~1987~

"It's pink. I don't like pink."

The six year old african american girl stared up accusingly at the woman with enormous brown eyes, clutching a magenta toothbrush in her hand.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but it's the last one we have. Maybe you could trade with one of the other girls?"

"...They won't talk to me. Not since what happened with Florence."

"That was just... an accident, dear, I'm sure that if you just talk to one of them, then you could-"

"No." She sat, twisting the bottom of her beige shirt with her fingers, while holding the pink toothbrush. "No, they hate me."

"Oh, honey... they don't hate you, no, sweetie, they don't hate you, they just don't understand."

The girl's grip tightened around the toothbrush, her knuckles turning white. Her jaw set, and she said, "What. Don't understand what?"

The woman shifted uncomfortably, lacing her fingers in front of her. "Listen, Dacia, they don't understand that-"

"What? That I'm not... normal, that I'm not like them!" She spat the last two syllables, and the woman, making no more pretense, stepped back, flinching. Dacia dug her fingernails into the toothbrush, digging them into the rubbery grip. It grew warm under her fingers.

"They don't understand that I'm" She felt her fingers grinding against the brush, "A", the brush was growing warmer and warmer beneath her fingers, "FREAK!" she shrieked the last word, and as she did the toothbrush grew white hot, and she dropped, and as it tumbled, it blazed blindingly bright, and exploded spectacularly, spewing broken pieces of plastic like shrapnel in all directions. They were both hurled several feet backwards as the brush exploded, and the woman was thrown quite a bit further into the courtyard, while Dacia was slammed against the concrete wall behind her. The air was clouded and ashen, with everyone coughing. She could hear other children screaming in the distance, mixed with panicked shouts. It all faded to white sound as she fell into the welcoming arms of unconsciousness.

~1998~

"Dace. Dace! Dacia, wake up!"

"I uh... I..."

"Dace, it's time for school!"

"Chris... Christina, how did you get in here? I don't..."

"Your mom let me in, now hurry up, get up, or you're gonna be late!"

Dacia peeled back her covers and sighed. Her best friend, Christina, was perched on the end of her bed, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for the day.

"I hate morning people. And mornings. And people." Dacia groaned, her voice muffled from underneath the blankets.

"Aww com on now, you don't hate me, do you?"

Dacia giggled, "Yes I do, now get off my bed! Find me a pair of pants, they're in the-"

"Third drawer down!" Chimed in Christina, laughing as she threw some jeans at Dacia. They landed on her head, and they both collapsed in fits of giggles.

After Dacia had gotten dressed, they walked out the front door, skipping merrily down the sidewalk. They got to their destination, South Elementary, the local public school in their district. Christina lived right next to her, and she was very talkative most of the time. She was, in fact, doing this right now as they walked to their class.

"I mean, it's not like you don't have parents, but don't you ever wonder where you come from? I mean, you're adopted, don't you think about where your origins are? Maybe you should get a DNA test! Hey, maybe- hey, are you even listening to me?" Christina stuck her face in front of Dacia, and her blonde hair dangled over her face. "Ugh, of course you're not! Look, it's Sebastian, of course."

"Hm?" It was evident that Dacia hadn't been listening. She was staring across the cafeteria at one table. No one sat there, except one boy. He was pale, and had a mop of dark brown hair covering his eyes. He was hunched over, reading a book. His tray sat to the side, nearly untouched as his attention seemed to be focused entirely on his novel.

Dacia sighed, dreamily. "Oh, isn't he handsome?" She asked, absently twirling her dark hair around her fingers. She giggled, smiling absently as she continued staring at him.

"Oh, get your head out of your behind, Dace, he's not interested in anything other than his books!"

"That's not true" Dacia said ruefully, "He said hi to me the other day."

"Yeah, but that's, like, just something that someone says to everyone!"

"Oh, shut up Chris," Said Dacia to Christina, "Besides, it's not like he'll ever like me. Not like that, anyways."

She heaved a dramatic sigh, and sat back into her chair, stirring her noodles with her plastic fork.

"Hey, Chris, Chris! Watch this," Said Dacia, wiggling her fingers towards Sebastian. His spoon, untouched as of yet, began to float slowly behind him. It was right behind his head, and it was evident that she intended to poke him in the back with it.

"Oh, Dace, stop it! You don't make a guy like you by poking him in the back, god, you know nothing!" Said Christina, laughing as she pushed Dacia's hand down.

The next day, Dacia came home, swinging the door shut behind her.

"Mom? Mom, I'm home!"

She dropped her bag on the kitchen table, and walked around.

"Hello?"

Silence...

"SURPRISE!" Suddenly, her family, her Aunt Shelly, her mom, and her brother all burst from hidden corners around the house. A banner dropped from the ceiling, reading "!HAPPY ELEVENTH BIRTHDAY DACE!" and music started playing. It was a fantastic party, with incredible cake, and great food.

After all the celebrations were over, then she sat down in her bedroom, and smiled at a gift that said "Happy Birthday. -Sebastian." It was a hardback book of "To Kill A Mockingbird". She laughed, and turned to the first page, where he had stuck a birthday note. She had just started to read the first chapter when she noticed that her window was open. The breeze was drafty and cold, so she crossed the room to close it, and as she did, she noticed an envelope on the window.

"Miss Dacia Rendale"

She stared at the lettering on it, and looked more closely. It had a red wax seal on the front. A large letter H, surrounded by a lion, a badger, an eagle, and a serpent.