Mia's Heart

by Courtney Cole

  so much dust outside of a desert.”

  “I would feel sorry for him, but… I don’t,” I say firmly. “He chose to go there. He could be here with us. It was his own decision.”

  Gavin looks at me with amusement. “I don’t think he’s feeling sorry for himself,” he tells me. “He’s pretty happy. I think he’d be happy anywhere Reece is, though.”

  I know that’s right. If anyone was made for each other, even while being complete and total opposites, it is Dante and Reece. I can’t help but wonder how smooth, polished Dante Giliberti is fitting into a rural Midwestern American school. But then I put the thoughts aside. Dante can handle any situation. He was bred for it. I’m sure he’s totally fine.

  Me, on the other hand…

  I look around.

  I’m surrounded, completely and totally, by kids that I can’t stand.

  Heaven help me.

  I put my stuff into my locker except for my Trig book and slam it closed. Whoever gave me Trig for my first class of the day, before I’ve even had an ounce of caffeine, ought to be shot.

  Right after they are drawn and quartered.

  With those charming thoughts in my head, I make my way toward class and slide into a seat by the window.

  One thing about Kolettis Academy, is that it is very, very nice. We have state of the art equipment, top notch teachers and the very best of everything, all situated in an ancient, beautiful building. We still use the original stone school building, although the interior has been fully remodeled several times throughout the years. The windows are large and allow me to fully see outside, to get a perfect view of the beauty that I am missing this morning. I can see the sea from here, I hear the sea gulls flying overhead and I can hear the water. It makes me sigh. Because I’m not there.

  I’m here.

  In prison.

  “Miss Giannis?”

  Uh-oh. Mr. Priftis’ tone leads me to believe that it’s not the first time he’s called for me.

  “Yes?”

  I turn my attention to him.

  “Are you awake, Miss Giannis?”

  Luckily, Mr. Priftis seems amused. I nod quickly.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Very well,” he smiles. “I need you to share your textbook with Mr. McKeyen until I am able to order him one.”

  My heart lurches into my throat as I notice that Quinn, the one and the same, is seated next to me. He is all sprawled out, somehow fitting his large body into the smallish desk. How had I not noticed him arriving in this classroom? It’s such a small room for such a big body.

  My startled gaze is snared by his and I find amusement there. Calm down, I tell myself. He can’t read your thoughts.

  Or can he?

  The amused expression on his face almost makes me think that he knows exactly how flustered he is making me.

  “Miss Giannis?”

  Mr. Priftis is less amused now and more concerned, his forehead wrinkled.

  “Yes,” I answer quickly. “Of course he can share my book.”

  “Excellent,” Mr. Priftis answers as he returns to his desk. I turn to Quinn, Mr. RodeoGodHimself.

  “If you scoot your desk over, you’ll be able to see,” I tell him.

  Quinn extracts himself carefully from the desk and moves it, then sprawls out once again, but this time right next to me. I can smell him now, that freshly showered man smell and my stomach quivers.

  I’m annoyed with myself.

  I do not react like this to a guy. Not ever.

  Quinn grins lazily at me and my stomach quivers again.

  GodBlessIt. Freaking traitorous stomach.

  And I realize that he’s not wearing his hat. Probably because it’s against school rules to wear a hat on the premises. His hair is definitely sandy blond and it curls up slightly at the nape of his neck. It’s also slightly unruly, but I suspect that’s a good reflection of his personality. Unruly. Rebellious. Ornery.

  His white button-up shirt is slightly loosened at the top and his navy blue tie is not quite straight. He’s wearing his boots and they are currently crossed at his ankles. He manages to look casual and sexy in this sterile classroom setting. I decide it must be an art.

  “I like the stripes,” he tells me, his dark eyes twinkling.

  I stare at him for a moment until I realize that he means my hair. And before I can stop myself, I self-consciously run my fingers through a blue tendril.

  “Thank you,” I answer. I have no idea if he meant the compliment or if he was just using it as a way to point out that he noticed.

  “You’re very coordinated,” he adds, gesturing toward my school uniform. I flush now. Because now he’s teasing me.

  I roll my eyes at him.

  “What?” he asks innocently. But I can tell from his grin that he is anything but innocent. I flush again.

  He looks at me quizzically, but Mr. Priftis starts his lecture and I turn my attention to him. It’s difficult to ignore Quinn McSexy sitting next to me, particularly when I can feel his soft breath on my arm at times.

  I gulp.

  He smiles.

  I die.

  He winks.

  He should look completely out of place. Because he is out of place even though he’s wearing a uniform like everyone else, although his boots completely add a note of uniqueness to his outfit.

  “Do you own any other shoes?” I whisper to him.

  He stares down at me.

  “Of course. I own football cleats.”

  “We don’t play American football here,” I tell him.

  He looks chagrined.

  “I know. They didn’t tell me that before I came here though.”

  I’m sitting next to an American cliché. A big, muscular, hometown football hero, probably.

  To satisfy my curiosity, I ask, “Did you play quarterback?”

  Because that would be the ultimate cliché.

  But he shakes his head.

  “No. I play full-back.”

  I have no idea what that is, but I nod as though I do.

  And then the bell is ringing and I am grabbing my books, saved from having to pretend that I know something about a topic that I actually know nothing about.

  As everyone bustles into the hall, Quinn is surrounded by people trying to talk to him. He is new here; a curiosity, a distraction. New always equals interesting, at least for awhile. And I find myself feeling jealous when I see a throng of other girls milling about him.

  I saw him first.

  I can’t stop the uninvited territorial feeling from welling up inside of me. As if I know him and have a claim to him. And then I shake it away. He’s not mine. That’s ridiculous. He’s not anyone’s. He’s a stranger here, just trying to fit in and get through his senior year in a strange and foreign place.

  But Quinn stands a head taller than most people and as he turns his head, his gaze meets mine. And there is something there, a familiar pull, almost like he is clinging to me from across the hall because he is surrounded by strangers and he feels like he knows me.

  But he doesn’t.

  And I don’t know him.

  So I break his gaze and walk away.

  And I am surprised by how hard it is to do.

  Chapter Four

  From: Reece Ellis > ReeciPiecie@thecloud.com

  To: Mia Giannis > MiaAGiannis@maltanet.ma

  Subject: First day?

  M,

  So how was your first day?? Did you see Quinn? How is he fitting into life on Caberra? I bet he sticks out like a sore thumb. I can sympathize, though. I was the same way.

  It’s hot here. Really, really freaking hot. Dante understands now why I call it Hell’s Kitchen. School here starts next week, so Dante and I are school shopping today. I told him that he can’t wear slacks here to school if he wants to fit in. But honestly, I can’t picture him in Levi’s, either. I’ll take pics though and send them to you so you can see. It might be hi-lar-ious.

  He came over yesterday and hel
ped us throw hay bales. OMG. Regardless of what I tell him, he truly can fit in anywhere. My grandpa loves him.

  I love you bunches and I miss you.

  XOXO,

  Reecie

  My heart warms up as I read her message. I love that girl. She’s my very first BFF and it doesn’t matter that she’s halfway across the world. But Christmas seems like a lifetime away right now.

  I sigh and close my laptop.

  I miss them both so much I can hardly stand it.

  And now I’m being pathetic again.

  I can’t seem to help it. Since my parents are always so wrapped up in their political and social bullshit, and they don’t allow me to hang around with anyone who isn’t “appropriate”, my circle of support is very limited. Dante, Reece and Gavin are all I have.

  And that’s not really that pathetic, I decide.

  Because everybody needs somebody. No one is an island.

  Right?

  As if on cue, my cell phone buzzes from the pocket of my jeans which are in a pile on the floor. I reach from my bed and scoop it up.

  “Gav?”

  “How’d you know it was me?”

  I can hear him smiling through the phone. And his eyes are probably sparkling. But that’s a safe bet, because they’re always sparkling. Gavin is always amused by something.

  “I’m magic,” I say glibly. “See, there’s this cool new thing technology. I can see a person’s phone number when they call.”

  “You’re hilarious, do you know that?” Gavin grins again. Even though I can’t see it, I know. I can’t help but smile back, even though he can’t see me.

  “I know,” I tell him. “What’s up?”

  “Nothing,” he answers. “Just thought you might want to hang out today. Want to go diving?”

  The answer to that question is almost always yes.

  Day or night.

  I love scuba diving or snorkeling or pretty much anything that involves me swimming beneath the surface of the sea.

  Today is no different.

  “Sure thing,” I tell him. “I’ll meet you at the pier in half an hour.”

  Which might be tricky since I’m supposed to be grounded for mouthing off to my mother the other day about my stupid nose ring.

  Hmm. Quandary.

  I’ll have to put some thought into this.

  But then I give up thinking about it and just leave.

  What are they going to do to me? Take my birthday away?

  I think not.

  As I speed toward the beach, I do ponder the fact that I’ve been such a bitch lately. And for just a moment, I feel bad for my mom. She’s left alone most of the time, trying to fulfill the duties of a political wife. I might sit down and have a talk with her when I get back.

  Might.

  If she doesn’t kill me for leaving the house.

  Which is unlikely.

  So if I’m still alive when I get back, I might talk to her.

  I nose my car into a parking spot and grab my gear. I’m so looking forward to this. There is nothing better for forgetting all of your problems than sinking below the surface of the sea where there is nothing but blue and solitude.

  As I cross the boardwalk pier, I spot Gavin pulling on his wetsuit on the stern of his small boat, The Shining. The large motorboat was a sixteenth birthday gift to him from his parents and he named it because of his weird obsession with an old American movie of the same name.

  I can still remember popping popcorn and watching it with him over and over when we were in junior high. I’ll never forget Jack Nicholson’s creepy face as he peeked in the door of the creepy hotel. Ugh. I had nightmares for weeks.

  Gavin might have issues buried behind his ever-present grin.

  Who else would be that obsessed with such a strange movie?

  I smile at him though and hop aboard, dropping my bag on the seat next to him.

  He gives me a quick hug and the rubber of his suit sticks to my skin.

  “Hey, Mi,” he says easily. “Check out the current today.”

  I glance at the horizon and the waves are pretty tall, at least two to three feet.

  “Is there a wind advisory?” I ask, not worried, but curious.

  He shakes his head. “Not yet,” he tells me. “But we’d better hurry up and get out of the bay before there is.”

  I have to smile. He wants to hurry up and get out of the bay before the harbor master can tell him that it’s too dangerous to go out today. Seriously, Gavin has no fear. He always just assumes that things will be okay. And I guess that’s something that he and I share.

  I usually feel the same way.

  Things will always turn out okay because they always have.

  Even this summer, when there was an assassination attempt on Dante’s father and Dante himself was caught up in the same mess, everything turned out okay. And if something like that can work itself out, then pretty much anything else can work out too.

  I know.

  Skewed logic.

  “Well, let’s hurry up then,” I tell Gavin.

  He grins his ornery grin. “Just as soon as our guest arrives,” he answers, glancing at his watch. “He should be here any minute.”

  “Guest?” I raise an eyebrow.

  “Yeah,” Gavin answers. “The new guy. I felt sorry for him- he doesn’t know anyone here.”

  “Oh.” I feel like somebody kicked me in the stomach and I don’t know why. “Reece’s friend.”

  I have undefined feelings for this guy. I can’t decide if I like that he gets my heart going or if I hate it. So right now, I’m reserving the right to decide later. Honestly, that’s better than my usual gut instinct to hate everything.

  And in the meantime, I’ll just enjoy looking at him.

  “Right,” Gavin nods. “Reece’s friend. He seems nice enough.”

  “Well, Reece always says that people from the American Midwest are the friendliest in the world,” I answer absently. My eyes are glued to the pier, watching for Quinn.

  Gavin notices.

  “Do you mind that I invited him?”