Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 79

December 18th, 2019

*Alan*

I felt awful. From the moment I saw her face, I knew we'd fucked up. My relationship with her was everything, but I think I'd just ruined it.

Cato had been lecturing us for almost twenty minutes now, and he hadn't cooled down one bit. His being angry only made me angry. I hadn't meant to fuck everything up, but we had, and now we were facing the consequences.

"My turn to yell," Xander said coolly, walking into the kitchen and drawing everyone's attention.

"Is Mia okay?" Cayden asked immediately, his face completely drawn up with worry.

Xander shot him a glare. "No," he snapped. "She's blaming herself for all of it. She's terrified but is so afraid of hurting you that she's trying to deny it,"

"But it's not her fault at all," Calvin whispered.

"She's been with us for almost six days," Xander went on crossly. "She's not used to us yet. She doesn't feel safe,"

Calvin folded his arms over his chest. "How can she not trust us? After everything we've been through?"

"Because you fucking lied to her!" shouted Xander. "You went out and did the one thing she asked you not to do!"

Cayden looked half ready to cry.

"It's bad enough that she caught you tonight, but she's seen the other things too,"

I tensed. "She has?"

Xander nodded bitterly. "She's seen you with your knives, Alan, she told me. And she's found Calvin high at least once, and Colton drinking," He paused, scoffing. "And Eli, how many times has she told you not to smoke those damn cigarettes?"

Eli whitened. "A lot," he stammered.

"You know why?" Xander challenged, his gaze deadly.

"Because she's worried about my health?"

"Yes," Xander grumbled. "But it's because she was burned with them. Her back is peppered with dozens of little scars,"

Eli's gaze snapped up from the floor. "I didn't know!" he pleaded desperately. "She didn't tell me!"

"She shouldn't have to tell you," Cato snapped. "I told you before she even moved in that I expected the habits to stop. Her living with us should've ended them completely. You promised,"

Eli just hung his head shamefully.

"Go get them," Cato instructed him. "All of them. I'm going to throw them out,"

Eli nodded quickly before practically fleeing the kitchen.

"I didn't know she saw me," I commented quietly, breaking the silence.

"She's observant, Alan," Xander sounded completely exasperated. "Because that's what she had to do to survive,"

"I didn't mean for her to see it!" My voice was rising uncontrollably, and I felt my fists clenching at my sides.

"Then why were you doing it in the first place?!"

I gritted my teeth. "Because it's what I do," I answered, trying to keep my temper in check. "It's not so easy to change,"

"And you think it's easier for her?!" Cato argued.

"No, of course not!"

"You broke a promise, Alan. You have to realise that you fucked this up all on your own,"