Chapter 3

It always surprises me how some people are just born to wine, dine, and woo the world as I know it. If said person got into trouble, a few choice words and a glittering smile was all that was required to get off scott-free. Got a ticket? Give a wink. Got a debt? Flash a smile! You murder someone? Find a good lawyer, look clean, and give the audience your best "It-really-was-me-but-I'm-blinding-you-with-my-sparkly-teeth" grin. Who on earth could be a murderer and have a killer set of chompers like that?

Kel, it seemed was one of those people. He had single-handedly led the operation "conquer the cafeteria" and it seemed, actually, a success. Nick was lying somewhere in a coma, that Amanda chick was licking her wounds back behind "enemy lines" -a hastily shoved wall of tables and chairs-. Well, I can say honestly that this place knew how to throw a welcome party alright.

Where was I? I was curled up in a ball beneath one of the thrown tables, trying to hide and breathing slowly through my nose -the others could smell your fear. Seriously, these kids are on some high-end crack, or acid. ALL OF THEM! Smoking, huffing, shooting, snorting, or downing something, because there was at least a good 90% of the kids in this place outside having a round-robin Mortal Kombat throw down of epic proportions. Another 5% were down and out for the count, and yet another 5% were -like me- hiding. Those were the smart ones.

There was a clear shot across the cafeteria to the boys' dorms, I knew in my brain that it was utterly stupid to try and make it. It might seem like the path wasclear, but I knew that as soon as I poked my nose out of my hiding hole, I would be doomed -death by kids hopped up on drugs. Still… I was pretty desperate. I moved slowly out from beneath the tipped table, okay look left… nothing… look right… uh not clear at all. Crouching, I tensed. I was almost ready to make tracks in the tiles with fire sprung from sheer speed, in fact I had even gotten about a foot out when, of course, a random body sent me sprawling. Seriously? Damn my life…

Mel went zipping past me, her neat blonde hair was now like a complete frizzed mess, didn't seem to phase her much. In fact, it seemed as my earlier suspicion suggested that this… this pell-mell chaos happened regularly. The poor sap, some smallish -I use that word because he was still more beefy than myself but way smaller than Nick- guy was Mel's intended target; she leapt up and BAM! She nailed him squarely in the chest with a tackle that would make a pro-football linebacker applaud.

Jezebel was off to my left, she was straddling a downed female of unknown origins and was just going to town with blazing fists; rather violently. I started to wriggle free from whats-his-name unconscious above me, when Jakob goes prancing by, grin splitting his face from ear-to-ear. He pauses momentarily to shove the kid off of me and continues on as easy as you please. I was grateful yes, but God what a show offy jerk…

Kel was… where the hell was that idiot instigator? Oh, nope wait a tic. There he is, all flashy with his "To me! To me!" battle cry and leading a group of ragged soldier kids through a maze of sprawled tables and other random -food- junk on the floor.

Enough surveying, my chance of getting away was narrowing as time ticked away, As I was no longer trapped beneath a human body, I jumped up again and actually did make it to the hallway; much to my elation… whoopee. I followed my mental map and managed to find my -shared- room. It was unsurprisingly, as everyone was down the hall getting their asses kicked into oblivion, left untouched. Seems no one has the time to arrange an impromptu fight club and riffle through a new kid's stuff.

I went over to my bed to retrieve my box from the floor and to put it away safely in my drawers. The wood creaked in protest as I slid -slammed really- the drawer shut. I spun and walked toward my new bed, fatigue crept up from no where and I was entirely unprepared to stave it off. Yawning, I gazed out the barred windows and noticed the sun had long since gone down; not much a surprise really, in the winter the days were so short.

So… this place is a shit hole because of the children who are living here? It was an interesting, worthy question in my own opinion. After all, why would kids utterly destroy the few things that brought pleasures to an already screwed -screwed!- life? And if this is an honest-to-goodness orphanage -and not some crazy sex-slave ring thing- when do people come in to adopt? Do we have to 'look' like we play nice? Do I have to go to school here?

Now there was a million dollar question. As far as I know, I hadn't received anything stating that there was a school on the premise, ya' know like home schooling? At the same time, I hadn't been told that I would be expected to attend some public school in the area… but the weekend wasn't even here yet, tomorrow was a Friday, so maybe I'll be meeting someone there?

The blankets were scratchy and coarse, but damn, were they warm and at the moment warmth was very much appreciated. Turns out a window isn't so much of a blessing after all. The building wasn't as modern as originally stated, and the window frame had frigid air blowing in along with random flakes of snow at odd intervals.

I think I dozed off at that point. I was wrapped up in a cocoon of delicious warmth when I heard a BAM! I jolted awake in my bed. As it happens, trying to leap from your bed out from under your covers was not as easy as people may think. I did succeed in hitting the floor, 'Oh hello, did you miss me? I think we're going to be great friends!" It was beautiful, the start of a long and meaningful relationship, I could feel it.

Groaning, I pushed myself out from underneath the twisted coils of my snak- sheet, I meant sheet. I looked over at the doorframe. Have you ever had one of those eerie moments at night, where you look into a lit doorway and you see a shadow? Yes, I have had my equal share of frights, but I had to admit being woken in such a manner, and to see such a sight was unsettling.

"AND OF ALL THE NERVE! STARTING SUCH A RUCKUS ON A SCHOOL NIGHT! HAVE YOU NO SHAME- Unidentified Screaming Person took a breath- I WILL HAVE YOU CLEANING FOR THE NEXT YEAR -NO!- THE REST OF YOUR MISERABLE LIFE HERE IF YOU DARE MAKE SUCH A MESS AGAIN!"

My eyes were aching and sending sympathy pains to my ears, which were in much more ouch than my pupils. My eyes did adjust to the dark though, and all I could see was one very tiny woman tugging along a very irate boy, oh Kel. She didn't seem through with her rage, but did seem to realize that there were probably a few -just a few- kids in the dorm sleeping. Now all I could hear through the ringing was a vicious hissing, coming from the old lady, and pained yelps. I watched as her gnarled fingers dragged the blond along by his ears, and my own throbbing ears pounded in shared sympathy.

Crazy as it was -though maybe not so much crazy considering the track record of this place so far- the second she saw me; poor, defenseless, shocked little boy, she was all sunshine and frickin' rainbows.

She guiltily dropped Kel from her talons and rushed toward me. With the way she was coming toward me I felt very much in danger and tried to scramble away, at least to under the bed. Alas, I was too -ahem- hindered by my blankets -it wasn't cause I'm slow!- and she swooped and-

And was incredibly sweet. Too sweet. After about seven or eight months of steadily increasing hostilities from strangers, I was completely befuddled by her grandmotherly hands pulling me up from the floor. The blanket that was like a bear trap was gently smoothed away and she brushed me off. "Oh you poor dearie, I was unaware there were any boys in bed, what with all the hula-balloo-" she shot a glare at Kel, "Oh you must be startled, me waking you up like that. Here now back into bed with you sweet little thing."

As she guided me back into bed I must've looked like a dear in headlights. I could feel my eyes as round as dinner plates as the lady tucked -SHE TUCKED- me in! I nearly had a nervous break-down. Was I dreaming? No… no the floor had been awfully- what the hell? Dear lord, or whoever it is answering prayers up there right now, if this is not a dream, then have I died? Did I hit the floor too hard and crack what brain I had left? Am I now in limbo, viewing what my future in Heaven might look like if I'm judged as good? OH DEAR GOD I'LL BE GOOD! I've deserve a pass right? If not let me go back a little while and I'll be good! I will pray, and I'll listen to all my elders, and I'll give offerings when that stupid plate comes around, and I will read my bible everyday I swear! I won't trip younger kids, and I'll help age-challenged people across the roads, and I won't walk on grass where a sign says, "Do not walk on grass."

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again, expecting the old woman to have just POOFED into nothingness, but she was still there hovering inches from me. Okay, that was a little creepy. "Do you need anything dearie? Didn't hurt yourself did you?"

I shook my head frantically no. I was confused about my helter-skelter feelings. One minute I was estatic about someone actually -actually - giving a damn, and a split-second later, I'm freaking out about someone near me.

"He's fine ya' stupid hag, now get out!" Kel tossed a pencil from our shared table and chucked it at her. It missed and ricocheted off the wall onto my head. Mmhum, I had a feeling that this was going to happen frequently as well.

And then miss nice gradmother-lady turned back into Madusa on crack. "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME YOU DILIQUENT WHIPERSNAPPER? HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT. I OUTA'- and then she noticed my wide eyed stare; coughed awkwardly and cleared her throat, "I mean, get to bed Young Micklin, you will be getting up early to wash dishes and then you'll be heading to school. YOU WILL come straight back here, do your homework and then you'll be doing chores set aside for you for a month!" She turned back to me with a kindly smile, "We'll be getting you more situated tomorrow, and I want you to know that the staff feels terrible that there was no one to help you get everything settled. Anyway, good night."

Then she was gone.

WTF?

I felt Kel's gaze drilling a hole into my skull so I turned my head to him. WHAT NOW? He, obviously, could not read my mind but laughed. "Don't worry, she's always like that. She had a son -a long long time ago- and I guess he had some shade of red hair, so now every boy that she sees with red hair she's all sweet to, but don't be fooled!" I jerked a little at the sudden loudness of his last few words, "She's a harpy if you get her mad?"

I pushed up to my elbows, tilted my head, and nodded toward him. Kel is either a master at reading body language and facial features, or is really self-centered -I'm betting on the latter- "What that? No, she isn't that mad at me. All I had to do was tell her that I was helping out the new kid and she cooled down."

Raised brow.

"What?" He looked scandalized, "You don't think she believes me? Nick really was going to hit you. Besides, they can't pin it on me." He gave that shimmering smile. "They don't have a single person besides Nick's group to say that I, personally, started the brawl. I'll be cleaning for a few days and then they'll get bored and then no more cleaning!"

Another flashed grin.

Another raised brow.

I'm to tired for this. I sighed and flopped back down suddenly too tired to even stay up. I wrestled my sheet and blanket into submission and settled back down. I cracked one eye back open in Kel's direction, but the boy was already asleep.

The blanket scratched my cheek a bit as I wiggled a little bit more. It was scratchy and wasn't the greatest, but it was a blanket, and this -I think- is a bed. Like that saying goes, "It could always be worse." Yeah, I suppose. How long do you keep with that though, before you just get fed up and say, "What the crap did I do in my last life?" At this point, I'm betting that I must've held up a church or something and shot all the people. Than burned it. Well, maybe not burned it; I'd probably have been born really on the street if I'd done that.