Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Amelia's p.o.v;

At cafeteria,

"What do you want to discuss with me?" While stirring her smoothie, Cathy questioned me.

"I need a favour from you. And, only you can do this."

"What kind of help can only be done by me?"

"This is a fairly classified mission."

She broke out into laughter and said, "Why do you sound like we're going to murder someone?"

"Andrew should not be aware of this. Anna included too. Although you and Anna are close, you should keep this out of her."

"You sound serious. And, why shouldn't Andrew and Anna be excluded? Did this relate to them?"

"Yup! It's comparable like that but not entirely."

"You're confusing me but It's exciting for some reasons I can't explain. What do you want me to do now, then?"

"You need to understand this assignment in order to complete it honestly, otherwise I can't offer it to you."

"Seriously, Are we going to murder someone?" she muttered as she drew closer to me.

"No! Murdering someone is not that easy, we need more experience… Urgh! Why are we even talking about that? Listen to what I have to say. Please respond to this query first. Are you aware that Anna is dating someone?"

She took a taste of the smoothie and nodded.

"Do you know that person?"

She remarked while shaking her head, "She didn't tell me yet. She said that she will tell me when it's the right time. Why? "

"Then forgive me for what I'm about to do. I'll now reveal the person she is in love with. It's my brother, Ashton Scott."

"Really? Now I see why she hid it from me. Why are we discussing Anna now?"

"When I tell you this, you'll understand it. You already know that my parents and Andrew's parents are rivals, therefore no matter what, they won't accept my brother's love. However, I won't leave it that way. I'm going to solve the problem between our parents and make my brother get his girl. Every conflict has a justification, right? There wasn't a single pointless argument, therefore my parents' conflict must also have a cause."

I presented her with the photo of my mother and Anna taken in high school.

After taking the picture, she remarked, "Yeah, I've already seen this. What do you want me to see here?"

"This is Andrew's mom, Laura Beckett as you said. The girl next to her was my mum, Caroline Scott," I added, pointing at the photograph.

"They studied together?"

I remarked, nodding, "Yup! I picked this out of our storage closet, along with mom's school-related pictures. They are classmates based on how closely they are standing next to one another. Now, Check out this thing. I handed her my phone, which had a picture of my father with the winning trophy."

"They're all wearing the same uniform."

"My mom, Andrew's mom, and my dad, Jeffrey Cooper, all attended the same school but they never mentioned that they went to the same institution as us."

"Why does it seem so challenging?"

"A teacher at their school told me a story about my parents during class that will only complicate things for you if you hear it."

"All ears," she says.

I related to her the tale of Andrew's mother, my mother, and my father.

"From the information I gathered, I guess it's some love rival."

"How can you say that?"

"Two girls and one boy. What could be more than that?"

"Love and friendship are the nicest things that could happen to everyone, yet they both became divided by this event," she remarked after hearing it. "Now that we are aware of the cause of their separation, what are we waiting for? Let's talk to them about it."

"No, the narrative has only been told from one perspective. I need to know it from both sides as well. We must also be aware of what took place on Andrew's mother's side. That's why I called you here. I needed your assistance for that reason."

"What assistance do you need from me?"

"You must assist me in travelling to Andrew's home. Before moving further with this, we need to learn more about it."

"Okay. I'll carry it out."

"I'm grateful,"

She grinned as she sipped her smoothie.

"What's that?"

"A strange idea crossed my thoughts."

"What?"

I hope you don't interpret this incorrectly. "Why do all Campbell's fall for Scott's?"

I smiled at what she said and said to her, "I don't know. Actually, I thought about it too when I found out my parents' tale. Okay, did I take more than ten minutes?" I grinned in response to her statement.

Then I said, "It's fine. Okay, let's head back to our class," after checking the time.

I said my goodbyes to her and left for my class.

Senior Caleb met me as I was making my way to the class.

Senior Caleb commented, "It's uncommon to see you nowadays."

"Really?"

"Jacob wants to see you in the club," he added, nodding.

"I have an important class today. Is it urgent, or can I see him after class?"

"Go ahead with the lesson. I'll let him know about this."

"Thank you, senior."

I was about to leave when a senior called out my name, "Amelia..."

"Yes?"

"Nothing, continue" he murmured after casting a blank look.

"Do you have any topics you'd like to discuss with me?"

"Nothing." he said, shaking his head and grinning and making a forward movement.

During class,

Hannah, "What are you contemplating? Quickly make a note of it, Ms Brown is going to erase it soon."

"I encountered senior Caleb on the way, he seemed strange" , I stated after I had finished taking the notes.

"How strange?"

"He came to speak, yet he remained silent. I believe there is something troubling him."

"Don't you know that even I can understand what it is?"

"I have been considering a lot of things lately, so I don't know what he is thinking."

"Do you still recall the convoluted explanation you told me regarding your friendship with Caleb the senior? I believe it has something to do with that in some way."

"Are you certain?"

"Never ask me. I'm not your consciousness. Go speak with him on your own."

I nodded and kept taking down the notes in the class.

I came to the music club after my classes got over,

"Was I late, senior Jacob?" I walked over to the senior Jacob who was instructing the freshmen.

He motioned for them to go on before approaching me and repeating, "No."

"Senior Caleb said you wanted to see me. Is it related to another event?"

"It concerns Caleb. Wait. Let's go over there and speak." he remarked as he walked over to his classmates.

I waited for senior Jacob to finish his class. What did he want to talk to me about senior Caleb? What happened to senior Caleb?

He questioned me after everyone left the classroom, "What's the connection between you and him?"

"He is my senior, just as you are."

"Nothing more than that?"

I nodded at him.

"Did you explain it to him clearly?"

"Yes."

"I understand that I have no right to interfere in your affairs, but after witnessing this, I was compelled to get in touch with you."

"What took place?"

"We had an event last monday. He entered the stage but left without performing. Three times in a row, this occurred. When he practises, he is not paying attention. He's not concentrating on anything. What ought I to do about him? I believe that he said it because he had some optimism after hearing from you. But after you disappeared from him, he seems lost. Chat with him. This time, be more precise and make your point obvious. I don't want this to affect his academics too. There is nothing more I need to say. You may now depart."

I answered, "I'll speak to him, senior," and I nodded.

I spotted Brian strolling somewhere as I was leaving the music venue.

"Brian!" I yelled as I called his name.

He turned and gave me a glance.

"What are you doing here?" I rushed over to him and asked.

"I came to see you. However, you weren't there, so I'm returning."

"What's that?"

I have a match this weekend, he stated as he extended an offer to me. "Come support me by cheering."

I noticed that the invitation described a competition for a boxing bout.

I said to him after looking at the invitation he gave me, "I haven't been anywhere like this before."

"I need you there, so you must come."

"Are you pressuring me?"

"Yes, I will wait for you." he replied before walking away.

I looked around to see senior Caleb observing me. I approached him and handed him the invitation, asking, "Would you take me here?" while pointing at it.

"When did you begin visiting locations like this?"

"I was wondering if you were free this weekend."

He answered, "Yes, I'll take you there," and nodded.

"See you on Saturday then."

At home,

My father stopped me as I tried to go upstairs after hastily finishing my dinner and asked, "How long are you going to stay like this?"

"How about that, Dad?"

"Like being unyielding."

"Dad, I'm not the one who is being stubborn here."

"Don't talk to your dad like that, Amelia." Mom warned me.

"Mom, he's the one who's being impolite."

"Where is my little girl, Amelia? You're acting rudely. Ever since you started hanging out with those friends, you've been a rebel."

"Mom, look at yourself before you talk about me."

"What?"

"I already have a lot of thoughts running through my head, mum, and I don't want to harm you."

"You wish to cause me harm? What is going through your head that is causing you to speak that way? I don't want my daughter to rebel against their own parents by becoming drunk and occasionally not returning home, so you don't have to hang out with them anymore. Much has changed in you. From this point forward, you are forbidden from leaving your house except for college."

"Mom! You cannot subject me to this."

"We have the right to make you stay at the house since we are your parents."

"Why are you torturing me like this? Do you want to lose your daughter as well since you already lost your son? You two are so upset with me just because I said I wouldn't compete with him anymore. Why do you want to be in such a fierce battle with them? I was unable to fully enjoy my childhood due to your rival nonsense. Why are you also attempting to end the life I have left? How much longer will you treat us in this manner? Mom, even though I drink, I don't steal other people's boyfriends."

Mom couldn't utter another word since she was shocked by what I said.

"Amelia, is that how you talk to your mother?" asked Dad, raising his voice against me for the first time. "Now, apologise to her."

Mom said, "Wait," to my father, and asked me, "What did you just say? Come back."

Dad made mum sit on the couch and told me to go to my room as Ash entered the home during our argument.

I went to my room after turning to look at my brother and parents.

After I came to my room, I felt bad about myself. How could I speak like that to my mother? I didn't mean to hurt you, mom. I'm sorry. I don't know what to do, mom. I want to make this right. I will make it right, mom. I wanted to know the truth so badly. I want you all to be happy like you were in your school. I want you all to be like how you were while being in love with dad. Sorry for speaking back at you. Sorry for making you upset, mom.

The following day in college,

"Are you free this weekend?" Hannah asked me.

After class, I said, "I have somewhere to go," and began to stuff my belongings into my bag.

"Where are you headed?"

"To remedy the wrongs."

"What?"

"What do you want from me?"

"I questioned you about your plans for the weekend. Why are you getting mad?"

"I'm sorry. Actually, I was invited to watch a friend's match so I won't be free this weekend."

"Amelia, is something bothering you?"

"Why are you asking me like that?"

"You look odd."

"I'm okay. Believe me."

"Do I know this friend and who is he?"

I gave it some thought before responding, "I don't think so."

"And what is the name of this friend?"

"Brian."

"A boy, oooh. Why was I unaware of him earlier?"

I said, "Because he's a secret friend of mine."

Someone pushed me from behind as I was making my way to the bus stop, causing me to realise I was walking on the road.

"Where's your concentration at? If I hadn't pulled you out of the road, you would have got hit by something. What's on your mind that made your eyes blind? asked senior Caleb fiercely while holding my shoulders.

I took his hands off my shoulders and said, "I'm sorry."

He halted me and asked, "Wait. What happened?" as I tried to leave.

"You don't have to know about it, senior. It's something personal."

I shouldn't be involving senior Caleb in my business any longer.

"Personal? How personal was it?"

I sighed and said, "Don't think of yourself as someone closer to me than others. You are a senior who's just a friend. Nothing more than that."

"I understand. Why are you reminding me once more?"

"If you know, then don't mess with my stuff." I walked away from him.

He stood in front of me and asked, "Why shouldn't a buddy be aware of the problem?"

"Am I giving you hope in any way, Senior?"

"What?"

"You may stop doing that now, what you mentioned about earlier, that you'll wait for me. Don't waste your time by waiting for me."

"Why shouldn't I wait for you? It's my own choice that I made."

"Because I have a boyfriend now, senior."

"What? When did this happen? Is it the person you formerly harboured feelings for?"

"Yes, I've finally come clean with him and he accepted my feelings."

"You are lying. You said he has a girlfriend. How did this happen?"

"He broke up with his girlfriend and I made use of it. It's accurate. I'm not telling you lies. What made you think I'm lying?"

"I can't believe you snatched a guy in that way. So who is this guy? Tell me his name."

"The bully you engaged in combat with. Brian."

"But you said that day that he's only a friend,"

"Because I wasn't prepared at the time, I was unable to inform you. What do you think I should do then? Tell you that I liked the guy who harassed me?"

"I won't believe this. You won't do something like this. I know about you."

"I didn't do anything wrong, senior. I just made use of my chance to be with the guy I liked. I don't find anything wrong in this. He also thinks highly of me. We two get along well now."

"So you enjoyed everything, right, when he tormented you, tore your shirt apart, and tried to molest you?" he added as he drew nearer to me. "I was an idiot the entire time, thinking I had protected you from him while you were having fun with him. I didn't know you were interested in those things. If you had told me before, I could have done the same to you. Like how you like it."

I controlled myself not to cry in front of him.

He continued, "I apologise for previously interfering in your life, be happy with that jerk like how you want." And he walked away from me.

I sobbed while leaning back against the wall. I made myself a b*tch in front of him. Caleb, I'm sorry. There is no other way that I am aware of to make you dislike me. I don't want to cause you any problems. I am aware of how painful it will be to learn that the person we like is in love with someone else. I don't want to make you feel like I did. So I made you hate me. I'm shocked by what I did to you. I apologise for misrepresenting our friendship. I wiped away my tears and headed for the bus stop.

I don't know why I'm making everyone around me hate me, but it's hurting me every time I do it. I said to my guitar which I'm holding onto.

Cathy gave me a call while I was waiting for the bus. I answered, "Yes?"

"It's Cathy reporting. Andrew's parents won't be home tonight. They're going on a business trip, according to what I've heard from Andrew, and they'll be back tomorrow night. And tonight I'm spending the night at Andrew's house. It's tonight, Amelia, if you want to learn more about their parents."

"Okay, understood."

I cut the call off.

Something is finally going well. I'm going to Andrew's house to investigate what actually transpired to cause Ms. Beckett to treat my mother in this manner. I'm going to try to figure out what caused them to drift apart.

Dad's automobile was visible in front of me. When the window opened, I could see Ash inside.

"Get in." He said.

I walked up to the vehicle and sat down next to Ash.

"How was your day today?" he enquired as he was operating the car?

I smirked and said, "Terrible but sorted out some things to make it right."

"When did you begin speaking in a dignified manner?"

I answered with a smile, "Tell me about your romance with Anna, brother. I haven't heard from you yet."

"It won't be as fascinating as yours, I promise."

"I'm all ears, brother."

"Okay, I ran into her in the..."

I observed how delighted he was while he was telling me about him and Anna. My brother appeared to be joyful from the bottom of his heart, not simply from his lips. Brother, I'll multiply this bliss tenfold no matter what.