Hey. This is a random author's note, but I realized while reading back through my fanfictions, that I change point of view a lot. I realize this can be irritating to a lot of people. It was irritating to me, they were my stories! I also understand it can get confusing. So I just wanted to explain why I change it so much. First, I admit it's to make the chapters longer. Second, I have a major photographic memory. I picture everything (how many others do that?), so when I write it down, I have to constantly change the point of view so you can see everything that's going on, like you would in a movie, which is how I'm seeing it in my head. I want you to able to see what I'm seeing as best you can, so I need to change the view from which the story is told in order to do so. I hope you can bear with me when I do this, because I know it gets frustrating.

So now that that random speech is over, on with the chapter. (I also kind of wanted to say that because there will be a lot of point of view switching in this chapter, and maybe the next, while we listen in on the conversations.)

Jackie's POV

Sam slipped into the kitchen, leaving me with Nick. I glanced around and noticed everyone looking just about as uncomfortable as I felt. Sighing to myself, I turned to Nick, who was still watching the place Sam had disappeared.

"So. Nick. What brings you to this little town in Virginia? Surely it couldn't have been for a new start at a social life, seeing as I don't think you care about the social scale." I said, trying to make small talk. I think I jolted him out of a day dream, because he blinked, and looked at me. But I wasn't Sam, and I couldn't read people like she could.

"No I don't." He said, completely failing to answer my question.

"Well then why are you here? Why do five people up and move into a tiny town in the middle of nowhere land that has nothing to do and a population of like nothing? And how come I've never met your parents? What do your parents do? Mine work at the post office. Its sooooo boring. A post office? Seriously? Does that even require a degree?" I clamped my mouth shut. He was staring at me.

"You sound just like Monique." Nick said his eyes a little less blank now. "We came here because we needed a change of scenery, my parents are very busy, and they work in some weirdo company."

I let out a little laugh. "Well I admit we have got some nice scenery. Though I've been looking at it way too long. I want to get out, explore the world. I'm sick of staring at the same trees every day. Have you ever noticed that you can look at a tree one day, and no matter how many times you look at it, it NEVER looks different? Maybe I just don't like plants. You know what I do like? I like science. You wouldn't have guessed that, would you? I like chemistry. Like medicinal chemistry. I want to help people."

Nick was staring at me again. But not in the creepy will-you-just-shut-up-already type of way. He was staring at me like he understood.

"That's an interesting thing to want. I knew someone who wanted to do that once." He said, half smiling at me.

"Really? Girl or boy? How old? Why was it a 'once' thing? What do you want, Nick?" I asked. He turned and looked around at the groups that had begun talking amongst themselves, glaring at Monique who smiled innocently back.

"You really want to know?"

Nudge's POV

"And then I tried straightening my hair, because it's all frizzy right? Only that didn't work, and so like half my head was frizzy and curly and half my head was straightish. Then I forgot to turn the straightener off and accidently burned part of the bathroom. Nick was not happy with me. You're lucky you have straight hair. Why do you always wear the beanie cap? You should take it off and leave it off for the night. I dare you. OMG I played truth and dare once, like I dragged everyone into playing a game, it was sooo funny! Have you ever played truth or dare? Well of course you have, I just dared you. Go ahead, take the cap off! I can't really wear hats because I get hat hair. It's almost as bad as having bed-head. I can never brush my hair when I wake up. I always brush my teeth though. One time I forgot, and I freaked out all day. Oh, will you smile for me? I want to see if your teeth are shiny! Nick has shiny teeth but he never smiles and it's so frustrating! I want to be a celebrity because they like get paid to have shiny teeth. Celebrities are so cool. I just saw this movie, I forget its name, with this actress in it, I forget her name, but she was sooo pretty! I want to be famous!"

"You talk a lot." Jesse said to me. I smiled and opened my mouth again, when Fang shot me a glare from across the room. I gave him my best 'what?' look.

"Yeah, I get yelled at a lot for it. People tell me I'm going to die from lack of oxygen." I said. Jesse just nodded in agreement, as if that was totally possible. I shrugged.

"People tell me I'm going to die because I'll forget how to open my mouth, and there goes how to eat, how to drink, how to talk etc." He said to me.

"Have people actually said that to you? Because that's weird. And kind of mean. But mostly weird."

"Nope. Just trying to even things out." He said. I burst out laughing. He was so different from what I had expected. Plus he didn't seem to mind the constant blabbering.

"So, any life goals? Favorite colors? Black I'm guessing. Movies? TV shows? Music? I really like Lady Gaga, although her outfits are total fashion no-no's. Seriously. What books do you like to read? OH and I have to ask this question, because like I'm a total romantic. How are you and Sam? Like you guys are soo cute together? Do you really like her? You don't have to answer." I told him, though I knew very well that he knew I was expecting answers.

"well-" He started but I raised my hand to stop him.

"Hat first. Take it off." Reluctantly, he took it off and placed it in my hand, and then began answering my questions.

Angel's POV

I wonder what Mike is thinking right now. Does he like me? This little girl is so cute. Gosh I have a huge test in history on Monday. I like being over here, I can see Mike so well. I wish I could be as good with people as Sam is. Or Jackie.

I pulled out of her mind. So Macey liked Mike, huh? Interesting…

"So Macey, what do you think of Sam and Jesse?" I asked her. She looked at me, clearly confused by the question. I didn't have to mind read to know that,

"Well they've been going out, for what, almost 3 years now? I think it's rather adorable." She turned back to gazing longingly at one of the twins. Mike, apparently. Hopeless. She was simply hopeless.

"What about you? Anyone caught your eye?" I asked. I already knew the answer, but she didn't know that.

She sighed contently, and ran her hand through her hair.

"Well yeah. I suppose there is." What could telling an eight year old girl do?

"See that boy over there? The twin talking to your brother. He's nice to me, and he's really smart. He's also really cute. Like, I know both the twins look the same, but I'm more drawn to him than Trevor. Only he hasn't seemed to notice yet."

I wondered how he couldn't have noticed, what with Macey's longing stares and dreamy sighs. Then I remembered how oblivious Max was to Fang and though Fang never sighed dreamily, or stared longingly (well, maybe once or twice), he was quite obvious. And she never picked up on it. So maybe he was just as oblivious.

I decided to find out.

Trevor's POV

"Dude, you've done all that? And gotten away with it? That's wicked impressive!" I exclaimed. Jeff was way awesome, and into pyrotechnics, like myself.

"Totally. Most people don't believe me because I'm blind, but it really doesn't make a difference you know? Just put a pile of chemicals in front of someone, and anyone can make an explosion." He said, obviously excited to have another pyro to talk to.

"I know right? The best thing I ever did was set our science lab on fire. I admit it was totally not planned, well okay, partially planned, but damn dude, it was awesome. Like we we're not even using flammable substances, but I had swapped them earlier. It was supposed to make a stink bomb type gas, you know? But someone labeled the bottles wrong and BOOM! POOF! And the sprinklers go off. Detention for a week. But it was so worth it." Jeff started laughing.

"Man I wish I was there. It's not like I could have seen it, but I could still have heard it and stuff. That would have been awesome." Jeff said. I felt proud of my work.

"Yeah. Not as cool as some of the things you've done though. And it's just me. Mike doesn't really get into all this. There is actually a secret pyromaniacs club that meets every so often. Don't tell Sam though, she was pissed. Maybe you could come. You're ideas and stories would be highly welcomed."

"Seriously? That's way cool. Could my buddy Zeph come too? He's sort of my eyes when it comes to building and all that. Plus he knows a lot." Jeff said.

I smiled, though I knew he couldn't see it, I knew he could tell. "Of course. We welcome all ages. Young minds know a lot more than we give them credit for."

"Sweet. Let me know when the next one is. We'll be there."

I could tell Jeff and I would be good friends.

Gazzy's POV

"Man, you own the entire Spider Man comic collection? Like all of them? But you're in high school! Nobody reads comics in high school!" I said in disbelief.

"Well, I do. Comics have always entertained me. Especially the classics, you know? People think they're dumb and stuff, but they are really fun." Mike said, laughing at my face.

"I know! Have you ever been to a comic con? I wanted to go so bad once, but I wasn't allowed because we didn't have time. I owned a lot of comics when I was like 7. But we moved and we lost them." I said, fussing up the truth. I did own comic books, back when we lived with Max and everyone at the E house. Jeb had bought them for me. But when we had to rescue Angel, I left them behind.

"That stinks little buddy. But you're welcome to my collection anytime, as long as you don't ruin any of them." Mike said, completely understanding my pain. Over comic books.

I immediately brightened up. "Really? That would be awesome! Thanks!"

"Anytime, little buddy. Anytime."

Sam's POV

I could tell from the distinct muttering coming from the other side of the kitchen door that my plan was working. People were talking to each other. To what extent, I wasn't sure. But right now I had to focus on my cookies.

"Emmy, what else do we need to add?"

"Um. We put sugar in right? And flour? And eggs? That's all Emmy's can read. Did Sammy add this bottle of… va…van… vanil…. Van-eel-a?" she asked me, straining her eyes to read the small print on the bottle in her hands. "Emmy can't read what it says."

"Honey, you're almost four. You shouldn't even be able to read that yet. And yes. I think I added all that…"

"Well then… oh wait! The chocolate chips! We forgot the chocolate chips Sammy!"

"Yes, heaven forbid." I muttered.

The kitchen was quite a mess. There was flour everywhere because Emmy had picked up from the wrong end, and so now Star was an all white teddy bear. We both had it in our hair, on our clothes, everywhere. I had sugar beneath my fingernails, and there was a puddle of oil beneath the table. Globs of brown sugar littered the floor, and piles of salt were sprinkled here and there. Rejected cooking pots and pans were strewn about, creating an obstacle course. Emmy had egg smeared across her cheek, after a failed attempt at cracking one. Speaking of eggs, there were about 8 or 9 shells hidden in the kitchen, so that it was like Easter all over again.

"Can Star put them in?" Emmy asked, holding him up. Flour dust fell of him in a puff.

"Emmy, sweetie, remember what happened with the brown sugar? Let me put them in." I told the little girl. She frowned, but complied. I poured 2 bags worth into the batter and mixed.

We decided that we had added everything, and began spooning little amounts of batter onto pre-buttered pans. Emmy wanted to create cool shapes, and when I said no she nearly started to cry, so I let her make an E out of cookie dough.

I put the first batch into the oven, and set the timer.

"What say you, fellow baker Emmy? Shall we check on those good for nothing scoundrels and see if they deserve the cookies we slaved away at making for them?"

She giggled and muttered something that sounded like 'crazy' but I smiled, picked her up, and peeked through the door to check on the groups.

Me: So? How was the first chapter? The conversations were short, especially Gazzy's and what not. The opposites will be next chapter. By that I mean, if there was an important conversation, and then the opposite person who spoke will continue it in the next chapter.

Rebbie: She put work into this. She does that rarely. Be proud of her, and review to let us know if her work paid off.

Me: Hey! I put work into a lot of things!

Rebbie: key words… a lot.