Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 30

November 20th, 2019

Janie and I walked together from the school building, heading towards the parking lot after our last class of the day. We'd agreed to meet each other and walk out together. I wasn't working today, but I wanted to get extra time in with her as much as possible.

"I think something's going on over there," Janie said suddenly, squinting towards the parking lot. A small crowd of students were watching as a blur of boys were having it out on the pavement.

"Oh no," I murmured, dread forming in my stomach. "Is that..."

"Neo and Alan," Janie finished for me, confirming my fear.

We rushed over, hearing the grunts and shouts. They were both shouting insults and I heard my name once or twice. I pushed my way through the crowd in an attempt to get to them, but a strong pair of arms yanked me back. I glanced up to see Harry, his sharp blue eyes staring at mine with such intensity I was almost scared.

"Harry, let me go," I demanded, trying to get out of his grip.

"You need to stay back," he warned. "It's better for you not to get involved,"

"But they're hurting each other!" I cried, trying to push his arms off of me.

"I said stay out of it," he said through grit teeth. He was gripping my arms tightly, dead-set on preventing me from intervening. I continued to helplessly fight against him, watching Alan swing a punch to Neo. Both boys were bleeding and bruised, but both looked completely into it. I had to mentally remind myself that Neo was different.
"Harry, let me go!" I begged, trying my hardest to pull away from him.

"You're going to get hurt," he snapped. "I can't let you get in the way,"

"Harry Edwards, you let her go right now!" Janie commanded, appearing beside us. Harry loosened his grip on me in surprise and I stumbled forward.

"Damnit, Mia!" Harry muttered, reaching for me. I felt his fingers graze my arm but I'd already flung myself between the two boys.

"Mia, get out of the way!" Neo cried as I stepped in front of him. He roughly grabbed me by my shoulders, trying to shove me away, but I stood my ground, holding my arms out towards Alan.

"Stop," I told them. "Stop both of you," Alan was glaring at me, breathing hard.

"Amelia, get out of the way," His voice was dangerously low, and it shocked me to hear him say my full name. Both boys had welts and cuts, and both seemed equally as angry. Neo's grip tightened on my shoulders, and I had to resist the urge to scream out in pain as his thumb dug into the still-sore wound on my shoulder.

"What are you doing?!" he hissed in my ear. I ignored him.

"Alan, look at me," I said slowly. "Look at me," His stormy green eyes pierced mine, but quickly softened the longer he gazed at me. I tried to sound as gentle as possible, but my nerves were making my voice tremble. I moved out of Neo's grip, taking a step towards Alan.

"Just calm down, okay?" He eventually nodded as I reached him, gently taking his arm and tugging him back a step. "Let's go," I whispered. He shot one last dirty look at Neo before letting me lead him around to the side of the school where we'd first bumped into each other.

"I could've hit you, what the hell were you thinking?" Alan hissed, spinning me around to face him. I glared at him.

"I was helping the two of you," I argued. "If you'd gone on any longer one of you would've dropped," He shook his head, a scoff escaping his lips.

"Amelia, this is serious. I could've hurt you," He'd said my full name again.

"So?" I countered. "What's one punch going to do, Alan? You shouldn't have even been fighting in the first place!"