After walking out of the Chinese restaurant, Erykah and I ventured forward trying to get past an army of wandering people.

While a few of them carried their phones, some dragged suitcases along the spotless white floor.

As we walked, I made sure Erykah stayed close with me. Her hand tightens around mine, her dark brown curls bobbed up and down, and a sad frown stained her lips. 

By now, Erykah is getting used to the smells of frying food, the constant murmuring of anxious people, and blinding lights.

But even if it were the case, Erykah became a little upset that she couldn't come to Australia with us. She hoped to see more excitement than living in a shady orphanage.

Can't say I blame her, though.

When I was her age, I too would constantly pester my older brother Jacob into taking me to one of his school field trips.

I remember being jealous of Jacob going to movie theaters, restaurants, and other cool establishments. But as for me, I would stay at home or in a boring classroom listening to the teacher droning on about subjects.  

Giving Erykah an earnest look, I said to her: "Look, I get how much you hate Saint Adam's, but I think it would be better for you to stay there."

Erykah, who was busy looking at her wandering feet, clamped her mouth shut and didn't say anything.

"You are going to be safe, " I promised. "Think about all the clothes you'll wear and the friends you'll make."

"I still don't want to go." Erykah murmured.

"Just, please think about it." I sighed. "I know Saint Adams is the last thing you want to go to, but it's better than living in the street."

Erykah puckered her lips as if she tasted something sour.

"But what if I hate it?" she inquired.

"You are not going to hate it, " I insisted. "I can promise you that."

Erykah placed her hand on her hip. "Have you ever been there?"

I nodded. "Yeah, on most occasions, some nurses and I would go to Saint Adams to hand orphans Taco Bell gift cards, Pizza Hut coupons, and candy." 

Erykah looks at me in disbelief.

"Really?" she asks. "Because I don't see you as a Christian girl."

I laughed. "That's because I am not a Christian. It's not that I believe in God, but making miracles happen? There is a chance of pigs flying."

I nodded again.

In the meantime, I noticed Lisa near the telephone booth, talking to a friend, Lindsay Gordon.

Lisa is a beautiful Chinese college girl with olive-brown skin, slanted eyes, brown eyes, and a lovely smile.

She wore a black leather coat with skinny blue jeans, silver charm bracelets around her wrists, and brown knee-high winter boots. Long dark hair covered her straightened back as the cool wind played with the strands.

In the meantime, her college friend, Lindsay Gordon, has strawberry blonde hair, bluish-gray eyes, and a bitchy face.

She had on a white cashmere sweater, jeans, and heelless brown shoes, exposing Lindsay's embarrassingly large feet.

Approaching Lisa, I gave the college girl a happy grin.

Hi, Lisa." I greet. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Hearing her name being called, Lisa turns to see a sixteen-year-old rebel wearing dark clothing, a fake stud, sunglasses, and a gray beanie covering her dreadlocks.

Gazing at her for a moment, Lisa looked bewildered at my appearance, clearly unaware that the girl she was talking to was me.

But Lindsay on the other hand, squints her eyes at me as if I was some ghetto rat then snorts, "I am sorry, who are you supposed to be?"

Approaching the two girls carefully, I politely frown in her way. "I am a friend of Jack."

Lindsay raised her eyebrow at me. "Really? Who is she?"

"Does it fucking matter?" I ask impatiently. "Look, I need to talk to Lisa for a second. That's all."

Giving me a generous smile, Lisa kindly comes to me, until Lindsay tells her to stay put.

"Oh give it a break," Lisa sighs. "This girl wants to talk to me." 

But Lindsay pretends she didn't hear her friend speaking.

"I am sorry, whoever you are," she says in a fake polite tone. "But Lisa doesn't feel like talking to complete strangers."

I raise my eyebrow at her.

The fact that Lindsay is not aware of Lisa standing right beside her makes me wonder if this bitch needs glasses.

"Listen, Lizzy—" I began.

"Lindsay."

"Whatever," I sighed. "I want to talk to Lisa about something very private."

Lindsay scoffs a laugh. "Like what? Your virginity?"

Lisa shoots her an angered glare.

"Lindsay!" she cried. "Don't talk to her that way!"

"Why?" Lindsay snorted. "I mean, look at her, I doubt no boy has ever kissed that sad excuse of a whore."

Instantly, I felt my jaw tightened.

My eyes glowered at Lindsay's cruel face while my hands urged me to wring her neck.

But luckily, I didn't; instead, I take a deep breath, looked into Lindsay's eyes, and said something that made Lisa's stomach churn.

"Okay, Lindsay," I say bitterly. "I know we have met for like, two brief seconds, but honestly, I think you are a two-faced cunt."

Lisa and Erykah gasped at my audacity while Lindsay gives a dirty look.

"Excuse me?" she growled. "Who do you think you are?"

"It doesn't matter who I am, " I replied. 

"And I am not just saying that out of my candidness—I am just telling you how much I can't stand your bitchy voice one more second." 

Stunned, Lisa stared at me in horror, whereas Erykah, who was watching the scene firsthand, giggled under her breath.

Taking a deep breath, I finally walked up to a now-defeated Lindsay and give her a fake smile.

"Now, " I said in a bold tone. "why don't you go be a nice little girl, and jerk someone off?" 

Scowling at my words, Lindsay coldly storms off without saying goodbye to Lisa.

"Damn, " Erykah whistled, observing her marching away in anger. "You are my fucking hero."

However, Lisa grimaced,  "You shouldn't be talking to Lindsay that way. She is a nice person."

I frowned immediately.

"No, she isn't." I ask. "She treated you like shit."

Lisa Chang sighed. "You wouldn't understand."

I looked at her oddly. "That's because I don't."

Looking at me for a second, Lisa changed the subject. "So why do you want to talk to me?"

"Because my friend Jack told me everything about you," I stated, lying to her face.

"Really?" asked Lisa in surprise.

"Yeah," I nod. "Anyway, there is a girl who is looking for a place to stay."

"Oh?" said Lisa, tilting her head in Erykah's direction. "Is this her?"

I nodded. "This is Erykah. Erykah, this is Lisa."

"Nice to meet you, Erica."

Erykah frowned at Lisa. "That's not how you spell my name. It's E-R-Y-K-A-H. You know, after the neo-soul singer?"

Lisa blushed, while I flashed the girl a scolding look.

"What?" Erykah growled. "I hate it when people mispronounce my name."

"Anyway, " I continued. "She doesn't have any place to go, so I am hoping you might take her."

Lisa looks at me again then at Erykah, who didn't meet her gaze.

"I guess I may have a room at the orphanage, " began Lisa. "but please let Erykah know that we do not tolerate language."

Speaking of the girl, Erykah finally meets Lisa's eyes then snarled, "Erykah is standing right here, you two-faced—"

I quickly covered her mouth with my hand so she wouldn't cuss at Lisa.

"Erykah understands, " I blurted.

Lisa nodded. "Okay, as soon as we get to Saint Adams, I will have everything arranged for her."

After removing my hand from her mouth, Erykah gives me an impatient look.

"Do you ever wash your hands?" she snorts.

In response, I pinched Erykah's right shoulder.

"Ouch!" she whined. "What did you do that for?"

I ignored her tantrums and gazed directly at Lisa, who offers her hand to the girl.

"Here, let me take you to Saint Adams." she smiled. "I am sure you will love it there."

Cautious, Erykah removes my hand, trudges over to Lisa, but didn't acknowledge her outstretched hand.

"Okay, " Erykah sighed. "I am ready."

Although Lisa lowered her unshaken hand, she grinned at Erykah.

"Good." I smile. "In the meantime, Lisa
is going to give you a good education, and make sure that no one abuses your trust."

Although I was speaking to Erykah, my brown eyes gazed directly at Lisa, who took my menacing words seriously. 

"Okay, " Lisa nodded.

"So if anything happens to Erykah, " I began."I will destroy you. Do you understand me?"

Attentive, Lisa bobbed her head in silence.

"Good," I said again.

Then looking at Erykah, I told her to behave herself in front of teachers.

"Fine, " she grunts.

After taking Erykah by the hand, Lisa flashes me a farewell grin then walked away. Watching them closely, I was relieved to see the girls staying together like melted chocolate and marshmallow sticking against two graham crackers.

I can see their hands linked together, as they walked side-by-side. But as Lisa tries to make small talk with Erykah, she pretends she didn't hear her.

Oh, Erykah. I thought wearily.

Even though I told her not to trust friendly people, I worry if she gets into fights with other children.

Deep down, I felt a little guilty for giving her advice. But then again, Joseph taught me that sugar coating is B.S.

Whenever I come home from school, I would complain to Joseph about the horrible kids harassing me.

But instead of comforting me, Joseph would say, "Tough tits, Jack. The world sees kindness as weakness. Now are you going to man up and face that bully, or are you going to bitch about it for the rest of your life?"

Taking his advice, I went to school, I do my work, and I stand up to anyone who takes advantage of me. Making wisecracks, giving sultry looks, and flipping the bird a couple times, it got me in trouble with the school counselor.

But then again, my family never take anything for granted.

Sliding my hands into my jeans pockets, I walked along the white road when a strange boy appeared in front of me.

Tall, pale, and scrawny, the boy's messy hair is dyed white blond. But like me, he wore dark sunglasses, which concealed his eyes. And as for his outfit, he wore a black long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and matching black high tops.

Sitting on his back is a matching large, black backpack carrying all of his mysterious equipment. Although it looked heavy, the mysterious boy carried the bag as if the weight never harmed him.

With a huge grin, the boy said in a slow voice: "Greetings, my young muse."  

I give him an odd stare. "Are you high or something?"

Chuckling, the boy lowered his sunglasses allowing me to recognize the soft brown color of his eyes. 

"Austin?" I breathed. "Is that you?"

"Yeah."  he replied, smirking. "Pretty cool, huh?"