In life. People wish for different things in life. It's usual nature for it to happen. Some happen the exact way you want it while some take a different turn and bring you something unexpected.

I was staring wide-eyed at a girl who with no doubt, was a mini version me and the only difference was the beautiful red locks and bright innocent green eyes. Very different from my mop blond hair and my hazel eyes.

Tamra was the more beautiful version of me.

I'd wished for Zach's doppelganger and bam! The universe brings me to my-Zach's doorstep.

"Tamra, you want to come in and have a cookie then tell me what I can do for you?" I manage to smile widely.

Her eyes brighten up at my request slowly, she nodded. I gestured Dennis to sit in a chair placed next to the bar. Nodding, he moved over to sit down.

I stand to my height, gently held her shoulders, closed the door behind me and led us both back to the living room.

She moves away from my grip to sit on the couch Penny vacated a few hours ago. "I'll go get you those cookies." I walk over to the kitchen. My eyes roamed around the shelves looking for the cookie jar. I gave a sigh of relief when I saw it resting on one of the high shelves-Sandra baked during her free time here.

Silently thanking Sandra for baking some yesterday, I reach up to the shelves. After a minute of struggling and standing on my tiptoes, I finally touched the jar enough for it to fall and I stood back just in time to catch it.

I slid four cookies unto a plate and carried it back to Tamra. She was already nestled in the couch pillows, trying to make herself comfortable.

I sit down beside her before handing her the plate. Muttering "thank you" she took it and started ravishing it. While I looked at her, really looked at her. Her pale skin matched mine but hers was half covered with fading marks and a bruise at the side of her face.

Her clothes were half-covered with dust-including her legs-like she had been running. Suddenly she coughed then a series of coughs followed.

I took the plate from her grasp and set it on the table then proceeded to rub her back trying to stop her from coughing when I realized, I didn't offer her a drink along with her cookies.

Hurriedly, I ran into the kitchen and filled up a glass with water, scurried back and forced her to drink it.

Gradually her choking reduced to a cough and it finally subsided. I breathed a sigh of relief as I plopped down on the couch, staring ahead.

Great, I almost killed a person's child.

Minutes later, I turned to look at her. Her eyes were somewhat red, she was trying to keep herself awake.

Sighing, I stood up then arranged a few soft pillows, and laid her back down on the couch. She closed her eyes almost too immediately as her head touched the pillows.

"Do you still want to eat?"

Her eyes snapped open at my question. She nodded and closed her eyes again.

The doorbell rang for the...third time. I ran a hand through my hair. What the hell is happening today?

Zach sauntered into the living room looking more refreshed. "That's the pizza."

He walked to the door then came back in with a pizza box. He had changed from his office casual look to something less casual. He was wearing a Lakers jersey and jean trousers. He set the box on the center table and plopped down on an empty couch. He didn't see Tamra...yet. He picked Tamra's empty plate and set his slice of pizza on it.

Trotting back to the kitchen, I took plates for both of us before heading back. I picked a slice, placed it on the plate then, hurried back to the kitchen-the fridge-looking for juice. Frantically, I spotted an orange juice carton.

Squealing in delight, I trudge to the living room filled Tamra's empty glass with juice. I smiled a satisfactory smile to myself.

"Ruby, are you okay?"

My eyes turned to Zach's face. I had forgotten he was sitting there. He looked confused at my behavior; like I was crazy.

"Am fine. Why would you think that?"

"Because. You're smiling weirdly to yourself for a minute back there and, what is the extra for?" He took another slice of pizza into his plate.

I rolled my eyes, turning over to Tamra I gently nudge her awake. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. She looked around at the surroundings her eyes stopped on me. I smiled sweetly at her (more than I ever smiled at Grant).

She pushed herself up and looked over my shoulder in confusion and then, she smiled.

It took no one to tell me she was looking at Zach, slowly, I turn over to look at him. I almost burst out laughing.

His jaw slacked. The pizza he was holding fell to the ground. He blinked repeatedly. He tried to regain his ability to talk but, it was gone.

I handed Tamra the pizza along with the juice. "Thank you," she said her eyes sparklingly as she began to eat.

I turned on the TV to What's the Big Idea show. The time was already far spent, it was eight fifteen.

I frowned, noticing the show was yet to start. I tilt my head to see Tamra eating another slice and was almost done and Zach, on the other hand, was still frozen.

I sat back to my sit, reached over for my plate and a slice of pizza. I nibbled on it waiting for her to finish. I had questions roaming around my head to ask her.

Tamra finished then laid back down on the couch. I scooch closer to her, "do you want me to call Dennis to take you home now," I said in a soft voice.

"No."

My eyebrows furrowed together in confusion, why didn't she want to go to her home, her family.

Looking at the time, they must be worried. Smiling, I try to convince her to go home.

"But your parents, they must be worried sick about you. You have to go home Tamra," I reached over and stroked her hair.

Immediately, her eyes filled with tears, "please don't make me go back to my mummy, she beats me a lot. I ran away from her, from home."

My heart broke as I saw myself crying. She was small, fragile and already knew her mother was terrible. At least or maybe, she had a dad and everything would be cleared up.

"What about your dad sweetie? Am sure he wouldn't want to see you like this."

The tears spilled "I don't have a daddy."

"You can stay baby, we don't mind. You can be the nice Ruby whilst she plays the mean one," Zach who found his voice said. He still looked flustered and confused but was out of shock.

Still sniffing, she nodded surprisingly, she moved over and hugged Zach who gave a deep rich laughter. I was still curious about her mother; the bitch that hit this beautiful girl.

I sauntered to the door to meet Dennis reading a magazine. I walked out of the house and into the hallway, closing the door softly behind me.

"Dennis, do you have any clue who Tamra's mother is? Did you see her talking to anybody when you met her?" I questioned.

"No Ruby. She wasn't with anybody. When I led her here I tried to talk to her but the only words she said was that she wanted to see you. You don't like her?"

"No, no, of course, I like her! It's just I'm a little confused about everything."

Dennis nodded affirmatively, "do you want me to take her back to where I bought her up from."

I shook my head, "what's the time?"

"Nine thirty."

I sigh, "guess that answers your question. She is staying with us...at least till she is declared missing, seeing her cry broke my heart. It was like me crying."

"But she is you-a mini version of yourself."

I sighed again, "you're right Dennis. I can't allow her to roam the streets and by the way, I won't be in town for a couple of days. Am going back home."

He shot me a confused look, "why? Did something happen?"

I nearly let out a forced laugh. He was making fun of me, a bad hurtful pun. "My dad died last night," I spit out. "Am going to Green Bank to see my family. You should know because it's all over the news."

"Am so sorry Ruby." He said his voice laced with sympathy. Shaking my head I choked out, "no is okay. Am fine, am okay."

Dennis face morphs back to a serious look, "but there is nothing on the news about your father. I have been on my phone the whole day. Nothing has come up about Zach or you."

"Oh! Am sorry for a minute back there when you asked me what happened, I thought you were making fun of me, to my face," I said apologetically.

"It's okay. You should go in, you have a long day ahead. Good night."

"Good night Dennis."

I step back inside the house, closing the door quietly behind me. I lean back on the door and slipped to the ground as tears threatened to spill again.

Within hours I had turned into an emotional mess, a crybaby. I buried my head in my hands as a tear fell more followed soon behind.

I sat there till the tears stopped. I stood wiping the tears from my eyes with my shirt before making my way back to the living room.

Zach was kneeling next to Tamra's couch watching her as she slept. Hearing my footsteps, he turned around. "Where did she come from?" He asked, standing to his full height and moved closer to me-taking me into his arms.

I clung onto him, not sure I'll ever let go, "Dennis bought her here, he said he found her on the street, she was looking for me."

"Well, we can't send her back there, to the street. Did you see her body? it looks like she has been hit before several times," he said, stroking my hair.

"Yes, I did. Tamra, Tamra is her name."

He pulled away from me. "Tamra. Tamra," he said, testing the name on his lips. "She has a beautiful name and she is beautiful." He added.

"She is me. Remember," I chipped in.

He stared into my eyes, "yes she is and everything word I just said is true and I mean it."

I blush beneath my lashes. "Thank God I get one of you who actually listens to me," he muttered under his breath.

Laughing for the first time today, I jab into his ribs. He groaned in pain. I settle back to my seat to eat my pizza. I frowned when the pizza touched my lips, it was cold.

I picked up the pizza box to the kitchen. I put the box in the refrigerator, I put my pizza slice into the microwave.

"We can't leave her here in the couch to sleep," Zach said immediately I turned away from the microwave and moved back to the living room.

"True. We can't keep her in Drew's playroom. She could get injured, I'll let her sleep in my room, I'll manage the couch."

"Absolutely not. You would sleep in my room."

I narrow my eyes at him, "fine. I would sleep in your room."

"Great! Let's take her to her new room." He lifted her smallish frame into his arms, heading to my room's direction.

"And into a shower and also, a change of clothing," I said then hurried behind them.