FicWad

Three years now. Three. No one wants dirt. I thought to myself as I sat on my rickety bed, hugging my knees and looking at my scars. A couple of them could be seen from the hole in my jeans, and others covered my arms. I could hear people walking around, laughing, playing music, running around. The sun was shining but I had pulled the curtains shut. My room mates Gia, Aven and Skye were doing their homework. I glanced at my orange Jansport backpack, and unwillingly picked it up, unzipped it, then looked at the planner the teachers made us keep track of our homework in. In English: 'Write a poem that expresses how you see yourself.' Yippee. Now everyone else can see what it feels like. I pulled out my English notebook, and a pen from the bottom of my backpack. I tried to write, but I kept getting distracted by the loud thumps of children running around upstairs, and the occasional shrieks of laughter. I gave up on the poem, and tried the history paper. I was about halfway through when Ari, a seven year old who lived here too opened the door. "Hey, guys? Um.. Ms. Erickson wants you." she said, then walked away. We exchanged glances before putting down our homework. I stepped onto the creaky wood floors with my old black converse, and made my way down the stairs behind Gia, Skye and Aven. I saw that Ivy, Jasmine, and Frankie had gotten called down before us, and she was standing in front of a group of 5 men. One was tall, had black hair that hung below his ears, hazel eyes, and was wearing a black tee with black skinnies. Another man was tall, skinny, had straightened brown hair and glasses that he wore at the end of his nose. He was wearing a pair of grey jeans and an Anthrax shirt, I personally loved his Misfits shoes. Another man had unbelievably curly brown hair, and brown eyes. He had on a Metallica shirt with black jeans. The other man was on the short side, a black sort of Mohawk with the sides of his hair shaved and dyed a deep red, hazel brown eyes, a lip and nose ring, and his arms were covered in tattoos. He was wearing a red t shirt with black skinny jeans on. The man who was standing off to the right had sandy blond hair, with a slight beard, and blue eyes. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a zipup jacket. Ms. Erickson stepped out, and introduced them. "Girls, this is Gerard Way, Mikey Way, they're brothers, and this is Ray Toro, and Frank Iero." She said, pointing them out as she said them. They waved and said hello. I waved shyly, and I could feel my feet turning in. "Gentlemen, this is Ivy, Gia, Skye, Jasmine, Aven, Frankie, and Melanie." she continued. "Alright, well, you gentlemen pick which ones you would like to talk to first!" She walked away. I stood there, and Gerard was the first to speak. "Um, I'm Gerard. I like comic books, horror stories, and coffee." he started, then he looked at Skye, and said "Did you do those paintings out in the hall?" she nodded. "Dude! That's awesome! And, Jasmine, right? I heard you play piano?" Her eyes widened, and said "Yeah!" They began talking about they're favorite and least favorite superheroes. Frank and Frankie hit it off then began talking about guitar chords, then Frankie told Frank she thought something was wrong with hers, and they rushed off to get it. Ray began talking with Aven, and the conversation drifted off to transformers. Bob began talking to Ivy and Gia, and Mikey was the only one left. "Do you like coffee?" He started. "Uh, actually, I've never had coffee." I said, looking up at him. His eyes went wide. "Youve never had coffee?" I shook my head, then Mikey said "Well, are you allowed to go for walks here?" I nodded my head as he picked up his jacket. "There's a Starbucks just around the corner." he said. We walked out to the door, and I called to Ms. Erickson where I was going. The chilly October air stung at my eyes as I shrugged on my jacket I grabbed off the coat hanger. My glasses fogged up for a second, but then  it disappeared. I winced at the bright sunlight, but I walked beside the tall man. It was a quiet walk. Only a couple of horns blowing and people yelling broke the silence. Classic Belleville. We walked up to the coffee house known as Starbucks, and stepped inside. It was nice and warm, quiet compared to the street or the orphanage. There was low chitchat among other people. We walked up to the counter, and a lady wearing a green apron and a fake smile began to talk to Mikey. I could tell it was a fake smile cause I'm the master of them. "Uh, two coffees please." he said. "Alright, anything else?" she said, and Mikey shook his head. "Alright; 3.24" I began to dig around in my pockets for any loose change, when Mikey said "I've got it.". He pulled out a five dollar bill and handed it to the lady. We stood in silence while the coffee was being made. Ms. Erickson had coffee, but never let any of us drink any. The same lady handed us the two cups, and Mikey walked over to a table. I sat down across from him, and swung my Legs awkwardly. C'mon, Mel. Talk! an inner voice pushed. I chickened out, and decided to try the coffee. It was warm, but not scalding. It was pretty good. It had a rich flavor to it that I can't seem to be able to describe. "Do you like it?" Mikey asked, taking a sip of his. "Yeah, it's really good!" I said with a real smile creeping up my lips. It's been so long since I've smiled for real. Cold memories of the past seven or eight years flooded in, and I found it hard to fight back tears all of a sudden. "How could anyone ever love you?!? You're worthless! Dirt! No one gives a damn about you! You're just a waste of space! I'm embarassed to be related to you!" he screamed in my ear. With each heart shattering word he delivered a blow to my sides. I knew not to try to block them, otherwise he'd aim for my head. I felt tears running down my cheeks, I quickly tried to blink them away before he saw, but it was too late. "What are YOU crying for! You're so damn ugly when you cry, I could barf!" he barked at me. I wanted to run, I wanted to get away from this. But I knew I couldn't. Before I knew it, I felt him grab my shirt, and throw me back. My back hit the was with a loud thud, and I prayed for it to be over. He loomed over me, looking like a madman. I tried not to let a few small whimpers out, but somehow they did. His expression relaxed from madman to angry. "Just go to your room so I don't have to look at you..." he sighed, I scrambled to my feet and raced to my room. I quietly shut my door and sat against it. My back and sides throbbing painfully. I waited until I heard the drunken snores of my father drifting up from downstairs to finally burst into tears. "What did I do wrong?" I whimpered, burying my face in my knees. I was only seven. I realized tears had began to pool at the bottom of my eyes, threatening to run down from behind my glasses. I quickly blinked them away before Mikey saw. Luckily he had finished his coffee, and was readyto go. We walked back out into the chilly fall air, and he began to talk to me. "So, how's school?" he asked, sticking his hands in his jacket pockets. "Uh, okay, I guess." it was actually starting to get better. This year they're not going to make me go to the counselors. "Thats good." he replied awkwardly. Just ask him any question! "So, do you have a job?" I blurted out, and then realized it sounded rude. "Yeah, I'm a bass player in a band. Have you heard of My Chemical Romance?" I racked my brain for it, but it didn't ring a bell. "Sorry, no." "Oh, well we already have an album out, and our second one is coming out in a few months. Maybe... June?" I raised my eyebrows. "Thats cool. I've always wanted to play bass." I said. It was suddenly easy to talk to Mikey. "You know what... I'll sign those papers while you get your stuff packed, Kay?" he said as soon as we reached the front door. I felt my heartrate pick up. "Really?" "Yeah, I think you're a pretty cool kid Mel." he said. I smiled up at him, and when we got inside the old building, he headed off to the office, and I ran up the stairs. I burst in, to see Skye and Aven packing too. "So, does Mikey like you?" they asked enthusicastically. I nodded my head with a big smile. "What about you?" I asked. "Ray's adopting me!" Aven said happily. "Gerard's adopting me and Jasmine! Holy crap Mel, we're gonna be cousins!" Skye exclaimed. I laughed and started packing things. My three shirts, four pairs of pants, stuffed bear (don't judge), and some socks went into my dufflebag. I slung that over my shoulder and picked my backpack up by the handle. I waited for the others to get done packing. Skye and Aven filled me in, Ivy and Gia were being adopted by Bob, and Frankie by Frank. We all met up in the hallway, and went down the stairs, where all five guys were already waiting, holding their keys in their hands. "Okay, so my place, four o'clock." Bob said. The other four nodded, and began talking to each of their "kids". I walked over to Mikey. "Got everything?" he asked. "Yep." "Ready to go." "More than you will ever know." I joked, he laughed and we headed out the door. Mikey unlocked the doors to a Ford F150, and hopped in. I sat in the front seat and put my bags at my feet. I watched outside the window as we passed the orphanage, and thought to myself, Thank the lord.