Stepping back in the bed room, Amelia felt like a different person all together. She felt something different, something good, but confusing. She could feel her heart beat, she could listen to it. She could feel goosebumps rise on her skin, thinking about the way she felt there, in the forest, among the orange and the yellow. So beautiful. She could see a different spark in her eyes, looking in the mirror now. Something inside her felt complete. So complete.
Shawn knew what he was doing. He could feel himself being drawn to her, from the very first click of his camera. He would look at the images he had clicked of her, each day. The one at the sunset, and the one, when she looked at the petunias. He couldn't get enough of those. Smile was a common gesture for him, so common in the past couple of days. She had changed his attitude towards love. Her innocence, selflessness, and affection had captivated him. And he knew he would never be able to get it off. That was the best part of it.
Tyler, among all the others had felt the difference in Amy. He was back, but not as Amelia or Amy. She stepped into the house as Lia. Being happy to see that, he was worried as well. Amelia isn't the kind who will be able to get over a heartbreak, he thought to himself. She is strong, very strong. But she doesn't trust anyone easily. And if Shawn will break her trust, it will break some part of her, which won't mend, ever.
The five of them, Bella, Marco, Jack, Tyler and Amelia had dinner together, after Shawn had walked her to the villa. Amelia was being told how, Marco nearly feel off the cargo net, and how Jack was scared of the monkey jumping. She listened, laughed, but all she had on her mind was the after effect of the jungle, and the drive. Tyler noticed that. The spark of her eyes, the cheer in her voice, and the seriousness of love in her heart, and the confusion in her mind.
Marco felt good sitting next to Amelia, after a long long day. He felt warmth and a sense of protection now. She was fine, he knew and he couldn't have been more satisfied. He had no idea what did she do at the coffee shop all day, but he wanted to make up for leaving her alone there, and wanted to take all of her laughter, her smile, the way she looked at him, in.
Jack and Bella were to engrossed in explaining to her all the activities, and sharing their moments of fear, that they didn't even remember to ask her how her day was. But Amelia didn't mind that. Or anything in fact. It was like she didn't feel any other emotion right now.
Amelia couldn't sleep that night, so lumping down the stairs, slowly, she sat near the fireplace in a dimly lit lounge, looking out from the window, with a hot mug of cocoa in her hand.
"Someone is up", Tyler said descending the stairs.
Amelia smiled at him. But it was different. Her smile. It was full of joy. And Tyler saw that, it made feel happy, but scared some part of him, of losing at smile, if things didn't go well. Keeping the feelings aside, he leaned on the window pane with his right shoulder, looking at the stars, and then back at Amelia.
She offered him the cocoa and he took the mug from her, sipping it.
"Shawn asked me to give you this", he said giving Amelia the book in his hand. She moved the book towards the fireplace, to read with it's light.
"When?", she asked.
"He came back after dinner, I thought you are sleeping, so I told him I give it to you in the morning. But since someone is not able to sleep, this might help", he said.
"I can't take it, he stole it from the coffee shop", she said.
"Stole?", he asked.
"Hmmm", Amelia hummed and looked at Tyler's surprised face, "What?"
"You can't steal something from your own cafe", he said.
"The cafe is his?"
"Yup, he didn't tell you that?"
Amelia shook her head. "He didn't"
Tyler knew she needed time, to figure things out herself now. So he kept the mug on the side table, and left her there with the book.
Amelia didn't notice Tyler leave until he wished her a good night, as he walked up the stairs to his room.
She read the book, in the fire light, by the fireplace the rest of the night, until she feel sleep there on the couch.
For the first time in years, Amelia woke up late. It was around 12, when she noticed the other 4, sitting on the couch next to her, watching her sleep.
"You should have woken me up? What time is it?", Amy asked getting off the couch.
"We don't have a curfew, relax", Marco said.
Bella smiled at her, and Amelia noticed the silver earrings she wore today.
"Lovely, right?", Bella said showing Amelia her left ear.
Amelia nodded and a wide smile covered her face.
"We are going to the town market, wanna come?", Bella asked.
"I think I can use some rest today", she said lying back on the couch.
"You should" Jack said as he brought her coffee.
"Ty, you make the best coffee", Amelia said sipping it, as Tyler nodded from the kitchen.
"Who all are going?", Amelia asked.
"Marco and me", Bella said.
Amelia looked at Jack and Tyler.
"I want to take him to the spa today, a little jacuzzi day", Jack explained.
"Ahhhhh", Amelia said.
"You can join us", Jack said looking at Tyler who nodded.
"I would love that", she said.
"Great, the day is set then", Marco said, relieved that Amelia wouldn't be anyone else while he is gone for a few hours.
After Bella and Marco had left, and Jack had made the reservations at the spa, the three of them sat in the sun, on the outdoor chairs of the lawn, after a bath to freshen up. Tyler helped Amelia with the bandage, though the wound had healed, they didn't wish to risk.
"How's our injured soldier?", Shawn asked as he approached the chair, the three were sitting on.
"Much better, but still injured", Tyler said.
"How is the Casanova?", Jack asked.
" 'Shawn' is fine", Tyler said.
"Thanks for that", he responded.
"So what can we do for you 'Shawn' ?", Jack asked mischievously.
"I, with your due permission will like to take her somewhere", he said sarcastically.
"Ahhhhhhh", Jack said.
"She has a name", Amelia said.
"You have our permission", Tyler said earning a hit on his abdomen from Amelia.
"She needs to be asked", Amelia said.
"What do you think I was doing?", Shawn said placing a hand on his hip now.
"Directly", she said.
"Well would you like to?" He asked.
"Yes", she said smiling widely now.
"I want her back in one piece", Tyler said.
"I will make sure of that", Shawn said.
"I'm right here, douchebags", Amelia said looking at them.
"Casanova", Jack shouted as Amelia and Shawn walked towards the gate of the villa.
"What?", Amelia asked looking at him.
"Nothing, I just........ never mind", he said.
"Good", Amelia said smiling as she was victorious in terrifying him for once.
"I think I should cancel her reservation", Jack said, looking at the two leaving.
Tyler well he just hummed.
Amelia was Shawn walked up to the reception block. Going through the gates, they were wished by the staff. Responding to that, all Lia could think of was, where was he taking her. The reception was the top of a building which connected the upper part and the lower part of the resort. They took the elevator down.
"Where are we going?", Amelia asked.
"Somewhere"
"Somewhere?",
"To someday, our someday", he said.
With that the elevator dinged on the last floor of the building.
They walked out of the building, passing the storerooms, Shawn lead Amelia to the backyard.
Shawn stopped at the tall wooden fence door, turned around to ace Amelia before opening the door, and signaling her to move ahead.
Amelia looked at him, then back at the fence and then back at him. Thinking of what must be awaiting her on the other side of it, she took a deep breath and entered it.
And she was mesmerised you see the little nursery which grew all different plants.
"Wow", she said to taken a bank by the beauty.
"You like it?", he asked.
"Are you kidding? This is so fucking amazing", she said.
"I didn't know she curses", he said.
"You don't know me that well then", she said poking his nose.
Shawn smiled to shocked to see her do that.
The little bubble in which she stayed around people was slowly starting to burst around him.
And he couldn't like it any better.
They stayed. They talked.
"Thank you", she said.
"For what?"
Amelia looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me the cafe was yours?", she asked.
"I could stay with you believing that I stole a book", he said.
"For me?"
"For you"
"But you didn't actually steal it", she said.
"You wanted me to?", he asked.
"No, Of course not", she said immediately.
"Exactly", Shawn said as he chucked at her rapid tone.
A girl in her mid 30 entered through the gate of the backyard and wished the residents.
"Sir, the executive chef wants to talk to you?", she said before leaving.
"I'll be back", he said and Amelia nodded.
He rushed towards the door, but before leaving he turned around and said, " why don't you wait for me in the reception", he offered.
"I'll be there", she said as Shawn smiled.
Amelia sat in the reception's lounge as she held the latest edition of vogue in her hands.
Not being able to quite focus on anything, she was getting bored.
Standing up, she descended down the stairs with the thought of exploring the resort to the maximum, to kill time.
She had the options of going to the spa and meeting Jack and Tyler, but that would be like ditching Shawn, which wasn't an option.
She was able to walk without lumping now and that made her happy.
The floor she stood on now, had conference halls, a theatre, and a gym.
Thinking of killing time, she walked though the corridor, looking out of the windows which were to her right, and then to the left, looking at the doors of each room.
She stood outside the dance studio, and being a ballerina in school, she couldn't hold herself from seeing it.
Thankfully the door wasn't locked and she entered the dark room, light coming only from the crack of the door, that she had pushed open.
Not being able to find the light switches, Amelia opened the door half to allow the light to illuminate the room.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Wanting to dance in front of the wide mirror, she remembered and hummed the soft little tune, and tried turning around.
A few minutes later, no one could have said that the girl who entered the room was the same who was dancing freestyle to the music that was playing on the phone, kept on the chair at the corner.
Too busy living the freedom of the privacy at the moment, Amelia didn't see anyone enter the room.
The figure leaning at the door frame, entered the room, and stared at her swaying hips to the perfect beats of the music.
Amelia felt someone behind her, but before she knew it, she was met with two arms around her abdomen. A pair of lips, next touched the skin of her shoulder as she wore an off shoulder, angora baby pick sweater.
In that moment, she realised that whoever this was, didn't had a good vibe, or a good touch.
She tried to free herself, by struggling out of the strong arms, but it was of no use. She was drawn in more on the hard chest behind her, which now engulfed her completed from the shoulders.