pretty boy

6. amelia

Amelia got off the bus, thanked her bus driver, and walked back to her home. She was going over her day in her mind and, unfortunately, she still felt guilty in her gut. All day she tried to push it down and forget, but she hadn't succeeded yet. Even after she apologized the guilt hadn't gone anywhere.

That's probably because it was a pitiful apology, if you could even call it that. Her subconscious snapped at her. It was one of the things she hated about herself, the fact that she was always correcting and perfecting herself.

She ignored her reasonable thoughts and pushed open her front door. She had seen her mother's car in the driveway and knew she was most likely in the kitchen, like always.

"Mom?" She called out. "I'm home!"

"I'm in the kitchen baby!" She heard. I knew it, she thought. "If you don't have homework, could you please lend me a hand?"

Amelia threw her book-bag on the couch and went to help her mother. The second she got within five feet of the kitchen, the sweet aroma of food hit her nose and made her mouth water. She walked in and noticed at least three pots on the stove and something in the oven.

"What's going on?" She asked. Her mother had made enough food to feed a small country.

Her mother looked uncomfortable, "We're, um, having a guest tonight." She rushed out. "I need your help so go wash your hands and help me prepare."

Amelia did as she was told and by the time the pair had finished, and hour had passed. While she was getting the table, Amelia heard the door open and close.

"Guys? What's with the house smelling like a 5-star restaurant?" She heard the voice of her mothers fiancée.

"Stephanie, hey." Her mother greeted with a kiss on the cheek. "We're having a guest over."

Stephanie raised her perfectly plucked eyebrow, "Really? Who?"

Again, Amelia took notice of her mother looking uncomfortable, "Well, that's the part you may not like." She took a deep breath, "It's my ex."

In that moment, Amelia could swear that you could drop and pin and it would've been louder than them at that moment. Her mother was looking at her fiancée apologetically while said woman looked like she was ready to kill.

"Care to repeat that?" Stephanie asked slowly. "Because I swear I thought you said Greg was coming over."

Her mother looked at Amelia who still had not said a word. She hadn't seen her father in almost a year, and she didn't particularly want to have a family reunion now.

"Look, both of you. I know I should've told you. But he just called earlier saying that he wanted to see his daughter. We talked and thought it would be a quick dinner, he'd talk to Amelia for a bit, then he'd leave." Amelia was curious to know what he wanted with her, but those feelings were overcome by her anger at the man who hadn't even sent a text in a year.

"Holly, I love you." Stephanie sighed, "And right now that's the only thing stopping me from strangling you right now."

Amelia's mother laughed slightly and hugged her fiancée, "So are you going to be nice?"

Steph looked at her with a deadpan, "I'll say the absolute minimum and he has one hour to be in and out before I get my guns."

Holly shrugged, knowing that was the best she was going to get out of her lover. "Thank you." And she kissed her briefly beige turning to her daughter. "Is this okay with you baby? If your uncomfortable I'll make him leave."

Amelia looked back and forth between her mother and her soon-to-be step mother. And her eyes lingered on her mothers for a bit. "Yeah." she said finally. "But he had one hour before I help Steph hide the body."

Her mother laughed. "I've never so thankful to have you two in my life." And she pulled them in for a hug. Amelia swallowed her anxiety, something about her father reappearing made her feel uncomfortable.

Their embrace was cut short when the door bell rang thought the house and Amelia's heart stopped. She wanted more time to prepare, she needed more time. Holly straightened herself up and walked to the door. With each step, the dread in Amelia grew greater and greater and greater.

Until she hear the door open.