Extraordinary

Summary: When a gifted Bella Swan starts her new school she begins to let her shield down, just when she might need it most... AH, AU.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters; I am not the greatness that is Stephanie Meyer.

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Chapter One

I stared at the massive building in front of us as we drew steadily closer. When Carlisle had said a mansion I knew this place had to be big, and I'd seen the pictures, but even with all that I still wasn't prepared for just how huge this place really was. It was massive. The word mansion described it perfectly, although with the amount of people milling around you could easily confuse it for an old university building instead. It was an old building, though obviously well-cared for and I couldn't help but stare at it in awe.

We were getting quite a few stares too, as we drove up to the main entrance. Carlisle had warned us this might happen as prospective students didn't normally get a tour during weekdays when lessons were happening. I'd been made an exception because of Carlisle, although I don't really know why. Charlie had told me to just let it go, not to look a gift horse in the mouth and that we should just take what was given to us.

I knew what he meant by that. We didn't have a lot of money and just by the looks of this place it screamed expensive. The fact that Carlisle had been willing to meet me just to begin with, let alone make exceptions for me to visit this place and give me all the benefits of the school's medical facility without enrolment, was a huge thing. And I wouldn't let Charlie down with my curiosity.

The car came to a stop, parked right outside the main entrance just as Carlisle had told us too and as I climbed out I was even more pleased that I'd managed to convince Charlie to come in my truck and not his cruiser; everybody was looking at us already, I didn't need the added suspicion of lawful wrongdoing.

As I followed Charlie up the steps I stuck close to his side, hating all the attention. I probably looked like a scared schoolgirl but I didn't care, I just wanted to get out of the spotlight as soon as possible. A group of girls were stood near us as we passed and the feelings intensified as they stared at me with open curiosity. As we drew level with them they suddenly got this dazed expression on their faces and all hurried off quickly in the opposite direction to us.

"Bella..." Charlie gently chided.

"What?" I hissed. "I can't control it! You know that. And you also know I hate being the centre of attention. Figure it out Dad."

"Just calm down. Everything's going to be alright," He soothed. "And remember, as soon as you say the word we can be out of here."

I nodded and took some more deep breaths, trying to do as he asked in calming myself.

We approached a set of huge double doors that looked very intimidating, still following Carlisle's directions. He said he'd hopefully be finished with meetings by the time that we got there but otherwise to let our presence known and he'd be right out to see us.

Just as we reached the oak doors they sprang open and four men were standing in front of us.

"This isn't finished with Carlisle." One of the men said, looking very angry.

"I've said all I'm going to say," Carlisle replied, a steel edge to his voice that I'd never heard before. "Time isn't going to change the matter Caius."

"Are you sure about that?" The third man replied, looking thoroughly bored even as he spoke.

"That's enough for today," The fourth stated firmly. "Carlisle is allowed his opinions, as are we. We will discuss this further when we do not have company."

All four men turned to me and Charlie suddenly, and I felt all the feelings of the past few minutes intensify, shifting backwards from them uncomfortably.

"My, my, she is strong." The one Carlisle had called Caius said softly, looking at me with an odd gleam in his eye; as if he were appraising some sort of valuable artefact. "I can see why you were so excited about her."

"She does seem to have quite the power." The bored man said, his tone barely feigning interest.

"Which has nothing to do with either of you," Carlisle said sharply and I noticed that his body was unusually tense. "Aro, I really must insist."

The fourth man nodded genially, although there was also a gleam in his eye, one I couldn't really identify; was it pride?

"Very well Carlisle. Caius, Marcus, I will escort you out."

The three men walked off, Caius with a last look at me, and I felt myself relax. There was something about those three men that instantly put me on edge.

"I'm terribly sorry about that," Carlisle said as he beckoned us forward into the office. "Aro, Caius and Marcus are the headmasters of the three schools for people like us in this area of the United States. Caius feels very strongly about certain issues, and his views aren't shared by members of the faculty here."

"How did he know I was gifted?" I blurted out, fear, much to my shame, tingeing my voice.

Carlisle chuckled at that, and it seemed to lift the weight of his shoulders as he visibly relaxed. "Because you used it against us."

"Oh Carlisle! I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright. I could see how uncomfortable you were, and if your power is linked to your emotions as most of ours are then you had little to no control over the matter. Even some of our most disciplined students lose their faces in front of Aro, Caius and Marcus. I'm afraid it's just an effect they have."

"You said they were the headmasters," Charlie began slowly as Carlisle motioned us to sit in some sofas. "Does that mean they're also gifted?"

"Yes. Aro is a psychic, Caius an elemental and Marcus another psychic. They are good men who are dedicated to their work."

"You didn't sound too happy with them a moment ago." I said quietly.

"We have different methods of recruiting students, is all," Carlisle said slowly. "I disagree with some of Caius' methods. But that does not make him a bad man, and his students are rated some of the highest in the country in league tables of both learning and comfort at their school."

"How many schools are there? For people like Bells I mean?" Charlie asked.

"That we know of, about fifteen. But there are possibly others. Most of our students require privacy and confidentiality above all else when they inquire about our school. It stands to theory that there are schools out there that remain totally secret about what they do."

"Is there rivalry between schools?" Charlie asked hesitantly, and I stiffened unconsciously. "There have been reports between police stations about gangs who seem to be able to do things... things that officers don't report for fear they'll end up in an asylum."

"Occasionally there can be... disagreements between those like us. Some believe we shouldn't have to hide who were are, and this can cause tension. But the schools have nothing to do with this directly and we certainly don't encourage this sort of behaviour. Our main aim is to encourage the safe and responsible use of student's powers so they can go on with their lives in whatever way they wish."

"Okay." Charlie answered, sitting back in his chair. He didn't look entirely relieved but I could tell he didn't want to push the issue any further now.

"How about I give you a quick tour of the school Bella?" Carlisle asked gently. "Most of the students will be in lessons now and it's probably the quietest time we'll get whilst you're here."

I just nodded and stood from my chair. I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about all this yet. It was a lot to take in, and those men didn't put my mind to rest either. And to think that one of them could be my headmaster...

Carlisle reached the door and opened it, motioning for us to go through before him. Charlie went to move through the doorway only to jump back in surprise instead.

"What's- Oh, I should have known." Carlisle chuckled as he peered around Charlie.

"Yes, you should have." replied a quirky feminine voice.

"I was only thinking of asking your help Alice." Carlisle smiled. "I hadn't actually made my mind up yet."

"Well for your information, you did." The girl said primly as she walked into the room, and then ruined the effect by giving a mega watt smile. "Do you want me to leave and come back later when your mind is made up?"

Carlisle laughed out right at this and Charlie and I exchanged nervous glances. The girl was about my age but a full head shorter than me, with springy black hair and a mischievous smile. For some strange reason she reminded me forcefully of a pixie.

"Charles and Isabella Swan may I introduce Alice Brandon?" Carlisle said politely, although his smile spoke volumes of what he obviously thought of this girl.

"You're a student here?" Charlie asked after a moment when it became clear all I was going to do was stare at her. It wasn't that I meant to be rude, I just felt shy and uncomfortable again.

"Yep. I'm head of my dorm association and vice-president of the social society." Alice said, her voice brimming with pride and cheer; this girl must be a serious caffeine addict to be this hyper this late in the afternoon.

"That must be a lot of work." Charlie said, clearly impressed with her.

Alice shrugged in a non-committal reply but her smile stayed in place. "I always see when major things are coming so I manage to stay on top of everything."

Carlisle smothered a laugh at that and something clicked in the back of my head.

"Are you precognitive then?" I asked before my mind could tell my mouth to stop.

Alice grinned whilst Carlisle chuckled. "Very clever Bella. How'd you work that out?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Just from what you were saying."

"Bells is very intuitive like that." Charlie said and I almost cringed at the note of pride in his voice; it wasn't that I didn't appreciate the sentiment - it was just a little over-bearing.

"What were you going to ask her help with?" I asked to cover my embarrassment.

"To show you around," Carlisle replied smoothly, seeming to realise I wanted to get the conversation moving. "But I was thinking that you may want a student with us as the viewpoint is very different to that which a member of staff will show you. As much as we try to be as close to our students as possible there are things that we think you should know that you probably aren't as interested in. For example, I'll want to show you the library and medical centre whereas Alice will probably show you the dorms, the coffee house and The Den."

"Basically he'll show you all the boring school type places and I'll show you the places you're actually going to need to know about if you want to come here." Alice added, smiling brightly and it was infectious; somehow I couldn't help but smile back.

For the first time in a long while I actually felt comfortable in another person's present, or at least someone who wasn't related to me. It was a nice change and I couldn't help myself from leaping ahead in my minds eye and seeing myself attending here with Alice as a real friend. Of course she was only probably doing this to get extra credit or something, and I was just letting my hopes get away from me.

As much as I had chosen to stay away from others around me it had been more out of necessity for my sanity and their safety then preference; I didn't like being alone.

"Shall we begin then?" Carlisle asked and motioned once again to the door.

He and Charlie walked in front this time, talking about school league tables and college possibilities (a little prematurely I believed), whilst I walked behind with Alice. She seemed to almost skip beside me and I couldn't help but respond to the energy that just seemed to pour off of her, lightening my step to a normal walk instead of its' usual drag.

"Carlisle's a good man," Alice said abruptly and I looked sideways to see her gazing out the windows with a thoughtful expression on her face. "He looks after us like his own children and if he found you that means you must be something special."

"Something special?" I bristled at her tone; I didn't like being referred to as an object, something to be acquired.

Funnily enough, Alice threw her head back and laughed, her whole face lighting up. "You are something special Bella," She breathed. "And you're going to change everything around here. You're going to start something amazing, and with you here... we'll be able to do anything." She said this last bit quietly with a look of strong resolution on her face, and somehow I knew we were no longer talking about school terms or friendships.

It was something much bigger than that.

"You'll see," Alice whispered. "You're going to change everything."

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