New school. New Year. New life.

You see, nothing in my life lasted for very long. Two weeks ago, my hair was blond, I was in Nova Scotia, Canada, and my name was Melinda Mayweather. Now, I have no idea where we are and I don't know what my name is yet.

Now, we're somewhere in the states. Running is all I really know. It's the only thing that has ever stayed the same in my life.

As soon as three died, we took off. Three of us down, six to go. I'm the youngest of my kind left alive. In only sixteen years, I've experienced more than anyone could possibly imagine.

But this is my life. I am number nine.

~One week ago~

"Mel. Hey, Melinda. Wake up." Marianne's voice whispered.

"Hmmm…" I muttered. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. "What's up?"

"We're leaving soon." She told me. "But first," She continued holding up a bottle of hair dye. "We're dying your hair."

A little while later, my hair was brown, like the color of chocolate.

"Have you decided on a new name yet?" Marianne said while packing her things.

"Yeah. Jenna. Jenna Parker." I replied.

"I like it. Good choice."

"Thanks." I smiled.

"We'll be arriving at our new home tomorrow."

"And where exactly is that?" I asked.

"Arizona."

"Why there?"

"I have business there. Be careful not to expose yourself. We need to be here for a while."

"Okay." I replied. And with that, we were off, to who-knows-where, Arizona. After about six hours of driving, Marianne pulled into a driveway.

"Hey Me-Jenna. We're here. Welcome home!" Marianne exclaimed. "You start school next week. Try to fit in."

"Always do." I snickered.

~Present time~

I start this new school tomorrow. To be honest, I'm really nervous about it. So, to clear my head I'm taking our dog, Moe, for a walk. Moe was a copper and white Pomeranian. I absolutely LOVE her. I was walking by these three girls and their dog. Moe started barking and growling at their dog.

Attention was being drawn to me. That's exactly what I try to avoid in this crazy, messed up life I lead.

"Uh… Sorry. She's… Loud… All the time." I said awkwardly. "Moe! No!"

"It's totally fine." The oldest girl holding the leash replied. "Hey, I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?"

"Uh, yeah…" Oh my, gosh, small talk. "My mom and I moved in a week ago. I start school tomorrow."

"Oh! Which school?" She replied.

"Uh… I'm not sure what's called… But it's the one that way…" I pointed towards the way my school was.

"Oh! I go there too! My name is Ella! That's Nudge," She gestured toward her mocha-colored companion, "And that's Angel." She gestured to a blond haired younger girl who was just staring at me.

"I'm Jenna. It's nice to meet all of you." I smiled at them.

"Hi Jenna!" Nudge exclaimed. She began bombarding me with questions about where I was from. I answered them as best as I could without giving information about me away. After a few minutes I had to leave.

"Bye Jenna! I hope we see you tomorrow!" Ella exclaimed. Then we parted ways.

I got back home. I unhooked Moe from her leash. She ran to the kitchen and I followed her. Her bowl was empty. I quickly filled it and then grabbed some of whatever was on the stove and sprinted to my room. I leaped on my bed and started eating.

Mmmm… Spaghetti… Anywho…

I booted up my laptop. I began to delete everything that I created as Melinda Mayweather. A facebook, an email, even a twitter account that I only made because my friend talked me into. You think after leaving so many times it would become easier.

Nope. It's still the hardest thing that I ever have to do. EVER.

I cried for twelve hours in the car on the way here. Marianne got fed up and told me to stop acting like a baby… Yeah… She's not exactly the motherly type… It scares me to think what my ex-friends would do if they knew I was basically a better looking E.T… After all, aliens were aliens…

I heard the door open and then slam. Marianne was home.

"Jenna? Are you home?" She called.

"Yeah! I'm in my room!" I yelled back. She appeared at my door in the next minute. I looked up from my laptop's screen. "What's up?"

"I picked up your new I.D." She walked in and handed it to me. "You are now officially Jenna Parker."

"Sweet. Thanks." I replied taking them from her. I took off my glasses that I need for reading and set them on my nightstand. I closed my laptop. Marianne was starring at me. "What's really up?"

"Jenna, you look so much like your mother…"

"Thanks." I smiled.

"You have her eyes. I see her in you everyday..." She stopped for a moment. I could've sworn I saw a tear fall from her eye… "She would be so proud of you, your father too. "

"Thank you. You don't know how happy hearing that makes me feel." Tears were welling in my eyes. "I always hope I'm making them proud. But I never know." My parents were on my planet when… Well, let's just say the reason the nine of us are here to prevent what happened to my planet never happens here or anywhere ever again… I don't remember my parents at all. We left two days after I was born. Marianne isn't my mother. I only say she is to anyone that asks. I can only hope that they're as proud of me as I am of them for laying down their own lives to save those they have never even met.

"Once your legacies develop they would be even more proud. They should show themselves any time now. You seem old enough. Here." She slipped a phone into my hand. "You'll be starting school tomorrow and if anything happens even a tiny pain somewhere on your body, you text or call me immediately. Got it?" Her voice was so serious…

"Got it." I replied taking the phone.

"Good. Stay on your guard." She told me.

"Always do." I smiled.

"I know." She said wrapping her arms around me. I hugged her back.

"You know, you're a pretty good mom." I said while in the hug.

"Thank you." She replied. "Well," She began after our hug. "Get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow. Good night." She got off my bed and walked out.

"Night." I replied and laid down and eventually fell asleep.

"Jenna! You're going to be late! Get up, now!" Marianne screamed from the kitchen.

"Ugh!" I grunted throwing my pillow over my head. The next thing I knew, Marianne was in my room.

"Get up. Or else." She told me.

"Mmmmmm…" I muttered into my pillow.

"Okay, you leave me no choice." I heard her move closer to my bed. I felt her hands slip under my mattress. And then, she flipped my bed. Yes. Flipped it, with me on it. Good thing my pillow was over my face or I would have hit it on the unforgiving, wooden floor.

"Alright! I'm up!" I screamed. I hit the ground really hard. Blood gushed from my nose. I hit hard enough for my nose to bleed even with the pillow over my face. "Damn it! That hurt!" I shrieked.

"Next time, get up when I tell you to. You have one hour. Get ready. " She said walking out of my room.

"Ugh!" I yelled climbing out from under my mattress. I pinched my nose with one hand while digging through my closet for an outfit with the other. I found one and pranced to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and hoped that my nose wasn't crooked. It wasn't broken. Just bleeding. A lot… Joy. I examined my light; grey-blue eyes that were apparently just like my mother's. I straightened my now brown, collarbone length hair and brushed my teeth. I was then ready to seize the day by laying low and pretending I'm a real girl. Oh, trust me, it's just as fun as it sounds. My nose slowly began to stop bleeding. I left the bathroom as soon as it stopped completely.

"Let me see your nose." Marianne said as I entered the kitchen.

"It's fine. I took care of it." I replied brushing her hand away.

"Just let me see it." She forcefully grabbed my nose and examined it. "Well, it's not broken."

"I know." I replied shaking my head so she would let go.

"Eat." She said shoving a bowl of… something in my face. Marianne was a horrible cook. What ever she made always looked really gross but magically tasted exactly like it was suppose to. I've learned not to question it.

I started eating. After I finished I went back to my room. I fixed my bed and grabbed my backpack. Then re-entered the kitchen.

"Ready." I said while putting my shoes on.

"I'm coming. Go let Moe in!" Marianne yelledfrom her room. I went outside and threw my backpack in the car. Then I walked over to Moe's chain and picked her up. Moe was no longer allowed to be inside at night on account of her constant barking. I walked back inside and sat down on the couch and petted Moe until Marianne came in and yelled at me to get in the car. And so it began.

We pulled into the parking lot. Then she dropped me off and sped away. And I was alone. Grrrrrreeaaattt… I found the office and walked awkwardly to the desk.

"Hello." The receptionist said in a sweet voice. "Are you our new student?"

"Yeah." I replied shocked. How did she know that?

"Well, alright Ms. Parker! Here's your schedule, map, and locker combination!" She smiled at me. "Want me to show you to your first class?"

"Sure. Thanks." I smiled at her.

"Let's go!" She said getting up from her chair. I followed behind her. The bell had rang so the hall ways were empty. She showed me my locker first and made sure I could open it then we were off to my first hour. I would rather face a whole truckload of Mogadorians, which are all trying to kill me, than walk into a classroom and have 28 sets of eyes automatically turn and stare at me like I'm everyone's shinny new toy. "Mr. Brown, I'm sorry to interrupt, but here is our new student."

"Ah, yes! I wondered where she was!" He replied. Wow… Did everyone know I was coming? "Come it, come it. Class, this is Jenna Parker!" He yelled ushering me to the front of the class.

"Jenna, please stop in if you need anything throughout the day. And stop by after school to pick up some paperwork that you need." The receptionist told me. I nodded and then she left.

"Jenna, if you don't mind, tell us a little about yourself." Mr. Brown smiled. And so the torturing begins.

"Well, I moved here from Canada…" I muttered a few people in the room chuckled.

"Why?" Brown asked. He looked intrigued.

"Uh, m-my mom got a job here." I stammered.

"Excellent!" He exclaimed. "I think I've tortured you enough! Ms. Parker, please take a seat next to Ms. Martinez! Ella, please wave." Ella? Oh! I met her that one day! I hope she remembers me so we can skip introductions… I found her in the crowd and went and sat at her table.

"Hi Jenna!" Ella exclaimed as I sat down.

"Hi." I smiled at her. She began explaining to me what we were doing. I got it right away because apparently, I was smart. I didn't really know though. We were doing our work and talking until the bell rang. I walked out with her. The she began leading me over to a group of her friends. I recognized Nudge. But that was it.

"Jenna!" Nudge exclaimed running over to me.

"Hey, Nudge." I smiled. A dark haired boy, a blond haired girl, and a blond haired boy trailed behind Nudge.

"Nudge, Ella, who's-?" The blond haired girl said.

"Oh!" Nudge spoke up. "Max, Fang, Iggy, this is Jenna! Jenna, this is Max," She pointed to the girl. "This is Fang," She pointed to the dark haired boy, "And this is Iggy!" She finished pointing toward the blond boy.

"Hey." I said.

"Hey." Max said.

"Hi." Iggy said.

"What's up?" Fang said.

"What's your next class?" Ella asked. I handed her me schedule. "Ew. Gym. That sucks. Fang, walk her there, okay?"

"Okay." Fang said. "Bye Max." He said kissing her on her mouth. Aww… They were dating. How sweet. We left after they were done.

"Is that the girl that Angel said she couldn't read her mind?" I heard Max whisper while Fang and I were walking away.

"Yeah." Nudge whispered back. They didn't know I could hear them.

"Let's keep an eye on her." Max said. Then we were out of hearing range. Uh-oh.

"Thanks for walking me Fang." I said as we were walking.

"No problem." He replied.

"Are you in gym this hour too, or are you just walking me?" I asked. Frankly, the silence was awkward. So, I broke it by asking weird questions.

"Yeah, I'm in it." He replied.

"Sweet. I won't be alone!" I smiled. I think he chuckled, but again, I'm not really sure.

"Here we are." He said as we arrived at the gym. "There's the girls locker room," He pointed at a door. "And that's the boys." He pointed at the other door.

"Okay. Thanks." I smiled at him and went to change. After an unfortunate hour of dodge ball, the bell rang. Fang and I walked together again. We met up with everyone again.

"Hey Max." Fang said hugging Max.

"Hey." She replied in the hug. And that's how the first half of the day went. During lunch I sat with all of them. It was kind of fun, not going to lie. They were all just talking. People would walk by our table and stare at me. Yeah, being the new kid sucks. I was completely zoning out when Ella nudged me. I looked up to see everyone looking at me, waiting for a response.

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked puzzled.

"I said: what are you doing after school?" Ella asked.

"Oh, uh, nothing. Most likely." I stammered.

"Would you want to come over?" Iggy asked.

"Sure. I guess." I smiled realizing that I was accepted into a group of people. "But I have to stay after for a few and talk to the office people though…" My smile faded.

"I'll come with you." Iggy smiled.

"Okay." My smile returned.

After lunch, Iggy walked me to my next class. Somehow we got on a conversation about being blind. Then, he revealed to me that he was blind…

"You're blind?!" I exclaimed.

"Sh!" He yelled covering my mouth with his hand. "Not so loud. That's supposed to be a secret." He whispered.

"But, but, but… You can't be blind… You looked me in the eyes all through lunch…" I whispered.

"I can hide it well." He chuckled. "Don't tell Max I told you or she'll be ticked."

"I sense she doesn't like me very much…" I stammered.

"Nah. She's just… Protective of our little family." He smiled. "We have a colorful past." His smile faded and his sightless, pale blue eyes turned troubled. "She just wants to make sure that what happened in our past doesn't happen again."

"Oh. I totally get it." I replied. "Mari-My mom is the exact same way with me." I smiled and touched his arm reassuringly.

"Thanks." He smiled. "Alright, there's your class he pointed to a door acrossed the hall, "And here's mine." He gestured toward the class right next to us. "I'll wait for you when the bell rings."

"Thanks. Uh, Iggy?" I said

"Yeah?" He replied.

"Never mind. See you after class." I said and walked off. How could he possibly be blind? He knows where everything is! Strange. Oh well. I was thinking about this all hour. And when I heard the bell ring, it scared me. I was the last one to leave the class. I saw Iggy perched up against a wall actually waiting for me. I walked over to him.

"Hey Jenna." He said.

"How'd you know it was me?" I chuckled.

"I have my ways." He smiled. "Let's go." He walked off with me trailing right behind him like a lost, little puppy. We met up with everyone again. I couldn't wait until the end of the day. I was so happy to be finally accepted so quickly. Thank gosh it came quickly. I met up with Iggy after the final bell rang and we went to the office together.

"Hello Jenna!" The receptionist from earlier exclaimed. "How was your first day? I see you've made a friend! Hello Iggy!"

"Hello." I replied right as Iggy said, "Hi."

"My first day went well. I didn't get lost." I continued.

"Great!" She smiled. She handed me a pile of four or five papers. "If you could just have your mother sign those and return them to me tomorrow, I'd appreciate it." She was still smiling. To be honest, her perkiness was beginning to freak me out, and it takes a lot to freak me, the alien, out.

"Alright, I will. Thank you." I smiled.

"Mhm. Have a nice day!" She exclaimed as we walked out.

"She scares me." Iggy said as we walked to the parking lot.

"Glad I'm not the only one." I replied. We walked out of the school and saw Ella who waved us over.

"Hey, my mom will be here in like, five minutes to pick us up. Max drove Fang and Nudge home." She told us. We sat down on a bench and waited.

"So, Jenna, where'd you move here from?" Iggy asked.

"Canada. My mom got a job." I told him.

"Oh… Canada… I like their bacon…" Iggy shrugged.

"Oh, yeah. Who doesn't like fancy ham?" I replied. Ella and Iggy both started laughing. Then a car pulled up to the curb.

"That's my mom." Ella said getting up. Iggy followed and I trailed behind him. We all got on the car. I sat in back with Iggy. Ella's mom turned to me.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Valencia Martinez, Ella's mom." She smiled at me.

"Hi, I'm Jenna, Jenna Parker." I replied shaking her hand.

"It's nice to meet you." She said.

"Yeah, you too." I smiled. Then we were off to their house. I was nervous again. I hoped I wouldn't screw up and make my new friends not like me. I suddenly realized that I had a really bad headache. Like, really, really bad.

I grabbed my forehead. My brain felt like it was throbbing.

"Hey, Jenna, are you okay?" Iggy asked from next to me. How did he know what I was doing?

"Yeah. I'm fine." I made myself smile and look like nothing was wrong. I could hide pain very well and smile through almost everything. It was silent until we pulled into Dr. Martinez's driveway.

"Here we are." She said as we stopped in front of her garage. My head still wasn't feeling any better. We all got out of the car and walked inside. We were then greeted by Nudge followed by the dog that Moe had barked at yesterday.

"Hi Total!" Ella exclaimed and bent down to pet the dog. "Iggy, Nudge, show Jenna around, will you?"

"Sure." They both said turning to me. "Let's go." Nudge added grabbing my wrist and towing me behind her. Iggy followed behind us. She began pointing things out and telling me what things were. I was focusing more on my head and what was happening to me. She must have finished the tour because we were back in the living room. We were sitting on the couch. Max and Fang walked in along with two younger blond children. One was that Angel girl that just stared at me yesterday.

"Jenna, this is Gazzy and Angel." Max said pointing to the boy and girl.

"Hi." I said smiling at them.

"Hi!" The boy, Gazzy, exclaimed smiling back at me. Angel just stared at me again. What was her deal? And then I heard it.

'Why can't I read her mind?' I heard Angel say but I didn't see her mouth move…

"I-I'm sorry? Did you say something?" I asked her.

"No." She replied in a snide tone.

"Oh. Sorry." I replied looking away. Angel shrugged and walked out of the room. I looked at Iggy. He was looking at me with his sightless eyes.

'I wonder what Jenna looks like…' I heard him say. His mouth didn't move at all. What was happening to me?

And then I began to hear everything at once.