how we met / / a.i.

Chapter Twenty.

Amelia stood next to her aunt as they lowered his casket down in the ground. Her hand was tightly holding onto Ashton's, almost scared to let go as if he would be gone like her dad if she did.

Tears brimmed at her eyes, unable to tear them away as his casket was placed on the ground. She saw out of the corner of her eyes her aunt moving, taking a shovel and dropping a bit of dirt onto him. Her eyes then looked to Amelia and held it out towards her, silently asking if she wanted to do so as well.

Amelia slowly released Ashton's hand, stepping up and taking the shovel from Julia's hands. She shakily scooped a bit of dirt on the shovel before stepping closer to the hole her dad was now in. She froze for a second, taking a deep breath to collect herself before hesitantly dropping the dirt on his casket.

She handed it back to her aunt, stepping back into the spot she was previously. She looked down when she felt Ashton's hand gently brushing against her own, as to ask if she needed it. She shook her head slightly, hands balling up into tight fists, digging her nails in her skin to keep her tears at bay.

The priest stepped up after a boy dropped some dirt onto him as well, leaving Amelia with a couple questions as to who he was. "Today, were eternally placing Ronald "Ronnie" Jackson to rest. A precious soul was taken to heaven last Monday, and will be cherished deeply. His memory is carried on by his sister, Julia Jackson, his daughter, Amelia Jackson, and his son, Dylan Jackson."

The words caused Amelia to stop in her tracks. The boy from earlier, he was standing on the other side of Julia. He looked to be about thirteen, and Amelia had no idea he existed. How did she not know she had a brother?

The rest of the priest's words faded out as Amelia began zoning out. She had a million questions, ones that she can't have her dad answer. Maybe her mom had some answers, but she'll never know the full story.

After they had gotten him completely buried, Amelia was the first to leave. She had anger bubbling deep inside herself, feeling like she was left in the dark for so long.

She knew the three were hot on her tracks, calling her name quietly as they tried to catch up with her. She was angry at him, she was angry at her aunt, hell, she was angry at her brother. But, most of all, she was angry at her mother. Surely she knew, it surely was the reason her two parents divorced. It was the logical reasoning.

When she heard them closer, she began sprinting away from them. She couldn't stand to be around them right now, she couldn't dare look her mom in the eye right now or she'd definitely say something she would regret.

Ashton, Kris, and Jessica all slowed down when they saw her taking off. Ashton started to go after her only to be stopped by Jessica. "Let her be. She just had to bury her dad." She said quietly, eyes watching her daughter taking off away from the graveyard.

"And find out she had a brother." Ashton mumbled, Jessica frowning and shaking her head with a sigh. "Did you know?" He asked the woman, who just simply nodded. Ashton sighed, rubbing his face frustrated. "Why wouldn't you tell her? This was all a big shock to her."

Jessica glared over at the teenage boy, reminding herself that he doesn't know any part of his situation so she'd avoid snapping at him. "I wanted to, Ashton. Her dad asked me not to. He wasn't even sure Dylan was his, but, I guess he ended up finding out."

Kris sighed from behind them, noticing the boy in question taking off in Amelia's direction with a quick jog. She smiled slightly, watching him slowly disappear the same direction Amelia did.

Amelia found a bench, decently away from the graveyard, well, far enough that the three wouldn't follow. She buried her hands in her face as she let out a deep breath.