Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 33

November 21st, 2019

*Alan*

"You need to go, it's not safe here," Mia said quietly before shutting the door and disappearing.

"Well that was strange," Eli commented. I raised my hand to knock again but Eli caught my arm, shaking his head. "Just let her be," he advised. I sighed, turning and walking briskly away from her house. Eli jogged to catch up with me.

"Alan?"

"What?" I asked darkly.

"Why is she so mad at you?" I sucked in a breath. None of my brothers knew that I'd broken the news to her.

"Can you keep a secret?" Eli's brows immediately furrowed.

"Why?"

"Because if any of the others find out, I'm dead," I answered.

"You told her, didn't you?" Eli guessed. I scoffed.

"Yeah, I'm a fucking idiot," He didn't disagree on that point.

"Well, how'd she take it?" I stuffed my hands into my pockets as we walked towards the car, the cold nipping at our noses.

"You heard her," I grumbled. "She won't even talk to me," Eli unlocked the car and we both climbed in, shutting the doors and sitting in silence.

"I won't tell," he promised quietly. "But you need to fix this," I sighed, leaning on my arm and staring out the window.

"Believe me, I know,"

***

"Where were you two?" Cato asked as Eli and I entered the house. I scoffed.

"Why are you home?" I deflected his question, hoping to avoid this conversation entirely.

"I got off work early, now answer me,"

"It's none of your damn business," I snapped.

"We were at Mia's," Eli told him as the triplets came in from the kitchen.

"Yeah, they got into a huge fight," Calvin said, giving me a smirk.

"Shut the fuck up," I warned. I was not in the mood to put up with the triplets' antics - especially if it meant getting my oldest brother involved.

"I heard," Cato grumbled. "Felix called me this morning," My eyes snapped up.

"Why would he call you about that?"

"Because you and Neo apparently went at it in the school parking lot," Cato reprimanded darkly. "And Amelia seemed to intervene," I scowled.

"Yeah, so what?"

"We've agreed that school is neutral grounds, Alan. So unless you're looking for another gang war, I suggest you keep yourself in check," I rolled my eyes, stomping upstairs to my room. I angrily sat down in my desk chair, rubbing my temples.

I heard footsteps follow me up before my door swung open. I groaned in frustration.

"Fuck off," I snapped again.

"Watch your mouth, bitch," Cato replied. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What do you want?" I asked, not wanting to get into with him at the moment.

"How bad is it?" he asked softly, leaning in my doorway with his arms crossed. He looked as intimidating as ever, but if you really knew him, you'd know he was actually just an annoying dork. 

I stared at him, utterly confused.

"How bad is what?"

"Your fight with Amelia," I sighed, swivelling around in my chair to face him. 

"She won't even talk to me," I told him bitterly. "She practically shut the door in our faces when we showed up,"

"Well, you'd better fix it," Cato grumbled. I rolled my eyes.

"Don't you think I know that?!" I slammed my fist on my desk in frustration, wishing this whole thing would just go away. 

"Alan, listen to me," Cato said gently, moving over and placing a calm hand on my shoulder. "This is our sister we're talking about, we can't screw this up,"

I swatted his hand away with a scowl. "I know, Cato, I'm not stupid,"

"I'm not saying you are, I'm just telling you to be careful," I nodded, refusing to look at him in all of his rightness. 

"I know," I said quietly. "I'll fix it,"