Where I Belong

by Stella Andrew

  My hands sweat but he doesn’t let go. His grip hardened.

  “Mia... Do you like me?” He asked.

  “Adrien... I...”

  “Answer my question. Don’t let your mind do the decision making. For once, listen to your heart and tell me the truth. Do you like me?” He repeated the question.

  He acts so bravely, but there’s uncertainty in his eyes.

  “I like you so much to an extent it hurts,” I admitted. Adrien lets out such a strong sigh in relief it made me ache for him.

  “Oh fuck.” He said to himself. Like he had heard something unreal. He got to his feet and walked around in circles. I stood up as well, my gaze following his movement.

  He then rushed to me, grabbing my shoulders, looking at me with such a passionate gaze.

  “You mean it? You... Mia, you really like me?” He asked once more. His voice shook.

  “I get sad when you get mad at me. Heartbroken when you ignore me. Smile and grin like a lunatic when your name is mentioned. Does this sound like I hate you?”

  It wasn’t just Adrien who faced all those emotions he had told me. I’ve had my share of unthinkable feelings running amok inside of me.

  “Forget the distance. Forget everything. I just need you, Mia. Only you. Tell me you’ll be mine. Please.”

  “But Adrien... What happens after I return home to Miami?”

  “Fuck that shit. I don’t care about how long we’ll be apart or how far out of reach you’ll be. I will always, ALWAYS yearn only for you Mia.”

  How could I say no to this guy? His feelings were so strong, it felt suffocating yet at the same time so beautiful.

  I didn’t want to hand him over to anyone.

  Adrien was mine. Mine alone.

  I like Adrien.

  His hands which were gripping my shoulder, I took hold of them and placed it gently on either side of my cheeks. His gaze softened. A slight smile adorning his gorgeous face.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  Woah...

  That was unexpected.

  “You kissed me twice without my permission and now you ask?” I didn’t mean to sound arrogant but hey, you can’t blame me, folks.

  “Those were times when I couldn’t control myself and once I’d kissed you I just felt like burying myself and never facing a single human ever.”

  Okay, I forgive this adorable human being whose face is so red, it was beyond cute.

  Adrien rested his forehead on mine, both our breaths shaking. His green orbs melt my gray ones in a passionate gaze.

  And for the first time since I ever came to France, Adrien called me by my name. Never before has my name sounded so wonderful.

  “I love you, Amelia Brooke.”

  He gently leaned in and pressed his warm lush lips on mine as he gave me a soft, gentle kiss.

  Time seemed to have stopped for the two of us. We remained in that position, lip-locked for what seemed like hours.

  Adrien and I stood so close I could feel his heart beating against his chest.

  Who in a million years would have thought that Adrien, the school bad boy, most respected vice President would be kissing the foreigner girl whom he didn’t want to have anything to do with.

  At this very moment I decided, without Adrien, I’m never going to be able to live in this world. I’d be lost.

  He was most definitely my fated one.

  Adrien slowly drew back. He didn’t remove his eyes from me. A grin escaped his lips as he smiled at me with utter joy.

  I was pretty sure my face was as red as a red apple.

  He stroked my cheek tenderly. And repeated what he said earlier which once again stole my heart.

  “I love you, Amelia.”

  I wrapped my arms around his body as he hugged me back.

  “I love you, Adrien Valentin. With all my heart.”

  And so we share a second kiss at the spot which meant the most sentimental to the both of us.

  CHAPTER THIRTY- TWO

  It has been 3 months since Adrien and the seniors graduated. There wasn’t anything different. Since the seniors apart from Adrien, Evan and Esmee had always been to themselves and not bothered to get in contact with the rest of us.

  It felt weird though. To me. Waking up every morning and having to sit at the breakfast table without Adrien and leave for school without him.

  I haven’t been going to the secret spot. I couldn’t face those isolated, rusty stairs which would remind me so much of Adrien.

  Somehow word had gotten to every student, every teacher, and even the birds (eye roll), that Adrien and I had started dating.

  The first person to confront me when school reopened once again after the holidays was Shyne demanding to know if it’s all true. When I had bashfully agreed, his face dropped making me feel awful for no reason.

  I mean, since when has Shyne cared about me?

  The majority of the kids who were in my year had already seen it coming. Some even went as far as congratulating me.

  How weird this school is?

  What’s even weirder which made me of all people flip was that I had somehow been elected to be the next Student Council President.

  Like, what the fuck?

  Me? A foreigner? Who would pick a fight with anyone?

  The school had gone nuts. That’s what I had thought until I was told that Evan, the previous President had been the one who strongly wanted me on his chair. I refused at once but then had a crazy Uncle Cam stalking my every move at home pleading me to accept something I had no interest in.

  I mean c’mon... President? Me?

  Do I look that responsible?

  And so because I couldn’t bear the torturous looks from Uncle Cam, I agreed. But only to be the Vice President.

  Yeah.

  Corny. I know

  But if I was given the opportunity, then I wanted a position that would make me feel much closer to Adrien.

  When I had called him and said the news, he had been over the moon.

  And that was how you find Ethan as the President, Amelia as the Vice Prez and my dear Ninnon as the secretary.

  Amazing isn’t it?

  It’s like we were following the friendship footsteps of the previous council members.

  Oh, don’t worry. No one forgot Pierre.

  He openly comes in and goes out of the council room as he pleases. He doesn’t have a title, but he’s most definitely a shadow member of the Student council.

  What really broke me for a minute was the fact that it had been Shyne, who was pretty popular with the kids of his year, who had asked everyone to elect me.

  He doesn’t look like the freshman kid who had played pranks on me. He somehow seemed to have matured.

  Now then... Where were we?

  Oh yes, three months since Adrien and co. left school.

  Speaking of Adrien, he had been so busy with enrolling in the college and getting a hang of the college surrounding that he barely was ever home.

  Of course, he had always been a sweetheart and came looking for me first thing as he entered the house. The two of us are very much into each other as to how we were in the beginning.

  I’m trying to be an understanding girlfriend who doesn’t nag her boyfriend for attention.

  I wouldn’t be able to hear it if Adrien ever gets tired of me.

  No.

  I’m going to make this relationship work. Make it last till the end of time.

  I can’t put the whole being-apart thing on Adrien’s head. After all, I’m a senior at Harriet High now.

  And we all know what that means right?

  Excess homework. Excess studying. And well pretty much excess of everything.

  It wasn’t easy managing the school as its head.

  How the hell did Adrien and the two manage all this crap with a smile?

  Okay, so Adrien didn’t really smile. But you get the gist, right?

  And with all this on my shoulders, I kept getting calls from my parents asking
me about my future plans. Calls from my friends back home of the college I’m planning to enroll in back in US.

  Adrien never spoke of it. He was afraid to hear my reply and so we never brought up this topic.

  But for how long can we keep pushing it aside?

  My mom’s face had crushed when she heard I was dating Adrien. She had secretly asked Aunt Fel if we would be alright in the end.

  Why is life throwing so much shit at me? There’s a limit to how much I can take in.

  I already lost my best friend. I would literally go mad if I had to lose Adrien too.

  I’m stressing so much with every single matter that comes into mind that I don’t notice Ninnon picking up the sheets of paper lying all around me. She stared at them and then at me.

  “Just as I thought. You haven’t gone through them.”

  This brought me crashing down to the present.

  “I’m sorry. Give them to me and I’ll have a look.” I say extending a hand and giving her an apologetic smile.

  Ninnon sighs. Not with disapproval but more onto the sad side.

  She knew very well what was bothering me. We’ve spoken about this. But never came to a conclusion.

  “It’s fine Amelia. I can handle this here. Perhaps you need a breather.” She said. I stared at her waiting to continue.

  “Ever since the festival preps have started you have been cramped up in the council room. Go out and look around. I’m sure someone would want your snarky remarks or bitchy snaps.”

  Yeah. Just because I’m Vice Prez doesn’t mean I’ve become some sweet girl who listens to all shit.

  When someone gives me crap, I give them back twice as hard.

  Does my action remind you of someone? Maybe the previous vice Prez?

  Nah... I’m too soft compared to him.

  And so with a chuckle to what my friend said, I get off the couch and walk out the door.

  Soon as I come out of the room I bang into a hard chest.

  “Ouch!”

  “You okay? Sorry, Amelia, I didn’t see you there.”

  Oh. It’s my good buddy Ethan.

  “No Biggie. My nose is fine.” I say and touch my nose for safety measures.

  Yep. It’s not broken.

  “What am I a wall?” He asked dryly.

  “My... Aren’t you now?” I feign shock. He scoffs and hits me with his arm. His hands we busy holding a box full of who knows what.

  “Where’s Pierre? I haven’t seen him at all today.”

  “That idiot was supposed to help the second years but he’s playing with the new freshmen,” Ethan said blankly. He then shakes his head at his stupid best friend and walks in through the door.

  That guy really is being too playful!

  The seniors aren’t allowed to partake in the school festival. Anyways it’s not like any of the third years have time for festivities. They’re too busy competing with each other for the best scores.

  It was a hassle begging the board of directors to let a student help out. As I mentioned Pierre is a part of the council but he’s not appointed with any title.

  Which made him just an ordinary guy in his senior year.

  We go through so much and the dude is loafing about playing.

  Not his fault. As soon as the new kids joined the school, a fan club was made for Pierre and Ethan.

  Ethan strictly said to not have such annoying clubs which would disrupt his school life.

  Pierre was too much of a good kid to refuse and so we always find him missing, being kidnapped by the freshman girls.

  How do they even have time to play around?

  Amelia, did you forget how carefree you were just a couple of months ago? Don’t blame the new kids.

  I can’t believe I’m talking to myself in the head.

  I walk around the school premises giving a helping hand to anyone who called out to me and in the process asking if they’d seen an idiotic Pierre anywhere.

  After what seemed like forever, duty time was over and I had to return to class.

  As the bell goes out, I excuse myself from a group of kids and steadily walk towards the senior section upstairs.

  Where the hell is this Pierre? I can’t believe I couldn’t find him anywhere.

  With the thought, I quicken my strides.

  I don’t want to be late for French class. I’d be left in the dust if I miss even a second of the teachings.

  I stop as I see a funny scene before me.

  Ninnon, who somehow miraculously had managed to find Pierre, was dragging him by the arm like a strict mom pulling her stubborn son.

  I stop myself from laughing at the duo.

  Over the time Ninnon had somehow ended up being Pierre’s caretaker.

  I bet she secretly harbors a crush on him.

  But I’m too afraid to say it out. She’ll surely poison my food.

  Once the two of them are out of view, I start heading to class as well.

  CHAPTER THIRTY- THREE

  Why the hell was a freshman girl always glued to Ethan? What business does she even have to be anywhere near to the council room?

  Not to be judgmental, but it was rare finding any student in this school who’d come all the way to the council room with any problem.

  So my guess, she was downright flirting with the popular guy of the school.

  “What are you doing here? Can’t you see we’re busy?”

  I didn’t mean to sound bitchy, but my head’s been aching with the festival date coming close and so much unleft business to handle.

  The least I want is a flirty girl crawling up my nerves. Ethan didn’t even look like he enjoyed her company.

  “What’s with your weird way of talking?”

  Wow. Her accent totally is off the hook.

  And she thinks I’m weird?

  “I’m an American babe. This is how we speak.” I said dryly.

  She flinches at the word ‘babe’ like it was poisonous to her ears.

  What the fuck?

  Sighing I turn my back to her and face Ethan. The poor guy was telepathically begging me to free him from her clutches.

  No matter how hard he tried to push her away, she kept latching onto him.

  She makes Vivienne look like a goddess.

  Even Vivienne who was always craving for Ethan had gotten sick of this girl and walked away.

  “I need you in the council room, Ethan. Principal Camille handed out the guest’s fliers. We’ve to stamp the school seal on them all.” I explained to an Ethan who was trying his best to listen to me.

  How could he? The crazy freshman girl kept tugging his arm.

  That’s it!

  “If you don’t leave this instance, I may have to report you to a teacher for disrupting council meetings,” I say sternly as possible.

  No freshman, no matter how fucking popular they are, would want to get in trouble with a teacher.

  Every single teacher in this school was strict when it came to studies and seniors.

  Since I’m senior and Vice Prez I’ve double the privilege.

  The girl, whatever her name was, let go of Ethan and glared at me. Clicking her tongue rudely she batted her eyes at Ethan and storms off angrily.

  “What the fuck is wrong with her?” I mutter disgusted.

  “Trust me. I could never answer that question.” Ethan sighed and rubbed his forehead.

  He’s been getting headaches a lot lately.

  A rumor had started that it was Ethan and me who were dating. Since we were always together in school. Of course, not everyone believed. They knew I was dating Adrien.

  Ninnon shut the mouths of anyone who spread rumors about her and Pierre being a couple.

  Goodness.

  Just how much do these kids love spreading fake news?

  “Let’s get this shit done with.” Waving the fliers, I open the council door and walk in with Ethan following behind.

  I’ve been working the whole time what with the festival date closing i
n on us.

  I wish I could see Adrien.

  I stopped my work and puledl out my phone from my blazer pocket. Since I’d left the phone on vibration mode I hadn’t realized I had a couple of messages.

  One from Adrien.

  I quickly drop whatever it was that I was doing and rushed to a side to check the text.

  Yeah. I’m that desperate and in love with Adrien. Bear with my I ways.

  ~meet up for coffee?~

  That was all. But it meant a lot to me. He had been busy. But now we can meet.

  Meet for a cup of coffee and talk for hours hopefully.

  I quickly type back my reply

  ~ let’s do that.~

  A second later my message tone pings

  Woah. That’s fast. Was he waiting for my reply all this time?

  ~waiting to meet you Mia.~

  God. Can this guy be any more adorable?

  After smiling for god knows how long, I pocket my phone and get back to work.

  Or I was supposed to.

  The bratty, snobby, nerve-wracking girl who sticks herself to Ethan appeared before me.

  She planted her hands on hip, looking like a funny girl out of a comedy show.

  It somehow made me want to laugh. But I controlled myself.

  “What do you want now? As you can see, Ethan ain’t here.” I try not to sound rude.

  She doesn’t react nor talk. Just kept glaring at me.

  “What is Ethan to you?” She asked in her nasal voice making my ears hurt.

  “And why must I answer to you?”

  Forget being less rude. I’m downright bitchy to her from now on.

  The girl and I kept glaring at each other.

  Why the hell am I even talking to her? I’ve much work to do.

  Fuck she ruined my happy mood.

  “Look. I don’t have a fucks reason to answer to a freshman like you.” I say. She gapes when I use the F word.

  Deal with it, sweetheart.

  “So just shoo off and let me get back to my work.” I spat venomously as possible.

  Before she could say whatever it is that she wanted to, Ethan appeared.

  Great.

  He just had to come at the wrong time.

  “What is going on here?”

  Oh, nothing. Just your creepy stalker picking a fight with me.

  Of course, I don’t say it out loud.