51

Amora

I huffed walking down the steps carefully, holding onto the railing tightly and hoping to god I wouldn't fall.

I stepped off the stairs and walked into the living room, pausing once my name was called.

"Amora!" Dads voice called, in much angered tone making my bones practically start shaking.

I gulped once noticing his tone, slowly turning around to see him with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Yes pops?" I chirped, putting on a smile as I walked over.

"Would you please tell me what the hell this is?" He questioned, holding up a piece of paper.

"And this?" He added, holding up a different paper slip.

I took both of the papers holding them up as I briefly scanned through them.

"Well one is my progress report and the other is an outstanding notice for two tickets..I didn't know you can get a ticket without a license?" I pouted, lowering the papers and titling my head.

"Of course you can, you could get a ticket at any time!" He shouted, snatching the papers from me.

"And your grades Amora. I better see those c's bunk up to an A, or even a B! I don't care with whatever you have to do wether it's bribe or negotiating just get them up!" He scolded, throwing the papers onto his desk.

I jumped from his loud shouting, sighing as I began to fix his tie "Yes dad I know" I simply replied.

"From this moment on you will not be cruising around with Carrie alright. Two permits do not equal an license. Do I make myself clear?" He scolded, placing his hand onto his hips as he stepped forward.

I slowly cracked a smile, holding in a laugh at his stern expression as I smoothed out the tie onto his shirt. "Yes dad"

"Amora, I am being serious. I want you to be a good driver, I want to see you actually apply yourself" he ordered, raising an eyebrow as he gave me a very stern look once noticing my smile.

"I will. I'll work extra hard on my driving and extra hard on those grades. I'm going to practice real hard" I stated, nodding my head.

"Good. Now, are you still going to that stupid.. family thing, that boyfriend of yours is having?" He questioned, turning back to his desk.

"Yes dad, you know you can come too. I'm sure they'd like to meet you" I offered, slipping on the heels that laid at the front door.

"No, that's stupid?" he scoffed, slipping back on his glasses.

"Yeah ok" I rolled my eyes sarcastically, whipping around.

"Well I'm going now. I'll see you later, love you!" I called out, walking out of the room.

I walked over towards the hanger, slipping on a coat before grabbing my bag and stepping out of the house.

——

"Ham! You better be careful with that" I ordered, shooting up from the bench.

"I am! You've already told me three times now!" He exclaimed, flailing his hands around.

"Because you aren't listening too me. You're going to burn yourself?" I frowned, motioning to the stick with a marshmallow in his hand.

"I'm not! I've done this plenty times, sweets" he nodded proudly, sticking the marshmallow back into the fire.

I shook my head, crossing my arms as I sat back down. "I don't want to hear it Benny" I held my hand up, shaking my head angrily.

"I wasn't going to say anything?" he laughed, knitting his eyebrows together.

"Really? You sure you weren't going to scold me just now!" I questioned, perking up an eyebrow.

"No, I'd never!" He exclaimed, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"Oh wow. Certainly what a surprise?" I rolled eyes, waving him away.

I shifted my gaze over to see Carrie, Bertram, and Kenny who sat in front of us, all giving me the same look.

I furrowed my eyebrows trying to read they're expression, it looked like they were biting their tongues and they wanted to burst out or something.

Carrie nodded her head back, making me slowly glance behind me too see Theo who stood inside the house talking to Catherine and Pablo.

I refrained from screaming right then and there, bawling my hands into fights to contain myself.

"I'll- uh I'll be back" I whispered softly, standing up from the bench.

Benny glanced up at me, perking up an eyebrow almost silently asking me where I was going.

"Bathroom" I sighed, making him nod and look away.

I turned around slowly making my way over towards the house, feeling myself grow more nervous as I got closer.

I slid open the back doors making all of their heads whip towards me, Theo's face immediately softened and he cracked a smile once seeing me.

"Oh Amora your friend here is the most sweetest thing ever. He's brought extra marshmallows and chocolate!" Catherine smiled, holding up a grocery bag.

"Oh I bet he is" I smiled, shooting Theo a look to which he looked down and scratched his head.

"Dear can you help me take these out to the garage?" She asked, turning towards Pablo.

They both picked up a few bowls turning around to walk out the room, before Catherine paused and turned back around.

"Make sure to give these to the boys ok?" She stated, motioning to the bag she now set on the counter.

I nodded shooting her a smile as they walked out of the room, leaving me to immediately drop it once they were gone.

"Why are you here?" I whisper-shrieked, immediately shoving him back.

"I told you Amora, I know what I did and said was wrong but I don't want to lose our friendship over it!" He explained, lightly stumbling back.

"Do you even have ears! I've said-

"I know what you've said I just- I don't want to lose you. You were a really good friend to me, I miss having you there ok?" He cut me off, holding his hands out.

I groaned running my hands through my hair frustratedly."Theo listen to me-

"Let me prove it to you" he cut me off, knowing exactly what I was about to say.

"What-how?" I exclaimed, furrowing my eyebrows together in confusion.

"I don't know. I'll do whatever you want, just please give me a chance to prove that I'm truly sorry" he sighed, giving me a pleading expression.

I crossed my arms shaking my head as I glanced back briefly.

"Listen to me Theo. I don't know how many times I have to say this. But I don't trust you at all right now, do you really expect to just come here and for me to say yes to that?" I questioned, titling my head slightly.

"Yeah I know. I understand but, at least just let me try ok. Really, really I'm sorry for what I did" he sighed, taking a step closer towards me.

"Yeah well I don't know. Im not sure about you anymore Theo but..I'll think about. Right now you're really sketching me out so I don't know" I replied, shaking my head as I took a step back.

Slowly he nodded letting out a defeated sigh, looking back down to floor.

"But really Theo you got to go" I ordered, motioning towards the door.

He nodded his head again, luckily complying and turning around towards the door.

I watched as he opened the door stepping out, shooting me one last glance before shutting the door behind himself.

I let out a huge breathe once he was gone, turning around and snatching the bag from off the counter before walking back outside.

"What did he want?" The three immediately popped out from behind a wall, rushing over towards me.

"Oh, just the same old thing. Sorry's and pleading. He told me he wants to 'prove' he's sorry but I highly doubt that" I sighed, shaking my head.

"He's pathetic, just ignore him he'll stop crying about it sooner or later" Carrie offered, rubbing my back softly.

"He's got lots of nerve to show up at the house whose girlfriend he kissed!" Kenny exclaimed, shaking his head angrily.

I nodded as we separated once walking back towards our seats.

I let out a small sigh plopping back down onto the bench, making Benny immediately whip over towards me.

His eyebrows knitted together in confusion immediately questioning me."What's wrong?"

"Nothing, why do you think somethings wrong?" I questioned back, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.

"Because..I can tell there's something wrong?" he shrugged, grabbing onto my hand.

"Pfft- yeah no there's not. I'm fine" I coughed, shaking my head in denial as I dismissed him.

He kept his eyes on me continuing to examine my expression before slowly nodding and looking away. Continuing to repeatedly glance back at me unsurely.

——

I glanced up from the fire shifting my gaze over towards Benny and Penelope who talked beside me.

I softly bit onto my lip, slowly beginning to think back to what Theo said.

Wait a minute no, Theo's got no clue what he's saying. Benny would absolutely never cheat on me.

He told me loved me for crying out loud! I'm a way awful girlfriend for even thinking about it.

I shook my head looking away and continued to stare at the fire in front of me.

Soon moments after my gaze shot up once hearing a laugh. Squinting my eyes slightly when seeing Penelope who had her hand on his arm to hold herself up from laughing.

Geez I truly wonder what's so funny.

I held in a scoff as I looked away for a moment. Quickly looking back to see Benny who glanced down at her hand, shrugging her hand off as he ran a hand through his hair.

Oh boy, maybe I am truly being way senseless and pathetic right now.

I mean he's not only said that he loved me but that he was willing to give up his dreams of baseball simply because he doesn't want to be away. And then here I am being this little paranoid imbecile and questioning everything.

I continued to watch as they talked beside me. Slowly growing agitating at the laughs that continued to erupt from Penelope.

"What's so funny?" I suddenly snapped, without even meaning to or realizing it.

She looked over, immediately dropping her smile as she glanced back towards Benny."Oh he was just telling me the time when Smalls had no idea who Babe Ruth was. Can you believe that?" She explained, laughing lightly.

I slowly nodded, looking down and suddenly feeling embarrassed at my outburst that truly had no meaning behind it. "Oh"

I soon looked back up too see Benny who was already looking at me. Eyebrows knitted together in confusion and a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" He leaned over, lowering his voice as he questioned my outburst.

I glanced towards Penelope before shaking my head as I began to stand up. "Nothing..um, I think I'm going to get going?"

He frowned, perking up a confused eyebrow as he watched me gather my things. "Oh..why?"

Of course I couldn't say why. I'd look like a complete delusional crazy freak that's getting upset over nothing but them talking. But with that I also didn't want to continue sitting there in aggravation.

"Uh..I just- have to go..ok?" I stammered as I quickly attempted to come up with some sort of excuse.

He slowly nodded, continuing to watch as I gathered up my things. I looked back over, shooting him a smile as I leaned down and pecked his cheek.

I turned to leave before getting my hand grabbed and pulled, making me look back to Benny who was already looking up at me.

"Are..are you mad at me?" He questioned, frowning as he slightly tilted his head.

I stared at him for a moment before shaking my head with a sigh. "No. I'm not don't worry"

He slowly nodded, hesitantly allowing me to slip my hand out of his as he continued to examine me unsurely.

I gave him a smile, leaning back down to peck his lips for good measures this time. I stood back up, looking over towards the three. Carrie, Kenny, and Bertram and giving them a wave before turning around and finally walking away.