Saffron coloured me nervous.

She stared at me with a smirk as I adjusted the slant of my hair every time I passed a thing which showed my reflection, a deep urge to ensure there was nothing out of place.

In all honesty, I didn't want yesterday to end; after the movie, she sat close to me, gently placing her head on the surface of my biceps. I knew cuddling would be too soon so I accepted her little gesture of closeness, humming a song to clear the silence while we spoke about different things.

Today, I was to search for a job with her. I had a few in mind but I wouldn't know if she liked them until I took her there. Darting my eyes to my step-sister, I snorted at her knowing grin. "What?" I gave her the triumph by asking the pending question.

"If you touch the hair any further, it just might fall out in frustration, big brother." She teased. Although snarky, Saffron was right. I was being nervous and it was showing. Taking a deep breath, I try to shrug off the weighty emotions. "So, when will I meet this woman who had my brother in a knot?" She hummed, skipping over to me.

Woman. Amelia wasn't too far off from Saffron's age. Perhaps that was why I didn't correct her, what would she think? I was falling for a lady who had barely crossed the adulthood stage. "When the time is right," I said with a smirk of my own.

"How do I look?"

"Like an old man."

I laugh, "Geez, I'm half a foot out of my thirties, I'm not that old." The red-haired girl hummed, poking her head into the mirror as well, her head barely reaching my shoulder. "How do I look?" I raise an inquisitive brow, she had on skimpy shorts and a sweater shirt. "Where are you going?"

"To see Rivers."

"In that?"

"What's wrong with this? He'll like it, don't you think?" She had to be pulling my leg. This was a Sunday, wasn't she meant to be preparing for school or something? Taking a deep breath, a force out a smile. "I guess so." She giggled, throwing her head back. "You're so easy, like dad." When she said this, I remembered how the young adult me years ago would have reacted, cringed and walked away. But now, it was so familiar it'd be odd if she didn't call Pa that.

"I am going to see him, but of course, I'll change. Or dad wouldn't let me out of his sight."

"Good." She scoffed.

"Enjoy your little date. Tell her I said hi." Saffron greeted with a wave, skipping into the kitchen where she continued to mix her salad. With one last look, I took my keys to the truck, revving the engine to life.

I was beginning to know Amelia's lively neighbourhood like the back of my palm. It was downtown, in a gated estate, with nice neighbours and a lateral housing pattern. Parking in front of her house, my eyes widened a bit as I saw the little lady who managed to make my heart speed up --just as it was doing now-- rocking the balls of her feet, outside. Crud. Was I late?

Leaving the engine on, I put the car in park and come out. "Hey, sweetheart. Did you wait long?" The concern came unannounced as I glanced over at the girl who had her lips pursed.

"Uh, I'm early. I couldn't contain my excitement! So I decided to wait out here." Oh, thank God. I was starting to get worried. Chuckling in relief, I admire the girl. "You look beautiful."

The compliment rolled off my lips quite easily, earning a grin from the girl. "Do I?" She asked with a cheeky smile. Dark black jeans hugged her curves paired with a pink polo and white sandals. Causal, but still beautiful. I hum, mirroring her smile. "The prettiest." I continue walking towards her.

Amelia pouted, turning her face. "You're too kind." She giggled, more to herself. Cautiously, I slip my hand around her waist, watching how she'd react. Her plump lips were captured by her two front teeth in a subtle motion.

"Um, so where to?" I liked how my palm fitted into the arch of her waist. "You'll see, come on." After she had buckled up, I turned around to get into mine. "I woke up super early today, so I'd have time to pick an outfit and do my hair. I wonder if they'll like me. I know some people aren't so nice, but I hope they are nice to me." Amelia began, shyly playing with her hands.

"I'm sure they'll be nice to you. Even if they're not, it shouldn't make you feel bad. Alright?" She nodded, her cheeks brightening. As I watched her adorable reactions, I remembered what Saffron asked me to do. "My sister sends her greetings." Amelia perked up with a smile.

"You have a sister?"

"Yeah, I had one when my father remarried." Her lips folded to the side. "Did your mother...?" I could tell she was hesitant to ask, it did happen a while ago so I had grown comfortable with talking about it. I nod. "She passed away a while ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"You're fine."

"How is your sister like?" Amelia seemed curious. What was Saffron like? I didn't get such a question often. "She's kind of the opposite of me, now that I think about it. She has red hair, a bit on the ginger side, she says it adds to her fieriness. She's friendly, incredibly outspoken and a bit of a hothead."

"She's lucky to have a brother like you" A grin stretched on my lips. "Tell me about Abel." I was curious, I knew they had a good relationship from how she spoke of him, and he was also protective of her. Amelia hummed, leaning closer to me as she placed her chin on her palm. "I see Abel as my older twin brother. He's caring and puts his priorities before himself." She began, "One time, he fought with Papa because he didn't agree with him raising his voice at me."

"I was 16 back then, I remember Abel didn't stay at home for a few days. He risked being on Papa's bad side just for me." I could imagine. "He sounds like a nice person."

"He is!" She beamed.

"I love him so much." Amelia's smile darkened as she looked out the window. "Ever since Mama died, Papa has been so...angry. Especially at me. I think he might hate me. But, I don't know what I did wrong." Giving her an apologetic smile, I had a feeling it was because of the daunting resemblance she had with her mother. He probably couldn't stand the sight of it. A constant reminder.

I hadn't thought of having a wife in so long, but if I did have one and she passed away, I'd be angry too. "Just give him time, I'm sure he'll come around." In an attempt to comfort her, I slid my palm over her thigh, rubbing it gently. I see her tense up, looking away.

"Oh, I didn't mean to make you uncom-" I begin taking my hand back but her little ones stopped me. "No, it's...it's okay. You don't have to move." I give her a side glance, trying to make out the emotions on her face. She seemed flustered, chewing on her lips. "You sure?" Amelia nodded.

I heaved my hand on her thigh, and feeling her thick clothed lap on my palm did something to me. Waving the thoughts off, I continued to draw circles on her lap with my thumb, my other hand driving.

"There's a small bakery I found uptown, it's not so busy on usual days, and the people there are nice enough," I told her about the bakery Saffron referred me to weeks ago. I didn't go there a lot and to think of it, the place wasn't so far from where she stayed. Just a good half an hour.

"A bakery?"

"Yeah, since you like to bake, I thought you'd fit right in. The usual one you go to is too crowded for you, right?" Amelia opened her lips to talk but closed them. "I...I know it's weird. That I get anxious with so many people around. It's a good place but, I couldn't imagine working there-"

"Hey. Sweetheart."

She looked up with a frown. Parking near the bakery, I turned off the engine. "It's completely fine." Who didn't have something that scared them? "We're here." Amelia gave me a soft smile, taking a deep breath before looking at the bakery. ' It read.

"I'm doing this." I chuckled at her cute mutter.

"If you don't feel comfortable, it's fine to tell me. We could look for another place. Okay?" From the looks of things, she wasn't listening, her eyes were fixated on the building. "Hey." I breathed out, unbuckling my belt and leaning in to face her. Amelia looked over at me with parted lips, her eyes sparkling. I tried not to, but my gaze dropped to her plump lips.

No, Everest. It was too soon.

But just gazing over them made my throat heat up, they were glossy and well-shaped. The way she stared at me and our proximity wasn't much help either. "Are you good?" I whispered, trying to tear my eyes away from her lips -- a good mixture of caramel and pink. Her large faded green orbs met mine. The air was thicker than before.

"U-Uh...yeah. I'm good." Amelia's words were barely audible; did she feel it too?

If I did kiss her, there was no going back. The last thing I wanted to do was to scare her. Leaning away, I nod. "Good."

"Let's go get you a job."