Where I Belong - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

The door to the classroom clicked shut behind me, and the noise of the hallway was replaced by an entirely different kind of chaos: students talking over each other, chairs scraping against the floor, papers rustling. My eyes darted around, trying to take it all in.
The teacher, a tall, thin man with glasses and a crisp button-up shirt, stood at the front, flipping through a stack of papers. He looked up when he noticed me lingering near the door.
"You must be Olivia," he said, his voice kind. "Come in. You're just in time. Go ahead and find a seat."
I froze for a second, my grip tightening on the strap of my bag as I look around the room. My chest tightened, and I thought I might melt into the floor right there.
But then I remembered what Eros said. Just get through this part. One class at a time.
I forced my feet to move, ducking my head as I stepped inside. My heart hammered in my chest as I scanned the rows of desks. Most were already filled, students talking in little groups or scrolling through their phones. Then I noticed an empty seat near the back, next to a girl who was doodling absentmindedly in the margin of her notebook.
I made my way over quickly, trying to avoid bumping into anyone. The girl glanced up as I slid into the seat beside her, and to my surprise, she gave me a friendly smile.
"Hey," she said softly. "You new here?"
I nodded, still too nervous to speak.
"I thought so. I'm Mia," she said, leaning in just a little so her voice didn't carry too far. "Mr. Harris is alright, but he really loves pop quizzes, so heads-up." She grinned like she was letting me in on some inside joke, and I felt some of the tension in my shoulders ease.
"Thanks," I said quietly.
"No problem. What's your name?"
"Olivia."
Mia's smile widened. "Nice to meet you, Olivia. Stick with me. I'll show you the ropes."
The teacher started talking then, pulling the class's attention to the front. I quickly pulled out a notebook and a pencil from my bag, trying not to make too much noise.
"Alright, everyone, settle down," Mr. Harris called, holding up his hands to quiet the chatter. "We're starting with a quick review before diving into today's lesson. Open your textbooks to page 12."
The rest of the class passed in a blur. I tried to focus on the numbers scrawled across the board, but my brain felt slow, like it was still trying to catch up with everything happening around me.
Every so often, I glanced at Mia, who seemed completely unfazed, neatly jotting down notes and occasionally sketching in the margins of her paper. When I paused, staring blankly at a problem on my page, Mia leaned over, tapping it lightly with the eraser of her pencil.
"Need help?" she whispered.
I hesitated before nodding.
She smiled again, her tone casual as she pointed at the problem. "Okay, so for this one, you just start by multiplying these two numbers..."
Her explanation was clear, and I found myself relaxing a little as I followed along. I wasn't perfect, but she didn't seem to mind, patiently helping me through the question.
By the time Mr. Harris announced the end of class, I felt a little less lost than I had at the beginning.
"See? You survived," Mia said as she slid her notebook into her bag. "Where's your next class?"
I fumbled with my schedule, pulling the crumpled paper out of my pocket. "Um... English. Room 104."
"Not too far. I can walk you there if you want."
"Really?" The word slipped out before I could stop it, the surprise clear in my voice.
"Sure!" Mia shrugged as if it were no big deal. "It's on the way to my next class anyway."
As we packed up our things, Mia turned to me, her voice light but curious. "Hey, have you got any plans for lunch?"
I froze for a moment. "No..." I mumbled softly, keeping my eyes down.
Her face lit up, like she'd been hoping for that answer. "Great! You can sit with me and my friends."
I glanced up at her, surprised but hesitant. "Are...are you sure?" My voice was quiet, not quite believing she meant it.
"Of course I'm sure," she said with an easy smile, waving off my hesitation. "Trust me, it'll be fun. And it's always nice to have someone new at the table."
I nodded quickly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Okay... thank you."
She smiled brightly as we fell into step. "Don't worry, I'll find you in the cafeteria."
As we filed out of the room, I caught sight of Silas and Eros waiting down the hallway, leaning casually against the lockers. Silas spotted me first and waved dramatically, his grin lighting up his face. Eros, on the other hand, just gave me a quick nod, but I could see the relief in his expression when he saw me.
"Friends of yours?" Mia asked, raising an eyebrow as she followed my gaze.
"Yeah," I mumbled. "My brothers."
Mia's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, cool. They look...intense."
I glanced at Silas, who was now spinning a pen between his fingers like a magician, and Eros, whose dark expression probably made him look far more unapproachable than he actually was. "Yeah," I said, my voice soft. "They kind of are."
We reached the hallway where the boys were waiting, and Silas immediately pushed off the lockers to meet us halfway. "Look at you, Liv! You're already making friends," he said, flashing Mia an easy grin. "Hi, I'm Silas."
"Uh, hi." Mia gave him a small wave, looking a little amused before turning back to me. "I'll see you at lunch, Olivia."
"See you," I said quietly, feeling oddly grateful as she walked away.
Silas let out a low whistle. "Making friends on day one? That's my girl. You're already ahead of where I was."
Eros stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over me like he was checking for signs of distress. "How was it?" he asked, his voice low.
"It was...okay," I admitted. "I sat next to someone nice."
Silas beamed like I'd just told him I'd won a trophy. "See? Told you this wouldn't be so bad. Plus, I'd like to think you're carrying all that confidence because of me and my excellent pep talks."
Eros, quieter as always, gave me another nod. "One down," he said simply. "You're doing fine, Livy."
And with that, the knot in my chest loosened just a little as I headed into my next class.
The lunch bell rang, loud and jarring, echoing through the halls. I flinched slightly as students started pouring out of classrooms, their conversations blending into a deafening hum of noise. I moved with the crowd, my bag gripped tightly against me, each step a little heavier than the last.
Just as I approached the cafeteria doors, two familiar figures caught my eye. Silas was the first to spot me, his head popping up like he'd been waiting all morning. He waved both arms in the air like a kid stranded on an island, yelling dramatically over the noise.
"Liv! Over here!"
Eros stood next to him, leaning back against the lockers with his arms crossed. He wasn't waving, but his sharp gaze was locked on me, his dark expression softening – just slightly – when our eyes met.
Silas jogged over, his smile wide and easy as always. "Hey, look who survived the morning! I knew you'd make it."
Eros followed at a more measured pace, his voice quiet but firm when he spoke. "You okay?"
I nodded, glancing at the cafeteria doors. "Yeah."
Silas beamed at me, swinging an arm casually over my shoulders for just a second before letting go. "Good, because we're on lunch duty. Come sit with us, Liv. I'll even let you sit in my seat, and that's a big deal."
"Big deal," Eros echoed dryly, though his gaze flickered toward me again like he was waiting for my answer.
I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, I heard someone else call my name.
"Olivia!"
Mia's voice cut through the crowd, and I turned to see her heading my way, her smile bright and easy. "There you are! I've been looking for you."
She stopped a few steps away, glancing between me and the twins. "Hey," she said politely to Silas and Eros before turning back to me. "Come sit with me and my friends. I saved you a spot."
Silas blinked, caught off guard, and looked at me with mock betrayal. "Saved a spot already? Liv, you didn't tell me you were popular."
"I–" My voice faltered, the words getting stuck. I didn't want to hurt the twins' feelings, but I also didn't want to let Mia down.
I felt stuck for a moment, the attention suddenly overwhelming. Eros, who seemed to notice, tilted his head slightly and spoke up first. "It's fine," he said calmly, like it wasn't a big deal. "We'll be at our usual spot if you need us."
I nodded slowly, feeling relieved. "Okay. Thanks."
Silas sighed dramatically, but his grin returned just as quickly. "Guess we're letting her go this time. But don't think you're off the hook forever, Liv. We're checking in later."
"Okay," I said softly, offering them a small nod.
Eros gave me a quick look before he turned and started toward their usual table. Silas lingered a second longer, pointing at me with a teasing smile. "Don't forget to eat!"
And then they were gone, leaving me standing with Mia.
"Protective, aren't they?" Mia said lightly, tilting her head as she watched them walk away.
"Yeah," I whispered.
"I get it," she replied with a small grin. "My sister's the same way. Come on. I promise my friends are cool."
I followed her across the cafeteria, weaving through the noisy chaos. My stomach felt tight, not from hunger but from the nerves building up again. Even when Mia stopped at a table near the window, I hovered for a moment before sitting down.
"Hey, guys!" Mia said as she dropped her bag onto a chair. "This is Olivia. She's new, so be nice."
The three other girls at the table turned to look at me. I hesitated just a moment before lowering myself into the seat next to Mia, keeping my bag close.
The first girl smiled warmly, brushing her dark ponytail over her shoulder. "Hey! I'm Jess. Welcome to the group."
"Grace," said another girl, chin propped in her hand. She offered a casual grin. "We were just talking about how today's pizza looks even worse than usual."
Zoe, the quietest of the three, looked up briefly from her cookie. "It's bad," she confirmed softly before adding, "I'm Zoe."
"Hi," I greeted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. I glanced down at my bag, fumbling to pull out the packed lunch Elijah had made for me this morning.
"Packed lunch?" Mia asked, peeking over at the small container in my hands. "Lucky. Cafeteria food's the worst."
I hesitated, unsure what to say, so I just nodded, setting the container on the table. I opened it slowly, my face warming as I saw how neatly everything was arranged: a sandwich, a little bag of grapes, a chocolate bar, and a note tucked into the corner.
I froze for a moment, eyes catching the carefully folded paper. I glanced around quickly to make sure no one else was watching before sliding it out and unfolding it beneath the table.
Don't forget to eat, sweetheart. You need your strength. Remember, we are all so proud of you. – E.
Elijah.
My throat tightened, and I quickly folded the note again, tucking it safely into my bag. I glanced up to find Mia watching me.
"What was that?" she asked softly, her voice curious but not pushy.
"Nothing," I whispered, shaking my head.
Mia didn't press, just smiled.
I picked up the sandwich, taking a small bite. The girls were still talking, and I let their voices fill the empty space in my head.
The girls' conversation picked up again with Jess complaining about her math teacher, Zoe quietly teasing Grace about a pop quiz she'd apparently bombed, and Mia jumping in with a joke that made them all laugh.
I sat quietly, listening. Every so often, Mia would glance at me, like she was checking to make sure I was okay, but she never pushed me to join in.
About halfway through lunch, Jess turned toward me again. "So, Olivia, what do you like to do? You into sports? Music? Art?"
I froze mid-bite, the question making my mind go blank. I hadn't been asked that before – not in a way that mattered. What did I like? I didn't know.
"I...don't really know," I admitted quietly, keeping my gaze down.
There was a pause, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
"Well," Grace said thoughtfully, "that's kind of exciting. You get to figure it out now."
"Yeah," Mia added, nudging my arm gently. "You'll find something. And you've got us, so you're already set."
"You can come to movie night," Zoe said softly, breaking off a piece of her cookie. "We're picking one this weekend."
I hesitated, my fingers tightening slightly on the sandwich. "Maybe," I said, not ready to promise anything.
"That's good enough for now," Mia said cheerfully, like she'd already decided I was coming anyway. "Trust me, it'll be fun."
For the first time, I glanced up at them, their smiles easy and kind.
I looked down at my lunch, feeling my shoulders loosen just slightly. From across the cafeteria, I caught sight of Silas waving at me again. Eros, sitting beside him, didn't wave, but his eyes flickered toward me for a moment before he looked away.
I took another bite of my sandwich. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and I stood up to grab my bag. As I adjusted the strap on my shoulder, Mia and the girls stood with me, their chatter still light and friendly.
"Hey, Olivia," Mia said, catching my attention as she slung her bag over her shoulder. "Do you mind if I get your phone number? We can add you to our group chat."
I paused, feeling hesitant at the thought of giving out my number. But Mia and her friends had been so kind and friendly and I had to admit, it seemed exciting to be added to a group chat.
"Ok," I said softly, pulling my phone out from my bag. Silas had given me a quick crash course on how to use it this morning, but I still felt like a bit of a rookie with all the apps.
Mia smiled brightly as I handed her my phone. "Thanks!" She entered my number quickly, then glanced at my timetable. "Hey, we've got a lot of classes together! History, Science, and lunch. We can all stick together."
I nodded, giving her a grateful smile.
"Yeah!" Jess added, grinning. "It'll be fun. We're all in the same group for most classes."
"Definitely," Mia said, tapping my timetable and handing it back. "We can help you out if you ever need anything. Just text or ask."
"Thanks," I said quietly, feeling a warmth spread through me. It was nice, feeling included like this, even if it was new and unfamiliar.
"Alright, we'd better get to class," Mia said, looking around. "But we'll catch up with you later! See you soon!"
I nodded, watching them head off, and then, feeling a little more settled, I gathered my things and walked toward my next class. The nerves were still there, bubbling under the surface, but they weren't as overwhelming as they had been this morning. Mia had been kind, and I was grateful for that.