Alice stood at the bottom of the stairs at the front entrance of the school. Her luggage, basically her only possessions, sat on the first step. Moving to Arcadia Bay was a big move for her. This school was definitely bigger than her last. She just wished her parents could be here to see her now. It was always the plan for them to move here after her older brother moved out. She smiled softly and let the last of the summer wind blow through her silvery hair. She was glad her parents let her express herself. She would do her best to make them proud. Her back pocket vibrated and she lifted it out to see her older brother's face glaring up at her, taking up the whole screen. She answered the call with a sigh.

"You jerk. When did you change your photo on my phone?" She snapped. Laughter flooded her ear so she pulled away a bit before hearing him speak.

"You make it too easy, bullet," Wesley's voice came through, "Leave it like that. Maybe if I call again, someone else will see and be intimidated."

Alice groaned, "No! Send me a nice photo or I'll change your photo to a naked mole rat again."

"Ah fine. So where are you now? Did you make it okay? Are you settled in? Do you have a boyfriend yet? Don't say yes or I'll fly over there to intimidate them in person." Wesley rambled. Alice rolled her eyes. No matter where she was, he was still watching over her. Even more so now that their parents were gone. Of course, she was glad to have him as a brother. He always made a point to make her feel like they were actually related. His birth was difficult and the doctors told her parents that a second child was not possible, so they opted for adoption. Even so, she couldn't help but think that they were meant to be her family in the end.

"I just got here Wes. Relax. I'm waiting for the principal. Don't even know where my room is, and tell you what, the minute I decide I like someone, I'll marry them without you and it won't matter if you try to scare them off."

"Fine fine. I'll back off. You'll be okay then?"

"I'm sure. I'll send you pictures once I'm settled in and I'll wander the town." She giggled.

"Great! So, I need a favour." He lowered his voice. "We have a bet going around on what gender the baby is. I know you know, so tell me!"

Alice groaned. "Wes, Jen's going to kill you if she finds out you're gambling on your child."

"It's not gambling if I already know the outcome. . . you just have to tell me what that is! Look, how about you tell me, and I give you my share of the winnings? Eh? Eh? What do you say, bullet?"

Alice paused for a moment, contemplating his answer. She would like the money just in case she needed it. She shook her head. Jen had only recently found out about Alice's ability and agreed with her that it was best not to take advantage of knowing the future. Jen also knew that the moment Alice had touched her belly, she knew by the excited look on her face. She had to beg Alice not to tell her or her husband. So as far as everyone knew, the only person who knew the gender was the doctor. Despite her temptation, she decided to respect Jen's wishes and kept the gender to herself. That said, her sister in law had no qualms about being told that the baby would be perfectly healthy.

"Jen will know if I tell you. Back off." She warned. Wesley groaned.

They line went silent for a few moments before he spoke again.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay by yourself?"

Alice grinned. "Of course Wes, I'm a big girl."

Wesley didn't say anything.

"Wes?"

"You don't have to be alone. I can come-"

Alice laughed "Wes, I promise! I can do this. I'm not going to come crying to you the minute things get hard. We agreed that if this wasn't what it turns out to be, then I'd come live with you and Jen, but this was the original plan anyways! Besides, you can't just up and leave your job."

The line went quiet again and Wes sniffled.

"Well you can at least cry a little to me," He whimpered. Alice smiled and rolled her eyes again. As much as she loved him, he was a little overdramatic at times. "Okay, I definitely just heard you roll your eyes."

"You did not."

"I did! That's a thing, bullet!"

"Alright sure. It's your super power."

"Damn right it is. I know everything."

"Wes, you're 30. Grow up or I'm telling your very pregnant, very easy to anger, wife." Alice said simply. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head.

"That's not fair. You two gang up on me."

"Tough. Alright, I promise I'll call you later okay? Rub Jen's stomach for me and say hi to the baby!" Alice smirked. She could hear him grumbling before he finally let her go.

"Oh, and Alice?" She heard his voice, just before she hung up. She brought the phone back to her ear.

"We're all so proud of you." He stated.

"Yeah?" She said softly.

"I'm not just talking about me and Jen." She brought her other hand up to cradle the hand holding the phone, as if to hug Wesley through the phone. "You're doing this on your own. That's pretty big. If Mom and Dad could see you now. . ." His voice trailed off. "Alice, I should have listened to you when you told me to convince them not to leave."

"It's not your fault." Her voice barely rose above a whisper.

"You've told me before," Wesley said, his voice breaking. "I. . . I should have believed you Alice."

Alice became quiet. It wouldn't have helped.

"Please don't apologise for that again." Alice said sternly. She knew what he was about to say. She understood why he had said what he said. Yes, it hurt when he spoke those words and broke her heart, but she had forgiven him.

"I'll never forgive myself for it"

"Wesley please."

"I love you, Alice. With all my heart. You're my family."

"I know." She bit her lip, trying not to let the emotions overwhelm her. She smiled as he said goodbye.

She forgave him, but that day she would never forget.

It would have been so much easier with them here with me.

She thought about moving straight to their place, but with the timing and his wife about to give birth at any moment, she didn't want to impose despite both of their insistence. Instead Alice stayed alone in that house with Jen and Wes visiting every now and then to keep her company. Then eventually it was just Wes as Jen was getting too big to travel.

"Alice Thurner," A deep voice called out, startling her from her thoughts. She turned around to see a tall man with dark skin and no hair on his head. The afternoon sun was shining bright and reflected a bit off of his head. Alice couldn't help but giggle, but tried to contain it as a welcoming smile. "Good morning! I'm Raymond Wells, your new principal at this school. Welcome" He stuck out his hand and she shook it firmly.

"Thank you," She said timidly, "I hope I'm not being too much trouble, coming so early. I wanted to get settled and comfortable." He smiled and gestured to the door.

"Nonsense! I strive to make all our students feel comfortable here!" He boasted. Alice grimaced internally. Yeah right. I paid extra on top of my scholarship to get settled here. She scoffed. No doubt he wouldn't even consider letting her live in the dorms ahead of time let alone give her a tour. They walked up the steps and he opened the door and ushered her in.

She couldn't help but gawk at everything. The building was spacious, the class rooms were huge but the classes were small. It all seemed grand to her. She couldn't wait to start. She had heard that the school was paid for by some rich guy, but assumed that extended to the building alone. The equipment in the classrooms were fantastic. Alice almost didn't want to have to use them so she wouldn't sully anything with her unsophisticated hands. She didn't even want to think of what would happen if she dropped even the least expensive thing in this school.

As they walked through the halls back to front entrance, herself one step behind principal Wells, she could hear angry murmuring and almost slowed down as they got closer. Wells seem to have the same idea, but didn't show any signs of stopping. They turned the corner and came to face with a tall man and what Alice assumed to be his son. The latter did not look happy and was hunched over with his hands in his pockets, wrinkling his letterman jacket.

At the sounds of their footsteps, the older one turned around and greeted Wells.

"Ah, Ray! There you are!" The man said in a boisterous voice. They both shook hands and Wells gestured to her. She couldn't help but shrink back a little. Everything about this man screamed caution.

"Sean Prescott, this is Alice Thurner! One of the new scholarship students joining us this year." He clapped her on the back. Instantly, a flash of Wells drinking in his office, reading an email from Sean Prescott flashed through her head. She was caught off guard and stumbled forward. Hopefully not too noticeably. She caught herself and tried to make it look as if she was coming forward to shake his hand as well. "I was just coming back from showing her around the grounds. She'll be an excellent student. Just excellent!"

"Yes, yes. Glad you're here. I hope you'll be putting my money to good use miss Thurner! Ray made a fine choice! A fine choice indeed" He barked, making Alice jump a little. Her jaw almost dropped. She did not expect to meet the person paying for her scholarship. She couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. Not just because of meeting him, but his laugh seemed insincere, especially with those words, but Alice smiled politely as they shook hands. The boy beside them scoffed and glared at her. Caught off guard, she smiled at him and he suddenly looked surprised for a second before going back to scowling.

"Can I leave now?" The boy bit out. Alice could feel the tension rise dramatically as he asked and as Sean Prescott turned to him, it seemed everyone in the room cowered a little.

"No manners today either, Nathan?"

Nathan met his glare with one of equal vehemence. Alice could feel the air suffocating her.

"Um, sir, would it be possible to take my things to my dorm now?" She squeaked.

"Ah, yes, p-pardon me," Principal Wells stuttered, "Mr. Prescott, if you'll wait a few minutes, I'll just bring Alice to get settled and we'll go into my office."

Both Prescott's turned to her for interrupting and she awkwardly picked up her bags from the bench nearby where she had left her things.

Sean spoke up just as she adjusted her bag over her shoulder and hoisted her box in her arms. "Actually, Wells, I need to speak to you about a few things now. I have to leave for the estates for a meeting soon so it needs to be now. My son will take her where she needs to go, won't you, Nathan." He gave Nathan a pointed look just as he started to protest.

The two adults disappeared into the office and shut the door, leaving Alice and Nathan in silence. Sure, this wasn't awkward at all. The son of the man paying for her to be here showing her the way to her room, who also didn't seem to like her all that much.

"Um," Alice started peeking her head out from behind the tall box she was holding. She could barely see above the box so sticking her head off to the side was her only option. Nathan shot her a glare.

"Whatthefuckever." He mumbled.

"Sorry?" She asked, but he was already walking towards the doors. She stayed rooted to the spot, unsure if she should just wait. She felt bad that he was being forced to escort her. She watched as he disappeared through the doors. She stood there awkwardly for a moment, wondering if she should follow so she wasn't stuck without a place to stay. She really just wanted to rest.

Just as she was about to set her box back down. Nathan swung open the front door again and yelled at her.

"Are you coming or what?!"

Alice jumped, "I- yes, sorry! I wasn't sure if-"

"Just fucking come on." He held the door open for her, which was a nice gesture at first, but he let it go a little early, knocking her to the side a little. She glared at his back as he was walking. He didn't need to be so rude. She barely made it through the second door without being smacked by it as Nathan was already down the steps and making his way down the path.

She slowly descended the few steps sideways, being careful not to trip. Nathan looked back and scoffed at her. He yanked the box away from her. Suddenly she could see him crying by while sitting by a totem pole. She scowled in her head. People in this town need to learn about personal space so I don't accidentally jump in their head.

"Wait! Careful! It's a little heavy!" She kept her grip on the lower part of it.

"I'm sure I can handle it, I'm a big boy." He retorted sarcastically. Shrugging she let go and the box dipped a little in his arms. "What the fuck do you have in here, cannonballs?"

"No, they're just books," Alice's face burned red as he complained, "they're not textbooks. Just a bit of light reading" She joked. Okay, a bad joke, she thought as she earned another glare. He continued walking and her meekly following behind until they got to the dorms.

Alice finally had everything unpacked. She snuggled her pillow, thoroughly content at the layout. She'd just take a small nap before going into town to see if she could find anything else she could make the room feel more like home.

Her thoughts wandered back to Nathan. She hoped she didn't make him too upset. It's not my fault he was in a bad mood. She turned to lay on her back and draped her arm across her eyes. She really hoped she just caught him at a bad time and didn't hold it against her. Teenagers could be so vindictive at times. Especially one whose father practically owns the school. She meant to thank him once he dropped her off to the dorms, but he had already stormed off as she opened the door, the box of books already at her feet. She wished she could ask what he'd be crying about in her vision, but he'd probably call her crazy and take away her scholarship.

Alice sighed and lifted her arm a bit to look at the clock. It was only one o'clock. A half hour would do just fine for a nap. She stretched, turned to her side and curled into herself. Just as she entered dreamland, she felt her phone buzz. It was Wesley. She tapped on the screen and a picture popped up of Jen's belly and him grinning and pointing at it. He held a sign with the words "I did this!"

She couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Wesley getting Jen to let him pose for that photo. She quickly changed his contact photo and closed her eyes again.

Nathan was hidden behind his truck as he stood filling up on gas. He noticed Alice inside. Was he going to keep running into her? She came out with a brown paper bag cradled in her arms. He scoffed as she reached into the paper bag and plucked out a sucker. What is she? 8? He thought snidely. As she was about to unwrap it, she paused and Nathan followed her gaze. A little boy had dropped his lollipop in the dirt. He began to cry as his mother pulled him away shaking her head. They stood at the crosswalk, the mother failing to console him. He was surprised to see Alice run up and hand him the lollipop before turning around. She waved back to the mother and son and started to walk in his direction. He ducked his head and focused on the nozzle hoping she wouldn't see him.

"Oh hello," Alice walked up to him shyly. "Nathan, right?" He ignored her. How could she not know who he was? She couldn't be that daft. The Prescott's owned the whole town. She stood for a moment, noting the awkward atmosphere. "Well, it was nice seeing-"

"Why'd you give your candy to that kid. Little shit deserved nothing after dropping his." Nathan interrupted. Alice smiled and shrugged, opening the bag and offering him one. "What the hell? Why do you have so many? And they're all orange!"

"Do you not like orange?"

"S'not as good as the blue ones. . ." He mumbled. He didn't grab one and instead replaced the nozzle into the holder before slamming the fuel door on his car closed. Alice shook the bag once, still holding it open. He snatched one and shoved it into his pocket before getting into his truck and driving off. As he got to the light, his phone buzzed in the cup holder and the screen lit up with a new message.

Who's the girl with the silver hair?

3:17pm

Nathan glowered. He didn't have to read the name to know who it was. Of course he happened to be in the area when he runs into her. He slammed his hands on his steering wheel and yelled out in frustration. I'm not your dog. He wanted to scream. He reached over and texted back with one hand. Fuck safety. He was starting not to care about anything anymore. He pulled hard onto the steering wheel, turned the car around to head to the junkyard, earning a few honks from the other traffic.

New chick

3:19pm

Nathan replied and chucked the phone to the floor in front of the passenger seat. It could break for all he cared.

Meanwhile, the same man leaned back in his seat as he sipped his coffee. He watched from the coffee shop across the street as the silver haired girl talked animatedly on her phone after her run in with Nathan. His phone vibrated with Nathan's reply and he smirked. Nathan was in another one of his mood's if he wasn't willing to hand out her name easily. No matter. Nathan could keep any information he wanted if it amused his little teenage brain. He would get it in the end anyways. Judging by her style, she had to be some sort of artsy student. He hoped she had applied for his class.

He pondered the thought of having a binder full of this one's photos. He couldn't wait to see her personality up close. There was only so much you could deduce from a first impression. After the last incident, he hoped that this time, things would go smoother.

Maybe a little slow at first, but I promise it will pick up.
I had a bunch of inspiration and decided to write this. I'll try to update once a week as I already have most of the story planned out and several future chapters completed already. I just have to fill the spots between.

This story will be OC/Nathan with slices of Pricefield. Jefferson will also be a factor, but my endgame is OC/Nathan.

Please let me know your thoughts/criticisms!