I can't believe you're wearing that hot jacket in the middle of summer..." Roger muttered, trying to change the topic of conversation, which was about why I was there. "Why don't you take it off?"
I clenched the balled-up extra length of sleeves in my small hands and shook my head. He sighed. Well then, let's pick a name for you, shall we?"
cocking my head to the side, I gave him a questioning look through my light blond hair that was covering my icy blue eyes.
"Didn't I tell you?"
I shook my head.
"Oh. Well, in that case, I'll tell you now." Dur, do you think? Roger was a kind old man, really, but he didn't have to give me such a pitiful look and treat me as though I was four... Even though I was.
"You see, every child at this orphanage has a nickname that sounds like a average name... Most of the time. Usually, the first letter of their nickname is the same as the one from their real name. Do you understand?"
I looked at him like he was stupid, but nodded my head anyway.
"Would you like to pick out your own nickname?"
Again, duh. I wasn't going to let some old balding guy pick out my name. Gross. "Aron..." I muttered, pulling the hood further over my eyes.
"Alright then, Aron, I'll show you to your room," he said, standing up and motioning for me to follow him.

I followed silently behind him, hiding myself as well as i could from the other children's stares. I had both my hands wrapped around the strap from my book bag that was way too large for me on my shoulder, keeping my eyes on Roger's heels as I walked.
"Here you are, Aron. Your room," Roger said slightly cheerily, opening a door to a red room with plain furniture and a bunk bed.
I gazed at the bed, then back at Roger. Bed, Roger, bed, Roger. I didn't want a roommate. I didn't even get along with /myself, let alone other people. Roger noticed my distress and smiled.
"Don't worry, child, it's your room alone. But I must apologize, this is not the girl's hall, but all the rooms there were taken. So, You'll be in a boy's dorm by yourself. Does that bother you?"
I shook my head. Actually, this is probably the happiest I've ever been in the four years I've lived. No girls. No roommates. No girl roommates. Hallelujah.
"Now, Aron, before I go, is there anything you need?"
"Um... actually, Is there... Anybody who could cut my hair?" I asked shyly, pulling my hood off to reveal hair that had been carelessly chopped off a bit above my shoulders. Roger stared at my hair.
"they didn't even care to pay to get my hair cut," I murmured, avoiding Roger's gaze by staring out the window of my room. I don't really sound like I'm four, do I? My speech is fine, and I'm pretty smart. Then again, that's why I was at this orphanage, and not any of the others.
"Of course. Would you be able to find your way back to your room afterwards?"
I nodded, tossed my bag into the room, and pulled my hood up.
"Alright then, follow me."

I sat on the top bunk, my legs dangling over the side, running my fingers through my boyishly cut hair repeatedly. Argh. I hate it here already.

I bit the small remains of the cherry sucker and ran outside, throwing the stick in the garbage as I went.

It had been four years since I had came to the orphanage. I would leave completely, if these people would have noticed I was a girl. But they didn't. Which was completely understandable, because nothing about me screamed feminine. Short hair, my lips were thick, but they kind of looked like Marilyn Manson's, and my large green eyes and round nose didn't really make any difference seeing as I was still eight. I wore baggy boys clothes, and was always playing sports, or kicking someone's butt at video games. My table manners were rude enough to make me come across as a rude little boy. I ate with my hand the majority of the time, and never really wiped my face until I was finished eating. I also burped extremely loud and then laughed about it when some of the kids stared at me.
But apparently I was a popular boy. Everyone seemed to know my name. Girls stared at me with those dreamy eyes. Guys asked me how I'm able to get them to do that... to which I always reply with 'Dress like the opposite sex. And make sure you act like it, too.' They always give me a weird look then walk away. Anyway, back to the situation at hand...

"Hey! Sorry I'm late, I couldn't find my left shoe..."
"Why your left shoe?" A brunette boy with shoulder-length hair asked. Weren't the kid's here supposed to be smart or something? I felt suddenly quite stupid, being one rank behind this kid.
"Cause Santa only eats the lefties. I don't know! Geeze. Now are we going to play soccer, or what?"
"Um... Actually, we were thinking, there's a new kid, and since we always end up fighting over you, we'd let him replace you for today," a tween boy with dirty blond hair piped up.
"Oh, whatever. I'll just go see who wants to get their tail whipped at video games or something," I said turning around, crashing into the blond boy dressed in all black.
"Mello? Since when are you out here?"
"I was looking for you."
"Oh... Well, come on, then!" I said twisting him around by the shoulders and pushing him forward.
"Ow!"
"Ch, wuss."