Summary of the last chapter for those that chose to skip it:

Amelia was invited to attend a swimming charity event. She was called into the student affairs office to be paired with her student; she was told to contact the student. She was harassed by Conner, and he told her to not help Ronan. She then left for work and her car broke down, so she called Veronica to pick her up. While she was waiting, she texted the student she was supposed to tutor and found out it was Conner.

Warning: language

Ronan's POV

"Can we please get ice cream, Ronan?" Isabelle whined for the third time today as we pulled up into the hockey house's driveway. Once I parked and switched the ignition off, I twisted in my seat to face her.

"Izzy, you know the rules," I tried telling her, but she already put on her best puppy eyes and pout. Damn it, someone really needed to write a book about how to not fall for those.

In my defence, I tried to withstand the look for as long as I could, and I lasted a whole minute, which was a new record. I sighed, defeated. "Alright fine," I gave in. "But," I added, "only after you've had some actual food, deal?"

When I noticed her facial expressions twist in disapproval, I knew exactly what she was going to say. "Isabelle, we've talked about this; ice cream does not count as actual food," I clarified for what felt like the hundredth time.

Izzy crossed her arms over her chest and shot me an annoyed look. "Ice cream is real food, it has milk, and Talia told me milk is a good thing," I couldn't hold back my laugh. Why were six-year-olds so stubborn?

Ignoring her comment, I asked, "Deal or no deal Izzy?" I even stuck my hand out in an attempt to convince her. It took her a moment, but eventually her small hand grasped my large one. "Deal," she grumbled.

Relieved, I helped Izzy out of the car and grabbed her things from the boot to take inside. Izzy was going to have a two-day sleepover with me, and though it was the middle of the week, I wanted her to have fun. Or, as much fun a child could have after school in a house full of adults.

"Vicky!" Isabelle screeched in joy when she skipped into the house. Veronica jolted at the sudden noise, but when she saw Isabelle, she crouched down and held her arms out. "Isabelle!" she squealed back with just as much excitement.

Isabelle ran to embrace her with such force, she almost tackled Veronica to the ground. "Vicky, Vicky, I have so much to tell you. Remember that girl in my class, Leah? She stole my pencil, again! And it was my pink one, I love my pink pencil. Talia said she'll get me a new one, but I don't want a new one, I want that one. And Leah stole it!"

Isabelle was breathless after her rant, and when she looked ready to continue, I quickly cut her off. "Hey Izzy, how about you go put your things in my room? Then you can catch up with Vicky," I suggested, hoping to buy Veronica a little more time before she had to spend the rest of her visit keeping up with an overly energetic child.

"Okay!" Isabelle agreed and quickly ran out of the kitchen. "I'll be right back Vicky," she shouted over her shoulder as she went. Both Veronica and I shook our heads at my sister. She was something, alright.

Veronica's smile dropped when I turned to her. "What's wrong?" I asked, sensing something was bothering her. Veronica was an easy person to read. Though she was considered shy by most people, once you got to know her you realised that she wore her feelings on her sleeve.

She bit her lip, pensive, before letting out a small breath. "I'm just worried about Amelia," she admitted, and the mention of Amelia immediately grasped every ounce of my attention. "She called me just before you got here, her Jeep broke down and she asked me to pick her up."

My mind was quick to process everything Veronica told me, and I felt something spark in me. "So, shouldn't you be going to get her?" I asked, puzzled. Clearly, Veronica was concerned, so why hadn't she run out the door the second Amelia called? That's what I would have done.

"I caught a ride with Hunter here, and he's on the phone with his mom right now," Veronica gave me a knowing glance. Ah, that was probably not going well. Hunter and his mother were not exactly on the best of terms, they never really had been. I could understand why Veronica didn't want to risk interrupting their yelling match. "And Lily has a test. I tried calling her, but her phone was turned off."

I thought about what to do, since interrupting Hunter's call was a no go. Last time anyone did that, Hunter was ready to throw hands. Without another thought, I held my keys up. "I could go pick her up," I offered, "But you'll have to watch Izzy while I'm gone."

"Really?" Veronica asked, and though she didn't want to pin this task on me, I saw her physically relax at my words. "Yeah, it's not a problem. Besides," I paused, scratching my chin, "I kinda owe her one," I mumbled.

I hated admitting it, but it was true. Amelia had done a lot for me, and even when I was far from nice to her, she still chose to help me. I couldn't ignore her actions and choices; denial wouldn't make any of it untrue.

Veronica's teasing smile was wide. "Oh, Ron. You owe that woman a hell lot," she said with a small laugh. I rolled my eyes at her as I made to leave. Just because I had finally accepted it didn't mean I was going to let everyone tease me. Hell no.

"Ronan!" Veronica called after me just as I got to the front door. "What?" I asked, looking over my shoulder, though I knew she was probably going to tease me some more, just for the hell of it. Veronica and Mason were similar in that way, though Veronica only joked around with people she was close to. Mason, being the clown that he was, would say what he wanted to whoever he wanted. The man just didn't have a filter.

"Just, be nice, alright?" she told me. I narrowed me eyes, ready to ask when I had ever not been nice, but Veronica went on. "I don't think Amelia's feeling well, she didn't sound too good when I talked to her, so be nice, yeah?"

I didn't bother replying as I left, but I suddenly felt the need to hurry.

****

Amelia was sitting on the ground at the side of the motorway. I would have missed her entirely if I hadn't known she was nearby and slowed down. I turned my phone's navigation off as I pulled up a few metres ahead of her.

The first thing I noticed when I got out of my car was a phone laying on the ground. When I squinted to get a better look, I realised that the screen was completely shattered. Something told me that it was Amelia's, and I picked it up as I made my way over to her.

Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she was hugging her legs. Her head was bowed down, buried behind her knees. I instantly felt bad for her. She must have had a hell of a shitty day. "Amelia?" I tried to make myself sound kind and soft, as if I was speaking to animal I didn't want to startle.

I waited a few beats, but she didn't respond, or even acknowledge my presence. Just as was beginning to think she didn't hear me, she lifted her head and peeked up at me from behind the curtain of her hair.

Her eyes were slightly swollen, her cheekbones flushed pink, making it evident that she had been crying. Somehow, this made me soften even more. "Where's Veronica?" She asked, her words coming out in a wobbly whisper.

I held my hand out as I explained. "She couldn't come, she's at our place watching Izzy. She didn't have her car and Hunter was busy. She asked me if I could come get you." As I spoke, she kept her eyes glued to my outreached hand. I felt something dance through her eyes as she looked, but eventually she chose to help herself up.

As she dusted herself off, I couldn't help but ask, "Amelia, are you- are you alright?" I didn't like how hesitant I sounded, but the last thing I needed was to add to her annoyance.

Her hands froze mid-air at my question, and I'm surprised she didn't get whiplash from how fast her head whipped up to meet my gaze.

I knew I was in trouble, but I couldn't help notice how not alright she looked. I couldn't tell what she was thinking as she pressed her lips into a thin line. A million thoughts and emotions flashed across her face, and in the blink of an eye they came and went.

We stayed like that for several moments, her half zoned out and thinking and me searching her face, hoping to find a crack in her mask. Without warning, she broke eye contact and turned away from me as she continued to dust herself off.

"I'm fine, it's fine. Everything is-is fine," she cleared her throat, but that didn't hide the shake in her voice.

"Are you sure-"

"Yes! It didn't happen. Nothing happened.  I'm perfectly completely fine, Ronan." Her voice rose with every word she threw at me, yet I couldn't help but feel that she was trying to convince herself more than she was trying to convince me.

She was breathing heavily as I looked over her in one last attempt, hoping to catch something, anything that would tell what was wrong. I couldn't find anything. My smile was tight-lipped.   

"Alright," I said slowly. Though I wasn't at all convinced, I thought it was better to drop the subject. I felt like I was walking on eggshells. "You ready to go?" I pointed to my car.

She seemed relieved that I had accepted her claim, and after a moment's hesitation, she nodded. We walked side by side to my car. Just as I leaned down and stretched my hand out to open the passenger door for Amelia, she quickly grabbed onto handle.

We locked eyes, and I couldn't help but smirk as I threw my hands up in defeat, hoping to lighten the mood. Hey, if she wanted to open her own door, that was fine by me. I was just trying to be nice, as Veronica told me to be.

Once we were both settled, I turned to Amelia, who was slouched in her seat. "Where to?" I asked because I had absolutely no idea where she wanted to go.

"Well, I was going to this..." she trailed off as I handed her the broken phone I found. Her reaction confirmed that it was hers. "Never mind," she muttered as she held her phone in her hand. I watched her try to turn it on, but the screen flashed white before going blank again.

"Just take me home, but wait one second," she said as she fiddled with her phone, trying to get it to work.

An idea struck me as she poked and prodded the device. Silently, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Veronica.

Me: send your address

Veronica's reply came within seconds, as I knew it would. She was probably staring at her phone while Izzy talked her ear off.

Once I had the address, I opened the Uber Eats app on my phone and placed an order. I wasn't sure what food Amelia liked, so I ordered three different meals: Chinese, McDonalds and Indian. After I paid, I switched to the navigation app, since I didn't know the way to her place.

I'm just doing what Veronica told me to do.

Amelia was still messing with her broken phone. She noticed I had moved my attention to her, and at my amused expression, she huffed and threw the device into the cupholder between our seats.

"Let's just go," she grumbled, turning to look outside of her window.

"Your wish is my command," I joked as I gave her a two-fingered salute. Honestly, jokes were more Mason's thing than they were mine, but I guess I was desperate to make her feel better, even if it was for only just a moment.

I caught her lips curve at my words, and I realised I was smiling too.

****

The ride to Amelia's house wasn't too long, Google Maps stated that it took about fifteen minutes. Though we didn't utter a word to each other the entire drive there, the silence was comfortable, both of us in our own worlds.

When I parked my car in front of her house, I felt conflicted. There was a part of me that knew I owed Amelia something. An apology, gratitude, either or both, I wasn't sure.

Amelia opened her door, then twisted to face me. The smile she had on was tight and forced. "Thank you for the ride," I could tell she was trying to sound bright and positive, how she usually did. Her voice came out strained.

"No problem," I mumbled. My heart was itching at me to say something, anything. My mind kept telling me to leave it, she would probably throw my gratitude in my face. In the midst of my confusion, Amelia got out of the car.

"Wait!" I called, just as she was about to slam the door. She bent down to look at me, expectant.

I let out a heavy breath. Was I seriously going to do this?

"Look, I-" I started, raking a sweaty hand through my hair, "Amelia, I- Thank you. For everything, Izzy, Siobhan, last week, all of it. Thank you," I refused to look at her as I felt my face heat up.

"You helped me out a lot, even though I wasn't exactly the nicest. Sorry about that by the way..." I had to stop and think of what I wanted to say, and how I wanted to say it. My mind scrambled to find words and put them together.

"I know we got off on the wrong foot, and I was thinking, maybe we could start over? I know we aren't close and shit, but you should know I'm in debt to you. So, if you ever need some help, or anything, I'll be there."

When I was done, I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my chest.

I let out a long sigh before I turned to Amelia to see what she had to say. A part of me was waiting for her to laugh in my face and tell me to get lost, that she didn't want to hear any of it.

"Do you really mean it?" she asked, the hint of a smile on her lips, and her swollen eyes were crinkled at the corners.

"I- I do, yeah," I said straight away, surprised that she wasn't flipping me off and telling me to go to hell.

"Well then," she said as she straightened. Then, she slammed the door.

I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it-

Amelia tapped on the window. Confused, I rolled it down.

"Well then," she repeated, and I saw a glint of mischief in her eyes. "I might just hold you to your promise."

She turned, not waiting to hear my response. I grinned, relieved she had accepted and amused by her antics. Amelia Del Fava was something else.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw a motorbike pull up in front of me. Talk about perfect timing.

"Hey Amelia!" I yelled through the open window. When she turned around, I jabbed a thumb at the Uber Eats vehicle in front of me. "You should get that!"

I raced out of the driveway as she looked to see what I was talking about. When I glanced at my rearview mirror, I saw her standing with her hands on her hips and her head thrown back as she laughed.