Third person's pov
Ethan Madleev signed the papers and thanked Mr Harris. He couldn't believe how lucky he had been that day.
He stood up and walked to the door but before he could touch the handle, he heard his name.
"Ethan.." Mr Harris called.
He turned back to look at the slender man sitting on the sofa, confusion evident in his eyes.
Mr Harris looked at him for a few seconds before a small smile crept onto his face.
"Sorry, you can go." He said.
Ethan nodded before turning back to the door.
After Ethan left, the smile on Mr Harris face disappeared. When Ethan had turned his back to leave, he had noticed how lonely the boy looked from behind and couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
He had called him back to ask if he would allow him adopt him but the look in the boy's eyes told him he would never agree.
Ethan had also told him his aunt's family were treating him well although Mr Harris just couldn't bring himself to believe him.
He sighed and picked up his phone, dialing a number.
"Hello, boss." A rough voice answerd from the other end.
"I need you to find out everything you can about Ethan Madleev, how he has lived his life for the past ten years and his relationship with his aunt's family as soon as possible."
"Okay, boss." The voice replied.
Mr Harris hung up the phone.
If his suspicions were confirmed, he wouldn't waste another second before adopting the boy.
Ethan dragged his feet against the tiled floors of the school, his eyes distant as he was lost in thought.
The papers he had signed minutes ago were held tightly in his hand.
Will his life change for the better?
But then, he remembered his aunt and her family.
Will they accept this? What should he do?
No.
He won't tell them about it. Not until he is ready to move out.
Yes, that is the best alternative.
Since he has a house of his own now, he can move out of that house.
He was lost in his own world that he didn't realize the dainty figure that had come to stand next to him.
" What are you thinking so much about?" A tiny voice startled him.
He held the papers tightly in his hands before turning to look at the person next to him.
A sigh of relief left his lips before a genuine smile came on his face.
"Sorry. I didn't see you there." He said, scratching his head as he looked at the pretty girl next to him.
The girl's brown hair was long, she had hazel eyes with her long eyelashes brushing her face when she blinked. Her skin was as white and smooth as porcelain. To round it all up, this girl was an irresistible beauty.
She was in Ethan's class but never associated with anyone. She was the cold and aloof beauty in the class, always minding her business and never sticking her nose in someone else's.
Ethan stared at her with curiosity as he couldn't understand why the girl came to meet him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" The girl asked.
"Sorry. I was just surprised." He replied.
"Why? Is it that strange to talk to your classmate?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not really, it's just...." Ethan tried to come up with something reasonable to say.
"My name is Percy. Percy Miller. You know me right?" Percy asked, turning to glance at the boy walking beside her.
His handsome face was a sight to behold.
Why didn't she notice how handsome he was before?
She always saw how the others bullied and mocked him but she wasn't one to be nosy so she always turned a blind eye.
But tonight, Ethan had proved that he wasn't just a poor orphan and that he wasn't worthless after all and that was what encouraged her to approach him.
She didn't know where he was going or where they were heading to admist the crowd but she followed him anyway.
"Yes I do. Who wouldn't know the beauty queen of our class?" Ethan replied, making Percy chuckle.
"Please, don't make it sound like that." She said.
"Sound like what?" Ethan asked.
Percy stared at him for a moment before rolling her eyes.
"Forget it. What are you holding?" She asked.
"Oh, this? It's nothing. Just a paper." Ethan replied, moving the paper to his side.
"Then why don't you throw it away?" Percy asked, looking skeptical.
"Forget about that. You have never spoken to me or approached me before. Do you need anything?" Ethan asked, trying to change the topic as he was uncomfortable with her asking about the papers.
"Why make it sound so weird? Anyways I thought I have been a loner in the class long enough and just wanted to make a friend." She replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"There are so many students wanting to make you their friend, so why me?" Ethan asked. He just couldn't understand what the girl was up to.
"Let's just say you caught my attention." She replied with a grin.
Her words made Ethan stop in his tracks. By then they were already standing at the school's entrance.
He stared at the girl in front of him, speechless.
"Why are you quiet?" She asked when she noticed Ethan wasn't saying anything.
"What do you mean by what you just said?" He asked her.
"It meant exactly what it meant. Can I have your number?" She asked as she dipped her hand into her pocket, bringing out the latest Samsung phone.
Ethan stared at the phone in her hands and remembered the old modeled phone in his trousers pocket and he couldn't help but notice the difference.
How could he become friends with someone like her?
From her outfit to her phone, one could tell she was from a wealthy family.
A beautiful girl from a wealthy family? They were from completely different worlds.
Sure, Emily was also a very beautiful girl from a wealthy family but Emily's case is different right?
That's reminds him, he haven't seen Emily since the performance.
He turned to go back inside the school to look for her but a small hand grabbed his arm, stopping him from moving further.
"Where are you going? I just asked for your number." Percy asked, her beautiful eyes almost glaring at him.
"I'm sorry Percy. I can't give you my number, neither can I be your friend. Now if you wouldn't mind, I need to go look for my friend." Ethan replied, trying to free himself from her grasp.
"That new girl? Emily? If she's your friend, why can't I be your friend too?" She probed, refusing to back down.
Ethan sighed in frustration but he didn't want to be harsh to the girl.
"Look Percy, I don't have time for this. Just let me go okay?" He tried to reason with her.
"No, I won't" Percy refused.
"Ethan, I have been looking everywhere for you." A chirpy voice was heard making them turn to look at the owner.
Emily was walking towards them with a wide smile on her face. She had been so excited to meet Ethan and give him a hug.
Her friend had made her proud tonight and she thought he deserved to be rewarded.
As she walked closer to them, she noticed a brown haired girl clinging unto Ethan and the smile on her face faltered.
Ethan didn't want Emily to misunderstand so he quickly turned to Percy.
"Percy please let me go." He pleaded in a quiet voice.
"Not until you give me what I want."
"Fine." Ethan finally gave up and grabbed the phone from her hand.
He typed his number and returned the phone to her causing the girl to flash him a radiant smile.
The exchange didn't escape Emily's eyes and she frowned.
"What just happened?" She asked as she got to where they were standing.
"Nothing. Come on, let's go home." Ethan said and grabbed her hand, dragging her outside the school gate.
Emily turned to look at the girl behind them who was also staring at their backs.
The girl flashed her a smile before turning to enter the school.
Emily turned to Ethan, her eyebrows furrowed in a frown.
"What was going on back there? Why was she clinging to you and what were you typing in her phone?" Emily asked.
"It was nothing serious. She just asked to be my friend and also asked for my number." Ethan replied without looking at her.
"Wait, you have a phone?" Emily asked with surprise.
She thought Ethan didn't have a phone because she had never seen him use it and that was why she had never asked for his number.
He didn't tell her but told another girl he just spoke to today? How could he?
"Yeah. I do have a phone?" Ethan replied, finally taking a glimpse of her face.
He saw her glaring at him and found it amusing. She looked like an angry puppy and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Are you laughing right now? Why didn't you tell me you had a phone? Why did you tell that girl first? And who is she?" Emily asked, her anger growing.
She felt betrayed.
"Whoa, hold your horses girl. Firstly I didn't tell her I had a phone, she just assumed I had a phone and asked for my number. Secondly I didn't tell you because the topic never came up and third, Percy is our classmate." Ethan answered her, his eyebrows raised in amusement. It almost sounded like Emily was jealous and it was funny.
"Percy? That's her name?" Emily asked, folding her arms.
Ethan chuckled before stretching his hand that was not holding the paper towards her.
"What?" She asked.
"Give me your phone." Ethan said, rolling his eyes.
"Emily stared at him briefly before bringing out her phone from her purse.
Ethan typed his number and returned her phone.
"Now you have my number. So can you stop being jealous?"
"Who's jealous?" She asked shyly, her face turning red.
"Yeah, yeah." Ethan chuckled.
"What is that paper in your hand?" She asked, pointing to his left hand holding the papers.
Ethan hesitated for a moment before telling her everything that happened in the principal's office.
After hearing from Ethan, Emily couldn't stop the smile that came on her face.
"Congratulations Ethan. I'm so happy for you." She said.
She was genuinely happy for him as she had a little knowledge of his sufferings.
Ethan felt grateful for having Emily as a friend. The girl was one of the few blessings he had in his life.
He glanced at her beautiful face for a brief moment before placing his hand on her shoulder, bringing her closer to himself.
"So tell me, why were you jealous?"
"Hey, I told you I wasn't jealous."
"Hmph liar."
"Who are you calling liar."
And the two friends kept on bickering as they walked, unaware of the dark days waiting ahead.