Disclaimer: Moo.

The day Tabatha Diablo was born, it was raining.

Trinity lay in her bed, staring down at the newborn with a tear in her eye. Xavier sat next to her, resting his head on the wall behind them. No one said a word.

"You know what we have to do, right?" Xavier said, breaking the silence.

Trinity nodded, another tear rolling.

Time had certainly stood still that day. The world just seemed to stop. God's newest gift to the world was a nightmare.

And no one ever saw it coming.

"Tabatha. Wake up."

Renee was shaking me and slapping me on the back.

"Fuck off," I replied groggily.

"Tabatha, you have to get up, girl," Renee said, turning me over. She gave me a shove and I tumbled off the bed, sheets and all.

"I hate you," I mumbled, getting up.

I was just kidding, of course. Renee was my best friend in the whole world, and my roommate. We live together. Not in an apartment or a house or anything like that. An orphanage. In fact, we're the only two who've lived here our whole lives. Amazing, right?

My name is Tabatha…well, I don't exactly have a last name, so until I marry someone, it's Smith. How original, right? If only I could talk when I was a newborn, then maybe I could've given myself an exotic last name. But I know my first name is real. See, when my so-called "parents" left me on the doorstep of this hellhole, they only left me with one thing; a piece of paper with the words "Her name is Tabatha" on it.

Renee has been my roommate my whole life. Sixteen years and we've never been adopted. If I didn't know any better I'd say it was fate.

Not only were we roommates, but we've been in school together forever too. She was so small and timid back then, so I had to fight all her battles. She had this thing about being teased when she was younger because she's black, but I think I did a pretty good job of eating their faces off.

I got up off the floor and pulled the ponytail out of my hair, the black mess spilling over my shoulders and face.

"I'll get dressed later," I said. "We should head downstairs before all the good food is eaten and we're left with soggy waffles again."

"Maybe we would've gotten there faster if I didn't have to drag your sorry butt out of bed," Renee replied, flashing a smile.

We walked downstairs and saw suitcases in the hall, our friend Victoria sitting down next to them.

"Hey, Victoria," I said. "What's with the-"

"I'm leaving," she stated, picking her head up. "I've been adopted."

Renee made an O-shape with her mouth while I just stared. Something in her eyes was different that the smile on her face. She looked…almost sad. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I smiled. "Well, good," I said. "I hope you like your new family."

"Yeah, where as me and Tabby here couldn't get adopted if our lives depended on it." Renee grinned.

I playfully punch her arm. "Don't call me 'Tabby'."

Victoria stood up and brushed off her jeans. "Come to think, why haven't you guys ever been adopted?"

"No one likes Renee 'cause she's pushy," I laughed.

Renee laughed too. "Yeah, and no one like Tabatha because she can't get out of bed in the morning."

Our laughter was interrupted by the matron of the house walking in. "Victoria, it's time to go."

So we said our goodbyes and hugged…well, they hugged. I don't like being touched by other people, so we just shook hands.

Renee sighed as we walked away.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I was just thinking…"

"Oh no," I said sarcastically. "I hate when you do that."

She giggled, then continued. "I was thinking, when will we get adopted?"

"Dunno," I said sitting down at a table to eat breakfast. "And honestly, I don't care."

"Why not?" she protested. "You want to live in this dump forever?"

"No," I replied. "Not at all."

"So you don't want to live here and you don't want to be adopted?" she asked. "It's one or the other, hon."

I sighed. "I just haven't liked the last few families that have adopted me."

"So that's why you keep running away?"

I smiled. "Partly."

Renee shook her head. "Tabatha Smith, I don't understand you at all."

I sighed. "Neither do I."

Sorry it's so short, guys. The chapters will get longer as we get more into the plot and stuff.

Also, I'm sorry it took so long to update. I've been experiencing a lot of writers block lately and it SUCKS!

Please review and stuff. Yeah…

PLHE (WOW! How long has it been since I said THAT?)

~Nikki-sama