Running

Chapter 4: Why Don't We

Ramona's POV

Early the next morning I heard the bell, too loud in my opinion, from my room. "It is Saturday adoption day! Everyone dressed and in the cafeteria by 8:30, visitors at 9:00! Be in your age division, and on your best behavior!" Ma'am said over the intercom, I grabbed my clothes and practically jumped into them. I stuck my ribbons into my waistband, slid into my shoes, and started my braids as I got in line.I finished my braids with my second ribbon tied as I reached the cafeteria. I grabbed my tray and went to my table, coincidentally, with Hayden and his goons. "Hey brat, hows the third floor, heard it haunted." He said, I shrugged and stared to eat. "Respond when I talk to you!" He yelled pushing me, I cried out and fell off the bench. I couldn't feel anything, I just laid there, numb. "8:55, everyone into the adoption room!" Ma'am said, I slowly got up and started walking. I sighed and tried to brush the dirt off my sweater. I felt a tear and rubbed it away fast, before getting in line. We walked into a large room with various bookshelves and tables. Our instructions were "Pick a book and look happy." I watched as all the others my age wandered to the picture books, and I walked over to opposite side of the shelf. If you haven't noticed yet, I don't talk much. I prefer to read, write, draw, think. Anything but talk. So when I sat down in a corner, it was a surprise when I saw a pair of feet make a beeline towards me. I glanced up, and back down at my book. The feet belonged to a giant, a blonde, brown eyed giant. I jumped a little as the feet stopped in front of me, only to be replaced by a face. "Hi! I'm Corbyn, what are you reading?" He asked, "I'm Ramona! What do you really want?" I asked, his face fell and I felt kinda bad, "I'm sorry, I'm not having the best day..." I muttered closing the book. "It's fine, I don't think anyone here is." He said, "What do you want with me though? I'm just the rat who runs away." I asked, "You're not a rat, you're a little girl." He said, "A little girl reading The Hunger Games. How old are you?!" He asked looking at my book, "9, 10 in March." I said, his jaw dropped and I noticed another person behind him, "The classic Corbyn face." The guy said, he was human sized with a mop of curls on his head, "This girl is 9 and reading hunger games! Tell me that doesn't surprise you Jack!" He exclaimed, the man looked at me and then my book. "Jo was reading Harry Potter at 8." He said, "Hunger Games is like 10 levels above! Has Zach even read it?" Corbyn asked, I must've whimpered or something because they stopped talking, "I think your face scared her." Curly said, "Shut up!" Giant said smacking the first, "I'm gonna find another hidden area...Bye!" I said grabbing my book and running, I looked behind me and the men seemed confused, I giggled and sat down. "Whatcha reading twerp?" Hayden asked, I cringed, of course. "Hunger Games..." I muttered, "Well let's see!" He said picking me up by my collar, I whimpered and started to squirm, "Please Hayden, not now!" I whispered, "I don't care." He growled dropping the book, he held me up higher and my shirt began to choke me, I gagged and Hayden smirked before dropping me. I fell hard on my knees, managing to miss the book. I watched Hayden walk away and felt tears start to well up in my eyes. I picked the book up, put it on a table and walked out, trying to ignore the hundred eyes on me. "Hey! Hey! Wait up!" Someone called, I started running and the tears began falling faster, "Ramona! Wait!" They called again, I turned around, "What do you want! There's a room full of children who'd all be better kids than me!" I cried. With the tears blurring my vision, I could barely make out the tall blonde boy from before. "Well I'd like to see them try, because you're coming home with us, no matter what they do." He said, I rubbed my eyes before looking into his. "You don't even know me." I growled, shaking out of my grip before running upstairs. I heard footsteps running behind me as I ran to my room, and the blonde man got in right as I slammed the door. I screamed as he scooped me up, holding me too close to him. "Ramona, relax! It's ok! Please, you're gonna end up hyperventilating!" He said rocking slightly, I didn't know what hyperventilating was, but it sounded like pain. I stopped kicking and just sobbed silently, burying my face into his chest. "Why me! Just gonna drop me back like everyone else!" I sobbed quietly, "Ramona look at me." He said, I shook my head and he lifted my chin. "When I say we're gonna adopt you, I mean it. We are not going to give you back." He said, I looked at him and into his eyes, looking for the lie that was always there. This time it wasn't there. I nodded and let my instincts through, wrapping my arms around his neck and putting my head on his shoulder. I felt him relax and start walking. "We sure picked a fighter." Someone said.