Chapter 38: Chapter 37

Amelia's POV

The weekend flew by, with the calmness of Saturday blending into a peaceful Sunday. My parents returned late Sunday night, bringing with them the comforting warmth of home. Monday morning arrived, and I found myself sitting at the breakfast table, surrounded by the familiar sounds of my parents' cheerful chatter.

The breakfast spread was inviting—scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, toast with homemade jam, and fresh orange juice. It felt like the perfect way to start the day. My dad was already at the table, engrossed in his newspaper, while my mom busily arranged the last few items.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Mom greeted me with a smile as she placed a plate of pancakes in front of me. “Did you get enough rest?”

I returned her smile. “Yes, Mom. I missed you both.”

“We missed you too,” Dad said, lowering his newspaper and smiling warmly. “How was your weekend?”

“It was quiet but nice,” I replied, choosing my words carefully. “I got some reading done, phone time increased and had time to relax.”

“That sounds lovely,” Mom said as she took a seat beside me. “Everyone needs a little time to themselves now and then.”

The rest of breakfast was filled with light conversation and laughter, the kind that made me appreciate how much I valued these moments with my family.

Once we finished eating, I headed back to my room to get ready for the day. I slipped into my uniform, straightening the skirt and adjusting the blouse's collar. A quick glance in the mirror showed a mixture of anticipation and nerves on my face, but I was ready to face whatever the day had in store.

After grabbing my bag, I returned downstairs. “I’m heading to university,” I said, giving both my parents a quick hug. “See you later!”

“Have a great day, darling,” Mom called as I stepped out.

The walk to campus was refreshing, the morning sun casting a pleasant warmth over everything. As I approached the university, I noticed a crowd gathering near the entrance. Curiosity got the best of me, and I made my way over to see what was going on.

My heart raced when I saw Aiden at the center of it all, holding another student by the collar. His expression was intense, his knuckles white from the grip he had on the other boy’s shirt. The scene made my stomach drop; it was clear Aiden was ready to fight.

Suddenly, his eyes met mine. For a moment, everything else faded away. The noise of the crowd became distant as we stared at each other, his gaze full of unspoken emotions. My heart pounded in my chest, the tension between us almost palpable.

Others had noticed our silent exchange. Aiden seemed to snap out of it. With a forceful shove, he let the other boy go, who stumbled backward, looking terrified. Aiden’s attention was solely on me now.

Without breaking eye contact, he walked towards me. He leaned in just close enough for me to hear his low, intense words, "Since you’re always complaining about how much of a bully I am, I just let it go. Because you wanted it. So now, don’t complain about my actions, and see through it how badly I want you." He brushed past so closely that our shoulders touched. The brief contact sent a jolt through me, leaving me both confused and unnerved.

As Aiden continued on his way, the crowd slowly dispersed, but I remained standing there, trying to process what had just happened. My mind raced with questions—why had Aiden been so angry? And why did I feel so unsettled by it all? His words kept playing over and over in my head. Since you’re always complaining… don’t complain about my actions… see through it how badly I want you.

I bit my lip, trying to ignore the way my heart fluttered at the thought. But no matter how much I tried to push it away, I knew I wouldn’t be able to forget what he said anytime soon.

I shouldn't be late for class. I continued my walk to class, but my thoughts were miles away. What did he mean by that? Was he serious, or was he just messing with me like always? I didn’t know whether to be angry or to feel something else entirely, something that made my pulse quicken in a way I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

When I walked into the classroom, Rose and Maya were huddled together, giggling in a way that instantly made me suspicious. So France is on leave, I observe, writing mental notes to text him, making sure he's okay.

As I approached them Rose couldn’t resist making a comment.

"Well, look who’s here," Rose teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Someone's been having some interesting moments with my brother lately."

"What?" I look at her shocked. Today isn't Monday, it's Shockday.

Maya laughed, clearly in on the joke. "Totally. It’s like the campus's latest hot topic."

I gave them a sharp look, feeling a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "What are you two going on about?"

Rose grinned wider. "Oh, nothing much... just that your name seems to come up a lot when people talk about Aiden these days."

"What the hell?" I muttered, more to myself than to them, feeling a flush of irritation.

Maya tried to suppress her laughter. "Don’t worry, Amelia, it’s all in good fun. But seriously, you two have definitely caught people’s attention."

I rolled my eyes. "You both need to find something better to talk about."

But Rose only smiled, clearly enjoying herself. "Can you blame us? It’s not every day my brother is the subject of such intrigue due to some girl."

I was about to physically close her mouth up when the professor entered the class. If I do something now this man with the title of a professor will totally kick me out of the class I paid for.

.........................

The lecture ended. I told Maya and Rose wait for me in the to the cafeteria while I take my time gathering my things, hoping to avoid any more surprises. But as I headed out, there was Aiden, casually leaning against the wall near the door, clearly waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat, and I briefly considered turning back, but it was too late—his eyes had already locked onto mine.

“Amelia,” he said, his tone calm but with an underlying intensity.

I paused, then reluctantly walked over to him, doing my best to keep my expression unreadable. “What do you want, Aiden?”

He pushed himself off the wall, stepping closer. “We need to talk.”

I crossed my arms, trying to project more confidence than I felt. “About what? You’ve already said plenty.”

He shook his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you? But you don’t, Amelia. Not even close.”

My heart raced, but I kept my voice steady. “Then why don’t you spell it out for me?”

He moved even closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “You think I’m just messing with you, that this is some kind of game. But I’m not playing games, not with you.”

His words lingered in the air, heavy with meaning. I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. “So what do you really want from me?”

Aiden’s expression softened, his voice dropping slightly. “I want you to stop running from whatever this is between us. I want you to face it—face me. Because this... it’s not going away.”

I was at a loss for words. Everything about this was overwhelming and confusing, yet undeniable. “I don’t know if I can do that,” I finally whispered.

Aiden reached out, gently lifting my chin to meet his gaze. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just stop shutting me out. Let me in.”

Unsure of what else to do, I nodded, the gravity of his words settling over me. Aiden gave a small, a rare smile before stepping back, giving me space.

“I’ll see you around,” he said, turning to leave. As I watched him walk away, I knew something between us had changed—something significant, something real. And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what that meant.

I overcame my thoughts someohow and walked into the cafeteria, scanning the room until I spotted my friends—Rose, Maya, and Frances—sitting at our usual table. As I approached, I noticed Madison, the blonde girl who always seemed to have an issue with me, sitting nearby. She immediately caught sight of me and decided to ruin my day.

"Hey, Amelia," Madison said with a scowl. "Nice of you to show up. I heard you’ve been hanging out with Aiden."

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Madison smirked. "Oh, come on. Everyone’s talking about you and Aiden. It’s like you’re trying to make something out of nothing."

I felt a flush of embarrassment. "I talked to him. He's my class fellow. What’s the big issue?"

"The issue," Madison snapped, "is that you’re probably flirting with him, trying to get his attention. And now it seems like everyone thinks there’s something between you two. You are so desperate."

Rose and Maya quickly came to my defense. "Madison, mind your words," Rose said, her tone firm. " Whatever Amelia’s involved in is none of your business."

Maya added, "for sure, you should focus on your life rather than people around."

Madison wasn’t backing down. "Oh, please. It’s clear you’re trying to manipulate Aiden. You’re spreading gossip and acting like a bitch. Everybody knows Aiden is so above you, so uninterested in you and here you are daydreaming."

The room fell silent as students began to take notice. I felt a knot in my stomach from Madison’s harsh words. Just then, I felt a strong grip on my hand. I looked up, startled to see Aiden standing beside me, his hand firmly clasping mine.

"You’re mistaken about this, Madison," Aiden said, his voice clear and authoritative. He addressed Madison with unwavering confidence. "Everyone, Amelia and I are officially together."

The entire cafeteria filled with gasp and whispers absorbing Aiden’s declaration. My head spun as I tried to process the shock of his words. The campus was now fully aware of something I hadn’t anticipated.