We were sitting together on a bench near the physics department, at a part of the campus people hardly ever came to. Amelia got us both coffee, and waited by my side, while I gathered my thoughts.

I told her everything. The way Michael censored my friendships. How he often sabotaged my plans to go out with friends. The fact that he never seemed to accept a breakup, and kept finding ways to convince me to stick around. His petty requests, and how I always ended up going along with everything he asked of me. The fight we had when he asked me to quit college. The aggression. Everything.

I didn’t cry. I think that after all this time, I didn’t feel strongly enough about anything in that relationship that it warranted crying about. I just felt... exhausted.

Amelia listened patiently to all of it.

I finished my story, and I could tell Amelia was still worried about me. It stood to reason. I was worried about me, too. I drank the last sip of coffee, which had grown cold already, and tossed the little foam cup into a nearby trash can.

“That was very brave of you,” said Amelia.

“What was?”

“Breaking up,” she explained. “It’s really hard to get out of an abusive situation like that.”

I scoffed. “Please, Amelia, I broke up through text. There’s no honor in that.”

“Honey, look at me,” said the redhead. I felt a little tug in my chest, hearing that nickname. I looked into her eyes. “You broke up with an abusive partner. It doesn’t matter how you did it, it’s still a really hard thing to do, and it requires a lot of courage to do.”

My lips curled into a sad smile. “Even if it took me years to finally do it?”

Amelia nodded. “Even if. Now... you mentioned he called you, right? What did he say?”

“Nothing,” I replied, “because I ended the call as soon as I knew it was him. Then I turned my phone off. I’m a little scared of turning it back on, honestly.”

“Hold on,” said Amelia. She dug inside her purse for a small black object, and handed it to me.

It was a cellphone, one of those older models that did little more than make calls, and were famous for their “everlasting” batteries. I furrowed my brow.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“It’s my emergency phone,” she replied. “I keep it around for, well, emergencies. Things like my regular phone dying in the middle of a thorny situation. It’s helped me out a few times, in the past.”

“But why are you giving it to me?” I wondered.

“You’ll probably want to get a new number for your own phone,” said Amelia, “but while that doesn’t happen, I want you to be able to reach out to people in case that man comes after you. You’ll find my number stored in the memory, as well as the contacts of a few friends who would be willing to help, no questions asked. Janis is there, and so is Ceres.”

I hesitated. “Are you sure I can borrow this?” I asked.

Amelia smiled. “I want you to borrow it. I wouldn’t feel comfortable knowing that your crazy ex could come after you at any moment and you’d have no way to reach out for help.”

“I... think that’s a little over the top, Mel. I mean, Michael may have hit me once, but he never threatened my life or anything of the sort.”

I once again saw sadness in Amelia’s eyes.

“Honey, when I found you, just now, you looked like you were about to faint. I’m worried.” I opened my mouth to say something, but Amelia didn’t let me. “And no, you can’t tell me not to worry, because I’m just gonna do it anyway.” I chuckled, making Amelia smile. “I care about you, Hannah. So maybe this is a bit over the top, yes, and I seriously hope you never have to use this phone, just...” she reached for my hand, and closed my fingers around the device. “Promise me that you’ll keep this with you, just in case. At least until you get a new number.”

I nodded, grateful. “Okay.”

---

Against all odds, Lydia found Amelia and I chatting happily to each other in that secluded corner of the campus. She cleared her throat to draw our attention, and smiled maliciously at us.

“Well, hello, you lovebirds,” she teased.

“Lydia!” I protested, embarrassed. Please, Lydia, please don’t use that word.

This only amused her. “I’m just stating the facts here,” she said.

Amelia decided to save me. “Say, Lydia, I heard from Janis that you people are having a calculus exam next week. How’s studying going?”

Lydia grunted. “Ugh, please don’t remind me.”

I chuckled. Lydia and Janis had both failed calculus a number of times in the past. “Perseverance is key,” I mocked her, to which Lydia replied by giving me the finger. I laughed. I saw her opening her mouth twice, to try and counter my taunt, and give up each time. Oh, it was too much fun messing with her.

Amelia looked between the two of us, confused. “What’s going on?” she whispered to me.

“Lydia’s trying to think of a comeback,” I explained, without taking my eyes off my friend. “But she can’t, because unlike her, I don’t fail classes.”

This surprised Amelia. “What, really?!”

“Ask Lydia,” I replied.

“It’s true,” my friend admitted. “Hannah’s a little genius,” she said so a little contemptuously, but I knew that deep inside she was a little proud of this fact. I always used to help her with exams at school, and she owed me for passing precalc in senior year. But I wasn’t done mocking her yet.

“It’s called studying, Lydia. Anyone can do it,” I teased.

“Fuck you, Hannah,” said my friend, and I burst out laughing. “Anyway, what are you two doing out here? You do know that this building is the physics department, right?” she pointed to the five-story white-and-blue building beside us. I frowned, remembering the reason we were there.

“Michael called,” I said, feeling miserable.

Lydia’s eyebrows shot up. “Shit, Hannah, are you okay?!” She crouched before me and took my hand in hers. And then Amelia surprised me by taking my other hand, as well, and caressing the back of it with her thumb.

“Thanks, you two,” I told them, earnestly. “I’ll be all right, I promise.”

“You know you can count on us for anything, right?” Amelia asked. “Please don’t hesitate to ask.”

We locked eyes. “I know,” I whispered. “Thanks.”

Lydia faked a cough. Amelia smirked, and I rolled my eyes.

“I should probably get going,” said Amelia, standing up. “I need to go back to the lab.”

I felt a tug in my chest, unwilling to part with Amelia just yet. “Um... Mel...”

“Yes?” she replied.

I opened my mouth to say something — anything — that could stop her from going away, but my mind drew a blank. “Are... are you...” Breathe, Hannah, you can do this. “Are you free this Saturday?”

What?

Why did I ask her that?

Seriously, was that the best I could come up with?

Amelia smiled. “Yes, I am,” she said, charmingly.

“Oh... good...” Quick, brain, make something up! “Do you... like movies?” Never mind, brain, that was ridiculous, of course she likes movies, who doesn’t? Ugh! Lydia was right, I couldn’t be assertive if my life depended on it.

“I’d love to go to the movies with you, Hannah,” said Amelia. “Should I drop by your place at seven?”

I nodded, nervously. “Seven sounds good.”

“All right then. But I really need to go now.” She turned to Lydia. “I’ll catch you later, Lydia. And... see you on Saturday, Honey,” she said, blowing me a kiss.

I felt my cheeks heating up, while I watched Amelia walk back to the building I met her in, the one with all the people in lab coats.

“Holy shit,” said Lydia, when we were alone.

“What is it?” I asked her, still feeling the blush on my cheeks.

“She calls you ‘Honey’? Did I hear that right?”

I nodded, sheepishly, and Lydia laughed.

“It’s not funny!” I protested.

“Of course not,” said Lydia, “it’s really cute, actually. I’m laughing at you, really.” She attempted to imitate my voice: “Do you... like movies?” I felt mortified.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I reprehended her.

“Sure am,” she said. “And since you just invited Amelia on a date this Saturday, expect me there at five so I can do your makeup, and help you pick an outfit. I won’t take no for an answer.”

I shook my head. “What am I going to do with you?”