Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 15

October 22nd, 2019

"I'm flying out today," Ben announced at the breakfast table. My head perked up in surprise.

"Where are you going?" I asked, instantly loving the idea of a night of freedom. I even had the day off of work thanks to Janie knowing about Friday night.

"Back to Lecce. I have some things I need to wrap up there," he answered, refusing to elaborate on anything else. I nodded, focusing my attention back to my breakfast.

Ben left quickly enough, leaving Javi and me to get ready for school. I was moving rather slowly, due to the injuries I'd received Saturday afternoon. That had been quite an unpleasant evening, trying to patch me up. I'd even had to have Javi stitch the gash on my shoulder that I hadn't been able to properly reach. His stitches had hurt more and were messier, but they sealed the wound efficiently enough. I also didn't have much mobility in my left wrist due to a sprain, which meant I had to struggle through using my right hand. I was a natural-born lefty, which always seemed to surprise people.

***

The first half of the day went by quickly enough, and I found myself sitting with Neo in psychology class. Ms Brill had let us choose our seats for the day as we were only watching a film - something about prosopagnosia or whatever the word was. Alan had looked quite disappointed when I'd left to sit with Neo, but he was also holding back from talking to me. He'd barely spoken two words in English and had left with a faint 'goodbye'. I knew he felt bad, so I decided I'd have to make it up to him later and tell him it wasn't his fault.

"Are you sitting with Janie today?" Neo asked as we filed out of the classroom.

"I don't know. I didn't make any plans with her," I answered, scanning for my friend.

"Well do you think she'd mind if you sat with me?" He glanced at me with those warm chocolate brown eyes that made my heart just melt. Butterflies tickled my stomach and I fought to push them away. Crushes were for children, and in my situation, I don't think I would ever be able to have a boyfriend, let alone a friend, and I was already hiding three.

"I don't know," I repeated, feeling a tad overwhelmed. Neo turned to face me.

"Please?" he begged. "Just one time," I sighed, smiling softly.

"Okay," He grinned at my answer, grabbing my hand and guiding me to his table. There were already a few guys sitting around, laughing and joking around. They didn't seem so scary anymore. I quickly changed my theory, however, because as Neo and I approached they frowned at me.

"Still dragging the new girl around?" One boy teased. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment and quickly tugged my hand free from Neo's.

"Shut up for once in your life, Tommy, and say hi," Neo snapped back. Tommy only smirked.

"Hola chica," he greeted. Neo nodded in approval and sat down, gesturing for me to sit beside him.

"Mia, that's Tommy, obviously, and that's Dylan and Seb, and then that's my cousin, Des, and Emilio, my brother," He pointed to two boys, one with dark curly hair and sharp features, who was giving me a glare, and a younger one with messy blond hair and a deep scowl set onto his face. I offered a shy smile to the boys, forcing myself to wave slightly.

"So you're Italian, huh?" Des challenged, still staring me down. I nodded. "So you can understand Spanish?"

"Only a little," I answered. Neo shot a warning look towards his cousin.

"Des, quit interrogating her," he instructed. Des only rolled his eyes.

"So Mia, how are you liking New York?" Dylan asked me, a grin plastered across his lips.