Last Year

three

Amelia parked the car at the end of their circular driveway. Sometimes, she felt that the house really was too big for their family of four. She grabbed her things and headed straight for the side entrance that lead into the kitchen. She did not want to have a chance encounter with her father at the moment.

Robert Chandler is a well known physician in the city. Being a doctor, he tended to be a bit too OC for his daughter. It only got worse after what happened late last year. Ever since then, like her brother, their father was way too protective of her.

A couple of times during the past month, Amelia had to argue a lot with him just so he would consider letting her back to school and do her normal routine. She was really trying her best to be patient and understanding. None of this was their fault and she was the only person to be blamed. However, she just wished they would stop acting like every little thing could break her.

So, to lessen the tension, Amelia avoided her father as much as she could. Mark's overprotectiveness, she could stomach, her father's theatrics- nope!

She opened the door and was greeted by the savory smell of Pesto, Tomato and Garlic. She was also greeted by her mother who looked chic in an apron.

Lillian Chandler used to be a professional chef before deciding to become a personal chef and then write her own cookbook. The book had skyrocketed in sales and her mother had somehow become a celebrity overnight. It did help that she looked like a movie star to boot. However, it did not change her mother's disposition. She's still down to earth and absolutely adored being a homemaker and mother.

"Hey sweetie." She greeted Amelia, kissing her on the forehead. "Did you have a good day in school?"

Amelia could read between the lines. She was grateful that her mother was not the nagging type and she seem to have understood the need to give Amelia some space. She definitely was trying her best not to add to the tension between father and daughter. But, being a mother, it was also natural for her to worry a lot.

Amelia knew she was asking more than just a day in school. She was asking if her daughter felt well. If she was all right on the inside.

"It was great, mom." She replied, kissing her mom on the cheek. "Mark's going to be a little late. He said he called you?"

"Yes. He did but, I do hope he makes it in time for dinner." Lillian replied stirring the pot. "Here, taste and tell me if I didn't overdo the salt."

Amelia took the teaspoon and tasted the pesto her mother was making. It was heavenly and she said so. Her mother beamed with joy and then started cutting bread for the pasta.

"Who are we hosting tonight, mom?"

"Oh. Your father just got elected into the board of directors for St. Michael's Hospital. He's invited his colleagues and their family for a get together so that he could get to know them." Her mother explained.

"I see. So, I have to get dressed like-dressed, dressed?" Amelia asked. 

She looked down at her normal school ensemble of jeans, button down plaid blouse and converse. She rarely dressed up in one of those short dresses and skirts that her mother had bought her. Those clothing were pushed at the far end of her small walk in closet.

"Honey, you used to love to dress up, remember?" Lillian said. "I remember you used to wear a skirt on date night and that--OH.."

The bread knife clattered on the counter top and Amelia watched as her mother's hand covered her mouth with surprise, her eyes wide with fear.

"Oh honey- I'm so sorry - I.." She stammered, walking over to Amelia who was more shocked at her mother than what was said.

"Mom, it's okay. I'm fine." She said while her mother hugged her. "Really. Mom- what? Are you crying?"

She heard her mother sniffle and she just sighed. She wrapped her arms tightly around her mother and smiled. "It's okay, mom. Stop crying. I'm fine. Please."

"Oh I'm just being silly, am I?" Her mother said shakily as she pulled away to look down on her daughter's face. "It's just that I get so worried about you and..."

Amelia smiled despite the lump that was forming in her throat. She could never forgive herself for putting her mother and family through the experience but she knew she had a lifetime to prove and make up for it.

"I'm sorry, mom. I know it has been really difficult. But," She sighed and wiped her mother's tear stained cheek. "I promise you- it will be okay. Just please trust me again..."

Lillian sighed heavily and pulled her daughter back in for a hug.

"I don't want to lose you, baby."

"You won't, okay?"

Amelia squeezed her mother one more time before commenting on the food that was still being cooked. Her mother yelped and ran towards the stove to turn the heat off. Amelia smiled and told her mother that she was taking a short nap before dinner time.

She trudged up the wide staircase and entered her room. She threw her bag on the table and crawled on her bed before falling asleep.

"This is our daughter, Amelia,"

Amelia smiled and greeted Dr. Carlisle and his wife, Jane. They shook her hand and proceeded towards the back patio where her mom had asked her caterers to set up the cocktails.

"Dr. Johnson! How nice of you to make it!"

Amelia watched as her father graciously and enthusiastically greeted the good looking doctor as he stepped into their foyer. She smiled and shook his hand as her dad introduced her. They had been standing for almost half an hour and Amelia's feet were killing her.

She wanted to wear her comfortable ballerina flats at least for the party but the dress required her to wear high heels. Amelia was not short but she wasn't that tall either. Usually, in her converse, she could reach up to Mark's jaw. She was between 5'5 and 5'6". However, the heels made her almost as tall as her father.

"Your daughter is very pretty!" The next couple have arrived and the lady commented on Amelia.

Amelia had to wear contact lenses because she knew her father wanted to impress people tonight. Glasses would not look good with her soft pink chiffon mini-dress. It was flowy and hung just above her knee with a sweetheart neckline. She twisted her hair into a clean chignon and wore her mother's pearl earrings and necklace.

"Thank you, Mrs. Gibbon. Do you have kids of your own?" She asked politely.

"Why yes, but they are in college at the moment." The elder woman replied, before moving along. Finally, the doorway was empty and Robert turned to her daughter, smiling very proudly.

"You look beautiful, kiddo. Now, where's your brother? Tonight's a pretty important night." He said, squeezing her hand.

"I'm sure he's on his way dad. He could not skip practice because he has a game tomorrow remember? First game of the season!" She replied, smiling at her father.

"Are you going to watch?" He asked slowly. Amelia knew there was more to that question.

"Probably." She replied, looking at the door suddenly wishing that a guest would arrive soon.

"I see. Will there be people...?"

Amelia rolled her eyes at her father. "Of course, Dad. Why don't you just get to the point?"

"Now don't get snippy, Amelia. I don't want us to argue right now. I'm just asking if certain people will be there."

"Yes, dad. They go to my school too." She replied through gritted teeth. "And, don't worry, I'll be perfectly fine. Mark will be there along with his friends. I'll be with Kate and Melissa. I'm pretty sure no one is going to let me out of their sight."

"Hmm.. Maybe your mom and I could watch tomorrow night..."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. Their parents were supportive and tried their best to go to Mark's every game but being a doctor and a chef meant that their hours were usually not theirs to control. Amelia was pretty sure her dad was contemplating on going just so he could keep an eye on her the whole night.

But, to avoid arguing and ruining the night for both of them, Amelia just nodded and replied:

"That would be great- we could all cheer for Mark. It's his last year to take another shot at the championship."

Amelia shut her mouth and tried not to think about the fact that Mark missed his championship game last year because of what happened. As if on cue, the open door showed Clark's Jeep swerving down the driveway.

"Oh, there's Mark. Wait dad, I need to ask Clark something about our chemistry homework."

Amelia rushed out towards the front steps to meet her brother. It was actually an excuse to get away from her dad. She did not even have chemistry class with Clark. They only shared Literature and Calculus.

"Thanks for the lift, man. See you tomorrow!" She heard her brother call out.

"Clark, wait!" Amelia called out.

Mark looked at her, confused. She turned to him and muttered:

"You better go in there and change or dad'll have a fit. He's itching to show off his basketball star to his guests. Go! I just need to ask Clark something."

"If it's about Bruce- yes, he told me. We'll talk about it later." Mark replied.

"No- shush! Just go okay?"

Mark waved his hand and ran up the steps and into the house. Amelia heard Clark shut the engine off and he came around to talk to her. He stopped short when he saw her.

"Whoa! Who are you?" He teased. "I didn't know Mark had another sister. A hot one at that!"

Amelia made a face. "Shut up, Clarky boy."

"Amelia, don't stay out too long. Dinner is about to start. Why don't you invite Clark in? He can have dinner with us. He could borrow your brother's clothes." Her dad called out from the doorway.

Clark waved. "Thanks, Mr. Chandler. But, I got to get home for dinner too."

"Okay." Robert replied before disappearing inside.

"So, what're you going to ask me?" Clark said giving her a smile, showing his dimple.

"Uh- nothing really." She replied, flushing. "I just needed an excuse to get away from my dad for a while. He was channeling Mark, if you know what I mean."

Clark chuckled. "That bad huh? Well, that's twice now that I had to save your ass."

Amelia frowned and slapped him on the shoulder. "Are we keeping count? What happened to being friends and protecting each other?"

He laughed and Amelia turned to look back at the house. She sighed, thinking that she'd better go in. She turned back to Clark to say goodbye but stopped because he was just looking at her. Staring was more like it as if he was lost in thought. He looked dumbstruck.

"Hey, Clarky boy! Are you okay?" She asked, tapping him on the arm.

He blinked then smiled. "Oh- yeah- sorry, I was just um-dozing off inside my head. I'm tired."

Amelia smiled and on cue again, her brother poked his head out the open front door.

"What are you two doing down there? Come on, Leelee. Don't leave me here with these people!" He hissed. "Dude, leave! You have a date remember?"

Amelia turned to Clark who was suddenly blushing. "Ooh..someone has a date. You go, Clarky boy!"

He just gave her a small grin and was about to tug on her ponytail until he noticed that her hair wasn't done that way. He frowned and then just shook his head.

"See you, Leelee!" He muttered before jogging around his jeep and getting in.

Amelia waved goodbye and walked back into the house where Mark was waiting by the door. She sighed because she knew they would be talking about Bruce before they'd join the party. Now, Amelia wished her dad was there to nag them both to come and join the festivities.

"Okay, what was that all about?" Mark asked. "What did you want to ask Clark?"

Amelia frowned. "You seriously have to stop being paranoid whenever I am close or alone with Clark, bro!" She quipped. "You act as if we'd do something behind your back or what... Don't you trust your best friend?"

Mark opened his mouth to protest or say something then closed it again. He relaxed a bit and shrugged. "Whatever. Just tell me about Bruce. Did he come on to you? Do I need to beat him up?"

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Bruce is pretty bulkier than you are. You might end up hurt." She teased.

Mark frowned. "I can take him on, trust me. You just have to tell me if he did something and I'll take care of it."

Amelia sighed heavily and tugged her brother's arm, pulling him towards the direction of the party. "Nope, he did not do anything. One of your guard dogs was there, remember?"

"It's really starting to get annoying, all these over protective stuff." She muttered.

"I'm sorry, Leelee. I can't help it. When I think about- when I remember you-"

"Would it help if I told you that I'm pretty positive that I'm not ready to go into another relationship at the moment?" She told her brother, soothing his arm as they neared the sliding doors that lead to the patio.

Mark stopped and looked at his sister, concern filling his eyes.

"True?"

She nodded. "Don't worry, Mark. I'm smarter now, remember?"

He finally grinned and let out a deep breath. "You should be. Still, I won't leave you alone until I know you're ready. You just can't ask me not to, Leelee. I love you. You're my sister. If anything happened to you again, I wouldn't know what to do..."

Amelia nodded and squeezed his arm affectionately. "Okay fine. But, try to turn it down a notch, okay?"

He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh by the way, " Amelia asked before they stepped out. "When are you going to do something about Kate?"

Mark quickly looked away from her and laughed nervously. "What do you mean? Come on, I see dad waving us over."

Amelia could not help but giggle. Fine. I'll leave that alone for tonight. She thought with a small smile.