"God, Jena! You pratically gave me a heart attack yesterday!" Bennet yells, catching up to me in gym. "What happened?"

"Nothing." I answer plainly.

"When did you finally reappear?"

"When I wanted to."

"Did anyone see you?" I pause. What do I tell him? "Oh, god, did someone see you?"

"Umm-"

"Jena you have to be more careful about that! You could expose us all?"

"And who is us all?"

"Look, that's not the point right now-"

"Isn't it though?"

"Who saw you?" He demands.

"My best friend since fourth-grade." It wasn't really a lie.

"How did they know you were there?"

"He didn't."

"He?"

"Yes, why?"

"Just asking." He says. "So you have to come over again today-"

"Haven't you gotten me in enough trouble?"

"Huh?"

"My sister went ballistic."

"Why didn't you just say you were at a friend's house?"

"I did. She said I didn't have any friends."

"Then who's your best friend since fourth grade?"

Then, thank god, it was time to start class. I quickly rushed away. I didn't want to talk to him anymore, I just couldn't talk to him anymore.

Next, I had journalism, my favorite class. I swiftly slipped into the class room and took my usual seat in the back. No one liked sitting there, so nobody bothered me. And I like having a class where I don't have to deal with a ton of loudmouths; at least I don't have to be near a ton of loudmouths. I could sit in the back, while the teacher made the trouble makers sit in the front.

The bell rang and our teacher was about to start class when a student shuffled in.

Oh god.

"This is journalism, right?" Zane says, peering down at a crumpled piece of paper I was guessing was his schedule. He must have been able to switch in because it was offered to all grades including ninth-graders, like Zane.

"The bell rang already, right?" The teacher snapped. "Don't be late again." She scolds before turning to the class. "Zane is joining our class today. You can sit…" She stopped and scanned through the rows. "There." She says pointing at the seat next to me. Great.

It took everything in me not to groan loudly. Instead, I just looked at the desk, wishing I could disappear. Well, I could… just not in front of people. What was the point of having powers when I couldn't even use them to my advantage?

"Freak." He mutters when he sits down next to me.

"That's not what you thought last year." I whisper back cooly.

"Okay," The teacher finally starts class. "You guys should start brainstorming ideas for your next articles. You have the rest of the class to work on them."

Quietly I pulled out a note book and opened a crisp white page and begin to write.

Expose on cafeteria food? No, too common.

Trends? No, I don't follow any. I continue.

"Okay, those are terrible ideas." Zane says. I hated to admit it, but he was right. "I thought you were supposed to be the smart one."

"Shut up." I say simply.

"And if I don't want to?" I ignore him and continue to write.

Interview a teacher?

"No." He says.

BIG JERKS WHO READ OVER PEOPLES SHOULDER? I write furiously.

"Ehhh, that's a little dry."

"Instead of just criticizing me how about you come up with an idea?" I spit.

"How about we do something that teenagers actually would care about?"

"Like what?"

"I dunno… We could draw them in by talking about something common teens do, like talk on the phone or drink or something, and then we horrify them by telling them how dangerous it is?"

"Meh." I respond. "Don't adults already do that?"

"That's the point, they totally won't be expecting it. They will just think, hey an article about cell phones, cool, not 'gah, parents trying to teach us a lesson'." I hadn't seen him this enthusiastic for a long time.

"Well-"

"Look, it's way better then any of your ideas." It's true, so I play along.

"Well what kinds of facts do you intend to scare them with?"

"Statistics on drunk driving." Oh god, he wasn't over it yet.

"Zane…"

"What? I can handle it."

"No. I mean, everyone in town knows the danger in that already." I quickly change the subject. "We could do something about tanning and skin cancer?" He didn't answer. "Or like the dangers of talking on the phone or listening to music to long."

"Maybe…" I knew he wanted to do drunk driving, but I knew him too well. He wouldn't be able to handle it. I know he's probably changed a lot, hardened, but he couldn't have changed that much. He didn't talk much the rest of the period, thankfully.

Just when I thought the day couldn't get worse, I have science class. More Bennet. Yay.

After I sit in my seat I watch as Bennet slips in quietly, unnoticed. He managed to stay pretty under the radar.

"You didn't answer my question before."

"Oh sorry, I'll add it to the list of questions you haven't answered."

"Well maybe if you didn't disappear…"

"Well maybe if that girl wasn't yelling at me…"

"Well maybe if you had listened to her…"

"Well maybe if you understood I have a life…"

"Do you really?" Then, the bell rings and Mrs. Menon starts class. She teaches the whole time; so luckily, there was no opportunity for him to talk. When the bell finally rang again and the period ended, I dashed out of the class room and to my locker before Bennet could say anything.

I quickly packed up my things, trying to get out of the school before Bennet tries to convince me to go home with him again. Just as I'm about ready to go, the girl approaches my locker.

"What are you doing here?" I demand.

"Making sure you don't leave."

"Too bad. I have to get home."

"No you don't. I called your parents, they said it would be okay if you came home with us, today." She smirked.

"Umm, no."

"They are absolutely thrilled you have a friend." Bennet? A friend? I wouldn't consider him that. "Apparently you haven't had one in a while." Great, my stupid parents are broadcasting my lack of friends. What did they expect?

"Look, I have a ton of homework-"

"Too bad. I think this is more important." She closed my locker and took my hand. She began to lead me toward the bathroom. "Look, be lucky I'm letting you stay a little while longer. Fo- Bennet convinced me to let you stay a little longer as long as you train."

"Train for what? And what are we doing in the bathroom?"

"Making sure no one can see me do this." She took my hand and I watched it disappear. Obviously, we had the same power, but mine was a variation of hers, because I couldn't see myself.

"What are we-"

"Shh. They can still hear us." She whispers. She leads me outside to the parking lot.

"This is absurd." I mutter.

"Shhh!"

We approach there car where their friend, Adam, was in the driver's seat and Bennet in the passenger's seat right next to him. I watch as Bennet casusally get's up and opens the door, He throws in his backpack, but I can tell it's for us. How did he know? Could he hear us? He left the door open for a little bit while the girl pulled me in.

"We're in." She mutters and he closes the door. I watch as we both reappear.

"What was the point of that? Couldn't we have just walked?"

"Yes, but this way you couldn't put up a fuss or people would hear unseen voices and watch as a girl appears out of no where."

"And what if I had put up a fuss? What would have happened then?"

"Look," Bennet started, wanting to end our feud. "We have a lot to talk about and this is a waste of time. We shut up and began our ride in silence.

"Did you actually call my parents or should I?" I finally broke the silence.

"I did. They are very happy you have a friend."

"Great." I say sarcastically as we pull into their driveway. We stay silent as we walk into their house. "Now what?"

"Now we talk." The girl said. I felt Bennet put his hand on my arm.

"Umm?" I turn to him, shocked.

"This way if you disappear, I do too. It's a safety precaution so you don't run away."

"If you guys don't tell her soon, I'm going to." Adam says.

"Your right." Bennet sighs. "This is going to sound crazy, but you're an alien." I couldn't help but chuckle a little at this. "What?"

"An alien?" I continue to laugh. "I mean, really? Isn't that just a little cliché?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" The girl snaps.

"It's just so unbelievable. What are the chances that Earth would be able to sustain the same life as another planet would? And how would you have learned english? There's not exactly a Rosetta Stone for alien to english."

"She makes a valid point." Adam says.

"If you're not going to take this seriously then you can leave." She snaps again.

"Okay." I say simply, breaking out of Bennet's grasp. I begin to walk to the door.

"Really, Six? Really?" He says, catching up to me.

"Six?" I stop in my tracks.

"Yes. My name is Six. We are all numbered."

"Who is 'all' exactly?" Bennet and her exchange glances.

"The other four of us." He speaks.

"What number are you?"

"Four."

"What number am I?"

"We don't know for sure. We think you maybe ten."

"Wait, didn't you say the other four of us?" I counted in my brain. "What happened to the other three?" They stay silent. They exchange glances.

"Look, what's important now is your training. There's time for details later, okay?"

"Sure." I wanted to know, but something inside me told me that it wasn't a good thing. "So umm, how do said training?"

Before anyone could answer, I hear a ringing come from my backpack. I grab it from my backpack and look at the caller ID. I couldn't help but suppress a groan.

"What?" I bark at the phone as I pick it up.

"Where are you?" Molly barks back.

"Bennet's."

"Get home."

"Look, they told Mom-"

"Get home now or I swear to GOD-"

"Fine, fine, fine!" I hang up without saying goodbye. "My sister is having a panic attack, I have to go home."

"Is there any where we can train at your house?" Bennet asks.

"Well… maybe. There's this clearing in the woods near my house. No one goes there, I'm sure it would work."

"Then were coming, too." Says six.

"Fine."

"Sam, you hold down the fort." She commands.

"Roger that." He responds.

"Wait- Sam? I thought it was-"

"It's a long story." Bennet said. We walk outside and pile into the car in silence. Six drives, and Bennet sits in the back seat with me.

I stop and ponder for a moment. Should I be referring to him as Four or Bennet? Should I ask him?

"So why does your sister need you to come home?"

"She thinks I'm lying about you guys telling my parents and thinks she'll be blamed if I'm not home when my parents get home."

"It must happen a lot." I chuckle at this. "What?"

"Remember our popularity discussion?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I don't go to many people's houses after school."

"Then how do you know?"

"I stay after school a lot."

"It sounds to me like she just cares about you."

"Maybe. I mean, I would hope so. She's my sister and all…" My voice trails off.

"What?"

"She's not my sister, is she?" Before he can answer, Six needs my help for directions. I was glad she stopped us when she did. I knew the answer to my question, but hearing it out loud would… it would just be too much.

I mean, could it even be true, anyway? That I was some sort of alien? That my sister wasn't really my sister? What about my parents? Or my uncles or my aunts or my cousins? Has my life been a total lie?

"This is it." I tell them. Six parks and we get out of the car.

"So what's the plan?" Six wonders.

"Uhhh… Frisbee. We go in say hi, get the frisbee and I take you out to the field."

"Sure." Bennet says and we start to walk in.

"Uhh… wait." I stop them. "Maybe you should meet us out back." I tell Six.

"Huh?"

"Why?" She asks.

"Well… no offense or anything… but you sorta look like a slutty, goth, biker chic with tattoos."

"Yeah. And what's so bad about that? And they're not tattoos, you have them too."

"Yes but I don't let people see them. And besides, I think two friends would be pushing it."

"That's really sad you know." She snaps. "Don't be long. I hate waiting." I watch as she walks to the back of my house and walk up to my door, letting myself in.

"I'm home!" I yell. "I brought Bennet!" I watch as Molly walks down the stairs.

"I see. Care to explain why?"

"We're gonna go play some Frisbee." I tell her.

"You suck at Frisbee."

"That's why we're playing, I need the practice."

"Yeah, I happen to be a Frisbee expert." Bennet says. I couldn't tell if he was lying or not, but if he was, he was a great liar. I ought to remember that in the future.

"Fine. Don't be long."

"Okay." I say to her. I turn to Bennet. "I have a Frisbee in the garage. I'll go get it." I say walking into the garage. I certainly hoped we had a Frisbee, because if we didn't I would be in major trouble.

Luckily, in the depths of all our old toys, I found a dusty, old, plastic purple fribee with glitter made in to it. It looked like a bad prize. I blew off the dust, revealing a "Chuck-E-Cheese" logo. I can't help but laugh to myself as I walk out of the garage.

Molly's downstairs now, and they obviously had stopped talking as soon as I had walked in.

"Let's go." I walk to the door Bennet following. We leave, Molly saying nothing. Once were outside I ask: "What'd she do?"

"Oh… Just making sure I wasn't a creeper or anything." We start walking to the back yard.

"The real reason I didn't let Six in." it felt weird calling her Six. "Come on, it's gotta be worse then that."

"She just glared at me and said 'you'd better just be playing Frisbee.'"

"And you said…" I prompt.

"'What else would we be doing?' Then you walked back in."

"She's a bundle of joy isn't she?"

"Yeah." We then reach Six, who is waiting at the edge of the forest. Well, it wasn't a forest necessarily, just a very large patch of trees and dirt and such. Everyone in town just referred to it as the "good woods" after the name of the town.

I started to lead them in, it wasn't too far to the clearing. It used to be Zane and I hung out. Goofed off, you know, kid stuff.

"Will this work?"

"Sure." Bennet says.

"Fighting practice?" Six asks. Bennet nods and she turns to me. "Hit me."

"What?"

"You heard me. Hit me with your best shot."

"As in, punch you?"

"As in now." I awkwardly picked up my hand and raised it up far. I paused there. "Come on already."

"So I just… hit you?"

"Seriously, if you don't do it soon, I'll hit you." I blinked at her, my hand remaining raised. She rolls her eyes. Slowly, I draw my hand back in preperation. She begins picking at her fingernails, pretending to be bored. I inhale deeply and start to swing.

Before I even get close to her, she catches my fist.

"You're going to have to try harder than that." I raise my hand and try again, this time faster. She catches it once more. "Pathetic."

"You're mean." I state.

"I know. Am I making you angry?" I nod. "Good. Now try harder." Gritting my teeth, I try harder, striking quicker then before. She catches my hand again. "Angry?" She smirks.

Angered, I try again with my other arm. I must have threw a dozen punches before I decided to try kicking. I can tell I catch her off guard when I throw in a kick. I get close to her face, closer than ever before, when she catches it. And before I can realize what happened I'm on the ground.

After she caught my foot, she used it to flip my entire body, leaving me lying pathetically on my back.

"Try again." She says, offering her hand. I grab her hand and use it to pull her down on the ground next to me. I spring up and get on top of her, pinning her to the ground. "Cheap shot."

"Am I done now?" I pant.

"Not even close." She kicks up her legs, flinging me up in the air and across the field. Just barely, I manage to land, sliding, on my own two feet.

"Cheap shot." I mimic, catching my balance.

"I don't fight fair."

"I don't fight!"

"That's why you have to learn." Before I could respond, she was charging toward me. I couldn't tell what she was going to do when she got there, so I decided to go with my first instinct, ducking.

"Really?" I look up and she's in front of me. I shrug in response while getting to my feet. "Now fight me."

Then we fought. It was all a blur to me, I couldn't decipher what either of us were doing or weather I was winning or losing. That was if either of us was winning. I was "fighting" so hard there wasn't really time to think of something as trivial as winning or losing.

I'm trying to tackle her as she disappears and in the second it takes me to process what's happened, she's come around and tackled me from the back.

Two can play at this game. I think. I focus all of my energy to disappear, letting her fall on to the ground that I was on. I jump before reappearing, pinning her.

And then, out of the corner of my eye, I see a familiar figure. Zane? With disbelief, I begin to turn to see if it could be true before six takes advantage of my distraction and flips me to the ground. Hard. I have to admit, it hurts like crap and I have to gather every ounce of energy I have left to turn my head.

No ones there.