Where I Belong - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. I packed my things into my bag, my mind still buzzing from everything that had happened. I hadn't expected it to go so...smoothly. Sure, I had moments of anxiety, but Mia and the others had made an effort, and I couldn't deny the relief that came with being included.
As I stood up from my desk, I caught a glimpse of Silas and Eros standing outside the classroom door, waiting for me. Silas was grinning, while Eros stood with his usual calm, a quiet intensity to his gaze. My heart fluttered a little, but it was comforting knowing they were there.
Silas gave me a quick wave when he saw me. "Ready to head out?"
I nodded, feeling a bit of the tension from the day finally start to ease. I wasn't sure what it was about having them around, but their presence made everything feel...better.
Eros gave me a nod, his face softening just slightly when he saw me. "How was it?" he asked in his usual low voice.
I shrugged, trying to be casual, though a small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "It was okay. Mia and her friends were nice. They...asked for my number."
Eros raised an eyebrow. "They did?"
"Yeah." I fidgeted with the strap of my bag, suddenly self-conscious. "They want to add me to their group chat, and we have a lot of classes together."
"That's good," Eros said, though he didn't smile. "Just don't feel like you have to do anything you're not comfortable with."
I nodded, appreciating his concern, but I wasn't going to overthink it. Mia had seemed genuine, and the others had been kind, even if I didn't know them that well yet.
We walked outside and headed to the car, where Eros was already pulling out his keys. Silas hopped into the front passenger seat, his energy as usual, while I slid into the back.
The drive home was quiet, except for Silas's occasional teasing and jokes. It felt oddly normal, like we were just another family driving home after a busy day.
When we pulled into the driveway, I spotted Elijah standing by the front door, leaning against the frame, his arms crossed. His eyes caught mine as I stepped out of the car, and he straightened up slightly, a hint of curiosity on his face.
"Hey, sweetheart," Elijah said, his voice calm but with a touch of concern. "How was your day?"
I tried not to fidget, keeping my hands wrapped tightly around my bag. "It was good."
He gave a small nod, though his eyes were still on me. "I'm glad you're not feeling too overwhelmed. I know this is all new for you."
I didn't say anything right away, just gave him a quiet nod. He could be overprotective, but I knew he was just trying to look out for me.
Before the conversation could continue, Silas bounded up to the door, practically bouncing with excitement. "Guess what, Liv? We're having a family meeting tonight!" He shot a quick look at Elijah. "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Just a check-in with the crew."
Elijah gave him a small smile, but his gaze never left me. "We'll talk about your day then. I want to hear all the details."
I didn't mind. I didn't mind telling them everything, either. It felt good to know they were keeping an eye out for me. The tension I had been holding onto started to loosen a little, and I realised that, for the first time in a long while, I actually felt like I was part of the family.
The warmth of Elijah's words stayed with me as I followed the others into the house. Silas was already chattering about the meeting, making exaggerated guesses about what everyone was going to bring up. "I'm calling it now," he said dramatically, dropping his bag onto the couch. "Elijah's going to talk about curfews again, Eros will remind us to keep the car clean, and Liv here–" he pointed at me with a playful grin, "–is going to give us a full report on how she totally crushed her first day."
I gave a small smile but didn't respond. Eros brushed past us, already heading to the kitchen with his usual quiet efficiency, while Elijah lingered by the door, still watching me with that same careful intensity.
"Go get settled," Elijah said gently. "The meeting's after dinner."
I nodded and headed upstairs, the weight of the day finally catching up with me. My room was cozy, the bed tucked into the corner with a soft quilt draped over it. It was nothing like the cold place I'd stayed in before. This room was...mine. For now, at least.
Dropping my bag onto the floor, I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out the note Elijah had written me earlier. Unfolding it carefully, I read the words again:
Don't forget to eat, sweetheart. You need your strength. Remember, we are all so proud of you.
-E
I traced the letters with my finger, my chest tightening. It was such a simple thing, but it meant more than I could put into words. Carefully, I tucked the note into the drawer of my nightstand, keeping it as safe as possible.
By the time dinner rolled around, the house was buzzing with life. Elijah had cooked something warm and hearty – soup with fresh bread on the side and the smell filled every corner of the house. We ate around the table like always, the conversation easy and familiar. Silas told a long-winded story about a prank he'd pulled on one of his teachers last year, making everyone groan and laugh in equal measure. Eros rolled his eyes but didn't bother stopping him, while Elijah listened with a faint, indulgent smile.
After dinner, we all gathered in the living room. The atmosphere was casual, yet familiar. Silas sprawled out across the sofa with his feet up, his usual slouch exaggerating his relaxed attitude. Theo sat on the armrest, his posture straight but his body still relaxed. Zane took his usual spot in the corner by the window, arms crossed, leaning against the wall with a quiet intensity. Eros was slouched in his chair, his arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling, always the one who seemed the least concerned about anything. And lastly, Elijah decided to stay standing in front of us.
I found a spot on the edge of the sofa, not too far from everyone but not quite in the middle of it all, like I was still trying to figure out ed.
"Alright," Elijah began, his deep voice carrying easily over the quiet. "Let's start with the basics. Is everyone okay?"
Silas grinned. "I'm thriving, obviously."
Eros snorted softly, shaking his head. "You're insufferable."
Elijah's lips twitched in amusement, but his gaze turned to me. "And you, Olivia? How are you feeling after your first day?"
All eyes turned to me, and for a moment, I felt frozen under their attention. But then I remembered how kind Mia had been, how Silas had waved at me from across the cafeteria, how Eros and Zane had checked on me without making it feel like pressure.
"It was...good," I said, my voice quiet but steady. "Better than I thought it would be."
"Hey, how was it?" Theo asked, turning his body around slightly so I could see him properly. His usually confident demeanor was quieter now, his dark eyes scanning me like he was looking for signs of trouble. "You doing okay?"
I gave him the most confident nod I could muster.
Theo nodded back, leaning against the back of the couch. "Good. First days can be rough. Did anyone bother you?"
I shook my head quickly. "No, I–uh, I made a friend," I said quietly.
At that moment, I decided to look up and immediately made eye contact with Zane. "What's their name?" He questioned, his sharp eyes fixed on me.
"Mia," I replied, feeling slightly nervous with all the questions.
At that, Silas jumped in, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Liv even sat with some of Mia's friends at lunch today!" He grinned like it was the biggest accomplishment of the day.
"More than one friend? On day one? That's faster than any of us managed," Elijah said with a proud smile.
Zane arched an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "Impressive. Did they pass the twin inspection yet?"
Eros, who had been quiet up until then, shot Zane a look and spoke with rare warmth. "She's fine." His eyes met mine, giving me an approving nod.
It seemed as if they wanted to know every little detail about my day, and at that moment, I realised how much I appreciated them taking an interest in everything I had to say.
I took a breath and added, "Um, they asked for my number." The words came out quietly, almost as if I wasn't sure how to feel about them myself.
Zane exchanged a glance with Theo, a subtle but knowing look that made me a little self-conscious.
Silas then faced me and let out an exaggerated gasp. "Your number? Day one and Liv's already got people blowing up her phone. Meanwhile, I've been trying to get Theo to respond to my texts for three days."
Theo raised a hand in mock defense. "I told you, I've been busy. Unlike Zane, who probably replied to you before you even hit send."
Zane shrugged, his voice calm. "I'm efficient."
The banter made me smile, the tension I'd been holding onto easing just a little.
The first week of school passed in a blur. Each day brought its own mix of excitement and unease, but by Friday, I started feeling like I might finally be finding my place. Mia and her friends had been incredibly welcoming, and slowly, the nerves started to disappear slightly.
At lunch that day, Mia had approached me with a bright smile, sitting down across from me at the table.
"Hey, Olivia, are you still down for a movie night this weekend at my place?," Mia asked casually, her voice warm and welcoming.
Her invitation had caught me off guard. I'd been so focused on just getting through each day, I hadn't even considered making plans outside of school. But Mia had been so kind, and I didn't want to say no, even if the thought of hanging out with them outside of school made me feel anxious.
"Yeah, sure," I'd replied quietly, trying to sound confident, even though I wasn't sure if I really fit in with them yet. "That sounds fun."
"We'll keep it low-key," Mia had assured me, giving me a reassuring smile. "Just the five of us, maybe some snacks and a movie. You'll like it."
I had nodded, though a knot had formed in my stomach since she mentioned the movie night. What if I didn't fit in? What if I didn't know how to act or what to say? I'd been through enough new situations in the past year to know how easily they could go wrong.
Now, as I sat at the dinner table with Zane and the others, the same unease bubbled up inside me. I was supposed to ask Zane for permission to go, but the idea of bringing it up felt suddenly daunting. I pushed my food around on my plate, my nerves getting the better of me as I tried to figure out how to phrase it.
I knew they didn't really know Mia or her friends. They were still unfamiliar faces to them, and I wasn't sure how Zane would feel about me spending time with people they hadn't met yet.
The conversation around the table was light, the usual banter between Silas and Eros filling the air, but I couldn't focus on it. My heart raced a little faster, and I found myself quietly gathering the courage to speak.
I cleared my throat, my voice barely above a whisper. "Zane?" I said, hesitating when I caught his attention. His gaze shifted toward me, and for a moment, I felt exposed under his steady stare.
"Yes?" His tone was calm, but I could sense his curiosity.
"Um," I fumbled with my fork, unsure how to start. "Mia and her friends...they invited me to a movie night tomorrow night." I felt my face heat up, and I looked down at my plate, avoiding his gaze for a moment. "I was, um, wondering if it would be okay if I went?"
The silence around the table seemed to stretch on for a second, and I started to feel even more nervous. What if he said no? Or worse, what if he thought it was a bad idea?
Zane didn't immediately respond. He leaned back slightly in his chair, his arms crossed, and I could see him thinking it over. I held my breath, trying not to overthink his every move.
"Where is it?" He asked.
"I-It's at Mia's house," I answered, nervously.
Zane's gaze softened, and for a brief second, I thought he might agree. But instead, he leaned back in his chair and let out a slow breath.
"I'm not saying you shouldn't go," he said after a beat, his tone thoughtful. "But we don't really know them. I think it'd be better if you invited them over here instead. We just want to make sure they are good company and that you feel comfortable."
My heart rate slowed, relieved. I hadn't expected that suggestion, but it made so much sense. It was a safer option, a way for them to meet Mia and her friends without me having to go off on my own.
"Oh," I said, a little surprised but grateful. "Yeah, I can ask them. That sounds like a good idea."
Zane gave me a small, approving nod, though his usual cool demeanor didn't change. "Let me know what they say."
I could feel the weight of my nervousness lift just a little. I felt like I wasn't completely alone in this. The idea of hanging out with Mia and her friends felt slightly less intimidating now, especially knowing I had the support of Zane and the others.
"Thank you, Zane," I said quietly, finally glancing up at him and he gave me a small, reassuring smile in return.
After dinner, I grabbed my phone and texted Mia, explaining the situation and asking if she and her friends would be open to coming to my place for the movie night instead. I felt a little nervous as I hit send, but the thought of having the movie night here with everyone around made me feel more comfortable.
Mia's reply came almost immediately: "That sounds awesome! We're all in x"
I smiled, feeling the weight of the decision finally lift. Maybe this was how things were meant to unfold – slowly, but with small steps that felt safer.
That night, after everyone had settled into their rooms, I went to bed with a sense of contentment I hadn't had in a while. I'd taken a chance by asking, and it felt like the right choice. The weekend was looking a lot brighter now, and for once, I felt excited for what's yet to come.