“A person must not lie,”

A stray from the daily routine for these kids

Back at the same school, Kaosa was going through her daily routine. At school she is known as “Miss Popularity” due to the sport she dominates and that sport is volleyball. She is the best volleyball player in all of Stardusk Town and the farmlands as well. She has been MVP since she was in the fifth grade. Kaosa is in the classroom early for each class and she is able to maintain an A+ in all her classes, still having time left over for volleyball practice, holidays, and outings with her friends.

           

            Her three best friends, who are also her teammates, are Ayesha, Scarlet and Breanna. Ayesha Ren, being the oldest out of the four, is the wisest but she always butts head with Kaosa over supremacy within their group. She loves to see others in pain and defeat, so instead of starting fights for pure amusement she exerts her strength during volleyball matches. Kaosa is the second oldest, the craziest and loves to be the center of attention because she is used to it. She has turned down every boy that has asked her out on a date and being popular that means many men. Breanna Cooper is the third oldest and the quietest but she speaks through her vivid and dynamic art. If she does talk the most she will say and has ever said is one sentence. Finally the youngest is the girl who acts like she is, Scarlet Harrison. She is very playful, almost too playful, when it comes to toying with boys, an amusement that makes it hard for her to stop smiling. The four of them run the school because each of them, together or apart, can handle any situation that comes their way, but today would be something they never would have anticipated.

           

            The four of them were going to lunch like any other day when a freshman decided that they wanted to step out of line, literally. She was standing in front of Scarlet and seeing that the line was not moving anytime soon, she left her spot to buy a snack. She expected her spot to still be there when she returned, but she was sadly mistaken. The gap between Scarlet and the new person in front of her was closed and this girl wanted her spot back. The girl didn’t ask to get back in line; she pushed Scarlet back making her fall onto Ayesha…a very wrong move. Ayesha was ticked off and before the girl could say anything she grabbed her by the hair, pulling her head towards her and when the back of the girl’s head was in her hand she shoved her face into the wall. Geesh, that girl is violent.

“Ekkk!!” Scarlet screams as she sees the girl’s bloody face. The girl forms a fist with both of her hands and leaps at Ayesha.

“That was a sucker punch b***h!!” She yells as she fakes a punch and kicks her in the back. As Ayesha falls towards the ground she kicks the girl in the chin and sends her flying onto a lunch table while she lands on her hands and toes, very animal-like.

“Hey, watch it!” A different girl shouts at the girl that has sent their lunches flying into their faces. Her boyfriend that is sitting next to her decides to throw the food at the girl but misses…so much for being on the baseball team. He ends up hitting one of the guys on the football team and all hell breaks loose.

            Food began to fly everywhere. Hair was being pulled. Faces were being slapped, punched and kicked. Tables and chairs were being thrown or used as shields. There are only two security guards in the cafeteria so they immediately ran to the main office to call the police.

“Let’s go!” Kaosa demands as she and Scarlet pull Ayesha out of the madness. Breanna has already taken shelter behind a vending machine. Ayesha wanted to finish her fight and was resisting.

“Hey, we have a match coming up soon. You need to chill.” Scarlet reminded her.

“I don’t care! She must be disciplined!” She shouts back at her. Kaosa noticed that her eyes were a darker hue of green than usual, which is never a good thing. She had reached her wrathful state and the only way to come out of it was beating someone to a pulp.  

“Breanna, we need some assistants.” Scarlet waved her over and she came. Breanna grabbed Ayesha’s feet while Scarlet took her by the arms and Kaosa held her legs together and they escaped out the back door of the cafeteria.

            They sat outside on top of Ayesha wondering when the police would come.

“What’s taking them so long? They are only down the street.” Scarlet questions and points out.

“They probably are trying to figure out how many people they need to send. This fight is pretty bad.” Kaosa responded.

“Yeah.” Breanna inputs.

“Get off of me! Imma get her!” Ayesha is still enraged.

“Alright, time to resort to desperate measures.” Breanna got off of Ayesha’s feet and hit her head against the ground just enough to knock her out.

“There, she’ll be fine when she wakes up.” Kaosa and Scarlet got up and set her against the side of the building.

“What do we do now?” Scarlet says.

“I’m going back in, you stay here.” Kaosa orders. She head back in the back door and Scarlet wanted to follow her but Breanna held her arm in front on her, telling her to wait outside with her.

            Inside the madness was still going on and no adult was in sight. She sees the utility closest and goes in there to look for something that will end this cafeteria brawl. She finds a fireman ax in a case with a fire extinguisher and uses her shoe to break through the glass. With ax in hand she finds the closest fire alarm and strikes it with the ax causing the sprinklers to come on. Of course, Scarlet couldn’t stay outside while Kaosa got to witness all the action, so she ran inside with Breanna following her. Scarlet’s red hair, this time I mean orange and blue eyes and Breanna’s blonde hair and brown eyes became wet. Ayesha black hair, was spared since she was still passed out.

            A few seconds later, police officers came barging through the front and back doors of the cafeteria, rushing the crowds of students.

“Dad!” Kaosa was relieved to see the police officers, so relieved that she had forgotten that I was not among them.

“Hey, the rest of the student body and staff have evacuated to the back parking lot. Let’s go before we end up in jail.” Scarlet heads to the utility closest to escape through the window before the police notice them. Kaosa and Breanna follow her, taking the ax with them and throwing it in the dumpster as they head to the back lot. Luckily, Ayesha was still where they left her and she had awakened on her own. She was totally calm and had forgotten what had happened.

“Get up!” Breanna commands and she forces Ayesha to her feet.

“Why are we running?”

“We will tell you later.” Breanna answers as she drags her along.

            Kaosa found her brother in the parking lot and they watched the police bring out dozens of students that were under arrest. The looks in their eyes were as fierce as Ayesha’s but something was off about them as well. They seemed fiercer and that scared Kaosa. She thought to herself, could something have happened at lunch that she missed. Nothing gets past her though, so she dismissed the idea. When all the students were loaded into the police vans, the remaining students and staff got to go home early. Kaosa looked around to see that the girl that started the brawl had escaped to the back lot as well. Kaosa signs and mumbles to herself, “The police are really slacking. They didn’t even take in the people responsible for this.” She shook her head as they left the school.

           

            Everyday, Kaosa would walk home with Scarlet because both of them loved sweets but they need to stay in shape for volleyball. Breanna and Ayesha lived in the opposite direction so they walked home together. Kayasu would drive himself home but he would follow closely behind them, everyday coming up with a new excuse to why he gets home after Kaosa. It’s his hidden older-brother protective side.

            While Scarlet and Kaosa were walking home, Kaosa felt the ground shake a little, like a vibration shot down the street.

“Hey, did you feel that?” Scarlet stopped suddenly and then kept walking.

“Yeah, what of it?”

“I’m just making sure you felt it too.”

“Yeah, it’s probably just someone having a major party that’s so wild; it’s making the ground vibrate!” Just the thought of that made her very excited.

“Well if there was we would be invited.” Kaosa replies snootily as she picks up her pace.

“Hey! Wait for me!” Scarlet was catching up to Kaosa but before she could, Kaosa began to run away again.

            Both began sprinting down the street and out of no where a girl sprinting down the street bumped into Kaosa.

“What the?” Scarlet could barley get a glimpse of whom or what had hit her.

“Hey, watch it!!” Kaosa yells at the girl the hit her, but she paid her no attention and kept on running.

“Damn, that girl can run.” Scarlet finally caught up with Kaosa. Kaosa felt lighter.

“Wait a second,” Kaosa checked her pockets, “she took my wallet!” Kaosa ran after the girl.

“It’s not like you had money in it anyway!” Scarlet was tired of running but she ran after Kaosa anyways.

            Both had to haul a*s down the street because she was a fast one. The closer they got, the faster she ran. The other people in the street paid them no attention because they can’t tell if they are playing around or being serious, most people in this town never take each other seriously. When Kaosa almost got her right hand on the color of her shirt the girl quickly took a sharp left into traffic, of course on the busiest street that is Main Street.

“Hey, don’t run in the street you dope!” Kaosa looked at the cross walk sign a little ways ahead of them to see that the red hand was shinning. “Damn, now I have to go get her.” Kaosa was ready to step into traffic when Scarlet yelled, “Watch out! There’s a truck headed this way!” The truck was heading right for the girl so Kaosa leaped towards her and pushed her onto the sidewalk while she rolled out the way just before the truck would have struck her.

            Crack. The truck had run over something. Kaosa started to life herself up and looked at the road to see what is was.

“No! Damn it, no, damn you! You made my cell phone fall out my pocket!” She is livid. She wanted to go retrieve what was left of her phone but she didn’t want to lose sight of the girl either.

“I didn’t do anything! You chose to run after me. That’s your fault.” Kaosa gave her the death glare, which almost made the girl cry.

“Just give me my wallet back.” she got back on her feet and started dusting herself off. “I don’t care what you were trying to do and why because it won’t justify stealing things, especially my stuff.” Kaosa held her hand out and tapped her foot, impatiently waiting. Scarlet caught up to them by crossing the street safely at the cross walk.

“Geesh…you…guys ran…quickly.” She was huffing and puffing. She hasn’t run that fast in years, especially outside of volleyball practice.

“Maybe you need more conditioning.” Kaosa snickered. Scarlet’s eyes got big.

“No! No, I think I’m ok now. Hehe…” Conditioning for them was at college level sports and it was no cake walk. Their bodies hardly ever got a break and Scarlet would get asthma attacks often, so one can conclude that their trainer is the competitive, “push yourselves ladies”, type of woman and yes she is a woman. 

            Kaosa attention was back on the girl. She looked about twelve years old with short pink hair that is cut shorter in the back and gradually gets longer as it comes towards the front. She had bright green eyes, neon looking and thick long eyelashes. It looks like she hasn’t slept in years indicated by the heavy bags under her eyes. She was skinny but a healthy skinny for her age with a fair skin tone and looks about four feet eight inches. She held tight to the wallet.

“Where are you parents?” Scarlet asked curiously but the girl just looked down at the sidewalk.

“Where do you live?” Scarlet asks another question.

“I don’t have a home…or…” Kaosa and Scarlet looked at each other. The girl clenches her hands into fists, trying to make herself hold back tears.

“I’m sorry.” Scarlet went to hug the girl but she pushed her away. She stood up and dusted her clothes off.

“Here, take you stupid wallet!” She threw it at Kaosa and tried to run away again but Scarlet grabbed her arm instinctively as Kaosa called out, “Wait!”

“There are a lot more orphans in out town lately. The president thinks they are ‘strays’ from Alexia Town.”

“Well, what do we do with her?”

“We could take her to the police station, but they might just send her to Alexia Town.”

“The orphanage?” Scarlet suggests.

“They are full, that’s why I’m out here.”

“They put you out!” Kaosa was in disbelief.

“No, I left before they could find me a home. My only other option was Alexia Town.”

“Well,” Kaosa looks in her wallet, “I guess you’ll have to stay with me for the time being until I figure out what to do with you.” She turned over her wallet expecting money to fall out.

“Besides, you owe me some money and you’re going to have to pay me back somehow.”

“You would really take me in?”

“Would you rather live out on the streets?”

“Fine. I have nowhere else to go.” Scarlet let go of her arm.

“Anyways, what’s your name?”

“My name is…Osaka.” She hesitated as if she had forgotten.

“Alright, Osaka. We have to walk Scarlet home then we’ll go to my place, ok?” Scarlet and Kaosa started walking again.

“Like I have a choice” she murmurs to herself.

“You had money in your wallet? That’s a first.” Scarlet is in disbelief.

“Oh, shut up. You don’t even have a wallet. And there is no money in it. She owes me a phone, so maybe my mom will replace it seeing that I’m such a Good Samaritan.”

 

            After getting Scarlet home, they arrived at our house. They find, Kiara cooking in the kitchen. She is making chicken parmesan with linguine noodles and extra sauce to put over then. Kayasu, having completed the little homework he had, is watching TV while Kuri is finishing hers.  Surprisingly everyone was home at the same time considering she and her brother were let out early. Her walk home took longer than expected.

“Of course you’re doing your homework, Kuri. Maybe you can do mine?” Kuri was very smart for her age, almost smarter than her brother but the age difference is the deciding factor.

“I don’t think so. Um…who’s that?” Kiara and Kayasu turned to around to see what she was talking about.

“I bumped into her when I was walking home. She stole my wallet, almost got hit by a truck, I saved her causing my phone to drop out my pocket and it gets ran over. I need a new one by the way.  Her name is Osaka. She has no home or parents and needs a place to stay, so can we take her in for the time being?” She said that so fast that she needed to catch her breathe when she was finished.

“What the hell did you just say?” Kiara asked.

“She said that the girl needs a place to stay.” Kuri can understand Kaosa’s fast-talking better than anyone else; I know I and my wife or anyone else for that matter can’t. Kiara saw that the girl looked exhausted so she let her.

“Ok, she can stay. She’ll have to sleep in Kuri’s room then.”

Kuri was delighted, “A roommate! Yay!” She packed up her school stuff and set it on the coffee table and ran over to Osaka. “Ok, let me show you to my room and then you can get cleaned up before lunch…err dinner. Whatever it is today ha-ha!” She forcibly led her upstairs while Kaosa joined Kayasu on the couch.

            At dinnertime, Kiara and Kayasu are setting the table while Kaosa’s finishing the last of her homework. Kuri and Osaka have been talking for hours prior to dinner.

“So you’re only ten! You look older than that. That’s cool though, I have someone to hang out with that’s around my age!” Kuri was excited. Osaka gave her a smile. When dinner was ready, they all sat at the table; Kiara at the head, Kayasu to the right and Kaosa to the left. Kuri sat next to Kayasu and Osaka sat next to Kaosa.

Getting straight to the point and picking the discussion for the night, Kiara asks, “So Osaka, shouldn’t you be in a foster home, orphanage or looking for your parents?” Osaka continued to eat her food vigorously.

“Wow! Slow down. Your food isn’t going to run away from you”. Kayasu insured her. She finally speaks, “Can I have seconds?”

“Yes, but…” Osaka quickly got up and went to the kitchen to get more food. “I’m taking you to the foster care center tomorrow. Is that understood?” She sadly shook her head and grabbed more food.

“Can’t she stay longer? What if she has family looking for her?” Kuri protests with.

“Well, Osaka, do you have parents? Better yet, are your parents alive?” Osaka set her food on the table and sat back down. She was quiet for a few seconds, her eyes shuffling from one side to the other.

“I…I…I…don’t know. I don’t’ know…know where they are. I…don’t remember them.” Kayasu was getting annoyed.

“How can you not who or what your parents look like! Did they abandon you when you were younger or something?”

Slap. Clunk. Thud. Kaosa threw her plate with her food on it at him, Kiara slapped him and Kuri hit her head on the table in disbelief.

“What kind of question is that?!” Kuri yelled. Kayasu stormed out the dinning room, tipping over his chair in the process. He went upstairs to his room while shouting, “It was a legitimate question!” Kiara sat at the table and thought to herself for a couple of minutes.

“Well, you can stay with us until you get your memory back. Besides I can’t turn my back on a hungry weary-looking child.” Osaka smiled a “thank you” and continued eating.

            After dinner, Kuri set up a couch in her room for Osaka to sleep on. Kayasu was still mad and had locked himself in his room for the night. Kaosa went to sleep early; her encounter with Osaka wore her out. Kiara cleaned the dishes, finished some left over work at home and then went to bed to a silent house.

            That night, Kiara had another one of her strange dreams. It was a blurry vision of fire. It felt so real, so real, and so hot that it was making her sweat in her sleep. The fire is enormous. Smoke filled the air, giving her the sensation of suffocating. “Wake up, wake up, Kiara.” She tells herself. “Hot! Hot! Hot!” She inhales quickly to find herself back in her room. The moon was shinning, first quarter. She thought to herself: that was no dream it felt all too real. She looked around our room, paranoid. Feeling a strange presence she calls out, “Who’s there?” She’s asks this stupidly like someone does in a horror movie right before they are killed. I answer her, “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already? It hasn’t been that long.” No, that couldn’t be my voice she thought. She couldn’t see me either so she asks, “Where are you?” The drapes around her window started to move, too bad it wasn’t me. She got up from her bed and slowly walked over to the window. She stood in front of the table with my picture on it, but something was missing and something was out of place. One of the roses is missing from the vase and the remaining flowers are bloomed.

“Kloud are you there?” Her eyes circled around the room looking for me. I decide not to reply and she turns her back to the window. Then she felt my hands touch her shoulders then hug her. My arms are loosely hanging around her neck and my cheek resting on her head.

“Kloud, I know you’re alive. I can feel it.” She turned around and saw no one. Nothing but the window and the twelve roses not fully bloomed. She went back to her bed to get some sleep, although she kept staring at a spot on the wall with a shadow; a shadow she couldn’t figure who or what is making it. I could tell her either.