Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Amelia's p.o.v;

At house,

Ash, "How was the celebration?"

"Yes, that was excellent. The food was good." I replied to him and walked to my room.

I sat on the bed with mixed feelings in my mind. I looked at the guitar which was in a bad state. When I tried to get up from the bed to get my guitar, Ash knocked on the door and walked in asking me, "What happened at the party?"

"Why do you sound like you're mad?"

He looked straight in my eyes and said, "Hannah filled me in on everything."

"Why are you asking me, then?"

He entered the room and shut the door behind him and sat beside me on the bed and asked in a calm tone, "Why did you do that?"

"Do you think I intentionally did that after hearing the story from Hannah?" I asked as I took the guitar and sat down on the bed again. "Don't ask me something you don't know, brother."

"Then, tell me," he said.

"What is it that you wish to know?"

He gave me a head pat and remarked, "Amelia, I detest seeing you in such a state. I detest seeing you in such a bad mood. I detest witnessing your heartbreak. Being unable to be a decent brother makes me feel horrible. I was powerless to change the situation for you. To begin with, I'm unsure of what to do. I would take your suffering if I could. Although I am aware that you don't keep things to yourself, your behaviour during the party made me unhappy. Tell me now what happened at the party."

"Cathy was really excited to invite me to her birthday celebration. Hannah joined me at the party, so I went with her. Cathy's parents wished her, her boyfriend Andrew gave her gifts, I gave her gifts, and everyone gathered to cut the cake. I was also supposed to sing for her along with some members after the cake was cut. Everything went smoothly until Andrew's mother approached me as I was getting ready to sing for Cathy."

While recounting what occurred at the birthday party in the past, I started crying.

"What happened after that?"

I kept on, "Andrew's mother approached me and stated that I made friends with Cathy for her money, and I'm pretending to be pals to trick her for my cause. She also made negative remarks about my singing. She mentioned how Cathy had invited me to sing at a lavish birthday celebration for well-off individuals. She claimed that I'm lying to Cathy in order to get her favour. After hearing those things from her, how can I remain silent? I tried so hard but in the end, I couldn't brother. I tossed the guitar because of this, but it broke the birthday cake unexpectedly. Brother, I didn't chuck it on purpose, it was an accident. I have no idea why I did that too. I controlled myself when she talked bad about me but I couldn't hold it in when she talked bad about my friendship with Cathy like I'm using her. I know we just became friends recently but it felt like we've known for so long. The only thing on my mind right now is to apologise to Cathy. I wish I could apologise to her right away, brother. Will you take me to her?"

"I was aware of everything." I heard Cathy's voice.

I turned around to see Cathy standing by the door.

I rose from the bed and approached her, asking, "Cathy? What are you doing here?"

She approached me, hugged me, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Amelia."

I snatched the hug away and admitted, "I smashed your birthday cake. It is my responsibility to apologise to you. Why do you need to apologise to me?"

"I am aware of the strained relationship between your two families, but I had no idea it went so far. I apologise for what Andrew's mother did."

"It's okay. Even though you don't have to, I'm grateful you drove all the way to apologise to me. I'm glad to have a friend like you."

"This is where my pal lives. Can't I visit my friend at her home?"

"You can." I responded with a smile.

Ash stated while I was talking with Cathy, "She wept for you out of sympathy. Only for Hannah had I ever witnessed her cry so hard for a friend. She must value you greatly if she is crying over for you. She may appear robust, but she really is a baby at heart. Please, Look after her."

"Brother!"

After grinning, he exited my room.

Cathy circled my room and remarked, "Your bedroom is beautiful. Liked the way it was designed. Is this the place where you spend every evening with your secret crush while working?" teasingly added, "How will it be when looking through his window?," while pointing at the window.

"I never gave it a go. I entered his home only once—when I attempted to save him. Do you recall that tale?"

"Yes, Andrew spoke extensively about it. similar to how he carried you outside after you saved him. I liked how brave you were. I enjoyed the story. It resembled a scene from a movie exactly. Okay, What about the song you promised me?" she questioned as she sat on the bed.

"What?"

"You said you'd play me a song. I got upset when I couldn't hear you playing for me." She took the guitar on the bed and gave it to me.

"Do you want it played right away?"

"I'm all ears." she added while giving a nod.

"Okay."

I picked up the guitar and began singing in front of her.

Andrew flung open the window, yelled, "Wait for me," and burst into my room. "Now, you can start," he remarked as he made his way to the bed and sat down next to Cathy.

"Is this how you enter her room every time?" Cathy questioned him.

"Yeah. I guess I can't go in through the door since we're rivals by outside."

"Are my audience ready?" I interjected.

Together, they exclaimed, "Yes! We are so ready."

"Wannabe from the Spice Girls is the song that I prepared for the girl who is celebrating her birthday today."

I began singing my song, and as soon as I did, Cathy started laughing, which caused Andrew to join in. Cathy clenched her fist after the song was over and asked, "Did you really intend to sing that song at my birthday party?"

"Yes, wasn't it enjoyable?"

Andrew chuckled once again and continued, "If you performed that live on stage, it would be one hell of a party. Everyone would have entered the dance floor and performed some wild dances, I bet. It was humorous."

I asked him, "You don't like the song?"

He gave me a surprised expression and asked, "Were you serious? I thought you were kidding us." Andrew questioned me, "Did you really plan to sing that song?"

"Yes, do I appear to be lying?"

Cathy said to us, "Stop behaving like a five -year olds." She turned and said to me, "We'll see tomorrow, Amelia."

Cathy exited my room after giving her boyfriend and I embraces.

Andrew said, "I'll see you tomorrow at college then."

He smiled and walked out the window, leaving the room.

I placed my guitar on my table and asked, "What's wrong with the song? I like it. It has good beats too… I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, so tell me what you want, what you really really want, I'll tell you…"

The following day in college,

Hannah asked me, "Are you alright?"

"You have my ire. You won't hear from me."

"Okay."

She went back to where she had been.

"Why did you inform my brother?" I questioned her.

"Who is talking to me? I can't hear anything." She gave me no attention as she gazed around.

"I'm right there in front of you."

"What do you want?"

"Why did you tell him what happened at the party?"

"I told him what happened since he inquired what happened,"

I replied as I sat next to her, "After hearing it from me, he showed signs of upset. I'm really depressed."

"Why?"

"Although I don't want him to consider Andrew's parents bad, I had to tell him what had happened. What if someone had the wrong impression of them as a result?"

She remarked, giving my brow a flick "Don't take it to heart because the false impression was created long before you were even born. Moreover, They are also the parents of Anna, so why are you mentioning Andrew alone?"

"Andrew is closer to me than Anna, that's why."

She nodded.

I looked at the front while leaning on her shoulder, and something struck me suddenly.

"What did you just say?" I questioned her.

"I didn't say anything. I was listening to the lecture."

"No, not now. While we're talking, you made some comments about Andrew's parents."

"They also have a daughter named Anna, yet you constantly refer to Andrew as being their only child."

Before she could finish, I halted her and questioned, "No, not that one. The issue is the misperception."

"You don't need to give the false impression, it was there before you were even born."

"That's it! It was there even before we were born. I got it! I greatly appreciate your help, Hannah."

I got up from my seat, grabbed my bag, and headed out of the classroom.

"Wait up! Where are you leaving? Mr. Miller will arrive in a short while."

"Inform him that I went home because I fell ill. I have something important to do right now."

"You're seriously ill."

I left class and made my way to the college entrance.

Senior Caleb appeared out of nowhere, "Where are you heading right now?"

"Home."

"Why?"

"I-I'm feeling feverish."

"Wait." He placed his finger on my forehead and remarked, "Your temperature is normal. Do you feel cold?"

"Senior, I'm showing signs of getting a fever. I think it's better for me to get home. Can I go?"

"Don't forget to visit the doctor!"

He chased me away, and I left the college.

I pulled the photo I had chosen from the storage closet out and sat down in the bus terminal. I noticed that Anna's mother was the girl in the picture, whom I had seen after Cathy said to me. I have thus far discovered that my mum and Andrew's mother attended the same school. The picture looked like they were close to each other as friends more than classmates. If they are childhood friends what happened between them to end up like this? I must visit the school where they both attended in order to learn the answer.

After boarding a bus, I got off in front of the school I was looking for. I came to the school where my mother and Anna's mother studied together. It was a sizable structure that resembled a tiny castle. Over time, many things changed.

I strolled into the school after entering it and had a look around. I couldn't even see two buildings together because everything seemed so big and far from one another.

My mistake was that when I went inside the main building to seek for the principal, she was already out on leave. What shall I do at this time? I don't think I'll get a chance like this again? I should make use of it. I circled the building looking for someone to talk to about my mother.

I discovered a noticeboard as I was exploring the floors. I approached it and examined the newspaper pieces that were taped to it. Students who attended this school have achieved academic and athletic success as mentioned in that newspaper. I was looking through them when I saw a picture that stunned me. I came to find out more about the mothers, but instead, I came across a photo of my father. What on earth is this? He smiled broadly while clutching a trophy in that picture. How was my father's picture here? The school uniform which my dad was wearing was similar to my mom's uniform which made me confirm that he's also from the same school as my mom. Does that mean My mum and dad go to the same school? But they haven't previously talked to me about this in any detail. How come they kept it from us?

I snapped shots with my phone of my dad's image that was attached to the noticeboard.

When a teacher saw me, she inquired, "Why are you in this place? Who are you and what are you doing here?"

I arrived with a lie, "I'm a student researching the prize winners from the early 1980s."

"Are students conducting research on those subjects?"

"It's like comparing one generation to another,"

"Okay, did the principal provide you permission to access the school grounds?"

"She did really give me permission before she left. Hold on as I show you the letter." I pretended to be looking for the phoney permission letter.

"It's fine", she remarked.

"I want to know more about this boy here. Do you know where I can get the information?" I said to her while pointing at my father's picture.

"He's not a boy but a grown man, this photo was taken in the late 1980s."

"Are you familiar with him?"

"No, it's been ten years since I first came here, but you can ask Ms. Green about him," I replied.

She led me into a room, where I noticed a woman in her forties seated in a chair as the door was opened. She was informed by the teacher who quizzed me, "She attends school. She is researching scholars who received accolades in the 1980s. She asked me about Mr Scott so I brought her to you since you knew him well." and she went outside.

"I'm Amelia, a student who is doing study on the people who won prizes in the eighties, it's like how the sports became significant for generations after generations," I said as I entered the room and took a seat in front of her.

She questioned me before I could finish, "What is your last name?"

"What?"

"I requested your last name."

I was stammering, and she said, "Scott, isn't it?"

"How did you get my name?"

"Before that, Why did you disguise yourself to find out about your father?"

"You know my father?" I asked as I got to my feet.

She answered with a nod "He still comes here, yes. He tells me about you and your brother, Ash, and shows his kids images of both of you. How is your mom doing?"

"She's doing great."

"What brought you here?"

"I'm interested in my parents' history."

"Why did you arrive at this time, after all these years? Did they know that you're here?"

"I came here without telling anyone. My mother and father attended the same school, but for some reason, they never mentioned this to us. Why? What happened here?"

"How do I know that?"

"Can you please tell me about my parents then?"

"Your father, Jeffrey Cooper. He played soccer and was well-liked. Your mother Caroline Scott is a soccer team cheerleader. While your father was racking up awards for the school, your mother was busy winning the hearts of many, among whom was your father. They received a lot of reprimands from me for skipping class, but they never paid attention. I decided to let it go because they were excellent athletes. After a while, your mother started working really hard in the classroom and won a scholarship to continue her studies abroad, but one of her classmates, I can't remember her name. Your mother said she needed it the most when she gave up her scholarship to one of her friends. When she did that, I was pleased to be their instructor. After a few days, your mother approached me and requested the scholarship back. I wasn't sure what had happened, so I called her friend to find out more. From her, I learned that there had been an argument over love. There was a fight, and Caroline demanded to have the scholarship returned to her when the girl said that she was in love with Jeffrey and was aware that Caroline had given up the scholarship in exchange for Jeffrey. Throughout their studies here, the fight persisted."

I set the picture down and inquired, "Is this the girl you claimed that my mother had a fight with?"

She held the image in her hands and said, "Yes, that is her. I was able to recall her name after glancing at her image. Laura Beckett."

Beckett, Laura. That was Andrew's mother's name.

"Thank you for telling me what happened", I said as I got up. "I'm going to depart now."

"Wait."

"Yes?"

"Are they still fighting over this?"

"Guess so. Anyways, thank you for the information, mam."

I exited the building.

I learned a lot of new things today. My mother and father attended the same school. My father played soccer, but he claimed he was a nerd person who was constantly carrying a book. My mother is a cheerleader, but she claimed to be a student on the front bench. Although they both confessed to us that they met through friends, they were classmates. My mother and Andrew's mother were friends who got into an argument and split up. Lies. Lies. Everywhere lies. Why did they make that lie anyway? After hearing the lies they told us, I don't want to know the cause. You two became rivals as a result, and now it's my turn to play the game.

Then it was on to Cathy's home. She will be essential to my upcoming task.

Hannah called me.

I answered, "What is it?"

"Where did you go? You skipped Mr Miller's class and others too. Where have you been?"

"I came to the cafe."

"Did you just rush out of the class to go to a cafe?"

"I have to go. Talk to you later."

"You sound suspicious."

"Gotta go. Bye."

As soon as I hung up with Hannah, I received a call from Ash.

"Where are you?"

"At a cafe."

"Where is it?"

"Why do you want to know? I'm not a kid who gets lost." I ended the call with him.

I regretted saying such things to my brother. Please try to hold on for a little longer since I'm doing this for you. In a few days, everything will be sorted out. Our parents will also be pleased.

I called my brother and told him I was in a cafe and would return home soon and ended it.