Disclaimer: I do not own That's So Raven or any related characters.
A/N: Before you start reading this chapter; I would just like to point out that these situations are highly, completely and utterly fictional. So don't go flaming me for some stuff that you think are out of place or just not likely to happen in the TSR world. Remember, this is FANFICTION: FICTION written by FANS. :-)
My friend first told me how Alana and Muffy met. It seems that they go way back in Pre K, more like before Alana was to study in preschool, actually. Alana was 4 then, and she always stayed inside the house, playing with her expensive toys…away from the world. Her family belonged in the higher society, and all that she asked for, she always got. Her mom and dad gave her the most incredible toys, the most beautiful and expensive clothes, and not to mention the coolest room a kid could ever have. But despite the luxury and opulence in Alana's life, she felt empty. Every afternoon, she would sit by the windowsill of her room, staring blankly into the sky while holding a teddy bear in her arms, which she talked to often.
"I want to go out and play with a real, live kid…" She often wished to her teddy bear. "A real child…just like me…" How she longed to play with some other kids…not locked up in a room with just a bunch of lifeless playthings. But her home is secluded from the city, and where they lived, no one else did. So, she had to settle with her dolls and stuffed animals as her "friends". Alana asked her parents countless times why they were away from the people, but always got the same, unhelpful answer:
"Go ask you mother, hija." Papa says.
"Mommy's busy, honey. Go ask daddy." Mama says.
Alana never got her answers to these questions. She just continued to stare longingly outside her window in forlorn afternoons, seeing only the wall and the guards that protected their house…the wall and the guards that kept her locked inside the prison that is her house. Alana never saw kids nearby their house. All she saw every single day were her parents, their army of maids and some other help. The only time Alana saw kids was when her father took her with him when he went to check the current stock standings of his business in the city, which only happens twice in one year. She would look at the kids playing happily by the pavements through the tinted window of their shiny black car. And she very felt desirous about it. Many times she thought off sneaking out of the house and venture on her own, but since she was still little, the horrors outside the house's gate kept her in, no matter how great the temptation was.
All Alana wanted was to have a friend to talk to.
Her parents never actually saw the loneliness in their child's eyes. Their desire to protect their one and only jewel led them to the ridiculously paranoid plan of locking her up inside the house. They even plan to get her a home-study program. Alana's parents feared so much for her that they have forgotten that she was a kid who needed friends and the sun. And the child hated this so much. She thought she would never get to go out until she's all grown-up, but it all changed when her 5th birthday arrived…
"I want a friend." Alana's wish couldn't get any simpler. Her parents were expecting some sort of wish for a toy or a pony, and were rendered flabbergasted when their child asked for her strange birthday gift. Mama and Papa tried to reason out with her, but since the rule of, "What Alana wants, Alana gets" was in effect in the house, they had to give her what she desires. Besides, they gave her all her wonderful things on their own will. Alana didn't ask for them, and this was the first time she did ask for something. So, the little girl's wish was fulfilled.
-o-o-o-o-
On the day of her 5th birthday, Alana was taken to an orphanage. At that point in my friend's story, I could already predict what was going to happen next. And I'm sure whoever's reading this knows, too. Her parents took her there to choose a friend that she could visit every now and then. Alana was sort of nervous when she entered the orphanage. Her parents then led her to a room where the orphans were, and asked her to pick her new friend. At first, Alana couldn't find a suitably…"appropriate" kid. Most of them were running around, slamming pillows on each other's heads; while some were jumping beds and were being rowdy. Alana didn't want some sort of primeval child to be her friend. She looked around a bit…until she saw this one lone girl sitting alone on a bed, hugging a doll in her arms.
At that point, I had to interrupt the story. I couldn't believe where this account was headed! I couldn't believe who the girl in the orphanage was.
"Hi." Alana greeted, approaching the little girl. The girl had unclean blonde hair, who looked so scruffy in her dusty dress and looked at Alana with eager blue eyes. "My name's Alana!" Alana said, extending a hand. The girl didn't speak for a while, and eventually took Alana's hand and shook it.
"I'm Muffy." Said the girl, as she shook Alana's hand.
"Nice to meet you Muffy!" And soon, the two girls chatted, laughing together in merriment of sorts. After a while of fun, Alana ran back to her parents and without hesitation, declared Muffy's name to them. Mama and Papa signed the friend visit papers and were feeling very happy that they made their one and only daughter extremely happy.
-o-o-o-o-
A few weeks went by, Alana didn't forget to stop by the orphanage as often as she could to visit and play with her friend Muffy. Alana would sometimes bring some of her toys and clothes and give them to Muffy. This made the orphan very happy and made her grow even closer to Alana. The two friends gravitated towards each other closer with every visit, and it was like a dream come true for both girls. One afternoon at the orphanage, Alana ended up asking Muffy about why she became an orphan.
"My parents…" Muffy said, sniffling a bit. "They're up there now…but I know that they are always watching over me…my guardian angels…" Muffy sniffled sadly, gesturing upwards, where her parents are now peacefully resting. Muffy then told Alana how her parents died when their home was broken into. She said that her mom managed to get her to the orphanage, but then was killed afterwards and started to cry. Alana then felt great pity for her friend. She hugged Muffy and begged her to stop crying.
"Shhh…" Alana comforted her friend affectionately. "I'm sorry I brought it up." Alana was now close to tears, hearing all about the terrible fate Muffy's parents suffered.
"No, it's…not your fault." Muffy muttered sorrowfully, tears wetting Alana's shoulder. Alana then looked at her straight in they eye and proposed an idea.
"…Um, tell you what…" Alana began, clearing her friend's face of any tears. "I will convince my parents to adopt you."
"Really?" A sparkle of hope occurred in Muffy's teary eyes. Alana nodded happily. "But…what if they refuse? I mean…I'm just a scruff-"
"They will agree." Alana cut her off, holding Muffy's hands. "I will make them agree." Alana hugged her friend again, consoling her with her kindliness.
-o-o-o-o-
It wasn't long 'till Alana got her parents to agree, but only to a temporary adoption. Muffy was only to be adopted by Alana's parents until someone else wants to adopt her for good. My friend said it took quite a convincing for Alana's parents to agree, but the girl did it in an amazingly short time, and the deal was good. Alana then returned to the orphanage two days later to tell Muffy the good news. Muffy was ecstatic, exceedingly euphoric about it. The friend visit papers were then scrapped, and the fresh new temporary adoption papers were now signed. Muffy said goodbye to the people at the orphanage and was now headed towards a new start in her life.
Another surprise then came into Alana's life after Muffy was adopted. Her parents saw how much Alana grew happier when she gained a friend, and decided to move into the city and cancelled their plans to home-school Alana. They now moved in the city of San Francisco and decided to enroll Alana and Muffy in an ordinary preschool. Mama and Papa saw how much Alana was happier when she got a friend, and regretted all those past years that they kept their child isolated from other kids her age.
-o-o-o-o-
Alana and Muffy went through Pre K together, and when they were already in the 1st grade, the best friend of Alana's dad decided to adopt Muffy, and treated her very well. The girl didn't disapprove much, because she knew she would still see Alana often. So, even though they do not live together under the same roof anymore, Alana and Muffy's friendship strengthened, eventually leading them to become best friends. Muffy owed so much to Alana, for if she hadn't met her, she'd still be stuck in the orphanage, without a family. And that's why Muffy was so devoted to Alana...it's just unfortunate how she just set her past with Alana aside...
Oh, and my friend said it was also in the first grade that Alana gained another friend she knew she could depend on. A girl named Loca.