So that day happened a couple days ago. I met Tyler, Josh and Jenna yesterday, in a way I didn't expect but it still happened as much as I can tell.

There's a two, three to four day distance from when you come into look for a good to picking them up. I've seen it again and again with the younger kids and adult faces. 

Day 1, you look at a kid.
Day 2, you get information such as personality, any problems, hobbies, any known trauma, any medical stuff and so on.
Day 3, you get the place set up and checked out. To see if your place is suitable for the child to come into that home.
Day 4, pick up.

As expected, no other adult really talked to me. I'm a strange kid, appearance and persona. It was only Tyler, Josh and Jenna who checked on me. I appreciate it but it made me wonder why I was getting updates about places to live, lots of moving around, self esteem tips, music ideas, being more talkative and trusting, etc all coming from Sarah for the past few days. It was really weird. She seemed sad whenever I asked what was going on, too.

It worried me even but the fourth day is today and Sarah is acting really. Happy. Yet Sad. I need an answer right now. Especially when she told me to pack my damn bags last night.

"Sarah."

It was just me and her, everyone was outside for P.E.

She turns around to face me. "Hey, I made you this." In her hands is a nice cream cake with pastel blue coloring. It's not massive but it's big enough to share through a few people.

KG, Kiriana Gurin. "I couldn't fit your whole name but I hope you like it."

"What's going on?"

"Huh?"

"Sarah, you've been acting weirdly for a couple days now. Ever since the day TØP came around."

She chuckles nervously and I feel my heart pound. "Did, did I do something?"

"What, no of course not!" She protests.

"I don't understand." She sighs and puts it down.

"You're...not gonna be here for too much longer. Today is probably your last day here."

My eyes widen with confusion. Wait, who's adopting me!?

"So, I'm not going to be around you in the Orphanage?"

"Yeah, you're...gonna have a home to go to..." She says.

I sigh, what else can I do? I go up and hug her. I'm not the best person for hugs, so this surprises Sarah. "Keep in touch with me when you go, okay?"

She hands me some credit, which I imagine is money to put on my phone to message her. I smile thankfully. "Of course I will."

"Thank you."

"Oh, can you tell me who they are?" I ask pulling away.

"You'll probably find out." She giggles at me as I give a weird look.

"C'mon, let's have this because they'll be here in three hours."

"So at 1pm?"

"Yeah."

I roll my eyes and she giggles at me. We eat some cake anyways and she offers to watch a movie which I decide to do.

I won't get to engrossed in it but I can't stop wondering who it would be. Who the adopters would be. TØP wouldn't because they would probably, want someone younger. Right..?

I walk around the hall after the movie as Clair is not letting me outside. I haven't been bothered to deal with the three girls today, the ones who bully me. I have everything packed up into one bag, but it's not like I actually I have much stuff anyway.

All I have is some clothes, the metal shield, headphones, phone stuff, and what...combat boots and sneakers are all the shoes I have and that is all it is. That's all I own. I don't really mind though. I know how to live with limited supplies. Or stuff. I'd rather not go into it.

"You still have a bit of time, is there anything you want to do before you go?" Sarah asks.

Well, there is one more thing...But...

"Is the drum room free?" 

She looks down the hall for a moment. "Let me check."

Sarah walks down the hall and checks in through the door. In a few moments, Tashy, Elena and Samantha dash out the door. "See ya pimp." Elena bumps into me quite harshly as I stumble slightly. Sarah shakes her head in disapproval.

"Well, use as much time as you have to." I nod and make my way to the drum room. This may be my last day in this drum room. It's weird to say that and hell it gives me chills. The drums aren't anything special.

They were brought at random, just a random pick for a random drum set. But it's what gave me the love for pastel purple. Because the drums are pastel purple with white black and silver. It's nothing special at first but these drums are special. To me. I'll miss em.

I take my seat, taking everything in. Not once did I believe any one would adopt me. I don't even know who they are. Sarah won't tell, why?

This will be the last time I'll be sitting in front of these drums. I pick up the sticks, whacked with marks and scratches from the amount of beating that it's taken over the years, mainly by me. If I have a lot of energy or any pain like sadness or anger on my mind then I usually let it out here. It's comforting for the most part.

I remember when I first played on this drum set. It was a little nerving. Because I was really bad at it and people didn't like it. But I got better. I take a deep breath. I flip my headphones on...

Let's see...

How about the first? The first song that started the bang to inspire me. I put on 'Implicit Demand For Proof' of the self titled Twenty One Pilots album, through my headphones and wait for the drums to kick in as the piano plays calmly through my ears.

My eyes shut, I take a deep. Breath. The music continues to play. Sweet gentle piano. Patience.

3
2
1,

GO!

I throw the first stick down onto the drum in cue with Josh in the song that I listen to. The timing is a little off compared to me and him, him obviously doing better but as I try to remember every drum that is hit but I'm doing better than I expected.

I go with a small routine in my head. Whether or not normal drummers use this.

1, 2, 3, 4. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Hit, hit, hit, hit.Hit, hit, hit, hit.

"I know you're not a liar, And I know you could set fire, This day. Go ahead and make me look away. Strike me down, I am calling your lightening, Down from your dark hiding place. Go ahead and show me, Your face..."

Tyler sings the lyrics while I try to go along with Josh playing the drums. Playing the songs on the drums and listening to him. Listening to every hit Josh does on the drums, listening to every word that Tyler sings.

The song wasn't too long but I was too focused on the drums with every beat and word as the seconds tick by one by one. Almost when the song is over, my eyes dart up. I almost regret it when I do because I see outside the door...

Tyler and Josh!?

I nearly flip my shit and panic because they were the last faces I expected to see. I nearly fall off the chair so instead I hit myself in the eye with a drumstick.

I quickly get off the seat and hide behind a wall where they can't see me, rubbing my eye embarrassed. The door opens.

"Are you okay there?" Tyler asks.

I turn to him covering my hand automatically.

 "Yeah, I'm good."

I sigh. "You were just the last people I expected to see."

"Oh, okay I thought we scared you." Josh says popping his head in.

Tyler notices that I'm cupping my hands and takes a step closer. I watch him warily, if it was anybody else I would run off.

"Did you hurt your hand just now?" I shake my head.

Josh frowns which frightens me for a moment then he glances up at me. "Jenna told us before, you're kind of ashamed of your hand. We kind of saw it when you were drumming as well. It's not as bad as you think."

I look down at my hands for a moment, separating them. Left hand, all full fingers. Right, third finger is shorted or scarred or whatever you wanna call it.

"Hey, Josh. Can you get Sarah?" Tyler asks.

He nods. "I'll give you two a couple minutes as well if you'd like."

Tyler nods and Josh turns to shut the door. Tyler then looks back at me. He's taller than me, obviously so I kind of stare up at him a little.

"Do you mind if I ask, why that happened?"

I hesitate, as Tyler leans against the wall listening, like he has all the time in the world and it will never move. He's my idol, there should be nothing wrong with telling him. Bits and pieces.

"My, original adopted family. My first adopted family didn't really want me around. They had found me in a basket in a river when they first picked me up so they kind of just took me in but didn't take the responsibility forever. I was told to pack everything and they stopped somewhere random in the snow."

This isn't bits and pieces but okay.

"My bags were tossed out the car and I went out the get them. I didn't know what was happening at the time but when they were about to drive off, I tried to go to the car door but it slammed shut on my hand."

I look down at my hand. Remembering that god awful memory. "I managed to get free but my finger was unfortunately, not okay. I picked up my bags and walked for a while. Until a woman named Sarah found me and drove me the rest of the way to an orphanage."

When I look back up again, Tyler's trying to think.

"You don't have to believe it if-"

"No, I believe you." He says. "I'm just sorry that happened to you."

I don't know what to say so I just pull a face. "Can I ask, why did you look for me again?"

He looks up, chuckling slightly. "Well first off, we didn't know you played the drums so that was a surprise."

I huff, trying to settle. "Yeah, when I first heard your music. It was on the radio, around first when you came out and not well known. I really enjoyed your music. You inspire me."

He smiles at me. "The reason why I didn't answer the question about if I do music is because that's, the whole reason why."

"What reason?" He asks.

"It doesn't seem like a girl for myself to do music, or play drums for that matter. Or from what people say. I didn't really think you'd believe it either if I said I played drums and sang music in private because it helps me with my..."

I trail off, unable to continue. "Kiriana."

I look toward him. "Don't listen to what everyone says. Believe what's in your heart. Do what makes you happy." I smile at him gently and returns the same. Such a soft UwU smile.

"So, why are you here?"

He chuckles slightly. "Me and Jenna decided to adopt someone."

"Who?" I ask quite obliviously.

Again, he chuckles. "Me and Jenna were going to look for a smaller kid. To raise with our life together. But..."

Hold the phone.

"Meeting you was quite nice. And you've been here for too long."

My eyes widen. He doesn't need to be any more specific to go on. My heart pounds.

"I, I don't understand. Why me?"

"Sarah said that you doubt yourself a lot. Your depression can get to you quite a bit, always having a reason to be breaking down. You have a bit of trauma as well and leaving a kid like that in a place with no home is. Sad."

"I'm a kid you don't know."

"Aren't all orphans a kid we wouldn't know?"

I try to think this, wrap my head around it. The visible and invisible trauma yet they still want to bring me up?

"Are you sure you would want to have a young adult teenager, a kid you don't know much about into your lives? It, it doesn't...make that much sense to me."

I look down and sigh, holding myself together. I feel hands on my shoulder and I look right back up. "It's okay. We already thought over it. Over anything that could worry. Just ask anything, we already thought of anything. We don't want you to worry."

This is my one chance that I never thought I would have. I never thought I would meet Tyler yet he's inches away. "I'm sorry, it's a bit difficult to wrap my head around it."

"Well that's okay."

He hugs me and I stand there for a moment stunned. I'm too nervous to outburst and scream with excitement or try do anything. So when the door opens, I only just get my hands up enough to hug Tyler back. It's only for a few seconds but it felt so pure.

He pulls away and smiles at me. "You don't need to worry about a thing. I assure you, we already thought it over. Me, Josh, Jenna, the whole crew, everyone. You'll be fine."

"Plus if you need to ask any of us anything, don't hesitate to do so." Josh nods.

I shyly shrug. I still have so many questions for why. What to do and how to take things...

"Oh plus, I want to say. You weren't that bad on the drums. That was really cool." Josh says.

It's sudden that he tells me that and I try hide the smile on my face with my arm.

"Why, me though? Like why would you choose me to pick up? I still can't wrap my head around all of this no matter how...I guess cool it is." 

Josh hears me ask it this time and I know Tyler gave an answer before but...

"I know you already said before." I quickly look at Tyler.

"But I still don't know how to understand it. Plus making me a fan of you would be more annoying wouldn't it?"

"Not necessarily." Josh points out.

"You seemed quite calm the other day after meeting us. Like you didn't get all loud, all excited and I can tell by the look in your eyes that there is so much you want to say. But you were really calm like talking to us was perfectly normal. We don't have a problem with it." He explains.

"I wouldn't want to bother you."

"What makes you think you'd bother us?" Tyler asks.

I don't know how to answer, once again and eventually I shrug my shoulder and lift my hands up with the shrug. "Eh." I say weirdly.

Josh chuckles. "Do you have everything together, packed? All Tyler and Jenna needs to do is sign some papers and you can go."

I nod shyly. He grins. "Okay then."

Tyler gives me a reassuring smile as all three of us leave the room. Holy, shit. 

Did that just happen?

I go upstairs to collect my things, but the shield I unfortunately is too big. I try to think on what I can do with this, thoughtfully. Then I realize it. I leave my bag by the door and then I get the shield and pick it up. It's heart shaped and spray painted Red, Orange and Yellow with a bit of blue and black. That's some of the colors they've used.

"What's that?" I turn to Josh. His eyes widen for a moment. "Whoa."

"Yeah." I say observing it. My arm going through the gap to help carry.

"It was one of the bigger projects I had to do with metal work so I chose to do this."

"Metal work?" He asks. "You are one interesting kid."

"Aah." I don't know how to respond AgAiN so I pull the shield up.

"Did you see the pin I gave Jenna?"

"Yeah, I thought that was really cool." He nods.

I smile gently. "I want to give this shield to Sarah. She helped me with doing the little project as well as her being a proper adult figure to me. It'll be something to give her after everything she's done for me while I've been here."

He smiles. "That's really sweet of you. She'll probably like it." I grin then head down the stairs. 

"Is this the only bag?"

I nod. He pulls a face. "Tyler will probably get you more things, than one single bag." I shrug, a lot of stuff I don't know how to respond.

"I can take it."

"No it's okay. You go find Sarah." Josh says.

I decide to listen and look around. Oh no. Clair!

I quickly run forward, into the cafeteria where all the kids are. Including Tyler and Jenna. But no Sarah.

"Whoa, she's got her defenses up!" Elena shouts.

Oh boy.

Tyler and Jenna look my way. Their looks of surprise I mistake for shock as I feel fear begin to build up. "Looks like KiKi is going to start a fight!"

"What?" Josh asks.

"Probably with these new people."

"Does she really need a shield to protect herself?"

"TYLER, JOSH, LOOK OUT! KIKI WILL ATTACK YOU!!" Samantha exclaims.

FUCK THIS!!

I drop the shield and run the other direction. "KIRIANA!"

I push past Clair and out the door. Headphones go on and to the back door. "What's going on?"

KiKi's going to start a fight. What's the point of being here? You're so hesitant yet you have no stupid reason to me. Yeah, run away.

I run outside and attempt to climb the tree, just before I do, I hear my name get called. "KIRIANA!"

It's Jenna first, followed by the two guys.

Don't listen to them. Would they really like someone like you around?

I feel the darkness closing in on me as I climb the tree. I climb as high as possible, as high as my legs will take me.

All sound is blurred from me as I keep climbing, the darkness closing in on me. I feel like I have to keep climbing in order to get away from it. When the branches begin to get thin, I find a place to sit high enough in the tree and hide in the leaves.

It's worthless. You're not good enough to leave this rotten place. Why do you think everyone hates you?

For a few moments, I don't feel it. But my phone begins to buzz. It snaps me out of my dark state as I look to see who it is.

Sarah :)

Do I dare answer it? What if she'll hate me for it. What if? I can't look away because four figures stand looking up at the tree. I can already imagine who the fourth one is.

I quickly swipe it to answer and look away, holding it to my ear.

"Whatever you do, don't. Listen to the bad thoughts. Don't let them get to you."

I hold my sleeve over my arms. Afraid to say a word that I'll sound stupid with voice cracks and sniffles.

"Kiriana, please. Come down."

"They probably believe it." I shiver.

"No, we don't. I believe what you told me." I hear Josh's voice come through the speaker.

"Please, come down. It'll be okay." I squint my eyes shut with tears stinging my eyes. "You're dangerously high up. I don't want you getting hurt."

They'll really not want to adopt you now....

"Kiriana, if you can hear us. Just take a deep breath. Try to calm down. Come down at your own pace." Next to speak was Jenna.

I end the call. Just breath. It'll be fine.

Once I get myself back together, I make my way down the tree. One branch at a time. The faces come a little closer the further I get down and I'm at least glad to see that nobody is watching through the doors or curtains.

I finally hop down. Not a second after am I wrapped into a hug of the familiar Sarah.

"Hey, it's okay. Just don't listen to it." I loosen up from tense and that seems to make her happy.

When I pull away, Sarah has the shield. "Don't let the lies hurt you. But thank you so much for the gift." I smile weakly at her.

As soon as I look toward the other three, they seem to give me a smile of acknowledgement and Josh still has the bag.

"I'll miss you kiddo." I sigh by Sarah's words, and give her one last hug.

~3545 Words~

So a lot has happened! Whoa, they know about Kiriana and some of her trauma. They even witnessed her play the drums. That was surprising but it was nice to see her with the drums! But unfortunately, Kiriana's fear made her run off and drop the shield she made. Even if it was just a prop, it brought attention she didn't like. How are they gonna talk to her after this? Will things just be normal? Will they be okay? What's Josh gonna personally say and how will Kiriana react now that she's finally going to see what the outside world is like from last time she saw it?