“You don't mind the orange shirts, do you?” Stacy asked me when we were leaving the juice bar.
“I don't know, they're okay.” I replied.
“I thought orange was your favourite colour.” Emily said.
“Who told you that?” I asked, knowing it was definitely not something I had ever shared, but without answering Emily looked away as if she had said something she shouldn't have.
“Maybe she's just noticed how beautiful and peaceful you look as you watch the sunset through the window.” Michael said in a strange voice as if mocking someone.
“I .. I” I stuttered trying to think of a response. It was true, I loved watching the sunset, just as much as I loved the sunrise, but I didn't realise they had noticed nor did I realise that it was a topic of discussion as it seems to have been. Before I could think of something to say back to Michael, Solomon grabbed him in a headlock.
“We'd better hurry.” he said to Michael, who tried to squirm free. The two of them wrestled for a little until Solomon finally let him go and then they said goodbye and walked down to Solomon's car, still in the middle of a nudge match.
***
Wednesday morning came around quicker than expected. I proudly put my uniform on and brushed my hair back into a ponytail, pulling a few curls loose at the front which bounced gracefully around the sides of my face. I'd never done any kind of charity work and unlike the help I'd given the facility, this time I felt like I was helping people who could make a real difference. And that felt good.
“You look official.” Rachael said when I finally got downstairs.
“Thanks.” I smiled.
“You excited?”
“I don't know if excited is the right word, but it does feel good to be helping people.” I sat down in the living room while I waited for Solomon, and ran to the door as soon as I heard the car pull up outside. “See you later” I shouted as I went out of the door.
Solomon's car was parked at the end of the driveway with Stacy and Emily sitting in the back seat, so I got in next to them and after exchanging greetings Solomon set off on his way.
Michael, who was sitting in the front with Solomon, gave a eulogy to the event that we were about to attend, speaking of how much 'The Big Project' have helped the local orphanages in the area and how we should all be on our best behaviour today as we will be representing the organisation. I listened intently, agreeing with most of what he was saying although I couldn't vouch for the work the organisation had done, I did agree that it was work that was more than needed and they needed the support of the local communities.
“I'm really surprised you have such a soft spot for orphans, Michael.” I said. Michael looked over at Solomon, who looked back at him and shrugged, then he turned around in his seat to face me.
“Look, I don't tell many people this because my Mom doesn't really like to talk about it” he said with a serious look on his face, “But she's an orphan too. She grew up in an orphanage in Central town until she was adopted.” My mouth gaped slightly as I stared blankly at Michael and then looked over at Stacy and Emily who obviously already knew as they weren't reacting in anyway.
“Okay.” I said, pausing between each syllable. It was a bit of a hit to realise that after knowing him for almost a year he still saw me as an outsider.
“Why you looking at me like that?” He said sitting back in his seat properly “Have you told me everything about your life?”
I shrugged and looked out of the window. He has a point, I thought, I hadn't even told Solomon a lot about my life and he was my best friend, but then I didn't talk as much as Michael did so it wasn't really the same. While I was still deep in thought about whether or not I should be offended by Michael's apparent neglect, Solomon announced that we had arrived.
Solomon ushered everyone out of the car and through a back door that lead into a hall. The small stage at the front of the room, emphasised the greatness of the hall. As did the rows of tables that were set up throughout the room, yet still made no impact on the room spacing at all. The room was quite busy with people bustling around; some dressed in similar uniforms to us and some dressed in waiters uniforms setting out food and drinks on the tables.
We got set straight to work as Mr Robbens, a short man with a slightly balding head almost as round as his body, got up onto the stage and gave a quick speech about what he was expecting from the day’s events and how everyone should conduct themselves, and then the guests started to arrive.
I was put on several different duties throughout the day; I was in charge of checking in guests’ coats and chaperoning them to their seats, then when everyone had finished checking in I went around clearing up and making sure everything was in order. Stacy and Emily were also on cleaning duties, but spent most of their time talking and laughing. I wasn't too sure what Michael was supposed to be doing, but he seemed happy enough moving from table to table entertaining the guest.
“Do you mind giving me a hand with this?” Solomon said, handing me a stack of papers.
“No problem. What are they?” I asked.
“Surveys, comment sheets, donation pledges. Just different forms the guests are filling out. I need to go and start filling some of this info into the computers upstairs and you look like you could use a break. You're the only one of my volunteers that's actually working.” he said whispering the last sentence.
Solomon led me out of the hall and down a short corridor. Then after taking the lift to the second floor we arrived at the office we were heading to which he needed to enter a code into to open. The office was more like an IT lab, with 3 large servers at the end of the room and a row of computers along the wall.
“Are you secretly some kind of spy?” I asked as Solomon typed his password into one of the computers. Solomon laughed but didn't answer and sorted through the stack of papers. “Okay, I get it. If you tell me you’ll have to kill me, right?” I laughed.
He looked up at me for a few seconds with a thoughtful look on his face. “Or marry you.” He said after a while, “At least I think that’s how the rules go.”
“Hmm,” I said thoughtfully as I sat down in the chair next to him, “Can you imagine us married? I’d have to put up with Michael every day.”
“Is that really such a big sacrifice?” he asked as he began inputting the information from the forms into a program on the computer.
It could actually be quite fun being able hang out with Solomon every day, I thought.
“I guess not. But I’ll have to restrict him to one visit a week.”
“Michael’s not that bad.”
“Ok, two.” I said. Solomon groaned, tilting his head from side to side as if not completely in agreement. “Fine! Three days, that’s my limit!”
“Ok, deal. We get married and Michael’s only allowed to the house 3 times a week.” Solomon said putting his hand out, I took his hand and shook it. He didn't let go of my hand straight away, looking deeply into my eyes he said, “We’ve shaken now, so that makes it a promise.”
I smiled as the coolness of his hands sent a slight chill through my body “No problem. I’m happy, if you’re happy.” Still holding my hand he smiled and nodded slowly.
"Extremely." He said before turning back to the computer.
“So, what do you need me to help you with?” I asked.
“I don’t really need any help. I just wanted your company.” he said, his usual mischievous smile on his face.
“You really need to stop these schemes Solomon. If you want my company why don't you just say?”
He looked back up at me, his gaze drifting slowly over my face until his soft indigo eyes settled on my mine, searching deeply for the permission to say what he wanted to say. But after a short silence he looked away.
“I don't know” He said quietly as he focussed back on to the computer.
A ripple of fear ran along my neck and down my spine. What did he want to say? I thought, almost daring myself to ask him. What did that look mea
n?
Solomon was the best friend I had had in a long time and I know I was just as good a friend to him as he was to me, he had already confirmed so much. He never had reason to shy away from saying what he wanted to. But he sometimes did and, just like now, he would look at me in a way that suggested he felt slightly differently. I didn't really know what to expect from a boy if he wanted more than a friendship, but there was a look he would sometimes give me that reminded me of the way Charles would look at Rachael when he thought no one was watching him. If I were honest, the way he looked at me made me feel good inside. I just didn’t know how to handle the fact that he may want more, although there was a part of me that wished it were true. A part of me that even may have felt it too on occasion, but there was a larger part of me that knew it was a bad idea. Relationships broke up all the time, and I couldn't lose Solomon like that.
“What’s with all the hardware,” I said swiftly changing the subject “I didn’t know a charity needed such high powered computers.”
“I’m not sure. But I know the systems store a huge database of information from all the local orphanages, hospitals, rescue services and other organisations that work in the public service industry. And you know what else” he said turning on the computer in front of me “They don’t only store the information, but they can actually access a lot of these organisations systems directly. What was the name of the orphanage you were in?”
“Vincentown’s Ray of hope.” I said rolling my eyes. Solomon chuckled and then, he opened one of the computer’s programs, and typed the name in. After a short wait the results page came up with the orphanages name, Solomon clicked it and then a faux web page for the orphanage appeared. I stared at the computer in awe. I couldn’t believe all this time Solomon had worked somewhere that possibly had access to the information that could help me find out more about the facility and Dr Q. “Does it allow you to access information on the residents?”
“Yeh, when were you last there?”
“I left in 2012.” I watched Solomon as he browsed the list of names until I finally saw the name ‘Claudia Richards’. Pausing for a moment, I tried to imagine what sort of information would come up, but, after deciding I didn’t really care what Solomon saw, I pointed to my name.
He clicked onto the name and a page came up with various information about me such as; my date of birth and information about my parents that simply said ‘deceased’. There was a link next to this section which said 'Terms of Submission' and also a section marked temporary care which had a list of 4 names under it. Mrs Maple’s name was in the list and next to her name was a note which said ‘2014 - Adoption application successful’.
“I thought you were never adopted.” Solomon said.
“So did I.” I replied, then I slid my hand under Solomon’s to take control of the mouse and clicked onto Mrs Maple’s name.
On the next page it stated that Mrs Maple had two successful adoptions; one in 2014 for Claudia Richards, which had a note next to it that said the guardianship was transferred to someone called Regina De Giorgio later in the year. Who is Regina? I thought. Further down the page it said that Mrs Maple also adopted a girl named Marsha Warren in 2015. The girl who was with Mrs Maple the day I ran away from the facility came back into mind and I closed my eyes, a heaviness filling my heart.
Forget about it. It doesn't matter anymore, I tried to convince myself. But as much as I had told myself in the past that I was over the whole Mrs Maple experience, it still hurt as fresh as the day it happened whenever I thought about it.
I tried to look back at the screen, hoping to keep searching, but my eyes were now glazed with tears making the screen a simple blur. Solomon gently placed his hand on mine and moved the mouse so he could close the page.
“I'm sorry.” he said, still holding my hand.
“It's fine.” I said clearing my throat and wondering what other information I could have found on the pages.
"I didn't think it would ... I guess I didn’t think ..."
"Solomon its fine." I said again, "Seriously. I just want to go home if you don’t mind." I got up from the chair and walked towards the door.
“Are you okay?” he asked coming up behind me.
I stepped aside quickly wanting to keep the distance between us and kept my eyes fixed on the flooring. “I just want to go home.”
“Let me speak with Mr Robbens, I’ll drive you.”
“No, it’s fine.” I said abruptly “You stay here and do what you need to do. I’ll make my way out.”
“Claudia.” he said softly.
“I'm fine.” I snapped turning to open the door. I pulled the handle to find the door wouldn't open, it needed the code to get out as well.
"141297.” Solomon said, his voice still soft.
I nodded, put the code in and left the room.
The hallway was lined with rooms with glass window, all were empty. I stopped by one of the doors that didn’t need a passcode to get in to and tried the handle to see if it was open. I can’t just leave like this, I thought. That system must have more answers for me.
I had waited so long looking for any chance or opportunity to find out more about the facility and just like that an opportunity presented itself. I can’t leave straight away without getting as much information as possible, I told myself as I entered the empty office.
While I sat and waited I went over the information I had seen on the computer screen. Mrs Maple had adopted me, but nobody had ever said anything about it. And then I was later transferred to the guardianship of a woman called Regina. Who is Regina? I tried to think if I had ever heard any mention of somebody with that name but I couldn’t remember any names ever being mentioned once I went to the facility. Everybody was either addressed by a letter or a number.
But there was something familiar about the titles they used. I knew Dr J’s real name was John and I had later found out that Dr Q’s name was Quinton. There was only one female doctor that I knew, and she went by the name Dr R. It was the same lady who had arrived with Dr J and Q to collect me from Mrs Maple’s house. Was it possible that she was Regina? And if so, why had she never mentioned it? She didn't speak to me much at all, but surely that was kind of a big deal, wasn't it?
After some time I heard someone walking down the hallway, I knew it was Solomon from the way he was swinging his keys as he sometimes did when he was thinking. I waited a while, until I felt it was safe to come out, then moving quickly down the hallway, I went back to the room where the computers were and entered the passcode he'd given me.
As soon as I was in the room I worked as quickly as I could, turning on the computer and following the steps I had seen Solomon take. I browsed through the same pages we had looked at together and then went on to Regina’s page only to find it was blank. Next I looked up Wendell’s research facility for which I found 3 results.
I didn’t have much time before someone came back to the room so I decided it would be better to find something to store the information on and read it later. I pulled on the desk drawers and rummaged through the contents until I found a number of USB storage keys.
Great. I thought, quickly plugging one in and copying information onto it, it was easy enough to save pages onto the key without actually needing to view the page first. I was almost finished when I heard the door open.
“I thought you went home.” Michael said looking at me suspiciously.
“I changed my mind.” I said quickly closing the windows on the screen.
“What are you doing? You can’t browse the files on these systems.” He said walking over, “What are you even doing in here?”
“Nothing.” I said abruptly, grabbing the USB key out before Michael reached it.
“Give that to me.” He demanded putting his hand out in front of me.
“Leave me alone Michael, it’s nothing to do with you.”
“Of course it is. I can’t let you steal information from a charity organisation.”
“I’m not doing anything wrong.” I protested.
“Prove it. Give me the key.”
I shook my head and stepped back, putting my hands behind my back. The most arrogant looking smirk wiped across his face before he lurched forward, wrapping his arms around my waist attempting to retrieve the key from me. It took a few seconds for me to realise what had even happened, I hadn't expected him to tackle me and wouldn't have thought he could reach me so quickly.
Michael was fast, very fast. I had heard Solomon's praise of Michael's football skills many times. He was a prized athlete at Westpoint high, known for his speed, agility and strength, but I had never paid much attention to Michael's special abilities until now, when I was bearing the full brunt of them.
“Get off of me.” I hissed, trying to squirm out of his grasp, but Michael's grip only became tighter until I could barely move. Panic began to set in, sparks of heat triggering through my muscles. I was now being held so tight I could no longer struggle, his grip had become like a steel bar, unyielding and tightening around me as each second passed by. I was soon going to reach my limit, heat rushing through me, triggering off larger and larger sparks as it did. It wouldn't be long until I had no control over how my ability reacted to him.
“Let go.” I said again in a low whisper, unable to draw in enough air to scream. Michael laughed fishing the USB key from my grasp.
I drew in a deep breath as he loosened his grip. His dark eyes narrowed as he stared at me a mixture of anger and curiosity. I imagined it wasn't hard for him to feel the heat emanating from me as it had long passed an acceptable temperature.
“Thank you.” He said coldly as the door opened again.
It was Solomon, his eyes narrowing to slits when he saw us.
“What are you two doing?” he asked. Michael let me go and turned to Solomon who glared at him.
“I just came up to drop off those papers you gave me.” Michael said.
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