Normal People - Strange Encounters Book Two

Chapter 29

As Spencer and Amelia descended the stairs and found themselves on the sidewalk, Spencer knew this was a good call. He watched as Amelia closed her eyes and turned her face toward the drifting snowfall, a small smile appearing as the tension eased.

"You love the cold an absurd amount" Spencer mumbled in a joking tone, shoving his gloved hands into his pockets and trying to burry his face into the scarf wrapped up to his nose. 

Amelia chuckled and walked to stand in front of him, tugging her hat off and pulling it onto Spencer's head, covering his ears.

"No, y-"

"I'm fine, baby" she said quietly, picking up his hand in hers as she turned to walk down the street.

It wasn't too late, maybe around 10 PM, but with it being Wednesday and a snowy evening in February, they had the sidewalks to themselves. They walked quietly for a while, not keeping track of time. About 40 minutes had passed before either of them had said a word. 

"I'm scared of therapy" Amelia whispered. Spencer wouldn't have heard it if the neighborhood hadn't been quiet, with the snow coating every surface her voice seemed to bounce towards him.

He kept walking at the same pace, not wanting her to feel put on the spot, pressured into talking. 

"How come?" He heard her clear her throat, felt her hand grip his tighter, barely noticeable.

"Uh, I dunno. I mean, it didn't work for my mom.."

"Lee, you know as well as I do that dealing with an illness like schizophrenia.. it's not as easy as just going to therapy. She needed more than that" he said softly. 

"I know, logically, I get that. I just think.. my whole childhood, I thought that'd be the fix. That maybe if I couldn't make her realize that she needed help, someone else could. And when it didn't work, I uh, I think I blamed them. The therapists, the psychiatrists. Everyone, really. And I know obviously it wasn't their faults, but.."

"You were hurting. You wanted your mom. I get it."

"I know you do. I've never met anyone who could say that and actually mean it" she gave a dry chuckle. "I'll call tomorrow. I promise."

Spencer stopped, turning to face her. 

"I don't want you do this for just because I, er, pushed you. I-"

She reached up and tugged the hat down to cover his face, under his chin. When he pulled it back up he saw a small smile on her face.

"I'm not doing this for you, and I meant that in the nicest way." He chuckled. "I know I need to, for my own sake. But I do need a kick in the ass once in a while, so.. thank you."

His hand reached up and he cupped her cheek as she leaned her face into his gloved hand. 

"I'll always kick you in the ass when you need it" he smirked. "But seriously, I just care. I didn't mean to-"

"Shut up, babe. I know" she reached up and kissed him. He grinned down at her, his hands grabbing her coat and pulling her back toward him. He felt her hands find his scarf, felt as she tugged him into her. 

If anyone had looked out their window and noticed the couple kissing in the snow, under the moonlight, they would have found it magical. 

♡

The next morning Spencer woke up and rubbed his eyes, light teeming through the tall windows. He stretched, looking forward to going over a few files in preparation of consulting with the team the following week. As he rolled out of bed he made his way toward the bathroom, hovering near the door as he heard Amelia's voice coming from the living room.