"Hurry it up! We've got to hit the road before rush hour starts."

I roll my eyes and pull the sweater over my head.

"Alright, Val. Give me second, ok?"

Stopping to stare at myself one more time, I drink in the long brown hair and dark hazel eyes set in a tanned face. Me.

Well, me for now.

Goodbye, Mary Johnson.

I don't know who I am again.

"Are you done now?"

I sigh in exasperation before reaching for the door handle.

"Yeah."

My guardian stares at me for a minute, before tugging at my hair."Gonna have to cut that. Dye it. Your eyes too. Gotta go."

I pull away from his touch and keep the sullen look on my face. "Go away."

He sends me a look that told me I was overreacting, those Lorien blue eyes piercing into me like they always do. He sighs and shakes his head in exasperation.

"Don't be difficult."

I scowl and sidestep him, completely pissed now. "Don't tell me not to be difficult!" I whip around, feeling like I could breathe fire. "I've been moving around for such a long time. I don't want to do this anymore!"

He simply stares at me. Slowly, slowly, I felt my anger shrink down inside of me until only a small flame flickered. I relax my body and slump against the gas station bathroom's door, feeling suddenly weak and submissive.

"Fine." I push off the door and head for the car, my footsteps crunching heavily in the gravel. "Fine, I'm done."

Sliding into the passenger seat, I stare listlessly at the dashboard.

I know I'm far far too old to be throwing a tantrum like this and it's not like I haven't been through this before, but I'm sick of it.

I know I'm not human and that I'm not really seventeen, but I still feel that I am.

What I am in reality won't change who I really am inside.

I can hear his footsteps on the gravel and the car door open.

I clench my eyes shut.

The car sinks a little as he slides in beside me and we sit in silence.

"Alec."

"Oh, now you decide to call me by my name." My eyes are still shut tight. I hear him sigh.

"Please. Alec, I'm just trying to protect you." When I don't answer, he continues in a softer voice. "Protect you like I always have. Remember I promised you when you were little?"

I stayed quiet but I did remember. How could I not?

"I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Alec. Whatever it takes. Even if it means moving you away, even if it means dying your hair and changing your name-I'd do anything to protect you."

His words hit home and I finally open my eyes. I turn my head and see him staring at the wheel, not at me. A weird feeling washes over me.

Val...

He turns to return my gaze with a wry smile.

"You understand, kiddo?" I nodded and he reached out to ruffle my hair, his blue eyes soft. He pulled away still with that smile on his face and I leaned back into my seat, pacified.

Suddenly, a small burst of something exploded inside of me and I recoiled.

What was happening to me...? Another flash of stabbing pain ripped through me before I could begin to wrap my mind around it.

By then, Val was backing up the car and driving out towards the highway. I gripped the bottom of the seat until my hand went numb; pain throbbed through me until it became a burning white flame; the blood in my veins were fire and I couldn't breathe. I couldn't take it...

I screamed.

All I remember is the car screeching to a stop and Val grabbing me by the shoulders, shouting at me, eyes dark and all the while, that all-consuming pain I know too well domineering my senses.

Before I lost consciousness, I managed to choke out the words that would change my life forever.

"Number 3 is dead."

AbomiT: Hope I'm accurate on most of the info.

I really took to the I Am Number Four shazam.

If you like it, I'd appreciate a review or a PM or something.