The next morning, a black car similar to the Malienis pulled up at the school. Lexis had been to school early, the only reason she ever had to rush to school and be happy about it. Today would decide her escape route.
When the car showed up, the senior students who had gathered were watching with excitement. Stanton hadn't arrived yet and Lexis had been sitting on the steps since she arrived. The students were whispering among themselves. Some asked Katie what happened to Stanton. When she answered that he was up all night cramming, Lexis looked back at them and laughed.
The car stopped in front of the building and the driver stepped out and looked at the crowd.
"Ms. Lexis Francis and Mr. Stanton Charles?" he asked looking over the crowd.
Lexis stood up dusted of her jeans and headed for the car.
"Stanton wouldn't miss this, what the hell did you do him?" a boy shouted after her.
You really gonna do this shit now? She thought as she looked back.
"Yeah! she was the first senior here. We all know she's never early."
C'mon stop, you're embarrassing yourselves.
"Maybe he's indisposed." Lexis said throwing her hands in the air.
"You mean indisposed like what you did to Michael yesterday?"
"He can't come to school today because of you."
One of the boys ran down the steps after her. Grabbing her shoulder, he turned her around Lexis smashed her forehead at his face, breaking his nose. The boy fell to the ground crying and holding his nose as blood poured out.
The driver got in the car and waited for Lexis to do the same. She opened the door behind him and looked up at the crowd. Her eyes met with Katie's, Lexis looked away and sucked her teeth, then ducking into the car she spoke to the driver.
"Can we wait for him?" she asked biting her lip.
"Punctuality is everything in life. He is late he does not do the exam."
"Accidents happen you know, sometimes people can be late."
"Not for life changing events." The man answered blandly.
"Okay. Answer me this then Mr. Malieni, can we pick him up?"
The driver froze then he peered over his shoulder to look at her.
"How did you know?"
"You looked straight at me when you called my name, and kept looking at me and the crowd when you called for Stanton."
"Hmmm."
"That and your wife's perfume is the same as yesterday, you touched her before coming here. Her scent is on you."
Mr. Malieni sniffed his jacket, it was subtle, but his wife's perfume was on him. Sharp kid.
"Alright, you win. We'll fetch him."
Lexis looked back at Katie then got into the car.
As they drove out of the school premises Mr. Malieni began a conversation.
"Why did you break that boy's nose?"
"He was going to gut me. I had no intention to toss up breakfast."
"Why are you so quick to fight?"
"If I don't hit first then I'm just waiting for them to gang me up. When that happens it's pointless fighting back."
"Speaking from experience?" he asked looking at her in the rear-view mirror.
"It's how they always fight. The hot headed one jumps first, when the others get to their senses they jump in too. Take out the hot headed one and they might back down. If not haul ass."
"Seems like they don't like you." He said glancing at her in the mirror again.
"You get used to it." She said looking out the window.
"Used to it? You don't get used to that."
"Yeah well you do when the whole town hates you. Make a left here." Why am I telling him this stuff.
"Why would you assume that they hate you?"
"Because they do." It's so easy talking to him.
"And why is that?"
"Turn right. Because my father is Indian. The second house from the red truck."
No sooner than she spoke did Stanton came running out of the house. He would have run past the car had Lexis not stuck her head out the window and called him.
"Hey jackass!"
Stanton stopped and looked back at the car. Lexis opened the door and motioned for him to hurry.
"We're already late thanks to you."
--
Lexis and Stanton had arrived late for the first exam but Mr. Malieni spoke to his wife and she agreed to let them take the exam. The first exam was two hours long, and during this time the Malieni's were in their office, discussing their potential new batch of students.
"Traffic?" Mrs. Malieni said as she poured them tea.
"Yes, you should have seen it. I honestly did not think we'd run into traffic coming from such a small town so early." He answered removing his gloves.
Mrs. Malieni looked at her husband before putting their tea on the table.
"You're covering for them...for her. Why?"
"I told you it was traffic. They were both at the school by the time I got there."
"Yes.... And you've always been a terrible liar."
"Aur, will you not let me give into this one selfish act and see what happens next?"
"...She cannot replace our daughter."
"I don't intend for her to!" he shouted.
Mr. Malieni looked at his wife across the table. He reached for her hand and kissed it.
"I know she can't. But at least let me pretend."
Mrs. Malieni looked into her husband's eyes. Lately he had been looking tired, frustrated and older. Today he looked more alive than he had in years, his eyes were gleaming with mischief. She raised her hand to his cheek.
"Fine." She whispered.
--
A bell rang signaling the end of the first exam and that brightened Mr. Malieni's mood. His eyes sparkled and a wide smile was spread across his face. Mrs. Malieni took a sip of her tea as her husband rushed out the door. When the door closed she set her cup down and sighed. Just don't get hurt my love. She may not live up to the painted image in your head of what Amelia would be like. She thought looking out the window.
Lexis and the other students filed out of the room into the hall where they met with other students from the other rooms. Most of the students were heading to the cafeteria and Lexis followed behind.
She just walked along listening to the conversations around her trying to make out what the other students thought about the exam. A world of help that had been, almost none of the students she heard spoke in English. She heard French, Spanish, German, Italian or was it Portuguese? Something that was either Arabic or Indian. And Chinese, she knew it was Chinese it wasn't Korean or Japanese... I think. She thought as the reality of her surroundings sank in slowly. This might take a lot more adjusting than I thought.
Lexis had been lost in her thoughts about the exam, future classmates and just plain staring in awe, when a chill came over her that caused her to stop in her tracks. It passed over her again making her tense. Then that soft luring voice called her again.
Lexis.
That time it sounded as though it came from behind, she whirled around only to face Stanton looking at her sheepishly.
"What?!" He asked agitated avoiding her eyes.
Even if he did look at her Lexis was looking through him. It was almost like he wasn't there. She'd usually have a smart answer or a look to give him, but none of those came. She just looked past him, like there was someone in this freak show mix she was actually looking for.
Apparently she found who she was looking for, because she pushed past him and the other students behind. The way she fumbled and ran into others was as though she really couldn't see them. Where the hell is she going? Stanton thought as he chased after her.
He was one step behind her now, she raced around the corner and he followed walking into her.
"Don't just stop suddenly." He said backing away from her.
Lexis stopped. When her eyes fell on Mr. Malieni, the chill left her. Lexis blinked hard a few times before opening her eyes again. Dreaming in daylight...that's a first.
Mr. Malieni had been speaking with one of the lecturers when he glimpsed a figure round the corner and stop suddenly. When he realized it was Lexis he left the lecturer and walked over to her and Stanton.
"How was the first exam?" he asked his eyes locked on her.
"It could have been better." She answered staring at him.
"Are you kidding that was the easiest exam I've ever done. First graders could do that and get it." Stanton answered chuckling.
Mr. Malieni tore his eyes from Lexis and looked at the boy. The boy who had made her late for the exam. The boy who almost ruined her future. The boy she asked him to help. The boy who almost did not allow him to get to know her. His anger rose and he backed the boy to the wall.
"I wonder, what would you be saying if you hadn't written the exam this morning? You know punctuality is part of the exam. In another life you missed this exam, consider yourself lucky Lexis is letting you write it." He would teach this kid a lesson he'd never forget.
A hand landed softly on his shoulder, her voice calmed him.
"There you are my love."
Mr. Malieni turned to face his wife, looking at her realization at what he had done and what he'd planned to do struck. His chest ached. "Aurelia" he whispered.
She slipped her hand into his and pulled him with her.
"You promised me tea." She said leading him away.
Halfway down the hall Mrs. Malieni glanced back at Lexis. The look in her eyes were cold and fierce.
Behind the closed doors of their office Aurelia snapped.
"What the hell were you thinking Sandro?"
Her Italian accent came up strong. When she was upset Aurelia didn't suppress her accent, everything came out in raw anger, in Italian.
He was too shocked by his actions to pay attention, he just stared at her shaking his head,
"I...I don't know."
"You know exactly what happened."
He looked at her with sad eyes.
"You got attached! You can't keep doin- You can't keep looking for her in girls her age." Aurelia's right eye blinked and a tear rolled down her cheek. "Sandro she's never coming back." She whispered.
Tears rolled out of his eyes and he couldn't look at his wife anymore. He plopped down on the couch and buried his face in his hands. Aurelia followed him with her eyes and stared at him, hunched over crying silently.
She sat next to her husband and listened to him for a few moments before calling him.
"Alessandro."
He gave no response or reaction, so she called him again softer.
"Alessandro."
This time he sat up, wiped his eyes, leaned back into the couch until his head rested on the back.
"I'm not like you Aurelia." He started. "I can't cry like a saint, or keep my feelings in check like you do. I just want her back. Our baby, our little girl." A tear rolled into his hair.
Aurelia watched him, he stared at the ceiling and nothing else.
"I've had enough." He whispered. "I feel like...like I'm breaking. And you're right I can't keep pushing her unto other girls, but I can't help it." He sat up and looked at her. "Seventeen years Aurelia. There's a hole in my heart." Grabbing his chest he looked around the room and back at her. "I have tried, I really have." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "But Aurelia you can't fill that hole!" He let her go and turned away.
Aurelia looked at him, a tear rolled down her right cheek and she wiped it away. I'm not the machine you think I am.
"Like your chest constantly is being torn open." She whispered to his back.
Alessandro turned back to his wife and nodded.
"I know how you feel Sandro. And lately that pain...has been getting...worse." She said through gritted teeth as tears continued to pour from her right eye.
"Ever since we met Lexis!" She bit her bottom lip. 89Please respect copyright.PENANAdQi6lsWIXV