Hello, loves. I deeply appreciate the reviews. They do get me to work faster on this story.

Here is a brand new chapter.

Chapter 34

1 year ago…

"What are you still doing here?"

Amelie looked up from her computer screen at Tate who stood on the other side of the desk. Her bag was slung on her shoulder.

"Don't you have a life?" Tate's eye narrowed. She always suspected that Amelie was one of those mysterious types that had whole other life and she wasn't wrong, but Amelie didn't care who knew about it. She just never specifically asked about it. That and Tate was pretty cool so she didn't see that dark side of the moon.

"Used to," Amelie said. She flashed a quick grin.

Tate just shrugged and ran her hand through her freshly cut spiky hair.

"I'm almost done."

"Girl, you need a break," Tate said. "Come out with me and the guys. I promise Bryan won't be there."

Amelie laughed softly and then rubbed her eyes. The bright screen really did a number on her eyes. The words on the screen were almost too blurry for her to read, but she felt like she was so close to being done. It was all there, just the last finishing touches.

"No. Not tonight. Maybe another time," she said.

"You say that every time," Tate said, rolling her eyes. Amelie just shrugged. She wasn't much for parties anymore. Work was a good distraction. It was better than getting stupid drunk, something she didn't need.

Kate carried the same exact look of concern that Tate did. It was worry that she was allowing work to mull over the break-up. So what if she was? Wasn't it better than destroying other peoples' lives? That would be easy and she could think of ten people easy that she wanted to burry six feet under. Bryan was definitely one of them.

Amelie got really annoyed thinking about this again. So what if I'm letting my work become my life? It's what I wanted…

"He really tore you up…" Tate said right before turning around and going to the elevator.

Amelie let her head fall back. For a moment, she closed her eyes. It wasn't like this is what she planned. She originally thought she'd be home for the summer, hanging out with all of her friends down at the lake. That was before everything.

Kate and Tyler offered to stay for the summer, but she said no. She couldn't do that to them. She couldn't make them choose between friends. Kate made a valid point that she and Reid weren't ever really friends. But she and Sarah were and then there was her and Pogue, so Amelie insisted that she go home and enjoy her summer. Tyler said he would go, but he was coming back early. No arguments changed his mind.

Amelie sucked in a shaky breath and then sat up. If she kept on going she could finish by midnight. It was only ten-thirty now. The janitor was moseying about now, picking up trash and sweeping.

She stared at the page, her nails clacking on the desk.

Gives You Hell

Written by Amelie Abbott

"Okay, you've got to show this to off to some of our artists. I know they're going to want this," Tate said, her grin growing more and more until she looked like a megawatt lightbulb. She swiped her hand across her face, clearing her choppy bangs from her face. "Seriously. This would be a major break for you. It's liquid gold."

"It's nothing special. Just-"

"A distraction? No. This? This is sarcastic, angry and just beautiful. It's what every dumpee wants to say to their ex…not that you're a dumpee, but still." Tate tapped her finger to the edges. "And you know what? I'm going to show it to a few people I know. You can just get me an amazing birthday and Christmas present as repayment."

It just so happened that Christmas and her birthday were on the same day. She winked and walked away, taking the print out of the song with her.

Amelie sighed. The girl as the definition of rebel. She listened to no one and did whatever the hell she wanted. So did Amelie. Maybe that's why she liked Tate so much.

Her cell phone buzzed, vibrating a couple inches across the desk. She answered it and regretted doing so instantly.

"Ames!"

She groaned. Shit, it's Bryan.

"Bryan," she said, not bothering to hide her lack of enthusiasm.

"Where are you?"

"Where I always am. My desk."

"Great. I need you to run and grab lunch."

"Goodbye, Bryan." Amelie hung up.

She was nobody's bitch. Shaking her head, she went back to what she was doing on her computer. Why did he think she was his slave? She'd moved up since then. Sort of. She worked creatively with Tate. They were heading out to shows two-three times a week to scout talent. She didn't see very much of the studio like she hoped and going from hotel to hotel wasn't a luxurious as people made it out to be. Sure they were nice places, but they lost their charm when you going from one to the next.

Amelie's phone buzzed. Looking down at the screen, her finger hovering over the ignore button, expecting it to be Bryan again, she smiled. Chase. He'd become a hero overnight, though she never told him that.

After what happened between Reid and her, he didn't leave her alone, but started to hang around even more. It wasn't like that. He was just…there so she wasn't alone. It was annoying and kind of him. He said that it was his goal to make her smile at least once per day until she didn't need him to make her smile. He became the friend she never knew she truly needed. Kate had gone home. She and Sarah had come to visit for a week. It was nice. They went out to some clubs, went to the beach. It was girl time.

Actually, it was intervention time. Both of them were worried. The last thing they wanted was Amelie slipping back into old habits, telling the world to go fuck itself and watch it implode. But after they left, she was still left with her memories and thoughts and they were still shrouded in a fusion of red and blue. There were times she cried and times when all she could do is scream.

"Bryan's pissed," Tate said as she walked past.

"Bryan's always pissed when there isn't somebody jumping up his ass," Amelie said. Him being pissed was her cue to leave. Grabbing her purse, she hurried for the elevator.

"See you at Brass's?" Tate called, referring to the bar she often went to and dragged Amelie too from time to time.

"Not tonight! I have plans," Amelie answered.

"Plans with a man?" Tate's eyebrows shot up curiously.

"Just Chase."

"He's got a penis, right?"

Amelie snorted with a half nod.

"Then definitely a man. Climb on it."

It was more of an order rather than a suggestion. She'd been getting on Amelie a lot about moving on. Amelie couldn't get too pissy about it either like she did with Kate. Tate didn't know the entire story.

The elevator doors slid open as Bryan's voice boomed down the hall. He didn't see her. Score for getting the hell out of there.

Chase was hanging outside the apartment when she pulled into the parking spot out front of the building. It was hard as hell to get that spot…but not for her. Yeah, she cheated. She screwed with the parking meter to make it say out of order and then after parking she fixed it.

"You're early," Amelie commented.

"Yeah, I'm told it's my best quality," Chase joked as he followed her inside.

"You need to live on the wild side," Amelie said.

"That's why I have you. You're a criminal. You're my wild side," he said.

Amelie snorted and dropped her bag by the couch. She collapsed onto the soft cushions, allowing them to swallow her. The aches in her feet and back released and she sighed, wiggling down further into the plushiness.

"We going?"

Amelie sighed. They planned on heading out to a festival tonight. It was being held in the village. Very artsy. It was something that he'd become interested in. she'd become interested in a lot of new things since…

"Yes. I just need food."

"There'll be food there."

"Actual food," she rebutted. "Not hipster bullshit."

Chase laughed. He leaned against the wall next to the door. His arms folded leisurely across his chest.

Amelie ate nuked leftover Chinese from the fridge even though she was pretty sure it was long past the edible date. They left shortly after. With the village only ten block away, they walked. It would've taken too long for her to drive with traffic clustered with people going home for the evening.

Lights were strung up in trees and hanging over the closed streets. It was like the stars had come down to settle over this place. It was magical. Carts with various foods were on the sidewalks. Amelie regretted eating now. Everything here was worldly. And the show…it was all out here. Performance art was always amazing. It was locked up in a museum where you couldn't get close enough to look.

Dancers moved with grace. What were easily mistaken for statues, moved fluidly. This had to be a dream.

"Is that a smile? An honest to god smile?"

Amelie laughed softly at Chase's chastisement. He's such a damn dork.

"Maybe," she admitted.

She did smile and didn't need anybody to help her with that. It faded pretty quickly, but still. For a second, she felt okay. For a minute, she didn't think of him, didn't damn him for allowing her to let him consume her whole life.

This really was a magical place. Chase took her hand and spun her in a circle as a violin played not far off.

"Are you crazy?" Amelie laughed.

"Only around you," he confessed.

Amelie didn't mean to do it, but it wasn't like she had any control. She blushed.

Reid stumbled a step as he came out of Nicky's. Six beers was enough. Enough to numb the bullshit. At least until he got home where he could drain a bottle of gin. The asphalt spun under his feet, glittering under the orange street lamps that also made the empty kegs stacked against the wall. Though the heavy music was barely a hum at his back now, his head still throbbed.

"Son of a bitch."

Reid stopped. Looking up from the pavement, he sighed. While he could see well enough, the world still spun. It took a moment to still and see Gabriel staring at him, well, glaring at him really. Cami stood next to him, holding her breath. The look in her eyes was one of nervousness and fear. Reid had no doubt as to why.

Gabriel's lips pursed, his eyes blazing with a fire of pure fury. He took a step.

"Gabe, don't," Cami said urgently. She pulled his arm, her nails digging into his skin.

Reid grunted a soft laugh. It wasn't that he thought this was funny. He'd just been waiting for this.

"Don't," Gabriel snorted. Her pointed an angry finger at Reid. "That little shit hurt her. Amelie will probably never come back because of him."

Cami's arms dropped and she looked away. She didn't dare look at Reid now. She was as furious as Gabriel, but her kind of vengeance couldn't compare to what he obviously wanted to dish out. If she let it loose, Reid figured it would be worse.

"Just do it, man. I mean, it's not like I didn't see this coming. Her pansy ass brother never came to her rescue," Reid said. It was harsher than he intended, but he couldn't stop himself. "I did hear that he texted her though. Something along the lines of 'I told y-"

Thrunch!

The sound was loud in Reid's ears; Gabriel's fist connecting with his cheek. It was the perfect combination of a crunch and thwack. Cami let out a piercing yelp. The world was spinning again and Reid fell to the ground. Gabriel was over him again.

"You pathetic-" another punch. Blood oozed steadily from Reid's nose. "It was too hard," Gabriel mocked. "What the hell did you expect it to be, you little prick, huh!? Easy!?" Another punch. Reid groaned, but let him keep going, not that he couldn't put up much of a great fight. "You. Gave. Up. And after everything the two of you went through!?"

After Gabriel had finished, his knuckles bloody and Reid a dastardly mess, he backed away, out of breath. His chest heaved with heavy breathing. He looked like he wanted to keep going.

"The ones that are worth it," Gabriel said, his voice completely even now. "They're never easy. Do you think I gave up when Cami went abroad? Or when her ex tried to jump back into the picture?"

He scoffed and shook his head. Reid coughed, the back of his throat stinging with blood that had trickled down it.

"Knowing that you're going to regret it is the only thing that will make me smile when I look at you." Gabriel's tone was completely resigned now.

With that, the couple walked into Nicky's to what Reid presumed was date night. Reid rolled on to his side, hugging his ribcage. His ankle was on fire from falling to the ground. His face was wet and he couldn't see out of one eye. On top of that, he was pretty sure his nose was broken.

Pulling out his phone, he held it up close as he dialed. He could barely make out the numbers. The back of his throat burned as he coughed. The phone range before the other line picked up.

"What do you want, Reid?" Caleb said.

"C-can you come get me?" Reid stuttered. His voice was hoarse and barely audible.

"Are you okay?"

Reid let out a ragged breath. Okay was…relative. Kind of. Depended on how he moved.

"Just come and get me. I'm outside Nicky's."

Caleb sighed, exhausted.

"Fine. Don't go anywhere."

"Won't be a problem."

The line went dead and Reid let his arm fall to the side. His phone fell from his hand and clattered across the ground. He'd stared up at the blurry black sky. He'd never seen the stars spin like this before.

Amelie stared at her desk in all of its bare glory. Tomorrow she would make the trip back to school, but today was the last day of work. She couldn't help but revel in it.

"Hey, babe," Tate called Amelie's attention.

Amelie looked up, unable to quit smiling. There's been quite a bit of that lately. Smiling. She couldn't help it.

"You gotta see this," Tate said, beaming behind long bangs of explosive red and orange. She wagged her finger at Amelie.

"See what?" Amelie's eyes narrowed.

Amelie pushed back from her desk, hesitating. She wasn't one for surprises. A swirl of flutters swarmed in her stomach. It made her jittery. While August was on its way out, with school starting, it was still sweltering outside as if summer was just starting. Thank God this place had air conditioning.

Amelie followed Tate to the studio. She stopped once she heard the obnoxious sound of an electric guitar. It was Emo-ish Rock. Amelie's eyebrows scrunched together and then suddenly shot up when she heard the words. They were her words.

She stopped dead.

Holy shit.

The longer she listened the more she recognized the voice.

"Holy shit," she said aloud this time.

"Don't just stand out here," Tate laughed. "The look on your face…"

Amelie gulped and hurried into the studio the music came from. Her mouth hung agape as she watched Tyson Ritter and his band riff it out. With much effort, Amelie swiveled her head to Tate.

"Oh, yeah," she said to Amelie, confirming that this was actually happening. She grinned and reminded Amelie very much of the Kool-Aid man, which was kind of creepy.

"THAT'S MY SONG!" Amelie screamed. She jumped up and down. Her ponytail swished from side to side. Tate laughed at her, shaking her head. Hector, at the sound board, chuckled right along with her.

Amelie's head swelled as the blood in her head throbbed with adrenaline and endorphines. This was it. This moment. It was exactly what she'd been working toward. Lucky breaks like this didn't just happen. If it hadn't been for…

Amelie's smile faltered. If it hadn't been for Reid none of this would've happened. If it hadn't been for him, she never would've written this song. It was him who was the inspiration. He wasn't even here and he ruined this for her. Son of a bitch. Maybe I should call him to say thank you.

Amelie's thoughts cut as the music did.

"That was great!" Hector said in the microphone.

"Is that her?" Tyson Ritter asked, nodding his chin at Amelie.

Amelie's eyes widened so much so that her head could barely keep them in her head. She nodded quickly. Tyson smiled.

"Sweet," he said. He and the band exited the studio and came into the control room. Luckily, the room was big enough for all of them. A couple of the bandmates took up the couch. Amelie just stared around, still taking it all in. She had to remind herself to breathe. That and remind herself that she was acting like a moron.

Wow, he's really tall.

"This song is amazing," Tyson said. He held out his hand to her and she shook it. In it was a shock of excitement that was enough to snap her back to herself.

"Yeah, thanks."

"No, thank you. Tate," Tyson nudged the pixie rocker, "was walking around the studio, giving it to everybody. There were two other bands after this song. I think Fall Out Boy was one of them. It turned into battle of the bands around here for about a week."

Amelie's eyebrows shot up with surprise. Tate nodded, completely proud of her ability to start a riot. Her chin jutted up taking in all the glory.

"She wouldn't even tell us who wrote it." He glared jokingly. "It was crazy, but we had to have it for the new album. It'll be out next year sometime, but this song is definitely going on it and so is your name."

"R-really!?" Amelie didn't care that she was too excited.

"Totally," he replied. He wrapped a gangly arm around her and pulled into a hug. "We have it our way? You'll be one of our writers."

Amelie nodded, laughing, feeling her body finally come back down from floating so high on this. It was unbelievable. Her heart could explode with confetti right now.

"So what inspired you to write this?"

Amelie let out a short, breathy laugh and looked to Tate whose lips pursed. She looked away from Amelie.

"Uh, well…Hm." Amelie wasn't at a loss for words. She just didn't expect that question and she should've. What inspired her? Well…that was both easy and difficult to explain.

Tyson laughed.

"I understand. Sometimes it's complicated, but you still have a lot of anger. I've been spurred before." Amelie nodded in agreement.

Something like that.

"Well, I hope whoever this was for hears it and gets it stuck in their head," Tyson said.

"Me too," Tate agreed, with a knowing, arched eyebrow. She never met Reid, but that didn't stop her from hating him.

All of this, Amelie's song actually being used and recognized, being released into the world, it made her realize something. She didn't hate him anymore.

Amelie hurried to the door after there was a knock. She'd called Tyler first after the mini celebration with Tate who was sure that this was only the beginning. It seemed right that he was the first to know. Strange, sure. But he was…that person now. Amelie touched the eye pendant around her neck as she opened the door.

Chase looked down at her with the most gleaming grin she'd ever seen. He was so weird and unlike any guy she'd ever met. He was actually nice. She'd looked him up. There wasn't a single tarnish on his record. He'd graduated from a school in Washington with a 4.1 GPA. He was an only child from a humble family. He was actually this dorky and kind and charming. There was no hidden agenda. No drama. He was…simple.

He swept Amelie into a hug and spun her around once.

"I'm so happy for you," he said, setting her on her feet. He pecked her on the lips.

Amelie's eyes widened and he froze at realizing the mistake that clearly wasn't a mistake. Their lips were a mere inch apart. Her breath stumbled and he kissed her again, longer, lighter. More careful. She'd never been kissed like that. There was a craving in it, but it was patient, if a kiss could be such a thing. She kissed him back. It was nice.

Chase's arms slithered around her waist and he pulled her against him, pressing her against his chest. When he pulled out of the kiss, his forehead lay against hers.

"I'm sorry," he said, staring down instead of in her eyes. "I just…I wanted to do that for a little while now."

"And you waited so long?" Amelie laughed. She hadn't been thinking about kissing him at all, but now she was and wondered why she hadn't done it sooner.

"Somebody else still had a hold of you. Didn't seem right," he said.

Amelie paused. Was it true? Dumb question. Of course it was. But not now. She was better than that. She gave people what she wanted and took what she wanted.

Pulling her chin up, his eyes finally met hers. He really was prince charming. Mom would love him. He was the kind of guy who held doors open for a lady. She deserved that kind of man in her life.

Amelie kissed him this time. His hold on her tightened. The way he kissed her back, he'd been wanting to do this. For how long, she didn't care. Why should she? Even if it was long before…well, he was good enough not to act on it. He never pushed himself on her. That alone made her like him more.

"How's your nose?" Tyler asked.

"Broken," Reid mumbled.

The radio was on low. Static crackled in some spots. A baseball game was being broadcasted.

"So, why do you have this piece of crap truck?"

"Old man Gorman was selling it," Reid replied.

"The old caretaker of the school?"

"Yeah, I figured I could use it," Reid replied.

What's with the fucking questions?

Reid stopped and turned up the gravel road. He hadn't told Tyler where they were going. He still wasn't sure why he wanted to come up here. Maybe it was because of the memories the place held. Who knows?

He pulled the white pick-up around the circular drive that surrounded the fountain. The brakes whined like a drill going at one of his molars. I need to get that fixed. Along with the radiator. It was a nice truck and also a piece of shit. Reid never knew that the two things could coincide. The truck sputtered as he turned it off.

"What are we doing here?" Tyler said, following behind him.

"I just wanted to have a look around real quick," Reid mumbled.

Tyler leaned against truck. He peeled a chip of paint from the door. Reid rolled his eyes and walked up the steps of the Putnam mansion. It was still empty, and it looked like nature was still working on moving in. The porch was ridden with leaves. A small pile was swept into the far corner. He would never have picked black wrought iron for the fencing of the porch. Country wood would make it more welcoming rather than intimidating.

Reid didn't go inside, but he'd made a decision. Turning, he went back down the steps to the truck.

"You done with the strange moment of clarity or whatever?"

"Caleb is expecting us," was all Reid said

The four boys had found themselves hanging out a lot more like when they were kids, the tree climbing days. When they'd gotten to high school it changed. They'd all still stayed close, but it wasn't like then. Interests were different and that pulled them apart some. But now, it felt like they might me getting back there. It was nice. Reid didn't know how much he needed his brothers. Not until recently.

He saw Tyler glance down at his phone and smile. It wasn't one of those small ones either. Something had him seriously happy. Tyler's fingers moved quickly as he texted back to whoever was on the other end. Reid wanted to ask, but didn't care enough to.

Caleb was already at Karma's. The small restaurant was a recent addition to the town. It wasn't so much a restaurant as it was a lunch place. It was small, a hole in an alley and much like a diner with an old jukebox and black leather booths.

Pogue was the late one today, which meant that he was paying. Tyler didn't say anything out loud, but Reid caught the sigh of relief when they walked in. He paid the last two times.

This had become a weekly occurrence for the four of them. Every Tuesday they had this. Just the four of them. Reid never thought much about how he needed them. They'd always been there and he figured it would always be that way. This summer showed him differently. After everything that happened, if it hadn't been for Caleb suggesting this, he wasn't sure where he'd be. He felt like he could be okay.

He didn't miss Kate's snide remarks though. If she didn't hate him in high school, she definitely did now and simultaneously proved that Amelie really was her friend. If her eyes could have lasers, he'd have multiple holes all over the place. Sarah was the opposite. To her, it was like he didn't even exist. He was wiped off the planet. The one line jokes they used to have were gone. She wouldn't talk to him or look at him or anything. Reid Garwin was never born in her eyes. Reid wasn't sure which was worse. Neither Pogue nor Caleb approached the subject, thank God. Tyler tried once. It didn't go well.

"What the hell has you glued to your damn phone, Baby Boy?" Pogue nudged Tyler as he sat down.

"A friend of mine. She, uh, got a big break at her job the other day. She was just telling me about it," Tyler said, setting his phone on the table face down.

"A friend you wish wasn't a friend?" Pogue asked narrowly with a growing smirk.

"No!" Tyler exclaimed, half appalled and half disgusted.

The table broke out into laughter.

"She's not my type," he added.

Pogue shook his head and so did Caleb.

"One of these days…" Caleb muttered.

Reid knew what he meant. Tyler didn't date much, not because he didn't want to. No girl ever caught his attention. Not really. There was the occasional friend hook-up, but there had yet to be a woman to knock him on his ass. Reid hoped it wouldn't be a cougar. Those women were dangerous and could wipe out a person's innocence. His best friend was too good for that sort of thing.

Lunch was good. Reid didn't tell anybody about his visit to the mansion or the flickering ideas and plans that were at the back of his mind.

Present Day…

Amelie watched as Cami teared up, standing on the pedestal facing the three mirrors, as they showed off every angle of the wedding gown. The glittering strapless piece was truly stunning. Amelie's eyes were watering up too.

"This is it," Cami said. "Gabriel is going to love it."

"Yes, it is," Amelie agreed. "And I believe he'll love it even more when he gets you out of it."

"Oh God," Cami laughed with an obnoxious snort. "He loves to rip clothing. I've had to buy way too many new tops and skirts."

Cami spun.

"And you like your dress?" she asked.

"It's beautiful," Amelie gushed.

"Good. Chase will be speechless, and I won't be the only one having my dress ripped off." She winked.

Amelie laughed this time. Cami seemed to like Chase okay. She certainly didn't have a tolerance for break-ups so she was pretty accepting.

Chase was back at the house. Dad was putting him through the ringer, but Chase was being a champ about it. He called it much needed brown nosing. The rehearsal dinner was next week and the wedding was two days later. She and Chase would be heading back to LA the following week. The thought was both stressful and relieving.

"I'm going to head out. I have some more running around to do," Amelie said.

They'd driven separated cars since they both had been pretty busy. This had been the only time slot to get in the whole say-yes-to-the-dress crap. Amelie enjoyed it though. With how anxious Cami was it didn't make her wish for her wedding anytime soon that's for sure.

Her phone rang as she entered town. It was Tyler

"What do you want, loser?" she said blandly into the phone.

Tyler ignored the comment, having grown used to it by now.

"I kind of need your help and I need you to say yes," he said. Amelie knew that tone. Whatever he wanted her to do, she wasn't going to like it. But he needed her to say yes and that meant she had no choice. She had to be there for him. The only question she had was, was it legal or illegal?

"Fine. Where are you?"

"Out at the Dell."

"What the hell are you doing out there!?" Amelie squealed. She huffed and groaned.

"Just…get here." Tyler hung up.

It was an extra twenty minutes away. When she got there she saw Tyler and Reid by Tyler's signature Hummer. The silver monster was hideous and the gas mileage on it was terrible, but he loved the damn thing. Amelie never told him that she slashed his tires once back in the tenth grade. He'd gotten on her nerves.

Reid was lying down on the roof and Tyler was leaning against the front. Amelie stopped and stepped out of her car, not bothering to turn it off.

"What is going on out here?"

"We need a ride," Tyler said. His head bobbed.

"You idiots are drunk." There was no question about it.

"At least I'm being responsible and not driving," Tyler said with a dumbass grin. He swayed to the side, but grabbed the grill's grate to keep him steady.

"And I'm leaving. You two can walk back to town." Amelie started to get back in her car.

"Ellie!" Reid shouted. He jumped off the roof, landing on his knees and hurried to the driver's side. "C'mon. Don't be so mean. Give us a ride."

"Call Caleb." She shifted into drive. Her heart thudded in her chest.

"Please?"

"I have to get home."

"To your boyfriend?" Tyler called out teasingly.

"Yes, actually. I'm scared Dad killed him in the cellar while I was out dress shopping with Cami," Amelie said.

Reid blanched, his eyes darting away from her.

"You're not going to puke are you?" Amelie's nose scrunched with disgust.

The back door opened and Tyler slid in, lying back. He closed the door with his foot. Amelie growled under her breath and shook her head. Reid didn't move. He just stared her like she'd hit him with a mac truck.

"If you want a ride get in," she said, tapping her finger impatiently. Tyler laughed and hooted in the back seat. Turning, she reached down the center and swatted him across the stomach.

Reid stumbled around the front and got in the car.

The drive back was silent except for Tyler's incessant talking. Amelie dropped him off first. He tripped through the front door. The mild injury made Amelie smile inside just a little.

"Where do you want dropped off?" Amelie asked once she was back on the road.

"Uh, in town," Reid said.

He stared out the window, biting his thumbnail.

"Not the mansion?" she asked.

"It's not finished. There are still rooms not done, and the roof hasn't been fully patched," he replied quietly.

Amelie glanced over at him. Something had him wigging out, but she didn't dare ask. She didn't care. She just wanted him out of her car. Once in town, he pointed out the spot across from Nicky's.

"This has to be a dream come true for you," Amelie joked. Living across from the bar, and never having to worry about driving home.

"It's a place to crash," he replied.

He stumbled a step as he got out. Amelie rolled her eyes. Reid had always been good at hiding how drunk he was. Not tonight. He must've gone all out.

Against her own better judgment, she got out and helped him into the building and up to his apartment. He rambled on incoherently, his breath smelling strongly of vodka. She had to dig in his pockets for his house keys and then fumbled to get the front door open. Reid leaned on her all the while.

"Chase, he's a nice guy. Maybe even the right guy, but you've never been one for the right guy," Reid mumbled, falling back onto his blue, suede couch. He rubbed his tired eyes.

Amelie ignored him and made her way for the door.

"I wish it was me," he said.

Amelie stopped and turned.

"What?" she said, her eyebrows shooting up.

"Nothing," he muttered, tossing his black beanie to the floor. His eyes closed and fell into a drunken slumber, snoring softly.

Amelie rolled her eyes. She set the keys on the French finish coffee table and left the apartment. He was a mess and the turmoil he had, she couldn't doubt was in part of her. Some of her turmoil was because him.

It's those that touch your life that never leave it. They just remind you of what you had, what you lost…what will continue to remind you of your failures and successes.

Once back home, she heard hooting and hollering from the living room. Chase and Dad were watching baseball.

"Your boyfriend is a Dodgers fan. Unnacceptable," Dad said.

"Just like me being a Mets fan," Amelie commented. She leaned down and kissed Chase on the lips. She wanted to do more, but not in front of Dad.

"I'm going to bed. It's been a long day," she said and kissed Chase once more.

She made her way toward the stairs.

"Your mother is always in bed by three." Dad commented.

"I know," Amelie said. Her face scrunched confused by the comment.

"I just thought you'd like a reminder," he looked up at her and winked. Chase paused, looking between the two, trying to catch the hidden message.

Amelie smirked. It was odd when Mom and Dad had those split second role reversals. He was supposed to be hard on Chase and keep him in the guest room and Mom was supposed to fall in love with him and bend the rules. Yet here they were. The exact opposite.

"Okay, Daddy," she said.

As she ascended the stairs, she thought about Reid. He'd been so spooked when she mentioned shopping for Cami's dress. And then that comment? She thought about asking him about it. Odds of him remembering would be small though, so maybe not.

She couldn't get it out of her head: I wish it were me. Wish what?

"Let's go!" Kate shouted.

Amelie rolled her eyes. That was the second time she shouted up after her. Amelie slowed down her routine even more, running her nail along her lip line carefully in the mirror. Cami, over on the bed, laughed, clacking het black pumps together.

"That girl is fire. I like her," she said.

"Sadly, so do I," Amelie admitted.

"Getting soft," Cami sang.

"Never," Amelie exclaimed

Cami laughed some more.

"We should go," she said. "I'd like to get drunk and it's a couple hours' drive into the city."

Amelie double checked her make-up, again, and then her overnight bag. Cami, like the overachiever she was, had packed yesterday.

"I'm ready," Amelie said. "And don't worry. No strippers."

Cami sighed with relief. She wasn't big on men taking off their clothes and shoving their junk in her face. It was deeply unappealing. Amelie agreed too. If she wanted that in her face she'd take it when she wanted it and how she wanted it. Otherwise…keep that shit far away. Nobody wants that…unless you're Kate.

The girls went downstairs. Kate and Sarah along with the rest of the bridal party that consisted of sisters from Cami's sorority along with her actual sister, waited in the foyer. One of the sisters was transfixed on the living room, her eyes glittering and her lips pulled up into an interested grin. Chase and Dad were in there. They hadn't left for the bachelor party yet. Amelie didn't want to know which one the woman was taken with. One guess made her shudder with the single thought: Daddy issues, and the other guess made her jaw tighten, ready to cut her.

"Finally," Kate huffed. Sarah giggled, shaking her head.

"Let's get the hell out of here," Amelie said, ignoring Kate.

They were taking three cars to carry everyone. Kate and Sarah went with Amelie. Cami took the front seat. The other girls followed behind them.

"I have to tell you something," Amelie said to Cami.

Cami's smile faltered.

"We aren't going to Boston, like I said." Amelie didn't take her eyes off the road.

"What? Why?" Cami whined. Her lower lip jutted out like a child having their birthday present ripped away.

"Kate was right about how we should really have some fun. So I'm borrowing the jet…though Mom doesn't know I'm borrowing the jet." Amelie grinned. "We're going to Atlantic City for the weekend."

"WHAT!?" All three women exclaimed and broke out into excited woots.

Amelie grinned ear to ear. The surprise was last minute, but completely arranged. She still had her ways. Unlike the joy she got from destroying a person, this was more fulfilling.

The jet was ready to go and the captain, his co-pilot and the two flight attendant were already waiting when all three cars arrived.

Amelie said hello to them individually, hugging them and saying her thanks. She knew better than to act completely spoiled. These people could've said no since they work for Mom and not her.

As the girls went up the steps, murmuring excitedly, Amelie looked out at the tarmac. It was early, 9am. They'd arrive shortly and then the fun could really begin.

Obviously, I don't own the song by The All America Reject, but this is the disclaimer.

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