It was true that I have always loved Amelia. Since the time when Caleb and I were best friends, I used to look after her, care for her, protect her, and help her with her homework. They were an excuse to be near her, to see her and talk to her. The more I interacted with her, the more I fell in love with her.

I couldn't help or control my growing feelings for her. On her thirteenth birthday, she looked very alluring in a short red dress which clung to her curves accentuating them, as her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, her long creamy white legs inviting me to caress them. Her smoky light grey eyes reflected the lights of the banquet hall, as she glided along like a gazelle, while I followed her around like a lost puppy, mesmerized by her.

Caleb might have sensed my feelings, as we had a huge fight and he warned me of her. I tried ignoring her, tried to befriend other girls, but I missed the friendship that we shared.

"Tristan, someone's here to see you," said Erik, my kickboxing coach at the club, bringing me out of my reverie. Today, ever since I had spent some time with the sweetest person on earth, Amelia, I hadn't been able to concentrate much on the practice sessions. I was worried for her. The way Brandon dragged her away didn't sit well with me. Was he torturing her? I needed to find out. I was expecting Caleb to come over for verbal combat with me since obviously, Brandon would never keep it in. Although I had never crossed any boundaries with Amelia, yet I know that they would make a mountain out of this.

"Yeah, I'll be right back," I told Erik and jogged out of the club. However, to my extreme horror, I found Brandon waiting for me with a furious scowl on his face. The moment he saw me, he stormed towards me determinedly. I am no coward but I didn't want to go against Amelia's brothers. He caught hold of my dress and shook me to put some sense in my head.

"Stay away from Amy, Tristan. This is the last time I'm warning you nicely. Next time I won't be so nice," he threatened menacingly. I extracted myself from his hold and glared back at him.

"I was just treating her to coffee, that's all," I shrugged to sound casual.

"Whatever it is, just stay away, that's all," he scoffed at me. "This time I just reported you to your dad. Next time I'll report you to my dad and you know the outcome. He'll punish Amy for your faults," growled Brandon and whirled around and stormed out of the gates. I stood stunned looking after him. Did he really complain about such a petty thing to my dad? I just couldn't believe it!

I knew the outcome of Brandon's complaint, I would be grounded for a week, with no school and no Amelia. It would be the worst punishment of my life. I retraced my steps back to the club to resume my training. However, I couldn't concentrate on the sparring practice and ended up being injured.

When I returned home, I found my dad, Nathaniel Henderson, pacing the floor of the living room. "What's the meaning of all this, Tristan?" he yelled at me. "Caleb's older brother informed me that you had been trying to abuse their sister, who's a minor?" Dad growled at me, angrily, with his hands clenched into fists.

"Whoa! Where did that come from? I didn't do anything of the sort, dad. I just took Amelia to a cafe to have some cake and coffee. They're really making an issue out of nothing," I protested.

"I don't know whom to believe anymore. Why would he lie?" asked dad.

"Because he's a dictator just like his dad," I pointed out the obvious fact to him, angrily. It seemed as if no one knew how they were really like.

"Language, son. Anyway, you're grounded for a week," said dad.

"But I have school and I'll miss out on so much, dad," I protested but dad just waved me off and walked out of the room, ignoring my pleas. I had no option but to wait impatiently for the week to get over so that I could see Amelia again but I knew that before that I needed to face my best friend, Caleb first. Maybe he would break off our friendship. After all, he was like Amelia's other brothers! The whole week I waited for some news of Amelia, but strangely all was quiet. It looked like the quietness before a storm. I couldn't wait to return to school and see her sweet face.