Unwanted

Caroline was orphaned as a baby, she never knew the life of love or luxury that most people had. She was put into the system when she was 5, and moved around from place to place. She had learned not to get so attached and would sometimes speed the process up by setting the house on fire or letting the dogs out. She was staying for a full year at a nice family called the Thomson’s house. They enrolled her in a public school and loved her like their own child.

On Caroline’s first day of 8th grade, she walked confidently down the hallway to her locker number #1313 upon opening it, a nerdy boy, about 14 who had apparently been shoved into it, fell out landing heavily on the floor in front of her.

“Sorry,” the boy said clumsily getting to his feet He was big. Caroline didn’t say anything, just continued to place her bag in the locker and organized her books. How did he even fit in there? She thought.

“Hey! New kid” a large boy with tattoos on his left arm of snakes shouted down the hall, kids around Caroline started to shift uneasily and the nerdy kid hid behind her.

“You talking to me?” Caroline asked finally turning to look at the guy.

“You see any other new kids around here?” he said,

“Hmm…” Caroline said closing her locker, “not really, all I see is a bunch of idiots.” Caroline continued, then paying no attention to the boy walked away.

The bell rang shortly after and kids scuffled to get into their classes, Caroline sat at a desk in the far back of the history classroom. The kids around her didn’t dare look at her, she just saved a nerdy kid but burned the head bully.

“Alright class,” Mrs. Wilson said as she walked up to the board, “we have a new student today, Caroline, why don’t you come up front and tell us a little about yourself?” she continued, her smile beamed,

“No thanks” Caroline said, the boy to the right of her turned, by the look on his face Caroline could tell that Mrs. Wilson wouldn’t tolerate a no. “I wouldn’t want to make these students uncomfortable by sharing my past.” she continued.

“well, okay” Mrs. Wilson turned around and started the lesson.

When the bell rang for the break, The boy who had fell out of her locker walked up,

“Hey, thanks for saving me back there” he said, after a long pause he continued. “My name is Ryan.” Caroline’s eyebrow raised,

“No problem.” was all she said before walking over to the boy who threatened her, he was with his gang, smoking.

“What do you want?” the boy asked still angry,

“I want to join you” Caroline answered,

“You what?” a boy behind him asked.

“I said, I want to join you” Caroline said a smirk forming on her lips “Unless you want me to join the nerdy kids and save their butts instead?” She continued.

“Okay, well you might as well know our names.” he started. “My name is Liam, but everyone calls me Bullet. This is Derec but we call him Cinder” he said gesturing to the boy behind him, “This is Micheal but we call him Rogue.” he continued.

The bell rang shortly after and kids again filed into their classes. Caroline and Cinder ended up in art class.

“Caroline, you look like you understand how to do this. Could you show the class?” Mrs. Wilson asked. Cinder stepped in,

“I don’t think she would like to waste her time on that junk.” he said, Caroline smirked,

“What’s the purpose of art class? Is it just to make more winter kindling?” she added, Mrs. Wilson frowned.

“Both of you will have detention after school today.” she said before carrying on with her lesson.

After school and detention Caroline and the gang headed to the abandoned mine shaft for a bit of talking,

“I wish we still had Talon” Cinder said, Bullet looked up.

“We don’t need that nerd.” he shot back,

“He was one of the best.” Rogue reasoned,

“Well now we have Caroline,” Bullet said turning to her,

“Who is Talon?” she asked finally looking up from the rock she was tossing from hand to hand.

“Was” Cinder corrected.

“Talon was the leader, before me” Bullet answered, “But he decided to quit.” he continued.

“Is he still at the school?” Caroline asked,

“Your being very nosy” Bullet answered, “You should get home before your parents call the cops.” he continued.

“Well, see you at school tomorrow bullet.” Caroline said as she stood and gathered her things.

“See you at school Phoenix.” Bullet said, Caroline smiled.

After a long walk back to the Thomson’s house, she was met at the door with Mr. Thomson,

“I heard you were sent to detention today, on your first day of school too.” he said,

“So, I am usually in trouble on the first day.” Caroline answered pushing past Mr. Thomson,

“Caroline, I know life without good parents is hard, but you can’t just get in trouble.” Mr. Thomson said slowly turning to follow Caroline.

“Whats stopping me?” Caroline turned covering the cracks.

“The police, Caroline you may not know this but we love you. We want you to be safe.”

Caroline marched upstairs, she sat next to her bed and pulled a box out from underneath. Her parents belongings. In the box a photo of her mother and father, probably about 16 or 17, sitting on a bench. She stared at the photo, “I miss you.” she whispered. A necklace lay in the corner of the box, a slip of paper folded around the charm. Caroline reached for it.

“Dinner is ready.” Mrs. Thomson said upon opening the door.

“I’m not hungry.” Caroline answered pushing the box under the bed again.

“Caroline” Mrs. Thomson started, “I knew your mom.” she continued.

“How?” Caroline asked,

“She was my best friend” Mrs. Thomson sighed, “She told me that she and your father would never do anything so reckless.” she continued, “She told me to take care of you, and to make sure that you lived a good life, then maybe when you’re old enough” she stopped tears flowing down her face. “But you can’t, she left with your father to go overseas and.” She finally pulled herself together enough to stand.

“And what?” Caroline asked, desperation seeping through her voice.

“There was an accident” She finally said. Caroline’s heart sank, “You should get to sleep.” she continued.

Caroline flopped onto her bed, “I wish I could meet them.” She thought to herself.

The next day Caroline walked to her locker, the gang stood nearby, surrounding Ryan who actually looked taller and stronger than even Bullet.

“What’s going on?” Caroline asked setting her stuff in her locker.

“Oh phoenix, your here. We were just teaching this guy a lesson.” Bullet answered.

“What type of lesson?” She asked pushing her way past Cinder to get a closer look at the scene.

“You ask too many questions.” Bullet shot,

“Caroline, you shouldn’t hang around these guys, they will only drag you down.” Ryan said, Caroline spotted a teacher walking down the hall,

“I better get to class.” She said, Bullet hadn’t noticed the teacher.

“What are you boys doing?” the teacher asked,

“Nothing Mr. Nelson.” Bullet answered,

“Then you should get to class.” Mr. Nelson said,

The day dragged on slowly, Caroline walked to the abandoned mine shaft with Rogue after detention, they caught Cinder and Bullet talking about Talon,

“He was the one who came up with the phrase ‘Brothers in blood’ and even you still say that.” Cinder argued,

“Yeah he also came up with ‘Courtroom injustice’.” Bullet spat.

Caroline walked in,

“sounds pretty serious” she said casually,

“Phoenix, we will tell you when the time is right.” Rogue said with a wink.

“Lets go beat someone up.” Bullet suggested

“Alright.” Caroline agreed,

As they walked to the park Caroline noticed that Ryan was sitting on a park bench apparently waiting for them.

“Well, look who it is.” Cinder smirked,

“Leave me alone Derec.” Ryan said impatiently, Bullet picked him up by the collar,

“We will leave you alone when you get what you deserve.” He growled, though Ryan’s feet still rested comfortably on the floor.

“Caroline, you don’t need these guys.” he pleaded,

“Phoenix, stand guard. I don’t want any cops pulling up on us.” Bullet ordered,

Caroline stood close by watching for police, when she overheard Ryan.

“This is Courtroom injustice.” he said, Caroline’s heart raced as she finally put the pieces together, “Ryan is Talon.” she whispered to herself, she hesitated.

“Bullet, Cops.” Caroline shouted, falsely. Bullet turned and dropped Ryan,

“I don’t see any.” he questioned,

Caroline moved closer,

“on the other side of the park,” she explained, Bullet looked harder, when he turned back he felt a sharp pain in his chest, Caroline had punched him.

“Get her.” Bullet rasped.

“Run Ryan, Call the cops.” she yelled as Cinder swung his fist close to her face, Rogue kicked her knee and she buckled.

“I’ll teach you to betray me.” Bullet snarled as he stood, Caroline was pinned, she braced for impact, but it never came.

Ryan had run to the payphone across the street and called 911, a man who had been walking his dog came over to help, and had held Bullet back while Ryan helped Caroline up.

“Are you okay?” Ryan asked, when the police had all 3 boys.

“Yeah, I just want to get home though.” she answered,

“Hey Caroline?” Ryan started, “Would you like to be my lab partner?” he asked, Caroline laughed a little,

“Sure.” she answered.

After her year with the Thomson’s, they decided to adopt her. She finally had a family and a close friend that cared about her and helped her whenever she needed it.