Chapter 1: Thursday Visit

Sophie Samsra was weird. Everyone knew it, and nobody doubted it. Her best friend Faith Heiman was just as strange and abnormal. That's why the got along so well.

The two of them stuck out like sore thumbs in a crowd. From Sophie's knee length raven black hair and emerald green eyes. To Faith's light blond ponytail and hanging braids with bright blue eyes.

They even had their own language! Faith had been the one to think of it, so that's why they called it the Heiman language. Faith's big brother Alphonse Heiman would find little notes with the alien words all over both of their houses. For he visited Sophie daily. Even though there was a year of an age difference between them.

It was at one of his visits that our adventure begins. Sophie was browsing the internet Thursday evening while Faith laid sprawled out on the floor behind her boredly. At that moment Alphonse decided to run in.

"Sorry I'm late, mom made me do the dishes even though YOU were supposed to do them tonight Faith."

Faith just shrugged at him and he rolled his eyes. "So what are you up to Soph?"

Alphonse put his hands on Sophie's chair and leaned over her shoulder to take a peek at the computer screen.

She exited out and turned around to face him. He looked her in the eyes for a minute, then adverted his gaze to a wall like usual.

"Nothing much Al, just browsing, so what's the game plan for tonight?" She smiled at him. "Because I'm up for anything."

Faith suddenly jumped up from the ground. "Actually, I have to go fix Mrs.Mullholand's washer. So see ya!" With that she walked out.

"Ok…I guess it's just you and me Al." Sophie smiled at him once more.

Alphonse made a weird face in her opinion then managed to stutter out.

"Y-yeah I-I g-guess so." Sophie giggled at him.

"Alright then. How about we get something to eat first? I'm starving."

They both walked into the kitchen. Sophie made each of them a tv dinner and sat at the table with him.

"So do you wanna do anything after school tomorrow?" Sophie asked him curiously.

"We'll probably just end up making plans for Saturday and then Faith complaining that I said I'd help her with something when I didn't and her dragging me home as soon as we come to a decision like every Friday." Al replied after swallowing a particully large bite of food.

"Good point." Sophie said after some silent deliberation.

After about 20 more minutes of random conversation they had finished their dinner.

"I better go before your brother gets home, I get the feeling he doesn't like me all that much."

Sophie laughed and walked him to the door like always. "You know he's just been over protective of me ever since my mother disappeared."

"Yeah, well see ya tomorrow after school." He waved and walked out.

"See ya." Sophie closed and locked the door behind him. She yawned as she walked upstairs to get ready for bed. Her older brother Seaver would be home soon and he'd be furious if she was still in her school clothes when he did. Her brother was 19 and had to work a lot to provide everything they both needed. Sophie's father had left them when she was 3 and then her mother had mysteriously disappeared when she was 5.

Sophie felt dirtier then usual and decided to take a quick shower. She gathered her clothes for bed and then hopped in front of the lukewarm water. Sophie had never been one for hot showers. Especially in the late spring.

Her shower was brisk and refreshing. It only took 15 minutes. Afterwards Sophie changed into her shorts with the words Pirate Booty on them with a t-shirt that said In Touch with my Inner Pirate. Both were green. For Sophie was obsessed with pirates and green. For an unknown reason Sophie had also always wanted to see the ocean in person. Unfortunately she had not gotten the opportunity to yet.

Sophie heard the front door open and close and knew her brother had gotten home. A grin plastered onto her face and she ran down the stairs to hug him. "Hey Brother."

"Hey Short-stuff!" He gave her a light noogie.

"How was work?" She asked brightly.

"Oh, the usual." He replied with a smirk.

"You mean begging Katie to do your paperwork for you while you go flirt with girls on the street but still get paid for it?" Sophie smirked back at him.

He gasped at her accusation. "How could you think so low of me!? My own sweet baby sister!" There was a moment of silence between them before they both burst into laughter.

"Ok, ok, it's time for you to go to bed little missy. Look at the time." Seaver pointed to the clock across the room and Sophie sighed. It was almost 9 o'clock.

"I don't know why I have to go to sleep so early Brother, but fine." She stalked up the stairs to her room. "Good night Brother!"

"Night Half-pint!" Seaver sat down at the kitchen table heavily. Even though Katie did do a lot of his paperwork for him, she still left him some to do himself. "I'll have to thank her when I see her in the morning…" He took the small pile of papers out of his bag and got to work. Surprisingly it only took him an hour to finish it all.

"And now I shall go to bed." Seaver hobbled over to the stairs then dragged himself up. His room was the first on the right. Sophie's across the hall. He noticed she had left her door open and peeked inside.

Sophie was fast asleep in her bed clinging to a doll she'd had since she was two. It was a golden lab dog her mother had given to her. Seaver's heart was warmed at the sight and he smiled. "Sweet dreams kid." He pulled a blanket over her and kissed her forehead. Seaver walked out and closed the door quietly behind him. He went to his room and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Meanwhile, sweet dreams was exactly what Sophie was having. Of a place that seemed familiar, but she didn't know why. She had never been there. Or maybe she had. It did not matter however, for when she awoke the next morning at 5 to get ready for school. She could not remember the strange dream. It was as if it never happened.