Chapter 29

2 Years Later…

"So I'm riding back with you?" Kate asked as they made their way down the sidewalk.

Finals were over and so was their sophomore year. The afternoon sun was burning down on them, but luckily for them it wasn't literal. They're skin was dark and glimmering under the yellow rays and their hair was up in ponytails. The California sun had been in summer mode since mid-March. Amelie checked her phone for the fourth time.

"Yeah. Saves gas," Amelie said.

"Alright. Let me grab a couple things that I forgot from the apartment real quick."

Amelie nodded.

"I have to make a pit-stop anyway."

"Okay," Kate said and waved as they split paths, her going across the street and Amelie turning the corner.

Amelie made her way past Hefferman Hall to student housing. Similar to Spenser, people didn't screw with her. She couldn't help the tickle of joy in her stomach from it. People actually took her seriously instead of treating her like a hell-bitch or a child. It was delightful. That and her boyfriend had a hand in it, seeing as he was on the lacrosse team.

Luckily, her stop literally sat on the edge of campus. She made her way up the walkway of the all too familiar white house and took the wooden steps up to the second level. She walked in, not bothering to knock and smiled instantly. Leaning over the back of the couch, she kissed the hot guy relaxing so casually on his jaw then proceeded to nip his neck. He darted to the side, laughing. She winked at him. He just shook his head and took her chin in his fingertips, bring her lips to his.

"I missed you today," he said low, his intense eyes raking over her. That look got her every time. It was as if he was coming undone each time.

"I'm sorry," Amelie said with a sigh. "I got busy by accident. I missed you too."

He kissed the tip of her nose and then made her squeal as he pulled her over the back of the couch into his lap.

"Dare I ask how much or are you going to be all serious and guarded today?"

Amelie held up her fingers, only giving him an inch and a half, earning a dig into her sides. He blew a raspberry on her neck.

"Stop!" She laughed.

He did, resting his hand on her thigh. Amelie's face flushed pink and she bit her lower lip as she ran her fingers through his soft hair.

"I'm going to miss you," he said.

"You're coming to see me next month." She slapped him on the chest.

A pang pricked her heart. There were these moments when he got needy. It was cute, but it was also suffocating. Amelie had to struggle sometimes just to get some alone time, which in some cases resulted in her lying to him. But, he was so good to her. He was kind and sweet. He was perfect.

"Still going to miss you. I'm especially going to miss that thing you do. You know-"

Amelie kissed him quiet. She knew exactly what he meant. The last year had really been great for the two of them. Even to this day, she was still surprised that they were together. The kiss deepened and his arms moved around her to hold her around the waist, his fingers pressing into her back. Her stomach coiled both hot and cold.

Amelie smiled against his lips, wiggling on his lap just so. His legs tensed underneath her and she leaned forward, pressing her chest to his.

"I'm going to miss you too, Chase." She kissed him again and he let out a low guttural sound. He was so easy.

And I don't know

This could break my heart or save me

Nothing's real

Until you let go completely

So here I go with all my thoughts I've been saving

So here I go with all my fears weighing on me

Three months and I'm still sober

Picked all my weeds but kept the flowers

But I know it's never really over

And I don't know

I could crash and burn but maybe

At the end of this road I might catch a glimpse of me

So I won't worry about my timing, I want to get it right

No comparing, second guessing, no not this time

Kate took the first shift behind the wheel. The windows were rolled down and Amelie had her feet propped up on the dashboard. The summer was already hot and the air felt good brushing through her hair. A group of guys cat-whistled from the Jeep in the lane next to them. Amelie and Kate shared a look right before flipping them off simultaneously. Kate pressed on the gas, speeding off as they both shared in the laughter at the looks on the guys' faces.

The salty sea breeze changed into that warm, grassy country air.

The two of them had grown extremely close, especially after everything that had happened. It was certainly surprising. They still bitched, but it wasn't like at Spenser. Dare Amelie think about it, they were like sisters. When she did think about it, her head hurt and she shuddered. But, things change when you grow up and leave home. Things change and you have no control of it.

Kate glanced over at her. Amelie pulled out a book from her purse. The small mass-market was worn at the corners. The pages were yellow and the title on the spine was barely readable from how many times the book had been opened and bent back.

"He's going to be home, you know," Kate said, focusing on the road extra hard.

Amelie looked up. Her jaw clenched. She knew. If she was lucky they wouldn't see each other just like on campus. They had their share of core courses during the freshman year and after that they didn't. It was a big campus and there were a lot of majors. Theirs never crossed.

A long, shattered breath heaved from her chest. Ipswich was a small town and she had a feeling she wouldn't be that lucky.

She looked down at the book. Her eyes lingered on the cover for a few moments. It was worn from the many times she'd read it. This was her second copy. The shadow of four figures against the misty night occupied the front underneath the title: The Covenant.

She flipped to the first page, but it was too late. She was already playing the memory all over again and her heart was breaking, not that it had ever been unbroken, not really.

"Maybe we need to be done for now," she said.


Ipswich was green. It was the kind of green of fully bloomed leaves that was thick with the smell of summer. The setting sun filtered through the leaves creating a beautiful and natural light of green-orange. The sky was still bright with a mid-afternoon glow. Kate hung out of the window, a big grin across her face as she stared up at it all.

"I wonder if he's home yet," she mused.

Amelie rolled her eyes. The girl hadn't quit talking about Pogue for the last month. It was like this last year too. Amelie slowed as they drove past Putnam mansion. It was so beautiful in the summer. The white paint looked fresh. A hangover for cars to park under had been installed next to the house. It was nice with an actual rood held up by pillars. Who was restoring the place?

Amelie dropped Kate off at home.

"Don't forget lunch on Wednesday. Sarah will be back tomorrow," Kate said as the two of them unpacked her luggage. The apartment was paid for the summer even though they would be here for the next month and a half. Amelie had to return to Rebel Records in mid-June. She was lucky to have the short vacation. Work had been extremely busy.

"I know," Amelie said with an eye roll. "Do I ever forget?"

Kate snorted.

"So," Kate said, closing the trunk.

"So?" Amelie shook her head.

"Chase is coming?" Kate's eyes narrowed, amused by it.

"Yeah." Amelie said.

"That ought to be interesting."

"Oh my god!" Amelie drawled out annoyed. Her side handed comments were getting on her last nerve. Kate didn't like Chase, but she didn't hate him either. She always had something to say.

"I just think it's going to be super awkward and I'm going to enjoy seeing this explode."

"I hate you." Amelie's flat expression showed just how much she stood by her words.

"Bye," Kate said with a wave.

"Whatever." Amelie got back into Lambchop and pulled out. I don't know why I'm friends with her. She's a bitch and a half. It's like she's asking to get throttled.

It was strange pulling up to the house because it wasn't really home anymore. It was just a place she came to visit. Gabriel was gone. She didn't know if Aaron was coming home at all this summer or if he was busy with an internship. Mom and Dad were definitely home. When summertime came rolling around they came home. There were all sorts of benefits mom tended to in Ipswich and Dad loved being able to see everyone in the summer.

"Hello?" Amelie's head swiveled, looking around as she stood at the base of the staircase.

There were no answers.

Guess I really am home by myself.

Amelie wandered through the house. The place really was obnoxiously large. She stopped in the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and then trudged upstairs with her duffel bag. Her other bags could wait.

She paused in the doorway of her bedroom. Every time she came home she skidded to a stop here. It took her a second before she could take a step and it was her room! Memories were sprinkled throughout the whole room. This was a special place.

Amelie kicked herself too. Every time. Because her throat closed up and her heart beat radically like a bass drum except the pulsing hurt. Well, it wasn't so much hurt as it was a reminder of emptiness.

"Reid…" she closed her eyes. She hadn't uttered the name in a very long time.

That first love really did hurt.

She hardened up again, shaking off all of the nostalgia. Shitty things.

She went back downstairs for the rest of her stuff. She stopped on the last stop at seeing Gabriel coming through the front door. Her remaining luggage was in his hands. A smile glowed from her.

"Now, this is familiar," she quipped, leaning on the banister.

Gabriel looked up at her and smiled. His cheeks were bare of the scruff that made him look like a werewolf. He'd shaved recently. He wore khaki shorts with white t-shirt underneath an Orioles baseball jersey.

"Isn't it though?"

"Gabe, I am sweating a river. Did you find—" Cami walked in and paused at seeing Amelie.

Amelie's eyes widened. Now this was a surprise. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the extra shiny-ness on Cami's left finger.

"Ellie!" Cami squealed, jumping up and down in her dark blue sundress.

Gabriel moved out of the way just in time. Both girls collided in a tight hug. Amelie shook, nearly crying. She had missed them both dearly. Amelie pulled back quickly and brought up Cami's hand.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" She wanted to hit both of them.

"I was going to—" Gabriel started.

"But I told him that I wanted to tell you in person because there is something very important I wanted to ask you." Cami cut him off. She led Amelie off into the living room.

"Right. I'll just…take your shit upstairs," Gabriel said after them. "Just like old times."

"So," Cami said, taking a deep breath.

"So?" Amelie shook her head, waiting for the epic question that she was dragging out. It was totally on purpose to make her antsy and it was working.

"Be my maid of honor?"

Amelie paled. And, she was pretty sure she stopped breathing. Yup, she stopped.

"Really?" The word came out a squawk. "You didn't want one of your sisters to do it?"

"No, silly! In fact, I had to beat Gabriel in a game of rock, paper, scissors for this because he wanted you as his best man."

Amelie rolled back into the cushions in a fit of giggles.

"I'm serious!" Cami said between giggles. "We went at it for, like, fifty rounds before he caved."

"I would be honored," Amelie said and then hugged her again.

Gabriel came in, but kept a distance. Amelie hopped up.

"Get over here so I can hug you!"

Grimacing, like he always did when he felt awkward. The hug was stiff at first, but he caved with a light chuckle.

"I'm so happy for you two," Amelie said, pulling back and looking at the pair of them. "When is it happening?"

"This summer. August. That's the plan anyway," Gabriel said.

Amelie's face froze. Her eyes widened with panic. August? Geez, that was soon. She was going to have to put it on the calendar.

"That isn't very far away," she said faintly.

"Don't worry. We already hired someone who is very good with short notice."

Amelie frowned, her eyebrows pushing inward with confusion

"Who?"

"Your mom," Gabriel said, a big fat grin breaking across his cheeks with pride.

"Makes sense."

"We're going smallish," Cami said. "But she wanted to take it on."

More giggles came up through Amelie's chest, like champagne bubbles. Mom would take on this project. She loved weddings and she loved Gabriel. She was probably having a heyday with this.

"We should get lunch," Cami said.

She was already ushering Amelie out the door before she could decline, not that she would've.

She didn't see him from where they sat, outside and under the cute green umbrella, but he saw her at The Last Drop. He saw her and kept driving past.

"Dude," Tyler said, smacking his arm lightly. "We need to drop this stuff off."

"I know," he said, his words clipped.


Mom and Dad were home when Gabriel and Cami dropped her off. She promised to see the engaged couple some more this summer, especially since she had some serious duties now. Amelie stopped in the kitchen at seeing the two of them caked in flour. The kitchen counters were a mess. This is how they baked? Dear god.

"Children, do I have to separate you?" Amelie said with an arched eyebrow.

The three of them laughed. Dad came around the counter and hugged her tightly.

"It's good to have you home," he said in her ear.

"It's good to be home," she said.

Mom hugged her next. Amelie didn't care that they got flour all over her. If it had been batter of any kind that would've been a different story.

"I heard you're planning a wedding," Amelie said.

"Oh yes," Mom beamed. "I've been quite busy."

She winked.

Amelie helped her clean up the kitchen while Dad wandered off to get cleaned up. Mom's hair was dusted in white.

Amelie debated asking her about the Putnam mansion, mostly because she wasn't sure if she'd know anything, but she'd just said that she was very busy. Was this one of things that kept her busy too? This was stupid because she knew about everything in this town. The woman was the almighty Oz.

"What's…" Amelie paused. Her mom stopped mid-sweep of the counter and looked up. "What's going on at the Putnam mansion?"

"Oh you know that every summer a house gets picked for the restoration project of Ipswich." Mom avoided her gaze suddenly. She didn't say anything further either.

Amelie did know about the summer restoration project. It takes place every summer. A house is chosen by the town committee and fully restored like a history landmark. It was generous too because the owners of the house didn't have to pay for it.

"Okay…" Amelie's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I know. I guess I'm just surprised. Everybody talks about it being haunted. Even you avoided the place."

"Well, it seemed like it was time." Mom sighed, still focusing the counter.

"Mom…" Amelie said firmly.

She stopped and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She looked up slowly, looking guilty, but of what?

"What aren't you telling me?"

Mom set dropped the flour clogged rag and leaned back against the opposite counter. She reached up a wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

"Reid is heading the project."

The words slammed the air right out of Amelie's lungs like a sledgehammer was taken to her stomach. She shook her head. She had to of heard that wrong. A sudden rush of annoyance boiled up.

"What!? Why? He hates manual labor. He literally hates it because that means having to actually get up off his dumb ass…" Amelie continued to rant.

When she finished, her chest heaving out of breath, Mom just stared at her for a couple minutes and then spoke.

"He volunteered, Ellie, and…" she took a beat. Amelie crossed her arms over her chest. "It's his house."

Amelie opened her mouth unsure of what was about to come out. A buzzing from her back pocket stopped her from more word vomit in the nick of time. Her jaw hung open. She shook her head. Her mom was helping Reid restore a house. Why did it feel like a betrayal? Oh right, because it was. Pulling out her phone, she looked down. A text from Chase.

I love you.


Hey Loves, don't forget to review!

P.S. The lyrics are from Sober by Kelly Clarkson