Running Away

Chapter 4

Aria walked up the stairs, her head ached.
"Hey Aria." Lucas called from his room.
Aria peered in. Lucas sat on the ground, his room was filled with so much toys that Aria couldn't number them all.
"Can I come in?" She asked with a smile. Her headache suddenly disappeared when he nodded. In front of him, he had gathered some soldiers and he was trying to fix the tyre to a big toy car.
"What are you doing?" Aria asked closing the door behind her.
"Trying to make a squad. But my tyre is broken. What's a squad without their car?" He asked.
Aria sat on the ground next to him. "Let me see." She said stretching out her hand to him.
He handed her the car and the tyre. Aria looked at it, she pushed in the tyre into its space but it wouldn't stay.
"Is it a remote control car?" Aria asked.
"No. I move it on my own."
"Simple. We'd just glue the tyre, is that okay."
"With duct tape?" Lucas asked raising an eyebrow.
"Nope. Not at all, glue."
"Okay. I might have a tube of one." He said standing up and rushing to a drawer next to his bed. Aria watched him as he searched through the drawer.
"Here!" He smiled at her. "I found one."
"We'd just check if it's dried out." Aria said taking the tube from him. "Okay. It's not dried out. I'd need a tissue paper."
Lucas raced into the bathroom  and came out with a tissue. Aria took it from him and cleaned the area to be glued.
She applied the glue and then waited a while before placing in the tyre in its position.
"After a while it'd be good as new." Aria smiled.
He smiled too and winked at her. "My soldiers and I are appreciative of your kind gesture. We'd definitely win the war."
"Your victory is mine colonel." Aria said giving a salute. "Wait, is it Colonel?"
They both laughed.
"I don't know actually." Lucas said when he found his voice. "I always wanted to be in the army when I grew up." He said.
"What changed?" Aria asked getting interested in the topic.
Lucas shrugged and looked at her. "Sasha says I'd get killed. I don't really want to die." He said looking at the soldiers who stood motionless.
"That's a lie. You only get killed if you want to. You have to fulfil your own dreams and let her fulfil hers. If you want to be a soldier, be one and don't let her tell you why you can't be one."
"Mum said the same thing but Sasha is such a bully."
"Yes.  She sure is, we fought in school today."
Lucas' eyes widened in shock. "Why?"
"She bullied my friend. We both ended up with a two weeks detention for three hours everyday after school."
"Awesome." Lucas screamed. "I mean her been in detention. Not you."
Aria smiled. "I know. Let's make a party to Sasha been in in detention."
"We could make it a dual party. When my squad wins."He cried.
"Yes. Yes."
Aria felt happiness in her heart. She had longed for it for too long. To belong somewhere and to be valued. She reached for him and hugged him.
"Thanks." She whispered into his ear. "For been my brother."
He smiled and hugged her tightly. Sasha had never said those words to him before.
"You too." He whispered. "For been my sister, and for fixing my squad car."
It was Aria's turn to smile. And she did so heartily.

Aria kept a steady gaze at Melinda's shoes. She didn't want to look at either her or Philip in the eyes.
"And fighting was the only solution?" Philip asked.
"She started it." Sasha said pointing to Aria who sat opposite her.
"Aria is that true?" Philip asked looking at Aria.
Aria glanced at Sasha who pretended to look innocent.
"Yes."
"See I told you daddy." Sasha said.
"She bullied my friend. Sasha bullies younger girls in school, three days ago she spilled water on my assignment intentionally. What kind of a sister does that?"
"Sasha,  you are a bully?" Melinda asked in surprise.
"No mum." Sasha nodded negatively. "She's lying."
"I not lying Sasha. Everybody knows you."
"That's enough. You girls go to your rooms." Philip said.
"Aria remain." Melinda said folding her arms. Aria who was almost up returned back to her seat. Sasha headed up the stairs and when Melinda was sure she heard Sasha's bedroom door close she started.
"Aria, you don't make up allegations against my daughter like that." Melinda said. Philip turned to her.
"What are you trying to say honey?" Philip asked her. Melinda glanced at him and then looked back at Aria.
"How can she say that?" Melinda asked. "My daughter, a bully?" Melinda queried.
"I said the truth, I never bend it to suit anyone." Aria said looking at the television remote control on the table.
"Will you shut up!" Melinda said. She touched her temples and sighed. "I'm sorry."
Aria bowed her head trying to hide the tears that gathered in her eyes.
"Aria, go upstairs." Philip told her. Aria stood sluggishly and headed for the stairs. When she got to get room she reached for her bag. She parked a few clothes and wore her shoes. The very one she arrived the house with.
She dried her tears but they kept rolling down. She sniffled and then opened the door, slowly she walked down the stairs. She dried her eyes and sniffled, she heard Philip talking to Melinda in the living room.
"I'm going back to the orphanage." Aria said entering the living room. Philip and Melinda stood up.
"Aria you don't have to." Philip said going to her.
"Aria, I really am sorry for shouting at you. I never really believe my daughter could become a bully." Melinda told her.
Aria looked up at her. "And you think I'd lie over Sasha? She hates me, she barely talks to me, she mocks me. What's the difference between here and the orphanage if I keep going through the same thing over and over again."
"Let this incident go. Okay, just go back to your room Aria." Philip told her. Aria was reluctant at first, then she turned and went back up the stairs.