Toxicity

14

AMELIAS POV
My heart was racing. I kissed him.
"I'm so sorry I Uh, I don't know what-" I started rambling but he cut me off with another kiss. I melted in his arms as he pulled back and smiled. I looked up at him and he smiled at me.
"Can I tell you something?" He said softly.
"Yeah," I said.
"I like you Amelia," he said.
"I like you too," I smiled.
"Really?" He said.
"Yeah," I said as I pushed my hair behind my ear, "I really like you, but I just don't know. I have my court hearing soon and there's still Ryan, but I do know I really have feelings for you." I didn't even know what I was saying anymore but he smiled so maybe he understood.
"So," he said, "maybe we take it slow if that's okay with you."
"Yeah," I smiled, "that'd be perfect." There was a knock on the door and I got up and opened it to Meredith.
"Dinners ready," she smiled.
"Okay," I nodded and looked over at Link. God I really like him. We walked downstairs and Derek smiled as I sat down next to Link. I hoped dinner would be okay.
LINKS POV
She kissed me. That's all I could think about. She kissed me. She likes me. I was so happy, even if we are going to take this slow. Whatever this is. Her brother and his wife were so nice. Dinner went really well and I was getting my stuff together in Amelia's room.
"Thank you for coming over," she said sweetly.
"You're welcome," I said, "maybe you could come over my house sometime."
"I'd like that," she nodded.
"Me too," I said as I zipped my bag.
"I'll walk you out?" She said.
"Sure," I smiled as we walked downstairs. Derek and Meredith were sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Thank you for having me for dinner," I said.
"Oh you're welcome," they smiled.
"Drive home safely," Meredith said.
"Will do," I said.
"I'm just going to walk Link to his car," Amelia said.
"Okay," they said. We walked outside and I got to my car.
"Thanks for dinner," I said.
"You're welcome," she said.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" I said.
"You will," she said.
"Good night Amelia," I said and kissed her forehead and then her lips.
"Good night Link," she said.
AMELIAS POV
I opened the door to the house and Meredith and Derek looked over at me.
"I saw that," Derek said.
"Saw what?" I said awkwardly and hung my coat up.
"That goodbye kiss!" Meredith smiled.
"Oh uh yeah," I said.
"Amelia," Derek said, "He's a nice boy. Nice boys are good for you."
"I know," I said.
"Why don't you want to talk about it?" Meredith said.
"I just don't," I said. I wasn't really going to tell them about the kisses because I don't know where this is going. I'm scared. I don't know how to be in a good relationship, I probably don't even know how to be a good girlfriend. I took a breather and took a water bottle from the kitchen. I just needed to think about this.
-
I was sitting on the couch watching mindless TV when the front door opened. My mom. Fuck.
"Amelia," she said.
"Mom," I said.
"Mom?" Derek said as he walked down the stairs, "what are you doing here."
"I'm wondering why I got a court order for an Amelia Shepherd in the mail since I'm her legal guardian," my mom said and handed Derek a packet. Derek looked at me and I bit my lip from crying. I couldn't tell my mom. She'd shame me about it.
"Let's go talk in the kitchen," Derek said.
"Well Amelia should come too," My mom said.
"Fine," Derek said. I got up and walked into the kitchen and sat down next to Derek.
"One of you better start talking," My mom said, "Especially why this includes Ryan Kerrigan. I thought we were over him."
"I got back together with him," I said quietly.
"When?" My mom asked.
"Few months ago," I said.
"Are you on fucking drugs again?" She asked.
"She's sober," Derek said.
"But she was?" My mom said sternly.
"Yes," I said quietly.
"DEREK," my mom yelled, "that was the rule! She can live with you and NOT DO DRUGS!"
"He didn't know," I said.
"Of course he didn't know! Because you're all sneaky in your ways. Doing drugs and sleeping with Ryan 24/7 right? What are you even suing him for?" She said. I looked at Derek and I didn't wanna say it.
"Um domestic abuse and rape," Derek said. I could feel my eyes well with tears and I wiped my eyes.
"You were on drugs what did you expect," my mom said.
"Mom that's not fair," Derek said, "that's not fair and you know that."
"You know what's not fair? Letting you raise her and her turning out a junkie again," my mom said.
"She is sober," Derek defended, "she got sober and Meredith and I helped her."
"Of course you did. You'd cover up anything for her," my mom said.
"SHE WAS BEING ABUSED BY HER BOYFRIEND CAN YOU CARE IN THE SLIGHTEST? HE COULD HAVE FUCKING KILLED HER!" Derek yelled.
"What did he do?" My mom said and looked at me.
"He used to beat the crap out of me," I said softly, "they're faded now but I had dozens of bruises."
"Yeah because you were fucking high Amelia. Don't you realize you're actions have consequences?" My mom said.
"Mom shut up!" Derek said, "nothing she has done has made her deserve this."
"Are you coming?" I managed to get out.
"To the court hearing?" My mom said.
"Yeah," I said.
"No," my mom said, "unless you really want me to."
"Do you have a legal obligation to go?" Derek asked.
"Not if you're there," my mom said.
"I think I should be Amelia's legal guardian," Derek said.
"What?" My mom said.
"If you aren't going to take care of her, someone has to, and that someone is me and Meredith," Derek said, "I want it changed." My mom looked at me as I sunk into the chair.
"Fine," my mom said. Wow, and she just gave me up like that.