I sit down at the kitchen table, my mom making breakfast. I rub my cheek with my hand, still feeling it sting. What was her problem? All I did was open my eyes. No way did I know she'd be in the middle of changing, I think to myself, feeling annoyed at the outcome of my generosity.
"Dante, did I hear a woman's voice coming from your room last night?" My mom asks, a little smirk on her lips. My mom was always so nosy. She has her kind moments, but thinking back now, she always did enjoy poking her nose into other people's business.
"N-no! I was just watching one of my anime shows, that's all!" I say defensively, trying to hide the truth about Tina's stay. "Your anime shows, huh? Then why did I hear it in English? Aren't you always telling me anime is better in Japanese?" She says, trying to mimic my voice; it was so cringe. She places my eggs and toast down before leaning in, her smirk still plastered on her face.
"This time I tried English. Apparently, this anime has good English voice acting." I hope my lie is enough to fool her. If she found out I had a girl stay over last night, I'd never hear the end of it!
"Is that so?" After hearing her curiosity hasn't subsided, I eat my breakfast quickly before running outside the door. "Alright, Mom, I'm going now. Bye!" And without another word, I leave.
That was too close. I can't believe that stupid girl. To think she'd cause such a problem for me after I did her a favor. As I turn the corner, there stands Tina, a faint blush on her cheeks still lingering from earlier. "Tina? Look, about earli—" Before I can finish my sentence, I'm cut off.
"No, no, no, it's okay. It was my fault. I'm sorry for smacking you. I should've been aware that you might've woken up." Her voice sounds apologetic. I'm glad that's dealt with.
"About... last night..." This time I cut her off, feeling the need to let her know she doesn't have to explain herself. "It's fine. You needed a place to stay; I helped. You don't have to explain why things happened that way. We're going to be late, so let's go."
With that, I walk past her and head straight for school. "Dante, you really are so understanding..." Her voice is small, hardly audible, but loud enough to express her thanks and shyness. She follows behind me, walking side by side towards school.
Eventually, when we get to school, we run into Amelia, with whom I don't exchange words. Although she does give a slight, confused expression at seeing us walk to school together. I hope she doesn't get the wrong idea. Tina waves at me before walking inside the building with Amelia, and I soon follow.
Man, that's right. I never did have time to figure out how to fix my relationship with Amelia. Flashes of last night once again go through my mind, especially the look on the aunt's face. I tense up, feeling angry about the outcome of all this because of her.
Behind me, Parker notices my hands tensing. "You alright, Dante?" Hearing Parker's voice, I turn around and calm down a bit, realizing I lost myself for a moment there. "Oh, hey Parker, how you doing?" I ask.
"I'm good. Oh, and thanks for dinner last night. Let your mom know that her cooking was delicious."
I'm glad. "Oi, pipsqueak. You better watch your ass during lunch. Our conversation may have been interrupted yesterday, but I'm not done with you. Got it?" Jackson, of course, confronts me in the morning about yesterday's events. "And you, four eyes, if you rat on me, you'll be in for a world of hurt. You got that?" He points at Parker before storming off with his friends—or crew—or cowards, even. Who cares.
"Dante, what are you going to do? I feel so bad—" I cut Parker off. He's been through enough emotional and physical abuse thanks to that asshole. I don't want him to feel worse for thinking he dragged me into this. "Parker, it's fine. I'll sort something out." With that said, I'm clueless about what I'm going to do about the matter.
After some time in class passes, I realize that lunch is around the corner. I decide to try and hide away in the library, hoping to avoid contact with Jackson. Once the bell rings, I get up and bolt for the library, hiding behind a bookshelf.
"Well, well, well, looks like my hunch was right." Jackson shows himself behind the bookshelf, grabbing me by my collar. "You got between me and Parker yesterday just when he was about to hand over his money. For that, I'm going to make you pay." Jackson punches my already bruised ribs from the last incident, causing me to fall to my knees.
Just as Jackson gets ready to throw another punch, Amelia runs in front of him, taking a punch to her stomach for me. "AMELIA?!" I say in shock and concern. "SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT!" Amelia shouts back, glaring straight into Jackson's eyes.
"You and your little goons are going to stop picking on Dante and Parker, understood? You worthless piece of trash." Amelia says with confidence. "Oh yeah? And what is a little weak girl like you going to do to stop me?" He says, taking a step forward and getting into Amelia's face.
"Look to your left, moron." Jackson and I both turn our heads, seeing Tina standing there with her phone out. "Tina just recorded you punching not only Dante but a, how did you put it? 'A little weak girl.'" Both Jackson and his goons are in shock.
"B-but you jumped in front of my punch! It wasn't my fault!" Jackson shouts, clearly pissed off. "Not if we edit it," Amelia says with a sly smile. Jackson looks like he's wrestling with his inner thoughts, grunting. "Fine! You win, but I won't forget this." He backs off with his crew and leaves the library.
I stay there, still shocked and on my knees. Looking up at Amelia, I stand up gently before almost falling back. Amelia catches me under my arm. "You really are such an idiot..." She says, a small blush on her cheeks.
"T-thank you so, so much. Both of you. I can't wait to tell Parker the good news. But enough about that. Are you okay, Ame? You—" She cuts me off, not wanting my sympathy. "Shut it. I'm fine."
But this time I can't hold back. There's something swirling inside me. I have to find a way, just some way to express my gratitude. Maybe it's locked-up feelings from yesterday? Or maybe it's something more. Whatever it is, I have to do something!
"NO!" I shout, making both Tina and Amelia gasp in surprise. "Let me make sure you're okay." I demand, hoping she'll let me take care of her for helping me. With a deep blush spreading across her cheeks, Amelia gulps. "F-fine, you idiot."
I smile in relief, heading to the infirmary. I asked around, but it seems the nurse is away at the moment. I decide to enter anyway. "Hey, I gotta go and make a call home. I'll... be right back," Tina says, walking to the hallway. My face shows a slight bit of worry, hearing the word "home," remembering last night.
Although Amelia doesn't say anything, she can see my concern on my face when I look in Tina's direction, looking a little gloomy about it. But I don't pick up on it. "Alright, well, the nurse won't be back for a while, so I suppose I can just have a look myself until she's back."
As Amelia sits down on the nursing bed, I take a seat next to her on a stool. "I'm going to lift up your shirt, okay?" Amelia looks away, blushing, but gives me a little nod. I lift up her shirt where Jackson had punched her, revealing an already swollen black bruise.
Looking down at the bruise, feeling utterly down, realizing that this is my fault, that because I got involved to help Parker, Amelia has been hurt, I look at the bruise for a little while longer, breathing heavily with a shaky breath.
"Don't." Amelia says, it's sudden but stern. I turn my gaze towards her, looking at her with a little confusion and sadness on my face. "You're blaming yourself, right? Well, don't. I just did the same thing you did for Parker. I don't want your sympathy..." She tries to act like she doesn't care, but her voice is soft and caring, trying to make me not blame myself for what happened.
"Ame, there's been something I've been wanting to tell you, about that day when your par—" I'm interrupted by Tina walking inside, sounding pissed off and angry. "God! He's insufferable! Worthless! Stuck-up pr—" Before she finishes that sentence, I ask, "What's wrong? Did something happen on the call?"
Tina nods, grinding her teeth and tensing her knuckles. "Don't worry about it. Oh, and I'm staying at your house again tonight." Amelia's eyes widen at what she just heard, looking back at me and then Tina. "WHAT?"
YOU ARE READING
Tied Together
RomansaHow many years has it been? 5? 10? How many years has it been since I last saw her smile? My childhood friend was dear to me, Amelia Green, a girl who despite who appearance at first, is actually incredibly kindhearted. Although most people in schoo...
