It was Friday. It was the one-year anniversary of 'the accident' that had torn away his life, and it was Friday. There was an excited buzz among the younger orphans, but Aidan had learned quickly. He didn't even know why he bothered to go anymore, yet still he clung to some fathom of hope, praying that by some miracle, his perfect new family would come and rescue him.
They never came.
He sat doggedly next to Zeke on the old couch in the lounge, watching as the administrator brought out the 'special toys' he allowed the younger ones to play with when perspective parents were coming in.
"Do you think anyone will ever pick us?" Lacy asked earnestly.
"Of course not. Don't be dumb!" Zeke snapped at her. "Nobody wants us. We're too old. We have to wait until we're eighteen to get out of here."
Lacy frowned deeply and sank back into the couch.
"Besides," Zeke continued, "No one would want you anyway. You're too much of a snob!"
Lacy stuck her tongue out at him and turned away, attempting to ignore his snide remarks. She clutched her doll to her chest and watched the door, waiting for the parents to come in. Waiting until they would have to line up like horses under inspection. Waiting for the taunting looks of the adults who came. They would smile at you and nod, and talk to you, and make you think that maybe, just maybe, they would be the ones. And when you were so sure, so willing to believe that they really did want to take you home, they would turn away from you and pick some smaller child; someone cuter, younger, someone with potential. And they would be left to anguish over it for another week, when it happened all over again.
Aidan remembered the first time he'd experienced this; how he'd fled the room and flung himself on his bed and cried until his chest hurt, and the terrible scars from his accident began to burn anew. The pain was so real then, and it terrified him.
Lacy had come and stood in the doorway watching him for a while, until Zeke pulled her away and told her 'not to embarrass him' by watching. Aidan had hardly bothered with them; he didn't care who was watching him. They all shared the same pain.
It was familiar now, and he'd learned to push it down, far enough so that he could keep on going, no matter how hard it was.
Now he was here again, waiting in agony for the 'session' to be over. Finally, they came. "Get in line!" The administrator ordered. They all scurried to their places and stood stiffly, each trying a different strategy.
Some were smiling eagerly, their faces clearly shouting 'pick me! Pick me!' Others were pretending to be shy, looking down at their feet, while still others emitted through their eyes all the terrors of being an orphan, begging anyone to take them in.
Aidan, Zeke and Lacy were completely nonchalant. They were the oldest and they knew better.
The administrator opened the door and ushered the couples inside. There were four altogether, a better turnout than usual.
One couple in particular caught his immediate attention. They were young and vibrant, the woman with shining blonde hair to her shoulders, the man: tall and broad-shouldered, with a smile that lit the room. They were the perfect reflection of his parents.
The woman turned and for a split second, she caught his eye. Aidan sucked in air, trying to get his mind in order. She wasn't his mother, and they didn't come looking for a twelve-year-old anyway. He could tell; they were young, they wanted a young child.
But then, the woman separated herself from her husband and walked over to him.
"Hello," She said softly as she knelt next to him.
Aidan pretended that he didn't care, "Hi,"
"What's your name?"
"Aidan,"
"Aidan, I'm Maria. How old are you?"
"Twelve," He answered stiffly. He was aware that Lacy and Zeke had stopped arguing long enough to eavesdrop.
Maria smiled at him again, and Aidan couldn't help but look up and smile back.
"Well it's very nice to meet you Aidan."
"Nice to meet you," He replied, somewhat in a state of shock. Could it be that…? No, he mentally shook his head; he couldn't let himself fall into that lie again. She didn't want him.
"Is there something wrong?" Maria asked sensing his stark mood.
"No," He answered quickly, "It's just that…" He stopped, he couldn't continue any further. How could he tell her how much like his mother she was? She would laugh at him; think him desperate. Zeke would mock him, and accuse him of letting himself get his hopes up. He couldn't do that.
"Nothing," He said stoically.
"Honey, come on." Her husband had returned, and he helped her back up to her feet.
"You know we wanted a little one…" The man whispered to her.
In that moment, Aidan could have killed him for reminding her. "Goodbye Aidan," Maria said, waving to him. Aidan did not respond. To him, she was saying goodbye forever, sentencing him to eternal damnation.
He watched her as she poured attention on little Isaiah, who was only two years old. She had already forgotten about him.
"What was that all about?" Zeke asked as he returned to the couch.
"Nothing," Aidan muttered.
"Are you OK?" Lacy asked.
"Of course he's OK!" Zeke answered for him. "He's not a baby like you, Lacy!"
"Shut up, Zeke!" Lacy bellowed, stomping on his foot.
"Hey!" Zeke cried, lunging at her with a counterattack. Within seconds, they, too, had forgotten him.
I hate school. I never want to go back there again! Mom thinks it's because I think it's boring and that I don't like to work. She doesn't know anything. Everybody there makes fun of me. They don't care about what. They pick anything from my skinny legs, to my dad leaving me. Like I could do anything about either situation!
No one even knows me there, and they've already labelled me as an outcast. My only friend in the world is Dianne. She's fat, and stupid, and she makes fun of my mother, and she says she's only teasing, but I know better. She doesn't care about me either. So why can't I just leave her and find real friends? I'll tell you why, because I'm scared. What if there is no one else? What if Dianne is the only person who will talk to me? If I leave I'll be all alone. I couldn't stand that.
All I want is for someone to be nice to me, someone I can actually talk to without having to watch what I say, in case they can turn it into a rumour. I hate the way she controls me.
"Saige! Time for school,"
Saige groaned; once again, her retreat into another world had been blocked. She would have to face the world once again.
"Coming," She sighed. She threw her books into her bag and took off. She leapt her head hung low as she walked, partly because of the snow glare, and partly because she didn't want to know if anyone was staring at her.
She arrived at school and stared at the imposing building before her. This was her hell. Taking a deep breath, she let herself in and prepared to face yet another day.
"Hey Saige! Seen your daddy and his whore lately?" Dianne called as she ran up to her. This seemed to be her customary greeting.
Saige clenched her fists at her side. "Hi, Dianne," She said lowly.
"Hey! Why so grumpy?" Dianne giggled, poking her roughly in the ribs.
"Nothing," Saige sighed. "Ready for the math test?" Saige asked.
"I am if you are," Dianne laughed irritably. Saige knew what she meant. She was going to cheat of her paper. She'd done that last time, and she'd been caught, and they both got zero.
"Yeah…" Saige sighed; she wasn't going to tell her only friend not to cheat of her paper this time. Saige grabbed her books from her locker and together she and Dianne headed to their first class, math, with Mr. McNair.
McNair was a nightmare for all the students, especially Saige and Dianne. He had a tendency to publicly humiliate students, and had a fast temper.
"Miss Mathers," Mr. McNair said as she walked in.
Saige gulped, "Yes, sir?" she asked.
She heard a student snicker behind her. She glanced behind her and saw one of the Jeff's, whispering to his friends and pointing at her. He saw her looking and made a series of obscene gesture at her. Saige was horrified. What were they suggesting?
Dianne leaned over and whispered something to the group and they all started laughing, occasionally glancing at her.
She was so busy trying to figure out what was going on with her classmates that she didn't realize that McNair was still talking. "Miss Mathers!" He cried. The entire class went silent. "Why aren't you listening?"
Saige turned red, "I'm sorry sir…"
"Miss Mathers this is unacceptable!" He bellowed. "Didn't your mother teach you to listen when you're being spoken to?"
Saige could not respond.
"I guess not," He growled. The entire class was laughing at her. Saige could feel hot tears welling up in her eyes.
"Miss Mathers, I was going to simply talk to you about your latest failed assignment, but I think you should go to the office. Tell them you've been disrespectful and that you got 3 out of 20 on your last assignment!"
More laughter.
Saige could hardly take it. She left the room, but instead of going to the office she started to run for the bathroom.
But McNair was watching. "MISS MATHERS!" He screamed it loud enough for the entire school to hear. "The office is THAT way!"
She was trapped, and she turned and quickly hurried past him again. She could feel his eyes boring into her back, and she could still hear the laughter of the class. She wiped her eyes boldly and headed for the office.
After yet another horrifying day of school, it was finally time for Saige to go home and find refuge in her room. But fate would have other plans for her.
She found her way up to her apartment and fumbled with the key. She pushed the door open, only to find her mother waiting for her. Saige quickly tried to cover up the fact that she had been crying.
"Hey mom…what are you doing home so early?"
Jessica smiled, "I want you to meet someone, honey."
"Huh…" Needless to say, Saige was stunned. Her mother had friends? The mere thought was almost amusing. Still, Saige was curious, so she took a step towards the kitchen. She stopped again when there, sitting on the other side of the table, was a tall, hugely built man with bronzed skin and dark hair. He looked like he was on steroids.
"Who are you…?"
"Saige…" Jessica took a deep breath, "This is my boyfriend, Eric."
For a moment Saige thought she hadn't heard her correctly. Then, she nearly choked. "Boyfriend…?" Since when did parents date?
Eric smiled, "It's nice to meet you." He said, flashing his sparkling white teeth. Saige wasn't quite sure what to make of him.
"There's something else, honey." Jessica said carefully. Saige felt her chest begin to tighten. She could always tell when something wasn't quite right. This was one of those times.
"Eric is moving in with us."
