Forbidden Fruit •Timothee Chalamet (Stepbrother)

14.After Party

(Timothee's pov)

The look plastered on Amelia's porcelain face is one of hellish pain when Lola twirls her body around to kiss me. My eyes meet Amelia's delicate features that's now weeping as she gently wipes the tears away.

I don't want to hurt her.

I'm fucking madly in love with her,but this is the only way she will wake up and see that this isn't what she wants.We aren't meant to be with other people. We're meant to be together.

Amelia gives me one more sorrowful glance before she starts to push her way through the
crowd and back to Jacob. She's still crying,and he glances at me in disapproval as he pulls her in, hugging her tightly. Now she's weeping in his chest.

I let go of my grip on Lola's hips and start to push her away. The harsh truth burns through me, that this isn't going the way I anticipated. He's holding the girl I love and I'm looking in the eyes of a girl I have absolutely no feelings for.

"Lola, I am really sorry.I have to go home." I say apologetically, before getting the hell out of Julia's house.

The car ride home is misery with a montage of every heartfelt moment I've ever spent with Amelia playing in my head. They're so vivid, it's scary. She pops up as a middle schooler, laying with her body stretched out on my bed, her pink notebook in her hands as she journals.

"Timmy, what's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen in person? Something that's so amazing it's left you in awe?" She sweetly smiled as her eyes pondered back to her journal.

"You." I said in a whisper.

The flashback makes me eyes sting. I feel the wetness underneath my eye and grip my steering wheel tightly.

When I get home, Elle and mom are gone. I remember Elle said they were going to some weekend retreat.

I stay downstairs and extend myself across the couch. No matter what happened between her and Jacob and how much it tore me up.

I still sit here like a devoted fool,waiting for her.

I hear the front door creak and groggily open my eyes. "Amelia?" I say sleepily,propping my body up against the couch. I look at her in front of the staircase,hearing her trip over something.

Her hair looks disheveled and her makeup is smeared underneath her eyes. She's wearing Jacobs varsity jacket,which makes my stomach churn. She's now staring at me with this look on her face like she has so much she wants to say, but to my surprise she doesn't say a word.

"Are we going to talk?" I break the thick silence, before biting down on my lip.

But still nothing but her blank expression.

"I'm surprised you have any oxygen left to speak the way you were sucking the life out of that whores mouth!" Ameila slurs.

She's even drunker then she was earlier.

"How much did you drink? Your boyfriend can't keep you safe for one night?Isn't he some prince charming." I roll my eyes.

"I want you to know that tonight...I saw you for who you really are. You humiliated me. You betrayed me.You didn't even give me a chance to talk to you before you shoved your tongue down some other girls throat." Amelia winces with the last word.

"Are you ACTUALLY trying to turn this around on me? I came to that party to find YOU and I found you with Jacobs slobber all over you! Pull yourself together!" I scoff.

"Fuck you Timothee!" she says with glistening red eyes.

We stay quiet for what seems like an eternity.

"Jacob asked if him and I can start seeing each other tonight and if I'd give us a shot."

I snort in anger. "Well, that's just great isn't it? You, me, and Jacob. One big HAPPY family!"I say sarcastically, before snapping up from the couch and running my hands through my hair.

"Timothee, I need you to just remain calm and listen to me." Amelia says while sobering herself up.

I scan her and squint slightly. Did she actually accept his proposition? This is a fucking nightmare and I can't seem to wake up.

"For fucks sake, you didn't accept did you?" I scowl as I flush with anger.

"Just listen to me. People know."

"People know what?" I snap.

"My grandparents got a call asking if you and I are romantically involved. Someone from the undergrounds called them after the showcase.They saw us that night and told them about us."

I ice over and take a deep breath with realization of what Amelia just said.

"My Grandma was quick to say how much shame and humiliation it would bring to our family if anyone found out that wasn't apart of the undergrounds. She started bringing up your father and how she despised the cult and how she shouldn't have ever let my mom marry him..That now I'm tainted by all this and its like a sickness. She said whatever is between you and I better stay hidden."Ameila gets the words out but is flustered.

"Why can't everyone just stay the hell out of our lives." I breathe out in semi disbelief.

"Timothée..she threatened to sabotage my chances of getting in Julliard if we went public. She said she'd ruin all my dreams and my future."

I try to mask it so she doesn't see, but I'm afraid. Amelia's grandmother has extreme power and many connections. She really could ruin Ameila's future if she wanted too.

"So what do you suppose we do, Amelia? Let your grandmother dictate how we feel about each other? She's threatening us!" I say with irritation.

"I know you're going to fight this and lose your mind over it but please try to understand.."

I feel my heart skip a beat awaiting to hear what Ameila says. All I know is this can't be good.