HOUSE OF FIRE

Chapter 6

      It’s my third day in the academy and after the whole weird episode with Rae’s family yesterday, she drove me back to Steven’s place and I stayed locked in my room for the entire day. Didn’t even come down for dinner because I wanted to avoid any awkwardness between me and Dana. Waking up this morning, I was relieved when it came to my attention Dana wouldn’t be having breakfast with us, unfortunately, Steven announced he’d suddenly come into contact with a trusted psychiatrist whose a friend of the family and he went as far as to schedule me an appointment. Today. Without even asking first. She’s the last-minute result and he didn’t want to lose her, apparently finding a trustworthy therapist in our society is that hard.

    Which now leads us to this moment, Steven and I standing before an old grey door waiting for the occupant on the other side to answer after he just knocked twice. As if reading my thoughts, the door is drawn open to reveal a rather voluptuous young beauty, her raven hair is up in an elegant but messy bun, and her porcelain skin is alight with small dust of make-up. Her forest green eyes come alive at the sight of Steven and with a squeal, she attacks the large man in a hug. “Steven it’s so great to see you!” brows raised in interest, I watch as his face takes on a fond but annoyed smile. I know he said she’s a family friend but I didn’t expect this level of intimacy. “Have you finally come to confess your undying love to me!”

     Well, this just took an interesting turn.

     “no,” he rolls his eyes, managing to pry her hands off despite her reluctance to let go. “but I am here for the appointment I’d set up with you.”

     “oh right,” her mouth forms into a pout. “I forgot about that.”

     “course you did.” ruffling her hair playfully, he takes a step closer to me and releases her completely. “Amelia, I want you to meet my daughter Coral, your appointment.”

     Steven rests a hand on my back gently to push me forward and she turns to me with interest. We study each other for a minute before she decides to speak up and break the silence between us. “so, you’re Steven’s love child.”

    “Please, don’t refer to me like that, ever.”
  
    “of course, sorry if I upset you.” she smiles. Taking a step back to allow us passage into her apartment, she says. “well why don’t you two come in and then we can talk over tea.”

        She closes the door behind us as soon as we walk in. Pushing her way between Steven and me, she disappears within the house and I look around to study the living room with a critical eye. Amelia’s apartment is just as exuberant as she is, with bright colours and antic furniture’s and trinkets scattered attractively in a hazard mess all over the place. With a white tray, she steps out through a curtain of beads obscuring the entrance into what I presume to be the kitchen and settles down on a light green leather armchair before Steven and me. She settles the tray on a glass table between us and gently hands the both of us a steaming cup. “so Coral,” Amelia breaks the silence once again. “did you know I’m your aunt?”

      I pause for a slight second to make sure I heard her correctly, and then frown when it became clear she was being serious. “excuse me?”

      Glancing at Steven, I see he has an irritated expression on his face.
   
      Obviously, he didn’t plan on elaborating on how close the “family” part is with Amelia, but I should probably get over how surprised I feel when I find out that everyone I’m meeting is apparently related to me. “yeah I am,” she leans forward with her hand to her mouth and whispers as if sharing a secret. “I’m your step-mother’s little sister and I’m hating it.” she groans dramatically. “But if it weren’t for your mother being out of the picture and my sister marrying your father then I wouldn’t have met-”