A/N- So far, so good. Things should start picking up in the next few chapters. Same disclaimer applies!

Korean Pearl- Thanks for reviewing, even though you've never seen the show. I really appreciate it, and I hope, if you continue to read, that you won't be too confused!

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Chapter 2- Time Travel

She is yearning

For shelter and affection

That she never found at home.

She is searching, for a hero to ride in,

To ride in and save the day.

And in walks her Prince Charming, and he knows just what to say.

Momentary lapse of reason, and she gives herself away.

–Does Anybody Hear Her, by Casting Crowns

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My life wasn't anything special, before Leaping. My mother divorced my father when she couldn't take him any more, and I moved away to live with her. I went to high school, but was depressed the entire time. I was emotionally unstable, but refused to see a shrink because of what other people might say about me. I smoked, at first just to fit in, then because I became addicted.

My mother tried to talk with me, to see if we could fix what had gone wrong, but I refused to open up to her. She had never been there for me with Dad, why should she care now? We fought. There was an argument almost every night, most of them ending with us in tears. But always in separate rooms.

I kept everything I was feeling bundled up inside me. I had no purpose to live, but was too afraid of death to become suicidal. So I existed. Miserably.

I went to college. I didn't study, what was the point? I went to parties, but got no satisfaction from them.

Everything changed when I met a boy. His name was Derek, and he said he loved me. He told me he loved me, that I was the most beautiful person on earth, and that he wouldn't leave me for the world. He made me feel so special. I wanted to shout to the world, "See? Someone loves me! I'm not a waste, not a mistake!" And I thought I loved him back. That we'd get married. So when he came on hard and suggestively, I didn't hesitate. We made love.

The week after, he dumped me.

That was when I lost it. It was like my father had come and slapped me in the face, saying he was right and I would never be worth anything. That I was foolish and stupid and weak. That no one had loved me, and no one ever would. And even I turned on myself, saying that I was a fool, and why couldn't I see that all he wanted was my body? I lay in my dorm room and sobbed for an hour.

I don't know what I would have done if my roommate hadn't been there. Her name was Renee, and she had some sort of religion, I think. When she walked through the door and saw me crying, she didn't hesitate and walk away as I would have done. Instead, she closed the door, came over and held me. "Shhhh, its okay, Allie, everything's fine. You're okay."

I broke down and told her, in a halting voice, what had happened. And then the rest poured out, about my dad, my childhood, everything. And Renee listened. She was the one good friend I ever had. When I was done crying, and had recovered, I said a short, "Thanks," and left, embarrassed. But I think she understood.

Later, we talked some more. We became better friends. Renee was kind, and encouraged me. She made me feel that I was worth talking to, spending time with, and this time I knew the relationship wasn't fake. Renee really cared.

Spending time with her helped me. I knew I had to get my life back on track and improve my grades. Maybe, I even thought, I can still become an author. Maybe dreams can come true. So I studied harder, and took classes in English and literature. And when college was over, I was ready to write.

Renee, meanwhile, became a scientist. We were still fresh out of school when she invited me to a science exhibition. It was to raise awareness about a new project, apparently, and receive funding. Because I was sure I wanted to be a science fiction author, and still needed ideas for a book to get me out of my job at the library, I went with her. I figured maybe these brilliant scientists could inspire me.

I was enthralled when I found out what the exhibition was about, though. Time travel. Apparently someone come up with an amazingly advanced computer and a machine that would allow him to do it, within his lifetime at least. And Renee was going to be involved in the project, to some extent.

I was so envious. That had been one of my child-hood wishes, to travel in time. And I wanted to be involved as well, even if I couldn't actually do the traveling. I wanted to be there when time travel finally happened.

Stupid, really. If I hadn't become obsessed with it, if I'd let it go and pursued a career as a writer or even a librarian, I wouldn't be in the Hell I live in now. But I was young and foolish. I wanted to experience something more.

So I applied for a job with the project, forgetting about my writing dreams. I figured maybe I could document the journeys taken, or the attempts to make the machine work. At the very least I could be a secretary. Renee pulled a few strings, and I was called in for an interview.

But it appeared that they didn't need me. I wasn't intelligent enough, I wasn't a brilliant scientist. And they didn't need any more secretaries.

I walked out of the interview building, trying to keep from crying. I was disappointed, and even angry, that they had barely considered taking me on. And once again, my self-esteem suffered. "You'll never be worth anything! You'll never do anything important," My father's words echoed back at me. I backed away into an ally, and then I really did cry.

That was when the older woman in the business suit walked by. She paused, and looked closer at me. Then she walked right up to me.

"Dear, what's wrong?"

I wiped my eyes. "Nothing. Its…its nothing."

"Come now. No one reacts that way over nothing," the woman said, smiling encouragingly. Thinking that I had found another Renee, I decided to tell her.

"I…I wanted a job. With this project. They…" I paused, knowing that she probably wouldn't believe me and think I was crazy.

"Go on," she said, still smiling.

"They say they've figured out how to travel through time. But they turned me down." Stupid, Alia, very stupid. How I wish I'd never said that.

A light gleamed in her eyes. "You're interested in time travel, then?"

"Yes. Very much."

She studied me, up and down, frowning a bit. Then she smiled again, and said, "I believe I know just the job for you."

I was surprised. "Really?"

She nodded. "Project Quantum Leap isn't the only one of its kind, you know. And our project happens to be even more advanced."

"You…you're working on time travel, too?" I was astonished. Maybe I had some luck after all, I thought. Or maybe its all a scam, part of my mind whispered. But I shoved it away. I wanted to believe this woman.

"Yes, dear. We are. And we could use a nice girl like you."

"But I'm…I'm not a scientist. I don't really know anything about time travel. I…that's why they rejected me." I was afraid that once I revealed this, the woman would walk away, disgusted. Why had I applied for this job anyway? But she didn't.

She smiled even wider. "That doesn't matter. We can use you anyway."

My heart leaped. Shove that in the stupid Project's face! I was useful. And this new project had recognized that, and I would be a part of something important. I could be important.

Grinning for the first time after leaving the building, I asked, "Who are you?"

She held out her hand. "Zoey, dear. I'm Zoey."