Where I Belong

by Stella Andrew

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.” She apologizes sweetly, then glares and walks out with a flare. I sling mine onto my shoulder and run after her. Ethan as well, with Pierre packing his bag in a hurry and dashing after us.

  We walk around, window shopping stores. We visited the new Patisserie which had opened up just a week back. Since we were in the middle of tests we couldn’t have a look at it together. Pierre rushed inside and drooled at all the goody-goodies. Damn all of them looked so mouthwatering. Even Ninnon, who strictly maintained her sugar levels looked around the cute and sweet-filled aroma store in awe.

  I had a slice of the Fraisier cake while Ninnon ordered a slice of the Craquant Cake. Ethan wanted to have only a latte. Pierre, well let’s leave out his order since the guy ordered a list of cakes and pastries, I can’t even remember the names.

  I ordered chocolate truffles to take home to the others. If luck is on my side and Adrien hates sweet stuff, well then Bon appetite!

  The four of us separate ways and I walk the rest of the way home deep in thought. A week more huh. I still haven’t come up with a plan to confide in Adrien. Maybe somewhere inside of me, I’m hoping for a miracle. A chance to remain here.

  I trudge across the well-groomed lawn, which might I say is very well taken care of by Aunt Fel, and open the front door.

  “Is that you Mily?” Uncle Cam’s voice drifted from somewhere inside the house.

  “Yeah,” I call back, taking off my shoes and walking inside. I peep into the living room and find him seated on the loveseat, staring at a few papers. He looks up and throws a smile my way, waving his hand calling me in.

  I take a seat beside him, dropping my bag onto the floor and wait until he’s finished with whatever that he’s doing.

  “So how’d the tests go?” He asked still concentrating on the papers in hand.

  “Not bad. I guess?” I reply with a shrug. He chuckles and looks up for a brief moment.

  “Just what you’d expect a smart girl to say.”

  Uncle Cam arranges the papers and then pulls out a single piece of a sheet from within the mound of sheets on the table. He hands it over to me.

  “Your transfer letter Hun.”

  I felt a tight knot inside my stomach. I grip the paper, not really looking clearly at it.

  My transfer letter.

  Uncle Cam places a gentle hand on my shoulder giving a light squeeze. A sad smile plastered on his face.

  “I’m sorry about all this Mily. But you know it’s not within my power to do anything when it’s your parents’ decision.”

  Why are you even apologizing? You tried pleading with Dad too.

  I give him a tight smile which didn’t quite reach my eyes. I hear a thud behind me and look back, only to find a shell-shocked Adrien.

  Oh no. oh god.

  No no no!

  “What do you mean Transfer Letter? Transfer where? What… what’s going on?”

  All I could do was shut my eyes tight, and beg this to be a nightmare, and for me to wake up.

  “Adrien…” I heard uncle Cam start but then was interrupted by his nephew.

  “Not you. I wasn’t speaking to you. Mia?”

  My eyes were shut, so how in the world was I aware of Adrien’s presence in front of me? For some reason, I just knew he was standing before me.

  “Mia!” he yelled and I flinched. Sighing I open my eyes and look up. Adrien looks at me in the eye without blinking. He waits for me to give him some sort of a reply. But what am I to say? I couldn’t bring myself to reveal the truth.

  “Mily. It’s alright.”

  Easy for you to say, Uncle Cam.

  No. it is just an easy thing to say. So why am I making such a big deal out of it?

  The cat’s out of the bag. Just get on with it Amelia.

  “I’m leaving,” I say and just like how Ethan and Pierre had been confused, Adrien looks at me confused, his face all scrunched up.

  “I’m going back home. To America.” I make it clearer to him. Adrien just stares.no blinking. Hell, I’m pretty sure he wasn’t breathing!

  “Your… going back?” Adrien finally speaks up. I give a vague nod. There’s silence.

  “Why so sudden?” he asks. I take a deep breath before saying what I was going to regret.

  “This was decided a month back.”

  Adrien takes a sharp breath as he stares at me with disbelief.

  “And you never thought of telling me? You too Cam? Mom and Dad? Everyone knew and kept this a secret from me? Wow.” He stumbles back still looking surprised.

  “Adrien…” I get to my feet but he holds up a hand and when he looks back at me he was glaring. A look of betrayal on his face.

  “Stop. Just stop.” Saying so he grabs his school bag which he had dropped earlier and runs up the stairs. I call out to him but he doesn’t reply. I hear his door bang shut.

  Uncle Cam stood beside me, staring up the empty stairs. Sighing he rubs his eyes and then looks at me.

  “He’ll come over it.” He says with a faint smile.

  “We never were close, to begin with. I’m sure he’ll get over it.” I say with an awkward laugh staring into space. “After all. I was just a stranger in his house.”

  “Oh, Hun.” Uncle Cam’s voice sounded so broken.

  I walk back to where I was seated, and pick up my bag and walk past Uncle Cam heading towards my room to drown myself in my own misery.

  For a fact, I knew tears were threatening to break out and I didn’t want to be seen by anyone.

  Everything had come to an end in just a few minutes.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  God! Why do these luggage weigh so much? I can’t believe I had practically packed my entire room when I’d first moved out of my home back in America. I mean wasn’t I in a breakdown state?

  Shit! My arms. I should do workouts to get my arms buffed up, just to carry this stupid stuff!

  Where in blazes are my knights in sweaty pants and shirts!?

  “Give me that. Your panting like a freaking rhino.”

  Here he is. At long last. At least one of them is here. I scowl at Ethan.

  “Where the hell were you!? I had to drag these all the way down here, with God’s grace not tripping and breaking my neck, and now you waltz in demanding to carry them?” I let out a huff in annoyance.

  “Pierre’s car broke down at the perfect time. I had to run a good fifteen minutes to get here. Sorry for the delay, Princess.” He said with clenched teeth.

  Oops. He’s mad.

  Now that I see him more clearly, he actually is covered in sweat and taking in big gulps of breaths to even out his ragged breathing.

  Real smooth Amelia. Real smooth.

  Right at that moment barging into the house with his arms already wide open was the guy with the broken car.

  “Ameliaaaaaaaa!”

  I grab the duffel bag I’d thrown to the ground earlier and lift it high enough to hit his face.

  “Get any closer and I can’t guarantee the safety of that so-called adorable face.”

  That brings him to a stop. I heave a sigh rubbing my temple.

  Then I break a smile. I’m going to miss this guy.

  His annoying way of yelling my name at the top of his voice. His ridiculous deadly, almost choking-me hugs. Cheeky yet friendly smiles. I’m going miss them all.

  So was I going to miss Ethan’s big brotherly attitude and always-to-the-rescue personality.

  Ethan seemed to have noticed my unease and manages to free his right hand and pat my head with his big palm, showing me a smile all the way.

  “Everything is going to be alright.”

  I give him a solemn nod and let out one final sigh. Let’s get on with it.

  I throw a few bags at Pierre who catches them smoothly, and I walk out with my own bags to load them all into Uncle Cam’s car.

  It was a school day. The exams were all over but our High school held two days of extra sessions in school before closing for vac
ation. But Uncle Cam took a day off to see me off. So did Ethan, Pierre, and... ah! There she is!

  “Why in the world is this guy’s car parked in your driveway in such an annoying way that I had to park mine a few feet away?” Grumbles Ninnon as she walks in, pointing an accusing finger at Pierre who was already sending daggers through his eyes her way.

  “Made it just in time babe,” I say dropping a single bag on her hand.

  What? Help out the poor best friend now would you?

  She chuckles as she lifts the bag strap to her shoulder.

  “Look at you. Already talking like a true American.”

  I raise a brow at her.

  “What have I been talking like all this time? Like I came from the Shakespearean time? My Fair Lady?”

  She cracks up at the latter and I couldn’t stop a fit of giggles myself.

  “All cleared up?” she asks looking at all the stuff we were carrying. I was about to sigh but then stop myself from doing so.

  No Amelia. No sighing.

  “Yep. All done and dusted. Now, all we gotta do is dump these stuff in the car and be on our way.” I reply.

  “But Amelia. Why so early? The airport isn’t that far.” Pierre asks as he joins in the conversation. I give him a shrug.

  “Just wanted enough time for hugs and kisses I guess.”

  After constantly waiting for a miracle to happen, the day had finally dawned when I’m to take a flight back home. Somehow or the other, I’d come to terms with leaving. It had been painful to accept the fact but somewhere inside of me I calmed myself down with the thought that Ryan and the others were waiting for my return.

  Maybe I’m making a big deal out of all this. But I can’t guarantee when I’ll ever be back here. By some chance, I do get an opportunity to fly back to Lyon, would everything remain the same? Would the relationship between Ninnon, Ethan, Pierre, and myself remain intact?

  “Oh! The whole team is here. Well then, shall we get going?” Uncle Cam walks into the room with a smile.

  The three of them had gotten used to the Principal’s existence in the house and it became normal to be around him.

  At first, Pierre had been a ball of fits and a mess almost peeing his pants every time he caught a glimpse of Uncle Cam when visiting my place. Somehow with Uncle Cam’s huuuuuuge help, we got the guy to sort his shit out.

  Out of who knows where, Aunt Felicity appeared, with her husband tagging along. She smiles warmly at all of us.

  The two of them were riding with Uncle Cam to the airport while the three of us were hitching a ride with Ninnon, now that Pierre’s car was out of action.

  Ethan had been right. The airport was just a twenty-minute drive and with a few bickering and laughing, we arrived. Grabbing a few baggage carts and unloading my bags onto it, we make our way into the airport.

  Wow!

  Would you look at this place!

  Half a year back I’d been inside this airport yet I never actually looked around, what with my mental instability. The inside of the airport was shit awesome! I stared at every corner in awe.

  Chuckles on either side of me brought me to my senses. I scowled at the three who were ruining my moment of bliss.

  We make our way to the waiting area. I’d been perfectly alright but now, I felt sick. A tight knot deep in my stomach making me want to throw up. I felt like I was getting enough oxygen to breathe.

  “Hey. You alright Hun?” Aunt Felicity placed a hand on my shoulder looking at me worried. The others stop to look at me. I give each of them a reassuring smile and move ahead.

  “Finally! There they are! Amelia! Ninnon! Ethan! Pierre! Over here.” Someone yelled out each of our names. I search for the source of yelling frantically, and my eyes fall not on one but a group of kids clustered together waving at us, grins on their faces.

  The entire class!?

  “Amalia!!!” Florence waved giddily, smiling ever so cutely, adorned in a sky blue pinafore dress, her hair braided in two-tails. Beside her Theo waved as well, beckoning us to come over.

  I didn’t move. Hell, I couldn’t move! I was still in shock trying to figure out what the actual fuck is going on.

  Someone gave me a light pat on my head followed by a light chuckle.

  Uncle Cam!

  “Quite the advantage of being acquainted with the school’s principal isn’t it Mily? I wonder if these little ones are enjoying the school excursion.” He throws a wink my way and walks ahead with his twin sister and brother-in-law.

  So it’s all his doing. The Sneaky man!

  I make a run towards where everyone was standing and throw myself at Florence’s outstretched arms. Theo had to support her to keep the two of us from falling to the ground.

  “I can’t believe you guys are here!” I couldn’t keep the excitement from my voice.

  “Well, all we had to do is sign a petition on whether to see Amelia Brooke off at the airport and hand it over to the Principal. Though he was more than willing to aid us.” Benjamin said grinning from ear to ear like a mischievous Cheshire cat. Pierre’s fist bump with him, twinning the expression. These two!

  “Vivienne,” I say when I catch a glimpse of her at the back with Noelle and group. She flicks her hair over her shoulder and moves to the front.

  “I’m only here cause of Ethan.” And she holds her nose high in the air and walks off in style. I secretly smile to myself. Then why aren’t you even walking his way but staying where I am?

  The whole lot of us take over the waiting area. The entire place was filled with our loud voices and laughter. I completely forgot that I’d be boarding a flight soon. I was in a state of happiness, until,

  “So when’s the Vice Prez getting here?”

  My smile falters and I sit up straighter.

  “Noelle!” someone hissed at her. Maybe more than one person. I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention.

  Adrien.

  My thoughts were clouded with Adrien.

  Aunt Felicity had heard our conversation and looked over at me sadly. Adrien had woken bright and early before anyone else, got dressed and left for school with just a note in the kitchen to his Mom saying he’d be coming home late.

  He hadn’t even bothered to leave a farewell note to me. A ‘Bye Mia’ would suffice. But nothing.

  Ever since the day he got to know I was leaving, he’d shown me the cold shoulder. He barely acknowledged me. In school, he wouldn’t look my way. At home, he locks himself up in his room.

  We became complete strangers.

  “Amelia?” Ninnon interrupts my train of thought. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and look around me. Everyone had stopped their conversations and looked at me worried. Noelle sported a guilty expression.

  I let out a laugh praying it would lighten the mood.

  “What’s with those ugly expressions? Whose funeral are we at? If the lot of you are gonna stand close to me with those ridiculous looks, go to school and study.”

  Please. Please, everyone. Smile. Laugh. Joke!

  “Who put you in charge!?” Theo, the class president pulls my cheeks.

  “Wet gwo! You supid bwoy!”

  ow ow ow! He lets go and breaks out laughing at my embarrassed face and soon everyone joins in. I rub my cheek as I look at all of them. I manage to smile.

  Everyone returns to whatever they were doing before the mood was spoiled. Ninnon grabs the seat beside me as soon as Florence had stood up. She takes my hand in hers giving it a light squeeze.

  “You okay?” she asks worry latched in her tone. I look down at our hands.

  “Hey, Ninnon?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I feel like crying and never stopping. There’s something stuck in my chest and I don’t know how to pull it out. What do I do?”

  “Amelia. I...”

  I look up at her with a grin. “Juuuuust joking! Wow, look at your face. Hopeless babe!” I laugh but she doesn’t join me.

  She takes her hand from mine and moves it tow
ards my face, rubbing my eyes with the back of her hand. Only then did I realize.

  I was crying.

  “You fool.” She sighs as she pulls me for a hug, covering my face from the view of others. Out of the corner of my eyes, I notice Pierre and Ethan standing right in front of us, blocking the view from the rest of the class.

  “I love you guys. I love you guys!” I repeat over and over.

  Ethan and Pierre smile as Ninnon rubs my back soothingly.

  There’s only one way for this knot in my chest to loosen up. I have to take a step forth even if it’ll ruin what little relationship that’s left between us.

  I get to my feet in a hurry. Everyone once again stops and stares at me.

  “Sorry. I’ll be back real quick.” And I dash towards the exit barely hearing Ninnon’s words.

  “Go girl.”

  I smile to myself as I flag down a taxi and hop in.

  “Herriot High. Please make it fast sir. I’ve got a flight to catch in an hour.” The taxi driver nods and steps on the accelerator.

  I reach the school in fifteen, open the door of the car and run inside the school gate without a stop. I climb the stairs and reach the floor in which jerk face’s class is in.

  Quickening my pace with no time to lose, I reach his classroom and pry the door open.

  Fuck the stares. Fuck the murmurs. All I see is a surprised Adrien seated beside Evan.

  I take quick strides to their table completely ignoring the fact that a teacher was seated in class.

  Thank god it’s Mr. Newton. The friendliest and hipster professor in the school. He continued staying laid back enjoying the show.

  “Amelia?” Evan exclaims. I ignore him and stare straight at Adrien. His surprised face now replaced with a sullen look. He remains quiet.

  Don’t cry, Amelia. He’s not worth your tears. Don’t cry.

  “W-Why are you crying?” Evan turns around panicked, to ask Esmee for a handkerchief.

  Fuck you tear glands! Listen to me for once!

  Adrien’s gaze faltered and he opened his mouth to speak. I beat him to it. With action.

  A slap to his face.

  The murmurs stop. Mr. Newton sits up straight. Adrien stares at me wide-eyed and speechless.

  “You ass. You jerk. You two-faced creep. I fucking didn’t tell you I was leaving is because I fucking KNEW this would happen. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to spend more time with the gentle Adrien who I feared would turn his back on me if he knew I was leaving. You proved it all right.”