I Think I Like You

31

AMELIAS POV
I had just gotten home. I had been staying with Derek for almost a week. My mother had only hit me twice. Maybe she was sorry. She said she wanted to see me. Derek came with. Meredith was at the hospital for the night so it was just him. We walked inside and the table was already set. I sat in between Derek and Liz. We started eating and then mom started talking.
"I'm glad you decided to see us today Amelia," she said. I didn't say anything and she looked to my sisters.
"There's something we need to talk about," Nancy said.
"It's only because we care about you," Kathleen said. Liz fell silent as she looked at me. I looked at Derek and froze. This was an intervention.
"We just collectively think that you and Kai are a bad idea. It's nonsense. You shouldn't be seeing another girl romantically," my mom said.
"Kai is not a girl!" I yelled at her.
"Mom Kai's non-binary we went over this," Liz said softly.
"Not you too," my mother scoffed, "Arizona has corrupted your sister and not she's corrupting you. Enough of this."
"Amelia it's just silly," Nancy said, "that's not a real relationship anyway."
"Enough," Derek said, "you are all being out of line."
"It is a real relationship," I looked at Nancy.
"Maybe you're just a whore," Kathleen said.
"Shut up," Liz said.
"Amelia, we say these things because we care. We're worried about you. Your thinking is just so out of touch with reality. You can't date someone like Kai. It doesn't work that way. And you didn't date Arizona," my mother said. I sunk in my seat as I felt tears form in my eyes.
"Mom, you are out of line bringing Amy and I here for dinner and deciding to stage this intervention. Amelia and Kai are dating, end of discussion," Derek said.
"Not you too," my mother said, "Amelia Frances you've corrupted your brother too? Telling him all these things thinking it's real?"
"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled at her, "do you know how ridiculous you sounds! You're a fucking moron."
"You cannot love another girl!" My mom yelled at me.
"KAIS NOT A FUCKING GIRL!" I yelled at her.
"Amy we're going," Derek said and got up.
"They're probably just going to leave you anyway once they find out you're a druggie," Nancy said. I got up and ran to my room upstairs. I wrapped my arms around my legs as I sobbed. There was a knock on the door. Figuring it was Derek, I opened it. Wrong. It was my mother. She slapped me again. She pushed me against the wall, and down the stairs. I landed on my back and it really hurt.
"Amelia? Amelia are you okay?" Liz said as she was hovering over me.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," I said as I got up and Derek helped me out and drove back to his house. The car ride was silent. I got back to his house and cried the entire night.

I looked over at Kai who had been silent the entire time I was telling the story.
"I'm really sorry that happened to you," Kai said,
"You didn't deserve that. Your mother was being a bitch to you. I'm glad you had your brother and Liz there to support you. And thank you. For trying to defend me."
"Of course I was going to defend you," I said.
"I'm so paranoid that what my sister said was true. I'm so paranoid you're going to leave. I freaked out this morning when all you did was go get coffee. I'm a mess, and honestly I'd understand if you did leave," I admitted. Kai wrapped me in a hug and kissed my cheek.
"I'm not leaving you," Kai said, "Amelia Shepherd you turned my world. You mean everything to me. I'm not leaving. Ever. Guess you're kinda stuck with me. I don't care if you're a mess. You just went through a lot, and I want to be there for you."
"I love you," I said.
"I love you too," Kai said, "and by the way, I don't think of you as a drug addict."
"I know that, thank you," I said.
"How long ago did this happen?" Kai asked.
"A few days ago," I said.
"Did you go to the hospital?" Kai asked.
"No," I said.
"Did Derek or Meredith check your bruises?" They asked.
"No, I was too upset," I said.
"Well what if your bleeding internally?" Kai said.
"I probably would have died by now," I chuckled. "Not funny!" Kai said, "can I look."
"Fine," I said. I lifted my shirt and Kai ran their hand over my bruises. I hated that they were seeing me like this. I hated it. They checked out my back and I was fine.
"Can we act like you didn't see that?" I asked.
"Yeah," Kai nodded.
"Thank you," I said.
"I'm never letting you go back there again," Kai said.
"I just want to feel safe again," I admitted. Kai wrapped me in a tight hug.
"You're safe with me," Kai said, "always."