Ian and Amy - Meant To Be

Chapter 3

Before You Read: This chapter is set after the Cahills have saved the world (again) in an alternate version of the Unstoppable series. Oh, and for the sake of this fanfic, Amy isn't with Jake anymore thanks to a series of unfortunate events that will not be explained in length. Enjoy! (Part one of a two-part storyline)

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An annoying Christmas carol was leaking out from behind the doors.

Ian took a deep breath, attempting to sooth his jumping nerves. His stomach felt like there was a crazy blender in it. I'm Ian Kabra, he told himself. I shouldn't be this nervous.

But he was. And he couldn't help it.

Don't be an idiot. Of course I'm not nervous. I was born to be the center of attention.

Trying to keep that in mind, he gritted his teeth and pushed open the double doors before him, entering the Great Hall of the Cahill Manor.

There was a moment of silence as every single eye in the Great Hall turned toward the seventeen-year-old boy who had just walked in like he owned the place. Ian fought to keep his head held high and kept walking. He could feel numerous pairs of eyes sliding over him, analyzing this newcomer from head to toe. I'm Ian Kabra, he reminded himself. Act confident.

Then the moment of evaluation was over. People turned away from the new Head of Lucians and resumed their conversations. The party hall became lively once more.

Ian held back a sigh of relief as he went over to a deserted table laden with snacks. At least no one had thrown a tomato at him. That was something.

Christmas party, indeed,  he thought. More like a gathering of nuclear bombs waiting to go off.  He couldn't understand why Amy Cahill insisted on having one each year. He supposed it was part of her job, inviting all the Cahills to maintain a barely passable front of one big happy family, but that didn't mean she had to insist that he show up as well.

Of course, he could have refused. But something about the prospect of waiting out Christmas by himself in the empty Lucian headquarters hadn't been so inviting.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up," came a voice. Ian turned to face this new threat, slightly annoyed at the prospect of having to make an attempt at conversation.

A girl in a flaming red dress was standing there, holding two slender glasses filled with pink liquid, her long auburn hair tumbling down her shoulders in elegant waves. Ian almost didn't recognize her. When he did, his first thought was, She's beautiful.

"Look who finally decided to act like someone with a bit of money," he said, acknowledging her outfit with an approving nod. "I believe this is the first time I've seen you in something respectable, Amy."

Amy gave him one of the two delicate glasses of — what did Americans call it, punch? — she was holding with a rueful grin. "Rest assured, it was definitely not  my idea."

"Then whose was it? Your boyfriend, perhaps?" He smiled, inviting her to join in. He wanted to see her smile again.

She looked down at her glass. "It was Nellie's. She wanted to play big sister."

Oh. Ian mentally slapped himself. Nice going, you idiot. He hadn't known Amy and Jake had broken up, but surely he should have noticed. He always noticed these things. Why hadn't he noticed?

"Excellent idea on your babysitter's part, then," he said, taking a sip of the pink liquid. It was actually quite tasty. Maybe not all American things were barbaric after all.