Chapter 27

                                    

                                          
OCTOBER 22

                          
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LEVI
                          
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Everyone is sitting quietly in the living room. I'm just beside Scarlet, who's across from her parents. Seeing Scarlet's dad after all these years, and remembering that he blames me for Scarlet's selective amnesia.
                          
Then again, how would it be completely my fault? I mean, partially it would be. I was the one on the road. I was the one who was about to get hit by a car. Scarlet saved me, it was her choice.
                          
But why does it feel like it was my fault?
                          
I didn't ask her to push me. I didn't ask her to save me. Her dad should be proud that she saved a life - at the expense of her own. I guess that's where it gets complicated.
                          
I could feel the tension between Scarlet and her dad rising. I've never heard silence quite this loud, and it's driving me crazy. I can't take it anymore, but I have to stay silent.
                          
I don't want to be the first one to speak. I don't even have any right to speak right now. Besides, I shouldn't even be here right now. If it wasn't for Scarlet begging me to stay. Well, she didn't beg, she asked. She needed me right now.
                          
Amaris is twiddling her fingers out of nervousness while smiling at the situation. What's there to smile about? Her dad isn't looking at her or me, instead he's staring off into space.
                          
"Scarlet-" her dad manages to say.
                          
Scarlet doesn't reply, she only stares at her father. And I'm just sitting still here and looking pretty. I have no idea where this is going. I just hope everything ends well.
                          
"I'm here because I wanted to ask you something."
                          
Scarlet's expression changes from anger to curiosity. I feel her tense up beside me, so I try to hold her hand. She glances at me just as our hands intertwine and she gives me a reassuring smile.
                          
As if I'm the one who needs the most reassurance right now.
                          
"Your father wanted to ask you if-" Amaris starts, but is cut off by her ex-husband. He gently puts his hand on her lap, signalling her to stop.
                          
The two make eye-contact with each other, and I'm sure Amaris understands whatever he's trying to tell her. It's like they can read each others minds and expressions.
                          
"Oh, I'm sorry." Amaris says as she stands up. "I'll just be in the kitchen if you need me." With that, she struts towards the kitchen without missing a beat.
                          
"I was wondering if we could talk, just the two of us?" Scarlet's dad asks her, ignoring the fact that I'm also in the room and he could just ask me to leave.
                          
"Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of me and Levi." Scarlet crosses her arms as she responds. I see her dad's expression change upon hearing her say my name.
                          
"Levi?"
                          
Scarlet rolls her eyes and says, "Yes, Levi. Levi Larken, my boyfriend." Her dad takes in a deep breath as he tries to process what Scarlet just said.
                          
"I think it's better if he joins Amaris in the kitchen."
                          
"Who are you to tell him what to do?"
                          
I can feel the restlessness between the two grow, so I immediately stand up and say, "Scarlet, I think it's better if I just leave the two of you alone."