Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 21

October 30th, 2019

"I am so sorry I didn't sit with you at lunch," I blurted to Neo after school. "Alan asked me and I felt bad so I didn't say no, and-" Neo cut me off with a chuckle.

"Mia, it's all good, seriously. I know you're friends with him too, you're allowed to sit with whoever you like," he assured me. We were walking towards his motorcycle in the school parking lot. He'd been giving me a ride to the elementary school most days since he often had to get his younger sisters too.

"Are you sure?" I asked meagerly. He nodded.

"Yes, I'm sure. It's your life, you live it," If only he knew how wrong he was. I took the helmet he handed me, securing it around my head. It was a little big but only because I was so small. I wrapped my arms around his waist as we took off, speeding through the streets of New York.

We arrived pretty quickly, parking along the sidewalk. I hopped off, returning the helmet as he unfastened his.

"Well I'm glad I got to see you at least for a little bit today," Neo said as we walked up to the gates. We still had a few minutes until the kids got out of school, so we often would chat for a while.

"I have two classes with you," I reminded him. He shrugged.

"That's different," he countered. I rolled my eyes.

"If you say so," I replied.

"I do say so," He paused for a moment. "Are you working today?" I nodded.

"Yeah, but... I don't think you should come in," His face fell slightly.

"Why not? Is something wrong?"

"No no, it's just Alan and Harry are coming in so we can all study for our physics exam tomorrow," I said softly. Neo's eyes widened slightly before he shrugged.

"Oh yeah, I'm in their class," he noted. "But don't worry about it, I'll stay clear. It's neutral territory and I respect your choices," Part of me felt relieved but part of me also felt a little guilty.

"Are you sure? You could come with me," I asked again. Neo sighed playfully, giving me a teasing look.

"You worry way too much," he informed me with a smile. I frowned.

"I'm serious. If it bothers you I won't do it," He grabbed both of my shoulders, looking at me face-to-face.

"Mia, I am serious. I want whatever you want. If you want to study with them I'm totally fine with that, okay? I promise, friends don't hate on each other's friends," I wanted to object to his statement, as both sides frequently talked badly about the other, but I refrained, knowing he was giving me his good-to-go. I liked how he made me feel free, and not completely smothered by his overprotectiveness. When we'd first met, he'd acted like he was the only one who could be around me, but I was glad he was helping me be comfortable with everyone. He was a good friend - even though he still gave me butterflies every time he looked at me. I couldn't help it, his beautiful brown eyes just made me melt.

"Okay," I murmured softly.

***

"Hey Mia," Harry greeted as he and Alan walked into the cafe. I smiled, giving them a little wave. I was busy making a series of drinks for a group of kids hanging out in one of the corner booths. They took a seat at the counter, pulling a textbook and journals from their backpacks. I quickly delivered the order before heading over. Alan was waving at Javi, who giggled and waved back.

"You guys ready?" Harry asked. "We've got the exam tomorrow," I nodded at the same time Alan answered with 'no way'.

We eventually worked out a system: Harry and Alan would read the course material aloud whenever I was close enough and we all asked questions to quiz each other. After an hour I was beginning to feel much better about the exam. Harry was surprisingly good at teaching. He even kept Alan focused which we all knew was no easy feat.

"I think I'm ready, how about you guys?" Harry asked, packing up his stuff.

"Yes," I said brightly. "I think I finally understand it, Grazie Harry,"

"Well I think I'm still pretty fucked," Alan said honestly. "But definitely slightly less fucked than I could've been, thanks dude," Harry only rolled his eyes.

"At least I got something through that thick skull of yours," he teased. Alan just shrugged, sipping on his iconic strawberry milkshake.

"How do you do this all the time?" he questioned me, his eyes flicking around the cafe.

"I don't know, it's not that hard," I replied. "I kind of like it. It's very peaceful here. What about you, why don't you work?" I regretted the question as soon as it left my mouth. "Oh, nevermind," I mumbled. Alan and Harry exchanged a look.

"Is there anything you want to know about the gang?" Alan asked softly. I blinked in surprise. Why was he letting out information? I glanced towards Harry, unease evident in my eyes. I hadn't quite figured out who was a part of which gang - or if they were in a gang at all.

"Yeah, I am," Harry answered the question I hadn't even asked yet. "So are the rest of the guys," I nodded slowly.

"Do you guys fight a lot?" My voice came out in more of a whisper than it should have. Alan and Harry both nodded.

"Yeah, kinda,"

"Not all the time," Harry added quickly.

"What do you do then?" I continued. "Sorry, that's a bit of a weird question,"

"No, you're fine," Alan responded. "Our gang specifically does lesser things I guess. The triplets are super into mugging people because they go in threes, sometimes we sell weapons, vandalism, I don't know, this feels weird to be saying out loud," I shuddered internally. What he said wasn't necessarily bad per se, just unsettling.

"I'm pretty sure the Serpents got into drug dealing a while back," Harry said. "Not trying to hate on Neo, but they're way worse than us. We fight dirtier, but they do the dirty work," I still wasn't scared of Neo. He was different - less aggressive. I'd seen his calm side, I saw it every day. And it wasn't that I didn't trust or like Alan, Alan was just colder. He was broody and angry and violent. I felt bad to be 'picking' sides like that but it was just my honest truth.

"Why did you even start in the first place?" I asked. "The gangs, I mean," Both boys shrugged, taking a minute to think of an answer.

"I got into fighting when I was about eleven. I'd just lost my sister," Alan trailed off ruefully. "But I guess I didn't get started until I was really about thirteen. Eli and the triplets got into about then, my friends started, and it just sort of happened," he finished. I nodded.

"What was your sister like?" I asked gently. They both shared another funny look.

"She was everything to me," Alan said, a small smile gracing his lips. "We were inseparable before we got sent into the system. She was so pretty and fun and amazing," He gazed at me longingly. "I miss her a lot,"

"Is she...?"

"No," Alan said firmly. "I refuse to believe she's dead. She's out there somewhere, I just know it," I smiled supportively.

"She sounds lovely," I commented.

"Yeah," Harry added. "She is," Alan elbowed him, and Harry gave me a sheepish smile.

"Well, my shift isn't over for another hour but you guys are welcome to stay," I told them. Harry nodded enthusiastically, glancing at Alan.

"Yeah," they said together. "That sounds nice,"