(A/N: Yay, new story! Here's a little heads-up: This isn't related to the LiM trilogy in any way. Enjoy! I hope...)

Love at First Sight

Prologue

11-year-old Shenzi Tuck was strolling through the park close to her house on a warm, September day. She was enjoying her freedom before school was back in session the next day. She hoped to follow in her big brother figure's footsteps, and join a sports team. But while Fridge Cominskey, who was a grade ahead of her, was on the football team, she had her heart set on basketball. Little did she know that the fifth grade would provide her not only with new lessons, but with new friends. One of the latter was going to be a very special friend.

She perked up upon seeing an ice cream truck close by; Good thing she brought lactaids everywhere she went, and that she had some spare cash on her. "Ooh." She waited in the line of kids for her turn. Her heart leapt when she saw the company logo on the truck: Dippin' Dots. That was one of her two favorites! The other was Ben & Jerry's. Once it was her turn, she took out her wallet from her Jack Skellington Tsum Tsums crossbody bag. "Um, o-one small Cookies 'N Cream, please," She stammered, while putting the right amount of money on the counter; She was quite timid, but was trying to conquer it.

"Here you go, sweetie," The woman gave her a small, clear bowl with a plastic spoon.

"Thanks."

"You're very welcome."

Shenzi sat at a bench, stuck a lactaid in her first spoonful, and enjoyed the tasty treat. The cold was refreshing on the warm day. But when she had one bite left, two preppy-looking girls, one blonde and one brunette, came up to her. She recognized them from her school, but she didn't know their names. All she knew was that they were conceited and liked verbally putting others down. They always ignored her, but not today. "Hey Tuck," The blonde greeted her like they were friends, which they were not. "What're you eating?"

"Ice cream," Shenzi smiled happily.

"Ohhh," The brunette drew out, "Children's dessert."

"What?" Now she was confused. "Ice cream isn't just for kids."

"Ohh right," The blonde nodded, "It's for children and overly perky weirdos."

Shenzi's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

"Psh!" The blonde scoffed, as if the answer wa obvious, "I mean you're way too perky. Nobody likes that; It's annoying."

"I'm not too perky," Shenzi glared, now getting angry.

"Oh really?" The brunette set her hands on her hips, "Only an overly bubbly weirdo would wear an outfit like that."

She glanced down at herself. "What's wrong with it?" She was wearing a black Skelanimals Kit bow front dress with a white bow, a white ribbed tank top under it, so it showed under the black mesh on the dress, classic Converse high-tops, a white extension in her long bangs, which covered her left blue eye, and even her thick black eyeglasses, and black rose earrings. Her long, black hair was in two semi-high ponytails, with a black puff clip on the left, and a blu-ish white one on the right.

"It's too childish," The blonde pointed out, "I mean, you know Skelanimals are plush toys, don't you?"

Shenzi raised an eyebrow. "I'm not stupid, y'know."

"Yeah, but just remember," The blonde took the black-haired girl's ice cream bowl, "Nobody likes an overly perky person. Think about it." Holding the perpetrated bowl, she and her friend walked away.

"Yeah well, joke's on you! I had only one bite left! And my germs are in it now!" Shenzi yelled to her after standing up, but it was seemingly unheard, or just ignored. She sighed heavily, before deciding that she didn't feel like walking around anymore. She headed home, now feeling despondent as the mean girls' words ran through her head. Too perky? She dressed in black all the time! Didn't that overpower it? Guess not.

That night, after freshening up, she laid face-up on her bed in her dark bedroom. She was wearing a black floral sleep shirt that reached below her knees with short sleeves and lace-trim neckline, black Lazy Oaf watching eye socks, and black barbells in her pointy ears, which rested at the top of her head. You see, she isn't 100% human; She's 98% at least. Her only non-human features are her ears, her round black nose like a hyena's, and her purplish-grey skin color. She had a purple plush giraffe on her left arm.

Her bedroom had a black carpet, and dark pink walls. The Akumu Ink canvas prints on the walls gave the room a slightly intimidating vibe. There was also a black and pink Victorian-style clock, and a matching black mirror on the wall. At the windows were pink and zebra-striped curtains. There was a black and grey puzzle rug on the floor, in front of a big, black desk.

Her bed had a black canopy frame with a black, tulle sheet on it tied into a fancy, curtain-like style at the zebra-print corners. It had black, pink, and zebra-striped sheets and covers. To the bed's right was a pink, cupcake-like table that held a pink metallic, rectangular alarm clock, and a zebra-striped lava lamp with dark pink substance inside. There was another table at the front of the bed, although this one resembled arranged playing cards; On top of it was a jewelry holder that looked like dollhouse chairs stacked haphazardly. At the wall across from the bed was a desk for her laptop, and to do homework at.

She turned her head towards the door when she heard it open, and saw Frankie, her older stepsister at the doorway. She was a badger-like girl with brown skin, a round black nose on a short forenose, and short blonde hair that was usually up in a half-ponytail. "You okay, Shen?" She asked her.

"Y-yeah," She nodded, "I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine."

Shenzi stayed quiet, before she sat up with her arms for support. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

She hesitated for a second. "Am I too perky?"

Frankie was confused at that. "No, of course not." She sat on her little sister's bed. "Why would you think that?"

"Well... these two girls from our school, I don't know their names, told me that I am while I was at the park today."

"O-oh. Well, don't listen to them; They don't know you, so they have no right to tell you anything like that. You're perfectly fine."

"Thanks, sis." Shenzi let out a yawn. "I'm getting tired. I'm going to bed early."

"Okay," Frankie nodded, "G'night." She gingerly closed the door as she exited the room.

"G'night," Shenzi mumbled, before she took off her glasses, buried herself in the warm covers, and was out like a light. It was going to be a very interesting day tomorrow.

(A/N: Yeah I know, a bit of a boring start. ^^; I think you should know my disclaimer by now.)