From Nothing to Everything

I sat there, just staring, just staring. Her legs splayed out on the floor, her eyes bloodshot and vacant. She looked like a princess in a pool of pills and cigarettes. I couldn't bring myself to cry, but I couldn't bring myself to stand up either. I just sat there, just as still as my mother. After almost half an hour, I gathered myself enough to crawl over and shake her arm. "Mommy, it's almost morning," I whispered. Nothing. After almost 2 hours of waiting next to her, I stood up and walked down the hallway of our ratty apartment. When I got to her room, I walked over to her beside table. After pushing away piles of empty cigarette boxes and bottles of pills, I uncovered the telephone. I dialed the only number I was taught to call.

"911 what's your emergency?" A cheerful voice said on the other end.

"My mommy's dead."

I bolted upright in my small cot. Just a dream. The dreams that shook me most were the ones that weren't good nor bad. This dream fit the description perfectly. My mother. The thing I wished to forget most.

I groped around in the dark for my phone, eventually grabbing it, still attached to my earbuds. I clicked on my playlist, letting the first song fill my ears. Second & Sebring. My favorite. I looked at the clock on my phone. 3:00 am. Perfect, I could finally have 3 hours of peace. I settled back into my assorted pillows, looking up at the bunk above me. One of the people before my coming had etched "Someday I'll leave this place" into the wood. Looks like their dream came true, and they were replaced by me.

I was jolted up again by the piercing voice of Ms. Walkers. "Everyone up! Adoption day!!!!" She squealed. I sighed. Great, my least favorite day of the month. This was the evil day were couples could come in and pick us out like Pokémon cards. For me, it went a little something like this. They gave me looks of disgust and worry, then moved on. Simple as that. I had been in here almost 3 years, and no one even gave me a second glance.

I swung my legs over the edge of my bed and struggled to stand. I clumsily walked over to my trunk, and pulled out a pair of grey ripped skinny jeans, an Of Mice & Men shirt, a black sweatshirt and a black beanie. My favorite outfit to go perfectly with my least favorite day. As I pulled on the clothes, the other girls in my dorm (more like jail cell) were just beginning to get up. I stood in front of the cracked mirror in the corner, brushing out my fringe. Once my hair was up to my satisfaction, I pulled the beanie down to my ears, and walked out of the room. As I walked down the rickety stairs to the rec hall, I practically walked into Ms. Walkers.

"Jade, are you really going to wear that, on adoption day? That's the reason you're still here! No one wants a little satanist rat," she scolded me.

"She's right, you're better off dead," a rancid voice whispered in my ear. I spun around, it was Lexi. Just looking at her sickened me, she reeked of perfume, and her pink outfit was always in perfect condition, almost like she didn't live in an orphanage.

"Oh good morning Lexi, how's my favorite girl," Ms. Walkers sang, pushing me aside. Sighing, I walked back upstairs. 'I swear I will get out of here,' I thought to myself as I pulled on my combat boots.

The bell rang, and we all started filing down into the main room, for a day of torture. We grouped up into a line, me fitting in at the very end. Ms. Walkers always tried to hide me. The big brass doors opened, as the first perfect, cute couple walked in. I pulled my sleeves over my hands and looked at the ground, trying to hide as much as possible. The couple didn't even have to look at all of us before they chose an adorable little 8 year old. That's what most couples did. 13 year old no bodies like me had no chance. I kept my head down, watching cute little high heals and dress shoes walk past me, not slowing at all. I was pulled out of my trance when hearing Ms. walkers' agitated voice.

"Sirs, that is the end of the line! You won't find anything over there!" She called, hurrying in my direction. I looked down, when a pair of vans stopped dead in front of me. I slowly looked up, and almost toppled backwards upon seeing the men. They were my heroes. Standing right in front of me. Austin Carlile was grinning down at me. I think my jaw was hanging open, because Alan let out a little snort of laughter.

"Mam, we'll take this lovely girl," Austin called to her, as she started waddling over.

"This is the back of the line, sir. There are very cute little darlings over here, so come with me," Ms. Walkers said urgently, trying to pull Austin away.

"Darling, what's your name?" Aaron bent over to ask me. I was stunned. I couldn't move a muscle.

"J-Jade," I managed to choke out. Aaron gave me a quick smile and put his hands on my shoulders to bring me out of the line.

"But sir! Don't you want, well, a girl a little more put together?" Ms. Walkers asked more urging.

Austin turned to fully face Ms. Walkers, standing taller. "Can we please have to paperwork to take Jade," he asked more sternly. Ms. Walkers stood speechless.

"Go get your stuff together, you'll come with us," Phil said to me, gently pushing me towards the stairs.

As I scrambled up the steps, I heard shouts below me.
"You are taking that FREAK!? OVER ME!? SHE'S UGLY, AND WEIRD! I AM SMART AND BEAUTIFUL!" Lexi screeched below me. A smile crept up onto my face as I grabbed my clothes out of my trunk, and stuffed them into a My Chemical Romance backpack. I was finally leaving.

I grabbed everything on my bed, until my fingers came upon something sharp. My blades. Hesitating, I shoved them into the way bottom of my bag. I walked back downstairs, were the band was waiting for me at the door.

"I think you already know who we are," Austin joked, as I took my first step into the bus. I was living with Of Mice & Men.

Notes

First chapter \(•~•\)