Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 71

December 15th, 2019

"No!" I heard Cato shout. "Fuck no! Why can't he just leave her alone?!"

Something from downstairs shattered, echoing throughout the mostly-empty house. Javi was out with Alicia for the day, and the triplets were out too, with their own friends.

I rushed down the stairs but hesitated once reaching the kitchen. Cato, Xander, Alan, and Eli were all standing around the counter - and they didn't look happy.

"I'm sure he'll forget in a few days," Xander tried to reason. "Besides, there's no possible way she'd want to see him anyway,"

Were they talking about me? I bravely decided to see what was going on, stepping into the kitchen. I barely made it a few steps before realising there was broken glass all over the floor.

"Amelia," Cato stammered, immediately scanning over me in concern. "Don't come any closer. I don't want you getting hurt,"

I couldn't take my eyes off the glass. I hadn't stepped on anything, but it reminded me of Ben. "Did you throw something?" I asked quietly, glancing up at my oldest brother.

He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah," he admitted exasperatedly. "I'm sorry if it scared you,"

"It's fine," I mumbled, forcing back the awful memories that kept surfacing. "Just reminds me of Ben,"

"See?" Cato hissed at Alan. "This is exactly why I don't want her going there,"

My gaze snapped up from the floor. "Going where?"

Xander stepped over the glass, a crunching sound echoing from underneath his shoes. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder with a sympathetic glance, gently pulling me away from the kitchen. "Let's talk in here," he told me.

Cato and Alan followed behind, and Eli tried to as well, but Cato said, "Eli, clean this up please,"

Eli frowned. "Why do I have to do it? I want to be there too,"

"You don't need to be in the conversation. You're too young,"

"I'm only a year younger than the twins!" he protested.

Cato shot him a glare. "Eli, I'm not asking," he snapped.

Eli - suddenly frightened - crossly stayed put in the kitchen, but he flipped our brother off as soon as his back was turned.

I followed the boys into the living room, sitting across from Cato and Xander while Alan chose to sit next to me. "What's going on?" I asked immediately, staring at Cato for an explanation.

"Ben," he stated grimly. "He's asking to see you,"

I sucked in a breath, feeling my heart start to pound. "What? Why?"

"We don't know," Xander answered quietly.

"But it doesn't matter because you're not going," Cato interrupted, his tone firm.

I frowned. "And why not?"

He stared at me, his eyes narrowing. "Don't tell me you actually want to see that bastard," he said bitterly. When I didn't answer, his expression darkened even more. "Amelia Grace, you are not going anywhere near him, you hear me?!" Cato shouted, making me wince instinctively.

"I'm sure she has a perfectly good reason," Alan told them, but even he was gripping my hand so tightly I thought it might fall off.

"I don't care," Cato was gritting his teeth.

"He's still my dad," I said bravely. "I should see him,"

Cato frowned. "He's not, Amelia! Forget about him!"