Star Crossed Actors

Chapter Six: Augustus

As I walked home with Amelia, a million thoughts raced through my brain.

Did she mind me kissing her head? Would she even keep my sweatshirt? Did she have ANY feelings for me?

I didn't know, and 8:45 at night was not the time to think things over.

Her face had gotten blood red when I'd kissed her on the head, and I sighed. She was so adorable with her little tics. I'd bet she was biting her lip and muttering to herself right this minute, thinking over what had happened. 

I'm not a creepy stalker, I just know she does that when she's nervous or anxious or excited.

Amelia and I walked inside, and found, to no surprise, that dad wasn't home.

"C'mon, squirt, I'll tuck you in for bed," I said, racing her up the stairs.

She squealed with delight, and ran into her room. "Read me a story! Please?"

"Not tonight, I'm beat. But I'll put on an audiobook Magic Tree House, alright?"

"OK, thanks." She crawled under her covers, and laid her head on her pillow as I fiddled with the audiobook disk.

I put the book, Christmas in Camelot, in her CD player. "Listening libraries presents, Christmas in Camelot," it started.

"Alright, goodnight, Augustus!"

I kissed her forehead goodnight, and went into my room. I grabbed How To Breathe Underwater by Vicky Skinner. I'd never read it, and it looked really good.

I opened up to the first chapter, and started reading.

<________>

I slept like crap all Saturday night, so I woke up in a terrible mood.

My dad poked his head into my room, and said, "Morning, I'm going to church today. You want to come?"

I sighed, and lifted my head from my pillow. "Not really, I slept terribly and just want to lazy all day.

"You sure? Going to church usually helps-"

"Why are you suddenly asking me to go to church with you? You never want to hang out with Amelia and I anyway's."

Dad's expression turned morose, and I immediately felt terrible. "No, dad, I didn't mean ANY of that. I'm in a really bad mood, and-"

"It's not that I don't want to spend time with you two, it's that I can't. My work has me busy everyday of the week but Sunday's, and I had to bribe them for Sunday's off."

"Wow, that really sucks," I said, standing up and stretching my arms over my head.

"You don't say. Augustus, PLEASE come to church with me. I want to spend the day with you and Amelia...please?"

He looked so hopeful and so desperate for us to be with him, I sighed and said, "Fine. But I expect a free lunch from Applebee's."

We both grinned, and he walked over to give me a hug.

I clapped my arms on his back, and smiled at him for the first time since mom died.

"Alright, champ, I'll go wake up Amelia. Get dressed. Just, no Iron Maiden shirts this time, last time you wore one of those, you scared the little kids."

"Right, so sorry," I chuckled.

I went to my dresser, and grabbed my 5 Seconds of Summer T-shirt.

"This one alright?" I asked, holding it up for my dad to see.

"Should be. Hurry up and get dressed, we're leaving in 10." Dad left my room, and I tugged my 5SOS shirt on.

I opened my pants drawer, and found some black jeans. I threw those on, and ran my fingers through my hair.

"Eh, good enough," I muttered, leaving my room and walking downstairs.

I grabbed a Pop-Tart from the box, and started eating while I waited for dad and Amelia to come downstairs.

I wagered maybe seven minutes?

I grabbed my book I'd left on the table from a week ago, The Thing With Feathers by McCall Hoyle. I'd forgotten where I'd left off, so I opened it to a random page to read while I waited.

I'd made it through two chapters before my sister and dad came downstairs.

"Ah, finally! I was beginning to get worried!" I said, sarcastically.

Amelia groaned, and rubbed her eyes. "Why do we have to go to church? It's really early."

I handed her the rest of my Pop-Tart, and replied, "Because we'll get ice cream afterwards. Right, dad?"

"Sure, why not?"

He grabbed his keys, and said, "Let's go. We're gonna be late."

The three of us walked out to the car, and as we pulled out of the driveway, I asked, "Dad, mind if I put on some of my music?"

"Make sure it's clean," was his reply.

I found the song Good Girls by 5SOS....it was at least clean.