Chapter Four

Amends

***Rolland POV***

"Rolland! Stop! I need to talk to you!" Oliver's smooth voice says from behind me, but I don't stop. I keep walking, weaving in and out of the students hoping that I could lose him. "ROLLAND PLEASE!" He whines and I hear the desperation clearly. My anger rises inside me and I clench my fist around the strap of my bag, picking up my pace. I spot the boys bathroom up ahead and throwing a quick glance behind me I see that there are students blocking his view from me. I take advantage of that and bolt to the bathroom, slipping in and leaning against the door. I check the room, making sure no one else is in there before I lock the door, preventing any interruptions. I look down at my hands and see that they are trembling slightly and I clench them into fists trying to calm the anger I can feel building. I had always had an anger problem, ever since I was eight. That's what happens when your biological mother leaves you and your little brother home alone in your cocaine riddled apartment for drug addicts to tease and torment for a three weeks straight. I had had to grow up fast and become tough to protect Allen and I. The dark thoughts threated to overthrow my mind but I push them back, locking them up in the farthest and darkest part of my brain, locking the box and throwing away the key. I slide down the wall and sit on the floor, drawing my knees up and wrapping my arms around them. The ugly green tiles feel cool against my skin and I close my eyes, taking deep breaths, trying to calm myself.

No I wouldn't let myself get angry, I couldn't let myself get angry. One more Outburst and the system threatened to separate Allen and I. I needed to be stable, I needed to do good in school and find a job and get my own place so they would allow me to become Allen's guardian when I aged out of the system. I was seventeen, only one year away from being able to be his guardian. He was only twelve, He had six more years in the system if I couldn't get my act together. I keep this in mind as I breath in and out, trying to stop the rising anger and trembling hands. I continue to do this until I hear the late be. S**T! I jump up, grab my fallen backpack and unlock the bathroom door, bursting out but stopping short when I see the person sitting just outside.

***OLIVER POV***

I look up from scrolling through Facebook on my phone when I hear the bathroom door open. Rolland comes bursting out only to stop short when he sees me. I give him a shy smile as I stand up, stuffing my phone in my pocket. A look of venerable surprise flickers in his stormy eyes before vanishing under a cold hard expression, filled with disgust. And that disgust is aimed at me. I gulp and it takes everything I have not to run away from his gaze, Talk about looks that kill. He makes a move to go around me but I hop in his path, blocking his escape. He growls under his breath and DAMN if it wasn't the sexiest thing I had ever heard.

"Get out of my way F****t." He hisses, though I can tell the word was like acid on his tongue just by the way it sounded forced coming out. I shake my head and cross my arms over my chest. "Get out of my way before I throw you to the ground." He threatens. I give him my toothy grin and Snicker as I see his blush. I shake my head again.

"Not until you let me show you something." I say gently. He snorts and tries to escape again but once again I block his path. He feigns right but I anticipate his move and step left placing my hands on his chest to stop him from barreling me down. Tingles shooting into my fingertips at the contact. I feel abs, Holy hell I feel rock hard abs through this thin shirt! Totally fangirling right now. Gah Focus Oliver, You're here to clear thing up not have mental sex with him! He gives a surprised little grunt.

"You saw that coming?" I grin again, pushing away my dirty thoughts

"Jeremi plays girls basketball, I've been to every single game since freshmen year. I know moves." My grin turns into a smirk as my words affect him. Oops! NOT. WHAT. I. MEANT.TO. DO. I scowl, I am going to have to brain bleach my dirty thoughts If this keeps up! GAH FOCUS!!!! I take a deep breath and pull my thoughts together. Here Goes nothing. "look about last night I-" He cuts me off with a rough push, making me stumble back.

"I get it, you don't like foster kids or something, You think you're better then us. Whatever I don't care now get the f**k out of my way." He growls trying to push past me again. I lock my arms and press my hands harder on his chest, trying to ignore the heat I can feel through his shirt.

"The look you saw was one of surprise, not disgust or judgment!" I state making him stop his escape plan. He looks at me with mistrust and before he can say anything I speak up "I would be a total hypocrite if I didn't like you for being in the system. Seeing how oh I don't know I was in it until I was ten." I say casually. His mouth drops open as uncertainty flashes in his eyes. Then that hard look was back and he was glaring at me with more disgust and hatred then I thought was humanly possible.

"F**k you Flint, Make fun of the foster kid." He says in a deadly hiss. His body starts to tremble and I can see anger rising like a tsunami wave in his eyes. I step back and almost trip over my backpack. "F**k you man." He clenches his fists so tight his knuckles turn white, and I watch in slight fear as his storm eyes turn almost black. I look at my bag.

"Listen before you beat the s**t out of me can you let me show you something?" I whisper, my usual bravado disappearing under his heated glare. When he doesn't make a move to escape I crouch down and unzip my bag, rifling through a folder until I find the laminated certificate I was looking for. Taking it out I stand up and face him again, handing him the paper. He eyes it suspiciously. I give him my toothy grin. "Its only laminated paper its not going to bite you." I tease.

"The monster book from Harry Potter bites." He snaps back as he takes the paper. I giggle.

"Well its a good thing we aren't at Hogwarts or wizards now isn't it?" He glares at me and then flips over the paper, and I watch as his eyes grow round in shock. What he was holding was my Adoption papers, certifying that Jennifer and Tyler Flint were adopting twins, a boy and a girl both age ten on April 3rd 2006 Their Birthday October 28th 1999. Their names Oliver Isaac nunes and Jeremi Elizabeth nunes And officially Changing their Last names to Flint. While he is distracted it gives me the perfect opportunity to study him. His high cheek bones, full lips, Blonde hair that swept into his eyes, the tips a shocking deep purple that made his eyes oh his stormy eyes stand out. Not many boys could pull off Purple but he could. I watch as his eyes go from shock to longing as he continues to stare at the paper. I look down and scuff my shoe along the floor. "See?" I whisper. " Told you I wasn't judging you." I look back up into his stormy eyes and see the longing grow.

"So you know what its like?" He asks almost in disbelief. I nod and shrug.

"I don't know exactly what you're going through, every kid is different but Yeah I know what its like to be in the system. If it wasn't for my mom and dad I think me and twinny would still be floating in there." He finally looks up at me.

"I'm sorry about last night." He says handing me back my papers. I give him my grin and His sexy blush spreads and I cant help the words that come out of my mouth.

"Are you gay?" I blurt, instantly turning a ugly bright red. "um.. Never mind." I mutter looking down. I peak back up at him and his entire face is flaming Red, but there is amusement in his eyes.

"Was it that obvious?" He asks with nervousness. I just stare at him. This Sexy hot man in front of me was Gay? I mentally Fist pumped YES! I shrugged.

"Takes one to know one. I guess." I say cringing at how un-smooth that was. The corner of his mouth tugs up into a smirk. "What?" I ask.

"I kind of figured you were." He states and starts heading down the hall, I scoop up my bag and scamper after him.

"Well I wasn't trying to hide it." I say. He laughs, A deep booming laugh that was so rich and full my heart nearly crashed out of my chest.

"Obviously, look how you dress." He says pointing to my shirt. I look down and blush. I was wearing a black t shirt with a rainbow on it that said " COME OUT COME OUT WHERE EVER YOU ARE" in pink glitter. I Grin my toothy grin and he blushes again. Holy hell this sexy man was sexy and adorable! My brain could not take it. We make it to the English hallway and he turns to me with his own shy smile. "You're alright, I like you." He turns around and Enters the classroom without another word. I stand there staring at the spot he was just at. He liked me? Did he mean as a friend, or something more. DAMN WHY COULDNT BOYS JUST SAY WHAT THEY MEANT?

"Ugh men!" I fix my backpack on my shoulder and check the time on my phone, it was already twenty minutes into fourth period. Thank the schedule gods that I had study hall. "Off to the library!" I say and skip to our small school library. My favorite place to be.

************

"So what did he say?" Jeremi asks as she bite into the schools Shepard pie. She makes a face. "Its too dry, why do they do this to us?" She cries and pushes her tray away, folding her arms up on the table and resting her chin on it. I sigh and give her half of my buffalo chicken wrap, made fresh at the wrap station.

"Here" She stanches it out of my hand and flashes me a thank you smile before devouring it. "And he didn't really say anything, His eyes bugged out of his head for five minutes then he looked slightly awed. Then he said he liked me then went to class, Then I skipped my scrawny butt to the library and contemplated what he meant by he liked me." I ramble. Kenna smacks me upside the head "Stop doing that!" I whine and rub my head. She just laughs and eats more of her soup like food. I peer at it. "what is That?" She stabs me with her spoon. "Woah there sheriff of Nottingham Don't try cutting my heart out with that thing" I say. She rolls her eyes.

"You and your movie references. and for your information I am eating Portuguese soup. My Grandma is staying for a few weeks and she makes the best soup ever!" She says slurping up a spoonful. I wrinkle my nose at her and take a sip of my White Out Mountain Dew. I nearly choke on it as Rolland strolls into the lunchroom. I couch, spitting up the soda and Kenna pats me on the back trying to help me, I wince as she hits a bruise. "Sorry" she mutters "What are you staring at?" At this Jeremi opens her eyes and both girls follow my gaze and see Rolland. Kenna raises an eyebrow. "What's he doing here? He has second lunch." I shrug but don't take my eyes off of him. He scans the lunchroom looking almost nervous until he spots me, a lazy grin spreading on his face. He goes to walk toward us but someone steps in his path making me groan. Lucas Carver. I watch as Rolland's smile is wiped off his face and a harsh almost murderous glare replaces it. HIs body goes rigid as he waits for Lucas to make his move. I didn't even realize I had gotten out of my chair until I felt both Jeremi and Kenna pushing me back down.

"Are you insane?" Jeremi hisses Keeping her hand on my shoulder. " Rolland can take care of himself, he doesn't need you getting in the way." I glare at her then turn my eyes back to Rolland. Lucas seemed to be taunting him with something, something that was frightening him. I watched as his rigid posture starts to tremble and even from this distance I can see the fear creeping into his stormy eyes and here I was watching helplessly. I make another attempt to go to him but this time his eyes slide over to me and make contact. I sit back down, without my sister and friend needed to wrestle me down. His eyes were begging me to just stay put, he could handle this. I just watch as his hands ball up into fists, his body trembling, but he didn't make a move to Lucas and Lucas didn't make a move to him. After about ten minutes I hear Lucas's cruel laugh and watch as he saunters out of the lunch room, no doubt to find his friends. I snap my eyes back to Rolland to see him turn on his heels and race out of there. They don't stop me this time and I jump out of my chair, almost tripping on it as it falls back. I rush after Rolland, not really sure why, All I knew was I needed to comfort him. That murderous and terrified look in his eyes worried me like nothing else. 

***ROLLAND POV***

I tear out of the lunchroom and book it to the Auditorium knowing no one would be in there at this time. I push open the heavy wooden door and slip into the darken room. Rows and rows of chairs sat silently as I tore down the isle to the stage. Heaving myself up onto it I beeline it behind the curtain to where I knew the grand piano stood. Sinking down on its wooden bench I hesitantly open the lip to reveal the ivory below. I let my fingers trail on the keys, soft music drifts around me and I sink into the music, trying to get my fear and anger calm down before I did anything stupid. That Lucas boy was the devil in human form. My fingers clench into fists causing the sound to crash out of tune. I flex my fingers trying to calm down.

No! I couldn't get angry, I couldn't let myself get angry. Come on Rolland get yourself together! Do it for Allen! I say that over and over again as I sink back into the music, playing a melody that one of my foster mothers had taught me when I was ten.

"A thousand years by Christina Perri, That's so beautiful" Comes a voice from behind me. I Freeze, my body tensing, preparing for a fight as I slowly turn around. Oliver was standing behind me, leaning against the wall. I pat the seat next to me and turn back to the song as he settles onto the seat. I let my fingers fly over the keys, changing the song. He starts to hum along to it and I look at him in surprise.

"You know this song too?" He nods

"My Wish by Rascal Flats. I listen to it all the time." He says quietly. I smile.

"Its the song I think of whenever I think of my brother." He frowns.

"Jeff?" I laugh quietly and shake my head.

"No my actual brother, Allen. He's Twelve, The system has done everything they can to keep us together." understanding Dawns in his eyes and he nods. I smile. It was nice to have someone who knew the struggle of the system. "What about you?" I ask not having to explain what I mean. He sighs and runs a hand through his red hair.

"When Jeremi and I were born it was pretty obvious that I was different. My Biological mother couldn't take care of me, She left the hospital three days after giving birth to us. She left us there. We went to Eight homes before being sent to my mom and dad. None of the other families could handle the medical bills and frankly some said it wasn't worth it, they didn't get enough to take care of me. One family wanted to adopt Jeremi and just kick me out. That was in the home before my mom and dad. I begged my sister to just get adopted but she refused. She threatened the social worker that she would run away and never get found if she were to get adopted without me. So they shipped us to Mr. and Mrs. flint. We were nine. A year later they adopted us." He explains. A pang of jealousy shoots through me. He was one of the lucky ones. But then guilt washed over that jealousy. It was my own fault I hadn't gotten adopted yet, what with my violent anger. I push down my emotions.

"Allen is the same way. He refuses to get adopted without me. Some days I wish I could just run away so he can, but I know that would just hurt him more then help him. So I stay, and we get shipped from house to house." I whisper, focusing on the song.

"How many?" I swallow and can feel a blush of shame spread on my cheeks.

"Twelve. We've been in the system since I was eight years old Allen three." He gives my shoulder an understanding squeeze. It was hard being in the system, going to place to place. You didn't know if you were going to get a genuinely nice family or a rotten one who only cared about the money that you came with. So far out of the twelve Allen and I had only had four genuinely nice ones, four that didn't give a s**t, and three that were so nasty I still had a scar on my arm from where the husband had beaten me and cut open my arm with a beer bottle. I shake my head trying to get rid of the memories, that had been four years ago and house number eight.
"When I was Ten we had this foster family who the mother was a piano teacher, She would teach the kids in her home and I would sit in the music room and just watch, awed by the music. She saw my interest and taught me. Its the only thing I'm decent at." I say as my fingers start to play a different tune. The music pitches and dips into dark tones. Oliver shudders making me smirk. "Its an original." I say making his jaw drop in surprise. Ego swells inside me and I give him a full on smile. He shuts his mouth and blushes, making his already hot features more defined. As the music floats around us I study him. His pale brown eyes that almost had flecks of what looked to be gold, heart shaped face, red curly hair that I craved to run my hands through. Full red lips. I wonder if they were as soft as they looked.

"Um Rolland, you're staring at me." He says blushing deeper. I shake my head realizing that I had stopped playing and was fully staring at him like a creeper. I blush and turn my eyes back to the piano, not knowing what to do next. "Hey would you like to come back to my house after school? Maybe make up for yesterday?" He asks and I can here the hopefulness in his voice. I shrug.

"I have to ask my foster mother." I put my hand in my pocket and curse when I remember that I left my phone at home. "Um, I can't I don't have my phone to call her." He smiles his toothy grin, Damn did I love that grin.

" I drive here, I can bring you home so you can ask. If you want." I give him a small smile and nod. Just then the bell for lunch rings and he groans. " I Have to go to math, This is your lunch period isn't it?" I nod again.

"Yeah, I think I'll just stay in here. no one uses this room until last period anyway." Again that Damn toothy grin.

"Cool, I'll stay. Maybe you can teach me how to play Christina Perri." He says causally and my heart kicks up a notch.

"What about your math class?" I ask. He waves it off.

"Screw Math, When will I ever need to use the Pythagorean theorem in real life anyway?" He says and dramatically places his hands on the keys, letting out a teeth grinding screech. He giggles "oops." he picks his fingers up and poses them above the keys. "Alright Maestro Teach me!" He demands and I laugh, my voice echoing around the large quiet room. And like that I take his hands in my, trying to ignore the tingling and place them correctly on the keys. And for the next hour I try to teach him how to play A thousand years by Christina Perri.

Author's Note

D'awwww how cute is their flirting?????