Ali sighed as she watched the couples walk slowly around the Room. She clutched her headless bear tightly and looked at the group. Adoption day was her least favorite day in the three years she had been living at the orphanage.
"Cheer up will you?" Jordan said and gave Ali a nudge.
Ali turned to stare at her friend. They had met a week ago in the basement of the orphanage and had formed an immediate bond. Even though Jordan was a year older than Ali, they had some things in common; both lost their parents under strange circumstances and both wanted to be adopted to escape the prison. Jordan, so far, had been the only person in the orphanage to acknowledge Ali's existence and try to be her friend.
"What's the point? I never get adopted anyway," Ali said.
"Well, that couple over there seems to be looking this way," Jordan said pointing out a couple.
Ali looked up and saw that they were indeed looking over at them. The woman had a kind face but her husband had a look that Ali knew all too well. It looked like he was excited about being here but Ali saw the hard eyes; the man was doing this grudgingly, probably dragged in by his wife. Suddenly the man's eyes widened when he looked at them and he bent down to whisper in his wife's ear. She smiled and the two of them started making their way to where Ali and Jordan sat.
Mr. Frankfort appeared out of nowhere beside the couple with a big grin plastered on his face, "Are you interested in adopting Jordan?" At the mention of her name, Jordan stood up and smiled shyly to the couple.
"Actually," the woman said, "We were considering the black haired child."
"Ali?" Mr. Frankfort said unable to hide the surprise in his voice. Ali kept her gaze on the ground but she was frozen in shock. "Ali!" Mr. Frankfort said sharply and Ali jumped slightly, "Where are your manners?" Ali slowly got to her feet and raised her gaze to meet the couple. The woman smiled but the man's face remained frozen as a statue.
"She will do quite well," the man said. Ali picked up quickly on the harshness in the man's voice.
"Very well," Mr. Frankfort said, "I'll take you to the office to get the paperwork sorted out. Ali, get your belongings and head to the front of the orphanage."
Ali sat back down as Mr. Frankfort lead the couple away. She couldn't believe someone wanted to adopt her.
"Aren't you going to get your things?" Jordan asked.
"No, I don't own anything here that I want to take with me," Ali said, "I'm still trying to get understand how someone would actually want me."
"Don't talk like that; I'm sure there are plenty of people who want someone like you. I mean, look at all the amazing qualities you have," Jordan said and she started listing the things, "You are nice, kind…and nice."
"You said nice already."
"I know, that's how nice you are," Jordan said with a smile.
Ali rolled her eyes and stood up, Jordan standing up as well. A couple of the older kids came up to Ali. Ali raised her eyes and met the leader with dark eyes. He grinned and said in a voice that had only recently reached puberty, "Seems like the little demon child is getting adopted."
"Won't that be a relief to you?" Ali asked. She only had one dealing with the bullies so far. She had just arrived and they tried to initiate her like they did to all other new comers; they tried to lock her in the basement until the caretakers came to see what the banging noise was. But she had managed to struggle free and, in the process, hit one of the bullies and breaking his nose.
"It would be a relief to all the kids, not having to worry about the freak!" the leader shouted.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" Jordan said.
"Oh, so now the demon child needs protecting from the reject!" The leader said. The boys behind him started laughing too. Ali saw her friend look at the ground; Jordan hated it when people laughed at her, it made her feel insecure. Ali turned back to the older boys and took a single step forward. One of the boys in the back stopped laughing and stared at Ali with wide eyes. His nose was slightly crooked and Ali smiled, this was the one whose nose she had broken. She clenched her fist and prepared herself to punch the leader in the face.
"Ali," a voice said, stopping Ali. Ali turned around and saw Mr. Frankfort standing at the door, the couple stood behind him. The older boys turned and quickly ran away. "Are you ready to leave?"
"Yeah," Ali said, "just give me a minute."
"We don't have a minute, we need to be leaving," the husband said. He was shifting from one foot to the other, as though he was nervous about something, and his eyes were darting around the room.
"Oh dear, let her say good-bye to her friend," the wife said. The husband looked up at the ceiling with a huff.
Ali smiled shyly at the woman and turned back to Jordan, "Bye, I'll be sure to write once I get settled in."
"Oh please, don't worry about me here! You just have a happy life!" Jordan said but her chin was quivering. Ali could see she was trying to fight back tears.
"I'll let you visit me once and a while," Ali said. She hesitated slightly before wrapping Jordan in a hug.
"Come on, come on, let's go!" the husband said and Ali pulled away from Jordan. She gave her friend a smile before turning and walking over to the couple.