Lost in the Flames

Get To Know Me; Ally Beckett

"What have I done to make you hate me so much? I've never done or said anything to cause this!" I yell.

Katherine Faire, your typical popular girl. Dark brown, straight shiny hair, honey brown eyes, perfect wardrobe, cheerleader, football captain for a boyfriend and soon to be prom queen... Shall I go on? She isn't all rainbows and flowers though when it comes to fights. She hates me but I have no clue why. She's the rich one, with everything she could possible wish for. Why she singles me out of the 2,000 or so kids that go to Back Woods High, I plan to find out.

"You think that just because I'm rich and popular you can steal my earring and I wouldn't notice?" Katherine spits taking the backpack off my shoulder.

"What are you even talking about? What earring?" I pull at my backpack. "What are you doing?"

"This earring," she says, pulling out a single bright diamond earring from the pocket of my bookbag.

"B-but, I never," I stutter to find the right words. "I didn't, I would never steal your earring."

"Of course you wouldn't, your daddy's perfect little girl. Too poor to pay for a meal? I mean seriously, look at you. How can you even afford to come to this school?"

I choke back tears. Stop it Ally. Don't give her the satisfaction of watching you cry in front of everyone. That's what she wants. That's all she wants.

"I'm not poor! I'm just not a snooty rich girl who thinks she's all that, like you! I've spent my whole life working for what I have. I actually have to work to get things, unlike you who just has to steal her fathers credit card," I spit back. "How did you even know exactly where that earring was in my bookbag?"

Now it's her turn to stutter. "I watched you put it in that discussing thing you call a bookbag," she retorts.

"And I took it out of your ear how, magic?" Ooooo's come from the crowd that has now gathered.

"Ugh, whatever. Come on Jasmine," Katherine says, disgust present in her voice.

Jasmine Cuirt, Katherine's little side kick. The one who doesn't talk unless told to by Katherine. How do people even get in that position? If I was told what to do by Katherine 24/7 I would kill myself. I have to feel bad for her.

...

"Well this is new," my coach, Mr. Falcon, states as I walk into the gym.

"Sorry I'm late coach, I was getting bullied," I laugh.

Darren Falcon (a.k.a. coach/ Mr. F) has become a father to me over the past 4 years. The father I've always wanted...needed. My parents died in a fire when I was 2 and I've been in an orphanage since. No one seems to want to take me in and now that I'm 17, the chances are lower than ever. Sooner or later I will be old enough to get my own house and finally get out of this godforsaken place but, for now, I'm stuck doing the same routine ever day; Go to school - Soccer practice until 8 - be back to the orphanage by 8:30 for dinner - homework - sleep. It's a vicious cycle. The only good part is soccer. After 7, when practice actually ends and everyone goes home, I can tell coach about my stressful days or about how I long to be adopted. How awful Katherine is or how she would fake me stealing her earring just to embarrass me in front of the whole school. Everything I want to say to my father but can't.

"She's just jealous," Mr. F assures me.

"Jealous. Of me? You've got to be kidding me," I laugh kicking the ball around my feet.

"She wants your courage and heart. Everything she doesn't have." He places his hands on my shoulders and gives them a light squeeze.

Teaches aren't allowed to hug students. I wish I could hug him without punishment. I wish I could hug anyone really.

"Trust me Ally, you're not like anyone at this school. You have what it takes because you've been through torture," he smiles.

I nod. "Thank you."

"Get some sleep," he hurries me along.

"You got it coach. See ya."

...

"Hey, I heard what happened with, you know, Katherine," Brian says wrapping his arms around me.

Brian Hart, my best friend. We've known each other since kindergarten. We do practically everything together. He's the only one, besides the school faculty of course, who knows about my parents and my living situation. It's funny to think about how you've spent 16 years with a boy who knows more about you than you know about yourself. He's been my reason for sanity. He's helped me through thick and thin and I've done the same for him. Everything we do involves eachother. I'd say he's like a brother but he's more than that. He's the boy version of me in a way. I love him more than words can describe. Not like a relationship kind of love, it's stronger than that.

"Who told you?" I ask returning his embrace.

"You didn't know? It's all over the school now! Everyone's talking about it."

"Great. Just what I need, attention," I reply with sarcasm.

"Well, I thought you did a great job standing up to that brat. She needed to be put in her place," he states.

"Thanks," I laugh. "It was kinda fun."

"Well, we better get going."

"Ya," I pull on his arm, dragging him to the orphanage.

Boys aren't allowed in my room that I share with 3 other girls but, they are never around anyway. We've already created a perfect sneak-in route that leads straight to my window. I mean, Brian has been sneaking in since he was 14. I'm pretty sure someone has seen him by now. They must believe that I'm old enough to handle myself.

Ally Beckett, me. I'm 17 and homeless. Well not literally but mentally. I have been since I was 2. The only home I know is this old brick building and Brian's house. Why am I complaining? I have a bed to sleep in, food on the table ever morning, afternoon and night, and a roof over my head. But, something is still empty in my life. I may never know what it is and I don't know how to start filling it. I'm 5'6 and my hair is a chocolate brown. My eyes are a dark green that sometimes fade to gray. My skin is fair and never seems to tan before burning. My slim figure is all thanks to the simple, small 3 meals a day and the freckles on my cheeks have multiplied since my birth. My wardrobe includes, 3 school uniform shirts, 4 shorts, 1 white tank top, 5 different color t-shirts, an old pair of converse, skinny jeans that I stole from the laundry room and a dress of my mothers that was found in the rubble that used to be my house. My room is small with 2 bunk beds on the 2 walls. I sleep on the bottom with a 19 year old on top. I never see her. I never really see anyone in this room. I don't spend too much time in here unless I absolutely have to. Who would want to? Most of my time is spent trying to live a normal life; avoiding populars, making good grades for college. Anything I can do to forget the past.. Which I never seem to be able to do.

"Come on," I whisper/yell out the window to Brian. "Don't be such a girl."

"Okay Miss athletic, how about you carry me up there," he jokes.

"Do you see these arms, spaghetti," I laugh as he crawls through the small window.

"Why can't I just come through the front door and up the stairs?" He asks.

"You know boys 'can't be in my room'," I gesture.

"Oh come on Ally, you're 17 now and I know one of the women here have seen me. They don't care."

"I know," I sigh. "We've just done it this way forever."

He pulls his phone out of his pocket and slides his finger across the screen. "Alright," he says. "I've got to get home, that's my mom. I'll see you tomorrow aright," he kisses my cheek and begins his journey back out the window.

I sigh. Laying back on my pillow I think about how calm and organized my life is. Little do I know that all of this is about to change.