Lost and Found

Lorenzo

          From my chair in Principal Stewart's office, I could see the main office lady talking to the big man I was hoping wasn't Lorenzo. They talked for a few minutes about something that I couldn't hear, and then I saw him signing some papers. Principal Stewart and Bonnie were talking to me about how this move would be "a big change" and about how it might take a while to adjust. I wasn't listening to a word, but clearly they didn't notice, because Bonnie kept going on and on and on....

            I couldn't take my eyes off the big guy. Could we be siblings? We looked more like opposites. I had a track sweatshirt and leggings on, and he had slacks and a button down that just screamed wealth. The office lady started talking to him again and then she raised her hand to point to...the office I was in. Oh god! I quickly averted my gaze back to Bonnie before his eyes locked on me. I wasn't looking directly at him, but could still feel the intense power of his stare on me. Bonnie looked at me as if she wanted me to say something in response. "Sorry what did you say?" I asked quietly.

           Bonnie sighed. "I said, do you need to go back to your old apartment to get your stuff?" She had a sad look in her eyes. I wonder why. Doesn't she do this sort of stuff every day?

            I quickly answered, as I could see the man- Lorenzo?- walking closer and closer out of the corner of my eye. "Y-yes." I stuttered. I never stutter. Although, I haven't been talking much lately, maybe I do have one? Bonnie seemed to finally notice that Lorenzo was coming in the room, so she stood up from her chair. She looked up at him, and offered out a hand. He took it. "Hi Lorenzo, I'm Bonnie. We talked on the phone this morning." He had a weird look on his face, as if he was studying her. He didn't even say anything, which angered me. Bonnie was the nicest person I'd talked to in a long time and he was acting rude for no apparent reason. He nodded once and sat down in the chair on the opposite side of her than me, that she motioned to. There was another chair next to me, but maybe she didn't want me to be uncomfortable?

            I could feel three pairs of eyes on me as soon as he sat down. I was silent. They may have been waiting for me to say something but I didn't want to. I didn't feel like it. I was the one being forced into this. Why comply?

            I leaned back in my chair and looked him straight in the eye. "And you are?" Obviously I knew who he was, but clearly his ego was big as hell already, so why not? His eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything. Bonnie must have sensed the tension, because she tried to gently ease us into conversation. "Lizzie, this is your oldest brother, Lorenzo Marino. He is your legal guardian as of..." She reached over and signed a piece of paper. "Right now!" She looked back and forth at us, and smiled. It actually seemed somewhat genuine.

            The rest of the time we were in there, it was mostly signing a lot of legal papers and not a lot of talk. I noticed Principal Stewart barely said a word throughout it all. Bonnie was trying really hard to get us talking but her efforts were seemingly useless. Finally, Bonnie said it was time for me to go home, after Lorenzo took me to my old apartment to get my things.

            I vowed to myself never to call my brothers' house "home". Home isn't home unless you are with family. The only family I had was dead. These people might be my blood, but as far as I was concerned, they were NOT family. After all, they could have found me easily. We have the literal same last name. They could have searched my name on Google and found me! Bonnie had even said that I had lived with them until I was almost one and a half years old! If I was ever even going to talk to them, let alone be sisterly, they were going to have to put in a damn good effort!

            I was pulled from my thoughts when I saw Lorenzo stand up, and walk over to my chair. "Lizzie, come on, let's go home." He gave me a small smile. My heart almost melted. I regained my composure and nodded without saying a word to him. I smiled quickly at Bonnie as if to thank her, stood up, and followed him out of the school.

            The winter air was chilly, but my thick sweatshirt helped to keep it bearable. My brother's quick pace, and long legs made me have to jog for a few seconds to catch up. He looked down at me, and it was almost as if he didn't know what to say, which was fine by me, because I didn't feel like making an effort to have a conversation in that moment. We walked through the parking lot for only a few short seconds, before we came to a black Subaru, with tinted windows. He opened the door for me, closed it after I stepped in, and walked around to the drivers seat. He got in, and we started driving.

            I was prepared to tell him directions to get to my apartment, but he already knew somehow. Maybe Bonnie had given him the address, and I didn't realize. He stopped the car and we both got out silently.

            As I came to the door, I fished my keys from my hoodie pocket and walked inside. I quickly noticed the lack of loud stomping behind me, and noticed that Lorenzo had stayed outside the door, as if he wasn't sure if I wanted him to come inside. I didn't say anything, but it was sort of sweet of him to wait for my invitation. "You can come in if you want." I said. I then walked toward my bedroom.

            He caught up to me quickly and walked silently behind me. I walked past my moms bedroom and my breath hitched, like always. He was probably confused, but thankfully he didn't say anything. I entered my bedroom and grabbed a string bag. I put all my clothes (which wasn't a lot), my toiletries, and the necklace my mom gave me when I was 10. I normally wore it every day, but In my rush to get out of the apartment that morning, I had forgotten to put it on for the first time in years. Pretty much everything else I owned, that I valued, was in my backpack that was in Lorenzo's car.

            Lorenzo and I walked out of my apartment without looking back. I was sad to leave, but also a bit relieved at the memories I could leave behind. I dropped off my apartment keys to the front desk lady, and we walked out to the parking lot. He started the car, and we started driving.