Once we agree on the place, I begin unpacking. Uncle Cam had brought up my stuff while I was on the phone, and left them by the door and left with a wave.
Hardly, finishing in an hour, I take a quick bath, washing up all the grime and sweat off of me. Getting dressed in just simple jeans’ and a crop-top I run out of the house and rush towards the patisserie the four of us visited on our last day of exams.
Reaching the spot, I’m totally out of breath. Evening out my hitched breathing, I open the door and get inside. The usual waitress behind the counter greets me aloud. I pass her a smile and look around for a certain purplish-dark haired girl, only to find her seated not alone, but with two others.
Amelia, stop smiling so hard!
“Ameliaaaa!” And there ladies and gentleman is Pierre’s most expected shout.
He’s unable to run up to me though, what with Ethan grabbing hold of his hoodie.
I glance over at Ninnon and she gives me a shrug, smiling. No secrets between us four clearly written all over her face.
I move to where they are, and Ethan lets go of a squirmy Pierre, who falls to his face. And does he care? Nope
He gets to his feet and grabs my shoulder shaking me hard, grinning from ear to ear.
“What? No hug?” I ask, faking a pout. He steps back surprised. Then confused.
“Uhhh...” he’s unable to form a proper sentence.
Well, since I always yell at him for his ridiculous hugs, of course, he’s going to be shell shocked.
I take a seat beside my girlfriend and Pierre sits from across me, still staring at me trying to wonder who the hell I am, I suppose.
And just like that, the four of us get back to being together.
After quite a long talk, we agree to meet at school, and I walk home with a wide smile.
After a good night’s sleep, I woke early that morning even before the alarm had rung. Trudging down the stairs. I let out a loud yawn, my mouth as wide as a whale.
Sorry folks, for that ugly dying whale moan.
I find no one about. The living room, dining room, kitchen. Everything is empty.
It was six in the morning.
Another yawn escapes my lips. Rubbing my eyes, I go back upstairs. After a cold bath, and getting dressed in my school uniform, I run back downstairs in half an hour with my blazer in hand.
“Morning Aunt Fel,” I say chirpily and she looks up from her work with a smile.
“Morning Honey-Pie.” She addresses me with the name she solely kept for me. “How does it feel, being back in uniform?”
While I was getting dressed, putting on my school tie and staring at the blazer had been the happiest moment. I never thought I’d love a uniform so much.
I didn’t have to give a reply. My expression alone, was more than enough for her to guess my answer.
“Do you mind flipping the omelet?” She asks and at once my eye light up.
Omelet!
Adrien freaking Valentin’s Rolled omelet!
Why oh why am I such a brat?
My hands automatically move to the sugar carton as soon as Aunt Felicity is out of view.
Sorry spicy omelet. Today is the day you go back to being a sweet omelet.
And with the most sinister look I could muster, I dump heaps into the pan and roll it up. Mission accomplish.
With the most satisfied look in my face, I hum a tune and grab a lunchbox to fill it with the ham sandwich Aunt had prepared for us.
She was taking a while, trying to wake her son up. Last night he had returned home late and fell asleep at once. By the time I came out of the showers, he was flat on his stomach and dead to the world.
He hadn’t even bothered to come and greet me. Jerk-ass
I’m never talking to him!
I bent down, to pick the lunchbox lid I dropped, when I hear footsteps approaching the kitchen.
“I prepared Adrien’s omelet, Aunt Fel,” I say still crouched underneath the pantry table.
No response.
Was it Uncle Cam who entered? Or maybe Uncle Timmy.
“Mia?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I get to my feet, dropping the lid on the pantry table. I’m scared to turn around. Afraid to face the person standing behind me.
Why? I’d like to know myself.
“Mia?” he called out once more.
Clasping and unclasping my fists, wiping my sweaty palms on my skirt, I’m about to turn around when a set of strong arms wrap around me from behind.
“Mia.” He sighs in relief.
His voice so close, his breath tickled my ear.
Am I breathing? Oh god, I forgot how to breathe.
His arms tighten, holding me close to him. What’s going on? Isn’t he supposed to be mad? Were we close; enough to hug each other so passionately?
More importantly, aren’t I supposed to hate him? For the way, he treated me the last time?
I pry his hands from me and take a step away from him. I throw him a glare. He ignores that and takes a step in front, closing what little gaps between us.
“What are you doing here?” he asks and I could do nothing but stare at his well-sculptured face in shock.
Really Adrien? What I’m doing here?
“Oh right, sorry for barging into your house once again. Please bear with me. I’ll stay away from your view.” I snap at him.
What? I’m fucking hurt to the core people!
What was that I said earlier? Live life happily? Yeah right.
He stares at me in bewilderment. Like I’d just punched him in the gut.
“What are you saying?” he asks as if genuinely confused.
Of course, my existence meant nothing to him, duh he’d forget all about me and what had happened between us.
“You don’t even bother yourself to know if I’m doing alright. I know you hated me to the very end before I left, but the least you could have done was check in on me. But no, you were so busy with your perfect life, you didn’t dare look at someone like me.” I snap. If he thinks he can treat me that way and let it all be forgotten with a hug, he’s damn dead wrong.
A flash of hurt crosses in his eyes then burns with anger.
“Oh, so you keep something as huge as you going back to America from me, and you expected me to what? Coddle up to you and pretend everything was alright? Well sorry to burst your bubble, but I have feelings too Miss I’m-always-right. I felt betrayed.” The latter came out in a pained whisper.
“Adrien...”
“Wait, before that. What the hell are you doing here? As in, Lyon?” he asks his previous question once again.
I stare at him blankly. Is he picking a fight with me?
“When... when did you get back? Why wasn’t I informed?”
Wait... what?
What the hell?
“You didn’t know I was coming?” this time I’m shell shocked.
“Do I freaking look like I know what the bloody hell is going on!?” okay, he’s pissed. “Why am I always left out damnit?”
“Um...”
Yeah Brilliant Amelia. The ‘umm’ answers his questions.
He let out a sigh, running his hand through his dark locks. Then his mesmerizing emerald orbs lock onto my grey ones. A type of intensity passing between us, which felt awkward, while at the same time felt comfortable. Homey.
“I knew,” he says out of nowhere.
Knew? Uh knew what?
“To what you asked before. If I cared to know if you’re doing alright. I knew you were alright.” He concludes. I can only stare at him confused.
He lifts a hand and runs his fingers through my hair, putting a single strand behind my ear, which kept getting on the way of the view of him.
This is no time to swoon bitch!
“Oh really?” I drag, doing my best to not melt under his touch. He smirks.
“What? You thought your friends are the only ones I could ask about you?” he says, amusement glinting in his eyes.
&
nbsp; Shit!
His Family!
Can you be any more stupid? And you call yourself a straight-A student?
He chuckles at my bewildered face.
“Your friends are too hard to cooperate with. They’d definitely rat me out, what with all that shiny-bonding bond you four have going on.” He says the last bit airing quotes with his fingers and rolling his eyes.
“But, I don’t understand? Why did you have to do all that in the shadows?” I ask, a frown on my face. His smile dropped, replaced with a look I couldn’t quite comprehend.
“You told me you didn’t want to see me anymore.”
What I said from before I left? Did he keep that on his mind all along?
But... I said that because I was hurt! Literally heartbroken!
I remain silent, unsure of how to reply to him. Adrien seemed to have picked up me being uncomfortable and lets out a light ringing laughter to lighten the mood.
Just that, sent so many alien emotions inside of me.
“Thank you.” He breathes out, standing real close to me. I wait for him to continue. “For coming back.”
Fuck these emotions. Fuck every single cell in my body which rings ‘stay away!’
I reach out to him and give him the warmest, appreciative hug I could muster.
He returns the hug, holding me close to him.
Why is it that only now I finally feel like I’ve really returned?
Adrien, just what are you to me?
If only I’d raised my head slightly and peered over Adrien’s shoulder, I’d have found a cheeky faced Uncle Cam peeping at us from the kitchen entryway along with identically faced Aunt Fel and her husband.
After awkwardly standing in the kitchen for the next five minutes, Adrien runs upstairs saying he’s got something to do. In less than ten minutes, he runs back down and joins us at the kitchen table for breakfast, all dressed up for in school uniform.
God, how I’ve missed this sight.
Woah, when did I become a pervert? Stop ogling at him, Amelia!
Once, everyone had settled down, we pick up the bread toast and fill our plates with mashed potatoes.
Uncle Cam revealed, that Adrien really had been left in the dark about my arrival, as a surprise to him. Adrien grumbled annoyed while biting into his toast.
The other shocking and somewhat embarrassing news I heard is that, ever since I’d left Adrien had stood in front of my room, the door opened, looking inside with a nostalgic expression. Eventually, it became a habit, and not a day passed with him not going into my room.
Stalkerish, pervy, or maybe sweet I wasn’t too sure.
Adrien kept yelling at his family to shut up, while I laughed my head off at his embarrassed face which was now dusted a light pink.
I stop and steal a glance at the four before me, a minute or two extra at the boy next to me. How long has it been since I wholeheartedly laughed like this?
“We’re leaving Mia.” Adrien said looking pointedly at me.
“What?” I ask. I haven’t eaten my toast yet!
He grabbed his bag, then mine from the living room and comes back and grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet.
Struggling to somehow gulp down the orange juice, I wipe my mouth with the back of my blazer sleeve and let myself be dragged out by a grouchy Student Body Vice president.
“How long has it been since we’ve seen Adrien so lively?” Aunt Felicity spoke out, a smile adorning her gentle face. Her brother kept staring at the empty space an equally happy smile on his face, which secretly turned to a smirk.
“The fun’s just getting started.”
CHPTER EIGHTEEN
Harriet High loomed ahead of me in all its glory. I thought Mectro high was home? Hell, Harriet is family then!
That’s the weird sensation that ran through me when I entered the school gates.
Ah! How I’ve missed these French stares.
I walk side by side to Adrien, who was talking about something, but I was busy taking in the surrounding like some new kid.
Well, I am a new kid, at least to the first years who had joined Harriet high after I’d left. To them, I was this new girl who had stolen their prince charming.
How I’m so sure? Puh-lease, they’ve identical glares to the girls who graced me with their death glares before I left to America.
I look to my left at the boy who continues walking, without a single care to the world. Totally oblivious to what’s happening.
“Ameliaaaaa.”
Do I even need to say his name? The world knows by now who drags my name so ridiculously.
And what comes after he calls out to me.
Pierre runs to where I am and throws his arms around me, his face lighted up with his adorable grin.
Geezus. Who could ever get mad at him?
You Amelia. You’re the only human who would.
Thank you conscience for reminding me.
I’d been so occupied with Pierre, I hadn’t noticed Ninnon and Ethan standing before me.
Ethan pried his best friend away from me, and Ninnon took his spot to give me a quick hug.
“It’s so great seeing you in uniform.” She remarks and I couldn’t stop myself from breaking out a chuckle.
We might have met the previous day, but the four of us were excited as if meeting for the first time.
“Ignore me like I don’t exist.” A voice mumbles from beside me.
Oh!
Adrien was fuming, what with Pierre pushing him out of the way with his hug.
“Oh my.” I fake British-accent. “I didn’t know you wanted my attention so badly.”
That got him. He threw me a glare, ruffled my perfectly styled hair, and walked ahead leaving me grumbling at how messy my hair is now.
Jerk!
Of course, Pierre wouldn’t care what a girl thought of her appearance. Without giving me a chance for a stop at the restroom, he drags me straight to class.
Do I get mad? Nope.
Heck, I wanna get to class fast too.
Pierre makes a grand entrance yelling “She’s back” at the top of his voice, I bet the entire school must be wondering who this ‘She’ is.
The first one to look our way and make a run towards me was gentle Florence. The girl is badass I tell you. She literally pushed the guys who were in her way to get to me.
“Amalia.” Her voice so excited I couldn’t keep myself from hugging the petite girl tightly. One after the other excluding Vivienne and crew, everyone gathered around us, all talking in sync it was hard to get what was said.
Theo was beyond happy. I swear if his happiness is so that I’d do his duties, I’m kicking him out.
“What’s all this unwanted ruckus?” demanded a voice from behind us. Everyone turned to look at who it was and found a ticked off Ms. Valerie, a frown adorning a face.
“Oh!” Her eyes went wide when she noticed me among the students. Her frown drops replaced with a grin. “Alright. Mission convince-daddy success.”
Yeah. She really is an intriguing human being.
She walked into the class and everyone moved to either left or right to let her pass through.
“It’s lovely to have you back Amelia.” She said. I bet it secretly means ‘lovely to have back my walking slave.’
“Now. How about we get you to bring in today’s printouts?”
Huh! I knew it all along.
“Just kidding.” She drags her wordings when she takes a look at my mock shell shocked face. “Alright brats. Off to your seats. Make it fast.”
Everyone scatters to their seats. I’m left standing awkwardly.
Like hello? It’s not like I can go dump my pretty ass in some seat and have the owner go ‘it’s my seat’.
“Amelia. Go sit down already. And Pierre. Stop bouncing!” sure enough, Pierre was bouncing in his seat, his face gleaming with his eyes twinkling in excitement.
Why does this feel so nostalgic?
Letting out a light laugh I wal
k towards where Pierre was and took the seat in front of the kid. Why did I ever wonder where I’d be sitting? Stupid Amelia. You’ve always had a seat here.
“Before we begin class, there’s something I’ve been told to share. Unless required, or ordered by a teacher, none of you are to step foot onto the third year’s floor.”
Wait. Isn’t Adrien on the third floor?
There were groans and mumbles around the class. I remained silent but lava was boiling inside of me.
“Keep quiet until I’m done you foolish brats!” Ms. Valerie yelled and the class goes silent. We wait for her to continue.
“The third years will be starting preparations for their final exams starting next week. I’m sure you all know, society expects the best from our school, thus the third years spend their whole year just with studies. Principal’s orders. No one is to disturb them. Understood?”
No one replies.
“Understood you damn good for nothing brats!?”
“YES!”
“That’s what I’m talking about. Now I’ll be taking attendance.” And so she flips open the student register and starts calling out names while I zone out.
So I won’t be meeting up with Adrien much? No lunch together?
Since when have I worried so much about not being able to meet Adrien!?
“Amelia Brooke!”
A loud yell disrupts my thoughts. The source of yelling is my lovely teacher who was shooting daggers my way, holding her pen midair.
“Êtes-Vous 1ilting ou absent?” she asked and I grin sheepishly replying her with a ‘Present’
Yep... I’ve picked up a few French words.
“Worried you won’t be able to meet your prince?”
Who else would tease me but my amazing best friend? Ninnon had a smirk plastered on her face when I turned to throw a glare her way.
From the back, I heard Pierre snickering and a light chuckle from Ethan. Or maybe the entire class was laughing at my embarrassed face, which I’m pretty sure is as pink as a baboon’s butt.
Great reference. I know.
“Don’t worry.” Ninnon whispers getting closer so I could hear her well. “I bet you 10 Euros, he’d come barging into our class as soon as the lunch bell rings.” And then she winks at me, before turning to the front and concentrating on whatever the teacher was saying, pretending like she hadn’t said something to make me go even more pinker, to my utmost horror and confusion.
Where I Belong Page 15