Toxicity

37

DEREKS POV
I walked out to the mailbox and grabbed the pile of mail. Sure enough there was a letter from Ryan Kerrigan. I don't think Amelia wrote him back after his last letter. I walked inside and Amelia and Meredith were baking in the kitchen. I thought about not giving Amelia the letter, or opening it first. She's been so happy lately. So happy. Her and Link are good and mom and her haven't talked since she came home from rehab. She's sober. She's happy. I looked at the letter and walked into the kitchen and Amelia and Mer were laughing and baking muffins.
"Did you go out and get the mail?" Meredith asked.
"Yeah," I said.
"Anything good?" Meredith asked.
"Just some bills," I shrugged.
"Just some bills?" Meredith asked as she picked up the top letter.
"And a letter from Ryan," I said. Amelia turned around from the oven and looked at me.
"That's not funny," Amelia said and went back to baking.
"I know," I said and dropped the envelope on the counter.
"Oh," she said and grabbed envelope and opened it.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Nothing important," she said and crumpled the letter up and threw it in the trash.
"Amelia," Meredith said.
"It's not important," Amelia said.
"Okay," I said.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Meredith asked.
"Later," Amelia said to Mer. I frowned as they went back to baking.
MEREDITHS POV
Amelia was upstairs to FaceTime Link and I turned to Derek.
"It would be bad to take the letter out of the trash right?" I said.
"Right," Derek said.
"Right," I said.
"I already read it," Derek said.
"DEREK!" I said and hit his arm.
"You wanted to do the same thing," Derek said and handed me a piece of paper off the counter.

Dear Amelia,
I'm miserable without you. I miss you. Please just visit me. Even if you don't say anything, I want to see you. Please visit me Amelia. I love you so much, I need to apologize face to face.

Love,
Ryan

"I'll go talk to her," I said.
"Okay," he nodded. I walked upstairs and I could hear here talking on the phone. I knocked on the door.
"Give me a minute," Amelia said and then opened the door. I looked at her phone and I saw Link's face.
"Hi Link," I waved.
"Hello," he said and waved back.
"What's up?" Amelia asked.
"Do you have a minute?" I asked.
"Yeah, Link I'll call you back," Amelia said.
"Bye I love you," Link said.
"I love you too," Amelia said and then she hung up.
"What's up?" Amelia asked as she sat down on her bed.
"Do you want to talk about Ryan?" I asked as I sat down next to her.
"You read the letter?" Amelia said.
"I didn't mean to," I said, "Derek did."
"I'm not going to see him," Amelia said and laid back on her bed, "it's just annoying he wrote again when I clearly want nothing to do with him."
"Yeah," I said.
"Can I hangout with Link tonight?" She asked.
"Sure," I said, "where are you going."
"We're going star gazing," she smiled.
"Look at you the little romantic," I laughed.
"Shut up," she said.
"Come on," I laughed.
"I really love him," Amelia said.
"He really loves you too," I said.
"Yeah," Amelia smiled, "I should go get ready."
"Okay," I nodded.
LINKS POV
I wanted to go star gazing with Amelia. She said yes. It would be fun. Just her and the stars. Quiet. Together. It would be so much fun. I knocked on her door and Derek opened the door.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," I said.
"She's upstairs I think," he said.
"Okay," I nodded.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"The park," I said.
"Okay," he said, "be safe."
"Will do," I said.
"Hey," Amelia smiled as she walked down the stairs. She was so beautiful.
"Hey," I smiled.
"Amelia be home before 11," Derek said.
"I will be," Amelia said as she grabbed my hand. We walked out to my car and Amelia kissed my cheek.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you too," I said. We started driving and it was the perfect night for star gazing. I parked at the local park and looked at Amelia.
"This is the cutest date you've ever come up with," Amelia giggled.
"Come here," I said and popped the trunk of my car. We climbed in the back and laid down and looked at the stars.
"The stars are so pretty," Amelia admired as she put her head on my chest.
"Not as pretty as you," I said.
"Stop it," she blushed.
"Let's play a game," I said.
"Okay," she said.
"Let's make shapes out of the stars," I said.
"Okay you're on," she said and sat up and I sat up next to her.
"That one looks like a smiley face," I pointed.
"Good job," I said, "those look like a square."
"A square? You're more creative than that Atticus Lincoln," Amelia chuckled.
"Oh we're going by my full name now?" I joked.
"I love your full name," she smiled and leaned in and kissed me.
"Thanks," I chuckled and kissed her back. She pulled back and looked at me.
"You have to pick something other than a square," She said.
"Fine," I chuckled as I looked up at the stars.
"That one looks like a bird," I said.
"Which one?" Amelia said.
"Right there," I pointed and she looked.
"Yeah it does," she said. We both laid back and looked at the stars.
"Can I tell you something?" She asked.
"Sure honey," I said as I stroked her cheek with my thumb, "you can tell me anything."
"Ryan sent another letter today," she said.
"What did it say?" I asked.
"He really wants me to go visit him," she said.
"Oh," I said.
"I don't want to," she said, "I just thought I should tell you." She turned and faced me and I did the same. I looked into her gorgeous blue eyes and I smiled.
"No matter what you decide, visiting him or not, I love you," I said.
"I love you too," she said. I kissed her and she giggled. She was the love of my life.