Beautifully Broken

Chapter Seven

Ethan wasn't joking when he said Amelia needed an appetite. The burger that sat in front of her looked bigger than her head. Not to mention the basket of fries they had gotten. She wouldn't be surprised if she died of a heart attack with this amount of food. Ethan on the other hand didn't seem to have a problem. He had dug in the moment they had sat their burgers down. He looks up at her a mixture of ketchup and mustard on the side of his lips. She try's not to chuckle, but fails receiving a stranger look.

"What?" He says.

She grabs a napkin motioning to him that he had something on the side of lips. He licks it trying to get it off but only makes it worse, "Did I get it?" He asks.

She shakes her head no reaching out to wipe it away. When her napkin connects with his skin, she could feel Ethan flinch beneath her touch. She pulls back mumbling a sorry as her checks flooded with warmth from her embarrassment.

"Better?" He says his lips curving into a smile.

She nods afraid her words would fail. Looking for a form of distraction, Amelia gives all her attention to the food that sat in front of her. Wondering how she was suppose to fit all of that in her small stomach. Who was she kidding? Amelia knew she would be able to finish it. Throwing that thought away she takes a bit her mouth exploding with so many flavors.

"Oh my goodness, this is amazing." She says her hand over her mouth.

"Told you."

They spend a solid 10 minutes eating neither one of them saying a word. To busy enjoying the greasy goodness of their food. Once they were close to finishing Amelia feels her phone vibrate. She wipes her hand on her napkin and pulls her phone from her pocket. Her heart drops making her want to run to the bathroom and puke up everything she just ate. This couldn't be? How did he get her number? She had changed it after the accident. She was getting tired of receiving "my condolences" messages and "he's in a better place."

Ethan must have noticed the color drain from her face. He asks if everything was okay, but it was like time slowed down. All she could hear was her own heartbeat. She needed to get out of there.

"I gotta go." She whispers. At first it seems like he doesn't hear her, but he hands over his keys telling her to wait outside letting her know he would take care of the bill.

She reaches for the keys with shaking hands her body on autopilot. It was like she was having an out of body experience. She could see herself walking and everyone around her. Once outside, she unlocks the truck and climbs inside. When she buckles up the tears escape and this time she doesn't even try to stop them. She curls into herself, her body shaking uncontrollably. How could he still have this power over her? Even miles away he controlled her.

***

Seemed like every time her and Ethan were together something terrible happened. He was probably thinking she was a freak. First this morning and now this. She wouldn't blame him if he wanted to stop associating himself with her. He tried asking her if she was alright when he came back from paying the bill, but Amelia couldn't speak. It was like her body had shutdown on her and all she wanted to do was go home and curl under the safety of her covers.

Ethan pulls into his driveway and cuts the engine. The only sound to be heard was their steady breathing and the hum of the engine as it cooled down. Amelia fiddles with a lose thread on her sweater preparing herself for an awkward goodbye. She knew Ethan had questions, but she wasn't ready to answer them. At least not yet. She was afraid once he found out about her past he would look at her in a different light. Maybe disgust or even pity her, and she didn't want that. It was what everyone else did after the accident. They stayed away from as if she was a ticking time bomb ready to go off any second. And maybe she was.

"I'm sorry about tonight." She whispers. Her eyes focusing on her chipped nail polish.

When Ethan doesn't say anything, she takes it as her cue to leave. Amelia knew it was only a matter of time before he realized she was nothing but damaged goods. She opens the car door the lights instantly turning on. She risks taking one last look at him wanting to imprint every feature into her mind because a part of her felt as if this was would be the last time she would see him.

He was staring forward looking anywhere but at her. It looked like he was grinding his teeth for how hard his jaw was clenched. She wanted to ease his troubled mind, but knew she couldn't. In doing so she would have to tell him secrets. Secrets that were best staying well secrets.

She steps out into the frigid night air and wishes him a goodnight. Wrapping her arms around her she tells herself not to cry. To hold in the tears and the pain she was feeling. Before she gets to her front door she hears Ethan open his door calling out to her.

"Amelia wait."

She hesitates. Unsure whether or not she should turn around or act like she didn't hear him. Curiosity takes over, so she turns around preparing herself for the worst. They stand five feet from each other. You could see their warm breath mixing with the cold air forming a white could.

"Talk to me. Please I want to help, but the only why I can is if you trust me."

He takes a step towards her his eyes pleading for her to reach out and trust him, and the scary part was- she did. But the last time she had given someone her trust so earlier on, they had hurt her in such an unforgivable way.

"We don't even know each other, so how can I trust someone I just meet?" She wraps her arms around herself, feeling small and helpless.

Ethan takes two more step towards her. He was closing the distance between them, and there was a part of her that wanted to step back. Yet, she held her ground willing herself not to cave. Not to let fear overtake her. She was tired of fighting this battle on her own. She needed help, and here it was. She lets herself fall into his arms. The tears coming in waves, and what Amelia didn't know then; was that Ethan was an answer to her prayers.

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Authors Note

Thank you for reading as always don't forget to vote and comment. Also what are yalls thoughts so far? Anything confusing y'all?