I've always been a weird kid. Spending my time reading books- sometimes over and over again. I've even written a couple drafts of my own before. The younger kids at the orphanage say I'm nerdy, but they love me. And I love them. We're all one big family. And this isn't your typical cliche story orphanage- mean and strict owner who treats the kids as if they're filthy freaks that need to learn their place, low quality building tucked away into the city with creaky beds and floorboards. In fact, far from it. Well, except for the bed situation. But the rest of the building is quite nice with both rooms for boys and girls room on either side of the second floor, the office located downstairs. And the current owner of the orphanage, Ms.Leon is gentle, caring and open hearted and minded. Us kids, a total of 10 typically, all love her. Most of the others come and go, but I always stay. There's been times when I've been adopted. But I always end up missing the comfort of the place I call home, the bonds I build up with new and old orphans, and the ways of Ms.Leon. So I act up. I do whatever I can to be returned. It's worked every time. Well.....every time up till now.

"Good luck to all of you!" I whisper to the others as couple walks in, hand and hand as they view us all lined up against the wall, vast variations in height, age, gender and just appearances in general.

"Mister and Miss Hatchem, glad you could make it! We greatly appreciate that you have taken your time to come here." Mrs.Leon says in a sweet voice, earning two smiles from the couple.
"It's our pleasure Mrs.Leon." Mrs. Hatchem said with a bow of her head.

I found her brown eyes beautiful. They matched her hair perfectly. The male with her, a British man, had lighter hair and bluish-green eyes that I found interesting. As I found myself taking in the sight of the two, the man looked over at me I think maybe caught my eyes before I frowned and looked at the floor.
"Ms.Leon, may we start?"

"Oh yes, yes! Who wants to go first?" She asked, looking down the row for volunteers. About half of us raised our hands. I scoffed, trying to look uninterested and hoping that the couple would settle with anyone else.

One by one, we are taken into the office before returning to the line. I'm the last one to go.
"Good luck." Gerammy says as I leave.

He's a new comer and unadjusted to my style, so I smile not to be rude, but know that his comments will not be use the way he meant it.

I enter the room. The couple sits across the room, smiling at each other. The conversation they had been having stops as I nod and sit down.
"So. I am Michel Hatchem, and this is my wife, Kayla. What is your name?" Mr.Hatchem asks.

His voice is deep, the opposite of the higher pitches and honey-sweet tone I had heard from Mrs.Hatchem earlier. But I dot let the observation distract me and and answer without hesitation.
"My name.....my name is Diana."

I've been told it's a pretty name. And I guess I agree. But I always cringe when I say my name. I never feel like it fits me.
"Diana. Pretty name."

I hesitate.
"Thanks."

"So, how old are you dearie?" Mrs.Hatchem asks, her voice like silk and sounding sweet as sugar.

Again, sugar. I've always found too much sugar tastes bad.
"I'm fourteen" I say, trying to keep as little emotion from my voice as possible.

"Fourteen? And you still haven't been adopted?" She asked, disbelief in her voice.

"Never adopted and kept." I correct.
"I've been adopted, but I'm always returned. I always screw it up."

"That's horrible." She says with a small gasp that makes me want to roll my eyes.

But instead I shrug.
"I've grown used to it." I start, my voice disappearing as I meet eyes with Mr.Hatcehm who and a look of pity in his eyes.

But I didn't need pity. I do this to myself. It's a let down for the adopters, but it's worth it for me. My only worry is.....in four years I'll be home, off to the real world.

"That's just sad." She continues, gawking at what I've said.

"What do you do for fun, Diana." Mr.Hatchem questions, distracting his wife from monologuing on about how tragic it was that I was never truly adopted.

"Me? I read and write. Nothing special." I respond.

"Oh really? I bet your stories are awesome!" Mrs.Hatcehm chirped.

I said nothing in return and sat in silence, awaiting the next question.

"Is there anything you would like for us to know about you?" Mr.Hatchem.

Now, I could've said something like 'yeah, I think you're ugly' and that would've made me not even considered when they were choosing who to take. But I found my confidence leaking away. And I never want to be rude to people, although I know I constantly am. So instead, I just shook my head no in return.

"Okay then. Nice meeting you." Mr.Hatchem said.

I did a small, respectable bow before leaving the room, closing the door harder than I needed to in an attempt to throw them off of me. I rejoined with the others along the wall.

"Do you think they liked you?" Alissa asked.

She's been at the orphanage for about two years and knows how I function.
"I don't know. I hope they don't."

She cocked her head.
"I will never understand you."

"I don't understand myself" I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" She asked.

"Nothing. Nothing." I say.

She goes to say something but is interrupted when the couple walk out with Ms.Leon, who seems very pleased.

"Quiet down, quiet down. Now then, Mr and Mrs.Hatchem have chosen who they would like to adopt. Forms still need sighing and completion, but the following two kids will be adopted by this lovely pair." She said.

Wait, two?! People only ever adopted one, if they left with anyone at all. We've had people walk in and out withought adopting. As long as I've been here, we've never had a double adoption. And as this was going through my head, I hear my name called, followed by another name that was downed out by the buzz of thoughts in my head.

I was chosen? They adopted me? Why me? And who had been the other person? And if I tried to return, would that mean loosing the person I had been adopted with?

"Please go pack up your belongings while we get the paperwork done." Ms.Leon said.

I nodded and left straight to the girls room. The one thing I hated more than anything about being an orphan, was being talked about as an item. Paperwork. Paperwork shouldn't be mandatory to adopt. It made it seem as if I was some object that can be brought over the sighing of a paper.

I push those hated thoughts from my head as I grab a small suitcase that I had. It was too small to fit most of my clothes, so I packed enough for a couple days. I fit my laptop in between the layers of clothes, hoping that would help keep it safe. The laptop was something I had bought with my own money that I got from doing outside jobs for people around the nearest neighborhood. The typical things, baby sitting, walking the dog, or in one case, horse.

I was soon ready to go and headed downstairs. The other orphans were still waiting around, crying as they hugged Kayla, a ten year old that I guess was now my adoptive sister. The other kids saw me and all tackled me, tears in their eyes and some begging me to stay.

"I'll come back." I said gently as I group hugged as many as I could fit in my arms.
They soon left after the heart felt moment all of us shared, shooed away by Ms.Leon. That only left Kayla and I in the main hall, awaiting our "new parents".

Mr. And Mrs.Hatchem walk up to us. Mrs.Hatchem hugs us with a smile on her face.

"Hello girls. I hope we can treat you well and make you happy!"

Kayla smiled, but I frowned and pulled away a little. Mr.Hatchem looked at me with his green-blue eyes, a frown prominent on his face before it eased into a smile again. He walked over and offered to take my suitcase for me.

"No thank you." I responded quietly.

He ended up with Kayla's things as she decided to skip along happily with Mrs.Hatchem. I followed Mr.Hatchem who trailed after Kayla and his wife.