Well, this is the second chapter… how did the first one go? Sucketh? Loveth? PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! And I know some bits aren't very true to the story… give me some artistic licence, k. I basically just took the characters and a few basic ideas. Ugh, the purists are probably going to flame me. Oh well.
Chapter 2: "So…"
LESLIE
It had been five days since I had arrived here at this crazy orphanage. After a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of work, this Saturday was a relief.
"So…"
I sat as L crouched. He had just demolished three chocolate bars and a stack of pancakes in ten minutes. I flipped open the lid of my Tic Tacs box and selected a Tac. Or a Tic. I wonder…
"Can I have one?" L asked me with pleading eyes.
"You," I said, popping a Tac into my mouth for effect, "Have had far too much sugar already."
The eyes.
"No."
…
"Oh, alright. But you owe me…"
I shook a Tic onto his palm. He gobbled it up in obvious delight. I mean, I'm an addict but he just looked like I'd awarded him first prize in the Perfect Contest.
"So, today's a Saturday. Now what?"
"Well…" he slowly chewed his food, thinking.
As he opened his mouth, Near slid in and squished up next to me in the crowded cafeteria. L looked unhappy at that, but Near just beamed at me with straight, white teeth. I found myself wondering if he was an albino. And if his gums were white.
"Well, we can show you around, if you like. You only saw our Dorm last time."
L was frowning, but I thought that it would be highly impolite to say no. So I didn't.
"But first, let's finish breakfast," I suggested at the look on L's face.
I sat quietly, drinking my tea.
"What are you drinking?" L asked, breaking the silence.
"Tea," I answered, barely looking up.
"Can I try some?"
I reluctantly handed over my mug. L took a sip and made a face.
"Bleuuurgh!"
"You get used to it," I said happily.
He passed the mug to Near, who had the same result.
"You'll learn to love it. I'll make sure of that," I said, an evil grin on my face.
L looked worried. Near looked unfrazzled. I could be very persuasive.
L
Near and I started our little tour with the gardens. At the moment they were frostbitten and pale. Leslie shuddered and gathered her coat around her.
"I hate this weather. It makes no sense. In Melbourne, it'd be 30 degrees Celsius today. But ooooooh no, brrrr, it's fr-EEZING!! And only two weeks until my birthday!"
"What?" I asked.
"Oh yeah. I'm 14 on the 17th."
The 17th of January? That's only just over two weeks away!
"What do you want?" Near asked before I could.
Leslie paused for a long while.
"Friends. But I have those now."
She smiled warmly at us. I melted.
"We were your Christmas present. What do you want?" I insisted.
Leslie just smiled a smile that told us she had all that she could ever want. But that wasn't good enough. I had to buy her SOMETHING… all she had that she actually owned was a wooden box and some lucky coins. What would I buy her?
"Near, I need to talk to you."
I drew Near aside into a little niche.
"What?" he queried.
He was so pale he was almost glowing.
"Well, don't tell her I told you, but Leslie owns practically nothing. I really think we should get her something nice for her birthday," I told him.
"No way! She said it herself: she doesn't want anything. She has me – us, I mean, now."
I looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, you SO love her."
"Do not! I barely know her!" Near withdrew and walked off down the corridor, claiming he had homework to do.
I smiled humourlessly. It was obvious Near liked Leslie quite a bit. But there was only one problem… I loved her too.
LESLIE
3-1-2008
Dear Diary,
I didn't know it was possible to be so HAPPY! I've made two new friends, and there are a few weird mean kids. There's this girl called Elle I think I might introduce myself to, and maybe a few others. There's this boy called L that's a friend, and this uber-pale kid called Near, who is really nice. They're both so brilliant to become friends with me, which is better than the kids in Australia could do. They really didn't like me. I don't know why (. Maybe because I wasn't afraid to be myself…
I snapped my diary shut as that Mello guy and his lackey came up to me.
"What are you doing?" Mello asked.
I frowned at him.
"Skydiving."
"Listen, newbie!" He thrust his head in near mine. "I say what goes on here. I'm the tough guy."
"What?!" I shrieked, pushing him away. "What is this? You don't rule over me. Only I rule over me. So leave me alone. Or else, ok," I threatened, making it clear that I wasn't a pushover.
"Your boyfriend isn't here to defend you, you know," Mello sneered.
I was taken aback by this new angle.
"Who?" I asked.
"L. Or Near. You've got two, you slut!"
"Whatever. I'm not a slut. They're not my boyfriends. We both know that. Whatever you say can't hurt me," I said calmly, and then ignored him.
That had worked, but I knew it couldn't last. But for now, I would enjoy myself. And ignore Mello. For a second, I wondered about Matt. What was he like? Was he evil? Was he just confused? I'd have to find out. My curiosity was massive.
That night at dinner, I had to ask L. Near was at some competition, as well as Mello.
"What's what?" he asked with a mouth full of pasta.
"I said, what is Mello's problem?"
L shrugged and looked down at his food.
"Mmmmm?" I prompted.
"He's competitive."
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm competitive. He's… evil."
L nodded in agreement.
"Maybe life was tough for him," he said thoughtfully, then shovelled more food into his mouth.
"And what about Matt?"
L paused thoughtfully.
"He plays his Gameboy… a lot…"
I looked over my shoulder and watched him for a bit.
"Yeah. I noticed," I replied.
L shrugged again.
"That's about all."
"His personality is Gameboy?" I asked sceptically.
L just shrugged.
"That's really ticking me off," I grumbled, throwing a bit of bread at him.
He ducked and it hit the person behind in the head. I quickly blamed the people behind me and made a speedy exit.
8-1-08
Dear Diary,
Things have been very odd lately. I feel like something is going on behind my back. I dunno… I doubt it's malicious or anything. Unless that evil Mello guy is in on it. THEN I'll have to watch my back. But I really wouldn't think that L, or even Near, would DO that kind of thing… well, maybe I'm just imagining it.
L
I was pretty sure by now that Leslie knew we were "up to something". Well, it was really more me. Near had refused to get involved, but he was cracking. Badly. He's already helped me find a few things that I needed.
"Are you sure that she'll even WANT this?" he'd asked me a few days ago.
I'd turned and looked at him. He'd paled (even more) as I said,
"We're doing this for her. She's probably never HAD anything like this done for her. She doesn't know what she's missing."
Near just nodded, not entirely convinced.
"Now," I said, briskly changing the subject. "Where did you put that stapler?"
I'm sorry this took so long. Well, if anybody's been reading it . Oh you will… you will… And please comment! Constructive criticism is welcomed, but anything is good. If you MUST flame me, whatever. I'm very thick-skinned. Sticks and stones.
…
And I'm great at comebacks.
