Flames Of Destiny
A plastic bottle hits his head as he walks down the loud hallways. Kids pointing at him as they gossip rumors in his ears. Down the corner, a teacher glares at him not bothering to even make them stop. Who would? Who would even help Florian Li? His father sentenced to life for a crime everyone believes he did. He was the only one in the crime scene after all. He suddenly feels his body flowing down. He puts his hands but that does not stop the pain. He looks carefully behind him only for the laughs to get louder and louder. The kid who tripped him looking victorious down at him and around the ninth and tenth graders. The upper classes didn't bother to help him only passed by, not even sparing a glance. For four months this has been continued. They are used to it "What are you gonna do huh? Orphan. Are you gonna cry to daddy" his voice gets more childish on the end? Florian gets up and turns to him. "Big words from someone that hasn't gone through puberty? You know we can hear it right? And see it" he says glancing him up and down. The tenth grader glares at him and aims to punch. "Florian" he hears his name in a whisper and freezes. That moment was enough for Robert Smith's fist to contact his cheek. He feels the blood living his face as he goes pale. He looks at him. "You even punch like a baby" the bully goes for another punch but this time he steps aside letting the bully fall in his leg. Giggles can be heard but mostly silent. The hallway monitor steps forward to stop the commotion. Now they bothered. "Both of you at the office" the bully follows unwilling the hallway monitor. Florian is used to it. No one is willing to stand up. Who would when they knew his father is a murderer? He only has himself. And even before he always did. As he passes the stares, he gazes for a moment to his ex-best friend laughing. Best friend such a funny word right now. <> his eyes flash disappointment at the memory. When they reach the end of the hallway The metallic door in the middle opens. It's like a gate in hell but it is a gate to the school's office. The only secretary still here from the '80s is still alive he wonders and then grins at his small joke. The hall monitor push's him towards the principal's office. Even if the small push was light that didn't stop him from feeling like a prisoner. After everything, he is a prisoner. The blue metal door opens revealing a white short-haired old man. The old man looks up from the pile of papers and stops for a moment his furious writing. "Again here, Mr. Li?" "Yes, I missed you, sir," he says with a slight smile. The principal stops his movements and looks up to him. He leans to his leather chair. "Seat down Mr. Li" Florian takes a seat. The door is still open. "I got it from here Stacy” the hall monitor, Stacy, closes the door living three people in the room. “What happened?” He questions the two of them. The bully, who hasn’t said a word all the way there, speaks up before him. “Principal Smith, I was walking down the hallways and laughing at a joke and Florian tripped me out of nowhere.” Florian looks at him without saying the word “Is that what happens?” The bully nods looking wronged “You may leave Mr. Smith” Robert leaves without glancing at him. He knows Florian would be in trouble again. As the door closes Florian glances down. Even with the same last name, Robert Smith and Principal Smith are not related in any way but still can believe lies easily. “Sit down Florian” Florian stands for few seconds up before takes a seat at the black chair. His hands-on the chair’s arms, each on each side. “This can’t keep happening Florian.” The principal puts his arms on the wooden table “You are here to learn not to bring trouble. You are not in good terms with your classmates so try to get along.” “And?” Florian pressures for more “I am gonna have to suspend you for the time period. The last quarter of this school year is near. You will come back in 1 week. I hope you understand the school rules Florian. Have a good Monday Mr. Li” the principal finishes while motion’s with his hand the door like he is in a hurry to get him out. Everyone is anyway. Florian leaves with slow steps. Brown's long hair flows side to side as the girl runs on her blue jeans and redshirt. “Florian are you okay? I just heard what Robert did” she slows down and stops in front of him. Florian puts his hands up and moves to the side to avoid her “Florian?” Her blue eyes stare right at his brown eyes. Florian doesn’t speak but only keeps on walking away. He feels her staring at his back. Her figure small compared to his. She does not follow him understanding his meaning, but still, she doesn’t leave either. ‘I am sorry Ruby’ he whispers on his heart. If the school had cliques she would be with the popular kids alongside with Robert, she can’t be friends or even talk with him, it would only bring her trouble with everyone. She is after all leader of the basketball team. “Ruby come on we can’t skip class” a voice close by to them speaks. A boy with black jeans and a white skeleton shirt walks towards her, his right-hand holds a black pack back with a red rose and in his left arm holds an all-black backpack. Nathan Jefferson. Or as he likes to be called Nate. Nate is considered a nerd regardless of his dark appearance. Florian quickens his steps to miss the eyes of criticism from him. He steps out of the school doors. Since he got suspended must as well start from now.
His book back goes up and down as he steps down the stairs. His hands swaying to reach front and back. He walks the fading sidewalk to the orphanage. ‘Dad would be mad if he sees me like this.’ Today is the day he gets adopted. The only way for him to get adopted is to lie about his parents. That is what the orphanage did. But who would adopt a teenager? The addictive middle-aged men living at the club across RedLay. Isn’t there a law that says you must have a spouse’s to get a kid and live a comfortable life also. Seems like it doesn’t apply for Saffron: Place of happiness. He halts his movements. He seems in deep thoughts and after seconds he moves towards the woods, three miles away from the orphanage, from school, from anyone. His dad’s old camping house is in the middle of the woods. But he needs his clothes. He halts once more returning in the same direction as before, the orphanage. ‘Does dad’s camping house even have food? I can take from the kitchen but it would not be enough’ Tall apartments with small windows. There are no houses or even apartments in the city that are made out of wood. Dad’s cabin is the only one he has seen. The buildings close to school are colored time over time but still fed away. Sidney High was going to be repainted again but it was delayed from the mayor. The only colors are the faint red. The road is the only one that seems “perfect”. White with tall buildings and metal gates with a sign << Safron: Place of happiness”>> Florian scoffs at the sign ‘Saffron: Place of lonely misery’ if school is lonely depression then it only right for him to say lonely misery. A woman in a black dress stands at the gates “Florian? What are doing here? Shouldn’t you be at school?” she frowns at his arrival “I forgot my biology book and the teacher made me come and get it” her frown deepens “Shouldn’t she give you another one? Don’t lie at me, what happened?” “I got suspended for the rest of the day” Part of his life is true *tsk* she lets him pass the gate and leaves “well that’s a first” he whispers under his breath. The woman is Leah. She is responsible for younger ages than him. She has been here since high school and does not get along with others easily. She hates everyone basically. Her cold treatment towards the kids takes form when the director is not around. Florian remembers how she threw the football into a kid’s head on purpose saying it made her almost fall. She is a twenty-four-year-old woman that decided to help an orphanage and is surprising cause she seems to not like kids. He feels a stare. He turns around only to find no one. He walks inside the building. Min while a blue-eyed girl and a brown-haired boy are pressing their backs against the wall’s corner building across the orphanage. “Why do we follow him again?” “Because I wanna make sure he is okay”. Boy looks at her “Ruby, we are skipping school to follow someone. You can see him at school.” “Shush” “Don’t shush me” “Nate, one day you will understand me and you followed me here” “Because you are crazy. Who follows people at their home?” “Is an orphanage” “He stays there, sleeps there, wakes there, it’s a home” Ruby kicks his leg and continues to poke her head out to watch the orphanage. She tries to find Florian but he is nowhere in sight “Can we leave? Is lunchtime.” Nathan slides down the wall holding his stomach “I have chips in my backpack” he grabs her backpack, zips it open, and grabs the Doritos bag. “Can you be louder” “There are cars passing by and kids playing do you really think anyone would hear such a small sound” she looks at him and grabs hand full chips. She puts two on her mouth “Thank you for follow me. It would have been weird doing it by myself” “Don’t talk with your mouth full” crunching sounds along with his words are loudly heard. ”Tsk” she slides her back beside her best friend, ”It's not his fault for what his dad did. I don't under why all the dislike” ”Is just the way people are. That's the reason” ”That's” she pauses ”that reason doesn't feel right Nathan” Nathan stops his movements. He knows she is serious since she doesn't call him Nathan often. They both stare at a random spot on the road. A car passes by distracting them from their zoning. Nathan looks away calmly as Ruby turns to look at the other side.
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