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By the time summer had rolled around, the band had become a legend in Massachusetts; not only for their music, but for the number of fights they started, Jesse being the instigator and ring leader. Even Callie had become a bit rough of late and it seemed she, Jesse, and Amelia were rapidly spinning out of control. Reid had lost count of how many times he had been forced to drive a completely trashed and ranting Amelia and Jesse home to an equally trashed house. He would drag each individual to their rooms, careful not to step on any single person who had taken up residence on the couches and any unoccupied space. It was as if he had entered Axel Rose's house.
James and Diana didn't seem to mind. In fact, they seemed used to the entire situation. They spent the bulk of their time in the garage practicing and writing lyrics. Though they never discouraged the other three's rowdy behavior, they never exactly cheered them on.
Reid had begun to worry about Tyler and Pogue as well. The two had been spending more and more time with Amelia and her band. Tyler spent his time at the house, listening to Diana practice, keeping out of most of the fray, while Pogue occasionally joined in, which surprised Reid the most. Pogue had never been one for violence and that fact that he had become just as violent worried Reid greatly. Whenever he or Caleb would ask him about what was going on, he would become anger and it was clear he was hiding something. What was even more worrisome was that Pogue was using a great deal-something he had never been in the habit of doing.
One night as Reid helped Pogue stagger up the steps towards Callie's room, Pogue stopped suddenly and whispered in an urgent voice, "Stay away from Amelia."
Reid frowned. "I don't think now is the time to be getting all fatherly on me, buddy," he groaned as he tried to keep Pogue steady. Pogue stopped him again, his voice hoarse. "She'll be safer if you just back off."
Reid stopped and looked up at his friend. "What do you mean?"
"Callie told me everything." Pogue glanced down the hallway, making sure nobody was around and lowered his voice. "Look, if you care about her at all, you'll stay away from her."
Reid shook Pogue slightly. "What do you know?"
Pogue looked as if he regretted saying anything. "If you really want to know, I'll see if I can talk Callie into talking to you about it, but until then, back off."
"Where's Amelia?" Reid demanded and Pogue's face fell. "She's at Sarah's. She said she needed to talk to her."
Reid helped Pogue to Callie's door and raced down to his truck. The image of Amelia kissing Jesse as she pinned him against his truck seared itself in the forefront of his mind. When Sarah opened the door to her room, it was still dancing before his eyes.
"I need to talk to Amelia," he said breathlessly. When she hesitated he added pleadingly, "Please, Sarah."
When she opened the door all the way, he felt everything come crashing down. Amelia was sitting on the edge of Sarah's bed holding a large ice pack to her face. There was a large bruise forming on her cheek. She waved at him and half smiled, wincing when it caused her pain. "I don't have the energy to get rid of this one. I'm too tired," she said as way of explanation.
"Jesse did this," he said quietly. She didn't answer, but instead said, "What do you want?"
"Did he do this?" he asked, his anger building. Her shoulders slumped slightly. "Sometimes, when we fight we get like this. It's no big deal."
"Bullshit, it is a big deal," he snapped, "I can't believe you're defending him. You'll break up with me-someone you love- but you'll stick with the guy who hits you."
He turned towards the door when she called after him softly, "You won't win against him, Reid." When he turned back to her she was standing. The bruise had become a faint yellow instead of the angry purple hue it had been before. Sarah touched his arm, causing him to look at her. "I told her she could stay here, but I'm afraid he'll come looking for her."
"Just let me go home," Amelia groaned, tossing the ice pack on the bed. Reid glared at her. "No! You're not going back there." He turned back to Sarah. "Tyler's spending the night with Diana, so she can stay at my place and sleep in his bed."
When they reached his room, Amelia had stopped protesting and resigned herself to the prospect. Reid rummaged through his dresser and threw her an undershirt. "It's the only thing I have clean that will fit you."
He turned away so she could change and waited until her heard her climb into Tyler's bed. When he turned around her back was to him and for the first time he was able to see her tattoo clearly. He knelt beside the bed and touched it lightly, causing her to jump. "Ames, I never meant to hurt you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Well, you did," she said just as softly. "What you did hurt me more than anything Jesse has or ever will."
"I still love you, you know."
She blinked at him, her eyes hardening. "No, I don't know."
"Ames-"
"People don't do what you did when they love someone, and I mean truly love someone," she said through clenched teeth, as she tried hard not to cry, "and I was stupid enough to believe that you did truly love me."
"No, that wasn't stupid. That wasn't stupid at all," he whispered, brushing her hair out of her face gently, "I do truly love you, Ames. I always have and I always will."
He fell back and ran a hand over his face. Amelia wasn't looking at him anymore. "I shouldn't have talked myself into believing you'd change, Reid. That's why I tried to stay away from you in the first place."
"I did change-"
"No, you didn't," she said quickly. "Would you just let me talk," he asked in exasperation, causing her to sit up. He stood and began to pace. "You always have to make everything so difficult. You just-"
"How do I make things difficult?"
"You just don't get it!"
She frowned at him. "Get what? That you're not in love with me?"
"No!" he practically yelled at her, feeling himself growing more and more impatient. He pinched the bridge of his nose before looking down at the floor to avoid her probing eyes. "You're it for me, Ames. You always have been."
Reid felt the air rush out of him as Amelia flung herself at him, burying her head in his chest. Reid blinked down at the top of her head in surprise for several seconds before finally encircling her with his arms. He couldn't hold her close enough it seemed. He kissed her softly. "You need to rest."
She nodded and climbed into his bed. Reid stood next to the bed, unsure of what to do for several seconds and she smiled at him. "I promise I won't try anything."
His shoulders shook with silent laughter as he climbed into the bed next to her, pulling her up against his chest. He sighed heavily against her, breathing in her scent. "I've missed this." She only sighed in response and Reid felt himself begin to fall into the deepest sleep he had had in months.
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Amelia was gone when Reid woke up. Callie and Pogue were sitting on Tyler's bed, staring at him. "She left before we got here," Callie said quietly, "Jesse was looking for her." Reid sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes "Seriously, I just want to know what the fuck is going on."
She nodded, and gestured towards the door, "We're just waiting for everyone to arrive."
As if on queue, Tyler, Caleb, Sarah, James, and Diana came in. Reid groaned when the last one to enter was Angela. However she looked much different from before. She was……..glowing.
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Song from the last chapter was "Le Disko" by Shiny Toy Guns. Awesome band. Review if you like.