Just a heads up, this chapter mentions suicide. If this is a trigger for you, please take care :) Enjoy! ~Alice

CHAPTER 10

Theater night went off without a hitch. The kids were spellbound again, though Liam kept saying he hated love stories loud enough for everyone to hear, but he watched enthralled anyway.

Quinn spun Amelia out again in their dance, and brought her in for a final ending kiss, and the kids all applauded uproariously.

"Another one!" they all yelled.

Quinn and Creedy quieted them down, the kids all groaning more than usual. They said their prayers and went off to bed still grumbling.

Quinn was about to ask Amelia if she needed help bringing her things upstairs to his room when Simone walked into the chapel area.

"Hey darlin'," said Creedy kissing her.

"My Love," she said back and goosed him on his bum, and he let out a squeal and jumped.

"Not in front of these Jokers," he said eyeing her, and she lowered her head looking like she was about to eat him alive giving him a come hither smile. "I'll be right in," he said. "Just as soon as I'm done putting away these chairs."

"It is not you I'm here to see my sweet. I'm here to talk to Lia," said Simone, running her finger down Creedy's nose.

Amelia jumped at her name. "Me?" she asked. Amelia felt suddenly flattered. She would never admit it to anyone, but although she felt they were friends, Simone was what Amelia would imagine a cool girl would be out in the real world.

She was about five years older, her choppy blonde haircut so fierce and spunky on her beautiful face. Sassy to most people, but always considerate to Amelia, like an older sister.

"Yes, you!" said Simone with a small laugh.

Creedy mocked being offended and kissed her cheek. "Quinn, you up for a nightcap while these ladies talk?" he asked.

"Sure," said Quinn. He turned to Amelia. "You wanna just head up when you're done?" he asked.

She nodded smiling and he put his hand behind her neck and kissed her forehead. He went to join Creedy, and Simone made an "Ooh, la, la," face and took Amelia's arm and led her to a table.

"It seems to be going well with Quinn no?" she asked grinning slyly.

Amelia blushed. "So well, I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop," she said.

Simone laughed. "There will be no dropping of shoes!" she said. "Quinn cares for you very much."

"Yes, me too," said Amelia gazing at her hands.

"Well, I wanted to speak with you Lia." Simone suddenly went serious, which made Amelia feel on edge. "First I want to warn you."

"Warn me?" asked Amelia alarmed.

"It's not life or death, but here have been some complainings, and I thought you should know."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Quinn is not popular with everyone right now. I heard Rachel and Michael talking about the food not being enough. Rachel had unkind things to say about you too, Lia."

Amelia felt hot as she remembered their earlier conversation. She hated when there was animosity anytime between people in the castle, but she was rarely one of the people involved. She felt she could get along with pretty much anyone, but Rachel had always been a bit difficult.

"Anyway," Simone continued. "I think it is the price to pay for being with Quinn. I don't think it's an easy thing you've chosen."

"I'm learning that slowly," said Amelia. However, she knew she would choose it again and again, over and over forever.

"If you ever need anyone to talk Lia, please find me. Relationships are hard. There are jealousies, lies, but also forgiveness and triumphs too," she said sounding wistful.

Amelia suddenly remembered what Quinn had said about Rosanna and Creedy. This must be what she was referring to.

"You speaking from experience?" asked Amelia cautiously. It was none of her business, but she had been dying to know more since Quinn had mentioned it.

Simone sighed. "I was betrayed by the person closest to me," she said.

"Creedy?" asked Amelia hoping it was not so, but who else could it be?

"No," she said sadly. "Rosanna."

Amelia leaned forward and placed her hand on Simone's. Her face was screwed up in pain, and Amelia felt suddenly guilty for pushing her. "If you'd rather keep it to yourself than tell me Simone, I don't need to hear."

"It's alright," said Simone and continued. "She was in love with my Creedy. One night, while I was up late, she snuck in our bed and when he crawled in, she tried to make love to him pretending to be me."

Amelia felt like Simone had punched her in the gut. "What?" she whispered.

"I caught them, and Creedy swore he didn't know. It is very dark in our corner. Rosanna was very drunk. She'd been in the distillery tanks." She took a deep steadying breath. "I hated them both. I wouldn't speak to either. But Rosanna came to me and confessed everything the next day. About her love for Creedy, even though she was my best friend, and we would have died for each other, she was angry and filled with jealousy." Simone began to tear up.

Amelia sat back in her chair in bewilderment. She could never have believed it of Rosanna.

Simone continued, the tears starting to run slowly down her cheeks. "Creedy told Quinn he had made a mistake, and Quinn talked to me. Told me how much Creedy loved me. But things between Rosanna and I were broken."

"You really think Creedy didn't know?" Amelia asked. She didn't want to think it of him, but it was awfully convenient.

"No. He could have been with her the whole time. He was with me. And the look on his face when he realized what was happening when I discovered them. He couldn't have faked his despair."

Simone got quiet again, and big tear drops started to form in her eyes once more. "Rosanna volunteered for the mission the next week. I… I think… I think she wanted to die." Simone was openly crying now.

Amelia grabbed her hand. "What do you mean?"

"She told me before she left," she sobbed. "She told me she couldn't live without Creedy or me. She was so unhappy. She said she was going to right the wrongs she'd done."

"Oh my God." She let Simone cry herself out. She assumed it had been a while since she had been able to do this.

"It's complicated," she sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Life is complicated. But I've forgiven her and Creedy. Now he and I are closer than ever. He's my whole heart. But Rosanna. I'd give anything to have her back. To tell her I forgave her. To help her." She closed her eyes tightly, trying to shut out the guilt.

Amelia sat there dumfounded. She squeezed Simone's hand, and words came tumbling out. "Oh Simone. She had to have known. You two were like sisters. I was always jealous. She knew. Her decision wasn't your fault."

Simone shook her head and wiped the tears away again taking a deep breath. "I'm involved somehow."

Amelia felt like she wanted to slap these feelings away from Simone's mind. That she had nothing to do with Rosanna's choices. But she felt like now was not the time. Now was the time to empathize, and maybe that would help, and they could address it later. "I'm sorry Simone. I'm so sorry that happened."

Simone looked deep into Amelia's eyes. "Lia, I would like for us to be friends. Good friends. I know that you are tough and so popular. But I would like to be very close friends with you."

"Tough? Popular? Me?" asked Amelia skeptically. She knew she had a talent for talking with a lot of people, but popular? Never in a million years would she say that about herself.

"Yes you!" said Simone laughing.

Amelia fell silent for a moment. She realized she'd been given a precious gift. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how terribly lonely she'd been after her mother died. She made up for it by being friendly with everyone in the castle, but not truly friends with anyone. Her heart ached suddenly, remembering how good it felt to squeal with Simone in the Cabinet the other day. She'd never had a close female friend to share secrets and thoughts with besides her mother.

The fact that Simone was reaching out like this made her cry in an outburst downward into her hand as fat tears splashed out her eyes onto the table, surprising herself.

"I see we are both a mess!" said Simone, reaching over to wipe her tears away with her thumb.

Amelia laughed, making Simone laugh, and the tension broke. She choked a little, but smiled as she said, "Yes Simone. Yes, I would like very much to be your friend."

Simone grabbed her hands and leaned forward to kiss Amelia on both cheeks. "Magnifique!" she cried. "We are besties. Now, what do besties talk about uh? Tell me how Quinn is in bed!"

"Simone!" Amelia exclaimed cracking up again.

"I know you want to! You tell me about yours and I'll tell you about mine…" And both girls, relieved that they weren't crying anymore started giggling uncontrollably.

…..

When Amelia finally got upstairs to their room (God she loved referring to it that way), she was completely exhausted from crying and laughing. She walked in and her heart melted at the sight of Quinn passed out on the bed breathing softly. He had two cups of tea by the bed, one empty, and one ice cold which must have been for her. A book was lying open on his chest. Treasure Island, she saw as she removed it gingerly from his fingers. God he was sweet. She set it on his desk and spread the fire with the poker so it would die down faster. She took off her sweater and climbed over him turning off the overhead lamp. He stirred as she kissed his temple and his eyes fluttered open.

"Lia," he breathed, still half asleep. He opened his arm, and she moved it under her, so she could use it as her pillow. He wrapped her in it, pulling her close to his warm body. Gazing at his heavily lidded eyes and thinking of his thoughtfulness in including her his plans, she whispered, "I'm going to fall more deeply in love with you ok?"

"Mm. Mhm…" he made a little noise deep in his throat and stroked his fingers down her shoulder. She snuggled in and fell asleep.