Orphans // c.h

0.1

-Beth-

"What if I want the square peg to go into the circle hole?" Matthew asks. I sigh almost too loud, I didn't want him to think I didn't care about him.

"Well then I'll get a hammer and you can smash it so it fits." He bursts out laughing, even though it wasn't that funny. I smile at him. I would be lying to say Matthew wasn't my favourite child here at the orphanage. I guess I just liked how he always had a smile on his face.

I remember when his parents came to the front desk to put him up for adoption when he was five. It was a terrible sight, them just leaving him here. They told him they would be right back. Apparently whatever they needed to do has taken them two years already. Even after it had been one day after they left, he was still smiling. "There's no point being sad if there's always a way to be happy." He told me after I checked up on him. Every since then I've been by his side.

"Beff, do you fink Lia is pretty?" Matt asks. He has trouble pronouncing 'th'. Everyone found it annoying, meanwhile I found it adorable. "Why? Do you think she's pretty?" Lia was a girl in the orphanage that was abused as a child. Her father set fire to the house and because Lia's sister was too late to save her she has severe burns on her chin. She gets bullied a lot, so I hope Matthew won't be like everyone else.

"I fink she's very pretty. She looks like a princess." Matthew tells me. I feel the smile on my face go ear to ear. "Here's an idea Matty, tell her that." As soon as those words slip through my mouth, Matthew is up on his feet walking towards Lia. I'm about to eavesdrop on their conversation until I get distracted.

"Beth sweetie, can you please help me prepare dinner for the rascals?" Mrs Rossi asked. "Sure Miss." I pick myself off the ground and walk into the kitchen. Mr Rossi walks up next to me, telling me what we have on the menu. Hmm, Spaghetti. I'm about to begin making the sauce, until my friend bumps into me.

"Wow, sorry Beth. Freaking Chase keeps wanting a drink of milk and won't stop complaining." My close friend, Alice,tells me in between laughs. I open my mouth to say something, until Daniel beats me to it.

"Maybe he wants breast milk?" He says, laughing at his own joke. I grab the rag next to me, swatting it in his direction. "Ow Beth! Why would you do that?" He rubs his arm in the spot I whipped him. "Because you are the definition of gross." I stick my tongue out at him, returning to the pasta.

It was really cool working my friends, especially since we grew up together. I'll never forget the first thing Alice told me when we found out we were room mates, "Why would someone put you up for adoption? Your eyes are so pretty!"

I became her friend faster than Usain Bolt can run 100 meters. We were talking about my weird purple, yes, purple eyes all night. She was always commenting on how they matched my blonde hair, but I never really cared. To this day she makes sure everyone we meet realizes how special my eyes are, but I just wish my eyes were blue or something, not purple.

Anyway, Daniel soon came to the orphanage when we were all four. We became a fearsome threesome and caused havoc everywhere. There was another boy in the orphanage that was a year older than us, but he was always away in his room. He would come down for dinner but that was all. One night when we were 13 and he was 14, he had began learning how to play an instrument, and hadn't come downstairs for a week. I remember this simply because one night, he came into mine and Alice's room and asked us if we liked a song he wrote. 

We hadn't talked to him since he got adopted at 16. There wasn't a point in adopting him really, but I guess it's his new foster parents problem. When he left Mrs Rossi put a picture of him as a ten year old on the cork board, showing parents how many children they have given a new home to. We were all pretty upset how no other adults wanted us, but as long as we had each other, I guess we were fine.

When I turned 18, the Rossi's let me live in the orphanage as long as I helped them out. Alice and Daniel ended up doing the same thing, meaning they would have to work here too. We got no money, but I guess it was worth it.

I get taken away from my thoughts as Daniel snakes his arms around my waist. "Daniel! What are you doing?" I put the wooden spoon down and unhook his arms. I turn to him and he pouts, making me laugh. "Why do you hate me?" He fake cries. I give him a hug, even though he didn't need one whatsoever. 

"I don't, I just hate how you hit on every girl you lay eyes on." I tell him, a smirk appearing on his face. Don't get me wrong, Daniel was attractive, but maybe if he wasn't a man-slut I would give him a chance. "But I hit on you all the time, that mean you're special." He reasons, shooting me a wink. "Yeah, so special." I giggle, leaning in, giving him a peck on the cheek. I pick up the pot, walking over to the stove. 

"Tease!" Daniel screams after me, i just laugh. After I begin cooking the pasta, I hear a small voice in the distance. It gets louder and louder, until I realise what the noise was. "BEF!" Matthew screeches. I run into the lounge room, making sure everything was OK. I look to my right to see Alice giving Chase yet another cup of milk. That boy is gonna piss the damn bed.

"Yes Matty?" I ask him. I notice him and Lia are sitting close together. This was actually super cute. "Lia said fanks to me. Did I do somefing good?" He had another smile on his face. I see a smile on Lia's face as well, I can't help but smile at the scene of the two smiling together. "That's a very good thing Matt. You're beautiful Lia." I kiss both their foreheads, about to turn around to the kitchen until I see someone very interesting walk past.

"ALICE! DANIEL!" I scream, hoping they would come as fast as possible considering this was urgent. I hear Alice's high heels click every time she takes a step running towards me. I guess Daniel was busy. I point out the window anyway, noticing the male figure disappeared. I sprint out the front door, looking both ways down the path. 

I turn to my right, recognising the black beanie. It had to be him, I knew it had to. I run up behind him, making sure not to startle him. I gently tap his shoulder, causing him to turn around. His brown eyes stared me down, eyebrows furrowed with confusion.

"Bethany?" He asks. At first I'm surprised he even remembers my name. "How do you remember?" I ask him. He just smiles. "I'd recognise those eyes anywhere." I feel myself blush. What the hell cheeks? I feel myself blush even more because I was embarrassed of blushing. 

The silence between us was deafening, until he spoke up. "You don't remember my name, do you?" He says. I think for a moment, until I realise something. "Sorry mystery boy, but you were so top secret, you never even told us your name." I raise an eyebrow at him, he just lightly smiles.

"You and your posse never asked." He returns the same amount of sass I gave him, surprising me. "Well, now I am asking. In our defence, you were cooped away." I sigh. He chuckles lightly, his chocolate eyes staring into my violet ones.

"Why do you care anyway? you aren't ever going to talk to me again." He replies coldly. "You don't even know me, you had the chance to do that 10 years ago." He stares at the ground. I was getting quiet frustrated. "Fine then. What's your name? Favourite colour? Favourite food? DO YOU SLEEP WITH YOUR SOCKS ON?!" I yell. He seems taken back by my sudden outburst. Good.

"What the hell?" Ugh, he was being so stubborn. "I don't have all day, some of us have to work at an orphanage because they didn't get adopted." I laugh. He lets out a chuckle. "Can I tell you something?" He suddenly speak up. I nod slowly, wondering if it will be stupid or useful.

"I can't believe someone adopted me, the weird emo, instead of a smiling Bethany." I feel my cheeks go red again. I roll my eyes, "Yeah OK, I have to go. Bye." I begin walking off, realising I wasted so much time on this guy.

I hear a faint sound as I begin walking off. I turn to face the dark-haired boy with a smile on is face. His smile reminded me of Matthew's, so bright and so genuine. I glare at him.

"Calum. Baby blue. Pizza. No." He casually says. I look up at him confused. "You wanted answers. Didn't you?" My brain suddenly clicks and I realize what he's talking about.

"Calum. That's a nice name."

- Molly