When Amelia woke up the next day, she rolled onto her other side, seeing Victoria's bed empty with a pang. I forgot to wish her good luck for getting the violin part in the play…
Amelia stiffened when she heard a knock on the door, but relaxed when she heard Anne's voice. "Amelia, wake up, it's almost time to go to your lesson."
She rolled onto her back and muttered, "I don't want to go."
The door opened and Anne stepped inside, closing the door behind her before heading over and sitting on Amelia's bed. "What's wrong?"
Amelia turned her head away. "Nothing."
A silence stretched uncomfortably between them before Anne murmured, "Victoria told me what happened last night when I took her to her class. I'm sorry that I never asked what Bradley did to you."
"It wasn't your fault," Amelia replied tersely.
Anne sighed and stood. "I'll tell your teacher that you're sick." She then opened the door and walked out, closing it.
Amelia lied in bed for a few more minutes before heaving herself up and off. "Might as well go out," she muttered to herself and walked to the dresser, pulling out some winter clothes.
Soon, she was walking across the backyard of the orphanage, heading toward a large oak. There, Amelia climbed up and lied down on a branch, staring up at the dying leaves and letting herself be lost in thought.
"Director Fury?"
A large man with an eye patch covering his left eye placed a finger on his ear piece. "What is it, Agent Peterson?"
"Was Romanoff sent to New York?"
Fury frowned. "No, why?"
"Well, I see a girl in a tree that looks very similar to Romanoff and Barton."
"Send a picture," Fury ordered, holding back a sigh. Ever since the Avengers went their own ways for now, it seems as if all of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been jumpy.
"Yes, sir."
He headed over to a screen and watched as the photo came through, causing him to blink in surprise. "I see what you mean," Fury muttered. "Keep an eye on her, but don't contact Barton or Romanoff, it could just be a coincidence."
"Very well, sir."
Amelia tossed the basketball to the hoop, her breath billowing in the frigid air. The ball hit the side and bounced back into the snow with a crunch.
Walking over to it, she leaned down and scooped it up as a voice said, "It's almost December!"
Startled, Amelia wheeled around, prepared to throw the basketball. "Victoria!" She gasped. "Sorry! You scared me."
Victoria laughed and crunched over to her friend. "It's cool."
"Is it too late to tell you good luck?" Amelia asked sheepishly.
"Yeah, sorry," Victoria replied. "But I did do well and I got the part!"
"Awesome!" Amelia cheered and gave her friend a high five, eyes glowing. "I'm glad you got the part you wanted."
Victoria grinned. "Me too. Wanna play tiger?"
"You're on." Amelia turned and walked off to the wall of the orphanage, leaning down to pluck two pieces of chalk from a box. Then, she drew five lines in blue and five lines in red. "I'm red," she called to Victoria, putting the chalk away and jogging over to her friend.
Victoria turned, basketball in hands, and bent her knees, leaping up to throw it. "Score!" She cheered as the ball soared into the hoop.
"Beginner's luck," Amelia scoffed and retrieved the ball, bending her knees as she placed one hand behind the ball and the other on the side. Then, she jumped and tossed the basketball, which rolled along the hoop rail and slipped into the hoop. "Yes!"
Once their game had finished, Amelia had lost big time. After scoring two more shots, the basketball kept bouncing off of the basket. And, of course, Victoria being the winner was allowed to talk about whatever she wanted. Surprisingly, her choice wasn't about Amelia's supposed parentage.
"I wish I could be related to a superhero or something," she mused softly.
Amelia gave a quirkily smirk and replied, "Sure you are! Uhh… your dad is… Music Man! And your mom is… er, Violin Woman!"
Victoria stared at Amelia before slugging her in the arm.
"Ow!" Amelia yelped and jumped back. "What was that for?!"
"Music Man and Violin Woman? Really, Amelia? Really?"
She gave a sly grin and laughed softly. "Right, sorry about that. You know I'm terrible at making that stuff up."
Victoria's eyes twinkled. "Well, since this conversation is brought up, why won't you believe that you are related to those two spies?"
So much for the topic not being about Amelia's supposed parentage.
Amelia groaned and dodged the question by asking, "Why are you so obsessed about this?" Victoria studied her friend before replying.
"Because you and I both know it's true. Why won't you ever answer that question I ask?"
Amelia's jaw tightened but almost immediately relaxed it and shrugged. "Because I have no answer."
Victoria didn't look convinced but dropped it. "Anyway, December is coming up! Just two more days!"
Amelia frowned. "Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute; didn't you say last night it was about a month away?"
"I can't believe you fell for that!" Her friend crowed, laughing as she whipped around and raced back into the orphanage.
Amelia blinked in surprise before chasing after Victoria. "Why you little-!"