The Girl Who Spoke Every Language

part two

I woke up while the plane was landing. id be lying if I said a part of me wasn't the slightest bit scared. Usually I have to sleep on the streets the first few nights till I find a place to stay and I've never slept on Canadian streets before. 

I get off the plane and make my way out of the airport. I decide to just walk to the nearest city because I'm getting low on money. When I finally get there I wonder the busy streets and find a small homeless shelter. I go in and every one is sitting in groups at there own table. I look down and make my way to the nearest table,

"mind if I sit here?" I say

five ladies that all looked around 40 looked at each other and shrugged,

"elle veut s'asseoir avec nous (she wants to sit with us)" the lady closest to me translates for the table,

I take a second look around and notice that people of the same culture sit together. this must be a shelter for immigrants. I smile at the ladies and sit in the only available chair,

"je m'appelle Nailah (my name is Nailah)" I say while a look of shock crosses the ladies faces

"tu parle français? (you speak french?)" 

"oui (yes)"

the five ladies introduce themselves and we start up a basic conversation. A worker comes around to serve lunch and Della, one of the ladies introduces me,

"this is Nailah she came in today and can speak French" she says in her thick accent

"oh how wonderful! we don't have any staff here that are fluent in French or any language really" she says while offering me her hand to shake,

"wow and none of these people speak another language besides there own?" I ask

"a few of them speak English but its hard to get them to mingle out of there groups because no one can translate between them" she says while sitting down

"oh well I could help you guys out if you want. Im really good at interacting with people"

"oh that would be great but like I said not many people here speak English. its hard enough as it is" 

"just give me a chance ill show you" I say while standing up and making my way to the nearest group,

"ok then. this is Julia, Reza, and Dom. Our Russian residents"

I smile at them and start a conversation. I can see the shocked face of the worker while she watches me communicate in almost perfect Russian. We continue to do this for every group. she introduces them and then I introduce myself. Interacting with so many people makes me feel normal in a sense. If my life wasn't the way it is I think id have many friends who could actually see the real me. I shake my head of these thoughts realizing ill probably never be free.

"are you ok sweetie?" the worker asked

Realizing my smile had faded I quickly put it back on  and nodded,

"sorry what were you saying again?"

"I was offering you a job here. the boss is super chill and were understaffed anyways"

"oh my god thank you so much..." I say waiting for her name

"Olivia" she finishes for me before continuing, "I go to school up the road from here and live with my family a few blocks away. You look around my age, are you new to town?"

"yea actually I just got here today. My family situation is complicated so i'm going to stay here for a bit. oh and i'm 17" I say while gathering some food to give to another resident,

"perfect were the same age. ill talk to my mom about getting you in rolled in my school" she says while also handing out food

"ok  that sounds cool but I move around a lot so I won't be here for to long" 

"ok thats fine I guess. in the meantime you can be my friend" she says while smiling at me

I offer her a small smile and excuse myself to go mingle with some other people. I don't want her to get to attached to me. Olivia seems like an amazing person but it would be selfish of me to befriend her just to disappear with no trace. Personally I don't think schools a good idea but it would raise flags if I didn't go so I had to accept. I haven't been to school in years- ten years to be exact. its going to be challenging but if I just stick to myself I can blend into the background and  when its time for me to move on I can without anyone asking questions. 

about an hour later Olivia asks if I want to go grab lunch with her. I decline but she basically dragged me out of the building and into a little coffee shop. I saw Olivia kept starring behind me so I turn around and see two attractive looking boys sitting by the window.

"who are they?" I ask while sipping some coffee

"only the two most popular boys in my school. There totally gorgeous but they only keep to themselves" 

"hm then we better leave them alone" I say turning to look at them again only to have a beautiful pair of grey eyes starring right at me. I look away feeling uncomfortable with the surprising attention

"omg don't look now but Reese is starring at you" she says giggling 

"great make him stop please"

Olivia giggles and then puts a finger to her lips shushing me. I sit up and listen and figure out that we can just about hear their conversation.

"what are they saying?" Olivia asks me because they're speaking in a different language,

"ummm well for starters its Italian and uh" I start but force myself to actually listen to what there saying,

"ben riconosci quella ragazza laggiù (Ben do you recognize that girl over there)" the boy known as Reese asks

"sì, è Olivia che lavora al rifugio per l'immigrazione, ricordi? (yea thats Olivia she works at the immigration shelter remember?)" Ben answers

"no non olivia. la sua amica (no not Olivia. Her friend)" 

"oh ... non l'ho mai vista prima (oh... ive never seen her before)" Ben says

I look up at Olivia, 

"there talking about us. Ben knows you but Reese is curious as to who I am" 

"oh wow I can't believe ben knows my name this is amazing" she practically yells

I  shush her and hide my face in my hands, still listening to there conversation

"Reese just called me beautiful" I whisper

Olivia jumps up making a big scene,

"wow this is perfect. You can date Reese and ill date ben" she squeals 

I shake my head and push her back into her seat,

"no no no. thats not happening" I say

"well why not. He's obviously interested, what else are they saying" she asks leaning towards them

"ohhhh no i'm not telling you. in fact i'm not even listening anymore. its rude to eavesdrop" I say while putting  some money on the table for our coffees

"oh come on. your no fun" Olivia pouts and tries to give me her best version of puppy eyes

I laugh at her and shove her out of the store,

"nice try. its getting late though and you get the pleasure of walking me back" I nudge her as we walk

Olivia laughs and starts talking about something random. All I can focus on though  is a pair of grey eyes starring at me from the window. I turn away from them as we turn a corner but I cant seem to get them out of my head.

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I feel like everyones mispronouncing Nailahs name. its actually a lot more beautiful then it may seem.

Nal-ya

just like that :)