`Bellona Lena Hannah's POV
PRESENT DAY
I sighed as yelling was heard from downstairs and down the hall. I squeeze my dull blue eyes shut, trying to usher the loudness of the workers and bratty kids of this orphanage echoing in my mind. This was my life and I needed to live it.
I sigh and shrugged in my worn faded blue jean jacket that was given to me long ago by my father's mother, she said that my father used to where it racing when he was younger with his buddy's and when I got old enough I went too. It was amazing. The fast pace of the cars as they picked up speed, racing around you in a dirt track that sometimes flung mud everywhere, the brightness of the bright lights that were illuminated the track and the pits—the middle part of the race track, where all the crews are.
There were some patches on the jacket my dad put on when he went on a trip to get to a track, and other racing related things on the back and three on the front of the jacket. When I first got the jacket, my father told me that I could add my own patches on it too. And I did.
But only two of them, a rectangle two inch by one inch Black Veil Brides one and a smaller circle My Chemical Romance one. I was too small for the jacket but it was warm, still having the faint smell of ethanol, grease and a small bit of worn rubber it was like my comfort smell. May sound weird, but we all have them.
I grabbed my old phone, headphones and my ice skates, brushing my blond hair with powdery blue ends dyed into it, away from my face then scratching my orange cat that was practically my world, Winona, on her belly—she was named after a Fall Out Boy song called 'She's My Winona' and somewhat after the country singer that my father loved—then opened the door to my room and going down two flights of stairs as I lived in the attic, it was a little chilly up there but it was quite. As I opened the door, entering the hallway, closing it behind me, making the fatal mistake of entering the wrath Gabriella and Kenneth arguing. I swear they were like Anastasia and Drizella from Cinderella. Yes, I love fairy tales. Don't judge.
"BELLONA can you please tell Kennith that she needs to stop stealing my clothes!" Gabriella said huffing angrily, pointing an accusing finger at her sister, Kenneth. Kenneth just rolled her eyes, stopping her foot, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance as she claimed that she did not steal anything.
The two girls didn't really hate me sort to say, it was just that I was always the one who was dragged in and forced to take sides in there argument. I didn't really hate them either, but I wouldn't really consider them as my best friends, it may sound a little harsh but it's the truth, but that doesn't mean that I'm rude to them. Sometimes I just need a break from people-ing.
"I"m sorry girls but, I really need to be going right now. I-I'll make it up to you when I get back though, ok?" I said in just over a whisper, it was like 5:30 in the morning, I liked to go skating early so there is no people there sledding and I'm left in peace and quiet—but I always try to get back around 9:20 in time for breakfast.
"Oh, hun it's just fine. You go on now, I'll just have to talk to my wretched sister about stealing other people's clothes!" Gabriella said, in a half was serious tone and the other half jokingly as Kenneth gave a mock gasp.
We all laughed, when the sisters fought it only lasted a few hours, at the absolute most. I nodded, making my way to the front door, slipping on my combat boots that laced up all the way to my knees, then grabbed my batters and marked-up skates then walked out the door in the cold, but cool, late winter air.
The snow on the ground was deep, going up passed my ankles as I trudged through it, rather enjoying it. My feet weren't wet yet thanks to my combat boots so that was a plus.
I plug in my headphones and put them over both of my ears, playing 'Nobody's Hero' by Black Veil Brides and started humming along quietly as I walked through the mass amount of trees until I came to the pond that had frozen over about a week ago.
The area that the pond was in had a huge steep hill off to the side of it, leading up to the main road—opposite on where I came through the forest at—and a less steep, but still pretty tall hill next to the more intense one. The pond was about 350 yards from the end of both of the hills so people that were sledding, wouldn't fall in the pond or onto the ice accidently, though with the exception on the few idiotic people who went out on the thin ice, not knowing for sure if it was solid or not.
Not being rude, but there idiots and deserves to swim in cold water. Just being honest.
The trees held snow, contrasting the powerful white from the dark brown, almost reddish trees of the woodland that I had just walked through to get to the pond.
I sat down on a rusty old bench that had only been used by me, as I was here more than twice a week in the winter for the icy pond or just to play in the snow.
Alone, yes. But it was relaxing in a way, it feels like your the only person in the world and when you forget about your problems, you feel truly relaxed. Like you can conquer anything and you are fully in control.
I took my skates and started to untie them then talking off my boots, being careful not to get my sock wet in the snow and slipped on my heavily worked into skate on. I needed new ones, but I wasn't in the place to get any at the moment, these ones were from a grange sale I got years back and they were almost too small, not that they weren't when I got them though.
I smiled and looked down at them. They were originally white but awfully dirty and scoffed up with dark grey and black streaks on them from trial and error with an assortment of tricks that I had tried over the years, but they were pretty much my life. I smiled as I stood up and got onto the ice, my phone still shuffling through my playlist, playing different genre, singers, rappers, bands, covers, night-cores, mash-ups and remixes. I had a very sporadic music taste, to say the least.
As I skated easily to the edge of the pond, gaining speed as I felt all my worries of the orphanage and never getting adopted wash away as I skate in circles around the pond, sometimes doing a figure eight or a trick, falling sometimes, but getting straight back up again as I listened to 'Carnival hearts' by Kayla Diamond.
I sighed in content, as I glanced around at my soundings as I slowed a bit, I swear I heard some voices...
"Com' on guys! It'll be fun!" Someone said, a smile clearly on there face, based on there enthusiastic tone as I kept on skating. I saw five people at the top of the less steep hill, I couldn't make out there features that well, as they were at the top of the hill and they hadn't seen me yet. But they were all pretty tall and wearing all black coats and what looked like jeans and were all male, but looking somewhat familiar,
"But it's like, 6 in the morning." Another grumbled as I just shrugged it off and continued to practice my axle.
"Ok, who's first?" Another, more awake sounding voice said, ignoring the other grumpy/tired sounding one.
"I vote Andy because he wanted to come out here this damn early." The second voice said and there was some laughter after.
"Alright, where's my sled?" The person I assumed was 'Andy' said as someone probably handed him his sled.
"Here, don't hurt yourself too much Andy, we have the second to last tomorrow, and I don't think the army wants to hear CC try to hit the bridge of Rebel Love Song." Someone said, and the others began laughing and I smile, they all seemed so close. Maybe there brothers? Significant others? Maybe even best friends? Family, maybe.
"Wow, thank Ash. really feelin' the love here." Andy said and who I assumed to be CC agree jokingly as the rest of the people laughed. Now I knew who they were.
They were Black Veiled Brides, the band. The people that I had looked up to for a long time now. I gave a soft happy sigh and continued to skate, getting lost in my movements, sometimes twisting my body so I skated backwards, pushing my fangirl down. The reason that made the most sense to me was that they came here this early was to not be bothered, like I was.
"Ok, now go!" Someone else, who I now recognized as Jake said, and there was yelling and the sound of a sled sliding quickly down the hill with whooping and yelling. They must have pushed him down the hill. I snorted quietly, and I turned up my volume on my headphones so I couldn't hear the band, they came here to have fu and I didn't want to ruin that for them.
"Jake, c'mon, that was uncalled for!" Andy yelled in the same joking tone up the hill as the rest of the band were laughing heavily.
"You're fine, its Ash's turn now!" CC said, as there was more laughter and sledding sounds, I turned my music up farther as 'Deep Water' by American Authors (Steve Reece Remix) blared through my white and light blue headphones that were placed on my head.
I smiled slightly, 'they sounded like they were having fun, they must be on tour' I thought as I skated and attempted a double axle again, but I landed in a half triple. I rolled my eyes at myself and tried again, this time my skate slipped and I landed on my butt, but got back up immediately.
The guys seemed to haven't notice me yet, which I really didn't care if they did or not. It wasn't really nothing new for me to not be noticed, as I have been in the adoption center for about three years now (I'm 14 now), being dropped off by my mother's sister (my aunt) after five months when my mother splurged herself in work to try to distract her. Well, my mother sent me to live with my aunt for 'the time being' as she got over my father's death.
He was in a raceway accident on our home track, me being in the pits at the time, being watched over by my dad's uncle, Mike. But that was a long time ago, and I got over it. Not necessarily forgetting it, but coming to terms with it. Watching my dad crash that race car, it almost broke me and I was a mess for the first two or so years after. I haven't seen any of them ever since.
I started humming the song as I tried another trick, completing and landing it successfully, then twisting my body so I shifted on my skates so I was facing the boys as I watched them fly down the hill. I twisted around and gained some speed then decided to attempt my axle one last time, before I went back of the adoption center for breakfast, it had to be about 9 in the morning, now. I had been out here for 3 and a-half hours and the sun was finding its place in the sky quickly.
As I tried the trick again, my skate blade lifted off of the ice and I cross my arms in front of my chest, gaining velocity as I landed, properly at first, with my head held high, my right foot off the ground and extend in the air with my arms also extended out. But, my left skate didn't land correctly—do to the dull and overused blade slacking to the side—, sending my body onto the ice.
Sometimes I wonder of the pond fish were annoyed at me for being on the ice, jumping and landing on it so many times. My thoughts were at random as I lay on my back, by arms sprawled out to my sides as I let out a frustrated groan. I didn't land the trick on my feet like I wanted, but on my back/butt instead.
Ah well, I'll try again tomorrow. I sighed in frustration and opened my eyes, to see worried bright blue eyes. I jumped back quite a bit, in surprise but, fear also.
I knew that they wouldn't hurt me, but how did they approached me that fast? And without me hearing too?
"Are you ok?" He said, I recognized him as Andy Biersack, the band was there too, all out on the ice around me with worried looks on their face, as I sat up, feeling completely fine, the fall just forced the breath out of me, that's all.
"Oh, I-I'm fine, I j-just slipped." I shrugged in some confusion stuttering a small bit, reaching to grab my phone and headphones, which you could hear the music from that was still playing, 'Where Did You Go?' by Asking Alexandra. I grasped the phone and paused the music.
"Are you sure? It looked like you landed pretty hard." Ashley said and CC nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure, it happens a lot." I say in almost defence as Jinxx offered his hand to help me up to my feet, well skates, as they all towered above me, me standing about 4 ft 8 in.
I glanced to my phone to see what time it was: 10:16 AM
"Oh crap, uh I gotta go-" I curse, then rushed over to where I left my stuff by the old bench and slid my combat boots on, throwing off my skates, shimmying my headphones so they hung around my neck and my phone in my worn jean jacket pocket as quickly as I could muster.
"Are you sure your ok?" Jinxx said and I shook my head yes.
"I'm fine, I better get going though." I say standing up, glancing to the edge of the woods and to the path I took to get here, then back to them. I was so late, and I was sure that I would get interrogated once I got back to the adoption center, by both Gabbrella, Kenneth and the caretakers there.
"Thank you for your concern though, Jinxx." I say and they all raised there eyebrow at me, and I shrugged again.
"We could take you to your house, if you want." Andy offered and the rest of the guys nodded and my eyes widen.
"Uh, are you s-sure?" I say, shifting from foot to foot, it was about a 20 minute walk from here to the adoption house, 10 to 15 if I sprinted fast enough.
"Of course, we didn't catch your name?" CC said, smiling as I nodded hesitantly, as they led me back to there car.
"My name is Bellona, but my friends call me Lena, well uh sometimes." I say, giving a weak shrug at the last part, Gabbrela and Kenneth sometimes called me Lena, but none of the caretakers do. It wasn't that I hated my name, I just thought it was, for one long, and for two, I thought it was too proper, well at least for me.
The rest of them nodded as we all got into their car, Andy driving, Jinxx and Jake in front with his and me, CC and Ashley in the back.
As Andy drove I told him the address of the center as CC interrogated me about my skating, well asked questions about it.
"Where did you learn to skate like that?" He asked and I thought for a second before saying,
"I used to do competitive dance, and one day my friend took me to a skating rink, he said it was 'for the lolz' and recorded it for my other friend, and I just kinda fell in love with it ever since. Like a side hobby of a sort." I shrugged, smiling a small bit, thinking about my best friend/dance partner, Dallas, or his stage name, 'Falcon'. We used to dance together at this underground conceptive dance club in L.A—the orphanage is in Missouri—under different names, mine was 'Blue Monarch', and my other friends name was Tech, her real name was Ally though, she did the blog for the club.
"That's cool." Ashley said with interest sparking in his eyes, as I glanced out the window, wintery trees and hills rolling past us.
"So, you know our music?" Jake asked and I nodded,
"You guys inspired me to come out of my shell more. So uh thank you for that." I say, itching my arm awkwardly, it was true they gave me the courage to sneak out of my mother's house and be free, not that she noticed that much anyone.
"It's what we do, are you sure you put in the right address?" Andy asked as we turn onto the road with nothing on it, but worn down road signs and the center where I lived.
"Yeah, it's that house right there" I say, pointing to the orphanage, the shutters and siding were kinda dirty but they didn't seem to pay attention to that. At first look, you wouldn't tell that there were at least 20 parentless kids living there; but there was.
"Wow, are your parents rich or something?" CC jokes, as the rest of the guys looked over at the building, sending a small smile to my face.
"Yeah, I guess they kinda were." I shrugged as I followed Andy's gaze to the small, almost unreadable sign out in the front path. 'Green Side Adoption Center' was what it said in very faded dark green lettering, it was fading into the mostly green rotting side as the remaining manila paint chipped off of it. I knew what it said without even having to look at the sign as I glanced at him who was squinting at the almost unreadable lettering.
Andy's eyes widened a small bit as he looked at me through the rear view mirror, he had deciphered the sign and I knew it too. But, I just quietly shook my head at him with a small grateful smile as I slipped out of the sleek black car
"Thanks for the ride," I say, somewhat shyly before Andy had the chance to ask about why I was staying at an orphanage, as I made my way up the path and onto the creaky deck, I was tackled by Gabriella and Kenneth. They seemed to have resolved there clothing argument and were now fawning over me.
"Omg, we was so worried!" Kenneth said, hugging onto my waist—even though they both were a few inches taller than me, so it looked kinda funny—, pulling at my headphone cord and pinned my arms to my sides, as Gabriella hugged me in a similar fashion as her sister, but around my shoulders.
Soon, I calmed them down and we all got inside, I got a lecture from Mrs. Denver about not being late and how it could be dangerous (even though this place is miles away from the main town road), and how it leaves a bad impression on potential adopters and stuff.
But to be honest, it wasn't the first time I had that lecture—adoption days were the worst—and probably wouldn't be the last. But Mrs. Denver was a nice woman, about in her mid 30's and had been working at this center ever since I got here and knew how I didn't like to bother people much so she let me off with only a few extra chores this time.