Chapter 6
At this point, not just Lily, but all the roommates who were busy with their own stuff in the dorm, stopped in their tracks, totally stunned. They were all trying to wrap their heads around what Amelia had just said.
After what felt like forever, Lily finally managed to speak, "He got a girlfriend?"
Amelia nodded, "Yeah."
Lily pressed on, "You've met her?"
Amelia nodded again, "Yeah."
Lily's cup shattered into pieces on the floor as she jumped up from her chair, fuming. "Is he out of his mind? Doesn't he know you two are engaged? He used to come to school, pick you up, drop you off, and even treat us to meals. When we asked if he was your boyfriend, he wouldn't say anything, and now he says you're just family and has found a girlfriend? Isn't he just playing you?"
The other girls in the dorm chimed in angrily, "Exactly! He called you out in the middle of the night, and you didn't even bring an umbrella! How many punishments have you gotten because of him recently? Is he even human for doing this?"
Even though Amelia knew they all meant well, her emotions were all over the place. That was how it went; when no one comforted or understood you, you could bear all the crap yourself. But once people started caring, the tears just wouldn't stop.
Amelia's eyes immediately welled up as she thought about everything she had done for Alexander over the years. Now it all seemed like a joke.
If Mia knew, she would definitely laugh at her. No, she had already laughed and even given her a hard time.
Amelia couldn't understand why things had turned out this way. Her feelings for him were obvious to all her friends. Could Alexander not see it? If he had no feelings for her, why the false hope?
"Fuck! I told you Alexander is a jerk. He's stringing you along while finding a girlfriend on the side! Don't contact him anymore!" Lily hugged the bewildered Amelia, comforting her like a child by patting her back.
Amelia's tears, held back all night, finally broke free. She cried her heart out in the warm embrace of her roommates.
Final exams were coming up, which was almost the most important thing for Amelia, who was about to graduate. If she failed, she wouldn't get her diploma and might have to stay for another year.
But even knowing how important the exams were, Amelia couldn't focus on a single word of the book while sitting in the library. Her mind was too chaotic, replaying the events of the past few days over and over. Just as she was about to pack up and head back to the dorm, she suddenly got a message from Alexander.
Alexander: [How did my parents find out I was taken to the police station? Did you tell them?]
Even though it was a question, Amelia could clearly sense Alexander's displeasure and suspicion.
Alexander had already assumed that she was the one who snitched. Amelia's hand trembled as she thought of that guy from the other day. But she quickly shook her head in denial; he didn't seem like the gossipy type.
Amelia: [I didn't say anything. I've been busy with finals and haven't seen your parents.]
He quickly replied, but didn't mention her finals at all.
Alexander: [Who knows how they found out? Who's so nosy to even report something like this?]
He didn't name names, but Amelia felt uneasy, sensing he was talking about her. It hurt. They had grown up together, and he didn't even trust her this much? When had Amelia ever snitched?
But she didn't say anything, just gave a brief acknowledgment.
Just when she thought the conversation would end there, Alexander suddenly sent a voice message.
The moment she heard his voice, Amelia's heart skipped a beat. But what he said made her feel cold all over.
Alexander said, "Amelia, help me out. My parents heard I got into a fight over a girl. You know this kind of thing isn't exactly honorable. If they find out it was because of Mia, they definitely won't like her. So help me out and say I got into the fight because of you, okay?"
So that was how it was. Amelia suddenly laughed, not even knowing why she was laughing. She just felt that if she didn't laugh at this moment, she might go crazy.
When they were kids, whenever Alexander wanted to fight or do something bad, he would always use the excuse of being with her.
Back then, Amelia would dutifully cover for him. She was a little girl who had never lied to adults, but she made up countless clumsy excuses for him.
But Amelia was well-behaved, and James and Scarlett liked her, so they believed whatever she said. But this time was different; it was to cover for another woman.
Amelia had never even been to a bar. She admitted she didn't like Mia, not just because she was Alexander's girlfriend. But also because Mia had grabbed her wrist red the first time they met.
Amelia didn't respond, ignoring him. Not responding was already an answer, but Alexander was someone who didn't understand even this simple rule. He kept pushing, sending several more messages.
Alexander: [I'll owe you a big favor this time. I'll treat you to a big meal, okay?]
Alexander: [My parents like you. They won't say anything if they know I fought for you. But Mia is different; she hasn't even met them. You've helped me so many times; one more won't hurt.]
Amelia felt increasingly suffocated as she read these messages. Just because she was easygoing, did that mean she had to unconditionally help him make mistakes? Even if James and Scarlett liked her, they would still have an issue with her for getting Alexander into a fight.
Mia's image was important, but Amelia's wasn't? Why did he always take her help for granted?
Amelia suddenly felt angry, reflecting on whether she had been too good to him, letting him take more and more advantage.
Just as she was about to turn off the screen, Alexander sent one last message, filled with resentment.
Alexander: [Forget it. If you don't want to, I won't force you. Pretend I didn't say anything.]
He was clearly unhappy with her refusal and started to mock her.
Amelia had a good temper and cared too much about Alexander. Whenever Alexander asked her for something, even if she didn't want to, she would always give in when he spoke like that. She didn't want to make Alexander unhappy.
But this time was different. This time, Amelia didn't want to do something that made herself unhappy. Her fingers tapped on the screen, but she ultimately didn't send anything.
Staring at the suddenly darkened screen, Amelia sighed in frustration. She grabbed her backpack and left the library.