Coffee Shop

Chapter 5

Amelia stayed late in her English class so she could copy the notes she missed. She was lucky however, that her English teacher likes her so she wrote an excuse for her being late. Hopefully Amelia's History teacher will accept it instead of giving her more detention. Her history teacher can be a pain in the butt sometimes. He's pompous is what he is, Amelia thinks to herself. She hurriedly packs her school belongings in her bag and rushes to History. She only stayed three minutes after English but it doesn't mean she still won't be late. 

A classmate of hers bumps her shoulder pushing her into the wall. "Excuse me! I'm trying to get to class." The girl rudely exclaims. Amelia stands to the side for a second. Once the girl is far enough away Amelia moves faster to make it to her History class before the bell rings. Seeing the doorway she sprints in the room and the bell rings not a second later. Amelia looks and sees that Benjamin is already in his set with some papers and a notebook out in front of him. 

She notices when he looks up at her shocked and figures it is because she looks disheveled. Hurrying to her seat before she can get scolded. Sitting down Benjamin surprises her, " I was here before you. Is everything okay?"

" Um.. fine. I just had to catch up on some notes real quick. I went back a few minutes before the last class ended so I can catch up on notes I missed from English. I have a few things to do on lunch so I won't have time. Why? Do I look weird or something?" Amelia suddenly became self conscious. Reprimanding herself, she gets frustrated because she doesn't understand why she talks to him so much. For some reason she just spills everything to him. For example, earlier she clearly talked about how her mother doesn't know how to be a mother. That's not his business. He also seems to know a lot about her. She doesn't want him in her life. It's too mess and the partnership they do have is simple. 

"You just seem stressed is all." Benjamin replies.

"Listen, whether I am stressed is not your business. So if you will please just go back to being the guy I didn't know his name and to only talking about school instead of trying to be nosey about my personal life that'd be great. Thanks." Amelia replied curtly. 

He turned back to the front of the class as their teacher told them to pass their assignments forward. She hands her half to him and he paperclips them together. Amelia rolls her eyes at his perfection. She twirls her pen around her fingers bored out of her mind. Yesterday her teacher said they were going to watch a video about Adolf Hitler and how he rose to power. If they actually would is another story. Mr. Melrose constantly changed his mind but that may have to do with the fact that he used to be a college professor.

"Today we are going to be taking notes. I apologize about the change in plans but the principal has not approved the video yet. So if you will please get out a piece of paper and I will give you a slide of notes." Mr. Melrose said his voice droning. 

Amelia silently groans. She saw Benjamin turn towards her. "Listen, Amelia, I'm sorry for overstepping my bounds. However, I would like to work on our future projects together instead of separately. That way we don't have to wait until class to see what the other has done with their half. I won't try to be a friend but I don't know anyone here. It'd be nice. Plus I'd like to hear about the gossip going on about me. Is it deal?" Benjamin stuck his hand out to shake and looks expectantly at Amelia. 

"Benjamin, no offense I prefer to be alone. I don't have time for after school homework sessions. So please can we just keep it during class. That's the best time for me. Thanks. Greatly appreciate it." Amelia says sarcastically.

"You are scared to let anybody in. I get it. But okay. We'll keep our conversations for school." Benjamin smiles, " And by the way, I prefer to be called Ben."

Amelia started getting annoyed. Who did he think he was? She has never gotten so riled up and out of sorts because of someone. Amelia wasn't understanding. She blurts out things to him only Caterina knows. A complete stranger. Caterina is going to be so shocked but maybe she already knew what was going to happen. Maybe that's why Amelia tells him things. He practically has approval from her best friend. No one has ever gotten her this riled up. She's normally very shy and quiet. Thank god lunch is next, she can sit down and talk to Caterina about this issue she seems to be having.

The bell rings jerking Amelia out of her daze. Benjamin chuckles and Amelia shoots him a look, totally out of character for her. Why was she being so confrontational? She hurriedly packs her bag and rushes to her table. Surprisingly, Caterina wasn't there yet. She always gets there before Amelia. 

"Whoa girl, you got here before me. You need to run to Greyson's school?" Caterina says teasing Amelia.

"Yes, I do. Only problem I'm throwing at you before I disappear until tonight." Amelia gets serious catching Caterina off guard. " I think I figured something out. You have basically given Benjamin your approval and now I can't stop blurting things out. Like this morning I ran into him in the hallway, literally, not figuratively, and I basically told him my mom doesn't know how to be a Mom. He gets me so flustered and riled up that I actually get sarcastic with him. And today in History he actually talked to me. Pointing out that I'm shy and such. It's like he watches me then wanted to hang out after school but I didn't get the read that he was wanting to be more than friends. But because of you I am totally out of character. He is hearing things that only you know. And it gets to the point that I turn into a total b***h when he talks to me. I basically told him to f**k off today." Amelia stands up with that, bows and leaves to go speak with her brother.

Amelia is standing in the classroom and listens to the teacher. "Greyson seems to be lost. I give him one on one time and when he brings his homework in the next day it's either not complete or almost all of the answers are wrong. He's a bright student but is there anything I need to know about?"

"No ma'am. Well, our Mom constantly works and I have a part time job at the café. Plus, I have school. We try to help when we can but I'm gonna start taking more time sit down and help him do his homework. He is very smart and I want him to use it to the best of his ability. His grades will start coming up I promise." Amelia says. 

"Okay. I see that you want the best for him. Let me write you a note so you can get to class without getting in trouble. And hey, it'll get easier." She smiles at Amelia handing her the note. Amelia speeds back to school and arrives in Health Science a minute late. Her teacher lets her slide on this one.