Chapter 2

It had been a little over two weeks since the dissapearance of her friend Alik Cross and nobody in town seemed to so much as notice. Amelia tried to talk to Toria about her worries for Alik but she was always busy studying. Amelia thought her classes were easy -so easy in fact that she never even cracked open a book. It was the night before the full moon and a couple more days had went by and Amelia got really concerned. So she devised a plan.  After everyone in the house was asleep she would sneak out her window and into the night. After walking around to the front of the house she will then walk casually across the street and down the driveway of her -only- friend. She had to see him. To ask all of the questions swimming in her head making her feel slightly dizzy. To... to... she'd think about it on the walk. 

She had been laying awake for hours, waiting for the right time. At roughly twelve thirty she put her plan into action. Slipping silently out the back window, around the house, across the road, and down his driveway, she didn't get the least bit nervous until it came time to knock. Finally she raised her fist to knock and just as her fist came down the door swung inward, revealing Alik standing, surprised in the doorway.

"I still don't understand why your here Amelia" said Alik for at least the third time. "I am here Alik because of you" Amelia said quite frustrated with her friend. "Your the one who disappeared for so long, who wouldn't return my E-mails, and essentially left me all alone" Amelia accused reigning in her anger. Alik had planned out the first time he would show Amelia his home but since she had visited, his plan would now go into action earlier than planned. "Amelia" he said looking directly into her eyes "I-I like y-you." Amelia was astonished she didn't think he liked her back. This changed everything. She stood -keeping eye contact with him- and reached for him, pulling him to her but leaving enough space so she could comfortably look into his eyes, she said almost inaudibly "I like you too" and he slowly closed the distance between them. Almost kissing her but insteadnjust holding her tightly to himself. They both ended up laying on his massive California King size mattress. She laid on his chest for hours watching the sun come up through the glass doors of his patio. Roughly three hours after the sun rose they got up and walked hand in hand to the kitchen for breakfast and coffee. When he had made eggs, bacon, pancakes, and coffee for both of them they went back to his room to enjoy a Saturday alone. All day they cuddled and catnapped, but sadly all good things must come to an end and soon Toria came looking for her. Amelia and Toria reached an agreement so that their mother would never find out that one of them had spent most of the night and day in the neighbor boys house. 

Alik was at school every day after that. Every day he walked her home, always giving her a brief hug and watching her go inside. Roughly two weeks later after school he boldly asked "Please do come over sometime, I greatly enjoyed your last visit to Fortress, though unexpected" he laughed lightly. "Yea, I'm sorry for that" she apologized blushing slightly. "No need as I've already said it was quite enjoyable" he replied trying to act casual. "You should come over soon" he insisted. "Well I'm not exactly sure..." she began to say but he cut her off "This Friday"  he announced "Is the day you should come over. Now that I think about it stay". "Stay?"she asked quizzically, "Yes my beautiful, amazing best friend you should stay with me at my house over the weekend" he said. "Well, my family and i have plans to go out of town this weekend" replied Amelia. Realizing she may never get a chance like this again she -without thinking- said "But, I can tell them I changed my mind and I want to stay". He just grinned, happy she supposed. 

Friday morning Alik -for once- wasn't waiting on the front stairs, so Amelia accepted a ride from her sister to school. Moments after she sat down Alik came bursting into the room in a whirl of blondes with big blue imploring eyes, and skimpy barley there outfits. Amelia was immediately outraged, the moment he saw her he ordered his entourage gone and they were. He walked right to her knowing full well he had everyone's eyes on him. When he sat down beside her she turned away from him, showing her anger. "Amelia turn around" he commanded. When she didn't turn he grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her himself, luckily she didn't fight him. When she was facing him -though still fuming- he presented her with a box, a small silver lined red velvet box. "Well open it" he insisted. She pulled the lid back and was astonished to find a small silver band. "Let me explain" he said raising his hands to her questioning gaze. "On the inside of the ring you will find a promise engraved. It is a promise from me to you" he said. On the inside of the ring was written this 'Through it all. Friends'. He then handed her a gold lined black velvet box in which was a mans ring the same color as her own. "Take this to the city jeweler and have him inscribe a quote of your own for me" he instructed. They sat in silence for awhile until finally the bell rang and off to class they went. The day was just like any other, he walked her wherever she may have wanted to go. At lunch he asked her if they were still on for this weekend and she told him to expect her around seven thirty that night. 

When he walked her home later that day, she immediately went upstairs to begin packing. A few shirts she would never wear to school due to the fact that they were crop tops, short shorts she would never get away with wearing in front of her family, one t shirt and a pair of comfy gray sweats. At five thirty her mom knocked on the door just to make sure she still didn't want to go. At six everyone -except Amelia- left the house. By seven she was showered, packed, and anxious. At seven ten there was a light rap on the front door. When Amelia opened it she was not the least bit surprised to find Alik on the other side. She quickly gathered her things and they were out the door. Once at his house he showed her the guest room where she would be sleeping, it was directly across the hall from his room, for convenience she assumed. She unpacked her bags, changed into her most show off-ish outfit and went to join him for dinner. As she entered the dining room he was just finishing setting the table for them, when he looked at her time -for a moment- stood utterly still, as if even it was basking in the radiance of her absolute beauty. As she approached him he pulled out her chair, fully expecting her to sit right down. Instead she stood toe to toe with him for a moment  before asking seductively for a tour of the house post dinner, before she finally sat down. Obviously flustered he walked to his chair and sat down. He knew she was doing this on propose but it didn't change the obvious physical reaction he had to her. After dinner he gave her a tour of the upstairs and the ground floor. They hung out in his home theatre watching some movies and eating snacks for awhile until she had to use the rest room. Instead of asking her wonderful host to direct her to the bathroom she took it upon herself to find it. Amelia wasn't a nosey person and was a firm believer in personal space. As she entered the hall just off from the kitchen she heard a peculiar noise coming from the room closest to her. Thinking that Alik may have had some sort of animal pinned up in there made her angry so she braced herself for what she may find, putting her hand on the doorknob, fully intending to let loose the poor creature. However when she opened the door she found not one animal but dozens all in neat glass tanks. Every tank had a full food and water bowl as well as a screened in top to allow airflow, quickly realizing her mistake she left the room. A few more failed doors, until finally she found  the bathroom. 

She thought about telling Alik she had discovered the animal room but decided against it, mainy to avoid seeming nosey. By the time she got back Alik was just getting up to search for her. "What took you so long?" Alik asked making her wonder if he somehow knew about her 'snooping'. "I wasn't sure where the bathroom was and then I decided to go get this out of my room" she said holding up the box he had given her earlier that very same day. "In the time that you dropped me off at my door  after school and seven ten when you picked me up I had my mom take it to the jeweler and retrieve it." she said further explaining the 'early' return of his ring. On the inside of the ring were inscribed the words 'Always friends, someday more'. "I" Alik started, almost unable to finish his sentence. "I... I love that inscription!" He gushed "Amelia this is the best! Thank you!" Alik was so much more comfortable here, thought Amelia. 

The following Monday Alik walked her to school, but he seemed distracted. When she asked him what was the matter he shrugged and mumbled " I have to leave town for a couple of days, but I don't want to leave you". " Then don't" Amelia said looking at him. He stopped walking and stared at her almost in disbelief. " Are you saying 'don't leave' or 'take me with you'?" He asked truly curious. "Take Me" she said giving him a look that practically screamed 'DUH!'. "Pack for three days and meet me with your bags at the end of my driveway" he said smiling from ear to ear, and walking her home. As she walked in the front door of her house she spun on her heel and whirled herself around " WAIT!" she yelled out the open door. And suddenly he had spun around to facing her, only a few steps away and a bit shell-shocked from the unexpected closeness of her loud voice. "What time?" She asked. "Midnight" he said  shaking his head as if it should have been obvious, before walking to his driveway. The second she saw him turn away she ran inside and began packing her things. 

Toria and her parents had accepted weeks ago that Amelia would not only almost never be home but that she also mostly wouldn't tell where she was going or for how long. 

Amelia packed quickly, throwing the rest of her clean clothes in her favorite duffle bag and putting her toiletries in the tiny drawstring bag she always used. When she was finished she had nothing to do so she pulled out her sketch pad and other art supplies and began drawing. Before she knew it, it was time to go and she left out the back window and snuck around the house (even though she didn't have to.

At exactly midnight she crossed the street onto his driveway. And was thoroughly surprised when a car came creeping down his driveway.