His office was on the second floor annoyingly. I prayed I didn’t have to cross paths with a certain jerk face.
Wow god must surely hate me. Cause right before my eyes walking in my direction along with the President and Secretary was none other than the guy I wanted to choke to death.
Adrien walked past me without batting an eye. I did the same without glancing his way.
I felt a sudden pull from within. Why am I feeling upset? If he’s going to be an ass to me, I need not be any less than a bitch to him.
I knock on the office door lightly.
“Principal Andreas? Amelia here. You called for me?” I speak out louder so he could hear me.
“Come on in Mily.” I heared his voice and so walk inside shutting the door behind me.
“What’s up, Uncle Cam?” I ask as I take a seat at the table. Being acquainted with the principal was a privilege.
“What’s going on with Adrien, Mily?” He gets right down to business.
Sighing I look around the room before looking back at his face.
Uncle Camille was quite the handsome man, being in his mid-thirties. His dark hair and green eyes made him look even younger. He looks identical to Aunt Felicity. And so Adrien taking up his looks from his beautiful Mom, looked closely like his uncle.
Which was why I didn’t want to look at uncle Cam right about now. He reminded me so much of that jerk.
“Mily?” He called out to me.
“I’d like to know what’s going on too Uncle Cam. He’s been a shithead for a while now.” I don’t care if Uncle Cam is offended. That’s how I see his nephew.
He sighs and rubs his tired face and tousles his hair.
“That kid. He’s a troublemaker but has never been so troublesome in all his life. It’s like he’s a whole different person. Fel is worried sick. I don’t know what we’re going to do with him.”
I remain silent pondering over his words. True, Adrien is like a delinquent but his actions were never this bad. Something is definitely wrong here.
Like I care though.
Who was it that was kind enough to cook you your favorite meal when you were feeling down?
My consciousness spoke up.
I’m sure it was a coincidence he happened to make my favorite dish exactly in times when I was feeling down in the dumps.
Who fetched you to lunch every day to avoid any conflicts in class?
He was just being bossy.
Those times when he panicked for you. Worried for you. Came running looking for you. Who made you feel secure in a school where everyone was a stranger?
Stupid consciousness! But it was right
Adrien had always, and I mean always been there for me. Even during the festival, he had come rushing in search of me. He had been standing outside my classroom waiting to pull me out if something was to go wrong.
I get to my feet and push the chair back in place. Uncle Cam who had been deep in thought looks up at me.
“Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out to bring back the idiot to his senses.” I say reassuringly. Where’d all this confidence come from?
A smile appeared on his distraught face and he let out a sigh in relief.
“Thank you Mily. I’ll leave everything in your hands then.” He said and I give him a solemn nod and leave the office.
Now then.
How in jinxies sake am I going to take care of everything!?
CHAPTER SEVEN
“So what’s the deal with the Vice Prez?” Vivienne asked out of nowhere twirling a strand of her hair with her fingers and looking at me directly.
Why I’m with Vivienne? Don’t come up with something as absurd as us being BFF’s now.
Everyone in the class, well majority at least had wanted to hang out somewhere. Since it is going to be the beginning of exam week soon, a little fun was needed to ease our minds.
So here we are at a family restaurant, the whole class eating and talking and giggling and shouting and disturbing every single customer.
And thus which brings Vivienne and me being in the same place.
She was still waiting for an answer to which of course I had no clue.
“She lives in the same house but that doesn’t mean they pry into each other’s lives” Ninnon helps me out. Vivienne who seemed to care less turned away and once again continued staring at Ethan seductively, who was two seats to my right beside Pierre, laughing away with a bunch of guys from class.
I play with my food, not in a mood to enjoy it.
“Amelia?” Ninnon interrupts my thoughts.
“Hmm?” I reply absentmindedly.
“I meant what I said.”
“What?” I give her my fullest attention now.
“What I said to Vivienne. It applies to you as well. Don’t concern yourself so much with the Vice Prez. He would have turned to you if he needed your help.”
Is that true? Am I not needed? But didn’t he come to my aid even if I never wanted him to?
“You’ve been so absent-minded and lost in a train of thoughts lately. Basically, ever since you went to meet the Principal in his office.” She continues. Pierre and Ethan were paying attention to our conversation now. The rest of the class were all in their own worlds thankfully. With us four seated beside each other, we avoided eavesdropping.
“Yeah. You were so cheerful and fun to be around with ever since the festival. But now, your back to being your solitude self, like how you were when you first arrived.” Pierre joins in.
Before I could reply to him or Ninnon my phone rings.
The caller ID shows Adrien!
I excuse myself and walk a few feet away from the group and answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” He demanded.
Asshole.
“Why would I tell you that?” I snap. If he’s going to be a son of a bitch, then no reason for me to cream my words.
“Amelia, I’m in no state to argue with you.” He brings his snappy tone to normal now.
Sighing I tell him where I’m at.
“Alright, I’ll be there in ten.” And he cuts off the line.
HUH!?
I get back to my seat and stare into space clueless. What? Why is he coming?
My phone rings again. It’s Uncle Cam this time. I answer it while seated with my friends.
“Mily?”
“Nope, her doppelganger Rily. Duh, it’s me, Uncle Cam.”
He chuckles on the other end.
“You still at Excellent?” he inquires.
If you’re wondering what this Excellent is, that’s the restaurant we’re at. It’s named Excellent!
“Yep. Still here. Why?”
Don’t tell me he’s...
“Great. Then I’ll come to pick you up in say, fifteen?”
WHAT!?
What’s with every one of the same family coming over?
“Wha..” I clear my throat. “Why?”
“Since Adrien and You aren’t in good terms with each other, it’s best if I pick you two up rather than you two traveling alone.” He says.
Adrien? Where does Adrien fit it?
“I’ll be there in a few. Bye.” And just like his stupid nephew, he cuts the line before I could say a single word, let alone disagree.
I must have come back to my seat in shock, and now I’m pretty sure I’m in even more of a shock that Ninnon had to sprinkle water onto my face to bring me back to my senses.
“So?” she asks curiously.
“Damn you, god!” I hiss.
“God? Why is God at fault?” she asks confused now.
I quickly explain to them the situation and in turn reply to their questions which were getting on my nerves.
Like hello! I’m confused too? Why is Pierre asking me Why Adrien is coming over? I wanted to strangle him for asking such a stupid question.
At the thought of his name, there comes the regular ding notifying me I’ve received a message.
~Meet me by the restroom. Now!~
Yeah while you’re at it, order me to clean the restaurant! Damn you, Adrien.
I excuse myself once more and tread to the back.
Low and behold, there leaning on the door of the men’s room, covered in sweat and T-shirt all crumbled stood Adrien in all his glory.
I took a few steps towards him until I was standing right in front of him.
“Explain to me what’s going on?” I demand with a glare.
“Did Cam call?” He asks ignoring my question.
I respond with a yes. He asks in how long he’ll be here and I tell him there are few minutes to spare. Adrien sighs in relief and rubs his tired eyes.
“Adrien?”
“I was asked to stay home today. Dad was extra stern but I had somewhere to be so I lied to them that I’m meeting up with you. That’s when they let me go. Cam gave me a call suddenly saying he’s picking us up. Most likely to assure we’re together. That’s when I panicked and called you. End of story.” He says with a no-big-deal assed up tone.
I look at him with disgust. I can’t help it. Yet deep inside I was beyond depressed. Adrien is sinking further and further into darkness.
“You suck.” And I walk away.
Faintly I hear an “I know” from him. This time his tone neither harsh nor cold but broken.
Precisely five minutes later, Uncle Cam pulled up at the restaurant and called me that he’s arrived. I text Adrien who I haven’t seen for the past five minutes. He comes out from the back and we leave the restaurant together. Apart from Ethan, Pierre, and a worried Ninnon, the rest were beyond surprised seeing Adrien there.
Uncle Cam made small talk. The tension inside the car was high. I was the only one who replied, occasionally with a “yes” or a “no” or “hmm” from the back seat from Adrien.
When we reached home, Adrien was the first to get out and rush into the house. I followed close behind and went upstairs after saying “Hi” to both Aunt Felicity and Uncle Timmy who were watching something on TV.
Sprawled on my bed, I try to think of every possibility of what’s going on with Adrien. But came out blank. Sighing I sit up and walk to my table. Grabbing the take-out box, I walk out of my room and across the hallway.
I wasn’t sure if the jerk had eaten or not, but unintentionally I had ordered a take-out box for him. He was in the showers so I left the box outside his door. He had ordered me to not enter so I’m going to go along with it.
I go downstairs to the kitchen and grab myself a glass of cranberry juice and go back to my room to finish my homework and head to bed early.
With everything done and out of the way, I stretch myself and drop on the bed, welcoming the coziness. Just as my eyelids were getting heavy I hear a soft noise outside my room and silent footsteps. Then the closing of a door.
Curious I open the door and peep outside. The house is silent except for the noise from the TV downstairs. The hallway is empty.
Hmm. Must have been my imagination.
Whilst shutting the door, I notice a sticky note pasted onto it. Ripping it off I stare at it dumbfounded. In neat handwriting which I knew belonged to one person, Thanks for the food, was written on it.
Adrien.
I had a dreamless sleep and wen the morning sun hit my face, I woke with a groan, a headache already starting to split my head. By the time I was dressed for school and went downstairs, Adrien had already left for school. I guess buying him food isn’t actually going to solve things out.
Walking into class, was like walking myself into a cage full of hungry predators. Only here these guys were hungry for hot hot news.
Everyone wanted to know what Adrien was doing at Excellent! Last night.
Umm, he was eating? Like what’s the deal folks? It’s a family restaurant? Not a private party. Sometimes they really can be overly dramatic.
Someone even came up with the idea of me having plans with their Vice Prez, and I asked him to come to the restaurant and was meeting him in secret. WHAT!?
“Quiet down you brats!” Miss Valerie to the rescue. “It’ll soon be exam time. What are you stupid lot doing gossiping when you have to be studying?” Yep. She’s an honest human being.
Grumbling, everyone was back in their seats except for Pierre who still had his arms around me. Ethan had to pry his hands away and drag him to his seat.
“So? What happened?” Ninnon asked once everyone was out of earshot. How does this girl know exactly when to ask me how I’m doing?
I give her a weak smile and stare at the whiteboard blanking out. I have yet to figure out what’s going on. I heave a deep sigh.
“Oh? You think it’s such a drag to help me get some printouts?” Miss Valerie said looking directly at me.
“What?”
What’s she going on about?
“She was asking if anyone was willing to get her some printouts and you sighed at the wrong time,” Pierre whispers from behind me.
Shit.
“Kindly take this and get me enough copies for the entire class please.” Miss Valerie hands me a single sheet of paper. Internally groaning, sighing, whining, muttering, and everything else I take the paper from her, I leave the classroom.
“Make it quick. Pronto.” Yeah yeah, I’m running.
Slamming the poor paper onto the photocopy machine, I press the start button and fold my arms grumbling.
“My. Aren’t you in a pleasant mood.” Came a voice from the doorway.
“Oh. Evan” I say standing straight. I’d been slouching on a nearby cabinet.
“What’s gotten our little Amelia Brooke in a bad mood?” He asks as he uses the second photocopy machine.
Sighing I lean on the cabinet once again. I’ve been sighing a lot lately.
“Is this about Adrien?” Evan inquires coming up to me.
“He’s going to get himself into so much trouble one of these days. I’m afraid to even think of how he’s going to end up.”
“Why don’t you give him some space? Maybe he’ll figure things out by himself and return to normal.” Evan postulates. The photocopy machine beeps. I open the top and grab the original paper and the printouts from the bottom slot.
“Did he leave me to handle things on my own?” I ask Evan, who seems a little taken aback by the question.
“Um.”
“When things weren’t going so well for me, willingly or unwillingly Adrien always stuck close by to catch me in case I fell. I don’t know what issues he’s going through but it’s my turn to be there for him. That’s how I strongly feel.” Saying so I walk back to my classroom leaving behind a Student Body President who had no response to give me.
As soon as their Advance calculus class ended, Evan dragged Adrien by the arm to the student council room.
“The hell man? Qu’est-ce que tu fais?” Adrien cried out annoyed at his best friend’s rash behavior. He had been hoping to get some sleep since it was a free period now.
“What am I doing?” Evan snapped. “What the fuck are you doing!?”
“Me? What do you mean?” Adrien asks confused at Evan’s outburst.
“Oh yes. Act like the ignorant fool you are. I don’t care what you are up to but don’t drag others into it.” Evan says sighing aloud.
Adrien’s expression remains the same. Evan gets ticked off.
“Amelia! Amelia for crying out loud. She’s worried sick.” Evan cries out beyond frustrated now. For a moment there, Adrien had thought Evan was referring to Esmee.
“What does she have to do with any of this? Who asked her to butt in?”
That was the final straw. Evan grabs Adrien by the collar, taking him by surprise.
“Dude, what’s gotten into you?” Adrien tries to free himself from Evan’s grasp.
“It’s this attitude. The shitty I-don’t-care-what-happens attitude that makes me so mad. Why do you always and I mean always push people away? It’s because you’re like this that I stole...” He stops before he said s
omething regretful. He lets go of Adrien and steps back.
Adrien stares at the ground, his hands digging deep into his pant pockets, looking glum and tired.
“I don’t know what issues he’s going through but it’s my turn to be there for him. That’s how I strongly feel – is what she said to me. Don’t make another mistake and regret your whole life.” Evan says as he passes Adrien and heads out the door to go in search of his girlfriend.
Once alone, Adrien slumps on the couch, gripping his head tight and staring at the ground with so much pent-up frustration and anger. And he lets it all out by screaming out aloud, unaware of the single teardrop that trickles down his face.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Translate the following sentences to English and circle the prepositions.
Richard était debout sous l’arbre.
I stared at the same question for almost half an hour. How was I to know which one is a preposition? I couldn’t even understand the stupid sentence for crying out loud. Groaning, I set my book aside and lean back on the chair, looking up at the ceiling. A sigh escaped my lips and I shut my eyes.
“Maybe I should go to the store and grab myself something.”
Saying so to myself, I stood up and stretched myself in the most un-ladylike way ever. Grabbing my pants, I struggle to put it on while skipping all over my room when there’s a knock on my door. I scream “coming” and continue with my dance when the door fly open stopping me in my place. The ass must have heard ‘coming’ as ‘come in’.
urgh!
“Uh. Am I disturbing you?” Adrien asks raising a brow not feeling embarrassed at all seeing a girl getting dressed up. Thank the lords I had my shorts on. I just stare at him.
I mean hello? Who ignored me all these days? Why should I respond to him!?
“You going out somewhere?” He asked. I sigh and turn to face him completely, once I’ve successfully put on my pants.
“Just to the store,” I say coldly.
“Oh. Uh well. Well, then I’ll come by later.” He says almost stammering. The fuck is he getting all flustered for?
“It’s fine. Just get on with it. I’ve time to hear whatever you gotta say.”
Where I Belong Page 6
