The Truth Is a Terrible Thing

The wind was gentle as Amelia and Josh walked down the pavement. The rain had let up, the only reminders of its presence were the dark clouds above and the small puddles on the damp pavements. They had been walking together for a short five minutes or so. Talking and laughing like they always did. Amelia tried to avoid getting her flats wet, maneuvering around the puddles and tip toeing along the edge where it wasn't so damp.

"What are you doing?" Josh asked her, looking down at her ballet style moves.

"I don't want my flats ruined. They were expensive ya know," she says looking down at her feet, trying not to lose her balance and fall into the oncoming traffic.

Josh rolled his eyes. "Want me to carry you?" he asks.

"You would do that?" Amelia asked hopeful.

"No," Josh laughed. Amelia laughed and smacked his chest, losing her balance in the process. She would have fallen into the road if it wasn't for Josh catching her by the shoulders. "Whoa, watch yourself, yeah? Move over here, you're going to get hit by a car if you don't." Josh switched places with Amelia, moving her as far away from the road as possible.

"What if you get hit by a car?" she asks.

Josh stuck his hands deep into the pockets of his coat and looked down at Amelia, smiling. "I would rather get hit by a car than watch it be you."

Amelia smiled and wrapped her arms around his torso as they walked. "Are you going to tell me where we're going? We've passed every pub in the square."

Josh rolled his eyes, wrapping an arm over her shoulder. "Patience, Amelia. We'll get there soon enough, I just need to make a quick stop to pick something up then we'll be on our way, yeah?"

Amelia nodded, continuing to walk next to Josh. The air smelt like it was going to rain though it could have just been the after smell of the rain that just occurred. It was thick, the air, thick, moist, and heavy. Josh grabbed Amelia's hand and turned her towards the doors of a restaurant. "I just need to stop by here real quick, I need to pick something up from Lissa," he smiled. Amelia gave a small nod and followed behind him, his fingers laced in hers. She was used to it, holding hands. They had done it since they were little, it was a friendly thing but since Josh had been with Hanna they had to do it in secret. Hanna didn't like the thought of Josh holding some other girls hand, whether it was his friend or not.

Josh pulled open the door and let Amelia walk in first. She dropped her head a little, walking under his arm. She looked up and was taken back.

"Surprise!" the large group of people yelled at her. She smiled widely and threw her hands over her mouth, on the verge of tears.

Everyone she knew was there. Her mother and father, her sisters, cousins, and grandparents. Max, Matt, Chris and Dan, friends and coworkers. Everyone.

Her friend Desiree was the first one to run over to her. "Happy Birthday, M."

"I hate you guys so much," She laughed, tears in her eyes.

Des laughed and wrapped her arms around Amelia. Des knew how much Amelia hated surprises. She cried every time someone did something this nice and unexpected for her. When she was 18 and her dad gave her a house she cried for nearly a week. "Don't cry, Amelia. Come on, everyone is dying to talk to you," Des said. Amelia nodded. She looked back towards Josh but he wasn't there.

"Where did Josh go?" Amelia asked, looking back at Desiree.

Des shrugged pulling at Amelia's hand. "Don't worry about it. He'll be back, now come on. There's someone who wants to meet you," she smiled deviously.

"Someone wants to meet me?" she asked surprised. "Who?"

"A lad I brought with me." Amelia made a face and ripped her hand away. She really wasn't in the mood to talk to boys. Then again she was never in the mood to talk to boys, she was anti social when it came to meeting new people. She wasn't to shy but shy enough to scare some people away. Des rolled her eyes. "You can't stay single forever you know. I'm just looking out for you, you seem lonely. "

"I'm not lonely. I have you and the lads," Amelia argued.

"Wow, so many people. Fine, you don't have to meet him now but later, you're introducing yourself to him whether you like it or not. Go say hi to your family. I'll be talking to your cousin," she winked yelling "oh Jack!" as she skipped away.

Amelia giggled and rolled her eyes before they connected with her dad. "Daddy," she called, running towards him. She threw herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Hey baby girl, surprised?" he asked receiving a nod from Amelia. "Good, now, go mingle, I have to go find Joshua, I gotta talk to him about something."

Amelia nodded, watching as her dad walked away. A body was thrown into her practically knocking her down to the ground. "Amelia!" they screamed.

"Max, get off of me you prat!" she yelled at him.

Max shook his head, closing his eyes. "Nope."

Before Amelia could say another word another body was thrown into her, and another, and another.

She was face to face with Matt. Max and Chris on either side, Dan behind her. All their arms were wrapped around each other.

"Hello Matthew," Amelia said.

Matt smiled. "Hello Amelia. Happy early birthday, love," He said giving her a small kiss on the cheek.

Amelia smiled before realization took her over. The lads still had her in a death grip. There were several things she could have yelled to get them to let go, so instead of just yelling one she yelled them all. "You guys I'm over heating. You're breaking my ribs. I'm going to die-"

"Oh quit being such a princess," Chris laughed as they all let go.

Amelia starred daggers at him. "I hate you most of all," she said.

"No you don't, you love Chris just as much as the rest of us," Dan laughed, tossing an arm around Amelia.

Amelia rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. The lads stood in front of her, smiles on their faces. "Do any of you know where Josh went to?" she asked.

Max's mouth went into a straight line in an attempt not to smile, they all shook their heads. "Nope," Matt said.

"Maximus," Amelia said staring daggers at Max.

"What?" Max said, throwing his arms up in defense. "I'm being honest, he came in here with you and then left. Okay?"

Amelia nodded, not fully believing Max's words but continued on her way.

She spent the next hour talking to everyone that was at the party, catching up with some family members, seeing her sisters before her father sat her down at a table in the middle of the restaurant. There were people sitting around all the other tables. Her Mom and Dad sat next to each other next to her, her two sisters next to them. The table was full except for the empty chair to the left of her. She sipped carelessly at her drink, zoning into the conversation at the table and occasionally into the ones at tables around her.

She could hear Max yelling at Matt about a game of FIFA and how he swore that Matt cheated by turning off his controller. Amelia couldn't help but laugh. They always got so worked up about that game and she could admit that even she got overly aggressive when playing. Josh had a bruise on his arm for weeks when he let her play with him for the first time. She told him it was her first time, which was a lie. She played with her cousins more than once. Josh made the bet that if she won she was allowed to punch him. If he won, she had to kiss him and not just a simple peck on the cheek. She of course won.

"Do you like the party so far?" her father asked taking Amelia out of her thoughts.

Amelia blinked a few times, landing back onto earth. "Oh um. I love it. Thank you so much."

Her father simply smiled. "Don't thank me, it's not all my doing."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, confused. She was going to answer when there was a hand on her shoulder. "Having fun?" a voice whispered into her ear. The hot breath hitting her hair.

Amelia looked over just as Josh was sitting down in the empty chair next to her, a smile on his face. "Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!" She whisper yelled leaning into him.

Josh chuckled. "I told you I had to pick something up from Lissa," he said. "Are you having fun at your party? I worked very hard to keep this from you," he smiled.

"You did this?" Josh nodded. Amelia wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much, you have no idea. I hate you but at the same time I could kiss you right now," she said into his neck.

Josh mimicked her movement. "Anything for you, darling."

Amelia pulled away dropping her hands into her lap. "You know my birthday isn't until tomorrow," she said.

Josh shrugged nonchalantly. "I know, but you would have suspected something if it was on the date of your birthday, yeah? Now, about that kiss."

"Get lost Franceschi," Amelia laughed turning around to face the table.

"A man can dream, can't he?"

With a roll of her eyes Amelia took a sip of her drink. "So what did you need to get from Elissa?"

"Just something. It's not that important," said Josh.

Amelia nodded slowly, dropping it before turning towards her parents. "Mum, Dad, have you figured out where you're renewing your vows this year?" she asked.

"We do, dear but it's a secret. You'll have to wait until you get the invitation," her mum said with a sweet smile.

"It's not in America is it?" Amelia's sister Adeline asked.

Her father laughed. "No it's not in America this time. You'll see when it gets here."

"Is it in Paris? Oh dad, please tell me it's in Paris," Akantha, Amelia’s other sister asked.

"It was in Paris two years ago. It's not in Paris not even close," her mum said.

"Mrs. Howell-" Josh said.

"Josh, I've told you since you were ten, it's Elaine dear."

"Right, well Elaine. Is it possible you're going to have it in the summer months?"

Elaine nodded. "Dave and I are having it the same day as our anniversary, as always," she said. Looking at her husband with a smile. They shared a small kiss and Amelia couldn't help but stare in envy. She wanted something like what her parents had. Someone who loves you with every breath, someone who wakes up and falls asleep next to you every night for the rest of your life. Elaine and Dave had been married since they were 18, dated since they were 13. Normally relationships at a young age didn't last long but not with her parents. They have never stopped loving each other and didn't plan on stopping any time soon.

The party went on until about eleven. Josh offered to walk Amelia back home to her place. It was cold and damp outside just like it had been earlier. Amelia wrapped her arms around herself and pushed her self into Josh, his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders. "Thank you again for tonight, that was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me you know."

Josh kissed Amelia's forehead as they walked along the pavement, street lamps casting a yellowish glow onto the roads. He rested his head on the top of hers. "You deserve it, Amelia. It's not everyday you turn 21 you know, but the nights not over."

Amelia looked up quickly. "What do you mean?" Josh didn't answer he grabbed her hand with a large smile on his face and dragged her behind him as he began running towards her flat. "Josh! Slow down!" Amelia laughed as her flat came into view. Josh ran up the pathway and towards the door, pushing it open. She never locked her door, she never thought about it; normally someone was there when she wasn't so she never thought of it. It was a bad habit but she didn't see the point. Amelia and Josh took off their coats, putting them on the hangers in the front room.

Josh grabbed Amelia's hand and pulled her into the living room. "Come on," he smiled. He sat her down on the couch, sitting down next to her. On the table in front of her there was a red rectangular box, one normally your grandparents use at Christmas when they're giving you a sweater for the sixth Christmas in a row. Amelia eyed it curiously. "Go on, open it."

Amelia looked at him curiously before adjusting herself on the couch. She cleared her throat before reaching out and pulling the lid off the box. She set it down on the floor before removing the white tissue paper revealing a neatly folded Arsenal jersey. Amelia smiled and pulled it out of the box, it unfolding as she did.

"I know it's not much but I figure since we haven't spent much time together since I've been off tour-" Josh trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Amelia smiled, putting the shirt in her lap. "It's lovely Josh, really, I just don't understand what us not spending time together has to do with an Arsenal jersey."

Josh dropped his hands, reaching into his coat pocket. With a smile, he pulled out two white strips of paper. After close examination Amelia realized it was tickets to an Arsenal game. Amelia squealed, throwing herself onto Josh in a hug. He let out a laugh and wrapped his arms around her. "I can't believe you bought tickets to an Arsenal game."

"You kept saying you wanted to go to one, and I thought 'why not buy tickets?' next week, just you, me, and a classic game of football." Josh smiled.

"You're amazing you know that?" Amelia asked.

Josh wrinkled his nose as he smiled. "So I've been told," he joked.

"Come on," Amelia laughed. "You're staying here tonight."

Josh smiled, getting up off the couch and reaching a hand out towards Amelia. She sat the shirt and tickets down on the table before taking his hand in hers and walking back to her room.