Chapter 8: Rumbling

I was woke up to a soft rap on my door. My dad poked his head in, smiling. "Good morning. Get up. Don't want to be late for your first day of high school."

I groaned, not used to waking up this early. "I thought that you wanted to go," He frowned, confused.

I sighed. He misread my expressions a lot lately, since my third talent was discovered. He didn't like it because he was never wrong when it came to everyone's thoughts, but with me keeping my shield up all the time, I was constantly throwing him off. "I want to go," I explained. "I just wish that I didn't have to wake up so early to do so."

"Oh," he said. "Alice will be here in a half hour to pick out what you're going to wear, by the way."

I groaned again. "She knows that I'm totally fine in the fashion department. Why can't I just do it myself? She always approves of what I wear anyway. If she wants to help someone, then how about Mom?"

"Heard that!" Mom called form downstairs.

Dad laughed and ran a hand through his tousled bronze hair that matched mine in color. "Good luck with convincing her of that. Alice will be Alice."

I sighed. I might as well do what I could before she get here.

Dad came over and kissed my forehead. "Start getting ready," he paused before saying, "I'll attempt to hold her off, but you never know with her seeing the future and all. . ." He teased with a crooked smile and then left.

Soon enough, after I'd just finished my shower and had straightened my hair, I heard three sharp knocks on the front door along with a quick, "I'm not going anywhere until I do what I came here to do, so you might as well just open the damn door, or so help me, I will break it down myself."

Got to love her.

I heard the front door creak open. I darted to my room when I heard Edward say, "Alice, this really isn't necessary."

I blocked her entrance in perfect timing.

"Please, Nessie?" she pleaded.

"Look, my dad's right. It's not necessary. I'm just as much of a fashionista as you are. I would do fine, and you know it."

She wouldn't budge. "But it's your first day of school! Ever! You have to look perfect, and I'm capable of doing that. Have you seen your parents wedding pictures? I'm the one who turned your mom into that - and you should have seen what I had to start with."

There was growling from downstairs.

"Alice, since then, I've gained the ability to physically throw you out of my house," Mom said from downstairs.

"And I'm not above sitting back to watch," Dad added, chuckling.

Alice laughed, sounding like wind chimes, and turned back to me.

"No, Alice." I felt like I was talking to a three year old.

She frowned and looked around. She normally liked to use her size of 4'10" to her advantage. But I was only two inches taller. - It was seriously the only time I ever felt tall. Other than that, I always felt like a squirt. I almost laughed at the thought of seeing me stand next to Jacob. - So that was no help on her part, and she can't see me in her visions, so that didn't help her either. She was back to pleading. "Please?"

"Compromise. How about I pick out a few outfits, and you get to pick out which one I wear?"

"But I - "

"Alice," I interrupted.

Her face fell. "Fine. - But I get to swap out or add whatever I want, or no deal." She was acting like this was some world crisis. "Sure. Fine." I said with a roll of my eyes, shutting the door in her face.

I could hear her walking down the hallway mumbling something about if she hurries, then she'll have plenty of time. My eyebrows furrowed at that, but I just waved it off.

Ten minutes later, I'd had three outfits picked out - accessories and all. I left the room to get Alice, although, when I got downstairs, she wasn't there.

My dad understood from my expression - correctly this time too. "Oh, she's - "

"I'm here!" Alice interrupted, bursting through the door. "You ready?" she asked turning to me.

"Yep," I replied, popping my lip on the P.

In the end, I wore a maroon tank, with three flaps in the front and black sequins lining the edges of each flap. I had black skinny jeans, and a gray three quarter sleeved cardigan. Alice swapped out my black ballet flats for a pair of gray ankle boots. She removed my headband altogether, and added some black and silver bangles.

She stepped back to admire her work. - she considered it her work, even though it was mostly mine - "Perfect. Not that I'd expected any less if I do say so myself," she added smugly.

I rolled my eyes and headed for the door. If I didn't leave soon, I was going to be late.

My dad pulled into the lot with almost everyone in his silver Volvo. I really didn't understand the point of everyone coming just to drop me off, but I didn't question it. "Are you nervous?" he asked turning to me, who was riding shotgun.

I lowered my shield. Honestly? Yes. But don't tell Jasper. When he calms me down it gets on my nerves afterwards.

"Sweetheart, he already knows without me, remember?" He reminded me, glad to see that I was letting him in my head for a change - until I brought it back up again, causing him frown.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" My mom asked form behind Edward. She then added, "Or thirsty?"

"I'm fine," I replied. But then I started thinking about the second part of what she'd said. Would I be able to control myself with that many humans there?

I suddenly felt a rush of calm come over me.

"Jazz," I said trying to be frustrated.

I looked back to see Jasper, Alice, and Rosalie squished into the back row. "You need it, Nessie. Trust me." Jasper winked at me.

I sighed.

"You'll be fine, Nessie. Besides, if you lose control, you've got - " Emmett cut off when everyone whipped their heads around to glare at him. What the hell? "Your phone?" He said it like a question, as if to make sure that everyone had approved of it. Like that's not what he'd had originally wanted to say.

"Um . . . yeah. Okay." I said, reaching for the handle of the door.

"I'll be here in my Porsche for you after school." Alice said as I was getting out of the car, trying to change the subject.

"Way to stay inconspicuous," I muttered, stepping out of the car.

Edward started to pull away when Emmett rolled his window down, and stuck his head out of the opening and shouted, "I LO - " Before a pale hand clamped over his mouth and pulled him back in. I lowered my shield quick. Tell Jazz that I say thanks. I thought to Dad as I burst out laughing. I then put my shield back up.

Five people standing about ten feet away from where I stood. Three girls were starring at me like I was insane, while the two boys just gawked. Didn't realize that I was laughing so loud. I thought to myself, blushing.

After receiving my schedule, I was at a loss of what to do to pass time until class started. At last, I decided to take out my much abused copy of Evermore, by Alison Noel, sitting on a bench outside of school, enjoying the cool breeze of the overcast day.

Unlike my parents, who liked classical, well, everything, I preferred more modern day books and music. Don't get me wrong, I've heard and read all their favorites, and didn't mind them, but modern seems more, well, realistic. - said the vampire-human hybrid about the fantasy/romance series - You can't exactly go back in time just to live things as they were. You can at least find relatable things in modern day stories.

I'd read about three pages when I heard a familiar rumbling making it's way towards campus . . .

A/N: I so thank you for even reading this, I'm well aware that it's still a very slow story, but trust me, it'll get better, I can assure you that much!

:D Thanks!

I don't own Twilight, SM does.