The Book

Little Girl <1>

Mira's P.O.V

Bang

Bang

Bang

I slowly sat up to the sound of loud clanking. I look to the door and see John holding a pot and a pan.

"Wake up! Wake up! Useless rascals, Hurry! The food is in the kitchen, we start early today, there's another truck coming." He yelled and immediately left.

A couple of seconds later, I hear groaning and turn to the others I share a room with. They all woke up and started heading out, leaving me behind as usual.

I sighed while moving towards the bundle of blankets and pillows on the floor. I started to fold everything and keep everything neat, knowing that we'd get punished if we were dirty.

It took me ten minutes to do that seeing as there were eight of us in this room. And knowing them, they probably didn't think of leaving me any food.

I heaved another sigh and started walking to the kitchen, I look around and see that all of them were already eating and chatting quietly, not wanting to get yelled at.

I walk to where the chef was, holding a huge pot containing our food. I peered inside and let out a defeated sigh when I see that it barely had enough for two tablespoons.

Then, Peter, the chef, as if just noticing that I was there, gave me a kind smile and turned to get something.

"Here, I made a bowl for you before they got here. You know how they are." He said while handing me a bowl filled to the brim with what looks like porridge. He then reached behind him then handed me a small bottle of water.

"Thanks." I said in a small voice.

I walked away to a small table that I always use, the outcast. Peter was the only one kind to me here, and John's wife, Cecilia. She'd give me clothes and other knick knacks if she could sneak them in.

I don't understand why the others don't like me. Is it because of how I look? Reignheart has red hair and he stays with them. I mean sure I look different, with black hair and brown eyes, and they have blonde and brown hair with blue or green eyes.

They always act so mean to me, like those mean people I see on the television when John lets us watch once a month. I don't understand.

I sighed when I noticed that I had slowly finished my food while thinking. I moved to the sink and started washing my bowl.

I noticed that all of them were still talking and it was barely 7:20. We had to start at 8:30 so I headed to the small bathroom that we all shared and took a quick shower. I got out in five minutes and changed into a big, black shirt and dark blue joggers.

I heard a noise by the door and turned to look at who it was. It was Justice, he didn't live here with us. He was the boss's son, a year older than me, making him fourteen and me thirteen.

"Hey." He said while moving to sit beside me, I sat on the floor in front of the big, broken mirror and tried to comb through my hair with the comb Cecilia gave.

Before I just used a comb that had broken teeth but last month Cecilia bought me a nice comb and said that it was heavy duty so it would last for a long time.

"Hi." I replied, to busy with my hair. He moved behind me and took the comb from my hands then started combing my hair.

"So how've you been?" He asked while untangling my hair.

"Fine, Still the same old thing but last wee- ow ow ow." I cringed when he pulled on a knot.

"Sorry, you okay?" He asked, worry in his eyes. He was one of the only people to care for me and he came here once a week which was always a treat.

"Yeah."

He put down the comb and pulled something from his pocket. He then started brushing my hair.

"So I guess you only came here to brush my hair didn't you?" I said with a light chuckle.

"Well, uh, yeah, one of the reasons." He mumbled while trying to hid the red tinge on his ears.

"Done." He whispered after a few minutes. I raised my hand to my hair and felt how soft it was. I was kind of surprised since my hair is almost always in knots.

"Thanks." I said gratefully.

"As much as I would like to leave the brush here and see this you pretty everytime I visit. I can't, you know how the other girls are." He said while running his hands through the ends of my raven locks.

"So you're saying I'm only pretty when I'm like this?" I teased him while trying to tone down my excitement when he called me pretty.

"Oh, um, no, like, um." He trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

"Just kidding." I chuckled while nudging him with my elbow. He let out a small laugh, realizing that I was just joking.

I took the brush from him and swept my hair over my left shoulder, running the brush through. I felt pattern on the brush, it got me curious so I turned it over and saw and something engraved on it. M and J.

I showed it to him with a raised eyebrow, and I notice blood immediately rush to his cheeks.

"Umm yeah, Mirabelle and Justice." He mumbled shyly.

"Oh." I felt blood flood my cheeks after that. I turned to the wall clock and saw that it was 7:40 so I stood up and offered my hand.

He took it and pulled himself up, pulling me towards him. I fell flush against him and I hurriedly stepped away, offering him a shy smile.

"I have to start now. You better go before you get caught." I told him, feeling a tad bit disappointed. When I'm with him it makes me forget that I work in a dump, that I seperated trash for a living, that I didn't go to school, He makes me feel like a normal girl, for once.

"Yeah." He said while picking up the brush and shoving it back in his pocket then nodding his head at me while walking out.

I sighed, I didn't know what I was feeling, I never went to school so how would I know? Or is that even taught in school?

I got here six years ago, when my foster parents kicked me out, why? I don't know. I met him four years ago, when he first visited his dad or the boss.

I thought he would just be like the others, they'd shove me around, tease me, pick on me and not the friendly kind. But he surprised me when he said that he wanted to be my friend, we weren't like crazy, do everything together friends.

We were more of conversations and get to know each other friends. Anyways, enough about that. I check the time again, 8:00, they'd be heading back by now so I hurriedly went to the work area, to avoid them.

We lived a hard life and I never really understood how they could still be mean to me. But I guess that's just how they are.

I sat on the chair and turned the machine on, before, we used to get the trash in plastic bags and segregated them from there but now, we had a machine to do that, all we had to do was nudge the trash to the correct bin and we're done.

But we had a whole town's garbage to do in a week. Since garbage day was Sunday and today is Tuesday, we've still got a long week ahead. At least, we have Saturday off, but we're not allowed out of the compound, I just use it as a time to rest and relax.

I turned the machine's setting to the lowest since I was the only one there. Slowly but surely the others came and I turned the setting on fast since it was a long conveyer belt and there were fifteen of us.

I was at the end, where the panel was, so I controlled everything and did the final check. Let the day begin.