Chapter 5

A woman was giving me a tour of the orphanage. I was impressed by it's conditions. It was an old building, yet it seemed so brand new. Considering the amount of kids living in one building, it amazed me how it's still standing.

"Finally, this is where you'll be sleeping," she gestured to a room filled with sleeping bags all over the floor. "Put your stuff down and make yourself at home. Make sure to be down at the cafeteria in 30 minutes for food, got it?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I got it."

She smiled, "Good. You should go introduce yourself to the others. We don't really know how long you may stay here so you should probably make friends." With those final words, she left the room.

I put my backpack on the ground and then sat next to it. I stared at the ceiling. I guess this is it. I have nothing. I have no one. I am alone.

Moments later, a girl sat down next to me. She had dirty blonde hair that went down to her shoulders. She had dark blue eyes, which reminded me of the ocean, "Hey, you must be new here. I know this because I've never seen your face before."

"Do you mind if you leave me alone?"

She joked, "Someone's a little grumpy." I simply gave her a look and she ran away, "Fine."

Five minutes after she left, I left the room as well. Knowing that I was going to have troubles finding it, I left earlier. As predicted, I got lost. The orphanage was like an enormous maze. So, after 10 minutes of randomly wondering around, I finally found it. Right on time too! It was just like school, except there weren't any tables to sit on. Just plates and a kitchen. I walked in line, but, unknowingly, I budged some one else's spot. Of course, that person was a complete ass who couldn't just have told me.

"Hey! Are you budging me?" I turned around and saw a freaking mammoth! It was actually a REALLY ugly and muscly kid. I guess what he lacked in looks he made up for muscles.

I stayed expressionless, "Oh sorry. I didn't see you there."

He chuckled, "Haha, yeah right! You're just an idiot and a liar!"

He was starting to get on my nerves.

He added, "Plus, I'm fairly hard to miss! I'm so-"

"Ugly?" I couldn't resist.

"Excuse me? I was going to say hot but-"

I replied, "You were going to call yourself hot? And you claim I'm the liar." Some kids around us began chuckling.

He raised his voice, "That's it!" He swung a punch at me but I ducked. As I ducked, I tried punching him in the gut. He just stared at me. He lifted up the bottom of his shirt just enough to reveal a six-pack. Damn it.

He laughed, "I've got abs of steel. Literally. You're measly little punches aren't going to do anything!" He slapped me on my face so hard that I actually fell on the ground, "Pathetic." He was about to kick me in the stomach while I was on the ground but a familiar face popped up. The girl with the blonde hair I had met earlier.

She simply pulled on his hair and he begged that she let his hair go, "Ow, ow, ow! Carla! Leave me alone!"

She smiled, "Not until you leave the new kid alone, Cole!"

He broke, "Ok! Ok! Just let go of my hair!"

Seeing a kid so tough this vulnerable was entertaining to watch. I couldn't help but have a little smile on my face.

She finally let go and he ran off like a little baby.

I stood up in awe, "What the…"

She giggled, "His name is Cole. His father was in the army, which explains why he's so tough. But his weakness is his hair. He should probably shave that off someday…"

I laughed, "Thanks for helping me out. And I'm sorry for earlier."

She held out her hand, "No problem. You've been through a lot and you're probably still coping with it. Anyways, my name is Carla."

I shook her hand, "My name is Malerie. Malerie Night."

She smiled, "Wanna go get some food?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm starving."

It felt amazing. Having a friend was greater than I expected. All those years, I insisted that I didn't need anyone, that I would be perfectly fine being alone. Now I know. I was never alone to begin with. I just needed to know where to look. Carla would soon become the best friend I've always wanted

(Sorry this took so long but we had exam week and I had troubles finding time to finish it.)