Broken Submission

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So guys, I'm sorry. Ik I've been ridiculous lately. I'll get this new schedule figured out, promise. But here you go, a day late and a dollar short, but it's here.

"Get off her--just--get away!"

Amelia shut her eyes, squeezing her knees to her chest. Derek's heat disappeared and was replaced by Brianna's soft warmth.

"Come on, girl. Let's go sit in the back for a minute," she murmured, guiding Amelia to her feet. 

Amelia sheltered under Brianna's arm, trying to ignore the scuffle going on between Derek and Matthew. Brianna hustled her through the people who stood wide-eyed. Opening the door to the aftercare room which was thankfully empty, Brianna pulled her in and barred the door.

"Sit down," she said, grabbing a couple juice boxes and a blanket.

Amelia sat.

"Drink."

She took the juice box. Considering the drink, her hand spasmed with the urge to crush the thing in her fist. Her hands were shaking.

Molars clenched, she said, "I'm going to throw this. And then I'm going to scream."

Without giving Brianna time to respond, she wound up and chucked the juice-box at the door with all her strength. Without even waiting to see it hit, she buried her face into the blanket and screamed.

"Well that's more emotion than I've ever seen you express."

Amelia peeled her face off the fabric and squinted at Brianna. "That's your best comment?"

The woman shrugged, curling her legs up on the couch. "I'm just waiting for you to tell me what this is all about. Because something happened between the hospital and now. You were... shaken but dealing. Now you're chasing something. I recognize the look." She leaned forward. "Did Derek do something? Men can be such idiots."

Amelia tore at the blanket with her fingers. "Derek's been... great. He's been super understanding. He's even put aside the lifestyle, which I know is a huge sacrifice for him."

"No. Honey, no, that's ridiculous."

Amelia frowned. "What?"

Brianna shook her head. "You two are people first. Putting aside his kinks for a few days is not a sacrifice. It's common decency."

"But we have no real commitments," Amelia shrugged. "This is all a lot to deal with, and not something you usually ask of a... romantic interest."

Brianna tilted her head with a raised eyebrow. "A romantic interest? That's what you're calling him?"

Swallowing, Amelia resisted the urge to shrug again. "We--I guess we haven't really talked about it."

"You haven't talked about it?" Brianna's face showed her disbelief. "You mean to tell me that that boy hasn't even had the basic boyfriend/girlfriend, seeing-other-people talk with you? Wait," she said in realization, "you've had the seeing-other-people talk, right?"

"What does it matter?" Amelia hunched over. "We didn't really follow many of the other relationship landmarks."

"Trust me honey, it matters." Disapproval radiated from her. "If you two had had these talks, then maybe you wouldn't be so unsure about where you stand. Because I can see you doing that right now, trivializing your relationship when the going gets tough--like that'll stop you from getting hurt."

"That's not what I'm doing," Amelia protested. "It's not his responsibility. None of this is."

Shaking her head, Brianna sighed. "I don't understand you. But tell me this--if not Derek, why did you come in here tonight looking for a fight?"

"I wasn't--"

"Girl, don't you lie to me. You have been giving attitude since you walked through that door, and I'm not surprised Jack took issue with you."

"I think I might leave."

Brianna's mouth dropped open.

Amelia curled in on herself. "I don't know. Maybe. Maybe we just need a clean start."

"We?"

It was Amelia's turn to become wide-eyed. "I--"

"Oh shit." Brianna's eyes dropped to her stomach. "You're--"

"Yes." Amelia wrapped her arms around her stomach. "I think--yes." 

"But why would you leave him?" Brianna asked softly.

"I don't know." Amelia's gaze drifted to the floor. "I just think it would be easier. Things have gotten messy here. Too much has happened."

"So you're just gonna run off?" She shook her head. "Life is messy. If you bolt every time it gets that way, you'll never stop running."

"Is that such a bad thing? Being always in motion? I don't know that it is. Bad things catch you when you stand still."

"And what about what you've got here? A man who loves you. Friends, a community."

She laughed bitterly. "A man who gets put through hell because of me. A wonderful woman who I've only talked to a few times, and a community that thinks I'm too cold or reserved to be a true member."

Brianna slammed her hand down on the table, making Amelia jump. "What the hell is it with you and relationships? Why can't you just let them be good?"

"I'm just being realistic." Amelia stood and picked up her fallen juice box. She'd failed to throw it hard enough to break the container.

"Well stop." Brianna stood, grabbing the box from her hand and throwing it on the couch. She took Amelia's hands. "We are here--right here--for you, whether you like it or not. So don't get some fool idea in your head about running away. We are going to take care of you." 

She looked to Amelia's still-flat stomach. "Both of you.