Buying a gift for Marco wasn't hard. Amelia knew wat he wanted, and without giving it a thought, she went to the care taking center to get little Mr. Cocoa for him. Shawn had to pick Amelia for the evening, and dressing in his perfect Tux, he looked at himself one last time in the mirror.
Amelia, wearing the red dress, styled her hair in light curls, placing it to one side of her head. With light makeup, but bold red lipstick, she looked at her self, glowing like never before. Life for her was all getting Vanilla chocolate now, but she feared it taking a sour taste. Keeping aside the usual anxiety of things going wrong, she checked her essentials once in her clutch, and placing her phone in it, she moved towards the door hearing the bell ring.
There stood Shawn looking, in absolute awe, his eyes moving from her feet to her face slowly.
"Someone's looking handsome," Amelia said.
"Someone's looking..." taking a deep breath, "....Beautiful"
Looking at him, look at her, like that, Amelia felt nervous for the first time. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she stepped out of the house, locking the door behind her.
As he drove on the route entered in the GPS system by Amelia, they listened to his playlist.
"Shawn, I had something on my mind," she said still looking out of the window.
"Hm"
"You knew who my dad was," se said.
"Yes, you told me" he said.
"So, that means you knew my mom, nd you knew I will be there at the publishing house" she stated.
"Lia, I...uhm"
"Yes or No?" She was firm.
"Yes"
"So you knew where I was all this time?" She asked.
"Yes, I did," He said his eyes still on the road.
And then only silence filled the air. They two of them didn't look at each other, neither did they talk.
As soon as they Shawn parked the car, Amelia rushed out of the door.
"Lia," he said rushing to her side, stopping her on her track.
"What?" She asked.
"I'm sorry" he said.
"You should be," she said.
"Are you for real Lia, really? At least I tried to get back to you, you, didn't even try," he said.
"You did? Wow, you idiot you should have done it earlier," she said looking at him smiling now.
Shawn looked at her in confusion, seeing her smile to one side.
"I was kidding Shawn, relax" she said. "I have to actually thank you."
"For?" He asked.
"It's because of you we got back," she said.
"We as in we?" He asked pointing at himself and then her.
"Yes, and my family," she said.
Shawn froze to his spot listening to that, while Amelia moved past him to go inside.
"Shawn," she called out turning around, waiting for him.
Shawn turned around to look at her outstretched hand, for him to take. Placing his hand in her warm soft ones, he lead the way for her.
Feeling the warmth of his hands, Amelia felt this tingling sensation in her abdomen, the typical butterfly feeling, the one which arouses anxiety of what will happen in the future, but provided comfort as well, as you will have this one person by your side at all times. That warmth, love, and support is eternal, and everyone craves it.
"Happy Birthday Marco," she said handling him the little basket.
"What is this? Oh My God, It's a pup, it's so cute Amy, this is the best gift of the day," he said taking the little golden retriever in his arms, keeping the basket down.
"Marco, Happy Birthday," Shawn said taking him in a hug and handing him the wrapped little box in his hand.
"Thanks brother" he said.
"When did this happen?" Amelia said shocked.
"Over you," Marco said winking at her, while Shawn cleared his throat.
"Right, you guys should go around, I'll be back," He said nodding in the direction of his guests.
"What shall I get for you?" Shawn asked.
"Martini will be fine," she said.
Shawn raised his eyebrows at her, while smiling t the right of his face.
"What?" Amelia asked.
"The first impression that you have is of a Chardonnay girl," he said.
"You know me for quite sometime now Mister" she said with authority.
"Coming right up," he said sliding his, placed hand on the small of her back, as his fingers touched her dress lightly and moving past her to the bar.
Amelia felt the fuzzy feeling standing alone, waiting for someone getting her a drink, for the very first time, ere in New York. Not really sure if it was the happiness of the moment that overwhelmed her, or the fact that she had never had anyone be this close to her, as Shawn was, she felt the dilemma if she did the right thing by opening up to him now. Though she was sure, now what had happened wasn't his fault, but just to be on the safer side she still wanted to expect the one thing she didn't wish to expect of him. But that was important, to protect herself.
"Amelia?" She felt the light finger touch on her shoulder. Turning around she was a waiter looking at her.
"Yes?"
"You've been called upstairs," he said and before saying any further, he huddled into the crowd, much to her disappointment. What kind of an open statement was it? Was it Shawn who was looking for her? Or maybe Marco wanted to thank her for the puppy.
Deciding the later was more logical, she looked around to find Shawn still standing at the bar, getting the cocktails prepared. Thinking it won't take much longer, she ascended the stairs, taking the support of the railing as the four inch heels aren't a girl's feet best friend for sure.
Walking down the hallway, as the sound of her heel announcing her come.
"Marc," she called out the name walking in the corridor of the upper floor, of the condo.
"Hey, Amy" she heard a familiar voice call out her name.
Turning around, she saw Bella standing on the entrance of the so called study that Marco had.
"Bella, hey, when did you come back from Australia?" She asked.
"Australia? Really that is what they said" she smirked.
"What do you mean?" Amelia asked not sure if she heard her right.
"Amy, "Australia" treated me well, very well," she said with a not so comforting smile on her face.
"I didn't..."
"Shut up pumpkin, you won't give your friend a hug, come on" she said spreading her arms for her.
"Yah sure," she said walking towards her.
"How have you been, Lia?" she asked.
"You see me," Amelia said giggling.
"Oh that I do," Bella said with a certain annoyance evident in her voice. "Come let's talk, its been so long" she said leading the way to the study.
Sitting on the opposite sides of the table the two looked at each other, one face with an awkward smile, and the other with a smirk.
"So how's Shawn?" she asked.
"How'd you..."
"Marc told me," she said.
"Yes, of course" she said realising.
"So, how is he?"
"Good," she said smiling at her.
With the ever intimidating body language, Bella moved her chair so as to sit right next to her.
"Tell me more Lia"
"About what?"
"About your life, how has it been since I left?" she asked looking at her feet, and then up smiling at her.
The smile which she was holding onto was anything but comforting. It had so many emotions packed in it, that even when Amelia wanted to see the good in her, all she could actually she was something else. Something not so good.
"It's been fine, I am handing the publishers now, and I've started wri..." then she stopped before spilling the last part out. No one except Shawn knew about it and Amelia had intended to keep it that way.
"Started what?" she asked.
"Started...uhm...handing the meetings and stuff" she said.
"And Marco and you?" She asked looking at her, searching the answers in her eyes. But finding none, she dig herself out of her eyes to smile at her, wanting to make her fell warm.
"We meet on weekends," she said.
Then there was silence in the room.
Amelia looked at her, but not finding any particular emotion on her face, she excused herself to go back into the lounge where Shawn waited for her. But turning the knob of the door, the door didn't open.
"Bella, I think it is stuck" she said.
"It's not stuck, it is locked you fool" Bella said looking into nothingness before her, not even turning her gaze in Amelia's direction once.
"Bella?" Amelia said not sure if Bella was being serious.
"Amy, what happened to us? The two of us were such great friends, love" she said slowing turning her head in her direction, while Amelia stood rooted to her spot near the door not sure what had to be done, or what was even up with her.