Chapter 5- Taunting Behaviours

[] A M E L I A []

I woke up with a sore throat today, probably because I had spoken more in the past two weeks than I did in the last couple of years. It was a long haul to get out of bed and make my way to the bathroom this morning because of it. When I finished getting ready for the day, I quickly headed to the café for breakfast. Once I was done eating, I started making my way to class.

It was English this morning, and as much as I loved the subject, a certain someone made it very hard to concentrate in it recently. With a sigh, I headed for the building. Once inside the classroom, I started heading towards my regular seat in the back. On my way up the ramp, my eyes involuntarily fleeted off to the side where Leo usually sat.

Surprisingly, he was already sitting in his spot. His arms were crossed over his books on the desk, and his head was resting on top of them. He was sleeping. I looked away quickly and made my way to my normal seat.

Although I momentarily felt good about flipping him off yesterday, guilt caught up with me soon after. There was no reason for me to so rash, since I had only talked to him a couple of times. It was rarely a direct conversation too. Moreover, there was no reason for me to hold his bruised and bloody hand. His knuckles were probably hurting when I made the movement. And Leo didn't look like someone who fought people for no reason, physically, that is. He just seemed like a normal guy who got into an accidental brawl. So maybe his rudeness was only there because he was hurting.

But for the first time in a while, I was curious.

I was curious as to why he got into the fight in the first place. I was curious as to who initiated the fight.

I was curious about Leo.

* * *

Another day went by in a breeze. Before I knew it, I was sitting in my sociology lecture with Andre again. The professor was droning on about a theory, and I was taking quick notes as I went along. However, my mind was preoccupied with too much.

I was mostly thinking about how I didn't have lunch with Andre and the rest yesterday. I couldn't. First, it's not like I had any of their numbers, and even if I did, I don't think I would've went. It's easier if I stay away from them.

This morning however, I was a little skeptical. I knew that Andre would try to get me to come with him again. So how was I to tell him that maybe it's better if I don't?

I sighed and continued scribbling down notes from the lecture. Halfway through the class, the professor stopped to play a video. And like any other college class, students turned to each other the moment the professor turned their back to us. Instinctively, I did as well.

I turned to Andre, only to see him already watching me with a questioning gaze.

"Where were you yesterday during lunch?" he asked with a pout. "I even saved a spot for you."

"Uh, in my dorm," I muttered.

Andre gasped.

"Sorry, I just wasn't feeling well," I half-lied.

Andre made a 'tsk tsk' sound and I decided to turn the conversation around for now.

"Uh... how are Leo's knuckles doing?" I murmured, still a bit embarrassed from that incident.

"He's okay. It's nothing he can't handle," Andre said, shrugging.

I nodded, not questioning any further.

"By the way Amelia, if not joining us yesterday had anything to with him, then don't even bother about it. He's just anti-social. If he had a problem with you, I'd never insist on inviting you in the first place," Andre said.

I nodded, thinking over his words. For some reason, I didn't believe him.

We took notes in silence, both immersed in our own work. It was a normal class, except this time, Andre asked for my number and hesitantly, I gave it to him. Not going to lie, having another number in my contacts wasn't a bad feeling.

Afterwards, I had no choice but to follow Andre to what he claimed to be our 'usual spot.' It felt weird to have a 'spot,' let alone a usual one at that too.

We walked side by side to the café and once again, Leo and Jamal were already there. This time, they were both talking rather than working. I decided to get something to eat first, whereas Andre made his way to the table.

I got myself a sandwich and a coffee, then made my way over to the table. When I got there, Andre and Jamal were laughing about something, while Leo was grumbling under his breath. As I walked forward, Jamal caught my eye and waved at me. I nodded to him and took my spot beside him.

Instead of immersing in a tiring conversation, I decided to eat first. Jamal and Andre continued their talk from before and I caught bits and pieces of it. Apparently they were talking about one of Leo's apartment members who lived on the floor under him and were always too loud at night.

A smile escaped me at one point, since Andre's way of retelling a story was just too funny, and somehow, I caught Leo's eye then. He glared at me and I swallowed my smile. I continued eating silently after that. Jamal and Andre continued talking, with Leo pitching in only when necessary.

Just as I finished my sandwich, Leo suddenly turned his attention to me.

"So Amelia, how long have you been here?" he asked.

I turned to him in surprise.

"Uh... I just joined a week ago," I mumbled.

"What year are you in?" he interrogated.

"Second."

"Why did you come here for your second year? It's not a grand place to be," he said with a shrug.

Startled by his question, I only stared at him. I looked over to Jamal and Andre who both had curious looks on their faces too. I shrunk back a little from the attention. Then, I realised that they were only wondering out of curiosity, so I faced Leo.

"I just... needed a change," I mumbled numbly.

But he didn't stop there. Leo kept going.

"Why here? Why not anywhere else? Are you running away from something?" he asked, leaning forward.

I stared at him.

For once, I felt something besides emptiness, like I did any other time people questioned me. For once, I was annoyed.

Is this how he wanted to get back at me for the knuckles thing?

Before I could respond to him, my timer went off, signalling that it was time for my next class. I finally pulled my gaze away from his and reached into my pocket for my phone. I turned off my alarm and stuffed my phone back into my pocket.

I looked back up just in time to see Leo slump back in his seat lazily, as if he just didn't interrogate the soul out of me. He looked almost satisfied.

I looked away from him, and my gaze landed on an apologetic looking Andre. I gave him a small smile, already remembering his words from this morning. He was wrong. Leo didn't like me being here after all.

Then, I turned to Jamal, who was a little oblivious to the underlying seriousness behind Leo's questions. I hastily said a goodbye to them and started making my way out of the café.

But before I left, I turned around to look at them one last time. When I turned around, I didn't miss the little smirk that slipped Leo's lips.

With a sigh, I left Coffee Rush, my heart heavy.

* * *

[] L E O []

As soon as Amelia left, I was smacked upside the head. I grabbed my head in surprise and whipped around to face whoever hit me. Jamal was holding his hands in surrender,  mouthing, "not me." I cocked my head at Andre in annoyance.

"Really? What are you, my mom?" I bitterly asked.

Andre glared at me.

"What the heck was that man? You totally made her feel uncomfortable," he lectured.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"What the heck was that Leo?"

I shrugged, but in all honesty, I felt strange about what I said too. It wasn't like me to care about someone's business. So why did I speak up?

"You know, she's stupid for caring about you. You're a dickhead sometimes," Andre said.

Now this got my attention and I faced him.

"Caring about me?"

Andre sighed and looked up to the ceiling, as if it were hurting him to say this out loud.

"The first thing she asked this morning was how your knuckles were doing."

* * *

[] A M E L I A []

I finally slammed my psychology textbook shut. It was only 3 weeks into the course and the first midterm was to happen next week. To say I was behind was an understatement. Nonetheless, I had been working as hard as I could to study the material.

I had been studying for over 3 hours, and as I looked out the library window, I saw that it wasn't dark yet. However, the library was pretty much empty, probably since not many people had exams so early in the year. I sighed and packed up the rest of my belongings. For a moment, my mind drifted away from work to something else.

I thought of Leo.

His questioning gaze was burned in the back of my mind and I continued to think of what could've happened if my alarm hadn't rung on time.

Bad.

It would've been bad.

Once again, I was reminded of why I shouldn't befriend others. They simply ask too much, and answers were something I couldn't provide.

It was time to back away from Andre and friends. Sad, but it had to be done.

I sighed and finally brought myself back to reality. I zipped my backpack shut and threw it over my shoulder. Then I started making my way down the hallway. Outside, the sun was starting to set, which made all the glass buildings sparkle. It was a rare sight, and it made me smile for a moment. With a sigh, I left the library and started making my way towards my dorm.

It was quiet at first. Almost to the point of me being able to hear my own breathing. But then it wasn't.

Then it was a rumble.

A rumble of voices. And amidst this, I heard a voice. A voice so specific, that I could pick it out in the loudest of crowds with my eyes closed. It was deep and husky, a voice that would be engraved into one's mind forever. It was something I had heard many times over the years, and every time was worse than the last.

But it couldn't be.

It couldn't be him.

Slowly, I turned around to make sure that it wasn't who I thought it was. It simply couldn't be him. But I had to be sure.

Because not being sure was always my downfall.

My feet scraped against the pavement as I turned, almost as if they wouldn't budge if they had the choice. My eyes darted around to where the voices were coming from, and I finally located them. It was a group of boys, all who looked to be older than me. They were walking around one of the buildings, just two over from where I was. Most of them were buff and scary looking, but one stood out the most.

Suddenly, my world grew to a standstill.

His dark hair, his steely eyes, and his terrifying gaze, all of it had me rendered speechless. Motionless.

He looked older, his features more mature, but everything else about him was the same.

It was him.

It was actually him.

Coming up behind me, with his group of friends, and he himself in the centre.

My breath got caught in my throat and I stayed frozen, staring right into the eyes of my past.