Toxicity

17

AMELIAS POV
We won. I won. He was going to jail. I felt like I could breathe. I was standing outside the courthouse with Meredith and Derek with our lawyer.
"Amelia!" I heard. I turned and saw Link. I looked at Meredith and she nodded.
"Go," she said, "We'll take care of this." I nodded and ran over to Link. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and I nuzzled into him.
"You doing okay?" He asked.
"Yeah," I nodded, "I'm okay."
"You won," he smiled as he held my face.
"Do you want to come over?" I asked, "Lunch?"
"We could go out to lunch," he said.
"Just us?" I said.
"If that's okay with you," he said.
"It's okay with me," I said.
"Okay," he said.
-
I was sitting across from Link at lunch. We went to that coffee shop again and got coffee and pancakes. He knew all my secrets. Every single one.
"You're not eating," he said.
"You know all my secrets," I said.
"You told me that story before," he shrugged.
"I guess," I said and took a bite my pancakes.
"I could tell you some of my secrets," he said.
"You don't have secrets," I said.
"Yes I do," he said.
"Do share," I said.
"I had an osteosarcoma when I was 10," he said.
"You had cancer?" I said. He nodded.
"I'm sorry," I said, "I didn't know that, I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too," he said, "it was really hard. It was even worse on my parents. They only stayed together when I was sick, probably because they thought that I was gonna die, and then when I got better they got divorced."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I said, "do you still see them?"
"Yeah I live with my mom and see my dad every other weekend," he said.
"That's nice," I said.
"Yeah," he said.
"Thanks for sharing that," I said.
"You're welcome," he said.
-
We were walking out of the coffee shop and we both got in Link's car. I looked at him and smiled as I leaned in and kissed him. He held my face as we started making out. He pulled back and smiled at me.
"You're so pretty," he admired.
"Thank you," I giggled.
"Can I ask you something?" He asked as he stroked my cheek with his thumb.
"Anything Link," I said.
"If you say no I understand. I'll understand if you don't want to change anything, but, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked. I looked up at him and admired his gorgeous eyes.
"Yeah," I said, "I'll be your girlfriend." He smiled as he kissed me again.
DEREKS POV
"I'm so glad with the verdict," I said.
"Me too," Meredith said, "and I'm glad she's hanging out with Link, she needs a breather for the day."
"She does," I said.
"Do you think they're going to start dating?" Meredith asked.
"I mean they do make out all the time," I laughed.
"Yeah," she chuckled, "he's good for her."
"He is," I said. I heard the front door open and Amelia and Link walked into the kitchen.
"Derek Link just has to grab a few things for our homework," Amelia smiled as she pulled him upstairs.
"She looks oddly happy," Meredith chuckled.
"She does," I said. After a few minutes her and Link came downstairs and he left.
"Amelia," I said.
"Yeah?" She came back into the kitchen.
"You won," Meredith smiled and we both hugged her.
"I am so incredibly proud of you for standing up for yourself and testifying," I said and kissed her head, "you're safe now.
"You did a good job today. You were so brave," Meredith said.
"Thanks guys," Amelia said.
"So how was lunch with Link?" I asked.
"You know how he's my not boyfriend?" Amelia said.
"Yeah," Meredith said.
"Well, I guess he's kinda my real boyfriend now," she smiled.
"That's awesome Amy," I said, "he's a good boy."
"Aw that's adorable I love him," Meredith said.
"Finally after making out for weeks," I said and nudged her. She looked slightly embarrassed and I chuckled.
"We might go out sometimes this week," she said.
"That's good," Meredith smiled.
-
I knocked on Amelia's door.
"Come in," she said. I opened the door and she was doing something on her computer.
"Hey you doing okay?" I asked as I sat down next to her.
"About the trial?" She asked. I nodded.
"I'm going to miss him," she said.
"I know," I said and put my arm around her.
"He got what he deserved though," she said.
"He did," I said.
"I'll miss him," she said softly, "Part of me still loves him. Sadly."
"I know you do," I said.
"Yeah," she said.
"So Link," I said.
"I'm really scared," she said.
"Of what?" I said.
"A stable relationship," she laughed, "I have no idea how to do that."
"Oh shut up," I laughed, "you'll figure out, you two are taking it slow."
"Yeah," she said, "we're taking it slow."
"That's good," I said.
"Yeah," she smiled, "I really like Link."
"Let yourself have this good thing," I said.
"Yeah," she said, "I know."
AMELIAS POV
I was watching TV downstairs with Meredith when my phone buzzed.
"Want to go see a movie tomorrow?" Link sent.
"Sure," I sent back.
"Okay," he sent.
"After school?" I sent.
"Sounds good to me," he sent.
"Can't wait," I sent.
"See you tomorrow," he sent.
"Was that Link?" Meredith said.
"Yeah," I said, "We're going to go see a movie tomorrow after school."
"Sounds like fun," Meredith said.
"Yeah," I said, "it will be."
"How do you feel?" She asked, "after the trial."
"I just had to get through today," I said and looked at her, "and I did it."
"You did," she smiled and hugged me.
"Can I ask you something?" I said.
"Sure," she said.
"Are you taking custody of me too?" I asked.
"I don't know honey," she said, "Derek and I haven't figured that out yet."
"Okay," I said.
"Your mom still loves you," Meredith said, "even if it doesn't feel like that."
"You think so?" I said.
"Listen," Meredith said, "my mom wasn't the biggest fan of me either okay? She was absent most of the time in my life too, but she still loved me, and your mom still loves you."