Page 17 of Crash and Burn

“Amelia, c’mon. Do you like s’mores?” She froze. “Amelia. Hey…did you hear Carter?” She was staring off somewhere. “Words, Amelia. Find your words.” I stepped in front of her line of sight so she could see me. Her eyes raised up to meet mine and they look panicked. “Hey it’s ok. What is it?”

“I uh…I…don’t really like s’mores and honestly, I’m getting really tired.”

“What’s going on here? You don’t like s’mores? Seriously?” Something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t figure it out.

“No. I’m just really tired. Can you take me home?”

“Yeah, but are you sure? Carter is starting a bonfire.” She flinched. I thought,there it is. Something with the fire.

“No, please Hudson. Can you take me home? Tell them I’m not feeling well or something. I’m sorry.”

“Sure. Let me call them over so we can say goodnight.” She nodded so I yelled for the crew to come say bye, not forcing her anywhere near the fire pit.

She seemed a little embarrassed when we walked to the car. I opened her door and she got in, quietly. She reached over and unlocked my door, which was cute since she could’ve just hit the unlock button. I got in, started the car, put my seatbelt on, and turned to her. “Are you ok?”

She didn’t want to look at me. Instead, she fidgeted with her already buckled seatbelt. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just tired.”

“Want to tell me what that was about?”

“It was about nothing. I’m tired. I told you, already.”

I wasn’t buying it, but I wasn’t about to push, either. She hadn’t pushed me, so I wouldn’t do that to her. “Okay, I’ll take you home.”

We pulled up to her apartment and I looked over and saw she had fallen asleep. I would have noticed, if I hadn’t been zoning out, thinking about how the night had gone. I didn’t want to scare her, so I gently nudged her and spoke softly, “Amelia. We’re here.”

She flinched again and her eyes opened wide as her head popped up in a panic.

“Hey, it’s ok. We’re at your apartment.”

“Oh. Thanks, Hudson. I didn’t even realize I fell asleep.”

I paused for a minute, trying to gather what I wanted to say. “Hey, Amelia, thanks for tonight. Thanks for all of that.”

“Of course. It was nothin’. Sorry we had to leave early.”

“It’s ok. Can I walk you in?”

She half smiles. “No, it’s ok. I’ll be fine.”

“Flick the light once you lock up. Not a moment before.”

She laughed and mocked me, “nOt a MoMeNt BeFoRe.”

I laughed too. “What? You can giggle at me all you want, but at least I’ll know you’re ok.”

“Thank you. I had a nice time meeting your friends... even Lex.” She rolled her eyes and we laughed.

She got out and walked up to her apartment, unlocked the door, and went inside. I waited and watched for the light. It flickered on, so I relaxed my shoulders and exhaled a breath I felt like I had been holding all night, and said, “Thanks, Amelia.”

Chapter 7

Amelia

Sunday

I slept like shit and felt like my eyes wouldn’t open. I guess that’s what happens when you go to sleep crying. I was embarrassed. How was I supposed to know that I would react that way over a stupid bonfire?Ugh!The room was still dark, even though I usually turned the light on right after waking up. I sat up to shove my blankets off me, and flopped back down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts.Hudson probably thinks I’m crazy. Certifiable even. Who, out of nowhere, skips out on a bonfire and s’mores?I could hear the good witch on my shoulder telling me I should’ve been honest with him, but I felt like opening that door would invite all that bad energy right back in. I just wanted to sleep the day away.

Monday

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