Modern Love {A Cinderella Retelling} ✔️

Chapter Fifteen

Alaric discovering that his stepson snuck off to the dance without his knowledge fueled his anger even more. He was already pissed at the kid and now he went behind his back and went to go see Amelia. That was the last straw.

"Give them back," Brock demanded. "Or you'll be sorry,"

"Or I'll be sorry?" Alaric chuckled. "You really think that threatening me would make me give them to you? I can't believe you did this, betraying my trust?" he continued. "I gave you everything! Including a roof over your head and what do you do? Throw it out the window!"

"You are in such big trouble," Stella laughed. "Get him daddy!"

Brock glared at his stepsister but instead of saying anything, he stepped forward as if he was ready to strangle her, however, Alaric saw what he was about to do and ordered his kids to get back to the house. Stella and Aston nodded and left to head back leaving Brock and Alaric alone again. However, Brock stood there grinding his teeth as rising anger seethed throughout his body. Skin taught over his knuckles burning.

Alaric stepped into Brock's personal space making Brock suddenly back away and feel small. It made things easier for Alaric as he could keep some sort of control over his stepson. The only problem involved trying to keep him from interacting with Amelia. Especially since Aston wanted to spend time with her. So he did the only thing he could think of and stepped away from Brock.

"You know what I do to kids who don't behave?" Alaric warned. He pulled out the old barn key that Brock saw lying around. It didn't take Brock long to realize what was about to happen. "They get locked away, you really shouldn't have done what you did young man, talking to Amelia was one thing, but sneaking out of the house and going to the party?" he continued. "When I told you that you were not allowed to leave? Well that's the last straw, Amelia is coming tonight, and I will have my way. You won't mess this up,"

"My mother would never agree to this!" Brock announced.

Brock knew that he hit a soft spot against his stepfather, it didn't take that long to learn the truth. Not to mention, Brock wasn't about to let Aston and the rest of his family get away with it. Not when there were things he knew he could learn. And if he was right, then his stepfather was the one who caused his mother's demise.

"Your mother was a whore!" Alaric yelled. "That's why I killed her off! You should have died with her!" he continued. "But now, since you went behind my back and traveled to this damn party, you will regret this."

Without another word, Alaric slammed the door shut and locked it. Brock raced over and tried to pry it open yelling and banging on the door. He cussed Alaric out telling him that he needed to let him go and not to touch Amelia. However, that fell to deaf ears as Brock searched around his eyes landed on a window that was high above the ground but easy to get to. He grabbed a chair and made his way over to the window. Carefully placing it under the window, Brock climbed on and grabbed the ledge. However, the chair started to move around quickly causing him to nearly come tumbling down. He jumped just in time before the chair fell. He blew a breath of relief as he pushed himself through the window.

Amelia reluctantly arrived at Alaric's house, knowing full well that Aston wasn't the one she danced with. But here she was, the only reason she came over to the house was so she could see Brock. Unlike most boys, Brock was the only one who got her. He understood what she really wanted to do. However, there would be no way for her to ask him about the dance. She wasn't even sure if he truly was the one who arrived. The house looked the same, a large two story building with a barn that was used as Brock's room. Everything about Alaric and his family were nothing gold diggers. She thought that he would have been great as a publisher but if his son was like that then there would be no use for him to publish her book.

"Are you sure about this?" Petra asked. "I mean come on, your book is about to hit the shelves!"

"I think you should let them publish your book first," Noah explained "And then you should tell them that you didn't care much about their publishing company and found a better one."

"It's the only option I have," Amelia said. "If I have to deal with those dicks one more year, I am going to lose it."

Amelia and her friends arrived at the front door and knocked on the oak wood. They waited outside patiently until someone answered. Alaric was the first to answer the door, his beady brown eyes were more than enough to tell her that he was plotting something.

"Amelia! I'm so glad you and your friends could join us, please, come in." Alaric moved out of the way allowing for them to enter.

Uneasy, the group entered the house to find Aston busy pretending to strum a guitar. She glanced at her friends as they rolled their eyes. Of course this would happen, how else would they attempt this. Ironically, Aston was strumming the song that she was dancing to at the party, however, that wasn't what she was after. She wanted to know who the person was that sang the song.

Brock ran toward the house and looked through one of the windows that showed into the living room only to find Aston and Amelia talking. Panic swelled in his stomach as he ran around and looked over at the back door. He hoped he could make it to the stairs without his stepfamily knowing. Maybe Noah and Petra would be able to help him. Slowly, Brock walked over to the back door and opened the door carefully. Before Brock could do anything, his stepfamily almost caught him when Noah and Petra saw him. Paused just as the steps were about to turn to see him. Thankfully, Petra caught on and pulled Alaric and Stella away distracting them.

Noah easily read the signs and distracted Aston and Amelia. With a relief, Brock walked up the stairs doing his best to be as silent as a Krait snake. Once he got to the top of the stairs he ran for Alaric's room. Knowing that was where his guitar was. He turned the knob and opened it, the door creaked slightly causing him to flinch. But with luck, he heard Noah and Petra talk louder than the door. He stepped inside and sitting in the corner he saw his guitar. It'd been in Alaric's room since he took it a few days ago. The good thing was that if Alaric planned to destroy the guitar he got there before anything happened. He grabbed his guitar and raced out of the room.

Amelia had heard enough, and despite her friends doing something she turned to leave. Now realizing that Brock didn't come to see her. She thought that everything was going to go wrong.

"Come on guys," Amelia said to her friends. "Let's go, clearly this family doesn't care."

"Amelia," Aston said. "You have to give me a chance, you hadn't even heard the song that I sang!"

"Enough!" Amelia exclaimed. "You are nothing but a poser. I don't believe you! Matter of fact," Amelia turned to Alaric. "You can kiss that stupid contract goodbye! I'm never working with you again!"

Amelia turned and made her way toward the front door when the familiar strumming of an electric guitar pierced through the room. She paused and stayed where she was until she heard the song going.

I'm just the boy inside the man

Not exactly who you think I am

Trying to trace my steps back here again

Amelia turned around and saw Brock coming downstairs. Everyone in the room fell silent. The steps frowned, their faces turning red from anger as Brock approached her. Petra and Noah pushed her forward.

So many times,

I'm just a speck inside your head

You came and made me who I am

I remember where it all began, so clearly

I feel a million miles away

Still, you connect me in your way

And you created me something I would've never seen.

Brock stopped playing as tears began appearing in Amelia's eyes. Everything that she remembered was appearing in her head and for Brock, she saw for the first time the smile and who he truly was. Brock moved his guitar to where it was hanging on his back.\

"Amelia, I'm so sorry I ran out on you that night," Brock said. "I wanted to stay there the entire time, but I knew I would get in trouble."