Amelia's POV"I don't mind, actually, no." Bianca raises her eyebrows and when I nod, she shoots Jane a nasty glare, releasing my hand. "Do you want me to stay?" She whispers in my ear and we watch as some of the boys scramble to create space for me to sit. "I could go get Adam and his guys and —" I shake my head. "I can hold my own, don't worry. I'll text if I need you." She nods, concern still etching her features but the only thing she says is "I'll be with my phone" before walking away, disappearing into the crowd of people. Blake's smirk has returned but I ignore him and sit in the space that has been created between two boys, Ryan and Shawn, which places me on the opposite side of the circle facing Chris, Jane and Miguel. Shawn slings an arm over my seat and I try not to stiffen at the contact. However, he removes his hand almost immediately, placing it on his leg a moment later and when I look up to see why, I meet Miguel staring fiercely at him. When his gaze slides back to
Amelia's POV The weeks that follow that night at the party are different. I can't put my finger on what changed but I know I've stopped hating being around Miguel. Not that I truly hated it in the beginning. To my eternal dismay.We haven't spoken much since that night, our conversations still centered around him teasing me seven ways to Sunday and my squirmy and exasperated sarcastic responses but we've fallen into a rhythm. I leave a glass of mango juice on the table for him every morning by the time he comes down and he doesn't smoke in the car. He walks me to my locker before going about his business. Whoever gets to the cafeteria first helps the other get their lunch. We sit beside each other in the classes we share. If I'm his babysitter, he is my shadow. Except when he is charming the pants off the entire female population and I've made Bianca swear to never give me the details. I'm not sure anyone has noticed Miguel the way I have and while it's disturbing, it has shed some
Amelia's POV"Now is not the time for a lecture about my habits, Mia." He turns to face me, his eyebrows raised as he blows out smoke into the air. My eyes widened. Had I said it out loud?"I'm not here to lecture you. I just–" I sigh. Why is it hard to just comfort him like I would if it were Bianca or my mum? Why does it feel like my throat is closing up too?"Go somewhere with me." I blurt and when he raises his eyebrows, I palm my face. "You don't have to make me feel better about shit, Mia. It's none of your concern." "Just shut up and come with me, alright?" Fishing for the keys from the bag in my hand, I turn around and head for my car, entering and slamming the driver's seat shut. The couple of minutes it takes for him to get in the passenger seat and put on his seatbelt feels like hours but I use it to send a text to mum that we are heading out for a bit. That way, it would be a lot harder to jump out of the car, bolt to my room and ask myself what the hell I'm doing.
Amelia's POV"How many more of my secrets have you told Miguel?" I ask Bianca as we walk towards Geography class. My best friend has the nerve to act clueless for a minute before she pouts like she hasn't been dodging the question for three days. I roll my eyes and increase my stride. "Amy, I promise it's only that one about the crush–" I turn and slam my free hand over her lips and she realizes why I have an alarmed look on my face. "You want to tell the whole world now, is that it?" I whisper and she raises her hands in mock surrender, mumbling words against my hand. When I remove my hand, she lets out a dramatic breath and looks apologetic "Sorry." She whisper-yells. "You can't even whisper to save your life. " I reply and swivel to continue our walk to class. She picks up her pace to match mine. "Don't be mad at me, Mimi." She says, hooking her arm around mine and wearing a smirk because she knows I can't stand being called the name of the large teddy bear that she cuddles
Amelia's POV"Can anyone tell me why Mr Sanchez isn't in class today?" Mrs Irvine says and when she pins me with her stare, I take back my forgiveness. "Where is your brother, Miss Hart?"You should ask teensvogue or Google, Mrs Irvine.And it's stepbrother. Step. Why do people always forget the step?I open my mouth to tell the lie.You can't lie for shit, Mia. He has diabetes, Mrs Irvine."He's unavailable, Mrs Irvine."Everyone in the class laughs. Even Bianca. Traitor."I can see that, Miss Hart."So can I, Mrs Irvine.When she sees that I'm not going to give her any more answers, she narrows her eyes at me and continues with her pairing list.Amy 1, Mrs Irvine 0."You should add learning how to lie to that bucket list. Right between skipping class and failing a test." Bianca whispers, chuckling when I glare at her.I'm making a mental list of how to get her back when someone kicks my table and when I turn, the girl passes me a note.Hey partner,Exchange numbers after class?p.s
Amelia's POVI barge into Miguel's room just before dinner "Teach me how to be wanton." "The one day that I don't have lunch with you and hell freezes over." "I said teach me how to—" The remaining words die in my throat when I take in his state of undress. The white towel rides dangerously low on his waist, his hands working another towel over his wet locks. My eyes trace the outline of his lean body like a vulture eyeing it's next meal, my gaze settling on his abs where drops of water trickle down the pecs and the outline of a tattoo disappears down the towel.Look away, Amelia. Look away. I can't. When my gaze finally moves away from his abs to look at his face, I don't see the Miguel that I'm used to. The cocky unashamed taunting Miguel. The Miguel that would have said something absolutely lewd and revelled in the fact that I'm gawking at him in a way that a sister should never look at a brother. He's looking at me like he likes my eyes on him. Like it's absolutely okay for
Amelia's POV"I am definitely not doing any of those things on that list, Miguel." I say for the hundredth time as I drive to Maria's. Today is Miguel's first day as a waiter and I'm not going to miss it for the world. It should surprise me how excited I am about watching him work and that my excitement has nothing to do with watching him fall flat on his face but everything to do with supporting my friend on his first day. Quite ironic that I'd rather call him friend than stepbrother. Christian had called to meet up about our Geography assignment and I'd picked Maria's as our meeting place. Watching Miguel work and talking to Christian at the same time? My stone definitely lucked out. Two big attractive birds. I'd called Bianca but she was going on a movie date with Adam, even though she refused to call it a date. "You're the one who spent the last twenty four hours reminding me of how serious you were about becoming a bad girl. And now that the list is here, you don't want it?
Amelia's POVBeeMiles: You should've seen his face when I said you were sick and couldn't make it. Me: Who?BeeMiles: Girl, did you hit your head? Christian Grammer, that's who?Me: Oh. BeeMiles: Yes, oh. And Angel says you're lying about being sick. I believe him. Me: You can tell him to shut up. Now stop texting me, I'm at Spanish class with my mum.BeeMiles: Hey, how did you get well enough to get dressed for Spanish class? You were lying about being sick. Me: 🙄🙄BeeMiles: Why did you lie? Is this about the wanton list?Me: Why should it be about that?"BeeMiles: You've been dodging your coach and I since we made that list, that's why. Why the hell would you pass up a chance to show Christian Grammer your banging body when he personally invited you?Me: Because! Look, there'll be other chances, okay?BeeMiles: I take my question back. You did hit your head. And oh, Angel says to tell you that he'll rib you in about your secret Spanish classes. Me: Is he seeing this chat?Bee