Here's Chapter One. It's still pretty short, because I'm kinda too lazy to write big long chapters currently.

But here's where we introduce our main character. It's going to get wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey soon.

The fire. The alarm went off, and I knew we were all toast. No pun intended. That's when I looked at Jean, who had the bed across from me. She was the oldest girl in the orphanage, 17 going on 18. I quickly grabbed my watch, the only thing I had from my parents, and my school backpack.

The flames grew near. Jean looked scared, and so did the other girls. Kris walked over to me, one of my best friends, with a worried look, "we're going to die, aren't we?"

"Kris, of course not, why'd you even think that? We're- we're going to get out of here, all of us," I desperately looked at Jean. Kris was a year younger than me, and most times I wasn't good at reassuring her. That's what Jean says, anyway. Jean's word is basically law around here. Well, next to the orphanage owners.

We ran. All of us, running through the building, flames chasing us. Little did I know that wasn't going to be the only escape run in my life. It was the start of countless others.

"Tori, I can't- I can't breathe!" Kris choked. Oh God. She had asthma.

"Do you have your inhaler?" But it looked like Kris was getting woozy, like she was going to pass out.

"Tori, leave her! Your life matters more than a hopeless one!" Jean yelled. But I couldn't just- as much as I hated it, she was right.

"Try to keep up, Kris! And see if you can grab your inhaler!"

We darted through a doorway, Jean and I, and suddenly the wood collapsed. Kris was trapped, and so were the other girls. We ran outside, me too shocked and exhausted to cry, and alerted the firemen of the girls.


A week passed. Kris and many of the other girls passed away. The fire had destroyed most of the building. So that meant, we were going to be brought into a new orphanage. We were residing in a hotel, waiting to see where and if we had a chance at being adopted.

Jean didn't, but maybe I did.

But who'd want to adopt a 15 year old girl?

Jean and I were talking, her doing her homework and me watching YouTube (musical related videos, of course) when there was a knock on our door. I nearly jumped up to the ceiling, so startled by the random knocking.

"Who is it?" Jean called, getting up from her chair and walking to the door. She looked in the door's hole.

"Just Miss Har, can Tori come out and talk with me?"

"Tori," Jean called to me. I rolled my eyes and got off the bed, honestly enjoying binge-watching Think Pink, a Wicked vlog. So I paused it, and walked over, opening the door.

"Yeah?"

"Tori, come out into the hall and shut the door behind you," Miss Har said, sweetly, "it's… important."

I awkwardly walked out, "what's so important that your interrupting a Wicked vlog?"

"You're about to get adopted, Tori. But you can't tell Jean, we're just saying you're going to a different orphanage," Miss Har sighed, but suddenly was enthusiastic, "Now, I suppose you deserve a brief description of your adopter, well, potential adopter."

"Potential?"

"She has to meet you first, Tori. And you have to meet her."

"Oh."

"She's an archaeologist, I believe. From London."

"That's… nice."

"I'll give you some time to change. First impressions are always the most important, eh?"

"Yeah," I smiled, "thanks."

"Okay, goodbye!" Miss Har left. So I opened the door, and saw Jean. She raised an eyebrow.

"What was that all about, then?"

"Uh…" I had to think up something on the spot, "my… grades! Yeah, my grades… I'm failing math, that's all." It was a semi-lie. I used to be failing, but I somehow raised it to an A.

"Your failing math? I've given you like fifteen damn tutoring sessions!"

"Urm, not important. What's important is for me to get ready for my…" I had to think, "counseling session."

"Right…" Jean rolled her eyes, "you don't have to lie. I can tell your getting adopted. You realize how bad of a liar you are, right?" I sighed. She's seen right through me.

"Of course I'm lying. I got it back up to an A months ago," I sighed, "and yeah, I gotta work on lying, I'm probably the worst liar in the entire universe."

"Yeah," she laughed, her silky black hair falling into her face, "you are." She swept it to the side, a bit annoyedly. "I'm going to miss 'ya, Tor. You were fun to have around." She got up and gave me a hug.

"I'll miss you too, you're like a big sister to me," I smiled bittersweetly, "so," I let go, "could ya help me plan out an outfit?"

"Would I ever!" laughed Jean. I couldn't help but giggle at Jean's attempts to get me to wear the least trendy clothes in the world. Make that the universe.

"Uh, this… bright… green shirt would look, urm, nice, with that pink skirt!"

The green shirt was colored in a pukey green color, and it was of course her's. The skirt was mine, but that outfit combo would never work.

"I'll just wear this," I rolled my eyes, with a small laugh, and grabbed the one nice dress I had, a light blue sundress. It was a miracle that it was a sunny day, so it'd be perfect. Next I put everything back in my suitcase. All the clothes had recently been bought to replace the old ones. Then I grabbed my toothbrush, my phone and chargers, and I was free to go. My watch never left my wrist. It meant too much to me- the only thing left of my family.

"I'll be back to get my suitcase, if she does end up adopting me," I hugged her again, "this won't be goodbye, Jean." Jean laughed.

"I wouldn't think it, kid."