Modern Love {A Cinderella Retelling} ✔️

Chapter Six

Amelia and Brock locked eyes with each other. She hadn't realized that he worked for Alaric. Amelia felt so embarrassed but when he tore his brown eyes away from her, she wondered if there was something more to this than she anticipated. She fixed her dark brown hair making sure that the ponytail was on correctly and sat on a sofa with rhinestones lining it as well as sued fabric that was so soft you could fall asleep on it.

Amelia submitted her book the previous day and was surprised that Alaric considered hers. She'd been turned down from every single publisher and Alaric was the only one who gave her the hope she needed to publish her novel. Her friends, Noah and Petra were there with her, she had invited them even though Noah worked for Alaric's publishing agency.

She tuned everything out and watched Brock enter the room with a tray of drinks and small snacks. Amelia smiled at him, but Brock paid her no mind. He'd placed the cups on the table and poured in the beverages. However, she noticed one of Alaric's kids smirking. A young man about eighteen, he'd looked over at her and winked. Amelia ignored him hoping that this man wasn't trying to flirt with her.

"So, Amelia," Alaric said forcing her from her thoughts. "Tell me about your story,"

"Well..." Amelia began.

However, the eighteen-year-old boy had other plans, she saw out of the corner of her eye, the boy sticking his foot out as Brock passed. Amelia called out to him, but it was too late, Brock tripped over the boy's foot causing the silver tray to go flying. The glasses and the platters of snacks spilled all over her and her friends, Brock landed on the floor. The loud clatter of plates caused everything in the room to stop.

"Brock!" Alaric exclaimed "Look what you've done!"

Alaric stood from his spot on the couch. He turned to Amelia with an apologetical expression.

"I am so sorry," Alaric said. "I don't know what came over my servant, I'm sure that he can get this all cleaned up,"

"It's alright," Petra laughed. "I mean we weren't really planning to play with our food today but at least it was a simple mistake, right Amelia?"

Amelia stayed quiet and walked over to Brock. A soft smile plastered on her face.

"Amelia?" Petra said but paused at the sight.

"Are you alright?" Amelia asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," Brock responded.

The two of them put the broken glasses and plates on the tray as they made their way to the kitchen.

*~*~*~*

Brock turned red from embarrassment; he didn't want to think about how Amelia felt but when she helped him pick the broken pieces up. It was something about the girl that made him feel all tingly inside. Not willing to take his chances he stayed silent and threw away the broken pieces.

"How often do they treat you like this?" Amelia asked.

"They don't treat me like this all the time," Brock responded. "Thank you for your help, but I think he might need you back in the living room,"

Amelia looked at him with sorrowful eyes before turning on her heel and walked out of the room. Once Brock was certain she had gone back, he left the house and went back to his room. Closing the door behind him, he grabbed his guitar and started strumming it to the rhythm of Bulls in the Bronx from Pierce the veil. Brock needed some space, and he knew that he was going to be stuck hearing from Alaric's mouth.

He was about halfway through the chorus when someone knocked on the door. Which was weird considering the steps never knocked. Brock looked up and Amelia had entered the room.

"Why are you following me?" Brock questioned, his eyebrow raised. "Cause it seems like everywhere I turn in the house you are right there,"

"I wanted to talk to you, you know one on one?" Amelia asked.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because, I felt bad for what happened to you," Amelia responded and walked over to him. She glanced at his hands and saw the guitar. "You play?"

"Only a little, I don't know much but I know a few songs," Brock smiled.

"Can I hear you play?" Amelia questioned.

Brock froze, his heart racing. His hands hovered over the strings for a few minutes. Amelia pulled up a saucer chair and waited patiently for him. Brock took a few deep breaths before strumming to the rhythm of the song yet again.

*~*~*

Aston had been sitting in the living room while Amelia's friends were talking to his father, things were beginning to get boring as if his own sister was engaged in conversation. Of course, Amelia was beautiful, with her almond shaped eyes and deep brown color. Her tan skin made her look fair. Like Snow White. However, when she had left and went after his stepbrother, he began to get suspicious. Ditching his family while they were deep in conversation, Aston made his way to the barn. The sudden sound of guitar music came from the open windows. Curious, Aston walked to the barn and stood under the open window.

"So, you play the guitar?" a female voice said.

Aston knew instantly that it was Amelia. A surge of jealousy purged through his body. There was no way that Amelia liked Brock. He was so depressed and had a terrible sense of humor. He waited and listened.

"A little," Brock responded. "I know a few chords,"

"Can you play something for me?" Amelia asked.

Brock began strumming to one of his weird occult songs. Aston did not want this to happen. He'd figure out a way to get Amelia all to himself if it was the last thing he did.

"You know you're really good," Amelia said when the music died down.

"Thanks, I guess I'd never really given it a try," Brock responded.

Aston had heard enough. He backed away from the barn and took off back toward the house.