disclaimer: don't own the show

Robots Don't Know Angels

Chapter One: A Freak Experiment

I hadn't slept the night before. I didn't even eat. I was so hungry that I did it anyway. The door creaked loudly as I slowly opened it, a warning to my soon to be mistake. "Mom, I'm hungry-" Wait a minute, who was that man? Why was he naked? What was he doing to my mom?

"Jesus! How long was he in here?!"

"Get out! Elliot, I told you to knock! "

I knew better than to ask questions, but I never knew enough to shut my mouth.

"I'm just hungry mom I-"

"You're not hungry! Get out! Get the fuck out of my room!"

I never played at recess. The concept behind such a senseless activity never appealed to 7 year old me. What was the point of swinging around on metal bars until I fell down or twisted my arm? What was the point of chasing around other classmates that I was supposed to call "friends"? I don't need a "friend" if they call me a freak behind my back, pointing and whispering and laughing.

I don't need them. I don't want them.

So today I passed the allotted time by killing ants. This time I had stolen a magnified glass from the teacher's desk. I didn't hear her approach, absorbed in one particular ant sizzling in the sun. I pretended the ant was that man from last night. "What are you doing?" I don't bother to look up.

"Having an experiment."

"Experiment on what?"

I wished she would leave me alone like they all did.

"Burning ants to death."

I pause waiting for the girl to get scared away.

"Cool. Can I watch?"

I look up in surprise. She had pink bows tying blonde pigtails. She had a pink and green gingham dress with frilly socks in white keds. Her eyes blue grey like a rainy day. She was taller than me. I swallow and go back to killing ants. She crouches down next to me. "I'm Angela." She says three dead ants later. "What's your name?"

"Elliot."

Five Years Later~

"Hey, Elliot!" Angela shouted, trying to wave me over in the hallway.

He noticed the blonde girl as usual, he always did, but chose to ignore and walk past her. The girl seemed to follow him around everywhere. It was starting to affect her reputation. He observed her beginning to get excluded, dirty looks were cast her way whenever she walked by in the hallway with him. He didn't want her to suffer the role he always played: the black sheep. I have to cut her off completely this time. Someone grabbed his arm, and he spun around angrily. He absolutely loathed human contact. His anger quickly dissipated at the hurt expression on Angela's face. There was no one in the hallway at this point.

"Why are you avoiding me? We're supposed to be best friends. I know we don't see each other as much... I miss you."

Why didn't she understand that we come from different worlds? She could never understand me and where I come from. I realized this fact at 12 years old. This thing we had going on with each other had to end. I don't need any friends. She doesn't need me. It is to our own benefit that we stop associating with one another.

"We can't be friends anymore."

Angela's face fell at my words and I regretted them immediately. I hated her expressiveness, she always showed her feelings. "Come over." She said it so softly, I almost didn't hear her.

"I can't do that."

"Please, you never let me go to your house ever. At least this last time I want you to be here for me." Angela pleaded. "I promise to leave you alone after this."

Her house was a large blue and white Victorian, just like I remembered. There was still that white fence and those two apple trees in her front yard. Angela took out a key and unlocked the front door. I followed her into the giant foyer, up the spiral staircase third room to the left. "It's been awhile hasn't it, Elliot?" She gestured around. Her walls no longer the pale blue from when we were kids, now a sunny yellow with green and white bed sheets, oak table and chairs. There was a mini fridge beside a linen couch across from a 50 inch smart tv and the most recent PlayStation; a far cry from her old 16 inch box tv and Nintendo 64. She asks me if I would like a drink after a moment. I nod my head yes, she strolls over to the fridge. "Alcoholic or nonalcoholic?"

"We're underage."

"No one will find out."

I still decline. She hands me grape soda. She knows it's my favorite. She herself pours Captain Morgan and coke into a glass full of ice. She empties the glass without flinching, downing a second Captain without the coke, then a third and pouring a fourth. I put my hand on hers, preventing her from taking another shot. "That's enough." I take the glass away from her.

"You the first..." She mumbles. "I don't let anyone come over anymore."

"Why?"

"Nobody knows this, but I live alone. My parents left right after you did."

"You have to tell the police." I start to get off the couch, feeling a stab of guilt for avoiding her the past two summers. When middle school started, I slowly stopped answering her calls, said I was too busy to hang out and when she started to make new friends I basically cut off all contact. Of course, there was still the occasional wave in the hallway I allowed so she wouldn't think something was up. I didn't want her to be bullied because of me. Angela grabs my hand, leaning into my chest. "No, s'alright..." She breathes. "I have Tabitha." She breathed, referring to the family maid. "She cooks, cleans... food."

"You can't live by yourself. You have to tell-"

"I'm telling you!" She shouted. I cringe from the shouting due to habit. "You're all I have, Elliot. Other than ya... I'm alone." She curls up against my chest, hiding her face and whispers, "Sorry for yellin'. I know ya hate that.

"We are too different. I don't want you to get bullied because of me."

"No... the same. I don't care what they say! So don't ya ever leave me." She's crying into my chest and I hold her close, my angel.

"I'll never leave you."