Amelia’s pov

I don’t know what came over me when I cupped Kamryn’s face, but something told me to do it and I felt him relax, even a little, but when he looked into my eyes I knew that he could still see the fear in my eyes that I knew wasn’t going to go away.

“Sorry” I said, removing my hands from his face before sitting down again.

“No, I’m sorry” he said, looking down at the floor before looking back at me “I didn’t mean to scare you more” he added, letting out a breath.

“You didn’t, but you looked like you were about to murder someone and I didn’t want that to happen on my behalf.” I said, looking at him. He still looks like he wanted to murder the guy, but he was calmer than he had been when I got done telling him what happened. We stayed quiet for a few moments after that. I looked around the office, noticing all the pictures he had of Kevin, the previous shop owner.

“He was like a father to me” I heard him say and turned around to find him looking at me with a sad look in his eyes. “I lost my parents when I was sixteen. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t sure how to pay to keep my house, so I got a job here after school and after graduation I started working all day and not going home until late at night. Every check I got went for the mortgage and utilities. At least until Kevin learned what was going on” he said, still looking at me and I found I couldn’t look away. “After that he told me to save up for college, but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to leave for at least two years.” he added, smiling at what I can only assume is the memory.

“But you bought the shop instead,” I said, smiling at him.

“Yeah, Kevin was ready, but didn’t have anyone to pass the shop to, so I used the money to buy it from him so he could retire. It was the least I could do for him after all he did for me.” he said, looking up at me.

“At least you have hard work to show. I won’t have anything. Everyone will know that my dad gave me the company because he didn’t have a choice” I said, looking away. I didn’t want to see the pity in his eyes.

“But is that what you want?” he asked, I felt my breathing stop because no one has asked me about what I want, not even my dad.

“No. I don’t want to waste away in some company that I have nothing to do with.” I said, but I still couldn’t look at him.

“What do you want to do, Amelia? You seem like the type to ditch this town the second you can” he said, laughing a little.

“Yeah, that is something that I would do, but I’m not sure I can leave my mom, but at the same time I can’t let her hold me back from getting out of town” I said, voice lower than usual.

“No you can’t” he said “take it from someone who should’ve left” he added, softly, so softly I almost didn’t hear him.

“What would you have done if you left?” I asked, looking at him curiously.

“You want to know something, Amelia? You’re the first person to ever ask me that” he said, smiling at me.

“Really?” I asked, looking at him and then around the shop “so, you’re telling me that you would stay here indefinitely?” I asked with a small smile on my face.

“No, not indefinitely, but a year maybe two tops because as soon as I had the money saved up I would travel to Venice” he said, looking at the ceiling with a small smile on his face. I’m not sure what made this conversation so easy, but it was. That also made leaving harder.

“Do you think that guy is gone?” I asked, reluctant to leave and also not wanting to.

“He should be, but if you want to hang out a little longer you can.” he offered and I took him up on it. I stayed for another hour, but I managed to finish almost all of my homework. When I finally did leave it wasn’t without some reward. I got Kamryn’s number and a promise to text him as soon as I was home. I had a feeling that this wasn’t going to be the last time I find myself at Kamryn’s shop when my car doesn’t need service.


Kamryn’s pov

I watched Amelia’s jeep until she turned down a street and was out of sight. I sighed and went back to work. When it was time to close down for the day we managed to finish all, but two cars, which is a win considering we’ve been behind about four cars for two weeks. I wasn’t able to check my phone until I got home, but I was grateful to see that Amelia made it home with no problems.

‘Hey, it’s Amelia. I got home with no problems. Thanks for letting me hangout.’ I couldn’t help, but smile as I replied to her text.

‘No problem :) anytime you feel unsafe just come to the shop’ I set my phone down and go ready for bed. I wasn’t expecting to hear from her until the morning, but when I picked up my phone I had an unread message.

‘Be careful offering that. I could take you up on it.’ I chuckled a little and noticed that it was eleven at night. What was she doing up still?

‘Maybe I offered because I want you to take it? Also, why are you still up?’

‘I had homework to finish, but then I got lost in the book I’m reading. Careful, Kamryn I might be at the shop everyday’ I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not, but I was hoping she wasn’t.

‘You sound like that would be a bad thing?’

‘I wouldn’t want to be a distraction’

‘You wouldn’t be. Trust me’

‘Okay. Not to cut this conversation short, but I really need to go to bed.’

‘Don’t feel bad. I need to go to bed, too. I will talk to you tomorrow’

‘Good night, Kamryn’

‘Good night, Amelia’ I set my alarm like usual and fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning it was my alarm going off and for the first time in a long time I realized that I slept through till my alarm. I smiled to myself and got up for the day.

‘Good morning. Let me know if you have any trouble today.’ I got a response back almost immediately.

‘I will. I promise’ I smiled at that and got ready for the day secretly hoping to see Amelia again.


Amelia’s pov

I really didn’t want to get up the next morning. This was nothing new for me. The only thing saving my day was texting Kamryn. I was hoping that if I did go to the shop today it was because I wanted to and not because I was hiding from a stalker. I finally climbed out of bed and got ready for the day. The good thing about Rosa coming in later was she always meal prepped  breakfast for me. She made ten meals every two weeks so I didn’t have to worry about eating cereal every day. I smiled at my choices today: breakfast burrito or overnight oats. I grabbed one of each, heating up the burrito and putting the oats in my bag in case I get hungry later. I let the burrito cool before walking out to the jeep. Thankfully, I let the dogs out before I left because otherwise I wouldn’t be having a peaceful breakfast. My phone dinged with a text. I pulled it out expecting it to be Kamryn, but it was Lydia.

‘Car is dead and I don’t want to fight with it. Give a sister a ride?’

‘Always’ I finished my breakfast burrito and drove to Lydia’s.

“Have I told you lately how much I love that you’re my friend?” she asked, climbing into the jeep.

“Not lately, but you never have to.” I said, laughing as I drove us to school.

After school I thankfully didn’t see the guy from yesterday, but that didn’t mean anything.

“You okay, Amelia?” I heard Lydia ask me. But all I could do was shake my head at her as we walked to the jeep.

“Do you need me to jump your car before I go?” I asked, pulling up to Lydia’s house.

“Probably should” she said, hopping out and walking to her car. I got out and got out my jumper cables and popped the hood.

“All set” I said, walking to the jeep to rev it up to give Lydia’s car juice. It took a couple tries, but we finally got it.

“I think it’s time for a new battery” I said, removing the cables.

“Or a new car” Lydia murmured, closing her hood.

“I wasn’t trying to go that far with it” I said, laughing as I closed my hood.

“Thanks, but no need to spare my feelings. I’ve put a lot into her over the years and it’s just almost that time. I’ll run her to the shop and see if they have time to change  out the battery” she said, sighing.

“I know this wasn’t what you wanted to do today” I said, backing up so I could follow her to give her a ride in case she needed it.


Declan’s pov

Just because she can’t see me doesn’t mean I’m not watching her.

“Oh, my dear one just because you can’t see me doesn’t mean I can’t see you” I smiled as I watched her and her friends, but it dropped as soon as I noticed where they were headed. “I see I have competition,” I said, continuing to watch. After a few minutes I stopped because I was getting angrier and that doesn’t mix well with magic. I was on my second drink when a knock sounded at my door.

“Come in” I called knowing who was there before he walked through the door. “Ah, come to hear my proposal finally?” I asked, smiling at my old friend, Kade.

“Yes” was all he said.


Lydia’s pov

After dropping my car off I had Amelia stop by the store so I could grab stuff to make dinner while I was on my “date” with Patrick.

“Thanks, again” I told Amelia as I grabbed my stuff.

“Any time” she said, smiling at me. I waved as she drove off. I let myself in and locked the door behind me. I put everything in the fridge and went up to change clothes. I put on sweatpants and one of Pat’s sweatshirts he left for me the last time he was in town. I got everything set up in time for Pat to call. We alternate who calls who every week and this week it’s Pat’s turn.

“Hey, pretty lady” he said, smiling at me as I answered.

“Hey, you” I said, resting my cheek on my bent knee.

“Long day?” he asked, looking at me.

“You could say that” I said as I began filling him in on everything that felt like it went wrong since I got up. After that we got to work and worked in silence for a few hours. This was the most at peace I’ve been for awhile.

“Can you come visit next weekend?” I blurted out while we were eating dinner. Patrick wasn’t at all phased by my outburst. He simply smiled at me.

“For you, pretty lady? Anything. I’ll drive up after classes on Friday, so I’ll be in late” he said, smiling at me.

“Thank you” I said, smiling like an idiot.

“You’re welcome, pretty girl” he said. We worked way longer than we should have, but neither one of us wanted to hang up. These twice a week dates, texts, and regular face time calls aren’t enough to satisfy the physical need I have for him. That was the other reason it took us so long to hang up. Pat was in the same predicament I was and was not going to hang up until he made me come with his words and my fingers. He got his wish and then I returned the favor. We finally got off the call with promises of multiple rounds the next weekend which did nothing, but reignite the fire in my belly. I finally got ready for bed and read a couple of chapters of my book before falling asleep wishing for next weekend to hurry up.


Amelia’s pov

After I dropped Lydia off back home I was ready to collapse, but first I had to feed the dogs and get some of their energy out so I could do my homework and then fall into bed to do it all again in the morning.