House of Greeks Day 1
It was my first day at the boarding school in England! I was practicing my fake accent when the cab pulled in. “Hello, love. Are you Amelia?” the driver asked.
“Why, yes I am.” I said.
“I’m supposed to be picking up an American.” he said.
“Oh, surrey… Sorry fake accent.” I told him in my normal voice.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Amelia.” he said. “Where do they have you staying at?”
“House of Greeks.” I told him.
I got in the cab and put my bag next to me. My phone rang so I looked at my message. “Parents checking in on you?” the driver asked.
“No. My best friend is worried I won’t remember him in England so he’s sworn to call or text me every day.” I said.
“Boyfriend?” he assumed.
“No, I don’t have one.” I said.
He began to drive down the road and I thought I would love England! I mean you drive on the left! Hello perfect condition for the LEFTY! I began to laugh at myself. “Share the joke?” he asked.
“I was just thinking that I would love England because its roadways are perfect for the lefty.” I said.
“Left handed then? Are you creative?"
“Pardon?”
“I was once told most left handed people are creative. Like in art and writing and music.” he said.
“Oh, yes I am. I love writing. Scratch that I absolutely adore writing!”
“Well, love, here we are. Where is that welcoming party I sent for?” he said.
“Over here!” a boy with brown hair called.
“That boy there is James.” the cab driver said.
“Hey, are you heading to House of Greeks?” I asked the boy.
“Yeah. You the new girl Amelia, then?” he asked.
I nodded and said, “But of course.”
He looked adorable in the school uniform and even if he weren’t wearing the uniform I knew he was cute. My fake accent had kicked in after getting out of the cab. “I swear she wasn’t English.” he said.
“I’m not, I’m American.” I told him.
“Then how do you have an accent?”
“It’s fake.” I said. “I was hoping no one knew I wasn’t English.”
“Don’t bother; no one cares where you are from. Just that you are a nice person is all that matters.” he said.
I loved his real accent. “I hope this isn’t too weird, but I love your accent.” I laughed.
“Thank you. Don’t really hear that around here.” he said.
“It was weird, wasn’t it?” I asked.
“Just a smidge but it’s a good weird, Amelia.” he said.
I smiled as I walked down the sidewalk with him with my suit case in one hand and shoulder bag on my shoulder. Once I went to adjust my shoulder bag and my hand brushed his hand. The slight touch sent shivers down my spine. James was incredibly nice and didn’t mind my weirdness like people back home had.
“This is House of Greeks.” he said pointing to large building ahead of us.
“Really? That place is huge!” I said.
“James! Come look at this!” a girl called.
“Jamie, come meet our new housemate!” he called back.
The girl with wavy brown hair came over. “Hello, I’m Jamie. You must be Amelia.” she said.
“Nice to meet you, Jamie.” I said.
I had finally dropped my fake accent. “Another American then? What’s Patara going to say about this? First Bryana goes missing then two Americans arrive.” she said.
“Who’s the other American?” I asked afraid of the answer.
“Her name is Tiffany.” James said. “Let’s go see her.”
“Okay.” I said.
Tiffany was at the same boarding school as I. I thought events would turn bad when we saw each other no matter how much I had changed. James pulled me up the stairs and raised his fist to knock on the door. Suddenly I made my choice. “Not yet, James.” I whispered.
“Why?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you in my room.” I told him.
He led me to an empty room and said, “This is your room.”
“Come in, please.” I said. “I don’t want anyone else to hear this.”
He came in and closed the door. I sat down on the bed and he sat next to me. “I knew Tiffany three years ago. We used to go to school together when we were in 9th grade. A lot happened between us. Sometimes it was just arguments over stupid things. Then one day I went to school wanting to hit someone or something.
“She tried to find out what was wrong but instead of telling her I hit her… ten times. It was hard to believe it was me who had done it but then when my mother took me to a doctor I was diagnosed as bipolar. Since then I’ve been taking medicine and it helps… a lot. If I were to lose the medicine I’m afraid it would happen again.
“And the only reason I actually stopped that day was because one of my best friends was able to calm me down, even after I had done the same thing to him. I was afraid and so were he and Tiffany.” I told him.
I had started to cry when I told him about hitting Tiffany. “Amelia? Are you okay?” she asked.
“Did… did you hear that?” I asked her.
She nodded and said, “Did you think that I would hold that over you?”
“I don’t know what I thought, but I do know that I owe you an explanation.” I told her.
“For what?”
“For attacking you.”
“I told you, Amelia, it’s okay now.”
“I know but I still want you to understand. It was because I’m bipolar. My father hadn’t been all that pleasant to me the night before. He hit me the same way I hit you, but not because of a medical condition. He came home drunk that night and I came in a minute after curfew so he became violent.
“He didn’t just hit me. There was a moment when he held a knife over my throat and then instead of slashing my throat he cut my arms. Thirty times each, one for each second I was late coming home.” I said.
“That’s awful.” she said.
“I still have the scars.” I said pushing up my sleeves.
James looked at my arms in horror. He ran his hand down my arm and then to my wrist. The tears had stopped now that he was trying to comfort me. I was shaking though, violently. The pain from that night had never left me. “Nothing like that will happen to you here, Amelia. I promise if someone even tries to hurt you, I’ll stop them.” James said. “Don’t hide it from me if someone even tries to hurt you. I want to know.”
He was going to protect me, even after I told him the story about hurting Tiffany. “Okay.” I said weakly.
“How have you been since then?” Tiffany asked.
“I’ve been living away from my father so he hasn’t been able to lay a hand on me.” I told her. “But there have been times when I was still scared for my life.”
“No one will hurt you here.” James repeated.
“Thank you. And, Tiffany, I am really sorry about that day.” I said.
“It’s fine. And after a night like that I can’t really blame you.” she said.
“Do you want to stay here or do you want to get dinner?” James asked.
“I am kind of hungry.” I said.
He smiled and stood up. James held out his hand and I took it. Gently he pulled me up. Not letting go of my hand he led me down the stairs. Jamie was at the base of the stairs when we got there. “Oh my, your arms!” she said.
“They’re from three years ago.” I said curtly.
She nodded and followed us to the dining table. “Every one, this is Amelia.” James said.
“She’s had kind of a rough past, so it’d be nice if you could all be kind to her.” Tiffany said.
“The scars are from three years ago.” Jamie chimed in.
“Thank you, Jamie.” Mitchell said.
“How’d you get them?” Amy asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it again just yet.” I said.
“Well, then let’s not. Let’s talk about how it would seem that we have another American in the House of Greeks.” a girl with brown hair said.
“Patara! Be kind to her. It is at least high time you be nice to somebody. We found out what happened to Bryana last week!” James said.
“It is fine, James. I’m used to it.” I told him.
“That’s the problem, Amelia. You shouldn’t have to be used to it here. This is a place to make friends not enemies.” he whispered.
“I have an idea.” a blonde boy said.
He wasn't much skinnier than the blonde boy next to him, though he didn't look as strong. “Justin, I don’t like your ideas.” Tiffany said.
“Well actually its mine.” the other blonde said.
“Well since it’s your idea, Mitchell, let’s hear it.” the girl next to Jamie said.
“The next person to lose their temper has to go up into the attic.” he said.
“I love your idea, Mitchell.” the girl said.
“You’d love his idea even if it involved killing a dog, Amy.” the boy to the other side of Mitchell said.
“Shut it, Austin.” Amy said.
“Do dinner time discussions always turn up like this?” I asked James.
“Pretty much. Welcome to Greeks House.” he said.
I smiled and sat down next to Tiffany. James sat next to me and put his hand right next to mine on the table. Even without touching him I knew I was blushing. “New girl’s got a crush on you already, Justin.” Austin teased.
Justin was looking at me with such an intensity I hadn’t seen before. I hadn’t realized, either, that I had looked away from my hand so close to James’s. “Not true.” I said.
My fake accent had come back in the embracement. Everyone ignored it and James smiled. Whether it was because he liked my accent or it was because he was relieved I didn’t know, but I wanted to.
Thinking of possible turn outs I brushed his hand again. He smiled again and brushed my hand. It was my turn to smile. Tiffany was the only to notice and she elbowed me. “Careful, you never know whose watching.” she said looking at Justin, Austin, Mitchell, and oddly Patara.
“What do you mean?” I whispered back.
“Well since you’re new and pretty those boys are going to try to get to you. Patara is looking for signs of a reason she shouldn’t like you and so far she is kind of angry that she can’t.” she told me.
James handed me a bowl of pasta and I took a medium sized scope and handed it to Tiffany. “Thank you for the warning. What about him?” I asked averting my eyes to James.
“Totally available.” she said.
That was the end of our discussion. “Miss Amelia, you have a call.” Earl said coming in.
He was the one who had first contacted me about the scholarship to the school. I got up and went into the hall. There was a table and phone right across the way. Quickly I sat down and picked up the phone. “Hello, this is Amelia.” I said
“Ames! How are you?” my best friend Jay said.
“Oh, my goodness, Jay! I wish you could see this place. And you remember Tiffany? She is here to.” I said.
“Tiffany, the one you injured?” he asked.
“Yeah. I told her why I did it and she forgave me. I’m not even embarrassed of my scars.” I said.
I was starting to cry again. “Oh, Ames, I wish you hadn’t gone. I miss you so much.” he said.
“I miss you, too, Jay. Tell the others I said hey.” I said.
As I looked up I saw James in the doorway. “Hang on, Jay.” I said.
“Is that your boyfriend?” James asked.
“No. He’s the one that got me to calm down when I was hitting Tiffany.” I said.
“I’ll let you finish up.” he said.
“Jay, I want you to meet my friend James.” I said into the phone.
I handed James the phone and stood close enough to listen to Jay. “Hey, um… Jay.” James said.
“Take care of her for me. And don’t tell her that when she comes back… I may not be alive.” Jay said loudly.
I grabbed the phone and said, “What do you mean not alive? Who is after you, Jay?”
“No one, Ames. When I fell down the stairs I lost too much blood. This may be my last day.” he said.
“How are you even talking to me?” I asked.
“I got my doctor to let me tell you good bye. I’ll be looking over you every day. And don’t forget what you promised.” he said.
“Friends forever even in death.” I said. “Good bye, Jay. But if you can, fight for the right to live.”
“Good bye, Ames.” he said hanging up.
I sat the phone on the receiver. Tears were freely flowing down my cheeks now. James put his arms around me in a hug. He felt my pain because I felt one of his tears fall on my shoulder. Tiffany came out and said, “Amelia, what’s wrong?”
“Jay might die.” I whispered.
She put her arms around me and James joining our hug. I was shaking all over. I couldn’t imagine not having Jay home when I went back and it didn’t feel right not being there with him if and when he died.
“I want to go home.” I said. “I want to be there with him when he… if he dies.”
“I know what you mean. My grandfather died the day after I got here. It felt so wrong not being there with him and I never forgave myself for staying. But if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have met you.” James said it just loud enough for me to hear him.
Tiffany went back to the dining room, but James and I didn’t. We went back upstairs to my room. We sat down on my bed again, this time we were holding hands. I rested my head against his shoulder and let the tears fall. “Do you have a picture of Jay?” he asked.
“Yes, on my phone. Would you like to see it?” I asked.
“Yeah.” he said.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and unlocked it. The background picture was of the two of us the day before I left. We were holding up identical necklaces. They were each half of the same heart. If you put them together they said ‘Best Friends’ and they only had one match. The jagged edges were different from others so they matched only the other.
“He looks like a nice guy.” James said.
I nodded and said, “Is it okay if I take a picture of us and send it to him so he can see me with one of my new friends?”
“Of course.” he said.
I pressed the button on the side of the phone. Luckily there was a mirror on the wall across from the bed, where we were sitting. We had our arms around each other and were both smiling. I adjusted the camera so it got both of us and a little of the room behind me. When it was just right I took the picture and showed it to James.
“That’s a good picture.” he said.
“Thanks.” I said.
I clicked send and typed in Jay’s cell phone number. Under the picture I typed in ‘Me and my new friend James.’ When the message saying that it had sent successfully popped up I locked my phone. “What did Jay say when you told him about your father?” James asked.
“I… I didn’t. You and Tiffany are the first people I told besides my mother.” I said.
“Didn’t anyone ask about your arms?” he asked.
“No one cared after what happened.” I said. “I had my friends and she had hers. My friends thought that they were claw marks from the fight and as time went on people forgot about the cuts and the attack.”
“Why didn’t you tell Jay?” he asked.
I didn’t want to talk about that but I did. “I was afraid that even though he was my best friend he wouldn’t believe me. He and his mother had been the ones to drop me off that night and he would have blamed himself if I had told him. When he blames himself for something he gets really stubborn about it and no one can talk him out of believing it.” I said.
My phone began to vibrate and I unlocked it. Jay had sent me a picture message back. I opened the picture and saw my mother, cousin, brother, and Jay. They were in a hospital room around Jay’s bed. Underneath the picture it said, “We all miss you and wish you were here. Tell your new friend(s) to be nice or I’ll make it through this just to hunt them down. J”
I started to cry again when I got to the bottom of the message. James wiped the tears away from my cheeks and kissed my forehead. “I promise you that he won’t need to hunt us down.” he said. “And that he will make it through this.”
“Thank you so much, James.” I said. “You’ve shown me such a kindness I don’t deserve.”
“Everyone deserves such kindness, but people are too afraid to show it to others.” he said.
Just then I noticed a chain around his neck. “May I see that chain?” I asked.
He reached inside his shirt and pulled it out. I gasped when I saw the word on it. I had one exactly the same and there were only two in the entire world. “What?” he asked.
That was when he realized it. He saw the one I wore around my own neck. “We have the same one.” he said.
It was said that if you found someone with the same necklace as you, then you had found your soul-mate. “Do you know what this means?” I asked.
“We’ll be together forever.” he said.
“Let’s not tell the others about this.” I whispered.
We both hide our chains under our shirts. He looked into my eyes and said, “You have beautiful eyes, Amelia.”
“You do to, James.” I said.
We were inches from kissing but then Amy burst in. “There you two are. Oh, did I disturb something?” she said.
“No. We were just talking.” we both said.
We laughed and stood up. “Well then that was a rather close conversation. What were you talking about? How to give mouth to mouth?” she said.
“No. We were talking about my friend Jay. Tonight might be his last night and he called to say good bye in case he isn’t alive when I go back home.” I said.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” she said.
We walked down the stairs to the living room. James pulled out his homework and said, “Any smart people here?”
“I can help you, James.” I said.
“Do you even know what we are doing, new girl?” Justin asked.
“I may be new here, but I have a name, Blondie.” I said.
“I like you. You aren’t afraid to throw down. Awfully uncommon in a girl.” he said.
“Careful or I will throw down… you down the stairs that is.” I smiled.
“Lighten up, Amelia.” James whispered.
“Right.” I said.
He opened his Biology book and I started to help him with his worksheet. “Hey, Jamie, I think you have competition for smartest girl around.” Justin said.
“It’s not a competition, Justin. It’s a relief not having to help everyone with their homework every day.” she said.
“Are you saying you don’t like helping me, Jamie?” he asked.
“Slim it, both of you. I’ll help you, Justin, if you need my help.” I said.
“What does slim it mean?” Jamie asked.
“It’s like saying shut up.” I said.
“Do we have a date then, Amelia?” Justin asked.
“No. We will study, not kiss.” I said.
James started to laugh and then I did too. I hadn’t noticed that I had taken his hand while I was talking to Justin, who had noticed. “So you’ll kiss James but not me or Mitchell or Austin?” he said.
“I don’t recall saying anything about kissing anybody. I just said that we were going to study. And frankly I would rather kiss any of the other boy’s. You, Justin, are just a snob.” I told him.
Amy looked angry with me now. “You were about to kiss James when I found you!” she said.
“That is not true.” James said.
“I was telling him something that I didn’t want anyone else to find out, except Tiffany.” I said. “Because she already knows.”
“Knows what?” Patara asked.
“About my best friend Jay. I didn’t want to have to tell anyone that today might be his last day, but I knew hiding from them wouldn’t help any. Tiffany, after all, knows Jay.” I said.
It wasn’t the truth but it wasn’t a lie either. I hadn’t wanted to tell people but that wasn’t what James and I had been talking about when we had nearly kissed. “How do you both know Jay?” Jamie asked.
“He is my best friend.” I said.
“And he is my cousin, on my mother’s side.” Tiffany said.
I saw the truth of it in her eyes but I couldn’t believe it. “That’s why he pulled me off you that day! It wasn’t because he was worried about me, it was because he was afraid I’d hurt you!” I thought.
I had developed a new found hatred for Tiffany and apparently so had Patara and even more to my surprise James. “Why didn’t you tell her!” he yelled at Tiffany.
“I thought he had told her! I swear if I had known he hadn’t I would have told her that day.” she said.
“What day?” Mitchell asked.
I hadn’t even noticed that Mitchell and the others were still in the room. “It doesn’t matter.” I said turning pale.
“Yes, it does.” he said.
“Ames is right. It doesn’t matter.” James said.
I smiled when he said Ames. Before that moment I had only allowed Jay to call me that. James was my new best friend. He was far past Jay on the list now and I had only known him for a few hours. Then I thought back to when we had nearly kissed.
I had kissed Jay once, but it was a mistake that I never made again. It was a few days after I had met him and I was over the moon for him at the time. He had dared me to and it was like that I did. To this day I never played Truth or Dare again.
I felt someone moving underneath me and felt the tears streaming down my cheeks and the blood on my knuckles. “Amelia! Stop hitting me!” the person under me yelled.
I had enough time to look at the face before I bolted out the door. His blood had stained my clothes and my soul. It was impossible for me to believe I had that to any one, especially James, just because of that stupid dare! A half hour later I heard someone calling for me. “Amelia! Where are you, Amelia?”
I couldn’t believe that James was looking for me after I nearly broke his nose. Quickly I searched my bag for my bipolar medicine and then opened the bottle of water I had put in there. Before he made it over to me I took the pill and chugged the water. “Amelia, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean to.” he said taking my hand.
“It’s not a good idea to forgive and forget so easily. I learned that the hard way.” I said shaking my head.
“What are you talking about, Amelia?” he asked.
“I’m talking about Jay!” I yelled.
I could feel it coming that time so I got up from the bench and ran as far as I could. As it turned out I stopped at the school building and it was made of brick. Before I could stop myself I started pounding the wall with both my fists. It didn’t matter when I felt the crimson goo flow out of my knuckles; I just kept hitting the wall.
Slowly I noticed the pain and slower yet, I began to stop hitting the wall. The blood was still flowing and it was coming out faster than I had ever seen it before. All because of Jay. Without thinking I started to pound the wall again, but this time it was even harder.
After ten more furious pounds I screamed from pain, but still I hit the wall. “Get some bandages and a towel!” I heard someone yell.
James rounded the corner and this time he wouldn’t let go of me. “Amelia, it’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you now. Cry as much as you want, Amelia. It’s okay.” he said.
James repeated it over and over again until I began to bawl my eyes out onto his shoulder. He put his arms around me and pulled me closer. “Everything will be okay.” he assured me. “Let me see your hands when we get back to Greeks House. Understand?”
I nodded and walked with him back to the House of Greeks. We sat down at the dining table and he held out his hands. Slowly I held mine out, palms up. “Other way, Amelia.” he whispered.
Amy set down a bowl of water and a towel. “Patara said she’d be out to help in a few minutes.” she said.
“Thank you.” he said to her.
He picked up the towel and said, “Amelia, listen to me, please. This might sting a bit but remember that I’m trying to help you.”
He dipped the towel into the water and put it against my knuckles. I gasped in pain at the slight touch of the towel. It stung worse than I had thought it would. “Ouch, James, that hurts!” I said
“I’m surrey!” he said removing the towel.
I was afraid to look up at his face so I had been fully focused on our hands. Sooner or later I would have to look at him and I knew it so I decided to look up. “Are you okay, Amelia?” he asked.
I nodded and said, “I forgot to take my…” I began.
“I understand. I saw you take it while you were on the bench.” he whispered.
I looked up at his face and gasped. His nose and mouth were bleeding and I had given him a black eye. “James, I am so sorry I did that.” I said.
“It’s fine. You couldn’t help it.” he said putting gauze on the knuckles on my right hand.
“But I shouldn’t have. You’ve been so kind to me.” I said. “If anyone it should have been… never mind.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Hey, Amelia, how are you feeling?” Patara asked.
“I’m okay.” I said.
“Let me see your other hand.” she said sitting next to James.
I held out my left hand and she wiped it off with the same towel James had use on my right hand. She carefully dabbed at the blood running down my hand and then placed gauze on my knuckles. Patara wrapped a bandage around my hand and said, “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” she asked.
I nodded and took the towel from her hands, gently. Slowly I dipped it into the bowl and then put it to James’s lip. Gently I wiped the blood from his mouth and then I put it under his nose to stop the blood from getting to his mouth.
Jamie came down the stairs and said, “Am I disturbing something?”
“No. I’m just cleaning the blood off his face.” I told her.
This time it was true. “I just wanted to make sure that you were back. Earl is going to be sending us to bed any minute.” she told us.
“He won’t mind if I finish cleaning him up.” I told her.
“Okay.” she said and went back upstairs.
I finished wiping the blood from his face. “Thanks for helping get the blood off my face.” he said.
“No problem.” I said.
We stood up at the same time and walked into the kitchen. I got a bag of ice and pressed it to his eye. “Why didn’t you give up on me after that?” I asked.
“Because, I know how you feel. I never told anyone this but an old friend of mine was bipolar too. He did more damage than you did and because of that I knew that if I kept calling out to you then you would stop. The others were going to pull you off me, but I told them not to. They were shocked but they didn’t touch you.” he said.
I began crying again and he put his free arm around me. He pulled me into his warm; gentle embrace and dropped the ice. His other arm was around me in a matter of milliseconds and I was crying into his shoulder. “You should go upstairs to bed. When I’m sure Earl is gone I’ll come by to check in on you, Amelia.” he whispered.
I nodded and walked up the stairs to my room. Before I went in Tiffany stopped me in my tracks. “Leave me be, Tiffany.” I said.
“Tell me why I upset you.” she said.
“No. Now leave me be. I’m going to bed.” I told her
I clenched my fist and then thought better of it. Politely I moved around her into my room. She turned and tried to come in but I closed the door. Tiffany didn’t try to come in or even knock on the door. Instead she turned and went to her room.
My suit case was next to my bed but it wasn’t all the way zipped like I had left it. I opened it the rest the way and found a note on top of my laptop. After checking the time I opened the note. It said,
Dear Amelia,
If you ever want to talk, slip by my room and just knock lightly so you don’t wake Austin or tell me some time that day. If you want to talk now then just knock on my door.
Sincerely,
Justin
A knock came at my door and I opened it after hiding the note. “Hey, can I come in?” James asked.
“Sure.” I said moving to the side.
He came in and I quietly closed the door behind him. “I saw Justin come up here early and he had something in his hand. When he came back he didn’t have anything with him.” he told me.
“What do you think happened to it?” I asked.
“Is there anything out of place in here?” he asked.
I didn’t like lying to James any more than I liked being bored. “He left a note in my suit case.” I told him.
“What did it say?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter. He was trying to be nice.” I told him opening my door.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Nowhere, yet, but you are going back to bed. I don’t want you getting into trouble.” I said.
“Okay, good night, Amelia.” he said.
“Good night.” I said.
He walked down the stairs and I waited for ten minutes before I went down too. I walked to Justin’s room and knocked on the door once. “Who’s that, Justin?” Austin asked.
“I don’t know let me check.” Justin lied.
He opened the door and whispered, “I’ll come up in a few minutes.” he said.
I nodded and walked back up stairs. The door to my room was slightly ajar, the way I had left it, so I slipped in. After a few minutes Justin knocked on my door and I opened it. “Hey, how you feeling?” he asked.
“Better now.” I said.
“I’m really glad to hear that.” he said.
“Even though I called you a snob?” I asked.
“Yeah, of course. I’m not mad about that since you aren’t the first one to say that.” he said.
“Who else called you a snob?” I asked.
“Two of my ex-girlfriends.” he laughed quietly.
“Well, I’m sorry about that.” I told him.
“It doesn’t matter. So what did you want to talk about?”
“Anything.”
“You didn’t have anything in particular you wanted to get out of your system?”
“Not really. Maybe I just wanted to know more about you.”
“How about we play a game?”
“Like what?”
I had all fingers crossed that it wasn’t truth or dare. “I tell you something about myself and you tell me something you like.” he said.
“That sounds fun. You go first.” I said.
“I can sing rather well.” he said.
“I like people who tell me the truth.” I said.
“I think you are gorgeous.” he said.
“Aww, thank you. Um, I like guys who are nice and defend those who are deserving.”
“I’m not as rude as I seem, I just like to play jokes on people.”
“I like to play guitar and sing when I’m alone.”
“I would like to hear a piece of your music.”
“I have some on my laptop. Hang on.” I said reaching into my suit case.
I pulled out my laptop and opened it. When I turned it on I typed in the password and said, “I like to listen to music by English people. I just adore English accents.”
“What about my accent?” he asked.
“It’s completely adorable.” I told him.
He took my hand and said, “Your turn.”
“Actually you didn’t tell me anything about yourself that time.”
“My hair is naturally shaggy.”
“I would like to see your shaggy hair tomorrow.” I told him.
“If you play me some of your music then we have a deal.” he said kissing my hand.
I was starting to think that the necklaces didn’t matter. Justin was in the running for my heart. “I need both hands to type, Justin.” I said.
He let go of my hand and I opened a file and I typed in the password I had installed on it to keep others out of it. “Done typing yet?” he asked.
“Almost.” I told him.
After a few seconds I turned down the sound so we could hear it and pressed play. He listened to it for a few seconds and said, “Would you like to dance with me?”
I looked up at him and nodded. “I’d love to.” I said.
He smiled and stood holding out his hand. I placed my hand in his and stood. Justin pulled me closer to him and put his hands on my waist. I put my arms around his neck and followed his lead. “Sorry if I step on your feet, Justin.
He laughed softly in my ear. “Don’t worry about it.” he said.
Before I knew it he lifted me and set me down so my toes were on his. “Now it’s not your fault.” he whispered.
I smiled and rested my head against his shoulder. We danced for nearly half an hour then someone knocked on my door. “Hide over there.” I whispered pointing to my closet.
He nodded and hid himself in my closet. I walked to the door and opened just a little. Austin was at my door! “Have you seen Justin?” he asked.
“Come on, I’ll help you find Justin.” I said loud enough so Justin could hear.
I grabbed a flashlight from my desk and walked out my door leaving it ajar. We walked to Tiffany’s room and knocked on the door. “Austin, come in so Earl doesn’t see you in the hall.” she whispered.
Justin walked by when Austin went in her room. He kissed my neck and said, “Good night, beautiful.”
“Good night. Remember shaggy hair tomorrow.” I told him.
He walked down the stairs and a few seconds later Austin came out and said, “Let’s check in Jamie’s room.”
“Go to bed. I’m sure Justin can figure his way back to bed on his own.” I told him.
He nodded and said, “Good night, Amelia.”
“Good night, Austin.” I said turning back to my room.
I went in my room and closed the door. There was another note on my bed. Quickly I picked it up and opened it. It said,
Dear Amelia,
Thanks for getting Austin to leave. I would love to come by again tomorrow night and talk… about anything. Haha! I had fun and thanks for the dance. My toes will be fine, by the way.
Yours Truly,
Justin
When I finished reading the note I smiled to myself and put it with the other note in one of my desk drawers under a stack of printer paper. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
I unlocked my phone and sent Jay a message. The message said, “Why didn’t you tell me you are Tiffany’s cousin?”
A few minutes later he replied back to my message. I opened the text and read it. “I didn’t think it mattered. YOU are my best friend not her and you know that. How is everything going there anyway? J.”
“I’ll send you an email tomorrow after class. Do you know if you’ll make it?” I replied.
“I’ll be fine. You should get to bed. I miss you. J.” was his final reply and I went to bed.
Quietly I dug through my suit case for my power cord. I shuffled across the room and plugged it in next to my desk. My phone lit up and I noticed something I hadn’t seen before. There was white envelope with my name on and it wasn’t in Justin’s hand writing. It made me curious so I found the chair and turned on my lamp so I could read it.
I opened the envelope and I pulled out the parchment and James’s necklace. The words on it was exactly what I thought it was “Forgiving.” It made me smile because he was forgiving but he was also kind and caring. Then I thought back to Justin, who was funny but he could be kind when he wanted to be. He acted like any other guy would if he liked to pull pranks to try and get the girl. Slowly I unfolded the parchment and read,
Dear Amelia,
Like my odd hand writing? That wasn’t actually what I wanted to ask of you. I actually wanted to know if you… well if you fancy me, because, well if it wasn’t obvious before it should be after this. I really do fancy you.
Love Yours Truly,
James
I quietly opened my desk drawer and put the note in it. There were two different desk drawers for two different boys. After I shut off my lamp I made my way to my bed in darkness.
Once under my sheets, I closed my eyes. I thought of nothing but Justin and James. They were both nice but Justin only showed me that he was nice when we were alone, but I had given poor James a black eye and he was still nice to me. It wasn’t a hard choice even without the necklaces being factored in. I knew my choice as of that moment but I knew my mind could still be swayed, as they both had that certain charm. It wouldn’t make a difference if the necklaces were involved.
“Why, yes I am.” I said.
“I’m supposed to be picking up an American.” he said.
“Oh, surrey… Sorry fake accent.” I told him in my normal voice.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Amelia.” he said. “Where do they have you staying at?”
“House of Greeks.” I told him.
I got in the cab and put my bag next to me. My phone rang so I looked at my message. “Parents checking in on you?” the driver asked.
“No. My best friend is worried I won’t remember him in England so he’s sworn to call or text me every day.” I said.
“Boyfriend?” he assumed.
“No, I don’t have one.” I said.
He began to drive down the road and I thought I would love England! I mean you drive on the left! Hello perfect condition for the LEFTY! I began to laugh at myself. “Share the joke?” he asked.
“I was just thinking that I would love England because its roadways are perfect for the lefty.” I said.
“Left handed then? Are you creative?"
“Pardon?”
“I was once told most left handed people are creative. Like in art and writing and music.” he said.
“Oh, yes I am. I love writing. Scratch that I absolutely adore writing!”
“Well, love, here we are. Where is that welcoming party I sent for?” he said.
“Over here!” a boy with brown hair called.
“That boy there is James.” the cab driver said.
“Hey, are you heading to House of Greeks?” I asked the boy.
“Yeah. You the new girl Amelia, then?” he asked.
I nodded and said, “But of course.”
He looked adorable in the school uniform and even if he weren’t wearing the uniform I knew he was cute. My fake accent had kicked in after getting out of the cab. “I swear she wasn’t English.” he said.
“I’m not, I’m American.” I told him.
“Then how do you have an accent?”
“It’s fake.” I said. “I was hoping no one knew I wasn’t English.”
“Don’t bother; no one cares where you are from. Just that you are a nice person is all that matters.” he said.
I loved his real accent. “I hope this isn’t too weird, but I love your accent.” I laughed.
“Thank you. Don’t really hear that around here.” he said.
“It was weird, wasn’t it?” I asked.
“Just a smidge but it’s a good weird, Amelia.” he said.
I smiled as I walked down the sidewalk with him with my suit case in one hand and shoulder bag on my shoulder. Once I went to adjust my shoulder bag and my hand brushed his hand. The slight touch sent shivers down my spine. James was incredibly nice and didn’t mind my weirdness like people back home had.
“This is House of Greeks.” he said pointing to large building ahead of us.
“Really? That place is huge!” I said.
“James! Come look at this!” a girl called.
“Jamie, come meet our new housemate!” he called back.
The girl with wavy brown hair came over. “Hello, I’m Jamie. You must be Amelia.” she said.
“Nice to meet you, Jamie.” I said.
I had finally dropped my fake accent. “Another American then? What’s Patara going to say about this? First Bryana goes missing then two Americans arrive.” she said.
“Who’s the other American?” I asked afraid of the answer.
“Her name is Tiffany.” James said. “Let’s go see her.”
“Okay.” I said.
Tiffany was at the same boarding school as I. I thought events would turn bad when we saw each other no matter how much I had changed. James pulled me up the stairs and raised his fist to knock on the door. Suddenly I made my choice. “Not yet, James.” I whispered.
“Why?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you in my room.” I told him.
He led me to an empty room and said, “This is your room.”
“Come in, please.” I said. “I don’t want anyone else to hear this.”
He came in and closed the door. I sat down on the bed and he sat next to me. “I knew Tiffany three years ago. We used to go to school together when we were in 9th grade. A lot happened between us. Sometimes it was just arguments over stupid things. Then one day I went to school wanting to hit someone or something.
“She tried to find out what was wrong but instead of telling her I hit her… ten times. It was hard to believe it was me who had done it but then when my mother took me to a doctor I was diagnosed as bipolar. Since then I’ve been taking medicine and it helps… a lot. If I were to lose the medicine I’m afraid it would happen again.
“And the only reason I actually stopped that day was because one of my best friends was able to calm me down, even after I had done the same thing to him. I was afraid and so were he and Tiffany.” I told him.
I had started to cry when I told him about hitting Tiffany. “Amelia? Are you okay?” she asked.
“Did… did you hear that?” I asked her.
She nodded and said, “Did you think that I would hold that over you?”
“I don’t know what I thought, but I do know that I owe you an explanation.” I told her.
“For what?”
“For attacking you.”
“I told you, Amelia, it’s okay now.”
“I know but I still want you to understand. It was because I’m bipolar. My father hadn’t been all that pleasant to me the night before. He hit me the same way I hit you, but not because of a medical condition. He came home drunk that night and I came in a minute after curfew so he became violent.
“He didn’t just hit me. There was a moment when he held a knife over my throat and then instead of slashing my throat he cut my arms. Thirty times each, one for each second I was late coming home.” I said.
“That’s awful.” she said.
“I still have the scars.” I said pushing up my sleeves.
James looked at my arms in horror. He ran his hand down my arm and then to my wrist. The tears had stopped now that he was trying to comfort me. I was shaking though, violently. The pain from that night had never left me. “Nothing like that will happen to you here, Amelia. I promise if someone even tries to hurt you, I’ll stop them.” James said. “Don’t hide it from me if someone even tries to hurt you. I want to know.”
He was going to protect me, even after I told him the story about hurting Tiffany. “Okay.” I said weakly.
“How have you been since then?” Tiffany asked.
“I’ve been living away from my father so he hasn’t been able to lay a hand on me.” I told her. “But there have been times when I was still scared for my life.”
“No one will hurt you here.” James repeated.
“Thank you. And, Tiffany, I am really sorry about that day.” I said.
“It’s fine. And after a night like that I can’t really blame you.” she said.
“Do you want to stay here or do you want to get dinner?” James asked.
“I am kind of hungry.” I said.
He smiled and stood up. James held out his hand and I took it. Gently he pulled me up. Not letting go of my hand he led me down the stairs. Jamie was at the base of the stairs when we got there. “Oh my, your arms!” she said.
“They’re from three years ago.” I said curtly.
She nodded and followed us to the dining table. “Every one, this is Amelia.” James said.
“She’s had kind of a rough past, so it’d be nice if you could all be kind to her.” Tiffany said.
“The scars are from three years ago.” Jamie chimed in.
“Thank you, Jamie.” Mitchell said.
“How’d you get them?” Amy asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it again just yet.” I said.
“Well, then let’s not. Let’s talk about how it would seem that we have another American in the House of Greeks.” a girl with brown hair said.
“Patara! Be kind to her. It is at least high time you be nice to somebody. We found out what happened to Bryana last week!” James said.
“It is fine, James. I’m used to it.” I told him.
“That’s the problem, Amelia. You shouldn’t have to be used to it here. This is a place to make friends not enemies.” he whispered.
“I have an idea.” a blonde boy said.
He wasn't much skinnier than the blonde boy next to him, though he didn't look as strong. “Justin, I don’t like your ideas.” Tiffany said.
“Well actually its mine.” the other blonde said.
“Well since it’s your idea, Mitchell, let’s hear it.” the girl next to Jamie said.
“The next person to lose their temper has to go up into the attic.” he said.
“I love your idea, Mitchell.” the girl said.
“You’d love his idea even if it involved killing a dog, Amy.” the boy to the other side of Mitchell said.
“Shut it, Austin.” Amy said.
“Do dinner time discussions always turn up like this?” I asked James.
“Pretty much. Welcome to Greeks House.” he said.
I smiled and sat down next to Tiffany. James sat next to me and put his hand right next to mine on the table. Even without touching him I knew I was blushing. “New girl’s got a crush on you already, Justin.” Austin teased.
Justin was looking at me with such an intensity I hadn’t seen before. I hadn’t realized, either, that I had looked away from my hand so close to James’s. “Not true.” I said.
My fake accent had come back in the embracement. Everyone ignored it and James smiled. Whether it was because he liked my accent or it was because he was relieved I didn’t know, but I wanted to.
Thinking of possible turn outs I brushed his hand again. He smiled again and brushed my hand. It was my turn to smile. Tiffany was the only to notice and she elbowed me. “Careful, you never know whose watching.” she said looking at Justin, Austin, Mitchell, and oddly Patara.
“What do you mean?” I whispered back.
“Well since you’re new and pretty those boys are going to try to get to you. Patara is looking for signs of a reason she shouldn’t like you and so far she is kind of angry that she can’t.” she told me.
James handed me a bowl of pasta and I took a medium sized scope and handed it to Tiffany. “Thank you for the warning. What about him?” I asked averting my eyes to James.
“Totally available.” she said.
That was the end of our discussion. “Miss Amelia, you have a call.” Earl said coming in.
He was the one who had first contacted me about the scholarship to the school. I got up and went into the hall. There was a table and phone right across the way. Quickly I sat down and picked up the phone. “Hello, this is Amelia.” I said
“Ames! How are you?” my best friend Jay said.
“Oh, my goodness, Jay! I wish you could see this place. And you remember Tiffany? She is here to.” I said.
“Tiffany, the one you injured?” he asked.
“Yeah. I told her why I did it and she forgave me. I’m not even embarrassed of my scars.” I said.
I was starting to cry again. “Oh, Ames, I wish you hadn’t gone. I miss you so much.” he said.
“I miss you, too, Jay. Tell the others I said hey.” I said.
As I looked up I saw James in the doorway. “Hang on, Jay.” I said.
“Is that your boyfriend?” James asked.
“No. He’s the one that got me to calm down when I was hitting Tiffany.” I said.
“I’ll let you finish up.” he said.
“Jay, I want you to meet my friend James.” I said into the phone.
I handed James the phone and stood close enough to listen to Jay. “Hey, um… Jay.” James said.
“Take care of her for me. And don’t tell her that when she comes back… I may not be alive.” Jay said loudly.
I grabbed the phone and said, “What do you mean not alive? Who is after you, Jay?”
“No one, Ames. When I fell down the stairs I lost too much blood. This may be my last day.” he said.
“How are you even talking to me?” I asked.
“I got my doctor to let me tell you good bye. I’ll be looking over you every day. And don’t forget what you promised.” he said.
“Friends forever even in death.” I said. “Good bye, Jay. But if you can, fight for the right to live.”
“Good bye, Ames.” he said hanging up.
I sat the phone on the receiver. Tears were freely flowing down my cheeks now. James put his arms around me in a hug. He felt my pain because I felt one of his tears fall on my shoulder. Tiffany came out and said, “Amelia, what’s wrong?”
“Jay might die.” I whispered.
She put her arms around me and James joining our hug. I was shaking all over. I couldn’t imagine not having Jay home when I went back and it didn’t feel right not being there with him if and when he died.
“I want to go home.” I said. “I want to be there with him when he… if he dies.”
“I know what you mean. My grandfather died the day after I got here. It felt so wrong not being there with him and I never forgave myself for staying. But if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have met you.” James said it just loud enough for me to hear him.
Tiffany went back to the dining room, but James and I didn’t. We went back upstairs to my room. We sat down on my bed again, this time we were holding hands. I rested my head against his shoulder and let the tears fall. “Do you have a picture of Jay?” he asked.
“Yes, on my phone. Would you like to see it?” I asked.
“Yeah.” he said.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and unlocked it. The background picture was of the two of us the day before I left. We were holding up identical necklaces. They were each half of the same heart. If you put them together they said ‘Best Friends’ and they only had one match. The jagged edges were different from others so they matched only the other.
“He looks like a nice guy.” James said.
I nodded and said, “Is it okay if I take a picture of us and send it to him so he can see me with one of my new friends?”
“Of course.” he said.
I pressed the button on the side of the phone. Luckily there was a mirror on the wall across from the bed, where we were sitting. We had our arms around each other and were both smiling. I adjusted the camera so it got both of us and a little of the room behind me. When it was just right I took the picture and showed it to James.
“That’s a good picture.” he said.
“Thanks.” I said.
I clicked send and typed in Jay’s cell phone number. Under the picture I typed in ‘Me and my new friend James.’ When the message saying that it had sent successfully popped up I locked my phone. “What did Jay say when you told him about your father?” James asked.
“I… I didn’t. You and Tiffany are the first people I told besides my mother.” I said.
“Didn’t anyone ask about your arms?” he asked.
“No one cared after what happened.” I said. “I had my friends and she had hers. My friends thought that they were claw marks from the fight and as time went on people forgot about the cuts and the attack.”
“Why didn’t you tell Jay?” he asked.
I didn’t want to talk about that but I did. “I was afraid that even though he was my best friend he wouldn’t believe me. He and his mother had been the ones to drop me off that night and he would have blamed himself if I had told him. When he blames himself for something he gets really stubborn about it and no one can talk him out of believing it.” I said.
My phone began to vibrate and I unlocked it. Jay had sent me a picture message back. I opened the picture and saw my mother, cousin, brother, and Jay. They were in a hospital room around Jay’s bed. Underneath the picture it said, “We all miss you and wish you were here. Tell your new friend(s) to be nice or I’ll make it through this just to hunt them down. J”
I started to cry again when I got to the bottom of the message. James wiped the tears away from my cheeks and kissed my forehead. “I promise you that he won’t need to hunt us down.” he said. “And that he will make it through this.”
“Thank you so much, James.” I said. “You’ve shown me such a kindness I don’t deserve.”
“Everyone deserves such kindness, but people are too afraid to show it to others.” he said.
Just then I noticed a chain around his neck. “May I see that chain?” I asked.
He reached inside his shirt and pulled it out. I gasped when I saw the word on it. I had one exactly the same and there were only two in the entire world. “What?” he asked.
That was when he realized it. He saw the one I wore around my own neck. “We have the same one.” he said.
It was said that if you found someone with the same necklace as you, then you had found your soul-mate. “Do you know what this means?” I asked.
“We’ll be together forever.” he said.
“Let’s not tell the others about this.” I whispered.
We both hide our chains under our shirts. He looked into my eyes and said, “You have beautiful eyes, Amelia.”
“You do to, James.” I said.
We were inches from kissing but then Amy burst in. “There you two are. Oh, did I disturb something?” she said.
“No. We were just talking.” we both said.
We laughed and stood up. “Well then that was a rather close conversation. What were you talking about? How to give mouth to mouth?” she said.
“No. We were talking about my friend Jay. Tonight might be his last night and he called to say good bye in case he isn’t alive when I go back home.” I said.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” she said.
We walked down the stairs to the living room. James pulled out his homework and said, “Any smart people here?”
“I can help you, James.” I said.
“Do you even know what we are doing, new girl?” Justin asked.
“I may be new here, but I have a name, Blondie.” I said.
“I like you. You aren’t afraid to throw down. Awfully uncommon in a girl.” he said.
“Careful or I will throw down… you down the stairs that is.” I smiled.
“Lighten up, Amelia.” James whispered.
“Right.” I said.
He opened his Biology book and I started to help him with his worksheet. “Hey, Jamie, I think you have competition for smartest girl around.” Justin said.
“It’s not a competition, Justin. It’s a relief not having to help everyone with their homework every day.” she said.
“Are you saying you don’t like helping me, Jamie?” he asked.
“Slim it, both of you. I’ll help you, Justin, if you need my help.” I said.
“What does slim it mean?” Jamie asked.
“It’s like saying shut up.” I said.
“Do we have a date then, Amelia?” Justin asked.
“No. We will study, not kiss.” I said.
James started to laugh and then I did too. I hadn’t noticed that I had taken his hand while I was talking to Justin, who had noticed. “So you’ll kiss James but not me or Mitchell or Austin?” he said.
“I don’t recall saying anything about kissing anybody. I just said that we were going to study. And frankly I would rather kiss any of the other boy’s. You, Justin, are just a snob.” I told him.
Amy looked angry with me now. “You were about to kiss James when I found you!” she said.
“That is not true.” James said.
“I was telling him something that I didn’t want anyone else to find out, except Tiffany.” I said. “Because she already knows.”
“Knows what?” Patara asked.
“About my best friend Jay. I didn’t want to have to tell anyone that today might be his last day, but I knew hiding from them wouldn’t help any. Tiffany, after all, knows Jay.” I said.
It wasn’t the truth but it wasn’t a lie either. I hadn’t wanted to tell people but that wasn’t what James and I had been talking about when we had nearly kissed. “How do you both know Jay?” Jamie asked.
“He is my best friend.” I said.
“And he is my cousin, on my mother’s side.” Tiffany said.
I saw the truth of it in her eyes but I couldn’t believe it. “That’s why he pulled me off you that day! It wasn’t because he was worried about me, it was because he was afraid I’d hurt you!” I thought.
I had developed a new found hatred for Tiffany and apparently so had Patara and even more to my surprise James. “Why didn’t you tell her!” he yelled at Tiffany.
“I thought he had told her! I swear if I had known he hadn’t I would have told her that day.” she said.
“What day?” Mitchell asked.
I hadn’t even noticed that Mitchell and the others were still in the room. “It doesn’t matter.” I said turning pale.
“Yes, it does.” he said.
“Ames is right. It doesn’t matter.” James said.
I smiled when he said Ames. Before that moment I had only allowed Jay to call me that. James was my new best friend. He was far past Jay on the list now and I had only known him for a few hours. Then I thought back to when we had nearly kissed.
I had kissed Jay once, but it was a mistake that I never made again. It was a few days after I had met him and I was over the moon for him at the time. He had dared me to and it was like that I did. To this day I never played Truth or Dare again.
I felt someone moving underneath me and felt the tears streaming down my cheeks and the blood on my knuckles. “Amelia! Stop hitting me!” the person under me yelled.
I had enough time to look at the face before I bolted out the door. His blood had stained my clothes and my soul. It was impossible for me to believe I had that to any one, especially James, just because of that stupid dare! A half hour later I heard someone calling for me. “Amelia! Where are you, Amelia?”
I couldn’t believe that James was looking for me after I nearly broke his nose. Quickly I searched my bag for my bipolar medicine and then opened the bottle of water I had put in there. Before he made it over to me I took the pill and chugged the water. “Amelia, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean to.” he said taking my hand.
“It’s not a good idea to forgive and forget so easily. I learned that the hard way.” I said shaking my head.
“What are you talking about, Amelia?” he asked.
“I’m talking about Jay!” I yelled.
I could feel it coming that time so I got up from the bench and ran as far as I could. As it turned out I stopped at the school building and it was made of brick. Before I could stop myself I started pounding the wall with both my fists. It didn’t matter when I felt the crimson goo flow out of my knuckles; I just kept hitting the wall.
Slowly I noticed the pain and slower yet, I began to stop hitting the wall. The blood was still flowing and it was coming out faster than I had ever seen it before. All because of Jay. Without thinking I started to pound the wall again, but this time it was even harder.
After ten more furious pounds I screamed from pain, but still I hit the wall. “Get some bandages and a towel!” I heard someone yell.
James rounded the corner and this time he wouldn’t let go of me. “Amelia, it’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you now. Cry as much as you want, Amelia. It’s okay.” he said.
James repeated it over and over again until I began to bawl my eyes out onto his shoulder. He put his arms around me and pulled me closer. “Everything will be okay.” he assured me. “Let me see your hands when we get back to Greeks House. Understand?”
I nodded and walked with him back to the House of Greeks. We sat down at the dining table and he held out his hands. Slowly I held mine out, palms up. “Other way, Amelia.” he whispered.
Amy set down a bowl of water and a towel. “Patara said she’d be out to help in a few minutes.” she said.
“Thank you.” he said to her.
He picked up the towel and said, “Amelia, listen to me, please. This might sting a bit but remember that I’m trying to help you.”
He dipped the towel into the water and put it against my knuckles. I gasped in pain at the slight touch of the towel. It stung worse than I had thought it would. “Ouch, James, that hurts!” I said
“I’m surrey!” he said removing the towel.
I was afraid to look up at his face so I had been fully focused on our hands. Sooner or later I would have to look at him and I knew it so I decided to look up. “Are you okay, Amelia?” he asked.
I nodded and said, “I forgot to take my…” I began.
“I understand. I saw you take it while you were on the bench.” he whispered.
I looked up at his face and gasped. His nose and mouth were bleeding and I had given him a black eye. “James, I am so sorry I did that.” I said.
“It’s fine. You couldn’t help it.” he said putting gauze on the knuckles on my right hand.
“But I shouldn’t have. You’ve been so kind to me.” I said. “If anyone it should have been… never mind.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Hey, Amelia, how are you feeling?” Patara asked.
“I’m okay.” I said.
“Let me see your other hand.” she said sitting next to James.
I held out my left hand and she wiped it off with the same towel James had use on my right hand. She carefully dabbed at the blood running down my hand and then placed gauze on my knuckles. Patara wrapped a bandage around my hand and said, “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” she asked.
I nodded and took the towel from her hands, gently. Slowly I dipped it into the bowl and then put it to James’s lip. Gently I wiped the blood from his mouth and then I put it under his nose to stop the blood from getting to his mouth.
Jamie came down the stairs and said, “Am I disturbing something?”
“No. I’m just cleaning the blood off his face.” I told her.
This time it was true. “I just wanted to make sure that you were back. Earl is going to be sending us to bed any minute.” she told us.
“He won’t mind if I finish cleaning him up.” I told her.
“Okay.” she said and went back upstairs.
I finished wiping the blood from his face. “Thanks for helping get the blood off my face.” he said.
“No problem.” I said.
We stood up at the same time and walked into the kitchen. I got a bag of ice and pressed it to his eye. “Why didn’t you give up on me after that?” I asked.
“Because, I know how you feel. I never told anyone this but an old friend of mine was bipolar too. He did more damage than you did and because of that I knew that if I kept calling out to you then you would stop. The others were going to pull you off me, but I told them not to. They were shocked but they didn’t touch you.” he said.
I began crying again and he put his free arm around me. He pulled me into his warm; gentle embrace and dropped the ice. His other arm was around me in a matter of milliseconds and I was crying into his shoulder. “You should go upstairs to bed. When I’m sure Earl is gone I’ll come by to check in on you, Amelia.” he whispered.
I nodded and walked up the stairs to my room. Before I went in Tiffany stopped me in my tracks. “Leave me be, Tiffany.” I said.
“Tell me why I upset you.” she said.
“No. Now leave me be. I’m going to bed.” I told her
I clenched my fist and then thought better of it. Politely I moved around her into my room. She turned and tried to come in but I closed the door. Tiffany didn’t try to come in or even knock on the door. Instead she turned and went to her room.
My suit case was next to my bed but it wasn’t all the way zipped like I had left it. I opened it the rest the way and found a note on top of my laptop. After checking the time I opened the note. It said,
Dear Amelia,
If you ever want to talk, slip by my room and just knock lightly so you don’t wake Austin or tell me some time that day. If you want to talk now then just knock on my door.
Sincerely,
Justin
A knock came at my door and I opened it after hiding the note. “Hey, can I come in?” James asked.
“Sure.” I said moving to the side.
He came in and I quietly closed the door behind him. “I saw Justin come up here early and he had something in his hand. When he came back he didn’t have anything with him.” he told me.
“What do you think happened to it?” I asked.
“Is there anything out of place in here?” he asked.
I didn’t like lying to James any more than I liked being bored. “He left a note in my suit case.” I told him.
“What did it say?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter. He was trying to be nice.” I told him opening my door.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Nowhere, yet, but you are going back to bed. I don’t want you getting into trouble.” I said.
“Okay, good night, Amelia.” he said.
“Good night.” I said.
He walked down the stairs and I waited for ten minutes before I went down too. I walked to Justin’s room and knocked on the door once. “Who’s that, Justin?” Austin asked.
“I don’t know let me check.” Justin lied.
He opened the door and whispered, “I’ll come up in a few minutes.” he said.
I nodded and walked back up stairs. The door to my room was slightly ajar, the way I had left it, so I slipped in. After a few minutes Justin knocked on my door and I opened it. “Hey, how you feeling?” he asked.
“Better now.” I said.
“I’m really glad to hear that.” he said.
“Even though I called you a snob?” I asked.
“Yeah, of course. I’m not mad about that since you aren’t the first one to say that.” he said.
“Who else called you a snob?” I asked.
“Two of my ex-girlfriends.” he laughed quietly.
“Well, I’m sorry about that.” I told him.
“It doesn’t matter. So what did you want to talk about?”
“Anything.”
“You didn’t have anything in particular you wanted to get out of your system?”
“Not really. Maybe I just wanted to know more about you.”
“How about we play a game?”
“Like what?”
I had all fingers crossed that it wasn’t truth or dare. “I tell you something about myself and you tell me something you like.” he said.
“That sounds fun. You go first.” I said.
“I can sing rather well.” he said.
“I like people who tell me the truth.” I said.
“I think you are gorgeous.” he said.
“Aww, thank you. Um, I like guys who are nice and defend those who are deserving.”
“I’m not as rude as I seem, I just like to play jokes on people.”
“I like to play guitar and sing when I’m alone.”
“I would like to hear a piece of your music.”
“I have some on my laptop. Hang on.” I said reaching into my suit case.
I pulled out my laptop and opened it. When I turned it on I typed in the password and said, “I like to listen to music by English people. I just adore English accents.”
“What about my accent?” he asked.
“It’s completely adorable.” I told him.
He took my hand and said, “Your turn.”
“Actually you didn’t tell me anything about yourself that time.”
“My hair is naturally shaggy.”
“I would like to see your shaggy hair tomorrow.” I told him.
“If you play me some of your music then we have a deal.” he said kissing my hand.
I was starting to think that the necklaces didn’t matter. Justin was in the running for my heart. “I need both hands to type, Justin.” I said.
He let go of my hand and I opened a file and I typed in the password I had installed on it to keep others out of it. “Done typing yet?” he asked.
“Almost.” I told him.
After a few seconds I turned down the sound so we could hear it and pressed play. He listened to it for a few seconds and said, “Would you like to dance with me?”
I looked up at him and nodded. “I’d love to.” I said.
He smiled and stood holding out his hand. I placed my hand in his and stood. Justin pulled me closer to him and put his hands on my waist. I put my arms around his neck and followed his lead. “Sorry if I step on your feet, Justin.
He laughed softly in my ear. “Don’t worry about it.” he said.
Before I knew it he lifted me and set me down so my toes were on his. “Now it’s not your fault.” he whispered.
I smiled and rested my head against his shoulder. We danced for nearly half an hour then someone knocked on my door. “Hide over there.” I whispered pointing to my closet.
He nodded and hid himself in my closet. I walked to the door and opened just a little. Austin was at my door! “Have you seen Justin?” he asked.
“Come on, I’ll help you find Justin.” I said loud enough so Justin could hear.
I grabbed a flashlight from my desk and walked out my door leaving it ajar. We walked to Tiffany’s room and knocked on the door. “Austin, come in so Earl doesn’t see you in the hall.” she whispered.
Justin walked by when Austin went in her room. He kissed my neck and said, “Good night, beautiful.”
“Good night. Remember shaggy hair tomorrow.” I told him.
He walked down the stairs and a few seconds later Austin came out and said, “Let’s check in Jamie’s room.”
“Go to bed. I’m sure Justin can figure his way back to bed on his own.” I told him.
He nodded and said, “Good night, Amelia.”
“Good night, Austin.” I said turning back to my room.
I went in my room and closed the door. There was another note on my bed. Quickly I picked it up and opened it. It said,
Dear Amelia,
Thanks for getting Austin to leave. I would love to come by again tomorrow night and talk… about anything. Haha! I had fun and thanks for the dance. My toes will be fine, by the way.
Yours Truly,
Justin
When I finished reading the note I smiled to myself and put it with the other note in one of my desk drawers under a stack of printer paper. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
I unlocked my phone and sent Jay a message. The message said, “Why didn’t you tell me you are Tiffany’s cousin?”
A few minutes later he replied back to my message. I opened the text and read it. “I didn’t think it mattered. YOU are my best friend not her and you know that. How is everything going there anyway? J.”
“I’ll send you an email tomorrow after class. Do you know if you’ll make it?” I replied.
“I’ll be fine. You should get to bed. I miss you. J.” was his final reply and I went to bed.
Quietly I dug through my suit case for my power cord. I shuffled across the room and plugged it in next to my desk. My phone lit up and I noticed something I hadn’t seen before. There was white envelope with my name on and it wasn’t in Justin’s hand writing. It made me curious so I found the chair and turned on my lamp so I could read it.
I opened the envelope and I pulled out the parchment and James’s necklace. The words on it was exactly what I thought it was “Forgiving.” It made me smile because he was forgiving but he was also kind and caring. Then I thought back to Justin, who was funny but he could be kind when he wanted to be. He acted like any other guy would if he liked to pull pranks to try and get the girl. Slowly I unfolded the parchment and read,
Dear Amelia,
Like my odd hand writing? That wasn’t actually what I wanted to ask of you. I actually wanted to know if you… well if you fancy me, because, well if it wasn’t obvious before it should be after this. I really do fancy you.
Love Yours Truly,
James
I quietly opened my desk drawer and put the note in it. There were two different desk drawers for two different boys. After I shut off my lamp I made my way to my bed in darkness.
Once under my sheets, I closed my eyes. I thought of nothing but Justin and James. They were both nice but Justin only showed me that he was nice when we were alone, but I had given poor James a black eye and he was still nice to me. It wasn’t a hard choice even without the necklaces being factored in. I knew my choice as of that moment but I knew my mind could still be swayed, as they both had that certain charm. It wouldn’t make a difference if the necklaces were involved.
House of Greeks Day 2
“Amelia, wake up.” Justin said.
I slowly opened my eyes to see Justin kneeling next to my bed. “Morning.” I said.
“Like I promised, my hair will be shaggy today.” he whispered.
“Is she awake, Justin?” James asked from the door.
“Yeah.” he said looking at James.
“You going to fix your hair?” he asked.
“No, I don’t have time today. From now on you’ll wake her. It’s impossible to rouse that girl.” he said walking out.
James looked at the desk and said, “You should take a shower now. It’s open and if you don’t hurry Amy might claim it.”
“I found your note.” I said.
“I figured you would.” he said turning red.
“Yes.” I said.
“Yes what?” he asked stupidly.
“I love your handwriting.” I said sarcastically.
“That? My handwriting? I get it. I’ll um… see you later.” he said turning to leave
“James, come here.” I said.
He turned around and walked towards me. I put my arms around his neck and whispered, “Of course I fancy you.”
James put his arms around my waist and lifted me off my feet. I laughed and said, “I’d better tackle the shower now, hadn’t I?”
“Good idea. Amy will get there and you’ll never get her out.” he said.
I grabbed my clothes and ran to the bathroom. My shower was no longer than ten minutes. When I finished putting on my clothes, I grabbed my eye shadow off the counter. I chose the blue eye shadow and put it on. Just after I finished someone knocked on the door. “Come in.” I said.
The door opened and Patara came in. “Hey, are you coming down to breakfast?” she asked.
“Yeah, I was just finishing up.” I said.
“Oh, hold on.” she said. “Close your eyes.”
I closed my eyes and she put her thumbs on the corner of my eyes and wiped off some eye shadow. “That looks much better.” she said turning on the water.
I looked in the mirror and said, “Your right, it does look better. Thanks, Patara.”
She smiled and took my arm. We walked down stairs and everyone was staring. “Sorry I took so long.” I said.
“Stop staring. It’s not nice.” Tiffany said.
When everyone stopped staring, I sat down next to James and Patara sat next to me. He smiled and handed me a plate of French toast. I took two pieces and handed the plate to Patara. James handed me the eggs and I took a scope then handed it to Patara.
“How are you two in a good mood after what happened yesterday?” Mitchell said looking James and me.
“Shut it.” Tiffany said before either of us could reply.
“Tiffany, you shut it.” I said. “James understands what happened and why and that’s all that matters.”
“Careful, Mitchell, she might go bonkers on you.” Justin said.
“What is with your hair, Justin?” I asked.
“What could you possibly mean?” he asked.
“Your hair looks horrible.” Amy said.
“What do you think of my hair, Amelia?” he asked worried.
“It looks fine, Justin. I was just kidding.”
He sighed a sigh of relief. “Why do you even care what she thinks? You just called her bonkers.” Austin said.
It was starting to turn into an argument somehow. “Slim it and calm the heck down!” James said.
“Since when do you us my terms?” Tiffany said.
“Excuse me, Tiffany, but you never once said that. It was Amelia who said that last night.” he said angrily.
I put my hand on his leg to calm him down. He glanced at me and said, “I’ll be waiting in the hall.”
I nodded and finished eating. “Nice going, Tiffany. You made James angry.” Jamie said.
“Oh, shut up.” she said.
“Man, you all need to calm down and stop taking credit for what other people come up with.” Patara said looking mostly at Tiffany.
“Would you like join me and James? We are going to walk to school.” I whispered.
“Sure.” she said.
We got up and walked into the hall. “Are you ready?” I asked him.
“Yeah. Is she coming with us then?” he asked.
“Yes, and I’m sorry for being rude to you.” she said.
“It’s cool. Friends?” he said holding out his hand.
“Friends.” she said shaking it.
I took Patara’s arm and then James’s and pulled them out the door. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” I said.
“It’s the second most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” James said glancing at me.
I smiled and Patara said, “What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve seen then?”
“A rainbow.” he said quickly.
“A rainbow? Are you serious?” she asked.
“Patara, think before you speak.” I smiled.
“Right. Surrey I if hurt your feelings, James.” she said.
“It’s fine, you didn’t.” he said. “Since I was lying.”
“You were?” she said. “Then what is the most beautiful thing… or person you’ve ever seen.”
We both turned red when he looked at me. “I get it now! You fancy each other!” she said.
“Could you possibly yell that louder?” I asked laughing.
“Well I could, but I won’t.” she said. “So are you dating?”
“I don’t know… are we, James?” I asked.
“Depends if you just asked me out, cause if you did then my answer would have to be yes.” he said.
“Then yes.” I said.
“Don’t tell Justin that unless you have everyone around.” she said.
“Why not?” James asked.
“He fancies her almost as much as you do!” she said.
We walked into the building and James went one way while Patara and I went the other. “Why do they have our lockers so far away from the boys?” I asked.
“They don’t want public displays of affection in school. Outside the halls and classes are fine just not in the school.” she said.
“That’s lame.” I said.
“Your accent is almost convincing.” she laughed.
“Dang it! I keep on slipping back into it don’t I?” I asked.
“Just a little. Oh look, they put your locker right next to mine!” she said.
“That’s awesome!” I said.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you… mentally unstable?” she asked quietly.
“Something of those sorts.” I mumbled.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“Please don’t tell the others. I mean James and Tiffany already know but I don’t want anyone but the four of us to know. You swear it?” I said.
“I swear I won’t tell a living soul.” she said.
“I’m bipolar.” I told her.
“That’s why you got so mad yesterday? Tiffany made you angry because she never told you that she is your best friend’s cousin?” she asked.
“Well in a way that was it. It just brought up some old buried memories.” I told her.
“So what about your scars?” she asked.
“It’s a long story that I’ll tell you at lunch. But we will have to be outside.” I said.
“Let me guess, so James can be with you?” she said.
“Well when I told him the story yesterday I started to choke up so he might be able to help me tell it now.” I said opening my new locker.
There was a set of textbooks in there and a class schedule. I pulled it out and looked it over. The first class I had was Advanced Placement Biology and then French. “AP Biology! Jamie isn’t even in that class!” Patara said.
“Well that’s what class I was in back in America so I guess they just put me in it here.” I told her.
“It’s bound to be thirty times harder here though. Our teacher is a real stick in the mud.” she said.
“Hey, guys, what are you talking about?” Jamie asked walking up behind me.
“Amelia is in AP Biology.” Patara said.
“No way! I’m not in there so how could you be in there?” she asked.
“I was in AP Biology back in America. Man de jà vu.” I laughed.
“Right. Expert in French too?” she asked.
“Something tells me you liked being the smartest girl around.” I said.
“You may be better than me in Biology but that doesn’t mean that you are better than me in everything!” she said clenching her fist.
“Go ahead hit me. I don’t care.” I said.
I was shocked when she smacked me across the face. “Amelia!” Patara said.
“Jamie!” James yelled.
He ran down the hall and pinned her to the lockers. “Tell her your surrey!” he yelled. “Now!”
“But she told me to!” she yelled back.
“James, get off Jamie!” Amy yelled.
“She hit Amelia!” Patara said.
I put my hand to my mouth and wiped the blood away before anyone could see it. James saw it and let go of Jamie. “Let’s go. You need to see the nurse about your knuckles anyway.” he said.
Patara took my arm and walked down the hall with me and James. “Hey, Amelia, you forgot something.” Justin called. “Your blood!”
I turned and started back to them but Patara and James stopped me dead in my tracks. My eyes turned to James and then to Patara. They were there for me and they were my friends. “Don’t talk to me, Justin!” I called as I turned my back to them.
“Justin, you picked a bad way to tell her that you’re mad.” I heard Austin tell Justin.
“Barking mad, he is!” I called over my shoulder.
James and Patara escorted me to the nurse’s office and we were let in. “My dear what happened to you? It looks as if you were in a street fight.” the nurse said when Patara left.
“Nothing of those sorts, ma’am. Justin accidently elbowed her in the mouth.” James said.
“James, you’re here with this girl?” she asked him.
“Yeah.” he said.
“Ma’am, can you change the gauze on my knuckles?” I asked before she made an assumption.
“Bloody knuckles, black eye, bloody mouth… are you sure it wasn’t you James? It would explain your eye.” she said looking from him to me.
“I believe you have my medical records, which gives you the reason for my knuckles… and his eye.” I told her.
“Ah, yes, bipolar disorder. It will go unreported this time, but if this happens again I might have to report it if it was this severe.” she said.
“Well really all it was is his black eye. He didn’t fight back. Actually he got me to calm down. Then I bolted and he went looking for me around the grounds. As for my knuckles, that was my own fault.” I said.
She unwrapped the bandages my hands and threw away the old gauze and replaced them with new ones. “I don’t want you writing today. Do you understand?” she said.
“Yes, ma’am.” I said.
“James, be a gentleman and carry her books for her.” she told him.
“It is fine, ma’am. I can carry them.” I said.
I tried to lift my books from the counter and they fell to the floor. “I’ll get them, Amelia. I really don’t mind helping you.” James said kneeling to pick up them up.
When he stood he hand my schedule in his hand. It must have fallen out of my Biology book. “AP Biology?” he asked.
We walked down the hall and I said, “That’s why Jamie hit me. I gave her lip about her being angry at my being in Advanced Placement, so she smacked me for it.”
“That’s outlandish! Jamie never loses her temper like that. I remember only once she’s been in a fight and even then she only defended herself.” he said.
We stopped at my first hour class, AP Biology. I opened the door and we went in. “James, you aren’t in here this hour.” the teacher said.
“I was helping Amelia with her books. She’s been to see the nurse who said she mustn’t write today and to have me help her with her books.” he said.
“How about you sit in on this class? If you do well I may consider putting you in here every day.” she said.
“Yes, ma’am.” he said putting our books down on a desk.
I sat next to him and said, “Would you mind taking notes for me?”
“Sure.” he said.
He moved his chair a little closer to mine. I smiled and put my right hand under the table. James put his left hand under the table and took my hand, threading his fingers through mine. His hand was cold but soft to the touch. “Are you cold?” I asked.
“No. Why?” he asked.
“Your hand is freezing.” I whispered.
I put my other hand on his to warm it. His other hand was racing across the paper, his fancy handwriting not slowing him down. James knew I was watching him write so in the margin on the paper he wrote.
“Study date? Friday night, my room?”
I nodded just when the bell rang. He picked up our books and then the teacher said, “I expect to see you in here every day, this hour, James. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” he said.
“French next, babe.” I whispered.
He smiled and threaded his fingers through mine again. “Surrey about the gauze.” I told him.
“I don’t mind. Besides you need to have them otherwise you’d be leaving a trail of blood on the floor.” he said.
“Good point.” I laughed.
We saw Jamie and Patara walking towards us and pulled our hands away. Somehow we had decided without words, not to let the others find out we were already together. “I can’t believe you, James!” Jamie yelled.
“What?” he asked.
“You skipped Biology!” she said.
“No, he didn’t. James was with me.” I told her.
“Right, I believe you!” she nearly screamed. “James, where were you?”
“With Amelia.” he said.
“Stop lying!” she yelled.
“Jamie, stop yelling.” Patara said. “I’m surrey, guys. She still isn’t in a very good mood after what happened this morning.”
“It’s not your fault.” I told her.
The three of us walked in and she sat at the last empty desk. Only two seats were left open. One by Patara and the other was by Justin. “I really don’t want to sit by Justin.” James said.
“I’ll sit by him, you sit with Patara.” I told him.
James sat my books down by Justin and said, “Thanks, Amelia. I’ll take notes for you again.”
“Thanks, you rock, James.” I said sitting down by Justin.
He walked back to where Patara was sitting and sat down next to her. “So you aren’t angry with me?” Justin asked.
I didn’t answer him. “Amelia, I’m surrey for what I said.” he whispered. “I swear to you it won’t happen again.”
“I don’t care.” I said.
“Didn’t you have fun last night?” he asked.
“Does it even matter?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Well, I don’t think it does… anymore.”
James looked back at us in the middle of a lecture in French. He smiled, looked at Justin, and rolled his eyes. I nodded in agreement and kept my mouth shut the rest of the hour.
Justin on the other hand was talking to me in French. He wouldn’t take the hint, but I found it rather funny. “What are you doing Friday night?” he asked no longer in French.
“James and I are going to study together.” I said curtly.
“May I join you?” he asked.
“No, you aren’t in AP Biology.” I told him as the bell rang signaling the end of class.
James was at my table within a millisecond. He put his books on mine and lifted them from the table. We walked to my locker and put our things inside it. “Lunch anybody?” Patara asked.
“Sure! I’m starved,” I said, “So it’s probably a good thing the nurse never said I couldn’t eat.”
We all laughed and I took their arms. “When is story time?” James said.
“After I scarf down my sandwich.” I said.
Patara laughed again and said, “Agreed.”
We sat down in the grass and we all pulled out our sandwiches. “Ham again.” Patara said.
“Turkey.” James said.
“I have both with cheese.” I said.
“I’ll trade ham for turkey.” Patara said.
“And I’ll trade both with cheese for ham.” I said.
We all swapped sandwiches and then ate. When I took a drink of water Mitchell knelt beside me and whispered, “Justin just told me to tell you he loves you.”
I nearly laughed, but I also turned red, with anger or embarrassment I wasn’t sure. “Amelia, are you okay?” James asked.
I swallowed my water and whispered to Mitchell, “Tell him I said to leave me alone.”
He nodded and ran back to Justin. I looked up just in time to see his face fall. Justin turned and went back into the school building. “What was that about? He was looking at you like he thinks you are the most gorgeous person he has ever laid eyes on.” Patara said.
“So I’ve been told… by him.” I muttered.
“When? In French?” James asked.
“This morning.” I said. It was a lie but I wasn’t about to go around talking about the previous night.
“Well, he won’t be getting you up anymore.” he said.
“I’ll wake you tomorrow, Amelia.” Patara said.
“Alright, but when you do you have to make sure I take my meds.” I told her.
“So the story?” she asked.
“I knew Tiffany three years ago. We used to go to school together when we were in 7th grade. A lot happened between us. Sometimes it was just arguments over stupid things. Then one day I went to school wanting to hit someone or something.” I said looking at James.
“Tiffany tried to find out what was wrong but instead of telling her Amelia hit her ten times. She found it hard to believe it was her who had done it but then when Amelia’s mother took her to a doctor she was diagnosed as bipolar. Since then she’s been taking medicine and it helps her a lot. If she were to lose the medicine it could happen again.” he told Patara.
“And the only reason I actually stopped that day was because my best friend, Jay, was able to calm me down, even after I had done the same thing to him. I was afraid and so were he and Tiffany.” I said.
“The reason for her behavior that day was because of her father the night before.” he said.
“He was drunk when I came home one night exactly a minute after curfew. Jay’s parents have driven me home that night. When he saw me come in he became violent. My father started to hit me over and over again, kind of like how I did James yesterday when I lost control.
“Then the next thing I knew my father had a knife and was holding it over my throat. I was afraid he was going to slash my throat but instead he cut my arms thirty times each, once for each second I was late coming in.” I said.
“That’s terrible!” Patara said.
“I know.” I said.
The bell rang and we went back in. James and I walked to my locker and grabbed our books. I took his empty hand and we started towards our Drama class. “Amelia and James, please act out scene five of this play.” Mr. Baffler said.
“But scene five has a kiss in it!” Justin said.
“Well then they’ll kiss.” Mr. Baffler said.
James and I got on the stage and looked at our lines. It was a play I was already familiar with. “But, Jason, if thy is to try and fail to rescue me then my father shall have your head.” I said.
“It is a risk I am more than willing to take, my love, Liana.” he said taking my hand.
“It is not a risk I would not wish on any one to take for me.” I said.
“But I shall, and if thy truly loves me, then kiss me upon my lips and we shall go our ways.” James said.
I took a step forward and kissed James. “Scene!” Mr. Baffler called.
We both took a step back and as he took my hand. He held it up and then he both took a bow. The rest of the class applauded at our performance. “Very good, Amelia. You are a natural!” Mr. Baffler said.
“Thank you, Mr. Baffler!” I said.
I looked around and saw Justin sulking in the corner. Instead of being rude to him, I walked over to him and said, “Are you okay?”
“Terrific.” he said.
“Tell me the truth.” I told him.
“That should have been me up there with you, not James.” he said looking into my eyes.
“Do you really fancy me that much?” I asked.
The bell rang and he left without answering my question. “Hey, Amelia, you ready to head back to Greeks House?” James asked.
I nodded and said, “Do you know why Justin is sulking around today?”
“I don’t but maybe Austin does.” he said.
I looked behind us and saw Austin trying to flirt with Amy. “I’ll catch up later.” I told James.
“Alright.” he said.
I walked over to Amy and Austin and said, “Austin, would you like to walk with me back to Greeks House?”
“I’d better not.” he said.
“Why?” I said.
“Justin seriously fancies you! Have you not noticed? How could you not figure it out after what Mitchell told you?” he asked.
“What did Mitchell tell you, Amelia?” Amy asked.
“He told me that Justin… that wasn’t a joke? Justin was being serious?” I said.
“What did Mitchell tell you?” Amy repeated.
“He told me that Justin loves me.” I said. “I’ve gotta go. Tell Justin I’ll talk to him later, Austin.”
“Okay.” he said.
I walked down the hall to my locker and opened it. After I grabbed my shoulder bag from it I walked down the hall to the nurse’s office. “Amelia, thank you for coming here before you went back to Greeks house.” she said.
I put my bag down and said, “Sure. I figured you’d want to check my knuckles.”
“Hold out your hands, please.” she said.
I held out my hands so she could unwrap the bandages on my hands. She took the gauze off my knuckles and looked them over. “You don’t need any more gauze. It looks like the bleeding stopped, but if they bleed again come see me.” she told me.
“Thank you.” I said.
I picked up my bag and put it on my shoulder. The nurse watched me turn and leave. The halls were empty and lonely, like an old abandoned house. It was a long walk back to Greeks House and now that no one else was there to walk with me it was going to me a quiet one.
“Amelia, what are you still doing here?” Justin asked from behind me.
“I had to see the nurse.” I told him.
He pinned me against a locker and said, “I’m seriously surrey about what I said. I know it was stupid and I wish I could take it back.”
I pushed his hair out of his eyes and said, “Do you swear it’ll NEVER happen again?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die.” he said.
“Then I’ll forgive you, just this once.” I told him.
“Thank you!” he said hugging me.
He lifted and spun me around in a circle. “Put me down, Justin.” I laughed.
Justin put me down on my feet and we walked back to Greeks House together. “So can I join you and James on Friday night?” he asked.
“It wasn’t a complete lie when I said that we were going to study for AP Biology.” I said.
“So that’s a no?” he asked.
“I’m surrey.” I said.
We walked into Greeks House to a loud chatter. They saw us together and then it was dead silent. “There you are, Amelia!” James said.
“Surrey, James, I went to see the nurse before I left. She said that I didn’t need any more gauze unless my knuckles start to bleed again.” I told him.
“No worries. We thought that you got lost or something.” he laughed.
“What are you talking too Justin about?” Patara asked.
“Not much, actually. We were just walking back together.” I said.
“Oh, okay. So you want to do that worksheet for first hour?” James said.
“Sure.” I said.
We walked upstairs to my room and sat on the bed. I pulled out my Biology book and opened it to the page where my worksheet stuck out from. “I thought you were mad at Justin.” he said.
“I can’t stay mad at most people for more than ten minutes and if I do then I get over it before the day ends.” I said.
“What did he say during French?” he asked.
“Anyway… the worksheet, James.” I said.
He glanced at me and then looked back at his Biology book. We finished it after twenty minutes and he said, “Why won’t you tell me?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter. The teacher told us to either talk to the person next to us in French or to listen. He talked I partly listened. I was paying more attention to you.” I said.
“I understand… Why aren’t we telling anyone?” he asked.
“Telling anyone what?” Justin asked from the door.
“That you just walked in while we worked on our AP Biology.” I said.
“We?” he asked.
“Didn’t you hear that James was transferred to AP Biology?” I asked.
“Not exactly. Wait until Jamie finds out!” he said racing down the stairs.
I got up and closed my door. James was right behind me. “Well, why aren’t we telling anyone… about us?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Doesn’t it seem a bit too soon for us to date if we’ve known each other for only a day?” I said.
“Tell them on Friday then?” he asked.
“I suppose that since it’s the weekend we could throw a little party to.” I said.
“Friday then.” he said.
I put my arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. He put arms around my waist and pulled me closer yet. When James released me I placed a soft kiss under his right eye, since it was the eye that was now a black eye.
He smiled and kissed my forehead. A knock came at the door and Jamie called, “Amelia, are you in there?”
“Yes, Jamie, I am. You can come in.” I said as James sat back down on the bed.
“Did I interrupt?” she asked opening the door.
I had started to pace just before she opened the door. “No, he was quizzing me.” I lied.
“I wanted to apologize for what I did earlier.” she said.
I waited for her to say more. “Well?” James asked.
“I’m surrey I hit you, Amelia.” she said.
“It’s fine, Jamie.” I said.
“You didn’t rat me out did you?” she asked.
“No.” I said. “My lip was done bleeding by the time we got to the nurse’s office.”
She averted her eyes away from mine and caught a glimpse of my knuckles. “What happened?” she asked.
“How my knuckles look is nothing that hasn’t happened before.” I promised her. “It probably won’t be the last time it happens either.”
She nodded and went back downstairs. “I’m going to have to tell the others about my medical condition aren’t I?” I asked James.
“It might be a good idea.” he told me.
He put an arm around me and walked me down stairs to dinner. “Is everyone here?” he asked the others.
“Looks like.” Tiffany said.
“Amelia has something to tell you.” James said.
“Out with it then!” Justin said.
“You have to promise me that you won’t be angry with me for not telling you yesterday.” I said.
Every one promised and then Austin said, “Are you two dating?”
Justin gave him a look and said, “I doubt it. Amelia is so out of James’s league.”
James looked at me, shook his head, and rolled his eyes at the same time. “Tell them if you want.” he whispered.
“Actually, Justin, James is out of my league.” I said. “But very good Austin!”
Tiffany’s chin dropped and so did Justin’s and Austin’s. Everyone else seemed not to be surprised. “That wasn’t actually what she wanted to tell you.” James said.
“Actually what I did come down to tell you all was that… I have BPD.” I said.
“What’s BPD?” Justin asked.
“Bipolar Disorder, dimwit!” Amy said.
“Thank you, Amy.” James said.
“Why didn’t you just tell us?” Justin asked.
“I was afraid that you would think that I’m crazy.” I said.
“What changed your mind?” he said.
“James and Patara knew and they were still such great friends to me even after what happened last night. It takes a lot to forgive someone that easily… trust me.” I said.
“What does that mean?” he said.
“It just means that if you all start thinking I’m crazy then tell me and I’ll be on the next train back to the airport.” I said.
No one said anything. “Well, that was quite a speech.” Trudy said coming in. “Come on, dinner is served.”
“It looks great, Trudy, but I’m not hungry right now. I’m surrey.” I said.
I walked back up stairs and pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote,
Dearest James,
Do you think they believed me when I told them that we are dating? That was how it came across wasn’t it? I mean Justin was caught off guard from how it looked but do you think he actually believed me? I’m surrey if you didn’t want them to know, but it looks like the cat is out of the bag now.
Kisses,
Amelia
Quietly I snuck out of my room and down the stairs. I went found James’s room and opened the door. His jacket was on the bed on the left side of the room so I walked over to his jacket and slipped the note in the pocket.
I left the room as quietly as I had entered. “Hungry now?” James asked when I sat next to him.
“Just a little.” I said.
He smiled and handed me the chicken. “I put a note in the pocket of your jacket.” I whispered to him.
James nodded and looked and Tiffany who was giving me the death stare. “What?” I asked her.
“Nothing.” she said.
It sounded like somebody had believed me when I had said that James and I were dating. “Are you jealous?” Jamie asked her.
“Of her! That’s just absurd!” Tiffany said.
“Stop acting. We all know that you liked James just last week and you still do. You were devastated when you learned that he fancies Amelia and not you.” Amy said.
“Shut up, Amy.” she snapped.
“We should get out of here.” I whispered to James.
He nodded and led me upstairs away from the fracas. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I don’t want Mitchell to find that note, no matter what it says.” he said.
James jogged down the stairs as I opened my laptop. I turned it on and opened a window. The first thing I did was check my email. There weren’t any that were to important so I selected compose email and typed,
Dear Jay,
I am having a wonderful time here in England. James is helping me stay in control of my BPD and so is Patara. I am still not happy that you never told me that you and Tiffany are cousins. We have been friends for so long and you kept it from me. That was the reason I gave James a black eye! He forgave me, of course but I am still angry it happened.
Before you or any of the others ask, yes James and I are dating now. We started dating at 7:32 our time. As for the others, they know now and Tiffany hates my guts. I guess maybe honesty isn’t the best policy all the time. James simply adores me and I adore him more than anything in the entire world.
Tell everyone I love and miss them,
Amelia
I finished the email just as James came back in. He sat on the bed and waited for me to finish. Quickly I clicked send and shut down my laptop. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I promised Jay that I’d tell him how I’m doing in England after my first day of school.” I told him.
“So is he doing okay then?” he asked.
“I think so.” I said as my phone started to ring.
I pulled it out of my pocket and read the message, “Sounds like you are having a blast. Tell James that if he breaks your heart then I’ll break his arm. J.”
“Nice guy.” James said reading the message from over my shoulder.
“Surrey. He doesn’t mean it of course; he just likes to be the tough guy sometimes.” I said.
“I don’t mind. He just sounds like a nice guy, caring for you so much.” he said.
“Someone you’d like to meet I take it.” I said.
“You know me so well.” he smiled.
“What do you like to do for fun?” I asked.
“Well that was a little bit random.” he said. “I like spending time with you.”
“Besides that.” I said.
“I like to play guitar and sing.” he said.
“Really? Me too!” I said.
“Are you good?”
“I like to think so. Are you any good is the question.”
“You tell me.” he said.
He began to sing a song in Spanish. I recognized it and sang with him. It was called ‘A La Nanita Nana.’ After a few seconds I pulled my guitar out from beside my dresser. As we sang the song I strummed the guitar. People began to float in to listen.
When we finished Amy said, “That was beautiful! You guys sound great together.”
“Thanks, Amy.” we said.
James laughed and said, “You know you were singing with a perfect English accent?”
“I know. That was how I trained myself to sing. It sounds better when someone with an English accent sings it. Did you know you were just singing in Spanish?” I asked.
“No, actually I didn’t. I heard that song somewhere and liked it.” he said.
“Well the song is about a girl.” I said.
He waited for more but then I said, “I only understand one word of that song.”
It was my turn to laugh. I could sing the song in Spanish but if someone asked me to translate I’d tell them to get the newest Spanish to English dictionary and look up each word then try to make sense of it.
“You guys should play in the talent show!” Mitchell said.
“He’s right, Amelia. We should! I think we would blow them away!” James said.
“Okay. But we have to sing that song! I just love it so much… even though I have no idea what the words mean.” I said.
The others left us to talk. “Did you notice who didn’t come up here?” I asked James.
He nodded and said, “Forget Tiffany. She’s jealous and we all know it.”
I smiled and took his hand. “There will be no problem forgetting her. I did it three years ago so why not now.”
James squeezed my hand and said, “You are the first person I’ve ever met that knows that song.”
“I’m probably the only one here who speaks a little bit of Spanish. I learned that song last year.” I said. “And I fell in love with it, and you.”
“Te amo.” he said.
“Te amo, James.” I said.
‘I love you’ were the biggest words in any language and to say them after knowing him for one day was easier than saying it to someone I’d known for seven years. I really did love James and he loved me.
I moved closer to him and kissed his cheek. “Who taught you that song?” he asked.
“I learned it myself after hearing it in a movie.”
“Me too.”
It was starting to get dark outside now. My phone went off and I pulled it out. I opened my email and looked at who had sent it to me. The email was from Jay. Instead of reading it, I closed it so I could read it later.
“We still on for Friday night in my room?” he asked.
“Nothing will change it.” I said.
“Well you should get some sleep.” he said.
“Good night, James.”
“Good night, Amelia.”
He kissed my forehead and left me alone in my room. I opened the email and what I saw made me homesick. It was pictures of my family, Jay, and my other friends. They all had a sign that said, “We miss you, Amelia!”
I lay my head down on my pillow and cried myself to sleep.
I slowly opened my eyes to see Justin kneeling next to my bed. “Morning.” I said.
“Like I promised, my hair will be shaggy today.” he whispered.
“Is she awake, Justin?” James asked from the door.
“Yeah.” he said looking at James.
“You going to fix your hair?” he asked.
“No, I don’t have time today. From now on you’ll wake her. It’s impossible to rouse that girl.” he said walking out.
James looked at the desk and said, “You should take a shower now. It’s open and if you don’t hurry Amy might claim it.”
“I found your note.” I said.
“I figured you would.” he said turning red.
“Yes.” I said.
“Yes what?” he asked stupidly.
“I love your handwriting.” I said sarcastically.
“That? My handwriting? I get it. I’ll um… see you later.” he said turning to leave
“James, come here.” I said.
He turned around and walked towards me. I put my arms around his neck and whispered, “Of course I fancy you.”
James put his arms around my waist and lifted me off my feet. I laughed and said, “I’d better tackle the shower now, hadn’t I?”
“Good idea. Amy will get there and you’ll never get her out.” he said.
I grabbed my clothes and ran to the bathroom. My shower was no longer than ten minutes. When I finished putting on my clothes, I grabbed my eye shadow off the counter. I chose the blue eye shadow and put it on. Just after I finished someone knocked on the door. “Come in.” I said.
The door opened and Patara came in. “Hey, are you coming down to breakfast?” she asked.
“Yeah, I was just finishing up.” I said.
“Oh, hold on.” she said. “Close your eyes.”
I closed my eyes and she put her thumbs on the corner of my eyes and wiped off some eye shadow. “That looks much better.” she said turning on the water.
I looked in the mirror and said, “Your right, it does look better. Thanks, Patara.”
She smiled and took my arm. We walked down stairs and everyone was staring. “Sorry I took so long.” I said.
“Stop staring. It’s not nice.” Tiffany said.
When everyone stopped staring, I sat down next to James and Patara sat next to me. He smiled and handed me a plate of French toast. I took two pieces and handed the plate to Patara. James handed me the eggs and I took a scope then handed it to Patara.
“How are you two in a good mood after what happened yesterday?” Mitchell said looking James and me.
“Shut it.” Tiffany said before either of us could reply.
“Tiffany, you shut it.” I said. “James understands what happened and why and that’s all that matters.”
“Careful, Mitchell, she might go bonkers on you.” Justin said.
“What is with your hair, Justin?” I asked.
“What could you possibly mean?” he asked.
“Your hair looks horrible.” Amy said.
“What do you think of my hair, Amelia?” he asked worried.
“It looks fine, Justin. I was just kidding.”
He sighed a sigh of relief. “Why do you even care what she thinks? You just called her bonkers.” Austin said.
It was starting to turn into an argument somehow. “Slim it and calm the heck down!” James said.
“Since when do you us my terms?” Tiffany said.
“Excuse me, Tiffany, but you never once said that. It was Amelia who said that last night.” he said angrily.
I put my hand on his leg to calm him down. He glanced at me and said, “I’ll be waiting in the hall.”
I nodded and finished eating. “Nice going, Tiffany. You made James angry.” Jamie said.
“Oh, shut up.” she said.
“Man, you all need to calm down and stop taking credit for what other people come up with.” Patara said looking mostly at Tiffany.
“Would you like join me and James? We are going to walk to school.” I whispered.
“Sure.” she said.
We got up and walked into the hall. “Are you ready?” I asked him.
“Yeah. Is she coming with us then?” he asked.
“Yes, and I’m sorry for being rude to you.” she said.
“It’s cool. Friends?” he said holding out his hand.
“Friends.” she said shaking it.
I took Patara’s arm and then James’s and pulled them out the door. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” I said.
“It’s the second most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” James said glancing at me.
I smiled and Patara said, “What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve seen then?”
“A rainbow.” he said quickly.
“A rainbow? Are you serious?” she asked.
“Patara, think before you speak.” I smiled.
“Right. Surrey I if hurt your feelings, James.” she said.
“It’s fine, you didn’t.” he said. “Since I was lying.”
“You were?” she said. “Then what is the most beautiful thing… or person you’ve ever seen.”
We both turned red when he looked at me. “I get it now! You fancy each other!” she said.
“Could you possibly yell that louder?” I asked laughing.
“Well I could, but I won’t.” she said. “So are you dating?”
“I don’t know… are we, James?” I asked.
“Depends if you just asked me out, cause if you did then my answer would have to be yes.” he said.
“Then yes.” I said.
“Don’t tell Justin that unless you have everyone around.” she said.
“Why not?” James asked.
“He fancies her almost as much as you do!” she said.
We walked into the building and James went one way while Patara and I went the other. “Why do they have our lockers so far away from the boys?” I asked.
“They don’t want public displays of affection in school. Outside the halls and classes are fine just not in the school.” she said.
“That’s lame.” I said.
“Your accent is almost convincing.” she laughed.
“Dang it! I keep on slipping back into it don’t I?” I asked.
“Just a little. Oh look, they put your locker right next to mine!” she said.
“That’s awesome!” I said.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you… mentally unstable?” she asked quietly.
“Something of those sorts.” I mumbled.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“Please don’t tell the others. I mean James and Tiffany already know but I don’t want anyone but the four of us to know. You swear it?” I said.
“I swear I won’t tell a living soul.” she said.
“I’m bipolar.” I told her.
“That’s why you got so mad yesterday? Tiffany made you angry because she never told you that she is your best friend’s cousin?” she asked.
“Well in a way that was it. It just brought up some old buried memories.” I told her.
“So what about your scars?” she asked.
“It’s a long story that I’ll tell you at lunch. But we will have to be outside.” I said.
“Let me guess, so James can be with you?” she said.
“Well when I told him the story yesterday I started to choke up so he might be able to help me tell it now.” I said opening my new locker.
There was a set of textbooks in there and a class schedule. I pulled it out and looked it over. The first class I had was Advanced Placement Biology and then French. “AP Biology! Jamie isn’t even in that class!” Patara said.
“Well that’s what class I was in back in America so I guess they just put me in it here.” I told her.
“It’s bound to be thirty times harder here though. Our teacher is a real stick in the mud.” she said.
“Hey, guys, what are you talking about?” Jamie asked walking up behind me.
“Amelia is in AP Biology.” Patara said.
“No way! I’m not in there so how could you be in there?” she asked.
“I was in AP Biology back in America. Man de jà vu.” I laughed.
“Right. Expert in French too?” she asked.
“Something tells me you liked being the smartest girl around.” I said.
“You may be better than me in Biology but that doesn’t mean that you are better than me in everything!” she said clenching her fist.
“Go ahead hit me. I don’t care.” I said.
I was shocked when she smacked me across the face. “Amelia!” Patara said.
“Jamie!” James yelled.
He ran down the hall and pinned her to the lockers. “Tell her your surrey!” he yelled. “Now!”
“But she told me to!” she yelled back.
“James, get off Jamie!” Amy yelled.
“She hit Amelia!” Patara said.
I put my hand to my mouth and wiped the blood away before anyone could see it. James saw it and let go of Jamie. “Let’s go. You need to see the nurse about your knuckles anyway.” he said.
Patara took my arm and walked down the hall with me and James. “Hey, Amelia, you forgot something.” Justin called. “Your blood!”
I turned and started back to them but Patara and James stopped me dead in my tracks. My eyes turned to James and then to Patara. They were there for me and they were my friends. “Don’t talk to me, Justin!” I called as I turned my back to them.
“Justin, you picked a bad way to tell her that you’re mad.” I heard Austin tell Justin.
“Barking mad, he is!” I called over my shoulder.
James and Patara escorted me to the nurse’s office and we were let in. “My dear what happened to you? It looks as if you were in a street fight.” the nurse said when Patara left.
“Nothing of those sorts, ma’am. Justin accidently elbowed her in the mouth.” James said.
“James, you’re here with this girl?” she asked him.
“Yeah.” he said.
“Ma’am, can you change the gauze on my knuckles?” I asked before she made an assumption.
“Bloody knuckles, black eye, bloody mouth… are you sure it wasn’t you James? It would explain your eye.” she said looking from him to me.
“I believe you have my medical records, which gives you the reason for my knuckles… and his eye.” I told her.
“Ah, yes, bipolar disorder. It will go unreported this time, but if this happens again I might have to report it if it was this severe.” she said.
“Well really all it was is his black eye. He didn’t fight back. Actually he got me to calm down. Then I bolted and he went looking for me around the grounds. As for my knuckles, that was my own fault.” I said.
She unwrapped the bandages my hands and threw away the old gauze and replaced them with new ones. “I don’t want you writing today. Do you understand?” she said.
“Yes, ma’am.” I said.
“James, be a gentleman and carry her books for her.” she told him.
“It is fine, ma’am. I can carry them.” I said.
I tried to lift my books from the counter and they fell to the floor. “I’ll get them, Amelia. I really don’t mind helping you.” James said kneeling to pick up them up.
When he stood he hand my schedule in his hand. It must have fallen out of my Biology book. “AP Biology?” he asked.
We walked down the hall and I said, “That’s why Jamie hit me. I gave her lip about her being angry at my being in Advanced Placement, so she smacked me for it.”
“That’s outlandish! Jamie never loses her temper like that. I remember only once she’s been in a fight and even then she only defended herself.” he said.
We stopped at my first hour class, AP Biology. I opened the door and we went in. “James, you aren’t in here this hour.” the teacher said.
“I was helping Amelia with her books. She’s been to see the nurse who said she mustn’t write today and to have me help her with her books.” he said.
“How about you sit in on this class? If you do well I may consider putting you in here every day.” she said.
“Yes, ma’am.” he said putting our books down on a desk.
I sat next to him and said, “Would you mind taking notes for me?”
“Sure.” he said.
He moved his chair a little closer to mine. I smiled and put my right hand under the table. James put his left hand under the table and took my hand, threading his fingers through mine. His hand was cold but soft to the touch. “Are you cold?” I asked.
“No. Why?” he asked.
“Your hand is freezing.” I whispered.
I put my other hand on his to warm it. His other hand was racing across the paper, his fancy handwriting not slowing him down. James knew I was watching him write so in the margin on the paper he wrote.
“Study date? Friday night, my room?”
I nodded just when the bell rang. He picked up our books and then the teacher said, “I expect to see you in here every day, this hour, James. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” he said.
“French next, babe.” I whispered.
He smiled and threaded his fingers through mine again. “Surrey about the gauze.” I told him.
“I don’t mind. Besides you need to have them otherwise you’d be leaving a trail of blood on the floor.” he said.
“Good point.” I laughed.
We saw Jamie and Patara walking towards us and pulled our hands away. Somehow we had decided without words, not to let the others find out we were already together. “I can’t believe you, James!” Jamie yelled.
“What?” he asked.
“You skipped Biology!” she said.
“No, he didn’t. James was with me.” I told her.
“Right, I believe you!” she nearly screamed. “James, where were you?”
“With Amelia.” he said.
“Stop lying!” she yelled.
“Jamie, stop yelling.” Patara said. “I’m surrey, guys. She still isn’t in a very good mood after what happened this morning.”
“It’s not your fault.” I told her.
The three of us walked in and she sat at the last empty desk. Only two seats were left open. One by Patara and the other was by Justin. “I really don’t want to sit by Justin.” James said.
“I’ll sit by him, you sit with Patara.” I told him.
James sat my books down by Justin and said, “Thanks, Amelia. I’ll take notes for you again.”
“Thanks, you rock, James.” I said sitting down by Justin.
He walked back to where Patara was sitting and sat down next to her. “So you aren’t angry with me?” Justin asked.
I didn’t answer him. “Amelia, I’m surrey for what I said.” he whispered. “I swear to you it won’t happen again.”
“I don’t care.” I said.
“Didn’t you have fun last night?” he asked.
“Does it even matter?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Well, I don’t think it does… anymore.”
James looked back at us in the middle of a lecture in French. He smiled, looked at Justin, and rolled his eyes. I nodded in agreement and kept my mouth shut the rest of the hour.
Justin on the other hand was talking to me in French. He wouldn’t take the hint, but I found it rather funny. “What are you doing Friday night?” he asked no longer in French.
“James and I are going to study together.” I said curtly.
“May I join you?” he asked.
“No, you aren’t in AP Biology.” I told him as the bell rang signaling the end of class.
James was at my table within a millisecond. He put his books on mine and lifted them from the table. We walked to my locker and put our things inside it. “Lunch anybody?” Patara asked.
“Sure! I’m starved,” I said, “So it’s probably a good thing the nurse never said I couldn’t eat.”
We all laughed and I took their arms. “When is story time?” James said.
“After I scarf down my sandwich.” I said.
Patara laughed again and said, “Agreed.”
We sat down in the grass and we all pulled out our sandwiches. “Ham again.” Patara said.
“Turkey.” James said.
“I have both with cheese.” I said.
“I’ll trade ham for turkey.” Patara said.
“And I’ll trade both with cheese for ham.” I said.
We all swapped sandwiches and then ate. When I took a drink of water Mitchell knelt beside me and whispered, “Justin just told me to tell you he loves you.”
I nearly laughed, but I also turned red, with anger or embarrassment I wasn’t sure. “Amelia, are you okay?” James asked.
I swallowed my water and whispered to Mitchell, “Tell him I said to leave me alone.”
He nodded and ran back to Justin. I looked up just in time to see his face fall. Justin turned and went back into the school building. “What was that about? He was looking at you like he thinks you are the most gorgeous person he has ever laid eyes on.” Patara said.
“So I’ve been told… by him.” I muttered.
“When? In French?” James asked.
“This morning.” I said. It was a lie but I wasn’t about to go around talking about the previous night.
“Well, he won’t be getting you up anymore.” he said.
“I’ll wake you tomorrow, Amelia.” Patara said.
“Alright, but when you do you have to make sure I take my meds.” I told her.
“So the story?” she asked.
“I knew Tiffany three years ago. We used to go to school together when we were in 7th grade. A lot happened between us. Sometimes it was just arguments over stupid things. Then one day I went to school wanting to hit someone or something.” I said looking at James.
“Tiffany tried to find out what was wrong but instead of telling her Amelia hit her ten times. She found it hard to believe it was her who had done it but then when Amelia’s mother took her to a doctor she was diagnosed as bipolar. Since then she’s been taking medicine and it helps her a lot. If she were to lose the medicine it could happen again.” he told Patara.
“And the only reason I actually stopped that day was because my best friend, Jay, was able to calm me down, even after I had done the same thing to him. I was afraid and so were he and Tiffany.” I said.
“The reason for her behavior that day was because of her father the night before.” he said.
“He was drunk when I came home one night exactly a minute after curfew. Jay’s parents have driven me home that night. When he saw me come in he became violent. My father started to hit me over and over again, kind of like how I did James yesterday when I lost control.
“Then the next thing I knew my father had a knife and was holding it over my throat. I was afraid he was going to slash my throat but instead he cut my arms thirty times each, once for each second I was late coming in.” I said.
“That’s terrible!” Patara said.
“I know.” I said.
The bell rang and we went back in. James and I walked to my locker and grabbed our books. I took his empty hand and we started towards our Drama class. “Amelia and James, please act out scene five of this play.” Mr. Baffler said.
“But scene five has a kiss in it!” Justin said.
“Well then they’ll kiss.” Mr. Baffler said.
James and I got on the stage and looked at our lines. It was a play I was already familiar with. “But, Jason, if thy is to try and fail to rescue me then my father shall have your head.” I said.
“It is a risk I am more than willing to take, my love, Liana.” he said taking my hand.
“It is not a risk I would not wish on any one to take for me.” I said.
“But I shall, and if thy truly loves me, then kiss me upon my lips and we shall go our ways.” James said.
I took a step forward and kissed James. “Scene!” Mr. Baffler called.
We both took a step back and as he took my hand. He held it up and then he both took a bow. The rest of the class applauded at our performance. “Very good, Amelia. You are a natural!” Mr. Baffler said.
“Thank you, Mr. Baffler!” I said.
I looked around and saw Justin sulking in the corner. Instead of being rude to him, I walked over to him and said, “Are you okay?”
“Terrific.” he said.
“Tell me the truth.” I told him.
“That should have been me up there with you, not James.” he said looking into my eyes.
“Do you really fancy me that much?” I asked.
The bell rang and he left without answering my question. “Hey, Amelia, you ready to head back to Greeks House?” James asked.
I nodded and said, “Do you know why Justin is sulking around today?”
“I don’t but maybe Austin does.” he said.
I looked behind us and saw Austin trying to flirt with Amy. “I’ll catch up later.” I told James.
“Alright.” he said.
I walked over to Amy and Austin and said, “Austin, would you like to walk with me back to Greeks House?”
“I’d better not.” he said.
“Why?” I said.
“Justin seriously fancies you! Have you not noticed? How could you not figure it out after what Mitchell told you?” he asked.
“What did Mitchell tell you, Amelia?” Amy asked.
“He told me that Justin… that wasn’t a joke? Justin was being serious?” I said.
“What did Mitchell tell you?” Amy repeated.
“He told me that Justin loves me.” I said. “I’ve gotta go. Tell Justin I’ll talk to him later, Austin.”
“Okay.” he said.
I walked down the hall to my locker and opened it. After I grabbed my shoulder bag from it I walked down the hall to the nurse’s office. “Amelia, thank you for coming here before you went back to Greeks house.” she said.
I put my bag down and said, “Sure. I figured you’d want to check my knuckles.”
“Hold out your hands, please.” she said.
I held out my hands so she could unwrap the bandages on my hands. She took the gauze off my knuckles and looked them over. “You don’t need any more gauze. It looks like the bleeding stopped, but if they bleed again come see me.” she told me.
“Thank you.” I said.
I picked up my bag and put it on my shoulder. The nurse watched me turn and leave. The halls were empty and lonely, like an old abandoned house. It was a long walk back to Greeks House and now that no one else was there to walk with me it was going to me a quiet one.
“Amelia, what are you still doing here?” Justin asked from behind me.
“I had to see the nurse.” I told him.
He pinned me against a locker and said, “I’m seriously surrey about what I said. I know it was stupid and I wish I could take it back.”
I pushed his hair out of his eyes and said, “Do you swear it’ll NEVER happen again?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die.” he said.
“Then I’ll forgive you, just this once.” I told him.
“Thank you!” he said hugging me.
He lifted and spun me around in a circle. “Put me down, Justin.” I laughed.
Justin put me down on my feet and we walked back to Greeks House together. “So can I join you and James on Friday night?” he asked.
“It wasn’t a complete lie when I said that we were going to study for AP Biology.” I said.
“So that’s a no?” he asked.
“I’m surrey.” I said.
We walked into Greeks House to a loud chatter. They saw us together and then it was dead silent. “There you are, Amelia!” James said.
“Surrey, James, I went to see the nurse before I left. She said that I didn’t need any more gauze unless my knuckles start to bleed again.” I told him.
“No worries. We thought that you got lost or something.” he laughed.
“What are you talking too Justin about?” Patara asked.
“Not much, actually. We were just walking back together.” I said.
“Oh, okay. So you want to do that worksheet for first hour?” James said.
“Sure.” I said.
We walked upstairs to my room and sat on the bed. I pulled out my Biology book and opened it to the page where my worksheet stuck out from. “I thought you were mad at Justin.” he said.
“I can’t stay mad at most people for more than ten minutes and if I do then I get over it before the day ends.” I said.
“What did he say during French?” he asked.
“Anyway… the worksheet, James.” I said.
He glanced at me and then looked back at his Biology book. We finished it after twenty minutes and he said, “Why won’t you tell me?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter. The teacher told us to either talk to the person next to us in French or to listen. He talked I partly listened. I was paying more attention to you.” I said.
“I understand… Why aren’t we telling anyone?” he asked.
“Telling anyone what?” Justin asked from the door.
“That you just walked in while we worked on our AP Biology.” I said.
“We?” he asked.
“Didn’t you hear that James was transferred to AP Biology?” I asked.
“Not exactly. Wait until Jamie finds out!” he said racing down the stairs.
I got up and closed my door. James was right behind me. “Well, why aren’t we telling anyone… about us?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Doesn’t it seem a bit too soon for us to date if we’ve known each other for only a day?” I said.
“Tell them on Friday then?” he asked.
“I suppose that since it’s the weekend we could throw a little party to.” I said.
“Friday then.” he said.
I put my arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. He put arms around my waist and pulled me closer yet. When James released me I placed a soft kiss under his right eye, since it was the eye that was now a black eye.
He smiled and kissed my forehead. A knock came at the door and Jamie called, “Amelia, are you in there?”
“Yes, Jamie, I am. You can come in.” I said as James sat back down on the bed.
“Did I interrupt?” she asked opening the door.
I had started to pace just before she opened the door. “No, he was quizzing me.” I lied.
“I wanted to apologize for what I did earlier.” she said.
I waited for her to say more. “Well?” James asked.
“I’m surrey I hit you, Amelia.” she said.
“It’s fine, Jamie.” I said.
“You didn’t rat me out did you?” she asked.
“No.” I said. “My lip was done bleeding by the time we got to the nurse’s office.”
She averted her eyes away from mine and caught a glimpse of my knuckles. “What happened?” she asked.
“How my knuckles look is nothing that hasn’t happened before.” I promised her. “It probably won’t be the last time it happens either.”
She nodded and went back downstairs. “I’m going to have to tell the others about my medical condition aren’t I?” I asked James.
“It might be a good idea.” he told me.
He put an arm around me and walked me down stairs to dinner. “Is everyone here?” he asked the others.
“Looks like.” Tiffany said.
“Amelia has something to tell you.” James said.
“Out with it then!” Justin said.
“You have to promise me that you won’t be angry with me for not telling you yesterday.” I said.
Every one promised and then Austin said, “Are you two dating?”
Justin gave him a look and said, “I doubt it. Amelia is so out of James’s league.”
James looked at me, shook his head, and rolled his eyes at the same time. “Tell them if you want.” he whispered.
“Actually, Justin, James is out of my league.” I said. “But very good Austin!”
Tiffany’s chin dropped and so did Justin’s and Austin’s. Everyone else seemed not to be surprised. “That wasn’t actually what she wanted to tell you.” James said.
“Actually what I did come down to tell you all was that… I have BPD.” I said.
“What’s BPD?” Justin asked.
“Bipolar Disorder, dimwit!” Amy said.
“Thank you, Amy.” James said.
“Why didn’t you just tell us?” Justin asked.
“I was afraid that you would think that I’m crazy.” I said.
“What changed your mind?” he said.
“James and Patara knew and they were still such great friends to me even after what happened last night. It takes a lot to forgive someone that easily… trust me.” I said.
“What does that mean?” he said.
“It just means that if you all start thinking I’m crazy then tell me and I’ll be on the next train back to the airport.” I said.
No one said anything. “Well, that was quite a speech.” Trudy said coming in. “Come on, dinner is served.”
“It looks great, Trudy, but I’m not hungry right now. I’m surrey.” I said.
I walked back up stairs and pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote,
Dearest James,
Do you think they believed me when I told them that we are dating? That was how it came across wasn’t it? I mean Justin was caught off guard from how it looked but do you think he actually believed me? I’m surrey if you didn’t want them to know, but it looks like the cat is out of the bag now.
Kisses,
Amelia
Quietly I snuck out of my room and down the stairs. I went found James’s room and opened the door. His jacket was on the bed on the left side of the room so I walked over to his jacket and slipped the note in the pocket.
I left the room as quietly as I had entered. “Hungry now?” James asked when I sat next to him.
“Just a little.” I said.
He smiled and handed me the chicken. “I put a note in the pocket of your jacket.” I whispered to him.
James nodded and looked and Tiffany who was giving me the death stare. “What?” I asked her.
“Nothing.” she said.
It sounded like somebody had believed me when I had said that James and I were dating. “Are you jealous?” Jamie asked her.
“Of her! That’s just absurd!” Tiffany said.
“Stop acting. We all know that you liked James just last week and you still do. You were devastated when you learned that he fancies Amelia and not you.” Amy said.
“Shut up, Amy.” she snapped.
“We should get out of here.” I whispered to James.
He nodded and led me upstairs away from the fracas. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I don’t want Mitchell to find that note, no matter what it says.” he said.
James jogged down the stairs as I opened my laptop. I turned it on and opened a window. The first thing I did was check my email. There weren’t any that were to important so I selected compose email and typed,
Dear Jay,
I am having a wonderful time here in England. James is helping me stay in control of my BPD and so is Patara. I am still not happy that you never told me that you and Tiffany are cousins. We have been friends for so long and you kept it from me. That was the reason I gave James a black eye! He forgave me, of course but I am still angry it happened.
Before you or any of the others ask, yes James and I are dating now. We started dating at 7:32 our time. As for the others, they know now and Tiffany hates my guts. I guess maybe honesty isn’t the best policy all the time. James simply adores me and I adore him more than anything in the entire world.
Tell everyone I love and miss them,
Amelia
I finished the email just as James came back in. He sat on the bed and waited for me to finish. Quickly I clicked send and shut down my laptop. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I promised Jay that I’d tell him how I’m doing in England after my first day of school.” I told him.
“So is he doing okay then?” he asked.
“I think so.” I said as my phone started to ring.
I pulled it out of my pocket and read the message, “Sounds like you are having a blast. Tell James that if he breaks your heart then I’ll break his arm. J.”
“Nice guy.” James said reading the message from over my shoulder.
“Surrey. He doesn’t mean it of course; he just likes to be the tough guy sometimes.” I said.
“I don’t mind. He just sounds like a nice guy, caring for you so much.” he said.
“Someone you’d like to meet I take it.” I said.
“You know me so well.” he smiled.
“What do you like to do for fun?” I asked.
“Well that was a little bit random.” he said. “I like spending time with you.”
“Besides that.” I said.
“I like to play guitar and sing.” he said.
“Really? Me too!” I said.
“Are you good?”
“I like to think so. Are you any good is the question.”
“You tell me.” he said.
He began to sing a song in Spanish. I recognized it and sang with him. It was called ‘A La Nanita Nana.’ After a few seconds I pulled my guitar out from beside my dresser. As we sang the song I strummed the guitar. People began to float in to listen.
When we finished Amy said, “That was beautiful! You guys sound great together.”
“Thanks, Amy.” we said.
James laughed and said, “You know you were singing with a perfect English accent?”
“I know. That was how I trained myself to sing. It sounds better when someone with an English accent sings it. Did you know you were just singing in Spanish?” I asked.
“No, actually I didn’t. I heard that song somewhere and liked it.” he said.
“Well the song is about a girl.” I said.
He waited for more but then I said, “I only understand one word of that song.”
It was my turn to laugh. I could sing the song in Spanish but if someone asked me to translate I’d tell them to get the newest Spanish to English dictionary and look up each word then try to make sense of it.
“You guys should play in the talent show!” Mitchell said.
“He’s right, Amelia. We should! I think we would blow them away!” James said.
“Okay. But we have to sing that song! I just love it so much… even though I have no idea what the words mean.” I said.
The others left us to talk. “Did you notice who didn’t come up here?” I asked James.
He nodded and said, “Forget Tiffany. She’s jealous and we all know it.”
I smiled and took his hand. “There will be no problem forgetting her. I did it three years ago so why not now.”
James squeezed my hand and said, “You are the first person I’ve ever met that knows that song.”
“I’m probably the only one here who speaks a little bit of Spanish. I learned that song last year.” I said. “And I fell in love with it, and you.”
“Te amo.” he said.
“Te amo, James.” I said.
‘I love you’ were the biggest words in any language and to say them after knowing him for one day was easier than saying it to someone I’d known for seven years. I really did love James and he loved me.
I moved closer to him and kissed his cheek. “Who taught you that song?” he asked.
“I learned it myself after hearing it in a movie.”
“Me too.”
It was starting to get dark outside now. My phone went off and I pulled it out. I opened my email and looked at who had sent it to me. The email was from Jay. Instead of reading it, I closed it so I could read it later.
“We still on for Friday night in my room?” he asked.
“Nothing will change it.” I said.
“Well you should get some sleep.” he said.
“Good night, James.”
“Good night, Amelia.”
He kissed my forehead and left me alone in my room. I opened the email and what I saw made me homesick. It was pictures of my family, Jay, and my other friends. They all had a sign that said, “We miss you, Amelia!”
I lay my head down on my pillow and cried myself to sleep.
House of Greeks Day 3
The next morning I woke up to Patara snooping around my room. Well actually she was standing right beside my bed. “Wake up, Amelia.” she was saying.
“I’m up.” I said.
“Take your meds.” she said handing me a bottle of water.
“Thanks.” I said opening my shoulder bag.
I pulled out a bottle of medicine and opened it. There were twenty left in the bottle and pulled one out. After I put it in my mouth I drank the water to wash it down. What she didn’t notice was my faking putting it in my mouth. When she wasn’t looking I put it back in the bottle.
James came in and said, “Morning, beautiful.”
“Morning.” I said yawning.
“You should take a shower.” Patara said.
I got up and grabbed some clothes from my dresser. Slowly I made my way to the bathroom. Even slower still, I got in the shower. In ten minutes I was fully dressed with no eye shadow, which was how it stayed.
Someone knocked on the door as I was getting ready to leave. “Hold on, Amy.” I called assuming it was her.
I opened the door and Justin came in and pinned me against the wall. He kicked the door closed and said, “It wasn’t Amy.”
“Get off me, Justin.” I said.
“Come on. Just kiss me once.” he said.
“No! I’m dating James not you.” I told him.
“So he can kiss Tiffany while he’s dating you but you can’t kiss me?” he asked.
“I don’t believe you! Prove to me that he kissed her and maybe I’ll kiss you.” I whispered.
“Tiffany, get off me!” I heard James yell.
I pushed Justin off me and opened the door. Tiffany had pinned James to the wall across from the bathroom. “Get off my boyfriend!” I yelled at her.
When she didn’t move I ran at her tackled her to the ground. “I told you to get off my boyfriend and I meant it, Tiffany. If you ever touch him again it’ll be last time you ever touch anyone!” I yelled in her face.
James pulled me off of Tiffany and said, “What were you doing in there with Justin?”
“Telling him to leave me alone.” I said.
“Not what Tiffany said.” he told me.
“Then you’ll just love what Justin told me! You cheater!” I said running down the stairs.
I heard his steps behind me. “Amelia, wait for me!” he called.
I ran out the door and he was right behind me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I’d never cheat on you! I love you!” he called after me.
People made me that promise before and broke it the next day. “Can you really actually prove any of that.” I asked when he caught up with me.
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him. “Yes, I can.” he told me.
“How?”
“I’ll go anywhere with you. I’ll do anything for you. My life changed when I saw you for the first time. It changed from the center of the universe being the sun to it being you. You are my entire world, my entire life. If someone were to say I have no heart, I’d say they are right. You know why they are right?” James said.
“No. Why?” I asked.
“Because, you have my heart.” he said.
“How can you prove that you love me?”
“Name the one thing you love most.”
“Singing.” we said at the same time.
“What’s your favorite color?” he asked.
“Green.” we said together.
“Lowest grade you’ve ever had?” he said.
“B.” again we said it together.
“Does that prove anything?” he whispered.
“Everyone knows that.” I said.
“No they don’t. I’m the only one who cares what you love to do, what your favorite color is, and what your lowest grade is. The rest of them care about how beautiful you are. Who was the only one who came looking for you the day before yesterday?” he said.
“You.” I said.
“That’s because I care about you and you’re my whole life. I would have been in agony had anything happened to you,” he told me, “all because I’m crazy about you.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him into a hug. He put his lips to the top of my head in a gentle, caring, loving kiss. “I’ll never love any one more than you, James.” I said.
He took me by the hand and led me back to Greeks House. To my surprise Tiffany wasn’t anywhere to be found, but Justin was sitting at the kitchen table finishing his homework. “Need any help with that, Justin?” I asked.
“Yeah, this math question is really getting at my nerves.” he said.
I sat next to him and said, “Oh, that’s easy, Justin. It’s 3(4x)2 = y.”
“Really? I thought that it had to have a positive or negative sign in it.” he said.
“There is a positive sign. It’s implied to be positive unless there is a negative sign in front of the number.” I told him.
“Okay so say the formula is i(u)= u+152 what would the answer be?” he said.
“You are using the letters as variables correct. Cause if you weren’t I’d have to smack you, mate.” James said.
“Yes they are variables. It’s a problem in the book.” Justin laughed.
“When they say i(9) it really means for you to plug nine in where ever there is a ‘U’ in the problem. So the answer for that would be what?” I asked.
“That would be…” Justin paused to do the math in his head. “Two hundred and thirty four.”
“Good job, Justin!” I said.
“You made that almost easy!” he said.
“Good job as in you just showed me that you knew what you were doing. No one who isn’t good at math would have known what fifteen to the second power was without a calculator.” I told him.
“I didn’t understand the formula.”
“He’s not lying, Amelia. Justin is very bad with the formulas but he can do the work in his head.” Jamie said from behind me.
I jumped from her sudden appearance. “Surrey, I didn’t hear you come in.” I said. “Were you helping him?”
“I was, but he seems to understand it more when you explain it. I don’t really know how to, as they say, dumb it down very well.” she told me.
“Justin is not dumb; he just needs it to be put in the simplest form. I actually used to be like that until Jay started to put things in the simplest form. Now I am better than he is in math.” I said.
“Let’s walk and talk shall we?” Jamie asked.
“I was going to walk with Justin and James.” I said. “You want to come with us?”
“Sure.” she said.
Justin stood up and gathered his books. Jamie took my left arm as James took my right hand. The three of us walked outside and waited just beyond the door. He came out and we walked to school. Jamie and I talked about study techniques and James and Justin had a glare war over our heads. We tried to ignore them but it was getting a little hard.
“Stop it you two!” Jamie said.
“Stop what?” Justin asked shooting another glare at James.
“You know what I mean! You keep glaring at each other over our heads hoping we wouldn’t notice.” she said.
“Well we noticed.” I said.
“Right. We’ll stop, babe.” James said.
“Thank you.” I said.
We walked the rest of the way to the school without talking. Jamie and I went towards my locker while Justin and James went to theirs. “This can’t be good, Amelia.” Jamie said.
“I know. Justin is just as crazy about me as James and can be just as sweet if not sweeter.” I said.
“You have to make a choice soon or their friendship may not survive this.” she told me.
“That’s what I’m afraid of. If I chose James then Justin may hate the both of us, but if I chose Justin then I’m breaking James’s heart like it’s nothing.” I said.
“If I were you I’d get to know them both a little better.” Patara said from beside me.
I hadn’t noticed her getting in her locker while Jamie and I were talking. “Why do you say that?” I asked.
“Well, you’ve only known them for three days. You don’t even talk to Mitchell or Austin. What if you like one of them more than Justin or James.” she said.
Jamie glanced at her and said, “But what about Amy. She’s made it obvious that she loves Mitchell.”
“Haven’t you realized that he broke up with her for good? There is no chance of them getting back together.” she told Jamie.
“What about… I don’t know… what if he likes me?” she said.
“Jamie, stop acting like you don’t like him. We know you do.” I said. “I respect that.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Is that why you didn’t like me in the first place?” I asked.
“Something of the sorts. You stole James right out from under Tiffany.”
“I what?”
“You really didn’t know? Tiffany fancies him like mad.”
“Amelia, you ready for class?” James asked.
Justin was behind him. “What about Justin?” I whispered.
“There isn’t any one after him but you.” Patara said.
I nodded to her and walked towards James. Instead of stopping to walk with him, I walked right past him to class. He followed me closely; not bothering to try to take my hand or put his arm around me. When I went into AP Biology there were three seats open.
One was by a girl with blonde hair and the other two were at an empty desk. I quickly sat by the girl and started a conversation about pollution. “I’m surrey, what was your name?” she asked.
“I’m Amelia. What’s your name?” I said.
“I’m Kori.” she said.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Dani.” I said.
“Excuse me, Dani. Can I have your seat, please?” James asked from behind.
“Sure, James.” she said gathering her things.
She got up and moved to the empty desk only to be joined by a boy with glasses. “What’s up with you, Amelia?” James whispered.
“Not now.” I said.
“Then when?” he asked.
The teacher came in which saved me from breaking my own heart right there. Half way through class she had to leave due to an emergency in the office. “How about now?” he asked.
“I can’t do this, James.” I said.
“Do what? Stay in England? Be in this class?” he asked.
“Be with you.” I said.
He didn’t reply and when class was dismissed, he got up and left. When I got to French I asked if anyone had seen him. “He isn’t here. I’m surrey.” Jamie said.
“You did it then?” Patara asked.
“I did, but wishing I hadn’t more every minute.” I said.
My own heart was already in a million little pieces but now those pieces were going through a little furnace turning to ash, never to be repaired again. I sat through the class watching the door, waiting for James to come in. He never did. “Do you want to go see if he is at Greeks House?” Patara asked.
“I’ll go by myself.” I said.
“Okay.” she said.
As soon as we were dismissed I ran for it. I ran all the way to Greeks House. “Amelia, what are you doing here?” Trudy asked.
I ran past her, down the hall to James’s room. When I opened the door I saw him playing guitar. It was a sad song, a heart broken song. He hadn’t heard me running down the hall or come in his room. The song was more than I could handle just then. “James!” I yelled.
“What?” he asked.
He didn’t turn around or stop playing so I walked into his room and pulled the guitar from his hands. “Give it back, Amelia.” he said.
“No. Why did you skip French?” I said.
“It’s nothing that concerns you.” he said taking his guitar from my hands.
“Neither of us will leave this room until you give me the answer I except.” I told him.
“I didn’t skip, Amelia. Trudy came and pulled me out saying she needed my help with some things in town. She asked me to wait here until she was ready to leave.” he told me.
He still hadn’t turned around to face me, even when he was taking his guitar back. James had reached behind him and just grabbed it from my hands. “Look at me, James.” I commanded.
“So you can break my heart more? No, Tiffany was right about you.” he said.
“Who am I kidding!? I came here worried sick that something had happened to you and now this is how you act? You are just like… Jay!” I said.
I turned to leave but his hand closed around my wrist. “Let go of me, James!” I yelled.
“What did you mean that I’m just like Jay?” he asked.
His voice was different; it was scarred of the answer I was going to give him. “Jay acts the same way as you when we are face to face. He doesn’t look at me, doesn’t care what I say; pretends to be someone I can care about.” I told him.
“Then he isn’t your best friend.” James said.
“He is. Only because he is the only friend I have in America. My family sent me here to get a new start in a place where no one knew who I was."
He pulled me back and spun me around. James’s face was wet with tears. “I’m nothing like him. I don’t pretend to listen to you, I care about what you say, and I am looking at you.” he said.
“But you weren’t, is the point, James.” I told him.
“I’m surrey, Ames. I just didn’t want you to see me like this.” he said.
“You didn’t want me to see you crying?” I asked.
He nodded and said, “Guys aren’t supposed to cry about things like that.”
“Does it look like it really matters to me, James? I don’t care if you cry because you fail a test or if it’s because your puppy died or if it’s just because you are having a bad day… but I still want to know what’s getting at you.” I told him.
“I broke up with Tiffany a week before you got here and now she is jealous of you.” he said.
“I knew she was jealous, but I never knew why.” I said.
“I know that Patara told you that you stole me from Tiffany, but she only said that because Tiffany made it sound like you had. She hadn’t told Patara that I broke up with her and I thought Tiffany had told her.” he told me.
“So did Tiffany ask Patara to say that?” I asked
We were sitting on the, bed now, holding hands. “I don’t know if she did or not, but it was a lie what Patara told you. You never stole me from anyone.” he promised.
“Do you swear?” I asked.
“Of course.” he told me.
Someone knocked on the door and James whispered, “Its Tiffany. Hide over there so you know what she says.”
I got up after kissing his cheek. When I was hiding in his closet; door slightly cracked, James answered the door. “I heard Amelia broke up with you in first hour.” she said. “I told you she would, and then move right on to Justin.”
“Who on Earth ever told you she was going to move onto Justin?” he asked.
“She did of course. It was all part of the plan this morning. Justin asked me to stall you on the way down so you could see that she was cheating on you with him.” Tiffany told him.
My chin dropped. Justin had set the whole thing up… or had he really thought that? It was hard to know so I kept listening. “Justin doesn’t have the brains to do that, Tiffany. We all know it was part of your poorly planned scheme to get me back.”
“How dare you! I came here because I was worried that…” she began.
“That I would forgive her?” he asked.
“Exactly.” she said.
“You were right to worry about that. I have forgiven her and she knows that.” he said.
Well he wasn’t lying. I did know that, right when he said that. Tiffany had always been an idiot but now she was starting to show James her true colors. My phone buzzed in my pocket so quickly I turned my back to the door and checked my messages.
“Will you please come home? J.” it said.
My phone buzzed again and I went to the new message. “Hey, honey. I’m really wishing I hadn’t sent you away to England. I will be more than happy to come get you if you want to come back home.” it was a text from my mother.
I locked my phone as I heard Tiffany stomp down the hall. The door to the closet opened and James pulled me out by the hand. “Don’t stay in there all day.” he said.
I didn’t answer I just buried my face into his shoulder and started to cry. “What’s wrong, Amelia?” he asked putting his arms around me.
“I want to go home.” I said.
“Don’t leave.” he said. “I’d have to follow you if you did and then my parents would kill me.”
“Come with me!” I said suddenly.
“I will if you can convince my parents.” he told me.
“Give me a number to reach them at.”
“You are really going to try to convince them?”
“You bet I am.”
He wrote down a number on a sheet of paper and handed it to me. I dialed the number and hit call. “Hello?” a man said.
“Is this James’s father?” I asked.
“Yes it is.” he said.
“Hi, I’m Amelia Laraine Kavanagh. I’m from America and I was hoping that you would let him come back to America with me.” I said.
“I don’t know Miss Kavanagh. He’s never been to a different country.” he said.
“My mother would love to let him stay in our spare room. She’s always trying to find someone that will hang out with me so I won’t be bored.” I told him.
“He needs to focus on his school work. Can you promise me that he will put his grades before girlfriends?” he asked.
“Trust me, sir; James will have no problem putting grades before girls.” I told him.
“I want to meet you and your mother before I agree to let him go. Thank you, for calling and asking. That earns you a favor point.” he said.
He hung up and I looked at James and said, “He’s agreed to meet me and my mother. If he likes us enough he’ll let you come, but only if you put your grades first.”
James put his arms around and spun me in a wide circle. “I can’t believe it! I might get to go to America!” he said.
He put me down, took my hand in his, and brought it to his lips. James placed a gentle kiss on my hand then my forehead. “So are we back together?” I asked.
“Like it never even happened.” he said.
“We should get to class.” I told him.
He put his arm around my shoulders and I put my arm around his waist. We walked down the path to the school and went to our Drama class. “You’re late.” Mr. Baffler said.
“Surrey.” we said together.
Justin was in shock and so was Tiffany. “He was just in his room and she was nowhere to be found.” she whispered to him.
“Actually, I was in the restroom, Tiffany.” I told her.
“Take your seats, please.” Mr. Baffler said.
James sat next to Justin and I sat next to Tiffany. “So I heard what you were planning with Justin and I would like to say that you may not have to worry about that much longer and neither will he.” I told her.
“That’s cool. I’ll finally have James back and Justin will have you.” she said. “We could double date.”
“Tiffany and Justin, please act out scene ten from yesterday’s handout.” Mr. Baffler said.
“I am not going to kiss Justin!” Tiffany said.
“Hurtful!” he said.
“Amelia, fifteen points extra credit if you act out the scene.” Mr. Baffler said.
I looked at James and he nodded. Patara pushed me up, towards the stage. Justin grabbed my wrist to ensure I wouldn’t do a face plant into the stage. “Thank you.” I whispered.
He smiled and jumped onto the stage. I took the steps up and found the marked spot on the stage. “Liana, my love, I have come for.”
“So I see. My father shall check on me in an hour’s time, so we must…” I began.
That was when the fire alarm went off. “Everyone take the designated escape route out of the building!” Mr. Baffler said.
James pulled me down from the stage and we walked outside. “Did you do that?” I whispered.
“I was there the whole time, remember.” he said.
Austin ran past us and then Justin. Quickly I reached out and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “Justin, what happened?” I asked.
“Austin pulled the fire alarm.” he said.
“Leave the kid alone. You’ve pulled enough pranks on him its natural he’d want to get back at you for it.” James said.
“It was your idea wasn’t it!” I said.
“No. He was thinking about doing it so he started talking about it as soon as Jason said for you to go up there. I just listened and didn’t say anything.” he said.
I punched his arm and said, “You got to do a scene with me yesterday and now I get fifteen extra credit to simply kiss him and you get that taken from me for not telling Austin not to pull the alarm. Thanks a lot, James.” I said speeding up a little.
Justin sped up little. He put his arm around my shoulders and said, “We can always ask Jason if we can do the scene out here. After all this scene was originally written to take place outside under a tree.”
“That’s a fantastic idea!” I said.
We walked over to Mr. Baffler and I said, “Can we do that scene out here?”
“Are you eager to kiss Justin?” he asked.
“No, I’d just fancy those extra credit points.” I said.
“Well it was originally written to be performed outside under a tree.” he said.
“That’s what I said.” Justin said.
“I want my Drama class to gather over here right now!” Mr. Baffler called.
There was a shuffle of feet and then the class was gathered under the tree. I looked through the lines and then said, “Mr. Baffler, in the script it says there is supposed to be a father for this scene.”
He looked at the script in my hand and said, “Right. James you are the father.”
“Um… I’d rather he wasn’t, sir.” Justin said.
“Why?” Mr. Baffler asked.
“Well, it says here that the father throws a stage punch but I’m afraid James won’t make it a stage punch.” he said.
“Of course he will, Justin. Stop being a chicken.” I said.
“Fine.” he said.
“You may begin.” Mr. Baffler said.
“Liana, my love, I have come for.” Justin said.
“So I see. My father shall check on my in an hour’s time, so we must make hast to Herington.” I said.
“What’s this I see? Liana, where do you think you’re going with this man!?” James said.
“Father!” I said.
“Thy daughter is running with me. We shall go away for hundreds of miles more than thy eyes shall ever see.” Justin said.
“Thy shall not leave!” James said.
Justin pulled me to him and kissed me. It was sooner than it was supposed to be in the scene. James pulled him off me and actually hit Justin. “Stay away from my girlfriend!” he said.
“It was in that scene.” he said putting his hand to his mouth.
He removed his hand and saw blood. Justin jumped to his feet and moved to hit James. Before he could I stepped in front of him. His punch connected with my ear, which on James would have been his jaw. “Amelia!”
I wasn’t sure who said it but I knew it was Mitchell who was carrying me to Greeks House. His mussels were huge and his chest moved as he breathed. “Amelia, are you okay!” that was Jamie.
“Of course she’s not! She just been hit in the ear by Justin!” this time it was Amy.
Mitchell lay me down on my bed. I heard someone pick up my guitar and then began to strum.
“A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi Niña tiene sueno bendito sea, bendito sea. A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi Niña tiene sueno bendito sea, bendito sea. Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora. Ruisenor que en la selva cantando llora. Calla mientras la cuna sea balansea. A la nanita nana, nanita ella. A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi Niña tiene sueno bendito sea, bendito sea. Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora. Ruisenor que en la selva cantando llora. Calla mientras la cuna sea balansea. A la nanita nana, nanita ella.”
I knew that had to be James but the only reason I knew it was him was because I knew he was the only one who knew that song. The worst part was the only reason I knew the words he was singing was because I could read his lips. My hearing was gone in both ears.
“Mitchell, say something into my ears.” I thought I said.
I moved my lips and spoke but I heard no sound. Mitchell moved and I felt him breathing on my neck but I heard no sound. “Show me where Justin is!” I yelled.
Still I heard no sound. James stood in front of me, took my hand, and supposedly said, “Can you hear me?”
I pointed to my ear and then his mouth. He seemed know what I meant and nodded. “I can’t hear anything.” I told him.
He took me down to Justin’s room and opened the door. I didn’t know what was going down until Justin picked up a pencil and paper. Justin started to write something and then he handed it to me. It said,
I’m really sorry about your hearing. I never in my life thought you loved him so much as to take a punch for him. Forgive me, please.
I took the pencil and wrote,
It won’t matter if I do or not because I am going back to America. This will be one of your last few days with me and now I don’t ever get to hear your voice or Jamie’s voice or James’s voice or Mitchell’s voice. I bet you wish you could take that back now, don’t you?
I handed it to Justin and he read it. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes. “Don’t go.” was what it appeared he was saying.
Instead of replying I picked up my phone and sent my mother a text. “Hey mom. I’m surrey it took so long to reply but I wanted to ask you something.”
After a few minutes I got her reply. “Sure go ahead. Ask away, dear.”
I thought of how to say it and then decided on, “Is it okay if I bring a friend home with me?”
I pressed send and then said, “James, come here.”
He came over and held up his hand. His hands moved swiftly from one letter to the other. “Yeah?” he said using the letters of sign language.
“My mother is going to reply if you can come with me back to America.” I whispered.
He smiled and nodded showing he had heard me. My phone vibrated and I opened the message. “Sure. I have a feeling I know who. I actually already am in England and heading up to the school now.”
“She’s here in England already.” I told him.
I took James by the hand and pulled him along with me to the school. A few minutes after we reached the school and taxi pulled in. My mother climbed out and ran to me. “Mum!” I said.
She put her arms around me and pulled me into her warm embrace. I could feel her breathing into my ear but then her lips started moving near my ear. My mother stepped back and then said something else. Quickly I whipped out my cell phone and sent her another message. “I can’t hear you. I got hit in the ear and lost my hearing.”
She pulled out her phone and read the message. Her eyes filled with tears and she put her arms around me again. James was still behind me so I said, “James this is my mother. Mom this is James.”
She took a step back and said something to him. He nodded and then replied to her. “We were going to meet his father to see if he could come, but he wants to meet you too.” I said.
James took my hand and looked towards Greeks House. He said something to my mother and we started towards the house with her on our trail. She walked up the stairs to Earl’s office. After a few minutes she came down and took my other hand. The three of us walked out and to the taxi.
I got in the backseat with James and my mother sat in the front seat. James put his arm around me and used his other to hold my hand. He put his lips to the side of my head and said something. Of course I knew it wasn’t intended for me, but the driver, but not being able to hear his voice brought tears to my eyes.
He and my mother were talking about what had happened, I had no doubt. She looked back at us and took a picture with her phone. After a few seconds I opened a text message and saw the picture of us. “If only you could hear how highly he speaks of you. We are going to stop at the emergency room on the way to his father’s house.” it said.
The message was from my mother and I said, “I love you, Mom.” James squeezed my hand and then I added, “I love you, too, James.”
He kissed my temple as we pulled into a hospital. James opened his door and got out. I got out after him and allowed him to lead me through the hospital. We stopped at a counter and he said something to a nurse. She got up and led us through the hospital.
We stopped outside a door and she knocked. The door opened to a woman sitting at a desk. They exchanged a few words and I looked around. I looked at the woman behind the desk and saw her name tag. She saw and said something in my direction. My eye brows went up and I looked at James.
He looked at Laraine and said something to her. She nodded and motioned to me to sit down. I walked to the chair next to hers and sat down. Laraine held something up and said something. The next thing I knew was she was sticking something in my ear. No beeping, no chairs scraping floor as James and my mother sat down, not even the sound of my heart could reach my ears.
Laraine looked at my mother and said something. My mother shook her head and James put his arm around her. They were getting along so well, it was like he was part of the family. Now Laraine was sticking something else in my ear. It was a type of hearing aid.
As she turned up the hearing aid she started saying something. “…hand when you can hear my voice.” was all I heard.
My hand went up and then she stopped. It ws only in one ear but it was a start. “How much did you hear?” she asked.
“From where you said hand.” I told her.
She nodded and took it out and put another in my other ear. Laraine said something else but I heard, “…you can hear my voice.”
I raised my hand, assuming that was that she had said. “What did you hear?”
“From where you said you.” I told her.
She took it and said something to my mother. James got up and walked over to me. He held his hand up to his ear like a phone. I pulled it out of my pocket and handed it to him. Slowly he typed something in and when he was done showed it to me. It said, “Doctor Laraine said that all you needed was a pair of hearing aids but the ones that you need won’t be in for another few hours. In other words you will be able to hear again.”
I got up and in my Bryana I hugged Laraine. She put her arms around me and patted my back. Even though I couldn’t hear I began to sing the Spanish song that James and I had sung together. He smiled and started to sing along with me. My mother joined as well, since she was the one who had taught it to me.
We got in the taxi and the dude drove out of the parking lot. James told him where to go. He held my hand all the way to his father’s house. I looked out the window as we pulled into a driveway twenty minutes later. “I won’t be able to hear him.” I muttered to James.
He held out his hand for my phone and typed in. “Don’t worry. He won’t judge on that after he finds out why you can’t.”
“I love you.” I whispered.
“I love you more.” he typed in.
I smiled up at him and he kissed my forehead. The taxi stopped and we all got out. A tall man walked out and greeted us. They exchanged words and then James’s father held his hand out to me. I shook his hand and read his lips as he said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amelia.”
“Please, sir, the pleasure is all mine.” I said.
He pulled James into a hug and then they led us in. It would have been nice to be able hear what they were talking about, if they were talking at all. James’s father suddenly looked at me then back at James. James must have been telling him the story of my hearing lose. His father patted his back and nodded, which must have been a good sign.
My mother sent me a text message that said, “I’m going to go get your hearing aids. I won’t have my phone so don’t worry. James is going to use it to talk to you until I get back. His father is very grateful to you for what you did for his son. Things are looking good.”
I nodded to her as she handed James her phone. He nodded and said something to her. James reached behind him for my hand. My mother turned back to the taxi as I took his hand. His father opened the front door and smiled at me.
James led me in to the dining room. “Do you want some pizza?” I asked turning to them.
My phone vibrated and I read the message from James. “We have a cook to make it for us. Don’t worry about it, love.”
I nodded and sat next to him at the table. He put his hand on my knee and started talking to his father. His father looked at me and asked me a question. It looked like he said, “Did Justin ever show any interest in you before that scene?”
“I’m sorry; did you just ask if I knew Justin liked me before what happened?” I asked to make sure.
He nodded so I said, “I did know and I tried telling him that I fancy James not him, but he didn’t listen.”
His eye brows went up and he smiled at my honesty. We did the best to communicate until my mother returned with my hearing aids. It was about two hours before she got back. I saw a maid bustling to get the door. My mother came in and pulled me out.
We walked out into the hall and she brushed my hair behind my ear. She put the hearing aid in my left ear and then my right ear. “Can you hear me now, honey?” she asked.
“Oh, mom!” I said hugging her.
She put her arms around me as James came out. My mother went into the dining room and left us alone. “You doing okay now?” he asked.
“Oh, James, I missed your voice so much!” I said hugging him.
“It’s nice to know you can hear again.” he whispered in my ear.
We each stepped back and kissed my forehead. He lead me into the dining room and his father said, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, sir.” I said.
“That’s good to know. Now about James going to America with you.” he said.
James took my hand and squeezed it. “I am more than willing to let him go on the condition that he keeps his grades up and goes to college. He has to call at least once a month and check in and send me proof of his grades. Each summer the three of you come and stay here.”
“I guarantee that all your conditions will be met.” my mother said.
“I wasn’t finished yet, Mrs. Kavanagh.” he said.
“Then by all means finish.” I said.
“You must be prepared for random checkups in America by myself whenever I feel like checking in on James.” he said. “That is my list of requirements.”
“And they all will be met, sir.” I said.
We all stood up and walked to the entrance hall. James father held his hand out to he and instead of shaking it and hugged him. “Thank you so much, sir! I swear you won’t regret giving James this experience.’ I said.
“I don’t think I will either.” he said.
“Come on, honey. We need to get you two back to the school so you can get packed.” my mother said.
She took my hand and James took my other after giving his father a hug. “I’ll miss you, Dad.” he said.
“Good luck, my boy.” he said.
We walked out to the taxi and got in. “Can you take us back to House of Greeks, please?” I said to the driver.
“Yes, ma’am.” he said.
He drove down the highway, on the left, until he got to the school. James had put his arm around me again by the time we got there. As we got out of the car I was charged by a crowd of well-wishers. “Amelia, thank the gods, you are okay.” Justin said pushing through the crowd.
“Okay! I have to use hearing aids for the rest of my life, Justin!” I said.
“I’m sorry.” he said. “Please, you have to forgive me.”
“I could never forgive you, Justin. If it hadn’t been my ear it would have been James’s jaw.” I told him.
“At least tell me you aren’t going back to America so soon.” he said.
“I can’t tell you that.” I told him.
“At least you’ll be away from James. Long distance relationships never work out.” he muttered.
James stepped forward and said, “Actually, Justin, it may interest you to know that she won’t be away from me. We will both be going to America.”
“You’re kidding! I bet your father doesn’t know that!” he said.
“Then you’d be wrong. Get away from my daughter, Justin.” my mother said. “You are never going to see her again after what you did to her.”
“Mrs. Kavanagh, as they no doubt left out, I intended to hit…” he began,
“James. I know. They didn’t leave that out, but poor Amelia didn’t know what I was saying back since she couldn’t hear!” my mother told him.
“If it makes it any better, I’ll gladly pay for the hearing aids.” he said.
“Out of our way, Justin.” I said.
He moved to the side and watched as we walked towards Greeks House. I heard people running down the stairs and come from the hall. “Amelia! You’re okay!” Mitchell said hugging me.
“Thanks to these hearing aids, I am.” I said.
“Don’t worry about Justin. He is in a lot of trouble with Earl and the rest of us.” he said.
“Thanks guys. And please, visit me and James in America over the school year or summer at his house.” I said.
“You’re both going to America?” Jamie asked.
I nodded and said, “We need a group picture. Get everyone down here.”
Jamie ran up the stairs and got Amy and Patara. Mitchell went and got Austin and Justin from the crowd. I knew I could be civil enough to have picture taken with him but not too much longer after that. My mother came in with a camera.
In the back row were James, me, Justin, Patara, and Jamie. In the front row on their knees were Austin, Amy, Mitchell, and Tiffany. It was actually in that order. I took a deep breath and put my arms around Justin and James. They both put their arms around me. My mother took the picture and then I bolted up stairs to my room.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks and then Justin came in. He knocked on the door and waited for me to speak. I just motioned for him to come in as I picked up my guitar. Slowly I walked over to my bed and put it down. Justin watched me walk in circles around my room grabbing clothes and folding them putting them in my suit case.
He walked over to my desk and opened the drawer with his letters in it. Slowly he picked them up and handed them to me. “These are how I want you to remember me. A nice guy who really does care about you. I want the best for you and if you think that the best is James, then okay. If you’re happy then I suppose I am too. But promise me that if he ever hurts you in any way, you will write me.” he said.
I looked at them and tossed them in the trash can by my desk. Immediately I sighed and pulled them out. “It is good thing I didn’t set them on fire before I threw them away.” I said to him.
“I really am surrey for that.” he said.
“I understand, Justin. You didn’t mean to and I just haven’t had time or energy to be mad at James for hitting you first. I’m not sure if that detail was mentioned when he told my mother and his father the story. I couldn’t hear at the time.” I told him.
“So you are mad at him for hitting me then?” he asked.
“Of course I am. I had never really made up my mind. One day it was you I liked more, then him, then you, then him again. I was so confused when it happened I was angry with the one person I knew I shouldn’t have been. I want you to come with me to, but you must promise not to hit James anymore.”
“Cross my heart, hope to die.”
“Call your parents and see if you can then, pal.” I said handing him my phone.
He dialed a number and then said, “Mummy! Is it okay if I go to America with James, his girlfriend, and her mother?”
I heard a chatter and then he said, “Thanks, mummy.”
He handed me my phone and I said, “So that’s a yes?”
“That is in fact the happiest yes she has ever given me.” he said.
“Well then you had better go pack as well.” I told him.
I threw the rest of my clothes on my bed as he walked out. A few seconds later I went to the bathroom and pulled out my make-up. Patara came in and said, “I’m really going to miss you, America.”
“I’ll miss you to, England.” I said.
She laughed and put her arms around my waist. I put my arms around her and didn’t let her go for over a minute. “Please, you must come visit me, Patara.” I said.
“There is no doubt in my mind I will! If I can I’ll move to America!” she said.
“Do it!” I laughed.
We walked back to my room and she helped me finish packing. “I wonder how my mother is handling Earl telling him she is pulling out three students.” I said suddenly.
“Is Tiffany going back with you?” she asked.
“No. Actually, Justin is.” I told her.
“Justin? America? With you and James? That’s a disaster in the making.” she said.
“I know but… don’t tell anyone… I love him.” I said.
“Well what about James?” she asked.
“I love him to. I’m in a state of utter confusion, Patara. I don’t know what to do any more.” I said.
That was when my mother came in. “You ready, darling. The boys are ready to start a fist fight over you, already. Are you sure you want to bring Justin?” she said.
“Mom, Justin is coming.” I told her.
I gave Patara one last hug and went down stairs. Jamie, Amy, Mitchell, Tiffany, and Austin were all waiting at the door. “We all are going to miss you so much, Amelia.” Mitchell said.
“We wanted you to have this.” Tiffany said holding out a necklace.
“This is the Eye of Myths.” I said.
“You’ve heard of it?” she asked.
“Of course. It was what you used to solve the mystery.” I said putting it on.
Mitchell hugged me first and then the others did to. “I want you to have individual pictures with each of them.” she said.
Austin was first and he put his arm around my waist and I put my arm around his shoulders. Jamie put her arms around my waist in a hug and my mother took the picture. Amy her took my arm and my mother took the picture again. Patara did the same thing Jamie had. Mitchell lifted me off my feet and held me in his arms. It scared me a little so I put my arm around his neck. Tiffany stood next to me and put her arm around my waist. I put my arm around her and then my mother took the picture.
“I can’t believe I’m leaving already.” I told them.
“Neither can we.” they said.
“I’ll never take this necklace off.” I told them.
“Thank you so much for being here. Even however long your stay was.” Mitchell said.
“Here’s my address. If you are ever in California look us up, during the school year. Summers we will be at James’s house.” I said.
“We’ll definitely look you up.” Austin said.
“I’ll be in California soon so I will have to look you up. My dad said he would take me soon so I can check out the college there.” Mitchell said.
“Alright. We have to go, darling.” It was nice meeting you guys. If you are ever in America come see us.” my mother said.
We had one last group hug and we were off. Mother walked me to the taxi and had me sit in between James and Justin. “Why did you bring him?” James asked.
“Why did you forgive me after what happened the night I got here?” I asked.
“Because I love you.” he said. “You love him?”
“This is way intense. Um… the night I got here Justin and I hung out in my room and… I kind of did fall for him.” I told James.
Justin’s jaw dropped and so did James’s. “If you love him then why don’t date him instead of me?” James asked.
“I love you to.” I said.
“You love us both?” Justin asked.
“No… maybe… yes.” I said.
“That’s the line there, Amelia. We are over.” James said looking out his window.
“Then I supposed that makes my choice easier. Doesn’t it, Justin?” I said.
“Yeah, it does.” he said.
“Amelia, that wasn’t what I meant.” James said.
“Well, unless my hearing aid knows how change words then I don’t know how that couldn’t mean you are breaking up with me.” I told him.
“I don’t even recall us making it official we were back together.” he said.
“Oh, well then you don’t mind this.” I said taking Justin’s hand.
“I’m not going to get in the middle… oh, who am I kidding?” he said.
He put his arm around me and pressed his lips to my temple. Justin was so nice and sweet when he wanted to be. I knew I loved him even after what had happened to my hearing. James’s face was blazing red with anger. “Get off my girl.” he said.
“I don’t recall you ever making it official, James.” Justin said.
“Well it is now. Get your hands off of her.” he said.
“James, stop it. It’s a little late for that… for now.” I said.
James looked back out the window of the taxi as I put my head on Justin’s shoulder. “One more thing, darling. Jay is waiting for us at the airport.” my mother said.
“I don’t care if Jay is here or not.” I said.
“What is wrong with you? He thought you’d be excited that he is well enough to travel.” she said.
“There are things he never told us.” I said.
“Like what?” she asked.
“Tiffany is his cousin.” I said.
“You didn’t know that?” she asked.
“You did?"
“Of course I did! He told us three years ago the night before the incident with your father.” she said.
“Mother!” I said quickly.
“What? I thought you told them.”
“No, I didn’t.”
James looked at my arms and I nodded. “She told me.” he said.
“No, I didn’t James!” I said.
I had, had enough of hearing him. Slowly I reached up to my ear and pulled out the hearing aid on James’s side. Justin looked at me and whispered, “Are you that annoyed with him?”
“Yes, I am. I don’t know why I ever liked him.” I muttered.
James had heard but he didn’t say anything. “Amelia, did you take you medicine this morning?” my mother asked.
James said something but I only heard a few words. “Let me see you pill bottle right now, Amelia.” my mother said.
I pulled it out of my shoulder and handed it to her. She opened the bottle and counted them. “Either you didn’t take one today or you didn’t take one yesterday.” she said.
As I put my hearing aid back in James said, “I saw her take one yesterday.”
“Patara made sure she took it this morning though.” Justin said.
“Amelia Laraine Kavanagh, take this pill right now!” my mother said.
She handed me a water bottle and a pill. I put the pill in my mouth and drank the water. “Open your hands.” Justin said.
I held out my hands and opened my hands. “Open your mouth.” he said.
I looked at him and opened my mouth to show him I had taken the pill. He nodded and I closed my mouth. Justin put his hand on my cheek and kissed me. James didn’t do anything about but I on the other hand kissed him back.
“That should have been our first kiss.” Justin whispered.
I nodded in agreement. It took us another hour before we got to the airport. The medicine had kicked in by then and I was back to my normal self. “I’m sorry.” I said.
“Who is that one directed to?” my mother asked.
“All of you.” I said. “I was stupid to act like that.”
“But was it true? Do you love us both?” Justin asked.
“I like you both, yes. But I’m too young to know what love is.” I told him.
“We can make this fair and say that whoever you fell for first gets to date you.” James said.
“I like that idea. It’s an even shot at your heart.” Justin said.
The taxi came to a stop and we all got out and got our things from the trunk. We went into the airport and set down our luggage. Jay found us and hugged me, spinning me in a circle. “Jay!” I said. “I thought you weren’t going to make it.”
“Turns out they were looking at the wrong person’s results. I was fine the entire time. We aren’t going back to that hospital.” he said. “You must be her friend James! Nice to finally meet the man who took care of my best friend.”
James shook Jay’s hand and then said, “This is my buddy Justin. Justin this is Jay, Amelia’s best friend.”
“Nice to meet you Jay.” Justin said holding out his hand.
“I don’t like you.” Jay said.
“Jay!” I said.
“What?”
“Why don’t you like Justin? You just met him.”
“James kind of knows my cell phone number and he told me what happened with your hearing.”
“James!” I snapped.
“Surrey.” he said.
Both Justin and James were still waiting for me to decide. I didn’t have to decide; I already knew which one I liked more, but I wasn’t going to choose in font of Jay. “Can you get our luggage on the plane, please, Jay.” I said.
“Sure.” he said.
He grabbed my bag first and left. “James, Justin, you have to promise that whichever one of you I choose, that you will still be friends.” I said.
They nodded as I sat down. “Nothing will destroy our friendship.” Justin promised.
In truth it wasn’t him I wanted to hear it from, it was James, but James didn’t say anything; like he knew it was his.
“James, you were sweet and caring from the moment I met you. Justin, you were wild and kind of rambunctious but you were also kind and funny and sweet and charming.” I said.
Jay came in and said, “You know, just from the looks of Justin, I’d say he is a little bit rambunctious. I know how you don’t date people like that so I’m betting that James is your boyfriend.”
“Not now, Jay.” I said.
“Sorry.” he said.
Justin walked away saddened by what Jay had said. “So that’s it. It’s me?” James said.
I couldn’t stand seeing Justin’s heartbroken like that. “No.” I said.
I walked towards Justin and threaded my hands around his waist. He turned around, tears flowing down his cheeks. “You don’t date rambunctious people.” he said.
“I also don’t kiss people I don’t date.” I said.
He smiled and kissed me. “I thought you liked James.” he said.
“Justin, it’s you. It has always been you.” I told him.
“I’m up.” I said.
“Take your meds.” she said handing me a bottle of water.
“Thanks.” I said opening my shoulder bag.
I pulled out a bottle of medicine and opened it. There were twenty left in the bottle and pulled one out. After I put it in my mouth I drank the water to wash it down. What she didn’t notice was my faking putting it in my mouth. When she wasn’t looking I put it back in the bottle.
James came in and said, “Morning, beautiful.”
“Morning.” I said yawning.
“You should take a shower.” Patara said.
I got up and grabbed some clothes from my dresser. Slowly I made my way to the bathroom. Even slower still, I got in the shower. In ten minutes I was fully dressed with no eye shadow, which was how it stayed.
Someone knocked on the door as I was getting ready to leave. “Hold on, Amy.” I called assuming it was her.
I opened the door and Justin came in and pinned me against the wall. He kicked the door closed and said, “It wasn’t Amy.”
“Get off me, Justin.” I said.
“Come on. Just kiss me once.” he said.
“No! I’m dating James not you.” I told him.
“So he can kiss Tiffany while he’s dating you but you can’t kiss me?” he asked.
“I don’t believe you! Prove to me that he kissed her and maybe I’ll kiss you.” I whispered.
“Tiffany, get off me!” I heard James yell.
I pushed Justin off me and opened the door. Tiffany had pinned James to the wall across from the bathroom. “Get off my boyfriend!” I yelled at her.
When she didn’t move I ran at her tackled her to the ground. “I told you to get off my boyfriend and I meant it, Tiffany. If you ever touch him again it’ll be last time you ever touch anyone!” I yelled in her face.
James pulled me off of Tiffany and said, “What were you doing in there with Justin?”
“Telling him to leave me alone.” I said.
“Not what Tiffany said.” he told me.
“Then you’ll just love what Justin told me! You cheater!” I said running down the stairs.
I heard his steps behind me. “Amelia, wait for me!” he called.
I ran out the door and he was right behind me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I’d never cheat on you! I love you!” he called after me.
People made me that promise before and broke it the next day. “Can you really actually prove any of that.” I asked when he caught up with me.
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him. “Yes, I can.” he told me.
“How?”
“I’ll go anywhere with you. I’ll do anything for you. My life changed when I saw you for the first time. It changed from the center of the universe being the sun to it being you. You are my entire world, my entire life. If someone were to say I have no heart, I’d say they are right. You know why they are right?” James said.
“No. Why?” I asked.
“Because, you have my heart.” he said.
“How can you prove that you love me?”
“Name the one thing you love most.”
“Singing.” we said at the same time.
“What’s your favorite color?” he asked.
“Green.” we said together.
“Lowest grade you’ve ever had?” he said.
“B.” again we said it together.
“Does that prove anything?” he whispered.
“Everyone knows that.” I said.
“No they don’t. I’m the only one who cares what you love to do, what your favorite color is, and what your lowest grade is. The rest of them care about how beautiful you are. Who was the only one who came looking for you the day before yesterday?” he said.
“You.” I said.
“That’s because I care about you and you’re my whole life. I would have been in agony had anything happened to you,” he told me, “all because I’m crazy about you.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him into a hug. He put his lips to the top of my head in a gentle, caring, loving kiss. “I’ll never love any one more than you, James.” I said.
He took me by the hand and led me back to Greeks House. To my surprise Tiffany wasn’t anywhere to be found, but Justin was sitting at the kitchen table finishing his homework. “Need any help with that, Justin?” I asked.
“Yeah, this math question is really getting at my nerves.” he said.
I sat next to him and said, “Oh, that’s easy, Justin. It’s 3(4x)2 = y.”
“Really? I thought that it had to have a positive or negative sign in it.” he said.
“There is a positive sign. It’s implied to be positive unless there is a negative sign in front of the number.” I told him.
“Okay so say the formula is i(u)= u+152 what would the answer be?” he said.
“You are using the letters as variables correct. Cause if you weren’t I’d have to smack you, mate.” James said.
“Yes they are variables. It’s a problem in the book.” Justin laughed.
“When they say i(9) it really means for you to plug nine in where ever there is a ‘U’ in the problem. So the answer for that would be what?” I asked.
“That would be…” Justin paused to do the math in his head. “Two hundred and thirty four.”
“Good job, Justin!” I said.
“You made that almost easy!” he said.
“Good job as in you just showed me that you knew what you were doing. No one who isn’t good at math would have known what fifteen to the second power was without a calculator.” I told him.
“I didn’t understand the formula.”
“He’s not lying, Amelia. Justin is very bad with the formulas but he can do the work in his head.” Jamie said from behind me.
I jumped from her sudden appearance. “Surrey, I didn’t hear you come in.” I said. “Were you helping him?”
“I was, but he seems to understand it more when you explain it. I don’t really know how to, as they say, dumb it down very well.” she told me.
“Justin is not dumb; he just needs it to be put in the simplest form. I actually used to be like that until Jay started to put things in the simplest form. Now I am better than he is in math.” I said.
“Let’s walk and talk shall we?” Jamie asked.
“I was going to walk with Justin and James.” I said. “You want to come with us?”
“Sure.” she said.
Justin stood up and gathered his books. Jamie took my left arm as James took my right hand. The three of us walked outside and waited just beyond the door. He came out and we walked to school. Jamie and I talked about study techniques and James and Justin had a glare war over our heads. We tried to ignore them but it was getting a little hard.
“Stop it you two!” Jamie said.
“Stop what?” Justin asked shooting another glare at James.
“You know what I mean! You keep glaring at each other over our heads hoping we wouldn’t notice.” she said.
“Well we noticed.” I said.
“Right. We’ll stop, babe.” James said.
“Thank you.” I said.
We walked the rest of the way to the school without talking. Jamie and I went towards my locker while Justin and James went to theirs. “This can’t be good, Amelia.” Jamie said.
“I know. Justin is just as crazy about me as James and can be just as sweet if not sweeter.” I said.
“You have to make a choice soon or their friendship may not survive this.” she told me.
“That’s what I’m afraid of. If I chose James then Justin may hate the both of us, but if I chose Justin then I’m breaking James’s heart like it’s nothing.” I said.
“If I were you I’d get to know them both a little better.” Patara said from beside me.
I hadn’t noticed her getting in her locker while Jamie and I were talking. “Why do you say that?” I asked.
“Well, you’ve only known them for three days. You don’t even talk to Mitchell or Austin. What if you like one of them more than Justin or James.” she said.
Jamie glanced at her and said, “But what about Amy. She’s made it obvious that she loves Mitchell.”
“Haven’t you realized that he broke up with her for good? There is no chance of them getting back together.” she told Jamie.
“What about… I don’t know… what if he likes me?” she said.
“Jamie, stop acting like you don’t like him. We know you do.” I said. “I respect that.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Is that why you didn’t like me in the first place?” I asked.
“Something of the sorts. You stole James right out from under Tiffany.”
“I what?”
“You really didn’t know? Tiffany fancies him like mad.”
“Amelia, you ready for class?” James asked.
Justin was behind him. “What about Justin?” I whispered.
“There isn’t any one after him but you.” Patara said.
I nodded to her and walked towards James. Instead of stopping to walk with him, I walked right past him to class. He followed me closely; not bothering to try to take my hand or put his arm around me. When I went into AP Biology there were three seats open.
One was by a girl with blonde hair and the other two were at an empty desk. I quickly sat by the girl and started a conversation about pollution. “I’m surrey, what was your name?” she asked.
“I’m Amelia. What’s your name?” I said.
“I’m Kori.” she said.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Dani.” I said.
“Excuse me, Dani. Can I have your seat, please?” James asked from behind.
“Sure, James.” she said gathering her things.
She got up and moved to the empty desk only to be joined by a boy with glasses. “What’s up with you, Amelia?” James whispered.
“Not now.” I said.
“Then when?” he asked.
The teacher came in which saved me from breaking my own heart right there. Half way through class she had to leave due to an emergency in the office. “How about now?” he asked.
“I can’t do this, James.” I said.
“Do what? Stay in England? Be in this class?” he asked.
“Be with you.” I said.
He didn’t reply and when class was dismissed, he got up and left. When I got to French I asked if anyone had seen him. “He isn’t here. I’m surrey.” Jamie said.
“You did it then?” Patara asked.
“I did, but wishing I hadn’t more every minute.” I said.
My own heart was already in a million little pieces but now those pieces were going through a little furnace turning to ash, never to be repaired again. I sat through the class watching the door, waiting for James to come in. He never did. “Do you want to go see if he is at Greeks House?” Patara asked.
“I’ll go by myself.” I said.
“Okay.” she said.
As soon as we were dismissed I ran for it. I ran all the way to Greeks House. “Amelia, what are you doing here?” Trudy asked.
I ran past her, down the hall to James’s room. When I opened the door I saw him playing guitar. It was a sad song, a heart broken song. He hadn’t heard me running down the hall or come in his room. The song was more than I could handle just then. “James!” I yelled.
“What?” he asked.
He didn’t turn around or stop playing so I walked into his room and pulled the guitar from his hands. “Give it back, Amelia.” he said.
“No. Why did you skip French?” I said.
“It’s nothing that concerns you.” he said taking his guitar from my hands.
“Neither of us will leave this room until you give me the answer I except.” I told him.
“I didn’t skip, Amelia. Trudy came and pulled me out saying she needed my help with some things in town. She asked me to wait here until she was ready to leave.” he told me.
He still hadn’t turned around to face me, even when he was taking his guitar back. James had reached behind him and just grabbed it from my hands. “Look at me, James.” I commanded.
“So you can break my heart more? No, Tiffany was right about you.” he said.
“Who am I kidding!? I came here worried sick that something had happened to you and now this is how you act? You are just like… Jay!” I said.
I turned to leave but his hand closed around my wrist. “Let go of me, James!” I yelled.
“What did you mean that I’m just like Jay?” he asked.
His voice was different; it was scarred of the answer I was going to give him. “Jay acts the same way as you when we are face to face. He doesn’t look at me, doesn’t care what I say; pretends to be someone I can care about.” I told him.
“Then he isn’t your best friend.” James said.
“He is. Only because he is the only friend I have in America. My family sent me here to get a new start in a place where no one knew who I was."
He pulled me back and spun me around. James’s face was wet with tears. “I’m nothing like him. I don’t pretend to listen to you, I care about what you say, and I am looking at you.” he said.
“But you weren’t, is the point, James.” I told him.
“I’m surrey, Ames. I just didn’t want you to see me like this.” he said.
“You didn’t want me to see you crying?” I asked.
He nodded and said, “Guys aren’t supposed to cry about things like that.”
“Does it look like it really matters to me, James? I don’t care if you cry because you fail a test or if it’s because your puppy died or if it’s just because you are having a bad day… but I still want to know what’s getting at you.” I told him.
“I broke up with Tiffany a week before you got here and now she is jealous of you.” he said.
“I knew she was jealous, but I never knew why.” I said.
“I know that Patara told you that you stole me from Tiffany, but she only said that because Tiffany made it sound like you had. She hadn’t told Patara that I broke up with her and I thought Tiffany had told her.” he told me.
“So did Tiffany ask Patara to say that?” I asked
We were sitting on the, bed now, holding hands. “I don’t know if she did or not, but it was a lie what Patara told you. You never stole me from anyone.” he promised.
“Do you swear?” I asked.
“Of course.” he told me.
Someone knocked on the door and James whispered, “Its Tiffany. Hide over there so you know what she says.”
I got up after kissing his cheek. When I was hiding in his closet; door slightly cracked, James answered the door. “I heard Amelia broke up with you in first hour.” she said. “I told you she would, and then move right on to Justin.”
“Who on Earth ever told you she was going to move onto Justin?” he asked.
“She did of course. It was all part of the plan this morning. Justin asked me to stall you on the way down so you could see that she was cheating on you with him.” Tiffany told him.
My chin dropped. Justin had set the whole thing up… or had he really thought that? It was hard to know so I kept listening. “Justin doesn’t have the brains to do that, Tiffany. We all know it was part of your poorly planned scheme to get me back.”
“How dare you! I came here because I was worried that…” she began.
“That I would forgive her?” he asked.
“Exactly.” she said.
“You were right to worry about that. I have forgiven her and she knows that.” he said.
Well he wasn’t lying. I did know that, right when he said that. Tiffany had always been an idiot but now she was starting to show James her true colors. My phone buzzed in my pocket so quickly I turned my back to the door and checked my messages.
“Will you please come home? J.” it said.
My phone buzzed again and I went to the new message. “Hey, honey. I’m really wishing I hadn’t sent you away to England. I will be more than happy to come get you if you want to come back home.” it was a text from my mother.
I locked my phone as I heard Tiffany stomp down the hall. The door to the closet opened and James pulled me out by the hand. “Don’t stay in there all day.” he said.
I didn’t answer I just buried my face into his shoulder and started to cry. “What’s wrong, Amelia?” he asked putting his arms around me.
“I want to go home.” I said.
“Don’t leave.” he said. “I’d have to follow you if you did and then my parents would kill me.”
“Come with me!” I said suddenly.
“I will if you can convince my parents.” he told me.
“Give me a number to reach them at.”
“You are really going to try to convince them?”
“You bet I am.”
He wrote down a number on a sheet of paper and handed it to me. I dialed the number and hit call. “Hello?” a man said.
“Is this James’s father?” I asked.
“Yes it is.” he said.
“Hi, I’m Amelia Laraine Kavanagh. I’m from America and I was hoping that you would let him come back to America with me.” I said.
“I don’t know Miss Kavanagh. He’s never been to a different country.” he said.
“My mother would love to let him stay in our spare room. She’s always trying to find someone that will hang out with me so I won’t be bored.” I told him.
“He needs to focus on his school work. Can you promise me that he will put his grades before girlfriends?” he asked.
“Trust me, sir; James will have no problem putting grades before girls.” I told him.
“I want to meet you and your mother before I agree to let him go. Thank you, for calling and asking. That earns you a favor point.” he said.
He hung up and I looked at James and said, “He’s agreed to meet me and my mother. If he likes us enough he’ll let you come, but only if you put your grades first.”
James put his arms around and spun me in a wide circle. “I can’t believe it! I might get to go to America!” he said.
He put me down, took my hand in his, and brought it to his lips. James placed a gentle kiss on my hand then my forehead. “So are we back together?” I asked.
“Like it never even happened.” he said.
“We should get to class.” I told him.
He put his arm around my shoulders and I put my arm around his waist. We walked down the path to the school and went to our Drama class. “You’re late.” Mr. Baffler said.
“Surrey.” we said together.
Justin was in shock and so was Tiffany. “He was just in his room and she was nowhere to be found.” she whispered to him.
“Actually, I was in the restroom, Tiffany.” I told her.
“Take your seats, please.” Mr. Baffler said.
James sat next to Justin and I sat next to Tiffany. “So I heard what you were planning with Justin and I would like to say that you may not have to worry about that much longer and neither will he.” I told her.
“That’s cool. I’ll finally have James back and Justin will have you.” she said. “We could double date.”
“Tiffany and Justin, please act out scene ten from yesterday’s handout.” Mr. Baffler said.
“I am not going to kiss Justin!” Tiffany said.
“Hurtful!” he said.
“Amelia, fifteen points extra credit if you act out the scene.” Mr. Baffler said.
I looked at James and he nodded. Patara pushed me up, towards the stage. Justin grabbed my wrist to ensure I wouldn’t do a face plant into the stage. “Thank you.” I whispered.
He smiled and jumped onto the stage. I took the steps up and found the marked spot on the stage. “Liana, my love, I have come for.”
“So I see. My father shall check on me in an hour’s time, so we must…” I began.
That was when the fire alarm went off. “Everyone take the designated escape route out of the building!” Mr. Baffler said.
James pulled me down from the stage and we walked outside. “Did you do that?” I whispered.
“I was there the whole time, remember.” he said.
Austin ran past us and then Justin. Quickly I reached out and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “Justin, what happened?” I asked.
“Austin pulled the fire alarm.” he said.
“Leave the kid alone. You’ve pulled enough pranks on him its natural he’d want to get back at you for it.” James said.
“It was your idea wasn’t it!” I said.
“No. He was thinking about doing it so he started talking about it as soon as Jason said for you to go up there. I just listened and didn’t say anything.” he said.
I punched his arm and said, “You got to do a scene with me yesterday and now I get fifteen extra credit to simply kiss him and you get that taken from me for not telling Austin not to pull the alarm. Thanks a lot, James.” I said speeding up a little.
Justin sped up little. He put his arm around my shoulders and said, “We can always ask Jason if we can do the scene out here. After all this scene was originally written to take place outside under a tree.”
“That’s a fantastic idea!” I said.
We walked over to Mr. Baffler and I said, “Can we do that scene out here?”
“Are you eager to kiss Justin?” he asked.
“No, I’d just fancy those extra credit points.” I said.
“Well it was originally written to be performed outside under a tree.” he said.
“That’s what I said.” Justin said.
“I want my Drama class to gather over here right now!” Mr. Baffler called.
There was a shuffle of feet and then the class was gathered under the tree. I looked through the lines and then said, “Mr. Baffler, in the script it says there is supposed to be a father for this scene.”
He looked at the script in my hand and said, “Right. James you are the father.”
“Um… I’d rather he wasn’t, sir.” Justin said.
“Why?” Mr. Baffler asked.
“Well, it says here that the father throws a stage punch but I’m afraid James won’t make it a stage punch.” he said.
“Of course he will, Justin. Stop being a chicken.” I said.
“Fine.” he said.
“You may begin.” Mr. Baffler said.
“Liana, my love, I have come for.” Justin said.
“So I see. My father shall check on my in an hour’s time, so we must make hast to Herington.” I said.
“What’s this I see? Liana, where do you think you’re going with this man!?” James said.
“Father!” I said.
“Thy daughter is running with me. We shall go away for hundreds of miles more than thy eyes shall ever see.” Justin said.
“Thy shall not leave!” James said.
Justin pulled me to him and kissed me. It was sooner than it was supposed to be in the scene. James pulled him off me and actually hit Justin. “Stay away from my girlfriend!” he said.
“It was in that scene.” he said putting his hand to his mouth.
He removed his hand and saw blood. Justin jumped to his feet and moved to hit James. Before he could I stepped in front of him. His punch connected with my ear, which on James would have been his jaw. “Amelia!”
I wasn’t sure who said it but I knew it was Mitchell who was carrying me to Greeks House. His mussels were huge and his chest moved as he breathed. “Amelia, are you okay!” that was Jamie.
“Of course she’s not! She just been hit in the ear by Justin!” this time it was Amy.
Mitchell lay me down on my bed. I heard someone pick up my guitar and then began to strum.
“A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi Niña tiene sueno bendito sea, bendito sea. A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi Niña tiene sueno bendito sea, bendito sea. Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora. Ruisenor que en la selva cantando llora. Calla mientras la cuna sea balansea. A la nanita nana, nanita ella. A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi Niña tiene sueno bendito sea, bendito sea. Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora. Ruisenor que en la selva cantando llora. Calla mientras la cuna sea balansea. A la nanita nana, nanita ella.”
I knew that had to be James but the only reason I knew it was him was because I knew he was the only one who knew that song. The worst part was the only reason I knew the words he was singing was because I could read his lips. My hearing was gone in both ears.
“Mitchell, say something into my ears.” I thought I said.
I moved my lips and spoke but I heard no sound. Mitchell moved and I felt him breathing on my neck but I heard no sound. “Show me where Justin is!” I yelled.
Still I heard no sound. James stood in front of me, took my hand, and supposedly said, “Can you hear me?”
I pointed to my ear and then his mouth. He seemed know what I meant and nodded. “I can’t hear anything.” I told him.
He took me down to Justin’s room and opened the door. I didn’t know what was going down until Justin picked up a pencil and paper. Justin started to write something and then he handed it to me. It said,
I’m really sorry about your hearing. I never in my life thought you loved him so much as to take a punch for him. Forgive me, please.
I took the pencil and wrote,
It won’t matter if I do or not because I am going back to America. This will be one of your last few days with me and now I don’t ever get to hear your voice or Jamie’s voice or James’s voice or Mitchell’s voice. I bet you wish you could take that back now, don’t you?
I handed it to Justin and he read it. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes. “Don’t go.” was what it appeared he was saying.
Instead of replying I picked up my phone and sent my mother a text. “Hey mom. I’m surrey it took so long to reply but I wanted to ask you something.”
After a few minutes I got her reply. “Sure go ahead. Ask away, dear.”
I thought of how to say it and then decided on, “Is it okay if I bring a friend home with me?”
I pressed send and then said, “James, come here.”
He came over and held up his hand. His hands moved swiftly from one letter to the other. “Yeah?” he said using the letters of sign language.
“My mother is going to reply if you can come with me back to America.” I whispered.
He smiled and nodded showing he had heard me. My phone vibrated and I opened the message. “Sure. I have a feeling I know who. I actually already am in England and heading up to the school now.”
“She’s here in England already.” I told him.
I took James by the hand and pulled him along with me to the school. A few minutes after we reached the school and taxi pulled in. My mother climbed out and ran to me. “Mum!” I said.
She put her arms around me and pulled me into her warm embrace. I could feel her breathing into my ear but then her lips started moving near my ear. My mother stepped back and then said something else. Quickly I whipped out my cell phone and sent her another message. “I can’t hear you. I got hit in the ear and lost my hearing.”
She pulled out her phone and read the message. Her eyes filled with tears and she put her arms around me again. James was still behind me so I said, “James this is my mother. Mom this is James.”
She took a step back and said something to him. He nodded and then replied to her. “We were going to meet his father to see if he could come, but he wants to meet you too.” I said.
James took my hand and looked towards Greeks House. He said something to my mother and we started towards the house with her on our trail. She walked up the stairs to Earl’s office. After a few minutes she came down and took my other hand. The three of us walked out and to the taxi.
I got in the backseat with James and my mother sat in the front seat. James put his arm around me and used his other to hold my hand. He put his lips to the side of my head and said something. Of course I knew it wasn’t intended for me, but the driver, but not being able to hear his voice brought tears to my eyes.
He and my mother were talking about what had happened, I had no doubt. She looked back at us and took a picture with her phone. After a few seconds I opened a text message and saw the picture of us. “If only you could hear how highly he speaks of you. We are going to stop at the emergency room on the way to his father’s house.” it said.
The message was from my mother and I said, “I love you, Mom.” James squeezed my hand and then I added, “I love you, too, James.”
He kissed my temple as we pulled into a hospital. James opened his door and got out. I got out after him and allowed him to lead me through the hospital. We stopped at a counter and he said something to a nurse. She got up and led us through the hospital.
We stopped outside a door and she knocked. The door opened to a woman sitting at a desk. They exchanged a few words and I looked around. I looked at the woman behind the desk and saw her name tag. She saw and said something in my direction. My eye brows went up and I looked at James.
He looked at Laraine and said something to her. She nodded and motioned to me to sit down. I walked to the chair next to hers and sat down. Laraine held something up and said something. The next thing I knew was she was sticking something in my ear. No beeping, no chairs scraping floor as James and my mother sat down, not even the sound of my heart could reach my ears.
Laraine looked at my mother and said something. My mother shook her head and James put his arm around her. They were getting along so well, it was like he was part of the family. Now Laraine was sticking something else in my ear. It was a type of hearing aid.
As she turned up the hearing aid she started saying something. “…hand when you can hear my voice.” was all I heard.
My hand went up and then she stopped. It ws only in one ear but it was a start. “How much did you hear?” she asked.
“From where you said hand.” I told her.
She nodded and took it out and put another in my other ear. Laraine said something else but I heard, “…you can hear my voice.”
I raised my hand, assuming that was that she had said. “What did you hear?”
“From where you said you.” I told her.
She took it and said something to my mother. James got up and walked over to me. He held his hand up to his ear like a phone. I pulled it out of my pocket and handed it to him. Slowly he typed something in and when he was done showed it to me. It said, “Doctor Laraine said that all you needed was a pair of hearing aids but the ones that you need won’t be in for another few hours. In other words you will be able to hear again.”
I got up and in my Bryana I hugged Laraine. She put her arms around me and patted my back. Even though I couldn’t hear I began to sing the Spanish song that James and I had sung together. He smiled and started to sing along with me. My mother joined as well, since she was the one who had taught it to me.
We got in the taxi and the dude drove out of the parking lot. James told him where to go. He held my hand all the way to his father’s house. I looked out the window as we pulled into a driveway twenty minutes later. “I won’t be able to hear him.” I muttered to James.
He held out his hand for my phone and typed in. “Don’t worry. He won’t judge on that after he finds out why you can’t.”
“I love you.” I whispered.
“I love you more.” he typed in.
I smiled up at him and he kissed my forehead. The taxi stopped and we all got out. A tall man walked out and greeted us. They exchanged words and then James’s father held his hand out to me. I shook his hand and read his lips as he said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amelia.”
“Please, sir, the pleasure is all mine.” I said.
He pulled James into a hug and then they led us in. It would have been nice to be able hear what they were talking about, if they were talking at all. James’s father suddenly looked at me then back at James. James must have been telling him the story of my hearing lose. His father patted his back and nodded, which must have been a good sign.
My mother sent me a text message that said, “I’m going to go get your hearing aids. I won’t have my phone so don’t worry. James is going to use it to talk to you until I get back. His father is very grateful to you for what you did for his son. Things are looking good.”
I nodded to her as she handed James her phone. He nodded and said something to her. James reached behind him for my hand. My mother turned back to the taxi as I took his hand. His father opened the front door and smiled at me.
James led me in to the dining room. “Do you want some pizza?” I asked turning to them.
My phone vibrated and I read the message from James. “We have a cook to make it for us. Don’t worry about it, love.”
I nodded and sat next to him at the table. He put his hand on my knee and started talking to his father. His father looked at me and asked me a question. It looked like he said, “Did Justin ever show any interest in you before that scene?”
“I’m sorry; did you just ask if I knew Justin liked me before what happened?” I asked to make sure.
He nodded so I said, “I did know and I tried telling him that I fancy James not him, but he didn’t listen.”
His eye brows went up and he smiled at my honesty. We did the best to communicate until my mother returned with my hearing aids. It was about two hours before she got back. I saw a maid bustling to get the door. My mother came in and pulled me out.
We walked out into the hall and she brushed my hair behind my ear. She put the hearing aid in my left ear and then my right ear. “Can you hear me now, honey?” she asked.
“Oh, mom!” I said hugging her.
She put her arms around me as James came out. My mother went into the dining room and left us alone. “You doing okay now?” he asked.
“Oh, James, I missed your voice so much!” I said hugging him.
“It’s nice to know you can hear again.” he whispered in my ear.
We each stepped back and kissed my forehead. He lead me into the dining room and his father said, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, sir.” I said.
“That’s good to know. Now about James going to America with you.” he said.
James took my hand and squeezed it. “I am more than willing to let him go on the condition that he keeps his grades up and goes to college. He has to call at least once a month and check in and send me proof of his grades. Each summer the three of you come and stay here.”
“I guarantee that all your conditions will be met.” my mother said.
“I wasn’t finished yet, Mrs. Kavanagh.” he said.
“Then by all means finish.” I said.
“You must be prepared for random checkups in America by myself whenever I feel like checking in on James.” he said. “That is my list of requirements.”
“And they all will be met, sir.” I said.
We all stood up and walked to the entrance hall. James father held his hand out to he and instead of shaking it and hugged him. “Thank you so much, sir! I swear you won’t regret giving James this experience.’ I said.
“I don’t think I will either.” he said.
“Come on, honey. We need to get you two back to the school so you can get packed.” my mother said.
She took my hand and James took my other after giving his father a hug. “I’ll miss you, Dad.” he said.
“Good luck, my boy.” he said.
We walked out to the taxi and got in. “Can you take us back to House of Greeks, please?” I said to the driver.
“Yes, ma’am.” he said.
He drove down the highway, on the left, until he got to the school. James had put his arm around me again by the time we got there. As we got out of the car I was charged by a crowd of well-wishers. “Amelia, thank the gods, you are okay.” Justin said pushing through the crowd.
“Okay! I have to use hearing aids for the rest of my life, Justin!” I said.
“I’m sorry.” he said. “Please, you have to forgive me.”
“I could never forgive you, Justin. If it hadn’t been my ear it would have been James’s jaw.” I told him.
“At least tell me you aren’t going back to America so soon.” he said.
“I can’t tell you that.” I told him.
“At least you’ll be away from James. Long distance relationships never work out.” he muttered.
James stepped forward and said, “Actually, Justin, it may interest you to know that she won’t be away from me. We will both be going to America.”
“You’re kidding! I bet your father doesn’t know that!” he said.
“Then you’d be wrong. Get away from my daughter, Justin.” my mother said. “You are never going to see her again after what you did to her.”
“Mrs. Kavanagh, as they no doubt left out, I intended to hit…” he began,
“James. I know. They didn’t leave that out, but poor Amelia didn’t know what I was saying back since she couldn’t hear!” my mother told him.
“If it makes it any better, I’ll gladly pay for the hearing aids.” he said.
“Out of our way, Justin.” I said.
He moved to the side and watched as we walked towards Greeks House. I heard people running down the stairs and come from the hall. “Amelia! You’re okay!” Mitchell said hugging me.
“Thanks to these hearing aids, I am.” I said.
“Don’t worry about Justin. He is in a lot of trouble with Earl and the rest of us.” he said.
“Thanks guys. And please, visit me and James in America over the school year or summer at his house.” I said.
“You’re both going to America?” Jamie asked.
I nodded and said, “We need a group picture. Get everyone down here.”
Jamie ran up the stairs and got Amy and Patara. Mitchell went and got Austin and Justin from the crowd. I knew I could be civil enough to have picture taken with him but not too much longer after that. My mother came in with a camera.
In the back row were James, me, Justin, Patara, and Jamie. In the front row on their knees were Austin, Amy, Mitchell, and Tiffany. It was actually in that order. I took a deep breath and put my arms around Justin and James. They both put their arms around me. My mother took the picture and then I bolted up stairs to my room.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks and then Justin came in. He knocked on the door and waited for me to speak. I just motioned for him to come in as I picked up my guitar. Slowly I walked over to my bed and put it down. Justin watched me walk in circles around my room grabbing clothes and folding them putting them in my suit case.
He walked over to my desk and opened the drawer with his letters in it. Slowly he picked them up and handed them to me. “These are how I want you to remember me. A nice guy who really does care about you. I want the best for you and if you think that the best is James, then okay. If you’re happy then I suppose I am too. But promise me that if he ever hurts you in any way, you will write me.” he said.
I looked at them and tossed them in the trash can by my desk. Immediately I sighed and pulled them out. “It is good thing I didn’t set them on fire before I threw them away.” I said to him.
“I really am surrey for that.” he said.
“I understand, Justin. You didn’t mean to and I just haven’t had time or energy to be mad at James for hitting you first. I’m not sure if that detail was mentioned when he told my mother and his father the story. I couldn’t hear at the time.” I told him.
“So you are mad at him for hitting me then?” he asked.
“Of course I am. I had never really made up my mind. One day it was you I liked more, then him, then you, then him again. I was so confused when it happened I was angry with the one person I knew I shouldn’t have been. I want you to come with me to, but you must promise not to hit James anymore.”
“Cross my heart, hope to die.”
“Call your parents and see if you can then, pal.” I said handing him my phone.
He dialed a number and then said, “Mummy! Is it okay if I go to America with James, his girlfriend, and her mother?”
I heard a chatter and then he said, “Thanks, mummy.”
He handed me my phone and I said, “So that’s a yes?”
“That is in fact the happiest yes she has ever given me.” he said.
“Well then you had better go pack as well.” I told him.
I threw the rest of my clothes on my bed as he walked out. A few seconds later I went to the bathroom and pulled out my make-up. Patara came in and said, “I’m really going to miss you, America.”
“I’ll miss you to, England.” I said.
She laughed and put her arms around my waist. I put my arms around her and didn’t let her go for over a minute. “Please, you must come visit me, Patara.” I said.
“There is no doubt in my mind I will! If I can I’ll move to America!” she said.
“Do it!” I laughed.
We walked back to my room and she helped me finish packing. “I wonder how my mother is handling Earl telling him she is pulling out three students.” I said suddenly.
“Is Tiffany going back with you?” she asked.
“No. Actually, Justin is.” I told her.
“Justin? America? With you and James? That’s a disaster in the making.” she said.
“I know but… don’t tell anyone… I love him.” I said.
“Well what about James?” she asked.
“I love him to. I’m in a state of utter confusion, Patara. I don’t know what to do any more.” I said.
That was when my mother came in. “You ready, darling. The boys are ready to start a fist fight over you, already. Are you sure you want to bring Justin?” she said.
“Mom, Justin is coming.” I told her.
I gave Patara one last hug and went down stairs. Jamie, Amy, Mitchell, Tiffany, and Austin were all waiting at the door. “We all are going to miss you so much, Amelia.” Mitchell said.
“We wanted you to have this.” Tiffany said holding out a necklace.
“This is the Eye of Myths.” I said.
“You’ve heard of it?” she asked.
“Of course. It was what you used to solve the mystery.” I said putting it on.
Mitchell hugged me first and then the others did to. “I want you to have individual pictures with each of them.” she said.
Austin was first and he put his arm around my waist and I put my arm around his shoulders. Jamie put her arms around my waist in a hug and my mother took the picture. Amy her took my arm and my mother took the picture again. Patara did the same thing Jamie had. Mitchell lifted me off my feet and held me in his arms. It scared me a little so I put my arm around his neck. Tiffany stood next to me and put her arm around my waist. I put my arm around her and then my mother took the picture.
“I can’t believe I’m leaving already.” I told them.
“Neither can we.” they said.
“I’ll never take this necklace off.” I told them.
“Thank you so much for being here. Even however long your stay was.” Mitchell said.
“Here’s my address. If you are ever in California look us up, during the school year. Summers we will be at James’s house.” I said.
“We’ll definitely look you up.” Austin said.
“I’ll be in California soon so I will have to look you up. My dad said he would take me soon so I can check out the college there.” Mitchell said.
“Alright. We have to go, darling.” It was nice meeting you guys. If you are ever in America come see us.” my mother said.
We had one last group hug and we were off. Mother walked me to the taxi and had me sit in between James and Justin. “Why did you bring him?” James asked.
“Why did you forgive me after what happened the night I got here?” I asked.
“Because I love you.” he said. “You love him?”
“This is way intense. Um… the night I got here Justin and I hung out in my room and… I kind of did fall for him.” I told James.
Justin’s jaw dropped and so did James’s. “If you love him then why don’t date him instead of me?” James asked.
“I love you to.” I said.
“You love us both?” Justin asked.
“No… maybe… yes.” I said.
“That’s the line there, Amelia. We are over.” James said looking out his window.
“Then I supposed that makes my choice easier. Doesn’t it, Justin?” I said.
“Yeah, it does.” he said.
“Amelia, that wasn’t what I meant.” James said.
“Well, unless my hearing aid knows how change words then I don’t know how that couldn’t mean you are breaking up with me.” I told him.
“I don’t even recall us making it official we were back together.” he said.
“Oh, well then you don’t mind this.” I said taking Justin’s hand.
“I’m not going to get in the middle… oh, who am I kidding?” he said.
He put his arm around me and pressed his lips to my temple. Justin was so nice and sweet when he wanted to be. I knew I loved him even after what had happened to my hearing. James’s face was blazing red with anger. “Get off my girl.” he said.
“I don’t recall you ever making it official, James.” Justin said.
“Well it is now. Get your hands off of her.” he said.
“James, stop it. It’s a little late for that… for now.” I said.
James looked back out the window of the taxi as I put my head on Justin’s shoulder. “One more thing, darling. Jay is waiting for us at the airport.” my mother said.
“I don’t care if Jay is here or not.” I said.
“What is wrong with you? He thought you’d be excited that he is well enough to travel.” she said.
“There are things he never told us.” I said.
“Like what?” she asked.
“Tiffany is his cousin.” I said.
“You didn’t know that?” she asked.
“You did?"
“Of course I did! He told us three years ago the night before the incident with your father.” she said.
“Mother!” I said quickly.
“What? I thought you told them.”
“No, I didn’t.”
James looked at my arms and I nodded. “She told me.” he said.
“No, I didn’t James!” I said.
I had, had enough of hearing him. Slowly I reached up to my ear and pulled out the hearing aid on James’s side. Justin looked at me and whispered, “Are you that annoyed with him?”
“Yes, I am. I don’t know why I ever liked him.” I muttered.
James had heard but he didn’t say anything. “Amelia, did you take you medicine this morning?” my mother asked.
James said something but I only heard a few words. “Let me see you pill bottle right now, Amelia.” my mother said.
I pulled it out of my shoulder and handed it to her. She opened the bottle and counted them. “Either you didn’t take one today or you didn’t take one yesterday.” she said.
As I put my hearing aid back in James said, “I saw her take one yesterday.”
“Patara made sure she took it this morning though.” Justin said.
“Amelia Laraine Kavanagh, take this pill right now!” my mother said.
She handed me a water bottle and a pill. I put the pill in my mouth and drank the water. “Open your hands.” Justin said.
I held out my hands and opened my hands. “Open your mouth.” he said.
I looked at him and opened my mouth to show him I had taken the pill. He nodded and I closed my mouth. Justin put his hand on my cheek and kissed me. James didn’t do anything about but I on the other hand kissed him back.
“That should have been our first kiss.” Justin whispered.
I nodded in agreement. It took us another hour before we got to the airport. The medicine had kicked in by then and I was back to my normal self. “I’m sorry.” I said.
“Who is that one directed to?” my mother asked.
“All of you.” I said. “I was stupid to act like that.”
“But was it true? Do you love us both?” Justin asked.
“I like you both, yes. But I’m too young to know what love is.” I told him.
“We can make this fair and say that whoever you fell for first gets to date you.” James said.
“I like that idea. It’s an even shot at your heart.” Justin said.
The taxi came to a stop and we all got out and got our things from the trunk. We went into the airport and set down our luggage. Jay found us and hugged me, spinning me in a circle. “Jay!” I said. “I thought you weren’t going to make it.”
“Turns out they were looking at the wrong person’s results. I was fine the entire time. We aren’t going back to that hospital.” he said. “You must be her friend James! Nice to finally meet the man who took care of my best friend.”
James shook Jay’s hand and then said, “This is my buddy Justin. Justin this is Jay, Amelia’s best friend.”
“Nice to meet you Jay.” Justin said holding out his hand.
“I don’t like you.” Jay said.
“Jay!” I said.
“What?”
“Why don’t you like Justin? You just met him.”
“James kind of knows my cell phone number and he told me what happened with your hearing.”
“James!” I snapped.
“Surrey.” he said.
Both Justin and James were still waiting for me to decide. I didn’t have to decide; I already knew which one I liked more, but I wasn’t going to choose in font of Jay. “Can you get our luggage on the plane, please, Jay.” I said.
“Sure.” he said.
He grabbed my bag first and left. “James, Justin, you have to promise that whichever one of you I choose, that you will still be friends.” I said.
They nodded as I sat down. “Nothing will destroy our friendship.” Justin promised.
In truth it wasn’t him I wanted to hear it from, it was James, but James didn’t say anything; like he knew it was his.
“James, you were sweet and caring from the moment I met you. Justin, you were wild and kind of rambunctious but you were also kind and funny and sweet and charming.” I said.
Jay came in and said, “You know, just from the looks of Justin, I’d say he is a little bit rambunctious. I know how you don’t date people like that so I’m betting that James is your boyfriend.”
“Not now, Jay.” I said.
“Sorry.” he said.
Justin walked away saddened by what Jay had said. “So that’s it. It’s me?” James said.
I couldn’t stand seeing Justin’s heartbroken like that. “No.” I said.
I walked towards Justin and threaded my hands around his waist. He turned around, tears flowing down his cheeks. “You don’t date rambunctious people.” he said.
“I also don’t kiss people I don’t date.” I said.
He smiled and kissed me. “I thought you liked James.” he said.
“Justin, it’s you. It has always been you.” I told him.
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Kelsey
Kelsey