Malachi Gregory (Volume One) - Rough Draft (Final Copy Coming Soon to Amazon)

Chapter 14: Libby

Mal's POV

After Malcolm leaves, I stay in my seat, thinking long and hard about what just happened. Mostly, I stare straight down at the table, exhausted from such an emotional day, and desperately trying to avoid the watching eyes of my misfit family. Why did I ever decide it was okay to let people in? If only I had ignored Xane like I originally planned. I wouldn't have fallen for him and gotten hurt. I wouldn't have fallen for Sam and made things complicated. I wouldn't be in Cedar Springs to meet Malcolm and be forced to think about things I never wanted to think about. I wonder if it's too late to leave and pretend I never joined PSA. Would Bailey come with me? No. She's got Jay Luke to think about and she loves our weird little family. I love our weird little family. And, Bailey isn't my only best friend anymore. I've also got Leila, the Levs girls are slowly becoming my close friends, and Courtney and I have a complicated friendship if nothing else. Still. There's that thing I don't want to think about. I'm an orphan, I guess not totally, since my biological father is still alive, but emotionally and tangibly I am an orphan.

An Orphan. Yup. That's what I am. I try not to think about it. but it's true. I have my weird misfit family, but I am an orphan and the word strikes me in a way it never has before. The word aches in my heart like it never has before. Aching for someone else. Someone else? Someone else. I need to find her! I don't know who she is, how old she is, or where she, but there's an orphan somewhere nearby and I have to help her!

I quickly stand from my seat and everyone looks at me alarmed. "We need to go," I announce. "Someone, somewhere needs help."

"Man," K.J. says. "I was beginning to think you were right, that you didn't have any powers. Now we get it to see it in action!"

"What's the plan," Xane asks. "Who are we helping? Where do we need to go?"

"I don't know," I confess. "All I know is that I was thinking about how I'm an orphan, the word struck in a way that it never has before, and I realized I have to find someone. A little girl. I don't know how old she is. All I know is she needs our help."

"Will it help if you can look at pictures of orphans," Mrs. Levs asks. "One of my best friends works with an adoption agency and she knows enough about what y'all do, she'd probably be willing to help."

"That's great," I tell her. "I don't know if the pictures would help or not, but it could be a good lead. Do you think she'd let us look today? Like as soon as possible? I'm not sure how urgent this is. I just know she needs us."

"I'll give her a call," she tells me, and she pulls her phone from her pocket and immediately puts it to her ear.

Moments later, she puts her phone away and says, "Lindsay said she'll meet you there. Xane knows where you're going, so I suggest you go with him."

...

When we arrive at the quaint, small-town adoption agency, I smile. Like everything else in Cedar Springs, it has a certain charm to it that you just don't see in the city. I follow Xane inside and I look around. There are pictures and papers strewn all over the walls, a few bookcases, two tables, and the desk in the corner. Whoever works here seems to thrive in organized chaos. I like it.

"Handy Andy," an older woman with beautiful chestnut skin and a bob of aged silver hair greets coming out of the only other room in the building. "It's been too long."

"I know, Aunt Lindsay," he apologizes. "I've missed you."

"I'll only forgive you if this pretty girl here is the reason you haven't visited," she says smiling at me.

Xane laughs nervously. "Mal, she kind of is the reason for everything I have or haven't done for the past few months." I avoid looking at him, afraid to see whatever emotions might be on his face right now.