Miranda Carlisle came into Todd, Trent, and Sarah Parker's lives when she was five years old.

Her mother had moved them to that part of the state not long after her father left them. Her family lived there and thus, she wanted and needed to be closer to them.

Even at five years old, she was what one would call 'different.'

Her differences either caused others to gravitate towards her or to dig their heels into the earth and try to bring down her powerhouse with words and thoughts of fire and venom. As much as the latter could hurt, she took things in stride and those who did gravitate toward her were rewarded with a most genuine, true friendship. Something that those who resisted would never be able to find in their lifetime.

In many stages of her life she never failed to captivate someone with her eyes. They were the most hypnotic green-blue mix you would ever see, almost as if they were small representations of Earth. But in contrast she had what she considered very plain, dull dark brown hair.

She and Sarah were in the same Kindergarten class. They discovered that they lived next door to eachother later on their first busride home.

Sarah Parker was a mousy little girl with long white blonde hair and wide blue eyes. She was quiet and shy, but took to following Miranda and doing what she did.  

Trent and Todd Parker, strawberry blonde, green eyed fraternal twins were about a year and a half older than the two girls and made a habit of teasing them about the things they liked to do. 

"Those ponies aren't real, Sarah!" Trent would call out teasingly as Sarah would 'mount' her pretty blue pony named Blueberry. 

"Are too, you just can't see 'em 'cause you don't believe!" would be Miranda's retort. 

Sarah was one to be easily influenced and would not stand up for herself, but Miranda did. Even against her own brothers.

But when Miranda was sleeping over at the Parkers', they could always find common ground when playing their own version of Monopoly... even though Sarah was convinced that Todd was plotting to rob the bank. And sure enough, about twenty minutes into the game he would pull out a toy gun and have a hold up, playing the robber and the police at the same time.

But of course as they got older, their bonds became stronger and it seemed as though nothing could tear the 'fab four' apart.

It seemed, anyhow...