Introduction

This story is based in Tennessee and within a few other places in The United States. All depends on where the characters would be brought towards. The main character is not your typical kind of character. In fact, she isn't even from the same country she's standing on.

Her name is Maria Gonzalez, one of the many foreigners in The States. She has been living there for quite a while, actually, for about 5-7 years. She remembers like it was yesterday, the day they stepped on these lands. The only reason why they were there was because they needed a better place to stay. At the moment, Philippines wasn't the best to support people who needed jobs. After Maria had dropped out from High School to support her family, it's been hard trying to find a job to get money. Ever since the loss of their mother and father, things were never that easy for them anymore. Even for herself. Right now, she worked as a police officer, The only thing she was capable of doing right now.

Of course, a lot of her friends in The States supported her. Especially Alfred F. Jones. He wasn't the best to be around, at least for her since he was always such a loud mouth and an obnoxious guy but she really didn't complain about it. He was so much like a best friend to her, and maybe a tiny bit of an annoying lad. There was also Arthur Kirkland, another foreigner that just came from England last year, he wasn't a bad company to be around, though, he did get a bit annoying with that mouth of his around Alfred.

They never really talked much since he was always so busy but whenever they did get the chance, not a single word would slip out their mouths until Alfred came in.

Josephina was the girl she lived with since her two older brothers were away somewhere else. The oldest being Meshal, he was one of those siblings who had never had the same interests as you or anybody else in the family but she never minded him as much. Like he was almost invisible to her. Then there was Jonathan, Nathan for short. He wasn't living in Tennessee like Meshal and Maria since he worked for The American Navy. When he got the offer from one of his friends, he quickly accepted and barely had a chance to say goodbye to his family. Since then, Meshal and Maria separated and lived in different places. Not bothering to at least make contact with one another.

Though, she had to admit, she really did miss the guy and she wondered if maybe he did as well. Maybe she might call him tonight to see how he's doing.

"Hey, Maria!" Alfred yelled from inside the house as the investigation lasted even longer. The reason why she was outside was because she disliked the sight of blood so Alfred had to cover it up a little bit for her to feel comfortable.

"What do you think?" He said to her as he raised a tiny silver blonde hair to her face, she examined it closely, looking up to him in a mocking frown.

"Well, first of all, it's a piece of hair."

"It's not just any hair, Maria!"

"Don't tell me!" She gasped jokingly, dramatically covering her mouth with one hand, leaving the other to point at the piece of hair. "It glows in the dark!"

Alfred only frowned at this, offended by her lack of seriousness with him. "It's not funny! I'm being serious!"

"Okay," She said, trying to contain most of her laughter. "What do iyou/i think it is?"

"I'm pretty sure that I've seen this hair colour somewhere." He said, turning the piece of hair in his fingers as he put it in a small plastic bag and stood up, following along was Maria.

"We've got to let the team see this, I'm really curious as to who it belongs to."

"Why are you so interested in a piece of hair?"

"Am I not supposed to? It's my job to, isn't it?"

She laughed, "No! I mean, usually, you would just find the evidence and just do what you do but this one ..."

"When you were outside, it was originally black when it was on the floor but once I picked it up, it turned into a silver blonde."

"Any other things that I've missed?" She asked him, entering the car as he started the engines.

"That's all I have to tell you." He looked at her, with that worried gaze of his that would break a thousand hearts. That is, if it ever really worked. "I'm worried about who or what the culprit is ... this isn't some ordinary mission, Maria. This could get really serious, it might even harm innocent civilians!"

"Over some piece of colour changing strand of hair?" She asked while raising her eyebrow, "I'm pretty sure this is just one of those ordinary culprits who look for victims. If you're suggesting something extraterrestrial then I suggest you stop."

"But Maria-"

"That's enough, Alfred!" She snapped at him, "It's been a long day, I just want to go home without these stupid childish thoughts ... If you don't mind."

She gestured towards the wheel his hands were currently on as he grumbled a few silly nothings before driving off, one of which, she managed to understand. She only rolled her eyes at this, warming up her hands from the cold outside and silently regretting her anger towards him.

It wasn't his fault, she just had a lot on her mind that day. Her brothers, her money and how she's going to be able to support herself. She didn't have time for silly thoughts and suggestions and she has had enough of it. She shouldn't have snapped at him though and she knew that herself. Out of stress, she brought her seat back just enough to at least rest her upper body. She was tired and she just wanted to go home. Her mood swings weren't helping either.

Alfred dropped her off at her place after giving the evidence to whoever it had to be given to and drove off. That entire ride without another word, not even an apology from herself. She wasn't the type to be saying sorry first though. She was really stubborn when it came to those things but since she completely knows that it was her fault in the first place. She had to apologize to him the next day. That was when she realized that she wasn't working with him tomorrow so she decided to just text him after dinner.

"Sef, I'm home." She said as she threw her high heels to the side and her bag on the table in front of the TV. Groaning, she just let herself drop on the couch. Not wanting to move any longer.

"Someone's tired."

"Well done, Sherlock." She replied, turning around to face her friend. "What's for dinner?"

"Pizza." She replied, walking over to where Maria's head rested and sat on the arm-rester with a smile on her face.

"Again?" Maria looked up to her with a look of disappointment. "We had that last night."

"Hey! My house, my food. Now stop complaining!"

Maria grunted, turning away from the TV and snuggled against the couch. "I'm not hungry."

"Yes you are, now get up and eat something!" She ordered but Maria didn't move one bit. Josephina frowned at this. "I'm not having you starve yourself again and faint. I nearly had a heart attack!"

Silence.

Frustrated at this, she took a pillow and smacked it at Maria's rear end. Allowing herself to let out a squeal then shoot a sharp glare at her friend. Only to have a cheeky smirk in return before looking away again. "I'm worried about you, Maria ... I know how much things are hard for you but that doesn't mean you should risk your health ..."

"Just give me a few minutes."

"The last time you said that, you fainted and nearly had a coma ... you have no Idea how scared I was. .."

"The last time, I starved myself for five days, I'll be alright."

"Nathan trusted you to me ... I'm not going to risk that trust, Maria."

"Fine!" She said, finally convinced but slightly frustrated at how she still manages to do that. "I'll eat the pizza but tomorrow, we better have a decent meal for once!"

Josephina jumped with joy, skipping towards the kitchen and then coming out with a box of pizza. "I knew you'd say yes eventually! So I ordered it in case my guess was right!"

Maria reached out to take a slice before looking at her friend who was currently jumping in her seat, just waiting to take a bite out of her slice. As the hour went on, Josephina just sat there talking on and on about Puerto Rico all over again. Maria liked the subject and ever since Josephina mentioned it, she had this yearning to visit the country one day. When she has money to go, that is.

Josephina wasn't the best at her money either. Mostly spending it on her shoes and food to eat at home. They were kind of on the same boat, which was why Josephina let her into her own home even when she can't even handle herself.

It was 3 years ago in Tennessee, Nashville when Josephina and Maria first met, Maria and her brothers were kicked out of their previous apartment because they weren't paying their taxes very well and they had no place to stay. Living on the streets was their next big step to survival so they took the challenge and slept in the cold rain. Three months had past and Maria was getting terribly ill. Her face was getting paler and her body just kept shivering no matter the amount of blankets her brothers put on her and they were getting scared that maybe she won't be able to last on that night. So her brothers left her only to find help through out the whole street.

Every door either ignored them or came up with an excuse for them to leave. Every door but one, and that my dear friends, is Josephina Isabella's door. She agreed to help their sister after a little convincing from Nathan and rushed to where they left their sister. When they found her, she was lying on the ground unconscious. From then on, Josephina took care of them until they managed to find a home. Despite the fact that she might end up in the streets if her taxes aren't payed.

After Nathan left, it wasn't long until Maria and Josephina formed a strong friendship. After that happened, Meshal moved to a different house and managed to support himself for a while, leaving Maria in Josephina's hands. In the mean time, Maria had to work harder to support the both of them.

Her thoughts were halted as her friend yawned and leaned against Maria's shoulder. Forming a smile on her face as she snuggled against her friend's arm. "Good night, Maria."

"Good night, Sef."

In just minutes, she had already fallen asleep, snoring softly, which made Maria giggle slightly. The silence of the house encouraged her thoughts once more but she wasn't really thinking of much, just about what tomorrow might bring for her. That was when she was reminded to text Alfred an apology, reaching out for her phone, careful not to wake her sleepy head of a friend.

As she typed away she noticed that she'd gotten another text, not something that she'd get at this time especially since she's back at home from work. Nobody ever texted her after work. The only person that did was Alfred. Curious as to who the sender is, she quickly checked it after sending him her apology.

She raised her eyebrow after reading the name then slowly smiling, realizing who it is.

From Mr Guapo
To Maria Gonzalez

Hey, sis! Sorry, it's been a long time since we've actually talked, huh? I wanted to call you but I found out that I didn't have enough time to so I texted you instead. The Navy's a heap of fun! Though, I really wish you and Meshal were here with me. It's kinda weird for me to wake up to a bunch of dudes that I really don't know about ahaha. I hope you reply soon!

Love you!

She giggled at Nathan's stupid name almost disturbing Josephina's slumber. Her fingers typed away as the smile on her face never left.

From Maria Gonzalez
To Mr Guapo

Hi, Kuya. I've been really busy myself and me and Josephina are doing great atm but it's still not enough. I'm doing the best I can here now that Meshal left. Don't worry, we're doing great. Just focus on your work and come home soon, okay?

Love you.

The last sentence cracked an opening in her heart, somehow. She really missed her brothers and being apart from them was unlikely. She had to admit, without them, everything just seemed a lot bigger and just plain empty. Josephina was there for her because of this, but even their friendship couldn't help the empty feeling in her heart. Sometimes, Maria would wish that none of this ever happened to her or her family. Especially her parents.

She remembers it so clearly, their parents were arguing one day and then the next morning, her Father left the family, leaving her Mother to cry on the kitchen counters. After the divorce, things got a bit better. That is, until one night, their mother never came home. Instead, the police officers did and took them away to whatever relative they had left. When none was found, they put them in the Fosters Home. Where Maria met someone that went through the same as herself.

His name was Antonio Carriedo. Both of them were orphans and seeing them apart was unlikely but at the start of High School, Antonio was adopted and was separated from Maria. That was when she dropped out two years later and started to work in the Fosters Home.

Ever since, she wondered if they might just meet each other again.