Orphan Girl

ONE

It is raining outside today. I guess this tops off the perfect week that I had. Interviewed by five families, but nobody wants me. I really hate this orphanage. I seriously think that they bribe parents to take the smaller kids just to put us teens through torture every day. It isn't fair. I have been in this orphanage for a while now. My parents died when I was younger. I am sixteen years old and I have been here for about six years now and still no one took me along with the other kids here. You have to be really lucky to even get an interview and this week I had five, five interviews! But still I am stuck here...still. I live in Tennessee but I don't come from here. I used to live in New York when my parents were alive and then child services shipped me out here. I was young and didn't know what was going on but if I could I would have just lived on my own in the city and not have come to this horrible place. It is so different.

"Hey kid, are there any scheduled interviews up on the bulletin board?" I ask this little boy

"Are you Cassandra?" he asks

"Yes"

"I think you are scheduled for next week" he says

"Really? Ok thank you" I say

Maybe my luck is changing after all. There are more teenagers here than little kids and I hate them all. I guess parents don't want a teenager since I don't know they are a hassle but I don't get it because all kids are going to be teenagers anyway so I would just get it over with now.
I go to check the board of interviews and sure enough I am scheduled for one tomorrow with Mr. and Mrs. Cibolo. I hope they are nice. The lady in charge of this place is Stephanie Rice. She is so nice and she really likes me a lot. She tries to get me on as many interviews as she can. She says I am a really nice kid and I am smart and really pretty. She always tells me that she looked like me when she was my age. All the boys like me in this place, including the little ones, so I guess she is telling me the truth. Anyway I better get to bed now if I want to make a good impression on tomorrow's interview. I really hope it goes well and I can get out of this orphanage.

TWO

Right now I am getting ready for my interview. I am dressed very nicely and I am on my way to the interview room now. Before I got there this kid Jonathan wanted to talk to me. We have been on and off all these years here.

"Hey.... I heard you have an interview today" he says

"Yea...right now actually. I am so nervous though"

"Don't worry you are going to do fine. I hope you get picked I really do Cass, you deserve it" he says

"Thanks Jon.... You are so nice" I say and give him a little kiss

I walk into the room and see Stephanie Rice

"Here she is...oh isn't she just gorgeous. I always say that when she gets a family they better put her in a modeling agency..." she tells the parents

"Hi Stephanie, hi you must be Mr. and Mrs. Cibolo. I am Cassandra, it is so nice to meet you both" I say and shake their hands and sit down

"Hello it is nice to meet you also...you have such a pretty name I love it" says the lady

"Thank you" I say

"So I will be in the room during the interview but don't mind me, you may ask her whatever you wish" Stephanie says to the parents

Mr. and Mrs. Cibolo seem very nice. Their names are John and Anne. They both look like they are in their forties and they are very well put together. I wonder where they are from.

"So, Cassandra, how old are you exactly?" John Cibolo asks

"Sixteen. My birthday is August 30th"

"Oh we have a sixteen year old son at home" says Anne

"Oh really. Do you have any other children?" I ask

"Just him and our younger son. He is seven. We really came here because I really am too old to go through pregnancy again and I would really like to have a daughter" says Anne

"Are you looking for someone around my age?" I ask

"Yes, we were aiming towards sixteen" she says

"Oh I see. Well I am a very well rounded girl. I am smart, nice, extremely outgoing and fun to be around...you can ask anyone here" I tell them

"Yes I see that you are very well put together. Now do you have any financial problems or anything like that?" they ask

"No. Actually before my parents died we lived in New York City and my family was on the wealthier side so I inherited all the money. I am good in that department" I say

"Wow that is so funny because we actually are from New York also. We live in Brecksville, Long Island" she says

"Oh really wow you came all the way here. I know where that is" I say

"Yes well we heard that this was one of the best orphanages in the country so I wanted to come down here and I hope it's worth the trip" says John.

"Well is there anything else you want to ask me or are you good?" I ask

"No I think we pretty much know what we are going to do" says John

I thank them for their time and leave the room. Twenty minutes later Stephanie calls me back in and Mr. and Mrs. Cibolo are still there. Stephanie is crying but she is happy. I think I am in oh man I can't believe this is finally happening.

"They are taking you Cassandra" she tells me

"Oh my God, really! Oh I am so happy thank you so much" I say and hug them both

"Welcome to the family" they say

I am so excited right now. I say goodbye to everyone at the orphanage and I tell Jon I will miss him but write to him often and I made sure to thank Stephanie Rice for everything she has done for me. I am so grateful. Right now I am on my way back to New York with my new parents.

"I am so happy you guys live in Long Island. I feel more comfortable there than in Tennessee"

"That's one of the reasons we chose you...we knew from your accent Cassandra. And you know what is going to be funny?"

"What?" I ask

"My son Miles, the sixteen year old thinks the girl is going to be a country music Tennessee kind of girl. Well he is in for a surprise." Says Anne

"Oh that's funny I can't wait to see his reaction. I do not like country music at all. I am into rap and pop and z100 oh I miss that station so much" I say

They both think I am funny. I like them a lot and I can't wait to meet their kids too.

THREE

So we finally made it to Long Island, New York. The Cibolo house is very nice. It is huge and it kind of reminds me of my old house. I feel right at home. When I went inside I first met their dog Scout. He is so cute. Then I met their little son Jake. He is seven and he is so adorable.

"My brother is upstairs if you want to meet him" says Jake

"Okay thanks... I like your sneakers... are those the new Jordan's?" I ask

"Yeah ...how did you know?"

"I used to live here a long time ago...when I was about your age actually" I tell him.

John and Anne tell me to go up and meet Miles. It was so hard to find his room since there are millions of rooms in this house. But then I finally found it when I saw the sign on the door that said keep out. It had to be his. I knocked on the door like five times but his music was way too loud and he couldn't hear me until like the tenth time I knocked. He opened the door and just looked at me. He was a good looking kid. He was tall dark and handsome. Well they are Italian like me so...

"Hi! I am Cassandra" I say

"Hi umm are you the girl my parents brought back?" he asks in surprise

"Yea...surprise! They said you were thinking about a country girl... I'm nothing like that so ... ohm I like this song..." I say

"Where were you from?" he asks

"The city.... I lived there until I was ten and then when my parents died I was sent to the orphanage in Tennessee. I hated that place. You can tell by my accent huh?" I say

"Yeah... I'm Miles...how old are you anyway?" he asks

"Same as you...sixteen" I say

"Cool....so I guess you are going to my high school then" he says

"I guess I don't know....how is high school here because they are all a bunch of prudes in the country" I say

Miles laughs and tells me that half of the kids in his school aren't even virgins anymore. I didn't want to ask him if he was since I thought it was a little too personal for the first day.

"I'm going to go downstairs I guess... see ya later" I say

"Oh um your room is right next to mine...right there" he says and shows me my new room

"Wow it's nice .... Thanks" I say

I think I am going to like this family... a little too much :)

FOUR

"Cassandra did you meet Miles?" asks Anne

"Yup...we get along great" I say as he comes downstairs

"Do we? Nah I am just kidding...we do" he says

"Very good.... I am running to the store to get something for dinner...do you like chicken cutlets Cassandra?" she asks

"Yes I love those thanks" I say

John, Anne, and Jake went to the store

"Nice family photo....now you got to photo shop me in" I say to Miles as I look at a picture

"Or we can just take another one" he says

"We are like twins now" I say and laugh

"Nah... I really would like to not think of you as my sister" he says

"Why? I am insulted now" I say

"No it's not that it's just that I don't know...I like you and all but you know" he says

"I think I know what you mean....its fine" I say and smirk at him

I think Miles is coming on to me....just a tad

"So do you have a lot of hot friends?" I ask

"It depends on what you think is hot"

"Well you're hot so do you have any friends that look like you?" I ask

"Maybe...you'll have to wait and see...all of them are going to like you though" he says and smiles

"Good.... "I say

FIVE

It is my first weekend at the Cibolo house and I am so excited. Miles is having a house party for me with all of his friends so I get to meet everyone. He is so nice to me. It is now Friday night. The party is tomorrow night though. Miles is out with his friends at the movies. He invited me but I told him I wanted to wait to meet everyone tomorrow. I hear him go into his room so he must be home now. I go in his room.

"Hey how was the movies...what did you see?" I ask

"Hey it was good...we saw Chuck and Larry" he says

"Oh I saw that it is really good" I say

"Yeah so my friends are so psyched for tomorrow. They were like begging me to tell them what you look like but..." he says

"Oh really...well did you?" I ask

"Nah...I just told them they were in for a treat so..." he says

"Nice compliment...thanks" I say

"I'm gonna go to bed now I am so tired" he says

"K. Goodnight" I say

I go into my room which is furnished very nicely and it is huge. I love it and I am so blessed to be part of such a great family in such a nice place. I can't fall asleep. It is twelve thirty in the morning. I decide to knock on the wall and see if Miles is sleeping yet. I knock like three times and he knocks four times back. So then I knock five times and he knocks six. Finally I knock seven times and he comes in my room all sleepy eyed.

"Hey ... can't fall asleep? We are going to wake everybody up" he says

"I'm ok...ill fall asleep eventually...go back to sleep" I say

So Miles goes back to sleep...and I finally fall asleep.
The next morning I woke up at like eleven. I slept pretty late. Anyway it was Saturday and that meant that tonight was the party. Right now I am eating breakfast/lunch I guess.

"So Anne, are you and John going to be in the house tonight while we are having this party?" I ask

"Nope...we trust you two so we are taking Jake over to my sisters house and we will be all sleeping over there. I told Miles that you two have to have everyone home by at least two that aren't sleeping over and whoever is staying over must behave" she says

"Don't worry...I'm good at this stuff...I used to have parties with the other kids around my age and I ran all of them" I say

"Wow impressive...well we are going to leave now so have fun at the party and if you kids need to buy anything from the store John left money on the counter" she says

"Okay have fun at your sisters house" I say

I am really impressed with the way John and Anne act concerning parties and stuff. I guess they really trust Miles. He must have these things a lot.

"You slept late ...miss I can't fall asleep" Miles says as he comes downstairs.

He is all dressed and showered for the party already.

"Yeah...wow you clean up nicely" I say

"Thanks....you better hurry up and get ready because we have a lot to do before everyone gets here" he says

"I'm going in the shower now" I say and go upstairs

This party is going to be so much fun. I cannot wait to meet all of his friends...especially the boys. I have to wear something very hot.

SIX

It is six o'clock and that means it is party time. Only a couple of Miles' friends are coming now...I think like three but then everyone else is coming at seven. I am ready and we set everything up. We have been working all day. I am wearing a black mini skirt with leggings and a fitted sweater type shirt....I look mad hot.
The door bell rings and I decide to let Miles get it since they are his friends.

"Hey guys come on in" I hear Miles say

"What up man...yo where is the hottie at?" I hear one of his friends say

"Oh my God" I say to myself "This is going to be interesting"

"Cassandra! Come here!" shouts Miles

"Hi...are these your friends?" I ask

"Yup...this is Billy, Gary, and Spencer....guys this is Cassandra" he says

"Hi nice to meet you" we say and shake hands

"It is very very very nice to meet you" says Spencer

I laugh and say you too. Spencer is very cute.

"I'll bring your coats up" I say

"No I got it....I'll bring them up" says Spencer

"No I got it...really" I say

"Ok. If you insist" he says

At the party I met a lot of people. A lot of nice people and a lot of nasty people. The nasty ones were the girls pretty much. All the boys were so nice to me. Spencer was a little too nice and we actually wound up hooking up. He likes me a lot but I am not sure if I like him that much. We'll see what happens. So the party is over and it is three in the morning. Spencer didn't sleep over. It was just Gary and his girlfriend Kristen. She is actually so nice to me.

"So what was with you and Spencer....I saw you guys on the couch" says Gary's girlfriend

"I don't know .... He likes me but I don't know if I am that into him" I say

"Yeah...he is really cute but I hate his personality...he is such a playa and he is too full of himself. I used to date him. Don't even go there" she says

"Really? Oh well thanks for giving me the heads up. He has been texting me non stop its so annoying" I say

"Oh he will never stop...trust me" she says

"Wait, you don't like Spence, Cass?" asks Miles

"Not really, no" I say and laugh

"You hooked up with him though" he says

"I needed that....trust me" I say

They all laugh and Miles seems really happy. I really think this kid likes me and it is so weird because we live in the same house. It is like we are brother and sister. It sucks a lot. I decide to talk to Gary's girlfriend Kristen about it.

"So...you like him though?" she asks as we are talking about Miles

"I think so...yeah. I mean every time I am around him I feel like I need to always talk to him and everything. And our rooms are next to each other and I always could hear him snoring or whatever...talking on the phone...like whatever it is" I say

"Do you think that's weird though?" she asks

"Yes, oh my god I wish he wasn't my brother through adoption...I mean I love this family and all and I would never not want to be here but I just wish I could've met him like in school or something and not like this" I tell her

"I know what you mean.... Do you think he likes you? Because I think he does"

I nod my head yes.

"So what should I do Kris?" I ask

"I would talk to him about it ... or maybe like flirt with him a little more and maybe see if he says anything to you or makes a move" she says

"Yeah...I think I am going to make sure he really likes me before I talk to him "I say

We go back in Miles' room with the others and it is now four in the morning and we want to stay up all night but I don't think I am going to make it.

"Let's play a game" says Gary

"I am so tired I don't know if I can stay up" I say

"Come on Cassandra you know you want to" says Miles

We play a game of cards. We play black jack and fan tail. I won like every round. It was awesome. They were all jealous because I was so good. We were playing on Miles' bed and he was sitting next to me. I got so tired that I actually fell asleep on his shoulder. I don't even remember doing it either. When I woke up it was morning and Miles has a King size bed so he was next to me. I slept in his bed with him? Oh my gosh this was one crazy night.

"Oh my gosh what happened?" I ask Kristen since she was the only one up

"You fell asleep on him Cass. Then when we all wanted to go to sleep he just decided to crash next to you. Gary and I slept on the air mattress"

We both start laughing.

"Shh. We are gonna wake them up" I say

Then we start laughing some more. We couldn't help it we were so over tired from the party.

"Last night was crazy...but it was fun" I say

"Oh yeah.... This one is for the books" Kristen says

SEVEN

When the boys woke up we all decided to go to the park and have a little picnic for fun. This was a really corny idea but it was gonna be fun. We are sitting on a blanket eating lunch right now.

"Sorry about last night Miles...I just passed out" I say

"No problem...I passed out right next to you" he says

"Yeah I saw that when I woke up" I say

"Were you surprised?"

"Yeah I was like who the hell is that and then I realized I wasn't in my bed but yours and that the person was you of course" I say and he laughs

"Come, take a walk with me Cassandra" says Miles

I start walking with him. The park has lots of trails that go in every direction.

"Give them a little time alone" I say

"Yup...they have been going out for two years now" he says

"Really...wow...are they like your best friends?"

"Uh huh... and yours too right?" he asks

"Yea pretty much. Kristen is so nice...not like some of the other girls who were at the party"

"They were just all jealous of you that's all. Because you are hot and they are not and all the boys kept talking to you" he says

"Well I am fresh meat...what did they expect?" I say

"True that..." he says and looks at me

"What? What are you thinking about" I ask

"What are you thinking about?" he asks me

"I asked you first"

"Ladies first" he says

"Fine....just about how I like this kid....and it is not Spencer" I say and laugh

"Really...who?"

"First tell me what you are thinking about" I say

"A girl" he says and then he kisses me .... On the lips. Oh my gosh!

"It is you Miles...and I know you like me too but this is so weird...don't you think it is weird?" I ask

"Yeah a little... but we are not blood Cass. You are adopted. We have relation but not blood relation...you are like any other friend that would be living with me" he says

"I know but what are your parents going to think?" I ask

"They are yours too"

"See this is exactly what I mean Miles" I say

"So what do you wanna do ... not see each other? I mean we can't stop liking each other and having feelings for each other just because we live together" he says

"I don't know maybe if we keep it on the DL....don't tell them yet. Don't tell anyone...not even Kristen and Gary" I say

"Alright...deal" he says and hugs me

I smile at him and he smiles back

"You really like me huh?" he asks

"Yes...the first time I met you I got butterflies"

"Me too...and girls don't usually make me nervous" he says

"Oh cuz you're a playa....joke"

We both laugh.

EIGHT

The next weekend we didn't have a party. I was all partied out. Miles and I have been secretly together. We pretty much hang out at night when everyone is sleeping since our rooms are right next to each other. I like him more and more each day but more and more I realize that this whole thing is so weird to me. I just try to not think of him as my brother. It is a regular Friday night and we are in Miles' room.

"Stop...that tickles...ow..." I say as Miles is tickling me

"Alright, alright I'm sorry" he says

"I am so bored...where are Gary and Kristen tonight?"

"Family party" says Miles

"Oh that sounds like loads of fun" I say

Miles laughs "Totally"

"So can I ask you a serious question?" he asks

"Yea...anything"

"How did your parents die?"

"Um... when I was seven they went on a trip with their friends and they got in an accident on a boat they had rented. I was staying with my neighbor at the time and that's when I found out. We had no other family in New York. They all lived in the west or Italy so I had no other choice but to become and orphan" I tell him

"I'm so sorry...that is terrible. What about your neighbors. Why couldn't you stay with them?"

"They were going to take me in but they said they couldn't afford it or some bullshit. I knew they were lying because we lived in a wealthy neighborhood but I knew they were planning on moving too so..."

"Were you scared?" he asks

"Yes, I was seven Miles...I had no idea what was going on...I just wanted my mom and dad back. Everyone just kept telling me that they will always be with me and everything but I really didn't understand the whole dying thing yet... I was too young. At the funeral everyone told me they were just sleeping for a while...now I understand though. It seems like it was yesterday...I remember that day so clearly" I say

"I'm sure you do...that's something you won't ever forget Cass"

"I know" I say and start to cry a little bit

"You ok? Come here" he says and comforts me

"I am happy you went to Tennessee cuz now you are here...with me. And you are happy right?" he says

"Yes...I am so happy" I say and kiss him

"Thanks for opening up to me....its hard" he says

We fall asleep together in his bed....again

NINE

The next day was rough on Miles and me. John and Anne wanted to have a talk with us in private. I was scared.

"So what is this all about?" asks Miles

"Well we are just going to ask you both about this openly and straight out and we want you two to be honest with us" says john

"Are you two having a thing behind our backs?" asks Anne

"What? Like a relationship?" asks Miles

"Yes....do you like each other"

"Ok fine yes we are secretly together but we can explain" he says

"No, there is no need for explanation but we just want to know how this is going to end up....you two are like siblings now"

"Yeah we know dad but we aren't related..."

"Well I don't mind it but it is a little weird" says Anne

"I don't agree with this at all kids" says John

"Dad, I love this girl so you better agree with it...please. It isn't our fault and it's not your faults....its nobody's fault but maybe this happened for a reason...maybe you picked Cassandra and maybe it was all for a reason dad...I don't just love her...I am in love with her. You can't take that away just because she lives here now" says Miles

"I love Miles too...and I know it is strange but to us it isn't because since the first day we met there has been chemistry and I don't feel like a sister to him at all but just a friend that turned into more than a friend" I say

"Well we can't stop you two I guess" says John

"To tell you the truth Miles...I met your father through my cousin Sally. He was adopted by her parents and that is how I met him. It is like we were cousins so it is like the same situation with you two"

"But it is very hard to keep this kind of relationship so we just wanted you guys to know this" says John

"We know... I mean our rooms are right next to each other and we are going to try to make this work and if it doesn't in the long run then we will be just friends and siblings....don't worry" says Miles

"Go have fun you two...I wish we can be young and in love again" says Anne

"Thanks you guys are the best" we say and hug them

I am really surprised they are letting us date. This doesn't seem so weird after all.

"I really do love you Cassandra" Miles says

"I am in love with you" I say and kiss him

"Everything is going to be just fine" he says and kisses me again.