You're so cruel, but revenge is a dish best served cold

-Everybody Loves an Outlaw

"Do you know where Amelia is?"

"She must be in class. Why?"

Bridget sighed. "Well, I wanted to say this to her, but I guess you're good. Dean and I are having dinner tonight at a restaurant. You guys wanna tag along?

I raised an eyebrow. "Like a double date?"

She waved a hand. "Whatever you wanna call it. Scott and Sav are at this family vacation so they can't come. And I feel like you've been keeping my best friend to yourself for too long. I understand that you've just got together so I didn't say anything, but now I want the details from her."

"Why? I can't give you the details?" I joked.

She looked surprised. "Really? Spill."

I chuckled. Bridget was always up for gossips. I placed my hands on the table in front of me and bent forward towards her. "She's everything."

She raised an eyebrow.

"She's got my heart. She's my life, my angel. And I'm never letting her go."

Bridget smiled, her face showing me she hadn't expected this. She looked point blank astonished. "Wow. I'd never thought I'd see the day you'll say this for someone."

"I wouldn't have, really, if she hadn't come. She's the only one."

"I know I might have seemed like the villain to you a lot of times, but I was just looking out for her. She's been through a lot." She said.

"I know she has." I looked ahead. "She's the strongest person I know."

Bridget took a sharp inhale. "You know? She told you?"

I nodded.

Her face morphed into a small smile. "I'm happy for you, Theo. I really am."

"Thanks, Cat."

She definitely must be happy for me, because she just shook her head and chuckled when she heard me say my nickname for her. On days other than this she would have sworn to kill me when I called her that.

Mia didn't come to the canteen, which surprised me a bit because Mia never missed lunch. She hated missing her meals. But she'd been stressed lately because of the Noah drama, so I didn't bother her much. She was used to getting space at moments like these and me poking her to talk to me would push her away.

"Hi, Theo." I looked up . Claire was standing in front of me, her hand resting on the table. I heard Bridget cough beside me. Bridget's dislike for Claire was very much known to me, so I gave her an apologizing look.

"Hey."

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"He has a girlfriend who also happens to be my best friend. If you try something fishy I will cut off your limbs." Bridget muttered beside me. I bit back a chuckle.

"What is it?" I asked her, not moving to get up. She'd tried breaking up Mia and I, she was with Noah this whole time to take her away from me. I hadn't forgotten that.

She sighed. "I'm sorry, Theo. Ever since I turned thirteen I'd wanted you to look at me. And then a few years later you did, and I was so happy. And then suddenly she came and you turned all your attention towards her. That made me insecure and jealous, I'm not afraid to admit that. But this time apart from you has made me realize you were never meant for me. I was infatuated by you but we didn't have anything. So I'm sorry for trying to break you up. I know she makes you happy and I'm happy for you. That's all I came to say."

I stared at her dumbfounded. Even Bridget was staring at her because neither of us had expected her to say this. I cleared my throat after a moment. "Thanks, Claire. I appreciate it."

She gave me a small smile and turned around, disappearing in the crowd.

"Whoa what was that about?" Dean looked back at the way she'd gone, and sat down in front of us.

"Claire's trying to be good." Bri replied. "Her apology seemed genuine. I still don't trust her though."

I didn't respond to her. I told them I needed to ask Mia about the double date. I didn't think she had plans though. I called her but she didn't pick up. I wanted to believe this would be good for us. Maybe this is what we needed. She needed a break. She'd already been through a lot, and the drama wouldn't stop.

I drove myself home, still waiting for her to call me back. She didn't. And that is when the worry started to creep in my mind. I was scrolling through my phone when I got a message. From her. A message that left me frozen on the spot, my heart seeming to stop beating.

Theo,

I'm sorry for doing this over text, but I couldn't go on another day without telling you. I know you'd be heartbroken but I have to tell you. I've been spending time with Noah since the dinner and that has brought back old memories. It has made me realize that I never stopped loving him. You're important to me, you are. But he made me realize that what I felt for you was not love, because I love him, not you. I'm going away for a while to clear my head. He is with me. Please don't call or text. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, and hope you can find love just like I found it with Noah.

Love,

Mia

I rushed over to my room, tears streaming down my face. I'd just got a call from Bridget which had left me shaking. My legs weren't able to support my weight because of my distorted state. He couldn't do this to me. No, he couldn't. I wouldn't let him.

"Amelia! Amelia, open this damn door." I heard my father shout from the other side.

"Go away!" I screamed at him, choking because of the tears. "Just go away." My voice broke.

"Amelia," His voice softened. "Honey, please open the door. I'm worried for you, okay? I promise I won't do anything."

"What else could you possibly do more?" I hiccuped. "You've taken everything away. Mom won't even look me in the eye. I can't see my friends. I cannot-"

"One day you will realize I did it to protect you." He stated from the other side of the door. "You are my daughter. I am protecting you."

"Fuck you for taking everything away from me!" I shouted, wiping away the tears furiously. "Fuck you for always trying to-"

"Mind your fucking language, Amelia." He said with force. "I am still your father. I will not tolerate you speaking to me like that."

"Go away!" I threw my window open, and climbed out. When I fell down steady on the ground, I ran. I ran away from this hell hole I called my house. I ran away to where I always did when I needed to get away.

I slammed his door open. He never locked it. I saw him emptying his wardrobe, throwing clothes inside the suitcases. I whimpered, "You're leaving me." My voice cracked.

He whipped his head to look at me, and his face softened. "Am-"

"You promised you won't ever leave."

"Baby-"

"Don't call me that!" I shouted. "Don't call me that when you're going to walk away from me."

His blue eyes shone with tears. "I don't want to go-"

"Don't!"

"-but I have to, love. Do you not see the way everyone looks at me? I feel them judging me, Amelia. And I thought I would be able to handle it but I can't anymore. It's killing me. They look at me as if I've committed a crime. Is loving someone a crime?"

"Noah, please." I moved towards him. "You can't go. You can't leave me."

"I'll come back for you." He whispered. "When all of this is over, I'll come to get you, I promise."

"But you promised you'll always be here." I pushed at his chest. He stumbled back. "And now when things are getting difficult you wanna leave?"

He caught my wrist in his hand. "He came to me yesterday. He threatened to kill me if I so much as looked at you. I can't be here and not look at you, Amelia. You know that."

"My father is an asshole but he would not murder someone." I said. "He won't hurt you. I won't let him, just don't go."

"You think you know your father, but you don't." He said softly. "He's not like you think of him. He meant what he said. He would kill me."

"He won't because he knows that will hurt me!" In a move of desperation I pulled him down to kiss me. His lips were hesitant against mine. I tried to make him remember, I tried to tell him, but when he pulled away, I knew it was futile.

"Love-"

"You're breaking your promise to me." I whispered. His hand moved out to reach me but I turned away. "You're a fucking liar! You're a coward. You told me it was us against the world. And now you want to leave me alone in this fucked up place because you're scared. You're selfish! You told me you'd protect me-"

"I will."

"How would you if you go away?" But I knew it was no use. He'd made up his mind. I'd already lost him. I was just losing my dignity by staying here.

"Amelia-"

"Goodbye, Noah." I whispered to him, turning around, not missing the single tear that left his eye. I knew he didn't want to do this, but he was breaking the promise. That hurt. "I hope you get a happy life. I know you deserve it."

I woke up on a soft bed. The sheets were blue in color, and I realized they matched my eyes. A blanket was draped over me. My wrist felt itchy, my hand pained. I didn't know where I was, or why I was here. I brought my palm to my face, rubbing my eyes from the sleep. I yawned, looking to my side. My wrist was throbbing so I brought it over in front of my eyes.

My hand didn't move.

I looked towards the bed post, seeing a single handcuff embed itself into the cloth, the other end of it binding my wrist to the bed. And then I remembered.

"Oh! You're up." I whipped my head towards the door. "I made you chocolate pancakes, my love. I know they are your favorite. I actually wanted to eat something that you made, but I'm a better cook than you."

I would eat burnt food if you made it for me, angel.

"Where the fuck am I?" I said through gritted teeth. "Where the fuck did you bring me?"

Noah smiled. "You're where you belong, near me."

"I am not in the mood for games, Noah. Tell me right now what you did. Why the fuck did you bring me here? And what the fuck is this?" I pointed to my bound wrist. "You're gonna tie me up and force yourself on me?"

"No, never!" He looked horrified. "What do you think of me? It's just precautionary."

"Precautionary?!" I exclaimed. "Open that right fucking now."

"Now listen to me-"

"Shut up and fuck off and open this right now. I want to leave."

His eyes hardened. "You're not in the position to make demands. That will stay until you realize what mistake you made."

"Mistake?"

"Going away and letting another guy touch you and kiss you. You belong to me, Amelia. I love you and you love me, I know you do. It's just a matter of time before you remember that. Your right hand is free, eat this." He pushed the plate of pancakes in front of me. I pushed it away using my free hand, making it fall on the ground and smash.

He looked at me. "Very well, I cannot force you to eat."

"You cannot force me to do anything." I spat.

"I can't." He nodded. "But I promise you're not going anywhere until you remember your love for me. And this time," He bent down so that he was eye level with me. "I intent to keep my promise."

*

Uh oh.