I woke up to screaming . Genuine , blood–curdling screaming . I moaned , and rolled over , but even with my pillow over my head I could still hear it . “Shut up !” Someone yelled from next door , their voice breaking from just waking up .
Thank you I thought . Why the hell where they screaming anyway ?
I turned over and sat up , checking the time on my alarm clock .
8:34 ? Why would anyone be up , on a Sunday , at 8:34 ?
I shook my head sleepily , and yawned .
I lay down again , and closed my eyes . I didn't get to fall asleep , though , because Cait began knocking on all our doors , telling us to get up .
And then it clicked . Early , weekend morning . People screaming . Having to get up.
There's a fire !!!
I ran out of my room and into the hallway .
“Good , Hazel “ Cait nodded approvingly , “ Get to the bathroom before anyone else is up , clever .”
“F-fire !” I stuttered .
“What ?” Cait said , then laughed .
“But … someone screamed , and you told us we had to get up …”
“Terri screamed “ Cait explained , “She's just excited about our visitors . And as for me telling you all to get up , it's just so you'll be ready for them .”
“That's it ?” I said , blinking . “I'm going back to bed ...”
Of course , I couldn't get back to sleep . Now that Terri had woken everyone up , there was noise from every direction . So , I got up , and ran to the hall to put my name on the list for showers . Usually , we wouldn't have to do that , but everyone wanted one this morning .
While I was waiting for my shower , I went through my clothes for something to wear . A pair of car-boot-sale jeans , a sweatshirt that had previously belonged to Steven . I didn't mind that though , it reminded me of him , and it was comforting .
I grabbed my clothes , and went to join the line for the bathroom .
“Hey “ Tashie said , waving me over .
“Morning “ I replied .
“Is it always like the this ?” Tashie asked glancing around .
I shook my head . “No . Everyone wants a shower today , though . They want to get adopted , so they want to be clean .”
Tashie nodded , and looked around again .
“It's going to take me ages just to get to the door . I didn't put my name on the list until a few minutes ago .”
“It'll take you a while then “ I agreed , nodding .
We were silent again , having nothing to talk about .
I took my shower as quickly as I could . Cait had given us a max of ten minutes in the shower and two minutes to get dressed quickly , then scurry back into our rooms . I washed my hair , scrubbing hard at my scalp as if trying to scrape away ugly memories .
I got back into my room , and really just sat around and twiddled my thumbs . I didn't know what I was supposed to do . It wasn't even ten o clock yet , the band wouldn't be coming until five .
I straightened my hair , and tied up a pair of shoes then went downstairs .
Tashie and her sister Fay were waiting downstairs for me . I sighed silently , couldn't they leave me alone for a second ?! I shrugged off the thought , and walked over to them .
“What are we having for breakfast ?” I asked .
Tashie glanced over at the table . “Looks like …porridge “ She said glumly .
“Alright , well we'd better get over there before it's all gone “ I advised .
After breakfast , Cait brought the little kids to the playground . Terri , and some other girls , took a lift into town . Tashie , Fay and I hung around the house and talked in the game room .
“I don't want to be adopted “ Tashie stated . “Not by a bunch of strangers . I don't think I will be anyway , Kiara said they might have found some of our family . We'll probably be moving in with them soon .”
I nodded vaguely , though I admit I really wasn't listening . It sounded as though she was bragging about not having to be adopted . I knew she didn't mean it like that , though , it was just my subconscious twisting her words out of jealousy .
That makes me sound like a pig I thought , and snorted . Tashie looked at me , eyebrows raised , and I blushed and looked down .
Later , Cait came back . I saw at once why so many people had wanted to go into town , when they all came sauntering in with their crisp new All Time Low t-shirts . I saw Tashie rolling her eyes and shaking her head , but I didn't feel the same confidence . I tugged worriedly at the sleeve of my own second-hand jumper and bit my lip . I wanted to be adopted , an escape route of any sort seemed so inviting right now , but who would want to adopt me ? I came from a poor family on the 'bad' side of town , I wore cheap clothes and owned little possessions . And then there were people like Terri , who not only looked beautiful , but spoke clearly and at first glance seemed like the angel of a child . She would be adopted I thought , sighing inside . I followed Tashie back upstairs , leaving behind any hope of a new life .
At four o clock , a knock came on the door . It was my night for dinner , so I was in the kitchen with Cait , and Kiara who had called over early .
“Who is that ?” Cait asked herself . “The band aren't supposed to be here until five ...”
Kiara and I followed her out to the hall , then watched her open the door .
“Alright guys , lets move in !” A voice called , and a man appeared , beckoning more to follow .
About twenty men and women entered the house , carting with them cameras , microphones , laptops , and many other pieces of filming equipment .
“Umm... excuse me ?” Cait asked icily , raising her eyebrows . Kiara and I winced , wouldn't want her looking like that at me .
“Oh , sorry “ The first man said , turning around . “Hi , I'm Ritchie . You must be ...”
“Cait . May I ask what you are doing here ?”
Ritchie shifted uncomfortably under her gaze .
“Ehh , we have to set up all the filming stuff before the band come . You know , make sure the lighting's right , angle the cameras and get all the microphones set up , that kind of stuff .”
“I see “ Cait said . She had calmed down a little now , but still looked angry . She glanced over at us . “Hazel , back in the kitchen . You don't want anything to burn “ she said sharply , making a 'shoo' motion with her hand . I nodded , not needing to be told twice , and disappeared into the kitchen .
For dinner , we were having chicken , rice and some roasted veg . The rice was bubbling away , so I left that and checked on the chicken . “That looks … done ?” I guessed , taking it out of the oven so I could see it in better light .
“Needs a while longer “ Advised Kiara . I jumped , I hadn't heard her behind me .
“Thanks “ I said , putting it back . “I didn't know they were going to be filming this .”
Kiara glanced at me . “Yeah , me neither .”
The under elevens came down at half four to eat their dinner . Fay waved at me meekly as she took her plate , and I smiled back .
“Kiara said they might have found some of our family . We'll probably be moving in with them soon .”
She was lucky . Both of them were , Fay and Tashie . They had a way out of this place , into family hands . I'd be stuck here until I was eighteen , and able to move out .
“Hazel ?” Cait called . “Come into the living room , they want to talk to the overs .”
'Overs' was what she called the over elevens for short .
“Coming !” I told her . I walked into the living room , and sat down on the floor , as all the seats were taken . No-one looked at me as I sat down , they were all occupied . The filming people were busy , checking lights and cameras , the overs sat and fidgeted nervously . Terri and the rest of the teenage girls checked their make-up , passing around mascara and lip-gloss .
“Hey ? Guys ?” Ritchie said , looking at us . “Is everyone here ?”
As if on cue , Tashie walked in . She smiled at everyone , then sat down beside me .
Ritchie nodded to her as she came in .
“Alright , is that everybody ?” He asked . Cait ,who had evidently been counting , nodded at him .
“Okay “ Ritchie said . “I'm Ritchie , I'm in charge of the filming . I'd just like to ask before we begin , if there's anyone who doesn't want to be filmed or ...” He trailed off , glancing around . “No ? Great , we'll get started so .”
“What are they doing ?” Tashie hissed at me . I shrugged .How am I supposed to know ?
“Alright , who wants to get interviewed first ?” Ritchie asked .
“Apparently , they're interviewing us “ I told Tashie dryly .
She rolled her eyes . “No duh “ She muttered .
“Okay , Terri , you come right over here “ Ritchie was saying . “Ewan , you interview her .”
Ritchie then began assigning other children to different interviewers . I turned and watched Terri and Ewan .
“Okay, what's your name ?”
“Teresa Steward . Everyone calls me Terri , though .”
“Got it . How long have you been in the Home ?”
“Sixteen years . I've been here ever since I can remember .”
“Do you like it ?”
Terri hesitated . She hated the Home , we all did , but she wasn't going to say that to a camera .
“Well … I do like it , I guess . I'd just love to leave in a real home , you know ?”
Nice save I thought to myself .
“You next “ Ritchie said , looking down at me . I jumped , since when was here there ?
“Umm... Okay ?”
“That's the spirit “ Ritchie said enthusiastically , “This is Grace .”
Grace was an interviewer . She had blond hair pulled sharply to the back of her head , and pink glasses. She clutched her clipboard to her chest , and was looking over the questions as I sat down .
“What's your name , dear ?” Grace asked me .
“Uh – I'm Hazel “ I said awkwardly .
She raised her eyebrows at me . “Hazel Reede .”
“Okay , Hazel . How long have you been in this Home ?”
“Not long . About a week .”
“Do you like it ?”
“It's okay . I mean , it's not bad , but it's not a home . A place like this never really could be .”
“Do you miss you're old home ?”
“Yeah . Wouldn't you ?” I blushed a little , I'd said that to harshly . But it was a stupid question anyway , of course I missed my old home .
“And would you like to be adopted ?”
“Yes , I'd love to be adopted . I miss having a family .”
Grace glanced down at her clipboard , then leaned forward . “What happened to your family ?”
Is she seriously expecting me to answer that ?
I couldn't help it . I glared at her , then got up and left . The last thing I heard as I left the room was what she said to the cameraman who had been recording us .
“Did you get all that ?”
“Hazel , don't leave “ Cait pleaded as walked past . “The band will be here in about fifteen minutes , you can't miss this shot . “
“What's the point ?” I hissed in return . “It's not as if I will be adopted .”
“Hazel , come on “ She said , “Please stay .”
I glanced upstairs to the comfort of my room and sighed .
“Fine . But no more interviews .”
Cait smiled at me in relief . “Deal .”