The Real Viper

4

We pull up to the orphanage and I park it. Nichi gets out with me and we walk in. Mr. Turner and his assistant are behind the counter and once we walk in they look at us like we have 4 heads.
"What are you two doing back here?" He asks smiling and shaking our hands.
"Well sir I would like to see and possibly adopt a child." I say smiling with Nichi. He gives me a questioning look.
"Which child were you thinking about adopting?" He asks opening his book of children's names.
"Alanna sir."
"No." He replies imminently. I'm a bit taken back and so is Nichi. She's about to say something when I stop her.
"Umm sir why can't I see her and possibly adopt her?"
"I don't want her to get to attached to anyone. She's been returned here 4 times and I do not one her returned a 5th time.
"Let's make a deal. Bring her out here and if she doesn't want anything to with me and her reaction towards me isn't a happy one then I will leave." I said hoping that Alanna would love to see me. He nodded and motioned for the lady to go get her. A few moment later she came back with Alanna. Alanna was looking down and hadn't seen me so I crouched down to her level and saw her slowly look up. Once she saw me she ran over and hugged me around my neck. I stood up and looked at Mr. Turner. He smiled and got out some adoption papers. I go to hand Alanna to Nichi and she starts to freak out. Nichi backs up and slightly smiles at Alanna. Alanna hesitates before turning away. Nichi looks down and starts to walk away. I gently take her hand and she turns towards me.
"Alanna, sweetheart Nichi won't hurt you I promise ok." I said rubbing her head. She nods but still doesn't go near her. I smile at Nichi and she slightly smiles back. I fill out the forms holding Alanna after they grab all of what she had including a teddy bear they hand it to Nichi who carries them out. Alanna takes her teddy bear and holds it. I carry her out to the bus and go in through the side quickly so she doesn't see people. I close the front curtain and put her in the passenger seat.
"I'll be right back ok." I rub her head and walk to the back. Nichi is putting Alanna's stuff on the shelf.
"You ok Nich?" She nods without looking at me letting me know she's lying. I'm walk up behind her and hug her. She stops and takes a deep breath and I put my chin on her head.
"What's wrong Nichi? Is it how Alanna reacted to you?" I mumble into her hair. She nods and I spin her around and hug her. She hugs back and puts her face in my chest.
"I don't want her to be scared of me Randy. Whatever happened to her in the past is in the past. I want her to like me."
"And she will Nich. I promise you she will love you. Just give her some time to get used to you." I explain. She nods and I walk back up front. I hear Nichi lay down and my smile slowly drops. I make my way up to the driver seat and see Alanna slowly falling asleep. I lay the seat back and start to fall asleep. By the time I'm just about to fall asleep I feel something lay on my chest. I open one eye and see Alanna looking at me about to play with my ears. She stops and slowly starts to get down. I start to play with her hair and she snuggles up to me. Slowly but surely we start to fall asleep.