// Dear Whoever You Might Be //

I get a surprise

I usually wake up around six-thirty so I can have enough time to deicide what to wear, make something to eat and have a good five second conversation with my mom and dad about my plans for the day.

"It's my day off today." I said before biting into a piece of mango.

"That's good. Are you coming back home or are you going to..." My mother stopped talking to turn her attention towards the doorway into the living room.

"Oh, Thomas!" She smiled, extending her arm to him. He gave a quiet "hello," and took a seat beside her.

"What?" I rubbed my forehead and looked at the kid, who wasn't really a kid, sitting across from me. He was my age, give or take a few months, good looking too. Kind of beautiful, if I may be so bold. But there was something about him, he had sadness painted all over his face. He barely looked up at me or mom. But when Dad walked in I could see a sing tear escape from his eye.

"Hey Perseph"

"Rose, Dad." I reminded him. He was a bit forgetful sometimes. He screwed his eyes shut nodded his head.

"Right...I see you've met Thomas." he gently put his hand on Thomas' shoulder, earning a weak grin from the kid.

"He...His parents were killed in a freak car accident last week. He had no where else to go so we gave him the spare room. His dad and I were good friends...I watched this kid grow up. They would always ask me if take him in if anything were to ever happen" I could see my dad's eyes become glassy, as if the ocean itself wanted to escape.

"It's okay...you don't have to.." Thomas spoke up. His voice was low and gravely.

"No...It's okay. Your folks were always one step ahead of them game, always looking out for you kid."

"So...since its your day off maybe you could show Thomas around town?"

I wanted to say no, if it were another circumstance, but this guy just lost both of his parents.

"Yeah. Yeah sure. I mean if you want to." I looked Thomas dead on and he finally looked up at me and gave me an actual smile. One that was warm and inviting.

"Shit, you two are gonna be late." My dad hit Thomas on the back and I realized that the time had gone by faster than I had thought.

"By mom, love you." I kissed her on the cheek and ran out the door.

++++++++

"Wait, so your parents took in an orphan?" Minho never had a filter. He always said whatever came across his mind, which was a lot.

"Minho!" I snapped at him from across the picnic table. I swung to hit his arm but Newt and Fry came over and sat down.

"What did he say this time?" Fry laughed.

"The truth." Minho smirked.

"You didn't have to say it like that you asshat." I rolled my eyes and sipped on my coffee.

"Can someone please fill me in?" Newt asked as his laugh escaped his mouth.

This is the first time Newt and I have actually been closer than three desk spaces and it's the first time talking with one another. I wouldn't call us friends, just acquainted by association.

"So my dad's best friend and his wife were killed in a freak car accident sometime last week. And I think my parents just adopted their kid they left behind."

"So an orphan." Minho added.

"Shut your..." I threw some paper at his face making everyone at the table laugh.

There he was. Walking with my dad and the principal around the court yard. Everyone was staring at Thomas, it made me uncomfortable.

"I'll be right back." I told the boys at the table.

"Rose." Principal Mary smiled.

"Hello. Is it okay if Thomas comes over here for a minute? I can show him his classes after Break period, if you want. I know you're a busy woman so it's the least I can do." I grinned and soon Principal Mary, my dad and I began laughing.

"You know, if you weren't my niece I would have believed you." She turned to Thomas.

"Why don't you go on, I'll give him the rest of your papers."

Thomas exchanged looks from Mary to me.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to leave you. I'll show you to your classes." I touched my hand gently on his arm and began walking back to the table.

"Boys, Thomas. Thomas, Boys." I stood beside Thomas as the four boys smiled and greeted him.

I think this is going well.