Some People Stay

Bridget had noticed a change in Amelia over the past few days. Jonathan had gone back to Chicago, and Bridget thought that Amelia was going to be like she was before he had visited Nashville and ignore his attempts at trying to talk to her, but she hadn’t done that. Instead, she seemed to be talking to Jonathan a lot. She also seemed to be a little bit happier, though she still wasn’t her normal self yet. Bridget was happy that Amelia had begun to be more talkative with her as well, though she wasn’t sure if that was because Amelia wanted to or if Jonathan was pushing her to be.

She walked down the stairs to see Amelia texting on her phone, and she didn’t even need to ask her who she was texting. She wasn’t sure what was going on between the two of them, and she was afraid to bring up the topic because she didn’t want Amelia to shut her out or anything. “How’s Jon doing?” Bridget asked, sitting down next to her sister.

Amelia looked up from her phone, glancing at Bridget. “Huh?” she asked.

Bridget pointed at her phone. “I’m assuming you’re talking to Jon. I was just asking how he was doing,” she explained as Amelia’s phone buzzed again, indicating a new text.

“Oh,” Amelia said, glancing down at her phone, reading the text. “He’s doing good,” she added before replying back.

“Can I ask you a question?” Bridget asked rather cautiously. She was afraid how Amelia was going to react to this conversation, but she needed to know the answer.

“Sure,” Amelia nodded.

“What are you and Jon?”

“Huh?” Amelia asked, not understanding the question.

“Are you two dating or anything?” Bridget clarified.

Amelia sat her phone down on the coffee table in front of them, abandoning the texting for the time being. “Dating?” she questioned, and Bridget nodded her head. “No, we’re not. Why would you think that?”

“Well, you’ve just been happier lately. And, don’t take that the wrong way! I’m so glad! But, you’ve been happier, and I know you and Jon have been talking a lot lately, and I just didn’t know if you two were together or anything. I mean, if you are then great, he’s making you happy, helping you,” Bridget told her, positioning herself so that she was sitting cross-legged on the couch, facing Amelia.

“Bridge, we’re not dating. And, honestly, I don’t see me ever dating him. No one is ever going to compare to David. And, I’m certainly not over him. But, even if I ever do get to the point where I could date again, it’s not going to be with Jon. He’s a good guy, and we’ve definitely become good friends, but that’s all we are,” she assured her, and Bridget almost let out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t sure why she was comforted by Amelia’s words of reassurance that she wasn’t dating Jonathan, but she was happy. “Are you jealous or something, Bridge?” Amelia asked, and Bridget was caught off guard by her question.

“What...no!” she sputtered out, but Amelia wasn’t convinced. Amelia lifted an eyebrow at her sister, ignoring her phone that was buzzing against the coffee table. “Amy, your phone,” Bridget said, trying to get the attention off of her for at least a moment so that hopefully she could get out of the room and away from this conversation.

“Screw the phone,” Amelia said, shaking her head. “Do you have a thing for Jon?” she questioned, and Bridget squirmed in her seat.

“No,” she finally said, standing firm to her answer. “He’s one of my oldest friends, that’s it, I promise you,” she told her, and Amelia seemed to accept the answer, though by the expression on her face, she wasn’t sure if Bridget was telling her the truth, though she wasn’t going to keep badgering her at this point. “I’m gonna go for a run, okay?” Bridget said, and Amelia nodded her head.

“I’ll be here when you get back,” she told her, almost automatically. For the longest time after Amelia began living with Bridget, Bridget always was worried that Amelia was going to run off and hurt herself while she was out doing some errands. So, Bridget always made Amelia promise her that she’d be there when she got back. Even though Amelia was getting better, and it was showing by her attitude, Bridget still liked hearing those words. She wasn’t worried about Amelia committing suicide anymore. Though she still was depressed, the medication was doing its job.

“I’ll see you in a little bit,” Bridget said, getting up off the couch and making her way outside. It was the beginning of fall, but it was still warm outside. It seemed like the perfect day for a run with the sun shining and a light breeze. She didn’t even grab her ipod before she left, needing to just collect her thoughts.

Amelia had caught her off guard by asking her about Jonathan. And, Bridget really needed to get her thoughts in order. She had never had romantic feelings for Jonathan before. He had been friends with her for years, since they were little kids. And, even while growing up, they were always just friends, nothing more. She had never had feelings for him before. But, then when he and Amelia started getting closer, something had stirred up inside of Bridget, and she wasn’t sure what was going on. She didn’t really want to date Jonathan, but she was jealous of something.

As she continued running, her thoughts became clearer. She started realizing that she didn’t have romantic feelings for Jonathan. She never did. She was jealous of the friendship Amelia and Jonathan was forming. They had never been friends before, but Bridget had a relationship with both of them. She and Amelia were sisters and best friends. Amelia confided in Bridget, and she looked up to her big sister. They told each other everything, and they were incredibly close to one another.

Then there was Jonathan. He had been friends with Bridget for years. And, he had never really hung out with Amelia. Jonathan was one thing that Bridget and Amelia didn’t share in their lives. And, that made him special to Bridget. But, when Amelia started hanging out with him too, more than Bridget and him had ever done before, she was jealous.

She felt that the two of them were forming a bond and edging her out in some sort of way. She felt like a third wheel to their new friendship, and she hated that. It wasn’t their fault, though. They were just helping Amelia get through everything. But, Bridget was just hurt that she wasn’t being included in that.

As she turned the corner to head back to her house, she let out a sigh of relief as she had finally sorted out all of her thoughts and feelings. She didn’t have feelings for Jonathan, but she was jealous of his and Amelia’s new bond, and she felt like she was being cut out of her own life. But, now that she had sorted everything out, she would be able to talk to them and try to fix everything, hopefully helping Amelia in the process instead of hurting her anymore.