Please Understand

Chapter 30: Too Little Too Late

Amelia

Why is he here, following me around? Why did he ruin everything? I worked so hard to get away, and now it may all come crumbling down. The probability of me getting caught has increased, and I found myself full of fear. Why does he care about me now when my life is finally getting better? Why didn't he care about me years ago when I needed help?

I stared at him as he glanced around at all of the buildings with wide, child-like eyes. We should probably tour the city, but I wasn't in the mood to be his guide because I was furious. I still wanted to yell at him for almost exposing me. That may not have been his intention, but he still shouted my name in the middle of the street when I'm supposed to be incognito. He read my diary, so he could come find me, but he shouldn't have invaded my privacy. I didn't need saving. I don't need him anymore.

Then again, was I ever really over him? Part of me is always going to want him in my life. We grew up joined at the hip, so how was I supposed to cut him out of my life? I tried my hardest not to miss him, and to forget about my home, but I sometimes thought about him. How could I not? This stupid boy was my best friend at one time, and part of me always hoped we would end up together. Now he's stirring up old feelings I thought I left far behind.

"Are you going to school here? Is that why you left?" he finally asked as I took him through an alley. He didn't look like he knew or cared where we were going.

I naturally smiled because he was starting to feel like my old friend. "I've been finishing high school online. I'll graduate in December, and then I'm starting next semester at the University of Washington. Everything's all set, and I'll be eighteen by then, so it'll actually be legal," I explained with a small laugh and roll of my eyes. Who knew Amelia Jackson would grow up to be a runaway?

His eyes widened, but then he smiled as he looked away from me. "That's...impressive," he muttered with that dumb little grin.

I looked straight ahead, and shrugged my shoulders. I'm definitely happy to see him, but my heart was pounding in my chest every time he glanced at me. "Yeah, it's whatever," I muttered as I jammed my shaking hands into my pockets. I chewed on my lip as my mind surrounded the same question, and I stared at Mason, watching his eyes dart all around. "How's Dad?"

Immediately, he whipped his head towards me with his green eyes full of worry. "Supposedly, he's sobering up and has been trying to help with the investigation. He's been going to those AA things," he explained in a shaky voice. I know Mason too well, he's worried he'll say something to set me off; he knows me. "I think-"

"So it took me leaving for him to finally get sober? That's great," I snorted as I picked up the pace, like I could run away from my problems again. The tips of my ears burned as anger pumped through me.

He grabbed my shoulders, forced me to stop, and waited for me to look at him. "Amelia, he's really trying. Trust me, I can't stand your dad. He's an idiot for letting you leave, but he's really trying to get his life back on track. I know he's doing it for you," he rambled with an unfamiliar fire burning in his eyes.

I sucked in a breath, and hated the fact that he had somehow calmed me down. Normally, Mason would always make me angrier, and he never understood how to talk to me. "Why didn't he do it sooner then? It's too little too late," I grumbled, staring into the serious eyes of my best friend. I wondered if he was keeping up with my underlying conversation.

His lower lip twitched the way it always did when something offended him. "I get it, but you need to let him try," he murmured and I knew he was talking about himself. He lowered his gaze, like he couldn't handle my burning intensity.

I shrugged his hands off of me, and continued walking. "Like I said, too little too late. He can keep trying, but I'm not coming home," I rambled as a smirk found its way to my lips. I glanced back as he shuffled behind me. "Look at this city. All of the lights and sounds bring you in. It's nearly impossible to leave."

He snorted and finally caught up to me, completely altering his demeanor once again. He's probably faking all of this to make me come home. "You're quoting song lyrics," he muttered with a small smile.

I knitted my eyebrows together and stared at him. "How did you know that? You don't listen to Yellowcard," I laughed, letting myself smile. Usually, people don't notice when I slip song lyrics into conversations because no one listens to the unpopular bands that I do.

He chewed on his lip, and then nervously chuckled. "Well, I kind of logged into your Spotify, and started listening to your music," he responded with a grimace.

Immediately, a laugh jumped out of my throat, and I couldn't control my giggles. "That was you! I had to change my passwords for everything! It kept logging me out, and I thought some weirdo was trying to hack all of my accounts!" I exclaimed as I slightly pushed him. "Seriously, what is with you invading my privacy?"

"I missed you!" he finally yelled, gaining my complete attention. Then, his eyes widened, like he spilled the biggest secret. "I'm sorry for doing all of that. If I had known that you weren't kidnapped, then I never would've done it. I'm sorry."

My breath caught in my throat as his words echoed in my head. I missed you!  Mason missed me. The boy who didn't notice me for the last three years, the boy next door who didn't even invite me to his lame party had somehow realized he missed me. The best friend who had abandoned me came to Seattle, but for what? What was he trying to do?

Every piece of me hoped he was trying to win me back.

Every piece of me worried he would succeed.