Just like you,” she said dryly.
He pretended to bow. “Don't get out,” he said before getting out.
She was confused but stayed where she was.
Damian came around and opened her door. “After you, m'lady,” he teased her, bowing as he shut the door.
“Why, thank you, rock star,” Amelia said, biting back her smile. “How very gallant of you.”
He flashed a smile at her. “Come on. Meet my mum. She's lovely.” Leading the way, he walked into his house. “Mum, we're home!” he called.
A short woman with brown hair and sparkling eyes came out of another room, a dishrag in hand. “Hello, you must be the famous Amelia, otherwise known as Princess.” She grinned at Damian, who had the decency to look sheepish. “It's nice to meet you.”
Amelia nodded and attempted to smile. “Likewise, Mrs. McGinty.”
“Please, call—”
“Mum.” Damian smiled and put a hand on his mom's arm and shook his head slightly.
She nodded. “Okay, dear. I won't,” she said softly before smiling again at Amelia. “Are you hungry? Do you want anything?”
“Oh, no, thank you. I just finished breakfast about an hour ago. But thank you for the offer.” Amelia glanced at Damian.
He smiled. “Want to see the house?”
She nodded.
Mrs. McGinty smiled at them. “Okay, well, enjoy. I'll be here if you two need anything.”
Damian thanked her warmly and then led his way through the house. “All right. The living room.”
Amelia smiled. “It looks... loved,” she said softly.
“Yes, well loved,” he said wryly. “We had a tendency to be rough with the furniture. Wild little kids, we were.” Damian laughed. “Our collection of movies is on that bookcase.”
“Oh, goodness.” Amelia grabbed his hand. “Come on, let's keep moving.”
He obliged her and led the way down the hallway. “Okay, so we have Mum and Dad's room,” he said, motioning at a closed door. “And Gemma's room.”
“Your sister?” Amelia asked, looking through the half opened doorway. “You keep her room for her?”
“Mum mostly uses it for storage now, but she does come to stay sometimes.” Damian smiled. “Which is good, because I think Mum and Dad would die if she only came for day visits.”
“She liked dark green, huh?” Amelia remarked.
“Yeah.” Damian laughed. “A lot.” Tugging at her hand, he pulled her along. “Emmett's room,” he announced. “Yes, also kept up for him. I suppose that's a little weird.”
“I'm sure my dad will keep my room for me,” Amelia said, shrugging. “Unless, of course, he married a woman with a child or something.”
Damian smiled. “That won't be for a while yet, you know.”
“Yeah.” Amelia glanced around the room. “He has nothing distinguishing about his room.”
“He took a lot of stuff with him,” Damian shrugged.
“Okay, your room.” Amelia grinned.
He nodded and was walking out when he stopped suddenly, causing Amelia to run into his back. “I've just thought of something.”
“Yeah?” she asked, disgruntled.
“I've never seen your room,” he exclaimed, turning to face her. “Why is that?”
“My room is boring,” Amelia shrugged. “No distinguishing characteristics.”
He frowned. “Hmm. Okay.” Pulling her along, he motioned to the last door in the hallway. “My room.”
Amelia wandered in and smiled. “Aw,” she exclaimed, looking at a picture of very young Damian. “Look how tiny you were!”
“Yes, yes, baby pictures, adorable,” he muttered.
“They are.” She moved on to the bookcase and studied everything he had on there. “I'm amazed at the sheer amount of movies you have,” she said after a moment. “I mean, half this bookcase is movies. Plus the movies in the living room.”
He laughed. “Movies are awesome.”
“Sure.” She inspected his book titles but wasn't much impressed. Going over to sit on his bed, she surveyed the room. “Tell me about those.”
Damian turned to look where she was pointing. “My trophies?”
“Mhmm.” Amelia smiled. “Just tell me about your room. You have so much in here.”
Damian spent the next half an hour or so telling her stories about all his mementos. He kept her laughing, not only with his stories, but with his general clumsiness. Apparently, the house brought it out in him.
“Okay.” Damian sat next to her. “That was fun.”
“Maybe you should stay seated,” Amelia said, still giggling after he nearly pulled a shelf down on top of his head.
“Maybe.” He chuckled and lay back. “I could stay here forever.”
“You can't.” Amelia sighed. “Sorry, but that's how it works. You have to actually get up and do something at some point. Speaking of which...” She poked him in the side until he squirmed away and sat up. “Do you know yet?”
He looked somber quickly. “Um, yeah. I need to talk to you about that.”
She nodded and waited silently.
Damian sighed. “So I'm going to California.”
“Awesome!” she exclaimed. “So you made it to the show, then.”
He nodded.
“When do you leave?” Amelia asked.
Damian dropped his eyes and looked away, sighing again.
“...Rock star?” she asked. When he wouldn't look at her, she stood up in front of him and raised his chin until his eyes met him. “Hey. You can tell me. I won't break.”
“You won't?” he asked nervously.
“I have been reliably informed I have a heart of stone.” She smiled. “Or ice.”
“Oh, but we both know that's not true,” Damian said slowly.
Amelia sighed. “Just tell me. Please. Before I pry it out of your mum, which we need to talk about, by the way.”
Damian shrugged. “I leave very soon.”
“How soon?”
He swallowed, hard. “Um... six days.”
Amelia gasped before she could stop herself, putting her hand over her mouth.
“Yeah, I know, I know,” he hastily said. “I'm so, so sorry. I didn't realize it would be so soon, and besides, I only found out yesterday that decisions were finalized, but...” He hesitated. “I'm sorry.”
Forcing a smile, Amelia shrugged. “I knew it was coming. And besides, you'll be back when?”
Damian lifted sad eyes to meet hers. “I don't know.”
She was silent for a moment. “Okay. It'll be okay.”
He nodded.
Amelia laughed shortly. “Make sure you take lots of pictures.”
Damian managed a smile. “I'm really scared, you know.”
She nodded slowly. “I know, rock star. But you'll be incredible, you know.” Amelia smiled gently and ran a hand through his hair before jerking her hand back. “Sorry, sorry, I don't know where that came from.”
He shrugged. “It's okay.”
There was a long silence before Amelia asked, “Why are you so scared?”
“If I win...” Damian sucked in a breath. “If I win, I'll be on Glee. Meaning I'll have to leave Celtic Thunder. I won't have a choice. And I'll have to live in Los Angelos. By myself. America.” He raised shining eyes, aimlessly looking around his room. “But if I lose...”
“You'll have to choose.” Amelia sighed.
“And both scenarios are awful.” Damian shrugged.
There was a knock at his door and his mom stuck her head in. “Hey, darling, I just put a casserole in the oven, but Mrs. Carmichael needs me for a couple of hours. When the timer goes off, will you...?”
“Of course, Mum.” Damian smiled brightly. “It's not a problem. Right, Amelia?”
Amelia was surprised at his including her but nodded. “Right.”
Mrs. McGinty smiled. “All right. I'll see you two later. Stay out of trouble, Junior,” she said to Damian seriously before breaking into a smile and leaving.
“Junior,” Amelia said after the heavy front door closed. “I'd forgotten that bit.”
“Yeah, she's obviously known Dad far longer than she's known me, so he's Damian and I'm Junior.” Damian smiled. “She's the sweetest mum anyone could have.”
Amelia smiled at that. “I'm so glad you have that.” She sat down on the bed and stared off into space.
“She was going to ask you to call her by her first name,” Damian said suddenly.
“I know.”
“Her name is Joanne. You can call her that if you want.” Damian hesitated. “How are you, with mums, I mean? Just in general?”
“Oh.” Amelia blinked in surprise. “Usually guarded.”
“Yeah.” Damian shrugged. “If I hadn't stopped her, she would have become overbearing and too sweet and I was afraid you would have shut down. Sorry if I overstepped, but... Yeah.”
“No, it's fine,” Amelia said. “Thank you.” She smiled. “I'm usually fine with fathers, though. Oh!”
“What?” Damian jumped.
“Guess what my dad has been going on and on about?” Amelia demanded.
“University?” he hazarded a guess.
“No. He seriously thinks we would make the cutest couple and then we could break up and create drama in his life. He won't shut up about it. It's getting so aggravating.” Amelia sighed and shook her head. “Seriously. Maybe we should do it just to get him to stop talking about it.”
Damian leaned his head back and laughed loudly. “God, I can just imagine! Your dad would be so excited and think it was the greatest thing that happened to him since you were, like, born!”
Amelia laughed along with him. “It would be interesting, for sure.”
He hesitated. “You want to watch a movie?”
She giggled. “Sure. What do you have for me this time?”
Damian stood and led the way back to the living room. “What Disney movies have you seen?”
Amelia hesitated and stared at his movie collection. “Not a lot of them,” she said regrettably. “I mean, a few of the princess ones, and Peter Pan... and the Aristocats...” She paused. “I don't know beyond that.”
“Have you seen...” Damian pulled out a VHS. “This?”
“'The Lion King',” she mused. “No. Wait, yes. In French.”
He stared at her with a blank expression before sighing. “Okay. We're watching this.”
She shrugged. “Whatever you say, rock star.”
Damian flashed her a grin. “Whenever you call me that, you know,” he said, putting the movie in, “it actually kind of makes me feel like one. I suppose because you're so honest.”
“You are a rock star, though,” Amelia said logically. “I mean, how many screaming girls love you?”
He shrugged. “A lot. But I'm more of a folk star.” Grinning, he added, “Keith is really the rock star.”
“Keith is more of an activist through song,” Amelia mused.
Damian rolled his eyes. “Enjoy the movie.”