Orphan

-Lucas-

      I thanked Mr. Harrison as I stepped out of his car, closing the door and waving half-heartedly as he pulled away. Numbly I opened the front door and stepped inside, kicking off my shoes and walking slowly to the couch. I sat there for a minute, my eyes glazed over as I stared at the black screen of the tv. Finally, I decided to text Katie.

Hey

Hey! What's up?

Just got home, what about you?

Finishing math homework :\

Oh sorry, I should let you get to that.

No it's fine, due in a few days.

Oh ok

       I waited for her to respond, but she was silent. Sighing, I glanced at the clock. It wasn't even five yet, so I decided to get a snack. I stood up from the couch and walked into the kitchen, but when I opened the fridge I didn't see anything appealing. Suddenly my phone buzzed twice in my pocket, signaling a text. I pulled it out, smiling when I saw Katie's contact picture show up on my lock screen next to her text. Quickly typing in my password, I unlocked my phone and opened the text.

Hey, you have any idea when the English hw is due?

      I read the text, imagining her saying it aloud. Yep, that's definitely Katie for you, I thought. My thumbs flew across the keyboard as I responded.

I think next week? Not sure. Don't worry about it though.

Okay thanks :)

Are you working on it now?

No, just wondering

      I replied with a smiley face before turning off my phone, shoving it in my back pocket and opening the fridge again. Suddenly I realized how hungry I was, even though I hadn't been before. Still, nothing looked appetizing in the fridge, but then I remembered the frozen pizza I'd stashed away in the downstairs freezer. Jogging downstairs, I opened the freezer and grabbed the pizza. I'd always been a little afraid of the basement. Not because it was dark or anything, but sometimes I heard really weird noises down there. 

      Dashing up a flight of stairs while holding a box of pizza isn't an easy task, let me tell you. By the time I reached the top of the stairs, I had to check the pizza to make sure it was still intact. It was, thankfully. As the pizza warmed up, I texted Katie a few more times while flipping through the channels on tv. There was nothing to watch, so I put a movie in instead. My pizza was done just as it was starting, so I had to pause the movie to get my dinner.

      By the time I finished the movie, it was late and I was tired. I groggily cleaned up after myself before stumbling into my bedroom and putting on some pajamas. I was asleep before anyone could wish me a good night. Not that there was anyone to receive a good night from anyway.

                                                                            ~Two Weeks Later~

      When the final bell of the day rang, I jumped up from my seat and practically raced out of the classroom. On my way to my locker, I saw Katie in the hallway.

      "Hey Katie," I said, catching up to her. Unfortunately, she was walking with two of her friends, Ashley and Layla, and they both glanced at me before exchanging glances of their own. I looked at Katie and rolled my eyes, and she suppressed a giggle before adjusting her grip on her binder.