Last Year

seven

Amelia woke up and stretched. She frowned. She did not remember getting into bed. She sat up straight and looked at the clock and realized it was almost noon. Did she sleep half the day away?

With a groan, she threw the covers aside and stood up. She noticed she was still wearing Clark's jacket. All the memories from last night came flooding back in. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that it was Saturday so she did not miss any of her classes.

She shivered and decided to just take a long hot shower. She noticed her cellphone by her bedside and she picked it up. There were a couple of messages from Melissa and Katie asking her if she wanted to hang out. She quickly sent a text message that maybe they wanted to lounge around by their pool.

Okay, be there after lunch! Melissa replied.

Mike's asking if he could come over as well... Ugh. My step-brother is such a pig! Kate also texted.

Sure. See you guys!

Amelia smiled as she was starting to feel better. She shrugged off Clark's jacket and laid it on her bed. She stared at it and remembered the moment they had last night. 

She shook her head not wanting to believe that Clark had feelings for her which equated to something more than platonic. Besides, Mark had made it pretty clear that his friends could not date his sister. That should hold more weight on Clark since he is the best friend.

However, Amelia could not help but feel glad that Clark was someone she could rely on. She was still not sure if she could consider herself attracted to him but it was for sure, she cared about the guy. They practically grew up together!

She shook her head and decided to take a quick shower instead of a long one. She had to prepare the pool for a small get together. It would be a nice change from the busy week and an eventful night.

Amelia emerged a few minutes after and noticed the buzzing of her phone. She frowned at the caller id. It was a number she did not have. She picked it up and realized too late who it was.

"Hi, It's Tristan. Please don't hang up."

Amelia swallowed and gritted her teeth. "What do you want? Don't you think you have caused enough trouble?"

"Amelia- I know I deserve your anger and - I- But, I just really want to talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about, Tristan. Please don't call me again. I'll have your number blocked."

"No. Can't you understand? I miss you! I want you back! I made a mistake!" He rasped into the phone.

Amelia felt a shiver run through her whole body, shaking her soul. It was frightening and nothing that indicated of residual feelings for the guy. No, her heart had died. He had killed that part of her.

"Listen, Tristan." She muttered, anger seething through her voice. "Leave me alone! I don't care about you or about what we had!"

She hung up and threw her phone on the bed in frustration. It was irritating how her life had become a cliché. Why did guys stamp over a girl's heart, destroy her dream of falling in love and then come groveling back after a while?

Amelia yanked the biggest shirt she could find from her closet. It was Mark's Beatles shirt that she loved. It fell just above her knee and was loose enough to make her feel cool and comfy. She donned her red bikini and slipped the shirt above her head.

She wanted to tie her hair back but decided she did not care. She just wanted to stuff her face with pancakes. It was so frustrating that Tristan just got to her. With a deep breath, she yanked her bedroom door open and headed purposely down to the kitchen.

She arrived in the kitchen and found a note from her mother saying that she was out on a client meeting and might be back before dinner. She opened the fridge and pulled out some eggs and butter. She was mixing the pancake batter and seasoning the scrambled the eggs when Mark came in the kitchen. He obviously just got out of bed as well.

"If you feed me, I'll be eternally grateful." He grumbled as he slumped down on one of the kitchen stools.

"You look awful." Amelia said.

Mark's hair was a mess, sticking out everywhere. He had bags under his eyes and he looked like he had not drunk water for a while. There was also some bruising on his temple and his knuckles were red and gnashed. He yawned and rested his chin on his arm while he watched her cook pancakes and eggs.

"Do you want yours sunny side up?" She asked, turning to open the fridge. She got orange juice and poured some in a glass then handed it to her brother.

He grunted with appreciation. "Over-easy please."

Amelia nodded and went back to flipping the pancakes. At that moment, their father came in dressed in his scrub suit, stethoscope hanging around his neck.

"You two slept in. Did you have a long night? How was the game?" He asked his children.

He rounded the corner and kissed Amelia on top of her head. She asked if he wanted some brunch but shook his head saying he had to do his rounds in the hospital.

"Mark, who's snoring loudly from the guest bedroom?" He asked, pouring himself orange juice as well.

Mark chuckled. "That would be Clark. He was so drunk last night, I dragged him into the guest room. I was thinking of leaving him there at Tom's place but er- well, most of the rooms were occupied. Our house was nearest and I was too tired to drive towards the opposite direction of town."

Robert Chandler shook his head. "You kids nowadays, all that drinking and s*x. I hope you're using protection!"

Amelia and Mark let out sounds of protest and disgust which garnered a chuckle from their father. He shrugged and raised his hands at his two children.

"Well, I just hope you're both being careful. Especially you, princess." He announced, ruffling Amelia's wavy hair.

"Yuck. It's too early in the day, dad."

"Too early in my life!” Mark grunted with agreement.

He grinned and kissed his daughter on the cheek before heading out through the side door, saying goodbye to his kids.

"He's in a pretty good mood today." Amelia mused. "Not a word about last night's game!"

Mark shrugged, sitting up and yawning. "I guess he's happy you're in one piece. You were knocked out tired last night by the way. I had to carry you to bed. No wonder I was extra tired. All that weight..."

Amelia threw him a piece of pancake she was chewing on.

"Maybe you don't want brunch after all!”

Mark raised his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry! Please feed me!" He wailed dramatically. "Oh, can you make some for Clark as well?"

Amelia nodded and felt her cheeks redden a bit. It was weird that she would feel nervous that Clark was in their house. He practically lived with them one summer during sophomore year. He was always around that he’s part of family.

"Lia, can I ask you something?"

Amelia flipped the frying egg slowly on the yolk side and looked up at Mark. "Shoot!"

"Do you want to talk to Tristan?" He asked, his voice serious.

She sighed and informed Mark that the guy actually called her. She was surprised that he did not react violently. It was either he was still too sleepy or he just did not have enough energy to do so.

"And? How did that make you feel?" He asked carefully, taking a small sip of the orange juice.

"Angry. I don't want to talk to him, at all." She muttered, irritation starting to bubble up on the surface. "He messed me up pretty bad. I don't think I can forgive him for that but I can certainly forget him, right?"

Mark nodded and grinned. "Good."

Amelia placed a stack of pancakes in one plate and the eggs on the other. She turned off the stove and carried the plate over to where her brother was sitting.

"Why did you ask?" She continued, sitting dow beside him while laying the plate of food in front of them. "Are you worried I'd be getting back with him?"

Mark scrunched his nose at her. "You wouldn't dare."

Amelia giggled. "Silly, Marky."

They ate in silence, each lost in thought. Amelia got up to get herself some orange juice and when she returned to her seat, Mark was looking at her funny.

"What? Do I have batter on my face?" She asked.

He shook his head and cleared his throat. "Lia, is there -um- is there going to be a problem with you and Clark?"

She paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Nothing. It's just that you two have been spending time together a lot." Mark began and Amelia laughed, taking a bite out of her pancake.

"Hardly! You're getting paranoid, Mark." She replied.

"Okay- but, you two have gotten pretty close, right?" He pressed, worry clear in his voice. "I mean- he got you out of that parking lot and stayed with you until I arrived. He told me about how he was there when Bruce was trying to ask you out. He seems around you a lot more than usual that's all."

Amelia rolled her eyes. "And whose fault is that? Don't think I don't know about how you've requested your best friend to keep an eye out for me as well."

Mark shrugged. "You can't blame me."

Amelia sighed and faced her brother squarely. She pushed her glasses up before speaking.

"What's the deal, Mark. Get to the point. What are you actually afraid of?"

Mark chewed carefully and rolled his eyes. "I guess I'm going to be a little bit freaked out if you two decided to hook up."

As if on cue, Clark's groggy voice echoed in the kitchen.

"Who's hooking up?" He asked, sleepily rubbing his eyes. "Man, did I hook up with anybody last night? Please tell me no!"

Amelia smiled but she suddenly lost her appetite. She stood up and got a plate and fork for Clark who plopped down her vacated seat. He looked as terrible as Mark, his hair completely obscuring his eyes as he propped his head on his hands, elbows on the kitchen counter.

Mark laughed and pushed his glass of orange juice towards Clark. He finished it in one gulp. Amelia tried not to notice too much how sexy his neck looked when arched back. He slammed the glass on the counter.

"Could I have some of that good stuff?" He mumbled to Amelia.

"Careful, you're talking to my sister. It's too early for innuendos, Clarky boy!" Mark muttered, getting up to fetch more juice for both of them. "If you're nice, she'll feed you pancakes and eggs."

Clark blinked and met Amelia's eyes across the counter. He gave her a small, shy smile. She found herself feeling sheepish. What the hell was going on?

"Pretty please- I want scrambled eggs and pancakes moommmyyy.." He yawned out, giving her puppy dog eyes.

Amelia felt her heart stutter but she laughed it off .

"Sure, honey." She teased back.

Mark sat back down and scowled at her direction. She stuck her tongue out at him. He poured orange juice on the empty glass and passed it to Clark.

"Stop flirting with my sister, dude." He snapped.

Amelia rolled her eyes at her brother as Clark chuckled.

"It's not flirting. We're in love." He declared, dramatically gesturing his arms like he was announcing the whole thing on stage. "Aren't we, Amelia? Tell this young gentleman of our undying affection, mon cherie!"

Amelia giggled as Mark slapped Clark at the back of his head.

"You're obviously too hung over, Romeo." She declared as she placed the plate of food in front of him. She ruffled his hair before grabbing her own plate and sitting on the other side of Mark.

"By the way, Kate is coming over with Melissa and Mike. We're having a pool party." Amelia announced hoping that it would redirect her brother's attention from the silly notion of Clark and her.

"We aren't invited?" Clark murmured, his mouth filled with pancakes and eggs.

"Don't talk while your mouth is full." Amelia teased. "Of course you are! I'm sure my brother's not going to miss seeing Kate in a bikini."

Mark protested and Clark laughed out loud. 

"She's on to you, dude." he teased Mark. “You’re in trouble!”

"Oh my god! You can't think that you and Kate aren't obviously flirting? You two are practically fore-playing!" Amelia teased which made Clark laugh even harder.

Mark glared at both of them. "You two are crazy!"

"Are we?" Clark asked, obviously more awake now than a while ago. He was grinning mischievously at Amelia who was also giggling now.

“Okay! Fine. I like Kate- she's hot!" Mark announced. "But, she's Mike's sister."

"Half sister!" Clark and Amelia corrected in unison.

Mark huffed. "Still the same enchilada if you ask me."

Amelia frowned. "What's wrong with that? Shouldn't Mike be happy that his sister is going to be dating someone he's known half of his life?"

Mark stood up and began rinsing his plate before putting it in the dishwasher. He turned to face both of them, his face serious.

"That might be the case but you got to understand, Lee, there's a bro code." He announced. "A brother cannot date his homey's sister."

He shot Clark a piercing look and then wiggled his eyebrow at Amelia. "So, no matter how much I would like to ask Kate out, I won't because she's Mike's sister. Period."

Amelia and Clark exchanged looks, shaking their heads in defeat. Amelia was sad because Kate really liked her brother and it would be so cool if they got together.

"Well, for the record, brother," Amelia announced, getting off the stool and delivering her plate to the sink. "Kate is pretty crazy about you..."

With a quick peck on her brother's cheek, Amelia left the kitchen avoiding Clark's gaze. Let Mark make whatever he wanted with information. It was high time her brother had a love life of his own so he could get off the wagon of being such an over protective, nosy brother.

The girls were lounging in the pool chairs, soaking up the warm afternoon sun while the guys were playing basketball in the pool. Mike arrived with the girls and a couple of minutes later, Alex and Tom arrived with Jason and another member of the basketball team named Chris.

Amelia decided to order pizza so that they had something to snack on. Mark got out the cooler and went to the grocery with Clark to get sodas and beers. It was a good idea to just chill by the pool since everyone was pretty much hung over; even Kate who rarely drank.

"I can't believe you were sucking face with some random guy last night, Mel!" Kate muttered, sticking her tongue out in disgust at Melissa.

"What?" Amelia exclaimed. "With who?"

Melissa groaned. "I was smashed okay? I did not care! He looked pretty hot."

Katie burst out laughing. "It was Keith Stewart!"

Amelia's eyes bulged and she laughed louder. Soon Kate and her were bent over laughing while Melissa tried to hit them with a pool noodle.

"What's so funny?" Alex asked from the pool, the boys got curious.

"Melissa made out with Keith Stewart!" Kate announced before getting lost in a fit of giggles.

"The chess geek?" Clark cried out, shocked. "I thought you hated the guy. Oh wow! Way to go cuz!"

Everyone started laughing. It was not because they thought Keith was a geek but rather that thought that Melissa would even make out with him. Keith was not bad looking, he was just an awkward nerd who never really cared about other stuff in school except the classes and chess.

He was rumored to have a crush on Melissa but knowing her taste in guys, Keith Stewart was the last thing anyone would imagine Mel would make out with.

"Whatever you were serving in that party, Tommy, it's pretty strong if it made Keith look like some hot Calvin Klein model!" Melissa shouted, standing up and trying to hit each of the guy in the pool with the noodle.

Tom finally caught the tube and tugged, sending Melissa into the pool with a splash. A water fight ensued and it left Kate and Amelia, giggling in the lounge area. With the attention away from them, Kate turned to Amelia.

"So, what's up? You said Tristan called you?"

She nodded. "I hung up on him. He said he wants to talk- he wants me back... blah blah blah"

Kate shook her head in disbelief. "Can you imagine the nerve of that guy? Did he say that he made a mistake?"

Amelia nodded. "I felt scared, actually. It sounded like he wasn't going to give up so easily."

Kate frowned. "Don't worry, we'll keep our guards up a little. Anyway, where were you last night? You stayed out with Clark for a while..."

Amelia shrugged. "I did not feel like partying. I was tired and Mark had to carry me up to bed."

"Okay- I get that part but what I'm asking is about you and Clark."

"Nothing. Nothing is happening between me and Clark. You guys are hallucinating or something!"

Kate shook her head and looked at the commotion in the pool. The guys were back to playing basketball with Melissa in one of the teams.

"Hmm... I'm not imagining things, Lia. I really think that Clark has a thing for you." She mused, grinning like a banshee.

Amelia decided to ignore the jibe. "Oh yeah? What about you and my brother?"

Kate scoffed. "It's a one sided admiration!”

"No it isn't! My brother likes you!" Amelia hissed. "The only reason why he hasn't asked you out yet is because you're Mike's sister!"

"Shut up! Don't play with me, Lia!" Kate gushed, her eyes widening with excitement.

"I'm not playing! Don't you think I know my own twin?" Amelia replied.

Kate laid back and watched the game, her eyes squinted, deep in thought.

"So, there's no way he's going to ask me out? Just because Mike's my step brother?" Kate repeated.

Amelia nodded. She did not feel guilty of betraying Mark. She just wanted her brother to be happy and she was positive that Kate is the girl for her brother. 

Kate is gorgeous, smart, athletic and pretty down to earth. She isn't a flirt as well. In fact, Kate had been single for too long which Amelia picked up on as her way of waiting for Mark to make his move.

"What are you planning, Katie?" Amelia asked, suspicion rising.

Kate flashed her a dazzling smile. "Why nothing, dear Lia." She stood up and took off her sunglasses. "I'm just going to make sure your brother gets enough of me to drive him crazy. Sooner or later he'll cave."

"That's your plan? Drive him nuts?"

Kate winked. "Guys will always want what they think they cannot have. Since he thinks I'm off limits just coz of some silly bro code, well, i'm not going to make it easy for him. I'll make sure he sees and knows what he's missing out on."

Amelia shook her head in disbelief. "You're out of your mind!”

"You don't mind do you?" Kate asked, serious now.

Amelia nodded. "There's nothing in this world I wouldn't like more than for you to hook up with my brother! He deserves someone as crazy as you to make him happy."

Kate smiled and hugged Amelia. "Thanks Amelia. You know I love you like a sister, right?"

She nodded. "I love you too."

Kate pulled back. "But seriously, you should start seeing Clark more clearly because that guy is smitten with you."

Amelia shook her head. Kate just shrugged.

"Now, let the operation make Mark unable to resist me begin!" Kate whispered, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Okay guys, let's play a game! The one who knocks the other into the water wins! Mark, I want to sit on your shoulders. Are you game Mel?"

Amelia had to shake her head, amazed at Kate's bold move. She laughed as Kate jumped into the pool and swam towards Mark, who looked pleased enough to let her get on his shoulder. Amelia grinned mischievously.

"I take it you and Kate had a pretty interesting conversation about Mark, huh?"

Amelia jumped. She didn't notice that Clark had gotten out of the water and was standing next to her.

"Shh... Don't tell my brother." Amelia replied. "What can I say? They would be perfect for each other."

Amelia looked with amusement as Melissa and Katie tried to knock each other in the water. Amelia was too caught up with the scene in the pool that she did not notice Clark looking at her when he echoed her sentiments.

"Yeah... they're perfect for each other." He whispered.