He lets out a light laugh, giving a friendly punch on the shoulder and then ruffling my hair.
“I’m no god. Stop calling me the great Adrien all the time. It’s not like I’m building a barrier around me preventing others from coming in. You’re just gutsier than the rest to face me.” He joked back.
I stick my tongue out like a little kid which makes him laugh even more.
It becomes silent between us. Not the uncomfortable kind. I didn’t mind this silence.
Adrien’s hand never left mine.
Let’s hope mine doesn’t get sweaty and freak him out.
Using this silence I was trying to build up my courage to ask Adrien about what he meant that day. When he said he’s leaving signals deliberately for me to guess it.
Maybe I already figured out what he was trying to say.
Maybe I’m too afraid to say it out? Because what if it’s not as how I’ve thought it to be?
Leave embarrassment aside, I’d definitely be hurt.
But this time, I made up my mind to confront him.
I’ve got the chance now.
I’m going to go for it.
Wish me luck Ninnon. Sarah.
“Adrien...”
“Mia...”
Adrien called out to me at the same time.
I stare at him as he stares back.
“Uh... You go first.” I said.
“You go first, Mia. Your face is scrunched up in such a way I’ve no heart to talk first.” He said with a chuckle.
I scowl at him.
Was my facial expression that funny?
But before neither of us could say anything aunt Fel called out to us to come have some ice-cream sundae.
At the same moment, Adrien got a call from Evan. He answered the phone. They talk in French and I zone out.
Once Adrien pocketed his phone and grabbed his bag I guessed that he was leaving.
So much for being free tonight
“Mia listen.” He stopped to grab my hands. I look up at him. His face was all serious. “I have to tell you something. But not now.”
What?
“I already told you. It’s because I can’t seem to muster up enough courage to say it out I’ve been backing off all this time. But just a couple weeks more. Give me time.”
“Time for what Adrien?” I ask. I’m literally dying to know what he’s struggling to say to me.
“Once the exams are all done. I’ll come looking for you. I’ll tell you then. Until then wait for me. Please.”
And with that, he kissed me on the cheek and rushed out after he called out bye to his mom.
I heard the front door closing and then the house was silent once more.
What?
CHAPTER TWENTY- EIGHT
“Take one for yourself, and pass the rest of the sheets.” Miss Neferti, our English teacher said to the first kid of every row as she handed a set of exam papers.
I rocked back and forth on the plastic chair waiting for a sheet to reach me.
“You ready Amelia?” Pierre whispered to me from the front. He doesn’t turn around but his voice is audible.
“Why do you ask me the same question every day? Yes, of course, I’m ready Pierre. Now shush and be quiet.” I say just as I get the English test paper.
Ninnon sat beside me as always. She’d already gotten hers and started putting the pen to work.
As always, I took a breath and skimmed around the class.
The usual routine I do before I start on any test.
I hear pens clicking and tapping on answer sheets. I could hear the shuffling of papers from behind me where Ethan was seated.
I then look at the questions set in front of me. Clicking the mechanical pen in my hand I began answering the questions.
It was the third day of the examination. The tough subjects were all done. I could still remember how I’d been when the French test paper was handed out.
Like a gorilla beating the crap out of the inside of me. I had an urge to run out the door, away from the freaking French hell. But I somehow managed to finish the whole paper without leaving a single question out.
As I scribbled out all the answers for the English test, my mind was starting to wander off to the third year, to a certain dark haired person.
No Amelia. Concentrate. You’ve enough to have on your mind than to think of him.
A tap on my right brought me back. Not turning exactly but looking from the corner of my eye, I find Ninnon staring at me.
What? I mouth to her.
Do the paper idiot. She mouths back.
Oh.
Darn, this girl knows me well.
I give her a sheepish grin to which she shakes her head but then a smile breaks out of her.
After what seemed like forever, sitting on the cold plastic chair, my back hurting and eyes itching, the answer sheets were passed to the front and a sigh was heard from every single person in the class.
Everyone got to their feet and walked here and there, talking and groaning as they discussed the paper.
What’s to discuss in English? I’d never understand these French kids.
I didn’t have to go anywhere. Since my friends were all around me. As usual, Pierre whisked around and gave his signature goofy grin and a thumbs up and said the same old dialogue.
“Aced it”
“Yeah yeah, we know. You say the same thing every darn time.” Ninnon retorts smugly with an eye roll.
Pierre rolls his eye right back at her.
“Keep rolling like that and they’re going to fall out soon,” Ethan said from behind me with a sigh. I chuckle at the remark.
“Just a day more to go and it’s freedom!” Pierre said out loud. Some kids from class who heard him cheered as well.
A day more.
My heart gave a sudden beat.
“Your face is turning red.”
What?
Ninnon chuckled as she enjoyed my after expression to her tease.
“Ninnon!”
She just shrugged like she can’t help teasing me.
“What do you say we go grab something from the cafeteria?” Pierre, the kid who was always hungry butts in.
I zip open my bag and showed him the lunch box neatly packed by Aunt Fel.
“Join us at least,” he said exasperated.
Pierre grabbed my hand and pulled me up and dragged me out of the classroom. Ethan and an annoyed Ninnon whose conversation with me had been disturbed follows us.
The cafeteria was bustling with energized students.
Note the sarcasm.
Everyone were lying dead on the chairs as they shoveled food into their mouths to regain the strength which had been absorbed by the test papers. We find a free table and take a seat.
Pierre and Ethan go to get themselves food while Ninnon and I are left to ourselves.
There’s not a single third year to be seen. Perhaps their test ain’t over yet?
I really don’t know.
None of us know the exam schedule for the seniors.
In France, the exam the seniors sit for is something called the Baccalaureate Examination. They need to pass this to graduate high school. It happens to also be a tough exam dragging on for almost two weeks or so. It wasn’t just written, but oral, practical and so on. This was why the seniors were treated like elites.
I fight myself to not roll my eye at the thought.
“Thinking of Prince charming?” Ninnon disrupts me.
“Stop that.”
Why does she find it amusing to tease me?
“You’re nervous aren’t you?” She continued.
I look at her trying to put out a blank expression. Like I wasn’t sure what she’s talking about.
She raised a brow and counterattacked my reaction.
Sighing I give up.
“I’m just so curious Ninnon. What could he possibly have to say to me?” I ask her.
The smell of potato and chips wafts in from somewhere and
it makes my stomach growl.
I open the lid of my lunchbox and grab a fish nugget that aunt Fel had put in. I bite into it and let the oily goodness console my hungry stomach.
“You really don’t know what he wants to say to you?” Ninnon said it dryly.
I shrug.
I mean. There could be tons of stuff right?
“Not even the thought that, I don’t know, confess?”
I choke on the nugget and swallow it painfully. My throat hurt as I glared at Ninnon for almost killing me.
Okay, I’m being melodramatic but still!
She handed me the water bottle and I take in huge gulps. A few stares wondering what the hell I’m doing, but I ignore them as always.
“Did you have to say it out?” I snap.
“It could be a possibility honey,” she said nonchalantly.
I shook my head vigorously. She sighed.
“Amelia, why is it so hard for you to accept the fact that the Vice Prez could actually like you? That he would want to confess to you?”
“Umm... Cause I’m not Esmee? And it’s she who’s been on his mind since forever?” I retaliate.
She gives me the you’ve-totally-lost-it-girl expression. Sighing I push back my lunch and fold my arms on the tabletop.
“I don’t know, okay? I just...” I trail off
“But why?” She pressed on
“I just don’t know!”
I didn’t mean to yell. But my voice had risen. Pierre and Ethan look at us confused. They’re waiting in line to get their food. Pierre mouths is everything alright?
I give him a nod and shoo him off. Every head was turned our way.
“What the fuck you all looking at?” I mutter under my breath.
After a couple of seconds, they just went back to whatever they were doing.
“I’m sorry. For snapping at you.” I apologized. Ninnon doesn’t say anything. I look up at her and find her looking at me worried.
“I don’t understand why you get emotionally unstable when the thought that Adrien could like you fills your head,” Ninnon said
.
I shake my head dejectedly.
“I’m scared.”
“Scared of what Amelia?”
“That it could just be a thought and not real. That I’d be the one expecting something and the result is otherwise. I don’t want to get hurt.”
There’s silence.
“Do you... You like him don’t you!?”
That is something I never wanted to hear. Because hearing it would make me accept the fact that I...
“Like who?” Pierre had appeared out of nowhere.
“No one!” I say in a rush and so did Ninnon.
Thank god she backed me up.
Pierre feigned a hurt expression but it only lasted a second. He was too busy making himself comfortable and gobbling food. He even reached out and grabbed a few nuggets from my lunchbox. I sighed in relief that no more questions would he asked. I simply forgot Ethan for a moment there. I felt his penetrating gaze as he stared at me.
I turned to look at him. He knew something was up. He always guessed things right when it came to me.
Shaking his head, he started picking on his mashed potatoes.
Ninnon and I exchange glances. She’s still got a look of victory and surprise in her eyes.
Oh, shush girl.
Just looking at her makes me remember what she blurted out. And remembering that is dangerous to my heart.
A burst of loud laughter earned my attention. Behind a couple of freshman had entered the cafeteria.
Their chatter and laughter filled the silent cafeteria as they began filling up a table to have their lunch. One certain head looked over a girl and our eyes met.
Who else in the freshman year would look for me?
Shyne stopped as he saw me. A look of guilt spread all over and rather than sitting down with his friends, he turned around and left the place.
His friends called out to him but he just left nevertheless.
What the...
I leave my stuff on the table and get to my feet as I walk after him.
Did I do something to make the kid not want to be in the same place as me?
I mean... Wasn’t I the victim of what he had done?
I don’t understand this boy.
I find Shyne passing through the crowd. He doesn’t even stop to say hello to the pretty girls like he always does. Weird.
“Shyne?” I see him flinch as I call out to him.
The hell?
“Dude, slow down. I need to talk to you.”
That makes him stop. But he doesn’t turn to face me, so I walk to the front and face him instead.
“What the hell? Why did you walk out as soon as you saw me? Did I do something to make you react in such a way?” I ask. He doesn’t reply.
Great.
“Well?” I press.
He sighed and then looked at me directly. The boy was quite the handsome one. Not as much as Adrien.
Adrien has a hunky feel to him. Hotness and gorgeousness oozing out of him. Shyne had the boyish, cute kind of feel.
He doesn’t really say anything. Just kept looking at me making me feel self-conscious.
I raise a brow, waiting for an explanation.
“Why am I feeling happy?” He muttered under his breath but I catch on.
“Happy? Whatever for?” I’m confused now. This kid a bubble of emotions.
“I thought you’d hate me to an extent you wouldn’t even look at me. But, you came after me. This somehow made me beyond happy. I don’t understand.”
He himself looked confused about what he was saying.
I leaned back on the wall and he just keeps standing straight, fidgety and restless.
“I’m not mad. Okay? I was. But I’m not anymore. Since you helped clear the misunderstanding.” I try to make him less guiltless.
He just gives a nod.
Since when did he become a good kid? Wasn’t he like on the red side of the student council?
He looked so innocent right now.
“Everything... Went well?” He asked all of a sudden. I tilt my head slightly to the side looking at him confused.
He grabbed the side of my head and pushes it back up.
“Stop doing that. It makes you look cuter.”
What?
Am I supposed to blush now? Or feel weird?
“Everything, as in with the Vice Prez. You know, since I fucked things up between the two of you.” He explained so I could understand his previous question.
“Everything is fine. Thank you for what you did Shyne.” I give him a smile. The kid deserves it.
Right?
And he just had to blush!
Okay... Where the fuck is the real guy? Who is this!?
I push myself in front and stand straight. Enough leaning for today.
“He looked so happy,” Shyne said.
“Who?” I asked.
“Vice Prez. When I told him that everything was a misunderstanding and that I played a joke, he let out such a relieved sigh. I even saw him smile.” He stopped and looked at me with an expression of wonder. “The poker-faced Vice Prez. I saw him smiling.” Shyne finished.
I wanted to laugh at that. But my insides forbid me in doing so. What with them so busy swooning and being in cloud nine.
“He really likes you, doesn’t he?” Shyne whispered to himself. I don’t quite get what he said.
But the thought of Adrien looking happy when he learnt that I’m innocent made my face heat up.
“If I’d known you’d blush so cutely, I would have spoken to you sooner after I met with the Vice Prez,” Shyne said so quietly, I barely hear it.
And then he walks away.
“Shyne!” I called out to him aloud. He doesn’t ignore me this time and turned around.
“Yeah?” He asked.
“You’re a good kid. Thank you.” I thank him once more for what he had done.
He gives me a wide smile, salutes and walks off.
I should be good with this boy. He doesn’t look all that bad. Apart from his girl fetish.
“That went well. Didn’t it?” A voice behind me made me yelp.
“You should stop eavesdropping...” I turn around and find a pair of green eyes looking at me “Adrien.”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“I come down the stairs to go meet you but then I find you running after Fendis. Of course I’d follow.” He said it like some big accomplishment.
I stare at him for a minute.
“You don’t mean to say you’re doubting me again?” I ask very carefully.
Adrien took a step in front and was just a breath apart.
“I will never have doubts regarding you ever in my life.” He said quietly.
Ever in my life?
I could feel the thumping of my heart louder against my chest.
“Even if I’m having an affair?” I tease. His irises turn dark, like the forest.
“You’re a million years too early for an affair brat.” He remarked ruffling my hair.
I scoff.
Did he just... Ruffle my hair? In school?
I bet I look like a madwoman with no comb at home!
“I’m not a brat!” I snap at him and earn a peal of melodious laughter in return.
“Just a while more Mia. And I’ll come looking for you myself.” His tone turned husky than usual. Or is it just me who thinks that?
He then gives my hand a gentle squeeze and retraced his steps back upstairs to the seniors’ floor.
“Just a while more...” I repeated what he said to myself.
A while more for what?
CHAPTER TWENTY- NINE
“Amelia, slow down. You need to calm yourself girl.”
Wondering what all this hassle is for?
Well, I’m just marching my way home to pick a fight with a certain person who had abandoned me all this time.
“I’m not waiting a second more Ninnon. I need a proper apology and explanation.” I huff out as I continue striding towards where home is.
Ninnon was following me.
Let me explain the situation.
It’s a week and a half after the exam was done and dusted. Not just mine. Adrien’s too.
I’d been waiting patiently, eagerly for him to come looking for me like he had promised. Only when I wake one morning, I’m said that Adrien had been whisked away by a group of friends which included Evan and Esmee of course, to an after exam celebration to Paris.
Where I Belong Page 23
