Toxicity

47

LINKS POV
Jo fell asleep in the guest bedroom. I walked downstairs and Amelia was sitting on the couch silently. Meredith and Derek went to go pick up food, but Jo fell asleep before dinner, and Amelia wasn't talking to me.
"Jo fell asleep," I said to break the silence. She looked over her shoulder and saw me.
"Okay," she said.
"Can I sit?" I asked. She nodded and I sat down next to her.
"It's not Jo's fault," Amelia said, "she didn't do it to hurt me, and that's not why I called you."
"I know," I said, "I'm sorry."
"Am I always just going to be the girl who did drugs to you? The one that needs protecting? Link I'm an adult I can handle a drunk friend on my own. I just figured she'd want you too because you've been her best friend for like a decade," she said.
"Amelia I didn't mean it like that, I just wasn't sure how her being drunk was going to affect you. I didn't know if it was going to make you crave drugs or alcohol," I said, "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn't mean for it to come off as negative. You're not the girl that needs protecting to me, and I think we both know that you're so much more."
"Am I?" She asked as her voice broke. I nodded.
"Honey you're so much more than that. You're my entire world. Without you I'd be so lost. You're so beautiful, inside and out. You're funny, charming, cute, and so many more. You make me want to get up in the morning. You change all of the radio stations in my car to songs you like, you sing as loud as you can, you put batter on my nose when making pancakes and will give me a back massage. You're so much more than just the girl that did drugs. You're the love of my life. You're the most caring person I've ever met, you care for others so tremendously sometimes I think you forget to care for yourself, and that's why I got scared today and yelled at Jo. I thought if her drunkness was affecting you, or making you crave, that you wouldn't say anything and would shove it down just to make sure she was okay. That's why I got mad. I shouldn't have made it about you and I'm sorry," I said. She was crying and she smiled.
"Thank you," she said, "I really needed to hear that."
"You're my entire universe Amelia," I said, "I was just looking out for you."
"I appreciate it," she said, "but you should apologize to Jo."
"I will, tomorrow, when she can remember it," I said.
"Good idea," she said.
"So are we okay?" I asked.
"We're okay," she said, "I love you."
"I love you too," I said. The front door opened and Meredith and Derek had dinner.
"You two good now?" Meredith asked.
"Yeah," Amelia nodded.
"Good," Meredith said.
"Where's Jo?" Derek asked.
"She fell asleep," I said.
"Gotcha," Derek said, "is there someone we can call for her? I'm worried about her."
"Sibling? Aunt? Uncle?" Meredith said.
"No," Link sighed, "She lives in a foster home with a few siblings but she sees the parents once a week I think. She sometimes sleeps in her car because she won't ever let me let her live with me and my mom."
"You don't think she'd live here?" Amelia asked.
"I've been trying to get her to move in for years," I sighed. Meredith and Derek frowned.
"Maybe I can talk to her," Meredith said.
"That would be good," Amelia said. The four of us at dinner together while Jo fell asleep upstairs. I was worried for her.
JOS POV
I opened my eyes and I was in the guest room of Amelia's house. I fucked up. I got so unbelievably drunk. I shouldn't have come here. Amelia had a horrible drug problem and I knew that. I shouldn't have done that to her, and to make it worse she and Link fought over it. I was making a mess out of myself. He was just a high school boy. I needed to get myself together. I saw my bag in the room and got up and packed it. I had a foster home but I just lived in my car for the most part. Link had been trying to get me to live with him but it's too weird. I appreciate the offer but I can't impose on someone like that. I can take care of myself. I walked down the hallway and opened Amelia's door. Her and Link were snuggled together so maybe they made up.
"I am so sorry. I should have never come here today. I wasn't thinking. I shouldn't have put you in this situation with your drug past Amelia. It was wrong of me. And I'm sorry for making you guys fight. I have my bag I'm just gonna go, I'm sober, I can drive," I said.
"Jo don't go," Amelia said, "it's okay."
"It's really fine Jo you're going through something," Link said.
"But you don't need to go through it too," I said, "Amelia thank you for everything and letting me stay here, and Link thank you for looking out for me."
"Please stay," Amelia said, "just one more night."
"I don't want to impose," I said.
"You're not," she said, "please." She seemed really worried so I nodded.
"You can stay here if you want," Amelia said, "Derek and Meredith said it's fine."
"I can't," I said, "you guys have been amazing but I'll be okay, I can't impose on you guys."
"It's not imposing if I'm inviting you Jo," Amelia said, "think about it." I nodded.
"Now come on we're watching worst chefs in America," Link chuckled.
"If you guys fight like last night you're both sleeping on the couch," Amelia joked as I laid down next to her.
"Thank you," I said to them.
"You're welcome Jo," they said.