The Orphan

It only takes one person to start a rebellion

When I woke up the first thing I remembered was that Malik was picking me up at 7. I shot up and looked at the time. 6:35. Dang it I'm gonna be late.I got up and and brushed my teeth and hair and got dressed. By time I was finished it was 6:59. I took my time packing my bag. Then I heard one of the older girls Maria scream from downstairs "Amari! Some guy is here to see you! He's really cute!"

"I'll be down in a second!" I said blushing. These people know just how to embarrass me. I ran downstairs only to find every single one of the girls in the orphanage staring and smiling at him. From what I could tell he was a little uncomfortable. "Hey Malik."

"Hey Amari. L-Let's get g-going?" He was clamming up.

We walked to the car and I said "A football player who doesn't like people staring at him. I never would have guessed. I thought I might have come down there and saw you handing out autographs and basking in the glory. Not see you choke up like that."

"Football is different. I know people are staring at me, but my focus isn't on that. It's on the game and my team."

"Either way people stare at you."

"Hey, where's Emily?"

"She left a few minutes earlier."

"She sure has a mouth on her."

"Yeah, the question is will she ever shut it." I said replaying the events that occurred yesterday in my head.

"No, I think it's cute... Did you mean what you said yesterday?"

"Did I mean what?

"You have to be more specific. I've said a lot of things to a lot of people."

"When Emily asked if you would kiss me if I was single. Would you?"

"I don't know. If you were single we'd be under different circumstances."

"So, its that a yes?"

"Its a maybe." I said not telling the whole truth.

"Theres no maybe here. Its a yes or no. Which one is it?"

"I plead the 5th."

"You plead the 5th?" He said laughing.

"Yes, that means I'm choosing not to get myself into any kinda trouble."

"Trouble like what?"

"If I say no you get offended and then we have to have a whole arguement about it."

"And if you say yes?"

"You hold it over my head for the rest of my life."

"True, but what your would you answer be if I wasn't going to hold it over your head."

"I plead the 5th, and you can't try me twice for the same crime.... hey, what happened yesterday between you and Raven when you went to pick her up."

"She was pissed off when I got there and when I told her why I was late... it was game over."

"Wait, did she break up with you?"

"No, shes just really mad at me right now. Shes not even gonna sit with us at lunch, talk to me for a whole week and she won't even come to the Halloween Bash with me.

"Halloween Bash? What that?"

"Oh, its this party funded by the school and you dress up in your costume for Halloween and most people go with a date, I mean you don't have to, but around here its like tradition..... Halloween is your birthday right?"

"Yes it is and sounds like fun, wish I could." I said as I got in the car.

He got in and said "Wait, you're not going?"

"No."

"Why not?!"

"I don't have a costume!"

"I can get you one."

"Wha- no I couldn't ask you to do that." Which was my nice way of saying I don't want the charity, so thanks, but no thanks.

"Call it a birthday present."

"But I-"

"No if ands or buts about it. I'll get you a costume. Don't argue. You're going, end of story."

I sighed and said "Fine." I said knowing that even I couldn't talk him out of it.

"Great, we agree."

"No, I'm just too tired to argue with you." I said as we pulled up at the school. "It is way too early for this." I said.

"Works for me. Well, go get your costume after school."

"Okay. I said getting out of the car and we walked to class. The first thing I see is Raven getting up to walk up to me. Great...

"Who do you think you are?!"

"The names Amari, Raven or have you forgotten already about the girl who slapped you so hard that I can still see the hand print right now."

"Who are you to invite MY boyfriend over to your house or wherever you live... orphan."

"Its called an orphanage imbecile and I invited him in because it was pouring outside and it looked as if it was about to start flooding so, excuse me for being concerned for my friend's safety driving out there." She stayed silent, but red faced. I whispered "Exactly." And walked to my seat feeling like a boss.

She didn't even acknowledge
Malik and stormed right out the class and Malik sat next to me and said "Wow, no EVER talks to her like that."

"Well, its about time someone should. I'm not gonna let her push me around and I REFUSE to apologize for my decisions."

"Wow."

"She doesn't control me like she does the rest of you."

"Raven Callahan doesn't control me."

"Yes, she does. She has you and everyone else here wrapped around her finger like a string and she's just upset that there's one loose, one person is all it takes to band an uprising and start a rebellion which leads to revolution which she's afraid of." Ms.Phillips started her lesson and for the rest of there was no sign of Raven. School was finally over and I got into Malik's car totally dreading this.