Hey, Nukia here!
This fanfiction is a side story to Beyond This Love.
I don't know if any of my old readers are reading my rewrites anymore, but I'm going to keep going. Another random chapter, I hope no one is sick of them yet. This chapter is split into three parts, but it's all set in the same day. I feel unsure about this chapter, but I'll post it anyway.
But thank you for the reviews, favorites and the alerts! Also to the unknown people who read my fanfictions, I promise it will pick up at some point! If you don't like it, then don't read it.
Chapter 21!
It was now August, the months have gone by really quickly for some reason. Nonie as began having lesson with A and Backup in Watari's office. It turns out she's intelligent like her brother, but A is still the smartest student at The Wammy House. I don't really get to see them much anymore which is sad, the only time I got to see them was at lunch or dinner time in the dinner hall and a few hours before we had to go to bed.
Today was one of those days, I'm all by myself again until dinner. It's Saturday afternoon and I've got nothing to do besides some homework which I don't fancy doing right now. So I volunteered to help with the monthly tidying of the art room, it would keep me busy for an hour or two until dinner time. Only four other students and myself volunteered to help the art teacher to tidy the classroom, but I guess that's better than none. All we had to do was put all the paints back in the right cupboards, make sure everything was labelled properly, sweep the floor and scrub any dried paint from the desks.
By the time it had turned 3pm three of the students had got bored and left to play outside on the swings, even the art teacher had disappeared an hour ago saying he was going to get some more cleaning detergents from the caretaker. It was just me and a male student named Jinx that were left to finish the tidying the classroom. We just had the desks to scrub and then we'd be done. It didn't take us long to clean the desks, I told Jinx I'd take the bucket outside to empty well he took the brooms and the cleaning detergent back to the orphanage's caretaker.
I picked the bucket full of dirty water up from the floor, I left the classroom and made my way along the corridor that led to the main entrance of The Wammy House. I opened one of the big doors of the main entrance of the orphanage, I walked through the doorway and made my way down some stone steps that led to a pathway. It was a nice day, the sun was shining and most of the children were outside playing. I stopped by a grid by a flower bed, I began to pour the water down the drain as I chewed at my bottom lip.
" Hey lady!" I heard someone shout. " Watch out for the ball!"
I quickly turned around and saw a football flying towards me. I held the bucket in front of my face to shield myself from the ball, I heard the ball hit the bucket hard and felt some of the water from it splash onto my face. I spat some of the water from my mouth, I placed the bucket down on the ground and wiped the water away from my face with my cardigan's sleeve.I looked down at my blue dress and frowned, there were specs of dirty water all down the front of it.
" Are you okay lady?!" I heard a boy shout. " My friend is sorry, he didn't mean it!"
" Shut up you idiot!" I heard another boy yell." We'll get scolding from Mr Ruvie if she see's us, run away!"
I heard some children laughing, I looked up from my dress and saw a boy dressed in black with blonde hair running away down a path with some other children. There was another boy with brown hair just standing there with his mouth wide open, he had a Game Boy in his hands and a pair of goggles on his head. He didn't look very old, he must be one of the younger students from the east part of the orphanage.
" Wow, it sucks to be you..." I heard someone say. " I don't envy you at all, I bet your dress is ruined now. You should take it to the laundry room, they maybe able to do something about it before the water soaks into the dresses material. I hear soaking clothes in baking soda gets rid of stains, maybe you should borrow some baking soda from the kitchen... "
I turned around and saw Nonie standing on the steps, she had her arms crossed with a smirk on her face. She walked down the steps and flipped some of her blonde hair over her shoulder as she walked past me. I watched her walk over to the boy with brown hair, she placed her hand on his shoulder and led him down the pathway where the other children had run down not long ago.
I sat down on a step as I sighed, why me? I heard footsteps coming down the stairs behind me, I looked over my shoulder to see Backup and A walking down the steps. They were dressed in jogging pants and black t-shirts, they must be going for a run before dinner again. I got up from the step, I picked the bucket up from the ground and tipped the rest of the dirty water down the drain.
" Hey SJ, do you fancy a run?" I heard A say." It will give you an appetite before dinner or maybe not, it just depends on how far you plan run..."
" No thank you, I'm not dressed for running..." I replied and turned around to face him. " Thank you for the offer though, but I'm busy right now. I volunteered to help with the monthly tidying of the art room, I've got to go and return the bucket before I go and get cleaned up. I've kind of had an accident with the bucket or should I say a football collided with the bucket, but it can be fixed with some baking soda so Nonie told me not long ago..."
" Pity, I would have liked to have seen you trying to keep up with us..." Smirked Beyond as he stretched his arms above his head. " It would have been very entertaining, it would have been like hounds chasing a fox..."
" I thought foxes were faster than hounds, that's what you normally see on television..." I said, I walked over to the steps and patted A's arm. " Excuse me A, would you happen to have any mints or chewing gum on you today? I can taste cleaning detergent in my mouth, it's not pleasant..."
" I've got toffee on me, will that do?" He asked.
" Sure, anything is better than the taste of detergent in my mouth..." I replied.
" Just the one mind you, these babies have to last me until Monday..." He smiled and took a toffee from his jogging bottom's pocket. " You'll owe me something, so I'll be calling in a favour very soon..."
" Okay, I've got a few Ferrero Rochers with your name on them in my room with you'd like them..." I smiled, I took the toffee from his hand and popped it into my mouth. " I better return the bucket to the caretaker now, I need to finish some physics homework off for Monday and get changed before dinner. I'll see you around 5pm, enjoy your run!"
" Sure you don't want to come with us?" Asked A.
" I'm very sure!" I answered.
" Enough of your idle talk, she doesn't want to come with us!" Snapped B as he grabbed hold of A's arm and pulled him away from the steps. "Accept her answer and move your ass!"
" Aww, is my puppy hound getting restless?" Chuckled A, he quickly got Backup into a headlock and led him down the pathway. " I'll catch you later SJ at dinner, I'm just going to take the puppy for a run!"
" Alternative, let me go!" Yelled Backup with a chuckle as he struggled." I would recommend that you to run when you release me, I'm going kill you!"
" Is my little puppy mad? Who's a good boy, who's my good puppy dog?!" Asked A as he laughed. " Ready, steady, go!"
I watched A release Backup from the headlock, he pushed him away from him and then sprinted off down the pathway with Backup following behind him. I covered up my mouth and laughed when Backup tackled A to the ground, A just pushed him off as he got up from the ground and continued running down the pathway. I giggled to myself and watched them disappear into some woods near the cemetery, boys will be boys I guess.
I put my physics homework in my bag with the rest of my books and my pens ready for Monday's lesson. I hung my bag on the end of my bed, I sat down at my dressing table and stared at my reflection in the mirror as I brushed my fingers through my hair. I took a yellow hair-bobble from my dressing table's draw, I tied my hair up into a ponytail and looked over at the door when I heard someone gently knocking on it.
" Who is it?" I asked.
" It's Watari, I'm here to deliver your fortnightly mail..." He replied.
I got up from my chair, I rushed over to the door and opened it. I gave Watari a smile as I invited him into my room, I quickly grabbed a pile of my dirty laundry from the floor and put it in my laundry basket. I turned around to face Watari, I watched him close my bedroom's door behind him and take two envelopes from the inside pocket of his suit's jacket.
" Who are the letters from?" I asked.
" It's from your friend Bella, she's sent two letters this time instead of one..." He replied. " One was addressed to me and the other one is addressed to you, it seems that I have something very important to discuss with you that could change your future. Your friend Bella as written to me and asked if I would allow you to move back to Oxford to live with her, would you have any interest of moving back to your hometown if you had the chance?"
" Really?" I asked. " I mean, I'm not sure..."
" Yes, I've brought both of the letters for you to read..." He replied and took a step towards me. " You have a month to decide what you would like to do, when you have finished with the letters I would like you to return the letter addressed to me. But please don't feel pressured by Bella's offer, the decision is yours at the end of the day my dear..."
" Of course, I'll make sure you get your letter back..." I said.
" Here's your letter, all the information you need to know is inside of the envelope addressed to me..." He smiled and handed me the two envelopes. " If you need me or have any questions I'll be in my office, I'm here to support you and give you guidance until you make a decision..."
" Do I have to make a decision right now?" I asked.
" No my dear, you have a month to decide yet..." He replied, he walked over to the room's door and opened it as he looked over his shoulder at me. " This evening I've arranged a movie night for students over the age of 12 in the television room, it will be a cheesy 80's horror fest night with many treats and fizzy drinks. I for one didn't choose the theme of the night, you have a few of the other students to thank for that theme. But you are most welcome to join them, it will begin at 7pm and end at 2am in the morning..."
" Okay, I will think about it..." I sighed.
" Maybe you should take this opportunity to spend some time with your friends, time is precious as you very know my dear. It will be months until any guardian or adoption procedures will be put into motion upon your decision, the choice is yours alone..." He said. " But remember that your decision will change your future, make sure you make the right choice by the end of the month..."
" I'll take that to mind, thank you Watari..." I smiled.
I watched Watari close the room's door behind him, I sat down on my bed and opened the envelope addressed to me. I quickly read through the letter, I put the letter back in its envelope and put it in my dresser draw. I left my room and made my way to the dinner hall, I was running 10 minutes late. A, Backup and Nonie were already sitting at a table in the corner of the hall eating their dinner. I took a tray from the tray holder, I chose cheesy pasta with sweetcorn and some jelly marshmallow surprise for dessert. I got myself a drink of orange juice, I took some cutlery from a tray and walked over to the table.
" Hello, sorry I'm late!" I said with a smile as I sat down next to Nonie and placed my tray down on the table. " Watari wanted a private word with me, so I apologize for my delay..."
" Hey!" Smiled A. " I've got the most amazing news ever, do you want to hear it?"
" Sure..." I replied.
" I'm going to a college in Japan for a month!" Smiled A, he took a bite of his apple and then spoke with his mouth full. " I'm going over there to take part in the criminal justice studies program, it's going to be intense!"
" Wow, that sounds amazing..." I smiled and picked my folk up from my tray. " I'm really happy for you, what a great opportunity you have been given. What exactly is a criminal justice studies program anyway?"
I ate my cheesy pasta as I listened to A telling me all about the criminal justice studies program. Watari had arranged for him to visit the college in Japan in 3 weeks time and then he would begin his program the week after that for a month, he was really excited about it. I envy him sometimes though, he gets to travel to places all over the world with Watari and his mentor L. I would love to go travelling myself someday, maybe that's one thing I could do when I turn 18 with some of my inheritance money. I stabbed a pasta shell on my plate with my fork, I held it in front of my face and stared at it.
" Why are you being quiet?" I heard Nonie ask quietly." Have you lost your voice for once or are you getting bored of hearing A talk about Japan? I know I am, the lucky shit gets everything handed to him on a plate!"
" No, I've just got a lot on my mind right now..." I replied.
" Like what?" Asked Nonie.
" It's just that I've had some news myself today, I have been asked if I would like to move to Oxford to live with my Mum's old best friend Bella and her son Jamie..." I replied as I stirred my fork around in my bowl of pasta. " I'm not sure yet if I want to move there, I kind of like living in Winchester now. Also I would have to go back to public school, it would mean restarting all my education over again and making new friends... "
" I'd move if I got the chance, anywhere is better than this orphanage..." Said Nonie." I don't think you'd be missed here, so I would move if I was you..."
" Nonie, don't be rude!" Frowned A.
" What? I'm just pointing out some facts! The children here wouldn't noticed if she decided to move to Oxford and I know for a fact that any orphan here would love to get out of this place!" Smirked Nonie, she spooned some of her strawberry jelly into her mouth and nudged Backup's arm with her elbow." What do you think B, would you noticed if SJ moved to Oxford?"
" Do I have to take part in this conversation?" Asked B.
" Yes, it's important!" Replied Nonie.
" Well this conversation truly doesn't appeal to me, but if you want my opinion then I will partake just for one moment..." Sighed B. " If SJ moved to Oxford then I would notice, I like watching her lifespan. I'm waiting for the moment it begins to tick down, I can't wait to see when she is going to di..."
" Backup!" Interrupted A.
I felt the table jerk up, I grabbed hold of my glass of juice and pulled my chair away from the table. I looked over at A and Backup, they were glaring at each other. I heard Nonie laughing across the table from me, I placed my glass back down on the table and pulled my chair closer to the table. I picked my spoon up from my tray, I ate some of my jelly marshmallow surprise and cleared my throat.
" I hear there is going to be cheesy horror movie night in the television room from 7pm, do any of you guys want to go and watch some of the films?" I asked. " Watari told me about it, he said they're be showing films until 2am and there will be loads of treats to eat. Doesn't that sound fun?"
" It depends on what movies they're be showing, but I'm up for a horror movie night..." Said Nonie, she picked a strawberry from her bowl and dipped it into some whipped cream." What movie titles are they showing?"
" I'm not really sure, but they're all from the 1980's..." I replied.
" The special effects will be awful then, but I'll go all the same..." Sighed Nonie as she looked over at A and Backup." How about you two, are you guys up for a movie night or are you planning to glare at each other for the rest of the evening?"
" Yeah I'll come, but for now I need to be somewhere..." Replied A." I'll meet you guys in the television room at 7pm, I'll see you in a while..."
I watched A get up from the table, he took another apple from his tray and quickly left the dinner hall. I looked back at Nonie and Backup, they were talking quietly to each other. I finished the rest of my dinner, I picked some left over sweets from A's tray and said goodbye to my friends.
I left my bedroom to go and meet the others at the television room for the movie night, but they were already there waiting for me. Watari had laid out many treats for the students to eat throughout the movie night, popcorn, crisps, lollipops, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks. It was like a midnight feast, I bet half of the students will be on sugar highs for the rest of the night. I chose a packet of fizzy cola bottles and a carton of milk, I sat with Nonie on some beanbags well A sat with Backup on the sofa.
The movie line up for the night was terrible, the titles of the films spoke for themselves even if I've never seen any of them before. There was Killer Klowns from Outer Space, C.H.U.D and Critters. The students had a vote of hands to decide what should be watched first, most of the students voted for Critters. I opened my bag of fizzy cola bottle, I popped one of them into my mouth and pulled a face as the fizzy coating of the sweets tingled on my tongue.
" Great, I was hoping they would put Killer Klowns from Outer Space on first..." I heard Nonie say." I've seen Critters loads times, I was hoping for creepy clowns causing funny cheesy deaths with their razor-sharp teeth and acid filled flower squirters. I'm just guessing what the movie is about from the video cover, but that would be cool right?"
" That sound disturbing, why would you want to watching something like that?"I asked and looked at her sitting next to me. " Wouldn't stuff like that give you nightmares?"
" Nope, the more gore the better as I always say!" She smirked. " Have you ever seen Friday the 13th or Halloween before?"
" No, are they good?" I asked.
" They're okay I guess, you should come to my room one time and watch them with me..." She replied as she took a lollipop from her hoody pocket and unwrapped it. " We could have movie afternoon tomorrow with A and Backup, would you come if I arranged it?"
" Sure, I'll prefer horror movies in the day anyway..." I smiled.
" Cool, I'll get the videotapes from the library in the morning and borrow a video-player from one of the classroom to hookup to my television in my room..." She smiled. " So, have you made a decision about Oxford yet?"
" Not yet, I've got a month to decide if I want to move there yet..." I replied. " If I said yes then it may take months for me to move to Oxford, they have to finalize it with documents and go through a guardian adoption agreement. But the choice is mine, I just don't know what to decide right now... "
" Oh right, can I tell you something in confidence?" She whispered. " But you've got to swear that you'll tell nobody about what I'm about to tell you, do you swear?"
" Okay, I promise..." I replied.
" Do you remember when A left the dinner hall earlier today?" She whispered.
" Yeah, I remember..." I nodded.
" Well, he went straight to Watari's office and demanded that the adoption should be stopped. He doesn't want you to leave here and I don't want you to leave if it makes my brother unhappy, don't you it yet?" She asked with a whisper." It's so obvious even a baby could get it!"
" What am I meant to be getting?" I asked.
" He's totally crushing on you, it's plain as daylight..." She replied as she took her lollipop from her mouth. " If you leave now you'll break his heart, then I'd have to hunt you down and kill you for it. He struggles enough with his depression and self-harming, he's so messed up inside no one around here even knows about it because he smiles through it..."
" He does what?!" I yelled and then covered up my mouth when I heard a few children starting hushing around me." Since when as all of this been going on? Why didn't he tell me about it?"
" I don't know, I'm not his psychiatrist..." She answered.
I looked over at A sitting on the sofa with Backup and a few other children, he was leaning on his hand well he watched the film. I slouched down on the beanbag and watched A eating some of his crisps, why haven't I notice this before? Thinking about it now it is plain as daylight, he's always been there for me and makes sure I've got everything I need well I've lived at The Wammy House. I quickly turned my attention to the television when he glanced over at me, I chewed at my bottom lip and stare at the television for the rest of the movie night.