Lagency

:)  Ziara  (: I twisted my hair as I sat outside the deputy head’s office. I had nothing much to do but to recall the events that resulted in me here. I let out a soft sigh; trouble always seemed to follow me like a hungry pack of dogs. The scene unfolded in front of me like it just happened. Olivia’s face flashed in front of me as she blocked my way from the goal, I rocked my stick back and forth between my hands as I steadied myself for a charge towards it. I shot a glance around and feinted my way across Oliva as I felt her stick land on mine. The whistle blew. “Foul check to blue team. Olivia step back.” I made a face at her before we continued. The whistle blew again as I cradled the ball through the defence and as I nearly scored, Oliva came pass and tackled me; I sprinted behind her and started viciously attempting to tackle her. In the corner of my eye, I caught a slight glimpse of dark crimson. Before I could process what happened, a shrill blare pierced through my rapid tackling. Steadying myself from the rage rushing through my thoughts, I slowly gazed up at Olivia. Hate filled up the tension in the air as our eyes met. We shot each other glances back and forth until she spat at me “you orphan watch where you’re going!” “Hey- don’t bring my parents into this!” I rose my hands lowering myself into an easy fighting stance. Before our clawing started, a voice bellowed behind us. “Ziara to the deputy head.” I dipped my head as I walked off the lacrosse pitch. I didn’t even bother to change out of my gear as I slid past the changing rooms and headed to the deputy’s office. “Miss James, please enter.” A thick voice boomed behind me. I slowly entered the door that was way too familiar. “Take a seat.” Mr Chaton gestured towards an empty seat with one hand, holding a pen in the other. “Ziara James. The third time this week.” “It wasn’t-” “Enough, I’ve heard this before. ‘It was her- she started it…’ I know. You have a hell of a temper and you don’t put in the slightest to control it.” I lowered my gaze to the floor- that was true. I do have a hell of a temper- but I do control it, or at least try to. “You sent her to the hospital- yes, I understand all the pranks, name-calling, looks…” His voice trailed in despair. “Ever since they left, you’re just- not you.” “It’s not that. It’s that people treat me differently- it’s like I’m from somewhere else. They don’t understand. I just- I guess, don’t fit in.” “So it’s their problem- not yours.” He raised his eyebrows. Adults- they are a burden; they always twist your words, so it seems as if you are wrong. “That’s not what I wanted to say. You know that!” “Then what did you mean- that you’re the problem. Or that your parents are.” He looked me in the eye as I felt my fury rising. “Just because you’re an orphan, doesn’t make you an exception. The principal can easily expel you if she wants. You know that right?” “Then let her! I don’t care. It’s not like I want to be a lawyer or stupid historian- a war will never repeat itself!” I yelled across. “No one, no one ever cares. Not you, not her, not this, not that. All I get is ‘don’t do this’, ‘don’t do that’. I’m fed up with these pointless comments. The comments mean nothing.” “Ziara…” He began. “I know you had it tough.” “Oh, you know?” “I’ve done my best to get you out of trouble since the start.” “Did I ask?” I snickered. “For once, put down your attitude and think about it; why don’t you fit in? What happened? All I have been wanting to hear is an honest answer- not the silence you give me every time.” I sat there and hesitated. Actually thinking about what he asked. What was it? Fidgeting within the oversized sleeves of my hoodie I calmed my brain and sat in silence. All the orphans made it through. Why was I always being tossed between the school’s different departments? If I wasn’t appearing in the deputy’s office, I would be at the head’s or in detention. “It’s just… I cannot let go of it.” “I know you Ziara. When you put your mischief aside- you actually do it, you can get straight A’s.” He frowned. “What is it about school you hate so much? Really.” “All the maths, history, geography. I don’t give a damn. It’s just useless. I have no one to prove to- not anymore.” “Then what do you want? A job? Someone to prove to?” “I… I don’t want to wind up like every other you. A person with a job- that’s boring. I’m not interested in maths- biology, no nothing!” “Then what do you like- music, art?” “Well- sports?” “What type- don’t tell me breaking noses.” “No- guns, or lax, I guess…” “Well- there you go; you can let it out with sports.” Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “Mr Chaton, you are needed immediately.” A young-looking assistant entered. “See, I have to go now. But I will try to somehow convince the principal that this was not that bad. Ok?” He nodded towards the assistant. “Jenifer, can you lead Ziara out?” But before she could reply, I got up on my feet to acknowledge Mr Chaton that I was not a kid and stormed out of his office making sure to deliver an extra hard slam to the door. The sound of the slam echoed through the maze of hallways I passed leading to my locker. Part of my mind knew that I was not coming back, but part of it longed that it wasn’t true. I fiddled with my lock in frustration. There was never much in my life- no luxuries, no fancy cars or mansions whatsoever; but I had one thing that kept me going- love. I always had my family, until recently. My thoughts broke as my gaze fell on my locker, or what I thought was my locker. There was no messy locker of mine, but what it was, was a neat, clean locker. Something that I never bothered to do- tidy. I looked around hoping that someone would pop out and yell “got you!” but no- no one did. I stared at a navy blue USB with a neon cyan stripe in the middle with the words “LA” carved on it. Snatching it off, I broke into a sprint back to the orphanage. It was more like an old, dilapidated piece of junk standing in the middle of nowhere. I pushed open the massive wooden doors and headed for my room. “Miss James. Why are you back early?” I ignored the clerk and continued heading up the stairs. I have been lucky enough to be accommodated with my own room equipped with a small bathroom. I sat down on my bed with a thud and proceeded to open my laptop. After a tough dig around my bag, I took the USB out and plugged it in wondering what the heck it was. “Text back if you accept my request. Join us in the Lagency, Ziara. You are very well needed.” I frowned at the message as the whispers and murmurs of orphans arriving back started to rise. “I accept your request.” No- this was impossible, what request? What was this? Was this a prank? Questions echoed in my mind. All of a sudden, there was a knock on my door, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. “Miss James, there is a call for you.” The clerk said as she opened the door. “Am I getting expelled?” “I don’t know, but please go answer it.” I immediately slammed my laptop shut “Coming!” I quickened my pace as I got closer to the phone. “Hi?” “Mr Chaton here.” “Yes- I know, I’m getting expelled.” “Wait- but I tried my best, I’m sorry.” “Yeah, yeah- who cares.” He wanted to be sincere- I knew that but it’s stupidly useless, even a three-year-old would know. “Anyways, got to go. Bye!” I slammed the phone down in despair. “Wa-” “Then let her! I don’t care.” My voice echoed in my head. What have I gotten myself into; What is this? I stumbled back into my room, closing the door behind me. I opened my laptop to find messages, along with a list. “Here is a list of things you might want to bring with you:    Clothes    Water bottle    Electronics    Medications if necessary    Weapons you usually use.    Toiletries    Notebooks and pens   I shut my eyes. This? I gazed around the room. There’s nothing much when you’re an orphan; A bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a chair. A simple cell-like room with a window in the back. For once, I felt trapped, a feeling that never really occurred to me. I looked around and dug out the duffle bag that carried all my stuff here- to the orphanage. There was nothing much in the wardrobe: a hoodie, 2 tops, a pair of jeans and trackies, uniform and some underwear. Without second thought, I packed everything into the bag and took off. I had a plane to catch- from UK to Russia. Isn’t this just great? I didn’t even know where I was going; what I was doing- why I was going… There was a part of the uncertainty in me that told me to stop, but a part that made me realize I had nothing more to lose- in one day, I lost my parents, within a week, I lost my home, within a month, I lost all my friends. And within a year... I lost all my hope. Finally, I lost my school- and my future. There was no harm in trying, I had literally nothing to lose. “Ziara James, where do you think you’re going!” The clerk stopped me in my tracks. “Somewhere you won’t find me.” I pushed her aside and a smirk planted across my face.