Belonging

C56: Messaging

     "Dessert?" He asks.

     "No thank you, I'm full." I say.

     "Alright." He says. "I can take you back to grandad's house if you're ready."

     "Okay." I say, standing up. He stands too, and we both walk out of the restaurant after he pays. We go over to the car already waiting for us and slide into the back of it.

     He closes the door after us and leans back, running a hand through his hair. When we're almost at my grandfathers house he says, "if you ever want me to take you anywhere again, I'd be more than happy to."

"Thanks." I whisper. "And.. thanks for taking me to see the movie. Sorry we had to leave."

"It's okay." He tells me. "I didn't really like the movie either."

"Were you scared too?" I ask.

"Sure." He responds.

The car pulls through the gates to my grandfathers house. I undo my seatbelt and go over to the door.

"Bye." I say.

"Bye, маленький." He responds gently.
(Translation: Baby.)

I tilt my head, but don't ask what the strange word means. I get out of the car and go over to the door, opening it and stepping inside swiftly.

I go into the kitchen, where I find my grandfather doing work on his laptop, sitting by the counter. He turns around to look at me and then grins. "Hey, how was it?"

"Good." I say.

     I walk over to him, and he wraps me up in a hug, kissing my cheek. "Good." He says, "did you get something to eat?"

     I nod.

     "Are you still hungry?"

     I shake my head.

     "So does that mean you don't want any ice cream?" He asks.

     My eyes widen. "No, I do."

     "But you said you're not hungry." He says, tilting his head.

"I didn't know you were talking about ice cream. I'm always hungry for ice cream, grandad."

He chuckles. "Okay, you go pick a movie for us to watch and I'll get you some out."

"Okay!" I say excitedly.

The weekend passes by quickly. My grandfather encourages me to go to the debate club too, and writes me a permission slip to do so. On Monday morning, I go straight to the room it says on the poster Ian gave to me and hand the slip in. They tell me to come after school, and then I go up to my form class. On the way, I message my grandfather and let him know I have to stay back, and he wishes me luck.

I tell Ian that I'm going to try out for it during form, and he seems to be happy about it, filling me with faith that I'll do well. But as the day advances I grow increasingly nervous.

Between two lessons I rush downstairs to the toilet, hoping to go when there aren't many people there so I'm not late for my next lesson. As I turn the hallway, I hear my name being called.

I turn around. Zoey storms toward me, her eyes narrowed. "So now you're going and lying to Aaminah to try make her hate us?" She asks as she stops in front of me, her hands balled into fists at her sides.

"What?"

"You told her we were horrible to you, and now she doesn't want to be our friend anymore!" She exclaims. She reaches out and shoves me, and I stumble backwards, my eyes widening as memories of Angelina and my old school begin to fill my mind.