For the Love of a Wine Dahlia

Amery Beau is a young girl stricken by grief, who falls in love with a boy equally damaged by the world. This is a tragic story of love, secrets, lies deception, friendship, and... murder.

THE BEGINNING 

Thump. Thump. Thump. Her heart was beating so loudly she could hear it ringing in her ears. She was nervous.  What a new feeling this was; quiet little Amery Beau was just grazing her teenage years and she was already hung up on a boy!

     His very existence shattered the monotony that was her life; one might even dare say that the hope of loving him repaired some parts of her damaged soul. She spent most of her time admiring him; aimlessly observing.

     She knew the rhythm in which his feet grazed the concrete floors of Easton High. How does he smell so amazing? She thought; sniffing in his presence as he brushed by.  He functioned like clockwork, and every day she made sure she was standing at her locker as he filed into the lunch room with his best friend Harris following closely behind.

     Slamming her locker shut, not even bothering to lock it, she would follow them. She sat two tables and exactly eight chairs away. She counted. She wasn’t obsessed, just fond. After all, she was quiet little Amery. She wasn’t sure he even knew her name.

     She was always so subtle and innocent about the hints she tossed his way; she sometimes wondered if he needed something a little more obvious... maybe she needed to spray paint a bold message across the beige siding of his family home, or tattoo it on his hand while he slept. She needed something loud and crazy that screamed ‘HEY, I LOVE YOU!’ She continued to hope every day that he would suddenly wake up and notice her.

     She set her alarm for 6:20am every morning, just so she could spend a little extra time on her ‘effortless’ appearance. Her dark brown hair was usually pressed into a perfect sloppy bun with loose spirals escaping all over. Her makeup was always done lightly enough that it complemented her pale green eyes, while still looking gorgeously natural.

    Oh, and she was very fashionable! She was proud of that. Her mother took her shopping nearly every weekend. Sometimes Amery thought it was her mom’s way of making up for her detached parenting approach, but Amery felt she had the better end of the deal so she didn’t mind. She always had a cool new outfit to wear to school and in the mind of teenage Amery, that’s all that really mattered.

     So, why didn’t Ian notice her? They shared the halls of the same school since they were in the second grade and they even lived on the same street. His front door was directly across and down two houses from hers; exactly sixty-two steps.

     He was Ian: the perfect specimen of one-hundred and twenty pounds. A man of few words. Though, when he did speak, she found herself mesmerized by the soothing vibrato that had recently overtaken his voice. Oh, and when he laughed: a dimple teased his left cheek and his smile tilted towards it in the most perfect imbalance ever created. His eyes tilted sky-bound and his mouth usually hung open longer than it should. It seemed so genuine.

     There was just something about him that Amery could relate vastly to. Perhaps it was the fact that in the face of adversity they both chose to see life for what it was, and not what it wasn’t or what it could have been. They weren’t shy, fatherless outcasts with narcissistic mothers, but two resilient individuals who found ways to trek on. The imperfection of Ian’s life made him that much more perfect for her. He wasn’t a cardboard cutout, but a broken boy loved unconditionally by a broken girl.

     

     Going home in the evenings she found herself dreaming; imagining him lying next to her. She would drape her arm over her largest pillow and hold it tight… imagining it was him. Eventually her day-dreams evolved and began to tickle reality as she found herself holding conversations with dream Ian. Her head nesting comfortably into the shoulder of her pillow, she would confess the problems of the day.

     He was sort of like an imaginary friend who just so happened to exist! Their nighttime conversations hushed her to sleep while providing her with a much-needed moment of serenity.

     Ian isn’t all that Amery cared about though. The simple act of adoring him was just a hobby. Dancing was cool too, but she really, really, loved to bake. That was her favorite thing to do! …Yes, she would often pretend that Ian was sitting at the kitchen table watching her work magic, but not because she was obsessed. Just lonely. It’s easy to let your mind wander when you’re so often left alone with your own thoughts.

     With Kelli Respilaar’s annual let-me-rub-my-wealth-in-your-face party coming up, Amery knew she had to gain the confidence to ask him to it. It was the only party of the year where the tradition was for the girls to ask the guys out, and she was excited!

     She practiced asking him every night. The thought was that if she went through it enough times in her head, she wouldn’t be nervous when she asked him in person. Of course he would say yes! He’s so sweet; he couldn’t possibly turn her down.

     She was too scared to check but she thought she caught him smiling at her once, though she wasn’t sure. Maybe he likes her too! Perhaps they’re both just too shy to do anything about it. That’s why Amery was absolutely determined. Nothing was going to stop her from taking him to that party. However, little did she know, the simple act of asking him would be the mechanism used to set in motion a long series of events.

     This is the tragic story of how, in twenty-six ½ days, someone very important to our story, will lose their life.    

DAY ONE

   Monday. Waking up thirty minutes earlier than usual, she told herself this was the day! Today she would finally extend an invitation to the man of her dreams; they’ll have fun dancing and laughing all night and thus their relationship will begin!

   With Ian Novani on her arm, surely life would taste just a little sweeter and her ailments wouldn’t seem quite so grand. It was almost as if earning Ian’s affection was the solution to all of her mundane problems; the answer to her malfunctioning reality.

   Admiring herself in the mirror, she decided to put on a little more makeup than usual; but not enough that it looked like she was trying too hard… just enough. And she curled some of her hair before pinning it back today, which made it look more sophisticated. After some debate, she eventually slipped an elegant silver headband on over the escaped curls.

   She finished her nails the night before; subtle. Clear with a pinkish tent. Ian was a fairly modest man, and she knew he liked simplicity. Dress or pants? She wrestled within herself while she frantically rifled through her closet. Maybe a dress is too formal…but I always wear pants; they’re boring. Eventually, she found two outfits to choose from.

     Gently removing them from the hangers, she laid them both out for further examination. The first was a new dress her mother bought as a birthday present; the tag was still clinging loosely to the sleeve. It was so light and fun. Surely Ian would love it.

     Carefully reaching past a stack of old shoe boxes in her closet, Amery pulled out a small silver box. Oh-so-carefully, she kneeled down to open it; revealing a plectra of antique treasures. Siphoning through lightly she found what she was looking for, a small silver locket.

     Holding it up high, she noticed a smile nesting across her face.  “Perfect,” she sighed.

     Laying the locket down over her dress, her decision had just become more difficult. “No…no dress. He’ll think I’m trying too hard. No dress.” She reasoned, as she hovered the locket over option number two, her favorite oversized pastel top and distressed jeans.

     “Talking to yourself again?” Her older brother Shiloh mocked, throwing himself around the corner and onto her bed, “OH!” he called out with a sudden glee in his eyes.

     “Can’t figure out what to wear for Jason?!  Girl, that dress is just too fabutastic, you know he won’t be able to resist!” He teased, femininely flinging one hand over his crossed knees. “He won’t think you’re painfully awkward or obsessed at all! Nope. Definitely go with the dress.”

     “I’m not wearing the dress…and I can’t speak for you, but I don’t like Jason.” She really didn’t. Jason Connolly… gross. He was an inch shorter than Ian and ten pounds heavier. Not that she was comparing. He was just like every other jock out there; entirely too full of himself. Amery didn’t so much mind her brother thinking she liked Jason though. It kept his eyes off the real prize.  So occasionally she played into it, but not today.

     Fully dressed and breakfast in hand, Amery slung her backpack over one arm. Today’s the day! That’s all she could think about.

     “Ya leaving, Hun?” Her mom asked in passing.

     “Soon. Just waiting for the twins.”

     Amery wasn’t the most popular girl in school and she certainly didn’t have a lot of friends, but what she did have was the love of her twin cousins Eleanora and Emily. The three of them were inseparable, being only a few months apart.

     Eleanora was always the smartest but at times shyer than all three of them combined (though she was also the first of the crew to get her driver’s license which sparked a flare of independence in her). Their car was technically in Eleanora’s name; her parents felt she was the more responsible choice of the two, but today Emily was driving. Amery watched them pull into the driveway.

     “They’re here, Mom.”

     “Alrighty, be safe. Oh hey, we’re going to have dinner together tonight, okay?”

     “Okay.” Amery replied as she rushed off. Dinner together? The last time they had dinner together her mom announced the existence of a new boyfriend"of whom deserves no further acknowledgement. The time before that her grandmother passed in her sleep, and before that Amery’s parents were getting a divorce.

     She knew she had to brace herself for big news, but somehow hoped it really was just a family dinner. It had been so long, and she really did enjoy them. It was a chance to fill her mom in on new accomplishments and life goals. An opportunity to rightfully brag, and she didn’t hate the fact that her brother was forced to be kind for half an hour either.

     Today however, was a good day; an exciting day. She had plenty of time to worry about that. Not now. Now she was on her way to Easton High: the place where one simple question was about to, in some way, change the direction of her lackluster life.

     “Whatcha thinking ’bout Amer?” Eleanora asked after a few minutes of silence.

     With her head pressed tightly to the warm glass of her window, Amery responded, “Ian. I’m gonna ask him to Kelli’s party.”

     “What the cuss!” Emily shrieked in an animated voice, “You think he’ll say yes?” It took Amery longer than usual to respond but eventually she did, “I don’t know. I think he might… He’s always been so nice.”

     Amery could faintly see the outline of their mundane school appear in the distance as Emily continued, “Wait, he’s been nice to you? Have you talked to him?”

     “Not really more than usual,” Amery confided. She couldn’t help but notice the smile that appeared when she spoke of the greatness that is Ian, “I don’t know him that well, but I think he might like me. He’s just always been so kind, ya know?” She concluded, lifting her head from the glass and nesting it into her headrest.

     Soon Eleanora chimed in, bursting through the silence with her gentle voice. “Uhh, I don’t know. I mean, he’s pretty much nice to everyone …but that doesn’t mean he likes everybody.”

     “What do you mean, Nora?” Amery wondered.

     “I’m just saying… just because he’s nice doesn’t mean he likes you.”

     “Truth, sister. Since when is the absence of cruelty, love?” Emily rationalized. “Holey-pumpernickel-bread, that’s deep!”  

     “I’m just saying.  Just because he’s not mean, doesn’t mean he’s nice.” Eleanora concluded.

     “But he is nice though, I know. I’ve known him for a long time.” Amery’s cheeks were growing warm with agitation.

    “I’m not saying he’s not. I’m just looking out for you. Don’t be upset if he says no, just prepare for that too, okay? … just tryna help.”

     “Well, you’re not helping, so…”

     “Okay, sorry.” Eleanora yielded as they approached the parking lot. “I really hope it goes well,” a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

     With her heart now falling into her stomach, Amery climbed out of the car without another word and marched confidently past the other students. Planting herself firmly into her third row seat in Mrs. Miller’s class, she couldn’t help but loop the conversation through her head.

     The more she thought about it the angrier she became. How dare they try to talk her out of something like this? The angrier she became, the more nervous she felt. Now she was even more determined to ask him than before. She had to prove Eleanora wrong.

Author's Note

I've been working on this story for several years, and I feel like I'm near the end of it. I would love some honest feedback and criticism. Is it actually any good? ;)

Reviews

[emmajoy]

I truly want to review your story, have tried twice, BUT to be honest it's made my eyes sore on both occasions. The font is far, far too small plus, it could do with some dialogue or/and thought process added to give light and shade; that would also bring your well laid words to life. The same applies to DAY ONE - though the font is still too small.. and all through could benefit from double spacing.
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Forigve my honesty, hope you don't find it rude or off.putting; because i know full well that what you're offering has so much worth - it truly has. But readers need to be made welcome from the go..

Perhaps look at how Samuel Dickens displays his stories.. ..

[Kaybrie93]

I love the honesty, thanks! I have many more chapters, and it's always tough to know how it all comes across to the reader. I know the point I'm trying to get across, so it makes sense to me. It's nice to know how it comes across to other people